Mary Poppins

Read Mary Poppins for Free Online Page B

Book: Read Mary Poppins for Free Online
Authors: P. L. Travers
yawned.
    "Go away! Go home! Shoo, I say!" said Miss Lark, waving her arms angrily at the dog.
    "And you, Andrew," she went on, "come indoors this minute! Going out like that — all alone and without your overcoat. I am very displeased with you!"
    Andrew barked lazily, but did not move.
    "What do you mean, Andrew? Come in at once!" said Miss Lark.
    Andrew barked again.
    "He says," put in Mary Poppins, "that he's not coming in."
    Miss Lark turned and regarded her haughtily. "How do
you
know what my dog says, may I ask? Of course he will come in."
    Andrew, however, merely shook his head and gave one or two low growls.
    "He won't," said Mary Poppins. "Not unless his friend comes, too."
    "Stuff and nonsense," said Miss Lark crossly. "That
can't
be what he says. As if I could have a great hulking mongrel like that inside my gate."
    Andrew yapped three or four times.
    "He says he means it," said Mary Poppins. "And what's more, he'll go and live with his friend unless his friend is allowed to come and live with him."
    "Oh, Andrew, you can't — you can't, really — after all I've done for you and everything!" Miss Lark was nearly weeping.
    Andrew barked and turned away. The other dog got up.
    "Oh, he
does
mean it!" cried Miss Lark. "I see he does. He is going away." She sobbed a moment into her handkerchief, then she blew her nose and said:
    "Very well, then, Andrew. I give in. This — this common dog can stay. On condition, of course, that he sleeps in the coal-cellar."
    Another yap from Andrew.
    "He insists, ma'am, that that won't do. His friend must have a silk cushion just like his and sleep in your room too. Otherwise he will go and sleep in the coal-cellar with his friend," said Mary Poppins.
    "Andrew, how could you?" moaned Miss Lark. "I shall never consent to such a thing."
    Andrew looked as though he were preparing to depart. So did the other dog.
    "Oh, he's leaving me!" shrieked Miss Lark. "Very well, then, Andrew. It will be as you wish. He
shall
sleep in my room. But I shall never be the same again, never, never. Such a common dog!"
    She wiped her streaming eyes and went on:
    "I should never have thought it of you, Andrew. But I'll say no more, no matter what I think. And this — er — creature — I shall call Waif or Stray or—"
    At that the other dog looked at Miss Lark very indignantly, and Andrew barked loudly.
    "They say you must call him Willoughby and nothing else," said Mary Poppins. "Willoughby being his name."
    "Willoughby! What a name! Worse and worse!" said Miss Lark despairingly. "What is he saying now?" For Andrew was barking again.
    "He says that if he comes back you are never to make him wear overcoats or go to the Hairdresser's again — that's his last word," said Mary Poppins.
    There was a pause.
    "Very well," said Miss Lark at last. "But I warn you, Andrew, if you catch your death of cold — don't blame me!"
    And with that she turned and walked haughtily up the steps, sniffing away the last of her tears.
    Andrew cocked his head towards Willoughby as if to say: "Come on!" and the two of them waltzed side by side slowly up the garden path, waving their tails like banners, and followed Miss Lark into the house.
    "He isn't a ninkypoop after all, you see," said Jane, as they went upstairs to the nursery and Tea.
    "No," agreed Michael. "But how do you think Mary Poppins knew?"
    "I don't know," said Jane. "And she'll never, never tell us. I am sure of that…"

CHAPTER 5
    THE DANCING COW
    JANE, WITH HER head tied up in Mary Poppins's bandanna handkerchief, was in bed with earache.
    "What does it feel like?" Michael wanted to know.
    "Like guns going off inside my head," said Jane.
    "Cannons?"
    "No, pop-guns."
    "Oh," said Michael. And he almost wished he could have earache, too. It sounded so exciting.

    "Shall I tell you a story out of one of the books?" said Michael, going to the bookshelf.
    "No. I just couldn't bear it," said Jane, holding her ear with her hand.
    "Well, shall I sit at the window and

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