Mary Poppins Comes Back

by P. L. Travers

  “I’m fishing,” said Jane, as she lay on her stomach and stretched her hand over the water. She imagined a fishing-rod in her fingers and a line running down, with a hook and a worm. After a while, she knew, a fish would swim lazily up to the hook and give a worm a tweak. Then, with a jerk, she would land him neatly and take him home in her hat. “Well, I never!” Mrs Brill would say. “It’s just what we needed for supper.”

  Beside her the Twins were happily paddling. Michael steered his ship through a terrible storm. Mary Poppins sat primly on her bench and rocked the perambulator with one foot. Her silver needle flashed in the sunlight. The Park was quiet and dreamy and still.

  Bang!

  The Elderly Gentleman closed his book and the sound shattered the silence.

  “Oh, I say!” protested a shrill sweet voice. “You might have let me finish!”

  Jane and Michael looked up in surprise. They stared. They blinked. And they stared again. For there, on the grass before them, stood the little marble statue. The marble Dolphin was clasped in his arms and the pedestal was quite empty.

  The Elderly Gentleman opened his mouth. Then he shut it and opened it again.

  “Er – did you say something?” he said at last, and his eyebrows went up to the top of his head.

  “Yes, of course I did!” the Boy replied. “I was reading over your shoulder there –” he pointed towards the empty pedestal – “and you closed the book too quickly. I wanted to finish the Elephant story and see how he got his Trunk.”

  “Oh, I beg your pardon,” said the Elderly Gentleman. “I had no idea – er – of such a thing. I always stop reading at four, you see. I have to get home to my Tea.”

  He rose and folded the handkerchief and picked up the black top hat.

  “Well, now that you’ve finished,” the Boy said calmly, “you can give the book to me!”

  The Elderly Gentleman drew back, clutching the book to his breast.

  “Oh, I couldn’t do that, I’m afraid,” he said. “You see, I’ve only just bought it. I wanted to read it when I was young, but the grown-ups always got it first. And now that I’ve got a copy of my own, I really feel I must keep it.”

  He eyed the statue uneasily as though he feared that at any moment it might snatch the book away.

  “I could tell you about the Elephant’s Child,” Jane murmured shyly to the Boy.

  He wheeled around with the fish in his arms.

  “Oh, Jane – would you really?” he cried in surprise. His marble face gleamed with pleasure.

  “And I’ll tell you Yellow Dog Dingo,” said Michael, “and The Butterfly that Stamped.”

  “No!” said the Elderly Gentleman suddenly. “Here am I with a suit of clothes and a hat, and a pair of shoes. And he’s quite naked. I’ll give him the book! I suppose,” he added, with a gloomy sigh, “I was never meant to have it.”

  He gave the book a last long look, and thrusting it at the Marble Boy, he turned away quickly. But the Dolphin wriggled and caught his eye and he turned to the Boy again.

  “By the way,” he said curiously, “I wonder how you caught that Porpoise? What did you use – a line or a net?”

  “Neither,” replied the Boy, with a smile. “He was given to me when I was born.”

  “Oh – I see.” The Elderly Gentleman nodded, though he still looked rather puzzled. “Well – I must be getting along. Good day!” He lifted the black top hat politely and hurried off down the path.

  “Thank you!” the Marble Boy shouted after him, as he eagerly opened the book. On the fly-leaf was written, in spidery writing, “William Weatherall Wilkins.”

  “I’ll cross out his name and put mine instead.” The Boy smiled gaily at Jane and Michael.

  “But what is your name? And how can you read?” cried Michael, very astonished.

  “My name is Neleus,” the Boy said, laughing. “And I read with my eyes, of course!”

  “But you’re only a statue!” Jane protested. “And statues don’t usually walk and talk. However did you get down?”

  “I jumped,” replied Neleus, smiling again, as he tossed his marble curls. “I was so disappointed not to finish that story, that something happened to my feet. First they twitched, and then they jumped and the next thing I knew I was down on the grass!” He curled his little marble toes and stamped on the earth with his marble feet. “Oh, lucky, lucky human beings to be able to do this every day! I’ve watched you so often, Jane and Michael, and wished I could come and play with you. And now at last my wish has come true. Oh, tell me you’re glad to see me!”

  He touched their cheeks with his marble fingers and crowed with joy as he danced around them. Then before they could utter a word of welcome he sped like a hare to the edge of the Lake and dabbled his hand in the water.

  “So – this is what water feels like!” he cried. “So deep and so blue – and as light as air!” He leant out over the sparkling Lake and the Dolphin gave a flick of its tail and slipped from his arms with a splash.

  “Catch him! He’ll sink!” cried Michael anxiously.

  But the Dolphin did nothing of the kind. It swam round the Lake and threshed the water; it dived and caught its tail in its mouth and leapt in the air and dived again. The performance was just like a turn in the circus. And as it sprang, dripping, to the arms of its master, the children could not help clapping.

  “Was it good?” asked Neleus enviously. And the Dolphin grinned and nodded.

  “Good!” cried a well-known voice behind them. “I call it extremely naughty!”

  Mary Poppins was standing at the edge of the Lake and her eyes were as bright as her darning needle. Neleus sprang to his feet with a little cry and hung his head before her. He looked very young and small and shy as he waited for her to speak.

  “Who said you might get down, may I ask?” Her face had its usual look of fury.

  He shook his head guiltily.

  “No one,” he mumbled. “My feet jumped down by themselves, Mary Poppins.”

  “Then they’d better jump up again, spit-spot. You’ve no right to be off your pedestal.”

  He tilted back his marble head and the sunlight glanced off his small chipped nose.

  “Oh, can’t I stay down, Mary Poppins?” he pleaded. “Do let me stay for a little while and play with Jane and Michael! You don’t know how lonely it is up there, with only the birds to talk to!” The earnest marble eyes entreated her. “Please, Mary Poppins!” he whispered softly, as he clasped his marble hands.

  She gazed down thoughtfully for a moment, as though she were making up her mind. Then her eyes softened. A little smile skipped over her mouth and crinkled the edge of her cheek.

  “Well, just for this afternoon!” she said. “This one time, Neleus! Never again!”

  “Never – I promise, Mary Poppins!” He gave her an impish grin.

  “Do you know Mary Poppins?” demanded Michael. “Where did you meet her?” he wanted to know. He was feeling a little jealous.

  “Of course I do!” exclaimed Neleus, laughing. “She’s a very old friend of my Father’s.”

  “What is your Father’s name? Where is he?” Jane was almost bursting with curiosity.

  “Far away. In the Isles of Greece. He is called the King of the Sea.” As he spoke, the marble eyes of Neleus brimmed slowly up with sadness.

  “What does he do?” demanded Michael. “Does he go to the City – like Daddy?”

  “Oh, no! He never goes anywhere. He stands on a cliff above the sea, holding his trident and blowing his horn. Beside him my Mother sits, combing her hair. And Pelias, that’s my younger brother, plays at their feet with a marble shell. And all day long the gulls fly past them, making black shadows on their marble bodies, and telling them news of the harbour. By day they watch the red-sailed ships going in and out of the bay. And at night they listen to the wine-dark waters that break on the shore below.”

  “How lovely!” cried Jane. “But why did you leave them?”

  She was thinki
ng that she would never have left Mr and Mrs Banks and Michael alone on the cliffs of Greece.

  “I didn’t want to,” said the Marble Boy. “But what can a statue do against men? They were always coming to stare at us – peeking and prying and pinching our arms. They said we were made a long time ago by a very famous artist. And one day somebody said, ‘I’ll take him!’ – and he pointed at me. So – I had to go.”

  He hid his eyes for a moment behind the Dolphin’s fin.

  “What happened then?” demanded Jane. “How did you get to our Park?”

  “In a packing-case,” said Neleus calmly, and laughed at their look of astonishment. “Oh, we always travel that way, you know. My family is very much in demand. People want us for Parks or Museums or Gardens. So they buy us and send us by Parcel Post. It never seems to occur to them that some of us might be – lonely.” He choked a little on the word. Then he flung up his head with a lordly gesture. “But don’t let’s think about that!” he cried. “It’s been much better since you two came. Oh, Jane and Michael, I know you so well – as if you were part of my family. I know about Michael’s Kite and his Compass; and the Royal Doulton Bowl, and Robertson Ay, and the things you have for supper. Didn’t you ever notice me listening? And reading the fairy-tales over your shoulders?”

  Jane and Michael shook their heads.

  “I know Alice in Wonderland by heart,” he went on. “And most of Robinson Crusoe. And Everything a Lady Should Know, which is Mary Poppins’ favourite. But best of all are the coloured comics, especially the one called Lot-o’-Fun. What happened to Tiger Tim this week? Did he get away safely from Uncle Moppsy?”

  “The new one comes out today,” said Jane. “We’ll all read it together!”

  “Oh, dear! How happy I am!” cried Neleus. “The Elephant’s Child, and a new Lot-o’-Fun, and my legs like the wings of a bird. I don’t know when my Birthday is, but I think it must be today!” He hugged the Dolphin and the book in his arms and capered across the grass.

  “Hi! Ting-aling-aling! Look where you’re going!” the Ice Cream Man gave a warning cry. He was wheeling his barrow along by the Lake. The printed notice in front of it said:

  STOP ME AND BUY ONE

  WHAT WONDERFUL WEATHER!

  “Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!” cried the children wildly, as they ran towards the barrow.

  “Chocolate!” said Michael.

  “Lemon!” cried Jane.

  And the fat little Twins put out their hands and gladly took what was given them.

  “And wot about you!” said the Ice Cream Man, as Neleus came and stood shyly beside him.

  “I don’t know what to choose,” said Neleus. “I never had one before.”

  “Wot! Never ’ad a Nice? Wot’s the matter – weak stummick? A boy your size should know all about Ices! ’Ere!” The Ice Cream Man fished inside his barrow and brought out a Raspberry Bar. “Take this and see ’ow you like it!”

  Neleus broke the bar with his marble fingers. He popped one half in the Dolphin’s mouth and began to lick the other.

  “Delicious,” he said, “much better than seaweed.”

  “Seaweed! I should think so! Wot’s seaweed got to do with it? But – talking of seaweed, that’s a nice big Cod!” The Ice Cream Man waved his hand at the Dolphin. “If you took it along to the Fishmonger ’e’d give you a fancy price.”

  The Dolphin gave its tail a flick and its face looked very indignant.

  “Oh, I don’t want to sell him,” said Neleus quickly. “He isn’t just a fish – he’s a friend!”

  “A fishy kind of friend!” said the man. “Why doesn’t ’e tell you to put on your clothes? You’ll catch your death running round stark naked. Well, no offence meant! Ting-aling! Ting-aling!” He rode away whistling and ringing his bell.

  Neleus glanced at the children out of the corner of his eye and the three burst out into peals of laughter.

  “Oh, dear!” cried Neleus, gasping for breath. “I believe he thinks I’m human! Shall I run down and tell him he’s made a mistake? That I haven’t worn clothes for two thousand years and never caught even a sniffle?”

  He was just about to dart after the barrow when Michael gave a shout.

  “Look out! Here’s Willoughby!” he cried, and swallowed the rest of his ice in one gulp.

  For Willoughby, who belonged to Miss Lark, had a habit of jumping up at the children and snatching food from their hands. He had rough, bouncy, vulgar manners and no respect for anyone. But what else could you expect of a dog who was half an Airedale and half a Retriever and the worst half of both?

  There he came, lolloping over the grass, bouncing and grinning and sticking out his tongue. Andrew, who was as well-bred as Willoughby was common, tripped gracefully after him. And Miss Lark herself followed breathlessly.

  “Just out for a spin before Tea!” she trilled. “Such a beautiful day and the dogs insisted – Good gracious, what is that I see?”

  She broke off, panting, and stared at Neleus. Her face, already red, grew redder, and she looked extremely indignant.

  “You naughty, wicked boy!” she cried. “What are you doing to that poor fish? Don’t you know it will die if it stays out of water?”

  Neleus raised a marble eyebrow. The Dolphin swung its tail over its mouth to hide a marble smile.

  “You see?” said Miss Lark. “It’s writhing in agony! You must put it back into the water this minute!”

  “Oh, I couldn’t do that,” said Neleus quickly. “I’m afraid he’d be lonely without me.” He was trying to be polite to Miss Lark. But the Dolphin was not. He flapped his tail and wriggled and grinned in a very discourteous manner.

  “Don’t answer me back! Fish are never lonely! You are just making silly excuses.”

  Miss Lark made an angry gesture towards the green bench.

  “I do think, Mary Poppins,” she said, “you might keep an eye on the children! This naughty boy, whoever he is, must put that fish back where he got it!”

  Mary Poppins favoured Miss Lark with a stare. “I’m afraid that’s quite impossible, ma’am. He’d have to go too far.”

  “Far or near – it doesn’t matter. He must put it back this instant. It’s cruelty to animals and it shouldn’t be allowed. Andrew and Willoughby – come with me! I shall go at once and tell the Lord Mayor!”

  Away she bustled, with the dogs at her heels. Willoughby, as he trotted by, winked rudely at the Dolphin.

  “And tell him to put his clothes on! He’ll get sunburnt, running about like that!” shrieked Miss Lark, as she hurried off.

  Neleus gave a little spurt of laughter and flung himself down on the grass.

  “Sunburnt!” he choked. “Oh, Mary Poppins, does nobody guess I’m made of marble?”

  “Humph!” replied Mary Poppins, snorting. And Neleus tossed her a mischievous smile.

  “That’s what the Sea-Lions say!” he said. “They sit on the rocks and say ‘Humph!’ to the sunset!”

  “Indeed?” she said tartly. And Jane and Michael waited, trembling, for what was surely coming. But nothing happened. Her face had an answering look of mischief and the blue eyes and the marble eyes smiled gently at each other.

  “Neleus,” she said quietly, “you have ten minutes more. You can come with us to the Bookstall and back.”

  “And then. . .?” he said, with a questioning look, as he tightened his arms round the Dolphin.

  She did not answer. She looked across the sparkling Lake and nodded towards the pedestal.

  “Oh, can’t he stay longer, Mary Poppins—?” the children began to protest. But the eager questions froze on their lips, for Mary Poppins was glaring.

  “I said ten minutes,” she remarked. “And ten minutes is what I meant. You needn’t look at me like that, either. I am not a Grisly Gorilla.”

  “Oh, don’t start arguing!” cried Neleus. “We mustn’t waste a second!” He sprang to his feet and seized Jane’s hand. “Show me the way to the Bookstall!” he said. And drew her away t
hrough the spreading sunlight and over the grassy lawns.

  Behind them Mary Poppins lifted the Twins into the perambulator and hurried along with Michael.

  Lightly across the summer grasses ran Jane and the Marble Boy. His curls flew out in the wind with hers and her hot breath blew on his marble cheeks. Within her soft and living fingers the marble hand grew warmer. “This way!” she cried, as she tugged at his arm and drew him into the Lime Walk.

  At the end of it, by the Far Gate, stood the gaily painted Bookstall. A bright sign nailed above it said:

  MR. FOLLY

  BOOKS PAPERS AND MAGAZINES

  YOU WANT THEM

  I VE GOT THEM

  A frill of coloured magazines hung round the Bookstall; and as the children raced up, Mr Folly popped his head through a gap in the frill. He had a round, quiet, lazy face that looked as though nothing in the world could disturb it.

  “Well, if it isn’t Jane Banks and Friend!” he remarked mildly. “I think I can guess what you’ve come for!”

  “The Evening News and Lot-o’-fun,” panted Jane as she put down the pennies.

  Neleus seized the coloured comic and skimmed the pages quickly.

  “Does Tiger Tim get away?” cried Michael, as he dashed up, breathless, behind them.

  “Yes, he does!” cried Neleus, with a shout of joy. “Listen! ‘Tiger Tim Escapes Clutches of Uncle Moppsy. His New Adventure with Old Man Dogface. Watch Out For Another Tiger Tim Story Next Week!’”

  “Hooray!” shouted Michael, peering round the Dolphin’s shoulder to get a look at the pictures.

  Mr Folly was eyeing Neleus with interest. “That’s a fine young whale you got there, sonny! Seems almost ’uman. Where did you catch him?”

  “I didn’t,” said Neleus, glancing up. “He was given to me as a present.”

  “Fancy that! Well, he makes a nice pet! And where do you come from? Where’s yer Ma?”

  “She’s a long way from here,” replied Neleus gravely.

  “Too bad!” Mr Folly wagged his head. “Dad away too?”

  Neleus smiled and nodded.

  “You don’t say! Goodness, you must be lonely!” Mr Folly glanced at the marble body. “And cold as well, I shouldn’t wonder, with not a stitch on your bones!” He made a jingling noise in his pocket and thrust out his hand to Neleus.