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! Hurrrmph!" 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 up his scratches, gallantly sprang to attention.
"Very good, Your Honour!" he said smartly, and marched away down the Walk.
"As for you, Smith, this is all your fault. Your duty is to look after the Park! But what do I find when I pass this way? Wild animals running all over it. You disappoint me again and again. I must mention it to the King."
The Park Keeper fell on his knees with a groan.
"Oh, please don't mention it, Your Honour! Think of me poor old mother!"
"You should have thought of her yourself before you let that lion in!"
"But I never let 'im in, Your Worship! It wasn't my fault 'e came over the wall. If anyone's to blame, it's" The Park Keeper broke off nervously, but he looked in Mary Poppins' direction.
So did the Lord Mayor.
"Aha!" he exclaimed, with a gracious smile. "Charmed to meet you again, Miss er?"
"Poppins," said Mary Poppins politely.
"Poppins ah, yes! A charming name! Now, if Smith were only you, Miss Poppins, these things would never occur!"
With a bow, the Lord Mayor turned away and billowed down the Walk. The two Aldermen also bowed, and billowed along behind him.
"That's all you know!" said the Park Keeper, as he watched them disappear. "If I was 'er ha, ha, that's funny! anything could happen!"
"If I were you, I'd straighten my tie," said Mary Poppins primly. "Get down from that fountain, Jane and Michael!" She glanced at their grimy knees and faces. "You look like a couple of Blackamoors!"
"We can't all be like you, you know!" the Park Keeper said sarcastically.
"No," she agreed. "And mores the pity!" She pushed the perambulator forward.
"But, Mary Poppins" Michael burst out. He was longing to ask her about the Lion.
"Butting's for goats not human beings! Best foot forward, please!"
"It's no use, Michael," whispered Jane. "You know she never explains."
But Michael was too excited to heed.
"Well, if I can't talk about the Lion, will you let me blow your whistle?"
"Certainly not!" She sauntered on.
"I wonder, Mary Poppins," he cried, "if you'll ever let me do anything!"
"I wonder!" she said, with a mocking smile.
Twilight was falling over the Park. People were scrambling out of the trees and hurrying home to safety.
From the Far Gate came a frightful din. And looking through it the children saw a motionless block of traffic. The lights were red, the horns were hooting and the drivers were shaking their fists.