There was something strange and extraordinary about her -- something that was frightening and at the same time most exciting.
-- Narrator (East Wind)

Importance: In one sentence, Mary Poppins' personality and Jane and Michael's perception of her are deftly described. The new nanny, however stern, is viewed in a positive light by the children, who are inexplicably drawn to her and who sense that she will be a force of wonder and adventure in their lives, which they sorely need.

You won't leave us, will you?' he called anxiously.
-- Michael and the Narrator (East Wind paragraph 14)

Importance: This quote, though brief, provides a glimpse into Michael's young heart: he is sentimental and grows attached to those he loves, therefore his previous experience with a nanny who left the home have made him fear abandonment. In asking Mary Poppins if she will stay, Michael is voicing his own deepest insecurity and is humbly asking for someone to say 'I will stay for...