Mary Poppins

Miss Lark lives next door to the Banks with her dog, Andrew. Andrew is “one of those small, silky, fluffy dogs that look like a fur necklet, until they begin to bark” (39), and he lives a privileged life as Miss Lark’s companion. Andrew wears leather boots, he enjoys cream and oysters, and his “ordinary days were filled with the kinds of things most people have only on birthdays” (39). One day, Michael makes a critical remark about Andrew, but Mary Poppins comes to his defense; after all, though Andrew is respectful towards Miss Lark, he resents his pampered life. Andrew’s best dog friend lives a rather different life. This dog’s behavior is generally abominable, but Andrew remains devoted to his friend. Jane and Michael are surprised one day to see Andrew running down the Lane on the sidewalk by himself, and they mock Miss Lark while shouting after him; they are even more surprised when Andrew barks at Mary Poppins, and she responds to him in clear English. Mary Poppins refuses to tell Jane and Michael anything about the conversation, though they beg her, and she mocks Michael for being “Mr. Know-All” (43). Michael and Jane argue and complain, but “as it turned out, he and Jane and everybody else knew all about it before tea time” (43).