“Go back, Mary Poppins!” screamed Miss Lark, breaking the awful silence. “Save yourself and the little ones! There’s a wild beast down on the path!’
Mary Poppins looked up at Miss Lark’s face as it hung like a fruit among the leaves.
“Go back? When I’ve only just come out?” She smiled a superior smile.
“Away! Away!” The Prime Minister warned her. “Take care of those children, woman!”
Mary Poppins gave him a glance so icy that he felt himself freeze to the bough.
“I am taking care of these children, thank you. And as for the wild beasts,” She gave a sniff. “They seem to be all in the trees!”
“It’s a lion, Mary Poppins, look!” Michael pointed a trembling finger – and she turned and beheld the two locked figures.
The Policeman now was ducking sideways to prevent the Lion licking his cheek. His helmet was off and his face was pale, but he still had a plucky look in his eye.
“I might have known it!” said Mary Poppins, as she stared at the curious pair. “Rover!” she called in exasperation. “What do you think you’re doing?”
From under his lacy, flopping mane the Lion pricked up an ear.
“Rover!” she called again. “Down, I say!”
The Lion gave one look at her and dropped with a thud to the ground. Then he gave a little throaty growl and bounded away towards her.
“Oh, the Twins! He’ll eat them! Help!” cried Jane.
But the Lion hardly looked at the Twins. He was fawning at Mary Poppins. He rolled his eyes and wagged his tail and arched himself against her skirt. Then away he rushed to the Policeman, seized the blue trousers between his teeth and tugged them towards the perambulator.
“Don’t be so silly!” said Mary Poppins. “Do as I tell you! Let him go! You’ve got the wrong one.”
The Lion loosed the trouser-leg and rolled his eyes in surprise.
“Do you mean,” the Prime Minister called from his bough, “he’s to eat another Policeman?”
Mary Poppins made no reply. Instead, she fished inside her handbag and brought out a silver whistle. Then, setting it daintily to her lips, she puffed out her cheeks and blew.
“Why – I could have blown my whistle – ” the Policeman stared at the silver shape – “if only I’d thought of it.”
She turned upon him a look of scorn. “The trouble with you is that you don’t think. Neither do you!” she snapped at the Lion.
He hung his head between his paws and looked very hurt and foolish.
“You don’t listen, either,” she added severely. “In at one ear and out of the next. There was no need to make such a foolish mistake.”
The Lion’s tail crept between his legs.
“You’re careless, thoughtless and inattentive. You ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.”
The Lion gave a humble snuffle as though he agreed with her.
“Who whistled?” called a voice from the Gate. “Who summoned an Officer of the Law?”
Along the Walk came another policeman, limping unevenly. His face had a melancholy look, as though he possessed a secret sorrow.
“I can’t stay long whatever it is,” he said, as he reached the group. “I left the lights when I heard the whistle and I must get back to them. Why Egbert!” he said to the First Policeman, “what’s the matter with you?”
“Oh, nothing to complain of, Albert! I’ve just been attacked by a lion!”
“Lion?” The sad face grew a shade more cheerful as the Second Policeman glanced about him. “Oh, what a beauty!” he exclaimed, limping towards the tawny shape at Mary Poppins’ side.
Jane turned to whisper in Michael’s ear.
“He must be the Policeman’s brother – the one with the wooden foot!”
“Nice lion! Pretty lion!” said the Second Policeman softly.
And the Lion, at the sound of his voice, leapt to his feet with a roar.
“Now gently, gently! Be a good lion. He’s an elegant fellow, so he is!” the Second Policeman crooned.
Then he put back the mane from the Lion’s brow and met the golden eyes. A shudder of joy ran through his frame.
“Rover! My dear old friend! It’s you!” He flung out his arms with a loving gesture and the Lion rushed into them.
“Oh, Rover! After all these years!” the Second Policeman sobbed.
“Wurra, wurra!” the Lion growled, licking the tears away.
And for a whole minute it was nothing but Rover – Wurra, Rover – “Wurra, while they hugged and kissed each other.
“But how did you get here? How did you find me?” demanded the Second Policeman.
“Woof! Burrrum!” replied the Lion, nodding towards the perambulator.
“No! You don’t say! How very kind! We must always be grateful, Rover! And if I can do you a good turn, Miss Poppins—”
“Oh, get along, do – the pair of you!” said Mary Poppins snappily. For the Lion had rushed to lick her hand and darted back to his friend.
“Woof? Wurra-woof?” he said in a growl.
“Will I come with you? What do you think? As if I could ever leave you again!” And flinging his arm round the Lion’s shoulders, the Second Policeman turned.
“Hey!” cried the First Policeman sternly. “Where are you going to, may I ask? And where are you taking that animal?”
“He’s taking me!” cried the Second Policeman. “And we’re going where we belong!” His gloomy face had quite changed. It was now rosy and gay.
“But what about the traffic lights? Who’s going to look after those?”
“They’re all at green!” said the Second Policeman. “No more signals for me, Egbert! The traffic can do what it likes!”
He looked at the Lion and roared with laughter, and the two of them turned away. Over the lawns they sauntered, chatting – the Lion on its hind legs and the Policeman limping a little. When they came to the Lane Gate they paused for a moment and waved. Then through they went and shut it behind them, and the watchers saw them no more.
The Keeper of the Zoological Gardens gathered up his net.
“I hope they’re not making for the Zoo. We haven’t a cage to spare!”
“Well, as long as he’s out of the public Park. . .” The Prime Minister clambered out of the tree.
“Haven’t we met before?” he enquired, as he took off his hat to Mary Poppins. “I’m afraid I’ve forgotten where it was!”
“Up in the air! On a red balloon!” She bowed in a ladylike manner.
“Ah, yes! Hurrumph!” He seemed rather embarrassed. “Well – I must be off and make some more laws!”
And, glancing round to make sure the Lion was not coming back, he made for the Far Gate.
“Constable!” cried the Lord Mayor, as he swung himself down from his branch. “You must go at once to the signal-box and switch the lights to red. The traffic can do as it likes, indeed! Whoever heard of such a thing!”
The Policeman, mopping his scratches, gallantly sprang to attention.
“Very good, Your Honour!” he said smartly, and marched away down the Walk.