Мэри Поппинс
John and Barbara's Story
TheStarlingswoopeddown,pluckeditoutofherhandandflewbacktothewindow-sill.Hebegannibblingitgreedily.
"Thankyou!"saidMaryPoppins,meaningly,buttheStarlingwastoobusyeatingtonoticetherebuke.
"Isaid’Thankyou!’"saidMaryPoppinsalittlelouder.
TheStarlinglookedup.
"Eh—what?Oh,getalong,girl,getalong.I’venotimeforsuchfrillsandfurbelows."Andhegobbledupthelastofhisbiscuit.
Theroomwasveryquiet.
John,drowsinginthesunlight,putthetoesofhisrightfootintohismouthandranthemalongtheplacewherehisteethwerejustbeginningtocomethrough.
"Whydoyoubothertodothat?"saidBarbara,inhersoft,amusedvoicethatseemedalwaystobefulloflaughter."There’snobodytoseeyou."
"Iknow,"saidJohn,playingatuneonhistoes."ButIliketokeepinpractice.ItdoessoamusetheGrown-ups.DidyounoticethatAuntFlossienearlywentmadwithdelightwhenIdidityesterday?’TheDarling,theClever,theMarvel,theCreature!’—didn’tyouhearhersayingallthat?"AndJohnthrewhisfootfromhimandroaredwithlaughterashethoughtofAuntFlossie.
"Shelikedmytrick,too,"saidBarbaracomplacently."ItookoffbothmysocksandshesaidIwassosweetshewouldliketoeatme.Isn’titfunny—whenIsayI’dliketoeatsomethingIreallymeanit.BiscuitsandRusksandtheknobsofbedsandsoon.ButGrown-upsnevermeanwhattheysay,itseemstome.Shecouldn’thavereallywantedtoeatme,couldshe?"
"No.It’sonlytheidioticwaytheyhaveoftalking,"saidJohn.
