Enid Blyton - Five Go to Demons Rocks

Fanny! shouted Mr Kirrin, running up the stairs with a letter in his hand. FANNY ! Where are you?

Here, dear, here, helping Joan with the dusting, said Mrs Kirrin, appearing out of a bedroom. Dont shout like that. Im not deaf, you know. Whats the matter?

Ive a letter here from that old friend of mine, Professor Hayling, said Mr Kirrin. You remember him, dont you?

Do you mean the man who came here to stay a few years ago, and kept forgetting to come in for meals? said Mrs Kirrin, flicking some dust off her husbands coat.

Fanny, dont flick at me like that, said Mr Kirrin, crossly. Anyone would think I was covered in dust. Listenhes coming to stay today for a weekinstead of next week.

Mrs Kirrin stared at her husband in horror. But he cant do that! she said. George is coming home todayand her three cousins with her, to stay. You know that!

OhId forgotten, said Mr Kirrin. Well, ring up and tell George to stay where she iswe cant have them while Professor Hayling is here. I shall want to be quite undisturbedhe and I have to confer about some new invention of his. Dont look like that, my dearthis may be very very important.

Well, its important to the Five that their plans shouldnt be spoilt, said Mrs Kirrin. After all, George only went to stay with Dick, Julian and Anne because you had some urgent papers to write, and you didnt want to be disturbedand you knew today was the day they were due home. Quentin, you must ring up your Professor friend and say he cant come.

Very well, my dear, very well, said Mr Kirrin. But he wont like it. He wont like it at all! He went off to his study to use the telephone, and Mrs Kirrin hurried up the stairs to get ready the rooms for the four cousins.

Anne can sleep with George as usual, she said to Joan. And the two boys can sleep in the guest-room.

It will be nice to have all the Five back again, said Joan, pushing the carpet-sweeper up and down the landing. I miss themand you should see the cakes I made yesterday, maamtwo whole tins full!

Youre too good to those children, Joan, said Mrs Kirrin. No wonder theyre so fond of you. Now, welloh deartheres Mr Kirrin calling me again. All right, dear, Im coming, Im coming!

She ran downstairs to the hall, and into the study. Mr Kirrin was standing there, holding the telephone receiver. What shall I do? he almost shouted. Professor Hayling has left and is already on his way here. I cant stop him coming. And hes bringing his son with him, so there are two of them.

His son! Well, really! said Mrs Kirrin. There isnt room for them here, with the four cousins as well, Quentin. You know that.

Well, ring up George and tell her not to come back for a week, but to stay with her cousins, said Mr Kirrin, crossly. Theres no reason why they should ALL come here.

But, Quentin, you know perfectly well that Georges aunt and uncle are shutting up the house today, and going on a cruise somewhere, said Mrs Kirrin. Oh dear, oh dear! Well, Ill ring up George, and try to stop them all coming!

So once more the telephone was used, and Mrs Kirrin tried anxiously to get in touch with George. For a long time nobody answered, and then at last a voice came. Hallowhos there?

Mrs Kirrin heremay I speak to George, please?

OhIm sorryall the Five have already left, on their bicycles, said the voice. And the house is empty except for me. Im a neighbour come in to lock everything up. Im so sorry I cant get George for you.

Ohthank you. Never mind! said Mrs Kirrin and put back the receiver. She gave a heavy sigh. NOW what what was to be done? Professor Hayling and his son were on their way to Kirrin Cottageand so were the Fiveand none of them could be stopped. What a household it would be!

Quentin, she said, going into the study where her husband was tidying up enormous piles of papers. Quentin, listenGeorge and all the others are on their way here. And HOW I am going to put everyone up. I donotknow. It looks as if somebody will have to sleep in Timmys kennel, and Ive a good mind to make a bed up for you in the coal-house!

Im busy, said Mr Kirrin, hardly listening. Ive all these papers to get in order before Professor Hayling comes. And by the way, my dear, will you PLEASE tell the children to be quiet while the Professor is herehes rather short-tempered, and

Quentin, Im beginning to feel rather short-tempered too, said Mrs Kirrin. And if She stopped very suddenly and gazed through the study window in horror. Then she pointed her finger at it. Look! Whats that at the window?

Her husband turned and stared in amazement. It looks like a monkey! he said. Where on earth did it come from?

A voice called down the stairs. It was Joan. Maam! Theres a car at the doorI think its the masters visitorsa man and a boy!

Mrs Kirrin was still staring in astonishment at the monkey, who was now scratching at the window-pane, chattering in a funny little prattle. He pressed his nose to the glass, just like a child.

DONT tell me that your friend owns a monkeyand has brought him to stay too! groaned poor Mrs Kirrin. She jumped as a loud bang came from the front door, and went to open it.

Yesthere stood Professor Hayling, the man who had so often forgotten to come in for meals when he had stayed at Kirrin Cottage years before. And by him was a boy of about nine, with a face a little like that of the monkey now on his shoulder!

The professor strode in, calling to the chauffeur behind. Bring the luggage in, man. Hallo, Mrs Kirrinnice to see you again. Wheres your husband? My word, Ive some interesting news to tell him. Ah, Quentin, there you are! Got your papers all ready for me?

My dear old friend! said Mr Kirrin, shaking hands warmly. Fine to see you! So glad you could come.

This is Tinker, my son, said Professor Hayling, clapping the boy on the back, and almost knocking him over. I always forget what his real name iswe call him Tinker because hes always tinkering with carsmad on them, you know! Shake hands, Tinker. Wheres Mischief?

Poor Mrs Kirrin hadnt been able to get in a word. The Professor was now in the hall, still talking. The monkey had leapt off the boys shoulder, and was on the hall-stand, swinging on a hat-peg.

Really, its like a circus! thought poor Mrs Kirrin. And the rooms not prepared yetand what about lunch? Oh my goodnessand all the cousins coming as well. What is that monkey doing now? Making faces at himself in the hall mirror!

Somehow or other the visitors were pushed into the living-room, and they sat down. Mr Kirrin was so anxious to discuss some mighty problems with the Professor that he actually fetched a great sheaf of papers and immediately spread them over the table.

Not in here, dearin your study please, said Mrs Kirrin, firmly. Joan! Will you take the bags up to the guest-room. And make up a bed there on the couch for the little boy? There wont be room anywhere else.

What about the monkey! asked Joan, eyeing it warily. Is he to have a bed too?

He sleeps with me, said Tinker, in an astonishingly loud voice, and leapt suddenly up the stairs, making a most extraordinary purring noise as he went. Mrs Kirrin stared after him in amazement.

Is he in pain, or something? she said.

No, nohes just being a car, said his father. I told you he was mad about cars. He cant help pretending to be one now and again.

Im a car, a Jaguar car! yelled Tinker, from the top of the stairs. Cant you hear my engine! R-R-R-R-R-R-R ! Hey, Mischief come and have a ride!