More about Mary Poppins / И снова о Мэри Поппинз

The thought that they would have to go home was the first sad thought of the afternoon, and the moment it was in their minds the Laughing Gas went out of them.

Jane and Michael sighed as they watched Mary Poppins come slowly down the air, carrying Jane’s coat and hat.

Mr Wigg sighed, too. A great, long, heavy sigh.

“Well, isn’t that a pity?” he said soberly. “It’s very sad that you’ve got to go home. I never enjoyed an afternoon so much – did you?”

“Never,” said Michael sadly, feeling how dull it was to be down on the earth again with no Laughing Gas inside him.

“Never, never,” said Jane, as she stood on tiptoe and kissed Mr Wigg’s withered-apple cheeks. “Never, never, never, never…!”

* * *

They sat on either side of Mary Poppins going home in the Bus. They were both very quiet, thinking over the lovely afternoon. Presently Michael said sleepily to Mary Poppins,

“How often does your Uncle get like that?”

“Like what?” said Mary Poppins sharply, as though Michael had deliberately said something to offend her.

“Well – all bouncy and boundy and laughing and going up in the air.”

“Up in the air?” Mary Poppins’s voice was high and angry. “What do you mean, pray, up in the air?”

Jane tried to explain.

“Michael means – is your Uncle often full of Laughing Gas, and does he often go rolling and bobbing about on the ceiling when – ”

“Rolling and bobbing! What an idea! Rolling and bobbing on the ceiling! You’ll be telling me next he’s a balloon!” Mary Poppins gave an offended sniff.

“But he did!” said Michael. “We saw him.”

“What, roll and bob? How dare you! I’ll have you know that my uncle is a sober, honest, hardworking man, and you’ll be kind enough to speak of him respectfully. And don’t bite your Bus ticket! Roll and bob, indeed – the idea!”

Michael and Jane looked across Mary Poppins at each other.

But the look that passed between them said: “Is it true or isn’t it? About Mr Wigg. Is Mary Poppins right or are we?”

But there was nobody to give them the right answer.

The Bus roared on, wildly lurching and bounding.