"Listen!" he said.
There was a sound of somebody tip-toeing in the next room.
Jane drew in her breath sharply. "Quick! Get back into bed. Pretend to be asleep. Hurry!"
With a bound Michael was under the blankets. In the darkness he and Jane held their breath, listening.
From the other Nursery, the door opened stealthily. The thin gap of light widened and grew larger. A head came round the edge and peered into the room. Then somebody slipped through and silently shut the door behind her.
Mary Poppins, wrapped in her fur coat and holding her shoes in her hands, tip-toed through their room.
They lay still, listening to her steps hurrying down the stairs. Far away the key of the front door scraped in its lock. There was a scurry of steps on the garden path and the front gate clicked.
And at that moment the clock struck ten!
Out of bed they sprang and rushed into the other Nursery, where the windows opened on the Park.
The night was black and splendid, lit with high swinging stars. But to-night it was not stars they were looking for. If Mary Poppins' Conversation had really been a message, there was something more interesting to be seen.
"Look!" Jane gave a little gulp of excitement and pointed.
Over in the Park, just by the entrance gate, stood the curious ark-shaped building, loosely moored to a tree-trunk.
"But how did it get there?" said Michael staring. "It was at the other side of the Park this morning."
Jane did not reply. She was too busy watching.
The roof of the Ark was open and on the top of the ladder stood Nellie-Rubina, balancing on her round disc. From inside Uncle Dodger was handing up to her bundle after bundle of painted wooden branches.
"Ready, Miss Poppins?" tinkled Nellie-Rubina, passing an armful down to Mary Poppins who was standing on the deck waiting to receive them.
The air was so clear and still that Jane and Michael, crouched in the window-seat, could hear every word.
Suddenly there was a loud noise inside the Ark as a wooden shape clattered to the floor.
"Uncle Dod-GER! Be careful, please! They're fragile!" said Nellie-Rubina sternly. And Uncle Dodger, as he lifted out a pile of painted clouds, replied apologetically, "Begging your pardon, my dear!" The flock of wooden sheep came next, all very stiff and solid. And last of all, the birds, butterflies and flowers.
"That's the lot!" said Uncle Dodger, heaving himself up through the open roof. Under his arm he carried the wooden cuckoo, now entirely covered with grey paint. And in his hand swung a large green paint-pot.
"Very well," said Nellie-Rubina. "Now, if you're ready, Miss Poppins, we'll begin!"
And then began one of the strangest pieces of work Jane and Michael had ever seen. Never, never, they thought, would they forget it, even if they lived to be ninety.
From the pile of painted wood Nellie-Rubina and Mary Poppins each took a long spray of leaves and, leaping into the air, attached them swiftly to the naked frosty branches of the trees. The sprays seemed to clip on easily for it did not take more than a minute to attach them. And as each was slipped into place, Uncle Dodger would spring up and neatly dab a spot of green paint at the point where the spray joined the tree.
"My Goodness Goodness!" exclaimed Jane, as Nellie-Rubina sailed lightly up to the top of a tall poplar and fixed a large branch there. But Michael was too astonished to say anything.
All over the Park went the three, jumping up to the tallest branch as if they were on springs. And in no time every tree in the Park was decked out with wooden sprays of leaves and neatly finished off with dabs of paint from Uncle Dodger's brush.
Every now and then Jane and Michael heard Nellie-Rubina's shrill voice crying, "Uncle Dod-GER! Be CAREFUL!" and Uncle Dodger's voice begging her pardon.
And now Nellie-Rubina and Mary Poppins took up in their arms the flat white wooden clouds. With these they soared higher than ever before, shooting right above the trees and pressing the clouds carefully against the sky.
"They're sticking, they're sticking!" cried Michael excitedly, dancing on the window-seat. And, sure
Against the sparkling, darkling sky
the flat white clouds stuck fast
enough, against the sparkling, darkling sky the flat white clouds stuck fast.
"Who-o-o-op!" cried Nellie-Rubina as she swooped down. "Now for the sheep!"
Very carefully, on a snowy strip of lawn, they set up the wooden flock, huddling the larger sheep together with the stiff white lambs among them.
"We're getting on!" Jane and Michael heard Mary Poppins say, as she put the last lamb on its legs.
"I don't know what we'd have done without you, Miss Poppins, indeed I don't!" said Nellie-Rubina, pleasantly. Then, in quite a different voice,
"Flowers, please, Uncle Dodger! And look sharp!"
"Here, my dear!" He rolled hurriedly up to her, his apron bulging with snow-drops, scyllas and aconites.
"Oh, look! Look!" Jane cried, hugging herself delightedly. For Nellie-Rubina was sticking the wooden shapes round the edge of an empty flower-bed. Round and round she rolled, planting her wooden border and reaching up her hand again and again for a fresh flower from Uncle Dodger's apron.
"That's neat!" said Mary Poppins admiringly, and Jane and Michael were astonished at the pleasant friendly tone of her voice.
"Yes, isn't it?" trilled Nellie-Rubina, brushing the snow from her hands, "Quite a Sight! What's left, Uncle Dodger?"
"The birds, my dear, and the butterflies!" He held out his apron. Nellie-Rubina and Mary Poppins seized the remaining wooden shapes and ran swiftly about the Park, setting the birds on branches or in nests and tossing the butterflies into the air. And the curious thing was that they stayed there, poised above the earth, their bright patches of paint showing clearly in the starlight.
"There! I think that's all!" said Nellie-Rubina, standing still on her disc, with her hands on her hips, as she gazed round at her handiwork.
"One thing more, my dear!" said Uncle Dodger.
And, rather unevenly, as though the evening's work had made him feel old and tired, he bowled towards the ash tree near the Park Gates. He took the cuckoo from under his arm and set it on a branch among the wooden leaves.
"There, my bonny! There, my dove!" he said, nodding his head at the bird.
"Uncle Dod-GER! When will you learn? It's not a dove. It's a cuckoo!"
He bent his head humbly.
"A dove of a cuckoo — that's what I meant. Begging your pardon, my dear!"
"Well, now, Miss Poppins, I'm afraid we must really be going!" said Nellie-Rubina and, rolling towards Mary Poppins, she took the pink face between her two woodeny hands and kissed it.
"See you soon, Tra-la!" she cried airily, bowling along the deck of the Ark and up the little ladder. At the top she turned and waved her hand jerkily to Mary Poppins. Then, with a woodeny clatter, she leapt down and disappeared inside.
"Uncle Dod-GER! Come along! Don't keep me waiting!" her thin voice floated back.
"Coming, my dear, coming! Begging your pardon!" Uncle Dodger rolled toward the deck, shaking hands with Mary Poppins on the way. The wooden cuckoo stared out from its leafy branch. He flung it a sad, affectionate glance. Then his flat disc rose in the air and echoed woodenly as he landed inside. The roof flew down and shut with a click.
"Let her go!" came Nellie-Rubina's shrill command from within. Mary Poppins stepped forward and unwound the mooring-rope from the tree. It was immediately drawn in through one of the windows.
"Make way, there, please! Make way!" shouted Nellie-Rubina. Mary Poppins stepped back hurriedly.
Michael clutched Jane's arm excitedly.
"They're off!" he cried, as the Ark rose from the ground and moved top-heavily above the snow. Up it went, rocking drunkenly between the trees. Then it steadied itself and passed lightly up and over the topmost boughs.
A jerky arm waved downwards from one of the windows but before Jane and
Michael could be certain whether it was Nellie-Rubina's or Uncle Dodger's, the Ark swept into the star-lit air and a corner of the house hid it from view.
Mary Poppins stood for a moment by the Park Gates waving her woolen gloves.
Then she came hurrying across the Lane and up the garden path. The front door key scraped in the lock. A cautious foot-step creaked on the stairs!
"Back to bed, quick!" said Jane. "She mustn't find us here!"
Down from the window-seat and through the door they fled and with two quick jumps landed in their beds. They had just time to put the bed-clothes over their heads before Mary Poppins opened the door quietly and tip-toed through.
Zup! That was her coat being hung on its hook. Crackle! That was her hat rustling down into its paper-bag. But they heard no more. For by the time she had undressed and climbed into her camp-bed, Jane and Michael had huggled down under the blankets and were fast asleep….
"Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!"
Across the Lane the soft bird note came floating.
"Jumping giraffes!" cried Mr. Banks, as he lathered his face, "The Spring is here!"
And he flung down his shaving-brush and rushed out into the garden. He gave one look at it and then, flinging back his head, he made a trumpet with his hands.
"Jane! Michael! John! Barbara!" he called up to the Nursery windows. "Come down! The snow's gone and Spring has come!"
They came tumbling down the stairs and out of the front door to find the whole Lane alive with people.
"Ship ahoy!" roared Admiral Boom waving his muffler. "Rope and Rigging! Cockles and Shrimps! Here's the Spring!"
"Well!" said Miss Lark, hurrying out through her gate. "A fine day at last! I was thinking of getting Andrew and Willoughby two pairs of leather boots each, but now the snow's gone I shan't have to!"
At that Andrew and Willoughby looked very relieved and licked her hand to show they were glad she had not disgraced them.
The Ice Cream Man wheeled slowly up and down, keeping an eye open for customers. And to-day his notice board read—
"Spring has come,
Rum-ti-tum,
Stop and buy one,
Spring has come!"
And the Sweep, carrying only one brush, walked along the Lane, looking from right to left with a satisfied air, as though he himself had arranged the lovely day.
And in the middle of all the excitement Jane and Michael stood still, staring about them.
Everything shone and glistened in the sunlight. There was not a single flake of snow to be seen.
From every branch of every tree, the tender pale-green buds were bursting. Round the edge of the flower-bed just inside the Park fragile green shoots of aconites, snow-drops and scyllas were breaking into a border of yellow, white and blue. Presently the Park Keeper came along and picked a tiny bunch and put them carefully in his button hole.
From flower to flower brightly coloured butterflies were darting on downy wings, and in the branches thrushes and tits and swallows and finches were singing and building nests.
A flock of sheep with soft young lambs at their heels went by, baa-ing loudly.
And from the bough of the ash tree by the Park Gates came the clear double-noted call—
"Cuckoo! Cuckoo!"
Michael turned to Jane. His eyes were shining.
"So that's what they were doing — Nellie-Rubina and Uncle Dodger and Mary Poppins!"
Jane nodded, gazing wonderingly about her.
Among the faint green smoke of buds a grey body rocked backwards and forwards on the ash-bough.
"Cuckoo! Cuckoo!"
"But — I thought they were all made of painted wood!" said Michael. "Did they come alive in the night, do you think?"
"Perhaps," said Jane.
"Cuckoo! Cuckoo!"
Jane seized Michael's hand and, as though he guessed the thought in her mind, he ran with her through the garden, across the Lane and into the Park.
"Hi! Where are you going, you two?" called Mr. Banks.
"Ahoy, there, messmates!" roared Admiral Boom.
"You'll get lost!" warned Miss Lark shrilly.
The Ice Cream Man tingled his bell wildly and the Sweep stood staring after them.
But Jane and Michael took no notice. They ran on, right through the Park under the trees to the place where they had first seen the Ark.
They drew up panting. It was cold and shadowy here under the dark branches and the snow had not yet melted. They peered about, seeking, seeking, But there was only a heavy drift of snow-flakes spread under the dark green boughs.
"It's really gone, then!" said Michael, gazing round.
"Do you think we only imagined it, Jane?" he asked doubtfully. She bent down suddenly and picked up something from the snow.
"No," she said slowly, "I'm sure we didn't." She held out her hand. In her palm lay a round pink Conversation Sweet. She read out the words.
"Good-bye till Next Year,
Nellie-Rubina Noah."
Michael drew a deep breath.
"So that's who she was! Uncle Dodger said she was the Eldest Daughter. But I never guessed."
"She brought the Spring!" said Jane dreamily, gazing at the Conversation.
"I'll thank you," said a voice behind them "to come home at once and eat your breakfast," said Mary Poppins.
They turned guiltily.
"We were just—" Michael began to explain.
"Then don't," snapped Mary Poppins. She leant over Jane's shoulder and took the Conversation.
"That, I believe, is mine!" she remarked and, putting it in her apron pocket, she led the way home through the Park.
Michael broke off a spray of green buds as he went. He examined them carefully.
"They seem quite real now," he said.
"Perhaps they always were," said Jane.
And a mocking voice came fluting from the ash tree,
"Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!"
CHAPTER TEN
Merry-go-round
It had been a quiet morning.
More than one person, passing along Cherry Tree Lane, had looked over the fence of Number Seventeen and said—"How very extraordinary! Not a sound!"
Even the house, which usually took no notice of anything, began to feel alarmed.
"Dear me! Dear me!" it said to itself, listening to the silence. "I hope nothing's wrong!"
Downstairs in the Kitchen, Mrs. Brill, with her spectacles on the tip of her nose, was nodding over the newspaper.
On the first-floor landing, Mrs. Banks and Ellen were tidying the Linen-cupboard and counting the sheets.
Upstairs in the Nursery Mary Poppins was quietly clearing away the luncheon things.
"I feel very good and sweet to-day," Jane was saying drowsily, as she lay stretched on the floor in a patch of sunlight.
"That must be a change!" remarked Mary Poppins with a sniff.
Michael took the last chocolate out of the box Aunt Flossie had given him for his sixth birthday last week.
Should he offer it to Jane? He wondered. Or to the Twins? Or Mary Poppins?
No. After all, it had been his birthday.
"Last, lucky last!" he said quickly and popped it into his own mouth. "And I wish there were more!" he added regretfully, gazing into the empty box.
"All good things come to an end, sometime," said Mary Poppins primly.
He cocked his head on one side and looked up at her.
"You don't!" he said daringly. "And you're a good thing."
The beginnings of a satisfied smile glimmered at the corners of her mouth but it disappeared as quickly as it had come.
"That's as may be," she retorted. "Nothing lasts for ever."
Jane looked round, startled.
If nothing lasted for ever it meant that Mary Poppins— "Nothing?" she said uneasily.
"Nothing at all," snapped Mary Poppins.
And as if she had guessed what was in Jane's mind she went to the mantel-piece and took down her large Thermometer.
Then she pulled her carpet-bag from under the camp-bed and popped the Thermometer into it.
Jane sat up quickly.
"Mary Poppins, why are you doing that?"
Mary Poppins gave her a curious look.
"Because," she said priggishly. "I was always taught to be tidy." And she pushed the carpet-bag under the bed again.
Jane sighed. Her heart felt tight and heavy in her chest.
"I feel rather sad and anxious," she whispered to Michael.
"I expect you had too much steam pudding!" he retorted.
"No, it's not that kind of a feeling—" she began, and broke off suddenly for a knock had sounded at the door.
Tap! Tap!
"Come in!" called Mary Poppins.
Robertson Ay stood there yawning.
"Do you know what?" he said sleepily.
"No, what?"
"There's a Merry-go-round in the Park!"
"That's no news to me!" snapped Mary Poppins.
"A Fair?" cried Michael excitedly. "With swinging-boats and a Hoop-la?"
"No," said Robertson Ay, solemnly shaking his head. "A Merry-go-round, all by itself. Came last night. Thought you would like to know."
He shuffled languidly to the door and closed it after him.
Jane sprang up, her anxiety forgotten.
"Oh, Mary Poppins, may we go?"
"Say Yes, Mary Poppins, say Yes!" cried Michael dancing round her.
She turned, balancing a tray of plates and cups on her arm.
"I am going," she remarked, calmly. "Because I have the fare. I don't know about you."
"There's sixpence in my money-box!" said Jane eagerly.
"Oh, Jane, lend me twopence!" pleaded Michael. He had spent all his money the day before on a stick of Liquorice.
They gazed anxiously at Mary Poppins, waiting for her to make up her mind.
"No borrowing or lending in this Nursery, please," she said tartly. "I will pay for one ride each. And one is all you will have." She swept from the room carrying the tray.
They stared at each other.
"What can be the matter?" said Michael. It was now his turn to be anxious. "She's never paid for anything before!"
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