"Are you going away, too?" Michael demanded, as he stared at Mrs. Corry.
She gave a merry shriek of laughter. "Well — yes, I am, in a manner of speaking! Once one goes they all go — that's the way of it. Now, Fannie and Annie—" she glanced around, "what have you idiots done with those presents?"
"Here, Mother!" the sisters answered nervously. And the huge hands dropped into Mary Poppins' palm two tiny pieces of gingerbread. One was shaped like a heart and the other like a star.
Mary Poppins gave a cry of delight.
"Why, Mrs. Corry! What a surprise! This is a TVeat as well as a Pleasure!"
"Oh, it's nothing. Just a Souvenir." Mrs. Corry airily waved her hand, and her little elastic-sided boots danced along beside the perambulator.
"All your friends seem to be here tonight!" remarked Michael to Mary Poppins.
"Well, what do you think I am — a Hermit? I suppose I can see my friends when I like!"
"I was only remarking—" he began, when a glad shriek interrupted him.
"Why, Albert — if it isn't you!" cried Mrs. Corry gaily. And she ran to meet a roly-poly figure that was hurrying towards them. The children gave a shout of joy as they recognized Mr. Wigg.
"Well, Bless my Boots. It's Clara Corry!" cried Mr. Wigg, shaking her hand affectionately.
"I didn't know you knew each other!" exclaimed Jane, looking very surprised.
"What you don't know would fill a Dictionary," Mary Poppins broke in with a snort.
"Know each other? Why, we were children together — weren't we, Albert?" cried Mrs. Corry.
Mr. Wigg chuckled. "Ah, the good old days!" he answered cheerily. "Well, how are you, Mary, my girl?"
"Nicely, thank you, Uncle Albert. Mustn't complain," replied Mary Poppins.
"I thought I'd step up for One Last Word. Pleasant trip and all that. It's a nice night for it." Mr. Wigg glanced round at the clear blue dusk that was creeping through the Park.
"A nice night for what?" demanded Michael. He hoped Mary Poppins would not be lonely with her friends going off like this. But, after all, he thought to himself — she's still got me and what more could she want?
"A nice night to go sailing — that's what it's for!" roared Admiral Boom in his rollicking voice. He was striding through the trees towards them, singing as he came:
"Sailing, sailing, over the Bounding Main,
And many a stormy Wind shall blow
Till we come home again!
Sailing, sailing—"
"Ahoy there, lubbers! Hoist the mainsail! Up with the anchor and let her go. For away I'm bound to go — oho! — 'cross the wide Missouri!" He blew his nose with a sound like a foghorn and looked at Mary Poppins.
"All aboard?" he enquired gruffly, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"All aboard, Sir," she answered primly, and she gave him a curious look.
"Hrrrrrrrrmph! Well—
"I'll be true to my love,
If my Love will be tru-ue to me!"
he sang, in a voice that was almost gentle. "Here—" he broke off. "Port and Starboard! Cockles and Whelks! You can't do that to a Sailor!"
"Balloons and Balloons!" cried a high-pitched voice as a little shape went whizzing past and knocked off the Admiral's hat.
It was the Balloon Woman. One small balloon flew from her hand. It bounced her upon the end of its string and swept her away through the shadows.
"Good-bye and Good-bye, my Dearie Duck!" she called as she disappeared.
"There she goes — off like a streak of lightning!" cried Jane, gazing after her.
"Well, she's certainly not a creeping Snail, like some people I could mention! Kindly walk up!" said Mary Poppins. "I haven't all night to waste!"
"I should think not!" Mrs. Corry said, grinning.
They walked up. For once they were eager to do anything she told them. They put their hands on the perambulator beside her black-gloved fingers. And the blue dusk lapped them round like a river as they hurried along with the chattering group.
They were nearly at the Park Gates now. The Lane stretched darkly in front of them and from it came a strain of music. Jane and Michael looked at each other. What could it be? said their upraised brows. Then their curiosity got the better of them. They wanted to stay with Mary Poppins but they also wanted to see what was happening. They gave one glance at her dark blue figure and then began to run.
"Oh, look!" cried Jane, as she reached the Gate. "It's Mr. Twigley with a Hurdy-gurdy!"
And Mr. Twigley it was indeed, drawing a sweet wild tune from the box as he busily turned the handle. Beside him stood a small bright figure that was vaguely familiar.
"And all of them made of the Finest Sugar," it was saying gaily to Mr. Twigley as the children crossed the road. Then, of course, they knew who it was.
"Stare, stare,
Like a Bear,
Then you'll know me
Everywhere!"
chanted Miss Calico cheerfully, as she waved her hand towards them.
"Could you move your feet a bit, please, kids! You're standing on one of my roses!"
Bert, the Matchman, crouched on the pavement, right at their own front gate. He was drawing a large bouquet of flowers in coloured chalks on the asphalt. Ellen and the Policeman were watching him. And Miss Lark and her dogs were listening to the music as they stood outside Next Door.
"Wait a minute," she cried to Mr. Twigley, "while I run in and get you a shilling!"
Mr. Twigley smiled his twinkly smile and shook his head gently.
"Don't bother, ma'am," he advised Miss Lark. "A shilling would be no use to me. I'm doing it All for Love." And the children saw him lift his eyes and exchange a look with Mary Poppins as she strode out of the Park. He wound the handle with all his might and the tune grew louder and quicker.
"One Forget-me-not — and then it's finished," the Matchman murmured to himself as he added a flower to the bunch.
"That's dainty, Bert!" said Mary Poppins admiringly. She had pushed the perambulator up behind him and was gazing at the picture. He sprang to his feet with a little cry and, plucking the bouquet from the pavement, he pressed it into her hand.
"They're yours, Mary," he told her shyly. "I drew them all for you!"
"Did you really, Bert?" she said with a smile. "Well, I just don't know how to thank you!" She hid her blushing face in the flowers and the children could smell the scent of roses.
The Matchman looked at her glowing eyes and smiled a loving smile.
"It's tonight — isn't it, Mary?" he said.
"Yes, Bert," she said, nodding, as she gave him her hand. The Matchman looked at it sadly for a moment. Then he bent his head and kissed it.
"Good-bye, then, Mary!" they heard him whisper.
And she answered softly, "Good-bye, Bert!"
"What is all this about tonight?" demanded Michael, inquisitively.
"Tonight is the happiest night of my life!" said Miss Lark as she listened to the Hurdy-gurdy. "I never heard such beautiful music. It makes my feet simply twinkle!"
"Well, let 'em twinkle with mine!" roared the Admiral. And he snatched Miss Lark away from her gate and polka-ed along the Lane.
"Oh, Admiral!" they heard her cry, as he swung her round and round.
"Lovey-dovey-cat's-eyes!" cooed Mrs. Turvy. And Mr. Turvy, looking very embarrassed, allowed her to dance him round.
"Wot about it — eh?" the Policeman smirked, and before Ellen had time to blow her nose, he had whirled her into the dance.