Enid Blyton - Five go adventuring again

Enid Blyton

Famous Five 02

Famous Five Go Adventuring Again

IT was the last week of the Christmas term, and all the girls at Gaylands School were looking forward to the Christmas holidays. Anne sat down at the breakfast-table and picked up aletter addressed to her.

Hallo, look at this! she said to her cousin Georgina, who was sitting beside her. A letter from Daddy - and I only had one from him and Mummy yesterday.

I hope its not bad news, said George, She would not allow anyone to call her Georgina, and now even the mistresses called her George. She really was very like a boy with her short curly hair, and her boyish ways. She looked anxiously at Anne as her cousin read the letter.

Oh, George - we cant go home for the holidays! said Anne, with tears in her eyes. Mummys got scarlet fever >- and Daddy is in quarantine for it - so they cant have us back. Isnt it just too bad ?

Oh, I am sorry, said George. She was just as disappointed for herself as for Anne, because Annes mother had invited George, and her dog Timothy^ to stay for the Christinas holidays with them. She had been promised many things she had never seen before - the pantomime, and the circus - and a big party with a fine Christmas tree! Now it wouldnt happen.

Whatever will the two boys say? said Anne, thinking

of Julian and Dick, her two brothers. They wont be able to go home either.

Well - what are you going to do for the holidays then? asked George. Wont you come and stay at Kirriii Cottage with me? Im sure my mother would love to have you again. We had such fun when you came to stay for the summer holls,

Wait a minute - let me finish the letter and see what Daddy says,3 said Anne, picking up the note again. Poor Mummy - I do hope she isnt feeling very ill.

She read a few more lines and then gave such a delighted exclamation that George and the other girls waited impatiently for her to explain.

George! We are to come to you again - but oh blow, blow, blow! - weve got to have a tutor for the holls, partly to look after us so that your mother doesnt have too much bother with us, and partly because both Julian and Dick have been ill with flu twice this term, and have got behind in their work.

A tutor! How sickening! That means Ill have to do lessons too, Ill bet! said George, in dismay. When my mother and father see my report I guess theyll find out how little I know. After all, this is the first time Ive ever been to a proper school, and there are heaps of things I dont know.

What horrid holls theyll be, if we have a tutor running after us all the time, said Anne, gloomily. I expect Ill have quite a good report, because Ive done well in the exams - but it wont be any fun for me not doing lessons with you three in the holls. Though, of course,

I could go off with Timothy, I suppose. He wont be doing lessons!

Yes, he will, said George, at once. She could not bear the idea of her beloved dog Timothy going off each morning with Anne, whilst she, George, sat and worked hard with Julian and Dick.

Timothy cant do lessons, dont be silly, George, said Anne.

He can sit under my feet whilst Im doing them, said George. It will be a great help to feel him there. For goodness sake eat up your sausages, Anne. Weve all nearly finished. The bell will go in a minute and you wont have had any breakfast.

I am glad Mummy isnt very bad, said Anne, hurriedly finishing her letter. Daddy says hes written to Dick and Julian - and to your father to ask him to engage a tutor for us. Oh dash - this is an awful disappointment, isnt it? I dont mean I shant enjoy going to Kirrin Cottage again - and seeing Kirrin Island - but after all there are no pantomimes or circuses or parties to look forward to at Kirrin.

The end of the term came quickly. Anne and George packed up their trunks, and put on the labels, enjoying the noise and excitement of the last two days. The big school coaches rolled up to the door, and the girls clambered in.

Off to Kirrin again! said Anne. Come on, Timothy darling, you can sit between me and George.

Gaylands School allowed the children to keep their own pets, and Timothy, Georges big mongrel dog, had been a great success. Except for the time when he had

run after the dustman, and dragged the dustbin away from him, all the way up the school grounds and into Georges classroom, he had really behaved extremely well.

Im sure youll have a good report, Tim, said George, giving the dog a hug. Were going home again. Will you like that?

Woof, said Tim, in his deep voice. He stood up, wagging his tail, and there was a squeal from the seat behind.

George! Make Tim sit down. Hes wagging my hat off!

It was not very long before the two girls and Timothy were in London, being put into the train for Kirrin.

I do wish the boys broke up today too, sighed Anne. Then we could all have gone down to Kirrin together. That would have been fun.

Julian and Dick broke up the next day and were to join the girls then at Kirrin Cottage. Anne was very much looking forward to seeing them again. A term was a long time to be away from one another. She had been glad to have her cousin George with her. The three of them had stayed with George in the summer, and had had some exciting adventuies together on the little island off the coast. An old castle stood on the island and in the dungeons the children had made all kinds of wonderful discoveries.

It will be lovely to go across to Kirrin Island again, George, said Anne, as the train sped off towards the west.

We shant be able to, said George. The sea is terribly

rough round the island in the winter. It would be too dangerous to try and row there.

Oh, what a pity, said Anne disappointed. I was looking forward to some more adventures there.

There wont be any adventures at Kirrin in the winter, said George. Its cold down there - and when it snows we sometimes get frozen up completely - cant even walk to the village because the sea-wind blows the snow-drifts so high.

Oooh - that sounds rather exciting! said Anne.

Well, it isnt really, said George. Its awfully boring -nothing to do but sit at home all day, or turn out with a spade and dig the snow away.

It was a long time before the train reached the little station that served Kirrin. But at last it was there steaming in slowly and stopping at the tiny platform. The two girls jumped out eagerly, and looked to see if anyone had met them. Yes - there was Georges mother!

Hallo, George darling - hallo, Anne! said Georges mother, and gave both children a hug. Anne, Im so sorry about your mother, but shes getting on all right, youll be glad to know.

Oh, good! said Anne. Its nice of you to have us, Aunt Fanny. Well try and be good! What about Uncle Quentin? Will he mind having four children in the house in the winter-time? We wont be able to go out and leave him in peace as often as we did in the summer!

Georges father was a scientist, a very clever man, but rather frightening. He had little patience with children, and the four of them had felt very much afraid of him at times in the summer.

Oh, your uncle is still woiking very hard at his book, said Aunt Fanny. You know, he has been working out a secret theory - a secret idea - and putting it all into his book. He says that once it is all explained and finished, he is to take it to some high authority, and then his idea will be used for the good of the country.

Oh, Aunt Fanny - it does sound exciting, said Anne. Whats the secret?

I cant tell you that, silly child, said her aunt, laughing. Why, even I myself dont know it. Come along, now - its cold standing heie. Timothy looks very fat and well, George dear.

Oh Mother, hes had a marvellous time at school, said George. He really has. He chewed up the cooks old slippers