Mary Poppins Comes Back Read Online Free PDF Page A

the fare," he said calmly. "If you can read, you can read it on the meter. You can't go driving in a Taxi for love, you know, not with this luggage."
    Miss Andrew snorted and, diving her hand into her large pocket took out a very small purse. She handed over a coin. The Taxi-man looked at it, turned it over and over in his hand as if he thought it a curiosity. Then he laughed rudely.
    "This for the Driver?" he remarked sarcastically.
    "Certainly not. It's your fare. I don't approve of tips," said Miss Andrew.
    "You wouldn't," said the Taxi-man, staring at her.
    And to himself he remarked—"Enough luggage to fill 'arf the Park and she doesn't approve of tips—the 'Arpy!"
    But Miss Andrew did not hear him. The children had arrived at the gate and she turned to greet them, her feet ringing on the pavement and the veil flowing out behind her.
    "Well?" she said gruffly, smiling a thin smile. "I don't suppose you know who
I
am?"
    "Oh, yes we do!" said Michael. He spoke in his friendliest voice for he was very glad to meet Miss Andrew. "You're the Holy Terror!"
    A dark purple flush rose up from Miss Andrew's neck and flooded her face.
    "You are a very rude, impertinent boy. I shall report you to your Father!"
    Michael looked surprised. "I didn't mean to be rude," he began. "It was Daddy who said——"
    "Tut! Silence! Don't dare to argue with me!" said Miss Andrew. She turned to Jane.
    "And you're Jane, I suppose? H'm. I never cared for the name."
    "How do you do?" said Jane, politely, but secretly thinking she did not care much for the name Euphemia.
    "That dress is much too short!" trumpeted Miss Andrew, "and you ought to be wearing stockings. Little girls in my day never had bare legs. I shall speak to your Mother."
    "I don't like stockings," said Jane. "I only wear them in the Winter."
    "Don't be impudent. Children should be seen and not heard!" said Miss Andrew.
    She leant over the perambulator and with her huge hand, pinched the Twins' cheeks in greeting.
    John and Barbara began to cry.
    "Tut! What manners!" exclaimed Miss Andrew. "Brimstone and treacle—that's what they need!" she went on, turning to Mary Poppins. "No well-brought-up child cries like that. Brimstone and treacle, And plenty of it. Don't forget!"
    "Thank you, ma'am," said Mary Poppins with icy politeness. "But I bring the children up in my own way and take advice from nobody."
    Miss Andrew stared. She looked as if she could not believe her ears.
    Mary Poppins stared back, calm and unafraid.
    "Young woman!" said Miss Andrew, drawing herself up. "You forget yourself. How dare you answer me like that! I shall take steps to have you removed from this establishment! Mark my words!"
    She flung open the gate and strode up the path, furiously swinging the circular object under the checked cloth, and saying "Tut-tut!" over and over again.
    Mrs. Banks came running out to meet her.
    "Welcome, Miss Andrew, welcome!" she said politely. "How kind of you to pay us a visit. Such an unexpected pleasure. I hope you had a good journey."

    "Most unpleasant. I never enjoy travelling," said Miss Andrew. She glanced with an angry, peering eye round the garden.
    "Disgracefully untidy!" she remarked disgustedly. "Take my advice and dig up those things——" she pointed to the sunflowers, "and plant evergreens. Much less trouble. Saves time
and
money. And looks neater. Better still, no garden at all. Just a plain cement courtyard."
    "But," protested Mrs. Banks gently, "I like flowers best!"
    "Ridiculous! Stuff and nonsense! You are a silly woman. And your children are very rude—especially the boy."
    "Oh, Michael—I
am
surprised! Were you rude to Miss Andrew? You must apologise at once." Mrs. Banks was getting very nervous and flustered.
    "No, Mother, I wasn't. I only——" He began to explain but Miss Andrew's loud voice interrupted.
    "He was most insulting," she insisted. "He must go to a boarding-school at once. And the girl must have a Governess. I shall choose one myself. And