Michael Bond - A Bear Called Paddington

With drawings by Peggy Fortnum

A BEAR

CALLED PADDINGTON

First published in Great Britain by William Collins Sons 8c Co. Ltd 1958 First published in this dition 1992 Reprinted 1992 text Michael Bond 1958

illustrations Peggy Fortnum and William Collins Sons 8c Co. Ltd 1958

ISBN 0 00 181163-0

A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library

Ail rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, in a retrieval System, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter One

Mr and Mrs Brown first met Paddington on a rail-way platform. In fact, that was how he came to hve such an unusual name for a bear, for Paddington was the name of the station.

The Browns were there to meet their daughter Judy, who was coming home from school for the holidays. It was a warm summer day and the station was crowded with people on their way to the sea-side. Trains were whistling, taxis hooting, porters rushing about shouting at one another, and altogether there was so much noise that Mr Brown, who saw him first, had to tell his wife several times before she understood.

A bear? On Paddington station? Mrs Brown looked at her husband in amazement. Dont be silly, Henry. There cant be!

Mr Brown adjusted his glasses. *But there is, he insisted. I distinctly saw it. Over therebehind those mailbags. It was wearing a funny kind of hat.

Without waiting for a reply he caught hold of his wifes arm and pushed her through the crowd, round a trolley laden with chocolat and cups of tea, past a bookstall, and through a gap in a pile of suitcases towards the Lost Property Office.

There you are, he announced, triumphantly, pointing towards a dark corner. I told you so!

Mrs Brown followed the direction of his arm and dimly made out a small, furry object in the shadows. It seemed to be sitting on some kind of suitcase and around its neck there was a label with sortie writing on it. The suitcase was old and battered and on the side, in large letters, were the words WANTED ON VOYAGE.

Mrs Brown clutched at her husband. Why, Henry, she exclaimed. I believe you were right after ail. It is a bear!

She peered at it more closely. It seemed a very unusual kind of bear. It was brown in colour, a rather dirty brown, and it was wearing a most odd-looking hat, with a wide brim, just as Mr Brown had said. From beneath the brim two large, round eyes stared back at her.

Seeing that something was expected of it the bear stood up and politely raised its hat, revealing two black ears. Good afternoon, it said, in a small, clear voice.

Er... good afternoon, replied Mr Brown, doubtfully. There was a moment of silence.

The bear looked at them enquiringly. Can I help you?

Mr Brown looked rather embarrassed. Well... no. Er ... as a matter of fact, we were wondering if we could help you.

Mrs Brown bent down. Youre a very small bear, she said.

The bear puffed out its chest. Tm a very rare sort of bear, he replied, importantly. There arent many of us left where I corne from.

And where is that? asked Mrs Brown.

The bear looked round carefully before replying. Darkest Peru. Im not really supposed to be here at ail. Im a stowaway!

A stowaway? Mr Brown lowered his voice and looked anxiously over his shoulder. He almost expected to see a policeman standing behind him with a notebook and pencil, taking everything down.

Yes, said the bear. I emigrated, you know. A

sad expression came into his eyes. I used to live with my Aunt Lucy in Peru, but she had to go into a home for retired bears.

You dont mean to say youve corne ail the way from South America by yourself? exclaimed Mrs Brown.

The bear nodded. Aunt Lucy always said she wanted me to emigrate when I was old enough. Thats why she taught me to speak English.

But whatever did you do for food? asked Mr Brown. You must be starving.

Bending down, the bear unlocked the suitcase with a small key, which it also had round its neck, and brought out an almost empty glass jar. I ate marmalade, he said, rather proudly. Bears like marmalade. And I lived in a lifeboat.

But what are you going to do now? said Mr Brown. You cant just sit on Paddington station waiting for something to happen.

Oh, I shall be ail right ... I expect. The bear bent down to do up its case again. As he did so Mrs Brown caught a glimpse of the writing on the label. It said, simply, please look after this bear. Thank you.

She turned appealingly to her husband. Oh, Henry, what shall we do? We cant just leave him here. Theres no knowing what might happen to him. Londons such a big place when youve nowhere to go. Cant he corne and stay with us for

io

a few days?

Mr Brown hesitated. But Mary, dear, we cant take him... not just like that. After ail ...

After ail, whaft Mrs Browns voice had a firm note to it. She looked down at the bear. He is rather sweet. And hed be such company for Jonathan and Judy. Even if its only for a little while. Theyd never forgive you if they knew youd left him here.

It ail seems highly irregular, said Mr Brown, doubtfully. Im sure theres a law about it. He bent down. Would you like to corne and stay with us? he asked. That is, he added, hastily, not wishing to offend the bear, if youve nothing else planned.

The bear jumped and his hat nearly fell off with excitement. Oooh, yes, please. I should like that very much. Ive nowhere to go and everyone seems in such a hurry.

Well, thats settled then, said Mrs Brown, before her husband could change his mind. And you can hve marmalade for breakfast every morn-ing, and she tried hard to think of something else that bears might like.

Every morning? The bear looked as if it could hardly believe its ears. I only had it on spcial occasions at home. Marmalades very expensive in Darkest Peru.

Then you shall hve it every morning starting

il

tomorrow, continue! Mrs Brown. And honey on Sunday.

A worried expression came over the bears face. Will it cost very much? he asked. You see, I haven't very much money.

Of course not. We wouldnt dream of charging you anything. We shall expect you to be one of the family, shant we, Henry? Mrs Brown looked at her husband for support.

Of course, said Mr Brown. By the way, he added, if you are coming home with us youd better know our names. This is Mrs Brown and Tm Mr Brown.