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Paddington removed his hat and laid it carefully on the table while Mr Brown poured out the tea. He looked hungrily at the cakes, in particular at a large cream-and-jam one which Mr Brown placed on a plate in front of him.
âThere you are, Paddington,â he said. âIâm sorry they havenât any marmalade ones, but they were the best I could get.â
âIâm glad I emigrated,â said Paddington, as he reached out a paw and pulled the plate nearer. âDo you think anyone would mind if I stood on the table to eat?â
Before Mr Brown could answer he had climbed up and placed his right paw firmly on the bun. It was a very large bun, the biggest and stickiest Mr Brown had been able to find, and in a matter of moments most of the inside found its way on to Paddingtonâs whiskers. People started to nudge each other and began staring in their direction. Mr Brown wished he had chosen a plain, ordinary bun, but he wasnât very experienced in the ways of bears. He stirred his tea and looked out of the window, pretending he had tea with a bear on Paddington station every day of his life.
âHenry!â The sound of his wifeâs voice brought him back to earth with a start. âHenry, whatever are you doing to that poor bear? Look at him! Heâs covered all over with cream and jam.â
Mr Brown jumped up in confusion. âHe seemed rather hungry,â he answered, lamely.
Mrs Brown turned to her daughter. âThis is what happens when I leave your father alone for five minutes.â
Judy clapped her hands excitedly. âOh, Daddy, is he really going to stay with us?â
âIf he does,â said Mrs Brown, âI can see someone other than your father will have to look after him. Just look at the mess heâs in!â
Paddington, who all this time had been too interested in his bun to worry about what was going on, suddenly became aware that people were talking about him. He looked up to see that Mrs Brown had been joined by a little girl, with laughing blue eyes and long, fair hair. He jumped up, meaning to raise his hat, and in his haste slipped on a patch of strawberry jam which somehow or other had found its way on to the glass table-top. For a brief moment he had a dizzy impression of everything and everyone being upside down. He waved his paws wildly in the air and then, before anyone could catch him, he somersaulted backwards and landed with a splash in his saucer of tea. He jumped up even quicker than he had sat down, because the tea was still very hot, and promptly stepped into Mr Brownâs cup.
Judy threw back her head and laughed until the tears rolled down her face. âOh, Mummy, isnât he funny!â she cried.
Paddington, who didnât think it at all funny, stood for a moment with one foot on the table and the other in Mr Brownâs tea. There were large patches of white cream all over his face, and on his left ear there was a lump of strawberry jam.
âYou wouldnât think,â said Mrs Brown, âthat anyone could get in such a state with just one bun.â
Mr Brown coughed. He had just caught the stern eye of a waitress on the other side of the counter. âPerhaps,â he said, âweâd better go. Iâll see if I can find a taxi.â He picked up Judyâs belongings and hurried outside.
Paddington stepped gingerly off the table and, with a last look at the sticky remains of his bun, climbed down on to the floor.
Judy took one of his paws. âCome along, Paddington. Weâll take you home and you can have a nice hot bath. Then you can tell me all about South America. Iâm sure you must have had lots of wonderful adventures.â
âI have,â said Paddington earnestly. âLots. Things are always happening to me. Iâm that sort of bear.â
When they came out of the buffet Mr Brown had already found a taxi and he waved them across. The driver looked hard at Paddington and then at the inside of his nice, clean taxi.
âBears is extra,â he said gruffly. âSticky bears is twice as much again.â
âHe canât help being sticky, driver,â said Mr Brown. âHeâs just had a nasty accident.â
The driver hesitated. âAll right, âop in. But mind none of it comes off on me interior. I only cleaned it out this morning.â
The Browns trooped obediently into the back of the taxi. Mr and Mrs Brown and Judy sat in the back, while Paddington stood on a tip-up seat behind the driver so that he could see out of the window.
The sun was shining as they drove out of the station and after the gloom and the noise everything seemed bright and cheerful. They swept past a group of people at a bus stop and Paddington waved. Several people stared and one man raised his hat in return. It was all very friendly. After weeks of sitting alone in a lifeboat there was so much to see. There were people and cars and big, red buses everywhere â it wasnât a bit like Darkest Peru.
Paddington kept one eye out of the window in case he missed anything. With his other eye he carefully examined Mr and Mrs Brown and Judy. Mr Brown was fat and jolly, with a big moustache and glasses, while Mrs Brown, who was also rather plump, looked like a larger edition of Judy. Paddington had just decided he was going to like staying with the Browns when the glass window behind the driver shot back and a gruff voice said, âWhere did you say you wanted to go?â
Mr Brown leaned forward. âNumber thirty-two, Windsor Gardens.â
The driver cupped his ear with one hand. âCanât âear you,â he shouted.
Paddington tapped him on the shoulder. âNumber thirty-two, Windsor Gardens,â he repeated.
The taxi driver jumped at the sound of Paddingtonâs voice and narrowly missed hitting a bus. He looked down at his shoulder and glared. âCream!â he said, bitterly. âAll over me new coat!â
Judy giggled and Mr and Mrs Brown exchanged glances. Mr Brown peered at the meter. He half expected to see a sign go up saying they had to pay another fifty pence.
âI beg your pardon,â said Paddington. He bent forward and tried to rub the stain off with his other paw. Several bun crumbs and a smear of jam added themselves mysteriously to the taxi driverâs coat. The driver gave Paddington a long, hard look. Paddington raised his hat and the driver slammed the window shut again.
âOh dear,â said Mrs Brown. âWe really shall have to give him a bath as soon as we get indoors. Itâs getting everywhere.â
Paddington looked thoughtful. It wasnât so much that he didnât like baths; he really didnât mind being covered with jam and cream. It seemed a pity to wash it all off quite so soon. But before he had time to consider the matter the taxi stopped and the Browns began to climb out. Paddington picked up his suitcase and followed Judy up a flight of white steps to a big green door.
âNow youâre going to meet Mrs Bird,â said Judy. âShe looks after us. Sheâs a bit fierce sometimes and she grumbles a lot but she doesnât really mean it. Iâm sure youâll like her.â
Paddington felt his knees begin to tremble. He looked round for Mr and Mrs Brown, but they appeared to be having some sort of argument with the taxi driver. Behind the door he could hear footsteps approaching.
âIâm sure I shall like her, if you say so,â he said, catching sight of his reflection on the brightly polished letterbox. âBut will she like me?â
Chapter Two (#u3f4cd89b-5f5f-5c0d-98b9-498c0e8bbf1f)
A Bear in Hot Water (#u3f4cd89b-5f5f-5c0d-98b9-498c0e8bbf1f)
PADDINGTON WASNâT QUITE sure what to expect when Mrs Bird opened the door. He was pleasantly surprised when they were greeted by a stout, motherly lady with grey hair and a kindly twinkle in her eyes. When she saw Judy she raised her hands above her head. âGoodness gracious, youâve arrived already,â she said, in horror. âAnd me hardly finished the washing up. I suppose youâll be wanting tea?â
âHallo, Mrs Bird,â said Judy. âItâs nice to see you again. Howâs the rheumatism?â
âWorse than itâs ever been,â began Mrs Bird â then she stopped speaking and stared at Paddington. âWhatever have you got there?â she asked. âWhat is it?â
âItâs not a what,â said Judy. âItâs a bear. His nameâs Paddington.â
Paddington raised his hat.
âA bear,â said Mrs Bird, doubtfully. âWell, he has good manners, Iâll say that for him.â
âHeâs going to stay with us,â announced Judy. âHeâs emigrated from South America and heâs all alone with nowhere to go.â
âGoing to stay with us?â Mrs Bird raised her arms again. âHow long for?â
Judy looked round mysteriously before replying. âI donât know,â she said. âIt depends on things.â
âMercy me,â exclaimed Mrs Bird. âI wish youâd told me. I havenât put clean sheets in the spare room or anything.â She looked down at Paddington. âThough judging by the state heâs in perhaps thatâs as well.â
âItâs all right, Mrs Bird,â said Paddington. âI think Iâm going to have a bath. I had an accident with a bun.â
âOh!â Mrs Bird held the door open. âOh, well in that case youâd best come on in. Only mind the carpet. Itâs just been done.â
Judy took hold of Paddingtonâs paw and squeezed. âShe doesnât mind really,â she whispered. âI think she rather likes you.â
Paddington watched the retreating figure of Mrs Bird. âShe seems a bit fierce,â he said.
Mrs Bird turned. âWhat was that you said?â
Paddington jumped. âI⦠Iâ¦â he began.
âWhere was it you said youâd come from? Peru?â
âThatâs right,â said Paddington. âDarkest Peru.â
âHumph!â Mrs Bird looked thoughtful for a moment. âThen I expect you like marmalade. Iâd better get some more from the grocer.â
âThere you are! What did I tell you?â cried Judy, as the door shut behind Mrs Bird. âShe does like you.â
âFancy her knowing I like marmalade,â said Paddington.
âMrs Bird knows everything about everything,â said Judy. âNow, youâd better come upstairs with me and Iâll show you your room. It used to be mine when I was small and it has lots of pictures of bears round the wall so I expect youâll feel at home.â She led the way up a long flight of stairs, chattering all the time. Paddington followed closely behind, keeping carefully to the side so that he didnât have to tread on the carpet.
âThatâs the bathroom,â said Judy. âAnd thatâs my room. And thatâs Jonathanâs â heâs my brother, and youâll meet him soon. And thatâs Mummy and Daddyâs.â She opened a door. âAnd this is going to be yours!â
Paddington nearly fell over with surprise when he followed her into the room. Heâd never seen such a big one. There was a large bed with white sheets against one wall and several big boxes, one with a mirror on it. Judy pulled open a drawer in one of the boxes. âThis is called a chest of drawers,â she said. âYouâll be able to keep all your things in here.â
Paddington looked at the drawer and then at his suitcase. âI donât seem to have very much. Thatâs the trouble with being small â no one ever expects you to want things.â
âThen we shall have to see what we can do,â said Judy, mysteriously. âIâll try and get Mummy to take you on one of her shopping expeditions.â She knelt down beside him. âLet me help you to unpack.â
âItâs very kind of you.â Paddington fumbled with the lock. âBut I donât think thereâs much to help me with. Thereâs a jar of marmalade â only thereâs hardly any left now and what there is tastes of seaweed. And my scrapbook. And some centavos â theyâre a sort of South American penny.â
âGosh!â said Judy. âIâve never seen any of those before. Arenât they bright!â
âOh, I keep them polished,â said Paddington. âI donât spend them.â He pulled out a tattered photograph. âAnd thatâs a picture of my Aunt Lucy. She had it taken just before she went into the home for retired bears tin Lima.â
âShe looks very nice,â said Judy. âAnd very wise.â Seeing that Paddington had a sad, far-away look in his eyes, she added hastily, âWell, Iâm going to leave you now, so that you can have your bath and come down nice and clean. Youâll find two taps, one marked hot and one marked cold. Thereâs plenty of soap and a clean towel. Oh, and a brush so that you can scrub your back.â
âIt sounds very complicated,â said Paddington. âCanât I just sit in a puddle or something?â
Judy laughed. âSomehow I donât think Mrs Bird would approve of that! And donât forget to wash your ears. They look awfully black.â
âTheyâre meant to be black,â Paddington called indignantly, as Judy shut the door.
He climbed up on to a stool by the window and looked out. There was a large, interesting garden below, with a small pond and several trees which looked good for climbing. Beyond the trees he could see some more houses stretching away into the distance. He decided it must be wonderful living in a house like this all the time. He stayed where he was, thinking about it, until the window became steamed up and he couldnât see out any more. Then he tried writing his name on the cloudy part with his paws. He began to wish it wasnât quite so long, as he soon ran out of cloud and it was rather difficult to spell.
âAll the sameâ â he climbed on to the dressing-table and looked at himself in the mirror â âitâs a very important name. And I donât expect there are many bears in the world called Paddington!â
If heâd only known, Judy was saying exactly the same thing to Mr Brown at that very moment. The Browns were holding a council of war in the dining-room, and Mr Brown was fighting a losing battle. It had been Judyâs idea in the first place to keep Paddington. In this she not only had Jonathan on her side but also her mother. Jonathan had yet to meet Paddington but the idea of having a bear in the family appealed to him. It sounded very important.
âAfter all, Henry,â argued Mrs Brown, âyou canât turn him out now. It wouldnât be right.â
Mr Brown sighed. He knew when he was beaten. It wasnât that he didnât like the idea of keeping Paddington. Secretly he was just as keen as anyone. But as head of the Brown household he felt he ought to consider the matter from every angle.
âIâm sure we ought to report the matter to someone first,â he said.
âI donât see why, Dad,â cried Jonathan. âBesides, he might get arrested for being a stowaway if we do that.â
Mrs Brown put down her knitting. âJonathanâs right, Henry. We canât let that happen. Itâs not as if heâs done anything wrong. Iâm sure he didnât harm anyone travelling in a lifeboat like that.â
âThen thereâs the question of pocket money,â said Mr Brown, weakening. âIâm not sure how much pocket money to give a bear.â
âHe can have a pound a week, the same as the other children,â replied Mrs Brown.
Mr Brown lit his pipe carefully before replying.
âWell,â he said, âweâll have to see what Mrs Bird has to say about it first, of course.â
There was a triumphant chorus from the rest of the family.
âYouâd better ask her then,â said Mrs Brown, when the noise had died down. âIt was your idea.â
Mr Brown coughed. He was a little bit afraid of Mrs Bird and he wasnât at all sure how she would take it. He was about to suggest they left it for a little while when the door opened and Mrs Bird herself came in with the tea things. She paused for a moment and looked round at the sea of expectant faces.
âI suppose,â she said, âyou want to tell me youâve decided to keep that young Paddington.â
âMay we, Mrs Bird?â pleaded Judy. âPlease! Iâm sure heâll be very good.â
âHumph!â Mrs Bird put the tray down on the table. âThat remains to be seen. Different people have different ideas about being good. All the same,â she hesitated at the door, âhe looks the sort of bear that means well.â
âThen you donât mind, Mrs Bird?â Mr Brown asked her.
Mrs Bird thought for a moment. âNo. No, I donât mind at all. Iâve always had a soft spot for bears myself. Itâll be nice to have one about the house.â
âWell,â gasped Mrs Brown, as the door closed. âWhoever would have thought it!â
âI expect it was because he raised his hat,â said Judy. âIt made a good impression. Mrs Bird likes polite people.â
Mrs Brown picked up her knitting again. âI suppose someone ought to write and tell his Aunt Lucy. Iâm sure sheâd like to know heâs safe.â She turned to Judy. âPerhaps it would be a nice thought if you and Jonathan wrote.â
âBy the way,â said Mr Brown, âcome to think of it, where is Paddington? Heâs not still up in his room, is he?â
Judy looked up from the writing-desk, where she was searching for some notepaper. âOh, heâs all right. Heâs just having a bath.â
âA bath!â Mrs Brownâs face took on a worried expression. âHeâs rather small to be having a bath all by himself.â
âDonât fuss so, Mary,â grumbled Mr Brown, settling himself down in the armchair with a newspaper. âHeâs probably having the time of his life.â
Mr Brown was fairly near the truth when he said Paddington was probably having the time of his life. Unfortunately it wasnât in quite the way he meant it. Blissfully unaware that his fate was being decided, Paddington was sitting in the middle of the bathroom floor drawing a map of South America with a tube of Mr Brownâs shaving cream.
Paddington liked geography. At least, he liked his sort of geography, which meant seeing strange places and new people. Before he left South America on his long journey to England, his Aunt Lucy, who was a very wise old bear, had done her best to teach him all she knew. She had told him all about the places he would see on the way and she had spent many long hours reading to him about the people he would meet.
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