Mary Poppins Comes Back

I shouldn't wonder if you didn't wonder much too much!

We're on the brink of an Adventure. Don't spoil it by asking questions!

Some people,” remarked Mary Poppins, putting her down, “think a great deal too much. Of that I am sure.

If I were some people,” she remarked acidly, “I’d mind my own business!

All right, indeed! That was hardly the word. All right, in her blue jacket with the silver buttons! All right with her gold locket round her neck! All right with the parrot-headed umbrella under her arm!

All good things come to an end, sometime,” said Mary Poppins primly.

A very excellent and worthy person, thoroughly reliable in every particular.

Gently, please, gently!” she warned, as they crowded about her. “This is a baby, not a battle-ship!

What were they doing now, at Miss Lark’s? she wondered. Playing with Miss Lark’s dogs, perhaps, and listening to Miss Lark telling them that Andrew had a wonderful pedigree but that Willoughby was half an Airedale and half a Retriever and the worst half of both. And presently they would all, even the dogs, have chocolate biscuits and walnut cake for tea.

Well, what is she, then? And where did she come from?” cried the Fledgling shrilly, flapping his short wings and staring down at the cradle. “You tell him, Annabel!” the Starling croaked. Annabel moved her hands inside her blanket. “I am earth and air and fire and water,” she said softly. “I come from the Dark where all things have their beginning.” “Ah, such dark!” said the Starling softly, bending his head to his breast. “It was dark in the egg, too,” the Fledgling cheeped. “I come from the sea and its tides,” Annabel went on. “I come from the sky and it’s stars, I come from the sun and it’s brightness—“ “Ah, so bright!” said the starling, nodding. “And I come from the forests of earth.” As if in a dream, Mary Poppins rocked the cradle—to-and-fro, to-and-fro with a steady swinging movement. “Yes?” whispered the Fledgling. “Slowly I moved at first,” said Annabel, “always sleeping and dreaming. I remembered all I had been and I thought of all I shall be. And when I had dreamed my dream I awoke and came swiftly.” She paused for a moment, her blue eyes full of memories. “And then?” Prompted the Fledgling. “I heard the stars singing as I came and I felt warm wings about me. I passed the beasts of the jungle and came through the dark, deep waters. It was a long journey.

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,