Читать книгу The Adventure of the Secret Necklace - Enid blyton - Страница 4

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The twins helped their mother to pack their clothes in a small trunk. “It’s a good thing it’s summer-time,” said Mummy. “Your things take up so little room when they are just cotton frocks and shorts and shirts.”

“Don’t put in any jerseys and mackintoshes,” begged Mary. “We shan’t need those!”

Mummy laughed. “What a thing to say! What would Granny think of me if the weather turned cold or wet, and you hadn’t a single jersey or mackintosh to wear? Don’t be silly, Mary!”

Bob knew why Mary had said that. The weather was so lovely just then, the sky so blue, the sun so hot that it seemed quite impossible to think of cold or rain.

“Holiday weather!” he said. “You won’t miss us too much, will you, Mummy?”

“Not if you are happy and having a good time,” said Mummy. “I’ll be glad for you, you see. It will be queer without you, of course—but Granny’s sweet and kind, and she will look after you well for me. Now—where did I put those sandals?”

“Here they are,” said Bob. “Have we got to keep very very clean at Granny’s, Mummy? Cleaner than at home?”

“Well, Granny has always said that your Daddy was just about the dirtiest little boy she ever knew,” said Mummy, smiling. “So I don’t expect she’ll mind if you do get a bit dirty sometimes.”

“Goodness, was Daddy really a dirty little boy?” said Mary, in astonishment, thinking of her big, clean, nice-smelling father, with his polished shoes and well-scrubbed hands. “Bob—maybe one day you’ll be as clean as Daddy!”

“There—that’s really everything, I think,” said Mummy, shutting down the lid. “Now, what’s the time? We’ve got just half-an-hour to label the trunk and strap it up safely, and get you ready. I’m going to take you and your luggage to the station in the car.”

The twins got themselves ready, and then went to say good-bye to their playroom and all the things in it. Mummy had packed Bob’s monkey, which he couldn’t bear to leave behind, and Mary’s third-best doll, Elizabeth.

“Although she’s only my third-best, I love her most of all,” Mary said. “She’s cuddly, and she’s got a nice smile, and she goes to sleep beautifully. Please pack her very carefully, Mummy.”

At last they were on the way to the station. The porter came to get their trunk. Mummy bought the tickets and there they were, standing on the platform waiting for the train to rumble loudly into the station.

It came at last, whistling shrilly, making Mary jump. Mummy put them into a carriage. “I’ll tell the guard to come and have a look at you now and then,” she said. “You’ll be quite all right, because you don’t have to change anywhere. Eat your sandwiches when you see a clock on some station pointing to half-past twelve.”

“Good-bye, Mummy!” cried both children, hugging their mother and feeling suddenly that they didn’t want to leave her behind. “We’ll write to you.”

“Bob, you’ll remember that brothers always have to take care of their sisters, won’t you?” said Mummy, “so look after Mary. Good-bye, dears, have a lovely time!” The guard whistled and waved his green flag. The engine grunted and went off again, pulling the carriages in a rumbling row. The twins leaned out of the window and waved wildly. When at last they could see the platform no longer they sat back in the carriage.

“It’s awfully grown-up, going on a long journey by ourselves like this,” said Mary. “I hope half-past twelve won’t be a long time coming. I feel hungry already.”

“Goodness! It’s not half-past ten yet,” said Bob. “You can have some chocolate at eleven. Mummy gave me a bar each. What shall we do now? Look out of the window—or read our books?”

“Oh, look out of the window!” said Mary. “Let’s have half-an-hour at that, then eat our chocolate, then have a game of seeing who can count the most horses out of the window. Then we’ll watch for a station clock to tell us if it’s lunch-time.”

The time flew by. Soon they were having their lunch, and how hungry they were! Mummy had packed up some sardine sandwiches, tomato sandwiches, big pieces of fruit cake, a banana each, and another two bars of chocolate. They ate every single thing.

The guard came along every now and again and chatted to them. He said he would be sure to tell them when they arrived at the right station.

“We’ll know all right,” said Bob, rather grandly. “We’ll be looking out ourselves.” But, you know, they weren’t! They both fell fast asleep after their lunch, and didn’t wake up till the guard came along, shouting “Curlington Junction! Curlington!”

He put his head in at their window. “Hey! You there! Wake up, and get out quickly! I’ve got a porter for your luggage, and he’s taking the trunk out of my van.”

Goodness! The twins almost fell out of the carriage in their hurry—and there, not far away, standing on the platform anxiously looking for them, was Granny!

She saw them at once and ran to them, hugging them both at once.

“Bob! Mary! Here you are at last, darlings! I’ve been so looking forward to seeing you. Come along—I’ve got the pony-trap outside, waiting. We’ll soon be home.”

Out of the station they went—and there, in the little cart, was the pony they used to know. What a lovely beginning to a holiday!