With a start, Jane lifted her head and glanced at Michael.
"Did you hear?" she whispered.
He nodded, staring.
Robertson Ay moved again and muttered in his sleep. They bent to listen.
"Black and white cow," he murmured indistinctly. "Sat up in a tree… mumble, mumble, mumble… it couldn't be me! Hum…!"
Across his sleeping body Jane and Michael gazed at each other with wondering eyes.
"Humph! Well to be him, I must say!"
Mary Poppins had come up behind them and she too was staring down at Robertson Ay. "The lazy, idle, Good-for-Nothing!" she said crossly.
But she couldn't really have been as cross as she sounded for she took her handkerchief out of her pocket and slipped it between Robertson Ay's cheek and the lawn-mower.
"He'll have a clean face, anyway, when he wakes up, That'll surprise him!" she said tartly.
But Jane and Michael noticed how careful she had been not to wake Robertson Ay and how soft her eyes were when she turned away.
They tip-toed after her, nodding wisely to one another. Each knew that the other understood.
Mary Poppins trundled the perambulator up the steps and into the hall. The front door shut with a quiet little click.
Outside in the garden Robertson Ay slept on.
* * *
That night when Jane and Michael went to say good-night to him, Mr. Banks was in a towering rage. He was dressing to go out to dinner and he couldn't find his best stud.
"Well, by all that's lively, here it is!" he cried suddenly. "In a tin of stove-blacking — of all things! on my dressing-table. That Robertson Ay's doing. I'll sack that fellow one of these days. He's nothing but a dirty rascal!"
And he could not understand why Jane and Michael, when he said that, burst into such peals of joyous laughter….
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Evening Out
What, no pudding?" said Michael, as Mary Poppins, her arm full of plates, mugs and knives, began to lay the table for Nursery Tea.
She turned and looked at him fiercely.
"This," she snapped, "is my Evening Out. So you will eat bread and butter and strawberry-jam and be thankful. There's many a little boy would be glad to have it."
"I'm not," grumbled Michael. "I want rice-pudding with honey in it."
"You want! You want! You're always wanting. If it's not this it's that, and if it's not that it's the other. You'll ask for the Moon next."
He put his hands in his pockets and moved sulkily away to the window-seat. Jane was kneeling there, staring out at the bright, frosty sky. He climbed up beside her, still looking very cross.
"All right, then! I do ask for the Moon. So there!" He flung the words back at Mary Poppins. "But I know I shan't get it. Nobody ever gives me anything."
He turned hurriedly away from her angry glare.
"Jane," he said, "there's no pudding."
"Don't interrupt me, I'm counting!" said Jane, pressing her nose against the window-pane so that it was quite blunt and squashed at the tip.
"Counting what?" he asked, not very interested. His mind was full of rice-pudding and honey.
"Shooting stars. Look, there goes another. That's seven. And another! Eight. And one over the Park — that's nine!"
"O-o-h! And there's one going down Admiral Boom's chimney!" said Michael, sitting up suddenly and forgetting all about the pudding.
"And a little one — see! — streaking right across the Lane. Such frosty lights!" cried Jane. "Oh, how I wish we were out there! What makes stars shoot, Mary Poppins?"
"Do they come out of a gun?" enquired Michael.
Mary Poppins sniffed contemptuously.
"What do you think I am? An Encyclopædia? Everything from A to Z?" she demanded crossly. "Come and eat your teas, please!" She pushed them towards their chairs and pulled down the blind. "And No Nonsense. I'm in a hurry!"
And she made them eat so quickly that they were both afraid they would choke.
"Mayn't I have just one more piece?" asked Michael, stretching out his hand to the plate of bread-and-butter.
"You may not. You have already eaten more than is good for you. Take a ginger biscuit and go to bed."
"But—"
"But me no buts or you'll be sorry!" she flung at him sternly.
"I shall have indigestion, I know I shall," he said to Jane, but only in a whisper, for when Mary Poppins looked like that it was wiser not to make any remark at all. Jane took no notice. She was slowly eating her ginger biscuit and peering cautiously out at the frosty sky through a chink in the blind.
"Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen—"
"Did I or did I not say BED?" enquired the familiar voice behind them.
"All right, I'm just going! I'm just going, Mary Poppins!"
And they ran squealing to the Night-Nursery with Mary Poppins hurrying after them and looking Simply Awful.
Less than half-an-hour later Mary Poppins was tucking each one in tightly, pushing the sheets and blankets under the mattress with sharp furious little stabs.
"There!" she said, snapping the words between her lips. "That's all for tonight. And if I hear One Word—" She did not finish the sentence but her look said all that was necessary.
"There'll be Trouble!" said Michael, finishing it for her. But he whispered it under his breath to his blanket for he knew what would happen if he said it aloud. She whisked out of the room, her starched apron rustling and crackling, and shut the door with an angry click. They heard her light feet hurrying away down the stairs — Tap-tap, Tap-tap — from landing to landing.
"She's forgotten to light the night-light," said Michael, peering around the corner of his pillow. "She must be in a hurry. I wonder where she's going!"
"And she's left the blind up!" said Jane, sitting up in bed. "Hooray, now we can watch the shooting stars!"
The pointed roofs of Cherry Tree Lane were shiny with frost and the moonlight slid down the gleaming slopes and fell soundlessly into the dark gulfs between the houses. Everything glimmered and shone. The earth was as bright as the sky.
"Seventeen-Eighteen-Nineteen-Twenty—" said Jane, steadily counting as the stars shot down. As fast as one disappeared another came to take its place until it seemed that the whole sky was alive and dancing with the dazzle of shooting stars.
"It's like fireworks," said Michael. "Oh, look at that one! Or the Circus. Do you think they have circuses in Heaven, Jane?"
"I'm not sure!" said Jane doubtfully. "There's the Great Bear and the Little Bear, of course, and Taurus-the-Bull and Leo-the-Lion. But I don't know about a Circus."
"Mary Poppins would know," said Michael, nodding wisely.
"Yes, but she wouldn't tell," said Jane, turning again to the window. "Where was I? Was it Twenty-one? Oh, Michael, such a beauty — do you see?" She bounced excitedly up and down in her bed, pointing to the window.
A very bright star, larger than any they had yet seen, was shooting through the sky towards Number Seventeen Cherry Tree Lane. It was different from the others for, instead of leaping straight across the dark, it was turning over and over, curving through the air very curiously.
"Duck your head, Michael!" shouted Jane suddenly. "It's coming in here!"
They dived down into the blankets and burrowed their heads under the pillows.
"Do you think it's gone now?" came Michael's muffled voice presently. "I'm nearly smothercated."
"Of course I haven't gone!" A small clear voice answered him. "What do you take me for?"
Very surprised, Jane and Michael threw off the bed-clothes and sat up. There, at the edge of the window-sill, perched on its shiny tail and gleaming brightly at them, was the shooting star.
"Come on, you two! Be quick!" it said, gleaming frostily across the room.
Michael stared at it.
"But — I don't understand—" he began.
A bright, glittering, very small laugh sounded in the room.
"You never do,
do you?" said the star.
"You mean — we're to come with you?" said Jane.
"Of course! And mind you wrap up. It's chilly!"
They sprang out of their beds and ran for overcoats.
"Got any money?" the star asked sharply.
"There's twopence in my coat pocket," said Jane doubtfully.
"Coppers? They'll be no good! Here, catch!" And with a little sizzling sound, as though a firework squib was going off, the star sent out a shower of sparks. Two of them shot right across the room and landed, one in Jane's hand and one in Michael's.
"Hurry, or we'll be late!"
The star streaked across the room, through the closed door and down the stairs, with Jane and Michael, tightly clasping their starry money, after it.
"Can I be dreaming I wonder?" said Jane to herself, as she hurried down Cherry Tree Lane.
"Follow!" cried the star as, at the end of the Lane, where the frosty sky seemed to come down to meet the pavement, it leapt into the air and disappeared.
"Follow! Follow!" came the voice from somewhere in the sky. "Just as you are, step on a star!"
Jane seized Michael's hand and raised her foot uncertainly from the pavement. To her surprise she found that the lowest star in the sky was easily within her reach. She stepped up, balancing carefully. The star seemed quite steady and solid.
"Come on, Michael!"
They hurried up the frosty sky, leaping over the gulfs between the stars.
"Follow!" cried the voice, far ahead of them. Jane paused and, glancing down, caught her breath to see how high they were. Cherry Tree Lane — indeed, the whole world — was as small and sparkly as a toy on a Christmas Tree.
"Are you giddy, Michael?" she said, springing on to a large flat star.
"N-o-o. Not if you hold my hand."
They paused. Behind them the great stairway of stars led down to earth, but before them there were no more to be seen, nothing but a thick blue patch of naked sky.
Michael's hand trembled in Jane's.
"W-w-what shall we do now?" he said, in a voice that tried not to sound frightened.
"Walk up! Walk up! Walk up and see the sights! Pay your money and take your choice! The two-Tailed Dragon or the Horse with Wings! Magical Marvels! Universal Wonders! Walk up! Walk up!"
A loud voice seemed to be shouting these words in their very ears. They stared about them. There was no sign of anybody.
"Step along everybody! Don't miss the Golden Bull and the Comical Clown! World-Famous Troupe of Performing Constellations! Once seen never forgotten! Push aside the curtain and walk in!"
Again the voice sounded close beside them. Jane put out her hand. To her surprise she found that what had seemed a plain and starless patch of sky was really a thick dark curtain. She pressed against it and felt it yield; she gathered up a fold of it and, pulling Michael after her, pushed the curtain aside.
A bright flare of light dazzled them for a moment. When they could see again they found themselves standing at the edge of a ring of shining sand. The great blue curtain enfolded the ring on all sides and was drawn up to a point above as though it were a tent.
"Now then! Do you know you were almost too late? Got your tickets?"
They turned. Beside them, his bright feet gleaming in the sand, stood a strange and gigantic figure. He looked like a hunter, for a starry leopard-skin was slung across his shoulders, and from his belt, decorated with three large stars, hung down a shining sword.
"Tickets, please!" he held out his hand.
"I'm afraid we haven't got any. You see, we didn't know—" began Jane.
"Dear, dear, how careless! Can't let you in without a ticket, you know. But what's that in your hand?"
Jane held out the golden spark.
"Well, if that isn't a ticket, I'd like to know what is!" He pressed the spark between his three large stars. "Another shiner for Orion's belt!" he remarked pleasantly.
"Is that who you are?" said Jane, staring at him.
"Of course — didn't you know? But — excuse me, I must attend to the door. Move along, please!"
The children, feeling rather shy, moved on hand in hand. Tier on tier of seats rose up at one side of them and at the other a golden cord separated them from the ring. And the ring itself was crowded with the strangest collection of animals, all shining bright as gold. A Horse with great gold Wings pranced by on glittering hooves. A golden Fish threshed up the dust of the ring with its fin. Three Little Kids were rushing wildly about on two legs instead of four. And it seemed to Jane and Michael, as they looked closer, that all these animals were made of stars. The wings of the Horse were of stars, not feathers, the Three Kids had stars on their noses and tails, and the Fish was covered with shining starry scales.
"Good-evening!" it remarked, bowing politely to Jane as it threshed by. "Fine night for the performance!"
But before Jane could reply it had hurried past.
"How very strange!" said she. "I've never seen animals like this before!"
"Why should it be strange?" said a voice behind them.
Two children, both boys and a little older than Jane, stood there smiling. They were dressed in shining tunics and their peaked caps had each a star for a pompon.
"I beg your pardon," said Jane, politely. "But, you see, we're used to — er — fur and feathers and these animals seem to be made of stars."
"But of course they are!" said the first boy, opening his eyes very wide. "What else could they be made of? They're the Constellations!"
"But even the sawdust is gold—" began Michael.
The second boy laughed. "Star-dust, you mean! Haven't you been to a Circus before?"
"Not this kind."
"All circuses are alike," said the first boy. "Our animals are brighter, that's all."
"But who are you?" demanded Michael.
"The Twins. He's Pollux and I'm Castor. We're always together."
"Like the Siamese Twins?"
"Yes. But more so. The Siamese Twins are only joined in body but we have a single heart and a single mind between us. We can think each other's thoughts and dream each other's dreams. But we mustn't stay here talking. We've got to get ready — see you later!" And the Twins ran off and disappeared through a curtained exit.
"Hullo!" said a gloomy voice from inside the ring. "I suppose you don't happen to have a currant bun in your pocket?"
A Dragon with two large finny tails lumbered towards them, breathing steam from its nostrils.
"I'm sorry, we haven't," said Jane.
"Nor a biscuit or two?" said the Dragon eagerly.
They shook their heads.
"I thought not," said the Dragon, dropping a golden tear. "It's always the way on Circus nights. I don't get fed till after the performance. On ordinary occasions I have a beautiful maiden for supper—"
Jane drew back quickly, pulling Michael with her.
"Oh, don't be alarmed!" the Dragon went on, reassuringly. "You'd be much too small. Besides, you're human and therefore tasteless. They keep me hungry," he explained, "so that I shall do my tricks better. But after the show—" A greedy light came into his eyes and he shuffled away, lolling out his tongue and saying "Yum-yum" in a soft, greedy, hissing voice.
"I'm glad we're only human," said Jane, turning to Michael. "It would be dreadful to be eaten by a Dragon!"
But Michael had hurried on ahead and was talking eagerly to the Three Little Kids.
"How does it go?" he was asking, as Jane caught up with him.
And the Eldest Kid, which apparently had offered to recite, cleared its throat, and began—
"Horn and toe,
Toe and horn——"
"Now, Kids!" Orion's voice interrupted loudly. "You can say your piece when the time comes. Get ready now, we're going to begin! Follow me, please!" he said to the children.
They trotted obediently after the gleaming figure, and as they went the golden animals turned to stare at them. They heard snatches of whispered conversation as
they passed.
"Who's that?" said a huge starry Bull, as it stopped pawing the star-dust to gaze at them. And a Lion turned and whispered something into the Bull's ear. They caught the words "Banks" and "Evening Out" but heard no more than that.
By now every seat on every tier was filled with a shining starry figure. Only three empty seats remained and to these Orion led the children.
"Here you are! We kept these for you. Just under the Royal Box. You'll see perfectly. Look! they're just beginning!"
And, turning, Jane and Michael saw that the ring was empty. The animals had hurried out while they had been climbing to their seats. They unbuttoned their overcoats and leaned forward excitedly.
From somewhere came a fanfare of trumpets. A blast of music echoed through the tent and above the sound could be heard a high, sweet neighing.
"The comets!" said Orion, sitting down beside Michael.
A wild nodding head appeared at the entrance and one by one nine comets galloped into the ring, their manes braided with gold, and silver plumes on their heads.
Suddenly the music rose to a great roar of sound and with one movement the comets dropped upon their knees and bowed their heads. A warm gust of air came wafting across the ring.
"How hot it's getting!" cried Jane.
"Hush! He's coming!" said Orion.
"Who?" whispered Michael.
"The Ring-Master!"
Orion nodded to the far entrance. A light shone there, eclipsing the light of the constellations. It grew steadily brighter.
"Here he is!" Orion's voice had a curious softness in it.
And as he spoke there appeared between the curtains a towering golden figure with flaming curls upon his head and a wide, radiant face. And with him came a great swell of warmth that lapped the ring and spread out in ever-widening circles until it surrounded Jane and Michael and Orion. Half-consciously, made dreamy by that warmth, the children slipped off their overcoats.
Orion sprang to his feet holding his right hand above his head.
"Hail, Sun, hail!" he cried. And from the stars in the tiered seats the cry came echoing—
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