More about Mary Poppins / И снова о Мэри Поппинз

“It’s the true one, then,” Mary Poppins said, tying Barbara’s socks firmly round her ankles.

“Well, it’s Jane and Michael who are silly,” John continued. “I know I shan’t forget when I get older.”

“Nor I,” said Barbara, contentedly sucking her finger.

“Yes, you will,” said Mary Poppins firmly.

The Twins sat up and looked at her.

“Huh!” said the Starling contemptuously. “Look at ’em! They think they’re the World’s Wonders. Little miracles – I don’t think! Of course you’ll forget – same as Jane and Michael.

”

“We won’t,” said the Twins, looking at the Starling as if they would like to murder him.

The Starling jeered.

“I say you will,” he insisted. “It isn’t your fault, of course,” he added more kindly. “You’ll forget because you just can’t help it. There never was a human being that remembered after the age of one – at the very latest – except, of course, Her.” And he jerked his head over his shoulder at Mary Poppins.

“But why can she remember and not us?” said John.

“A-a-a-h! She’s different. She’s the Great Exception. Can’t go by her,*” said the Starling, grinning at them both.

John and Barbara were silent.

The Starling went on explaining.

“She’s something special, you see. Not in the matter of looks, of course. One of my own day-old chicks is handsomer than Mary P. ever was – ”

“Here, you impertinence!” said Mary Poppins crossly, making a dart at him and flicking her apron in his direction.

But the Starling leapt aside and flew up to the window-frame, whistling wickedly, well out of reach.

“Thought you had me that time, didn’t you?” he jeered and shook his wing-feathers at her.

Mary Poppins snorted.

The sunlight moved on through the room, drawing its long gold shaft after it. Outside a light wind had sprung up and was whispering gently to the cherry-trees in the Lane.

“Listen, listen, the Wind’s talking,” said John, tilting his head on one side.

“Do you really mean we won’t be able to hear that when we’re older, Mary Poppins?”

“You’ll hear all right,” said Mary Poppins, “but you won’t understand.” At that Barbara began to weep gently. There were tears in John’s eyes, too. “Well, it can’t be helped. It’s how things happen,” said Mary Poppins sensibly.

“Look at them, just look at them!” jeered the Starling.