Mary Poppins / Мэри Поппинс. Книга для чтения на английском языке

“What shall I do without a nurse?” said Mrs. Banks.

“Write into the newspaper,” said Mr. Banks, “and say that you want a very good nurse for Jane and Michael and John and Barbara Banks. And then wait, and the nurses will come. Oh, I must go to the City. How cold it is today! The East Wind is blowing. I must put on two overcoats.” And Mr. Banks kissed his wife on the side of her nose, waved his hand[5 - waved his hand ['weıvd hız'hænd] – помахал рукой] to the children, and went to the City.

Mr. Banks went to the City every day except Sundays. In the City he sat on a large chair in front of a large desk and made money.

Mrs. Banks went into the drawing-room and wrote letters to the newspapers. In the letters she asked to send her a nurse at once[6 - at once [ət'wʌns] – сейчас же] because she was waiting. Upstairs, in the Nursery, Jane and Michael stood at the window and looked into the street. They were waiting for the nurse.

In the evening Jane and Michael stood at the window again. They were waiting for Mr. Banks to come from the City. The strong East Wind was blowing, and the trees were bending. It was already dark.

“There he is![7 - There he is! ['ðɛə hi:'ız] – Вон он!]” said Michael.

“That is not Daddy,” said Jane. “It is somebody else.”

And really it was not Mr. Banks. It was a woman. She was holding her hat with one hand and was carrying a bag in the other.

“How funny!” said Michael.

“Let’s go and see who it is!” said Jane. The children went out of the Nursery to the landing. They looked down into the hall.

The door of the drawing-room opened, and their Mother came out with the visitor. The woman had very black hair, large feet and hands and small blue eyes.

“They are very good children,” said Mrs. Banks. The woman did not answer. She only sniffed.[8 - She only sniffed. [snıft] – Она только пренебрежительно хмыкнула (потянула носом).]

“The Nursery is upstairs,” said Mrs. Banks. She went upstairs, and the woman followed her. And at that time Jane and Michael saw another curious thing. The woman did not go upstairs.