“And now he’s found his father—and a real family of his own—and he’s no longer a poor circus boy, all alone in the world,” said Roger. “And Miranda isn’t a lonely little monkey, going everywhere with him, often hungry and cold—but a spoilt little pet, loved by every single one of Barney’s family! And thank goodness, Barney hasn’t changed a bit.”
“No—he’s still the same kind, strong Barney,” said Diana. “I do hope we see him these hols. Mummy! Mummy, where are you? We really ought to start, you know.”
“Just coming!” called their mother, hurrying downstairs. “I remembered I must find the sunburn lotion, in case we all get too burnt for words, in this hot weather. Go and say good-bye, dears—then we’ll start.”
Diana and Roger said good-bye to their cheery old cook, and she pressed a bag into their hands. “Just a few of my special sugar-biscuits to keep you going till dinner-time,” she said. “Have a good time! And see and look after your mother; she’s tired after all the packing up.”
At last they were in the car, and it moved slowly towards the front gate, pulling the caravan behind it. Fortunately the gates were wide and the posts were not even scraped. Away they went down the lane, the caravan running smoothly behind them, rocking just a little now and again when they went over a rut. Soon they were out on the main road—the holiday had begun!
They stopped for a picnic lunch on the way, and then drove on towards Miss Pepper’s. “We shall be late,” said Roger, “but it doesn’t matter, Mummy—Miss Pepper would be most surprised if we were punctual!”
“I dare say—but she’s sure to be quite ready ten minutes beforehand,” said his mother. “And I shall feel just as I used to when she looked after me in my teens—very very guilty!”
Miss Pepper was waiting for them on her doorstep, her suitcases beside her. She looked as tall and thin as ever, but her eyes twinkled as usual behind their glasses, and she smiled warmly.
“Well, here you all are, bless you!” she said. “And wonder of wonders not more than fifteen minutes late! Had your dinner?”
“Yes, Miss Pepper,” said everyone, and Roger leapt out to take her luggage. He stowed it away in the caravan.
“What a fine caravan!” said Miss Pepper, approvingly. “Well, well—I never thought I’d ever sleep in a caravan—and here I am, quite looking forward to it!”
“I’ll drive on for some way,” said the children’s mother. “Then you can take a short turn at driving if you will. We thought we’d make for that lovely little lake at Yesterley. The children can bathe then. Isn’t it a mercy it’s such glorious weather?”
“It certainly is,” said Miss Pepper, settling herself in the front seat. “Dear me—it seems strange not to have Snubby with us. He’s always come with the children when I’ve been with them before.”
“He’s staying with Auntie Pat—and I expect he’s driving her mad,” said Diana. “All the same, I wish his dog Loony was with us—darling Loony—I do love him.”
“H’m,” said Miss Pepper, doubtfully. “I’m fond of him too—but I don’t think I should be fond of him long if he went for a caravan holiday with us. He’s not a very restful dog.”
It was very pleasant driving along that sunny day, with three weeks stretching before them, lazy, lovely weeks, full of picnics, bathes, ice-creams—and perhaps sleeping out in the open air instead of in the caravan? Roger made up his mind to suggest it that very first night—not for his mother or Miss Pepper, just for himself and Diana.
The car purred on and on—where would they stop for the night? Nobody knew and nobody cared. The caravan rolled on behind them, and every now and again Roger looked back to make sure it was still safely there.
“We’re going to have fun!” he said to Diana. “For three whole weeks—nothing but fun!”
CHAPTER TWO
VERY UNEXPECTED!
For five days Roger and Diana had a truly wonderful time. For two nights they stayed by the lovely blue lake at Yesterley, and picnicked and bathed. Miss Pepper surprised them all by producing a bathing suit, and bathing too—and what was more she was a very fine swimmer indeed!
“Goodness!” said Diana, lying panting on the white sand that edged the lake. “Goodness! I had a swimming race with Miss Pepper—and she beat me. And look, she’s still swimming, and I’ve had to come out and rest.”
“She’s jolly good,” said Roger. “So’s Mummy, actually. I wish I could float as long as she can—she just goes on and on—and yet it’s not salt water! She must waggle her hands about, or something.”
“This is the kind of holiday I like,” said Diana. “Wasn’t it fun last night, sleeping out on the heather? Did you hear that owl hooting just by us? It nearly made me jump out of my skin.”
“Didn’t hear a thing,” said Roger. “I just shut my eyes—and never knew anything till you shook me awake this morning. How long are Mummy and Miss Pepper staying in the water? I’m hungry.”
They were all hungry those first five days, even Miss Pepper, who became quite ashamed of the enormous appetite she suddenly discovered.
“I do wish you wouldn’t look so surprised, you two, when I take a third helping,” she said. “You make me feel greedy—and really, it’s only just that I’m very hungry.”
“Aha! Snubby would like to hear you say that!” said Roger. “You always used to tell him he wasn’t really hungry when he wanted a third helping—but just Plain Greedy!”
“Dear Snubby!” said Miss Pepper. “I do wonder how he is getting on these holidays. Let me see now—your Auntie Pat hasn’t any children, has she—so Snubby won’t have anyone to play with. I’m afraid he may make himself a bit of a nuisance.”
“More than a bit,” said Diana. “He can behave like a lunatic when he’s bored. He thinks of the most awful things to do. Don’t you remember how he thought he’d sweep our chimney one day, when it smoked a little, and then... ”
“Don’t talk of it,” said her mother, with a groan. “I can’t bear even to remember that day. I know your father nearly went mad, and chased Snubby round and round the garden with the chimney brush.
“And fell over Loony,” said Diana.
“Yes. Funny the way Loony always gets under the feet of anyone who’s angry with Snubby,” said Roger. “Remarkably clever dog, Loony!”
Each night the four of them sat in the caravan and listened to the news on their portable radio. They hadn’t seen a single newspaper since they had set off on their holiday, but as Miss Pepper said, it didn’t do to cut themselves off completely from everything.
“Someone might have landed on the moon—or started a war—or had an earthquake,” said Miss Pepper. “We had better listen in just once a day.”
On the fifth night, they were as usual sitting in the caravan, listening to the evening news on the little radio. The children listened with only half an ear, until the announcer came to the weather. That was really important! Was the weather still going to be warm and sunny?
The news came to an end. It had been very dull—a new strike—a long speech by somebody important—a new kind of aeroplane tested—and then there came a message that made them all sit up at once.
Miss Pepper was just about to turn off the radio, when the voice spoke urgently.
“Here is a message, please,