"And wot about the sawdust?" he enquired. "All that wot them children has spilt?"
Mary Poppins spun round. Jane and Michael and the Twins were sitting comfortably on a fat brown sack, and their weight had squeezed a stream of sawdust out on to the floor. Her eyes blazed.
"If you don't get up this minute—" she began. And her voice was so frightful that they sprang to their feet without waiting to hear the rest of the sentence. Robertson Ay, who had been asleep on a garden-roller, woke up with a start and began to collect the parcels.
"We were only resting our legs—" Michael began.
"One More Word and you'll find yourself resting in Bed! I warn you!" she told him fiercely.
"I'll make no charge," declared Mr. THmlet, as he hurriedly swept up the sawdust. "Seein' it's you!" he added eagerly, still trying to be friendly.
Mary Poppins gave him a contemptuous stare.
"There's paint on your nose," she announced calmly, and stalked out of the shop.
Then off she went, like a human whirlwind, speeding up the High Street. And off went the children and Robertson Ay, wheeling behind her like the tail of a comet.
At the Baker's she bought a loaf of bread, two boxes of tarts and some ginger biscuits.
"Don't mind me," sighed Robertson Ay as she piled them into his arms.
"I won't!" she retorted cheerfully, as she hurried on to the Greengrocer's for peas, beans and cherries.
"The Last Straw breaks the Camel's back," said Robertson Ay, as she thrust them at him.
"So they say!" she remarked with a chilly smile and consulted her list again.
The next place was the Stationer's, where she bought a bottle of ink; and then she went to the Chemist for a packet of mustard plasters.
By now they had come to the end of the High Street. But still Mary Poppins did not stop. The children looked at each other and sighed. There were no more shops. Where could she be going?
"Oh, dear, Mary Poppins, my legs are breaking!" said Michael, limping pathetically.
"Can't we go home now, Mary Poppins? My shoes are worn out!" complained Jane.
And the Twins began to whimper and whine like a couple of fretful puppies.
Mary Poppins regarded them all with disgust.
"A set of Jellyfish — that's what you are! You haven't a backbone between you!"
And popping the shopping-list into her bag, she gave a quick contemptuous sniff and hurried round the corner.
"A Jellyfish swims," said Michael angrily. "And it doesn't have to go shopping!" He was so tired that he almost didn't care whether Mary Poppins heard him or not.
The breeze blew gently from the Park, full of the scents of the morning. It smelt of laurel leaves and moss, and something else that was vaguely familiar. What could it be? Jane sniffed the air.
"Michael!" she whispered. "I smell Peppermint!"
Michael sniffed like a sulky little dog.
"Um-hum," he admitted, "I do, too!"
And then it was that they both noticed the red-and-green umbrella. It stood beside the iron railings on the Town side of the Park. Against it leaned a large white signboard.
MISS CALICO
CONFECTIONER
HORSES FOR HIRE
said the words in big black letters.
The children stared.
For beneath the red-and-green umbrella sat one of the strangest little figures they had ever seen. At first they could not make out what it was, for it sparkled and glittered like a diamond. Then they saw that it was a small elderly lady with a skinny, leathery, yellow face and a mane of short white hair. The glitter and sparkle came from her dress, which was covered from collar to hem with pins. They stuck out all over her, like the quills of a hedgehog, and whenever she moved they flashed in the sunlight. In her hand she held a riding-whip. And every now and again she cracked it at one of the passers-by.
"Peppermint Candy! Bargain Prices! All of it made of Finest Sugar!" she cried in a little whinnying voice as the whip swished through the air.
"Come on, Michael!" said Jane excitedly, forgetting how tired she was.
He took her hand and let her drag him towards the striped umbrella. And as they drew nearer the sparkling figure, they saw a sight that filled them with hunger. For beside her stood a pottery jar that was filled with peppermint walking-sticks.
"Sugar and Spice
And all that's nice
At a Very Special
Bargain Price!"
sang the little old lady, cracking her whip.
And just at that moment she turned her head and spied the straggling group. Her dark eyes glittered like little black currants as she thrust out a bird-like hand.
"Well, I never! If it isn't Mary Poppins! I haven't seen you in a month of Tuesdays!"
"The same to you, so to speak, Miss Calico!" Mary Poppins replied politely.
"Well, it all just goes to show!" said Miss Calico. "If you know what I mean!" she added, grinning. Then her bright black gaze fell upon the children.
"Why, Mercy Me and a Jumping Bean! What a quartet of sulky faces! Cross-patch, draw the latch! You all look as if you'd lost something!"
"Their tempers," said Mary Poppins grimly.
Miss Calico's eyebrows went up with a rush, and her pins began to flash.
"Thundering Tadpoles! Think of that! Well, what's lost must be found — that's the law! Now — where did you lose 'em?"
The little black eyes went from one to another and somehow they all felt guilty.
"I think it must have been in the High Street," said Jane in a stifled whisper.
"Tlit! Hit! All that way back? And why did you lose 'em, might one ask?"
Michael shuffled his feet and his face grew red. "We didn't want to go on walking—" he began shamefacedly. But the sentence was never finished. Miss Calico interrupted him with a loud shrill cackle.
"Who does? Who does? I'd like to know? Nobody wants to go on walking. I wouldn't do it myself if you paid me. Not for a sackful of rubies!"
Michael stared. Could it really be true? Had he found at last a grown-up person who felt as he did about walking?
"Why, I haven't walked for centuries," said Miss Calico. "And what's more, none of my family does. What — stump on the ground on two flat feet? They'd think that quite beneath them!" She cracked her whip and her pins flashed brightly as she shook her finger at the children.
"Take my advice and always ride. Walking will only make you grow. And where does it get you? Pretty near nowhere! Ride, I say! Ride — and see the world!"
"But we've nothing to ride on!" Jane protested, looking round to see what Miss Calico rode. For, in spite of the notice "Horses for Hire" there wasn't even a donkey in sight.
"Nothing to ride on? Snakes alive! That's a very unfortunate state of affairs!"
Miss Calico's voice had a mournful sound but her black eyes twinkled impishly as she glanced at Mary Poppins. She gave a little questioning nod and Mary Poppins nodded back.
"Well, it might have been worse!" cried Miss Calico, as she whipped up a handful of sticks. "If you can't have horses — what about these? At least they'll help you along a bit. I can let you have 'em for a pin apiece."
The scent of peppermint filled the air, The four lost tempers came creeping back as they searched their clothes for pins. They wriggled and giggled, and peeked and pried, but never a pin could they find.
"Oh, what shall we do, Mary Poppins?" cried Jane. "We haven't a pin between us!"
"I should hope not!" she replied, with a snort. "The children I care for are properly mended."
She gave a little disgusted sniff. Then turning back the lapel of her coat, she handed a pin to each of the children. Robertson Ay, who was dozing against the railings, woke up with a start as she handed him another.