Читать книгу Four in a Family - Enid blyton - Страница 4

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“Don’t look so worried,” said Mummy, taking Rosie on her knee. “I’m sorry I wasn’t back when you came home from school, but Mrs. Fraser said she would give you a nice tea. Now—about Daddy.”

“Is he badly hurt?” asked Roddy, anxiously.

“No. Not very badly,” said Mummy. “But he fell with his head on the kerb, so he’ll have to rest quietly in hospital for a while. Poor old Daddy.”

“Can’t we go and see him?” asked Linda.

“Dear me, yes—and you can take him little presents,” said Mummy. “You can buy him flowers—he’ll love those—and his favourite sweets—and a magazine or two.”

“Oh yes!” said Linda, pleased.

“And we’ll help you all we can,” said Ian. “So that you won’t feel too lonely without Daddy!”

“Shall I do the washing-up?” asked Rosie, pulling at Mummy’s arm. “I’d like to do the washing-up.”

“We’ll see,” said Mummy. “Daddy said he was sure you would all help me.”

“Have you had any tea, Mummy?” asked Linda. “You haven’t! Well, I’ll put the kettle on straightaway. Roddy, you get the tin of biscuits for Mummy.”

“I’ll cut some bread-and-butter,” said Rosie and ran to the larder.

“Rosie! You know you can’t cut bread-and-butter!” called Linda. “Can she, Mummy?”

“She can get my slippers,” said Mummy. “I don’t want any bread-and-butter. Roddy, you put some coal on the fire for me. Dear me, how nice it is to come home to a family like mine!”

“When will Daddy be home?” asked Roddy, as he put coal on the fire.

“I don’t know. Not for a week or two,” said Mummy. “But we’ll see him as often as we can. Oh thank you, Rosie, for taking off my shoes.”

“She’s putting your slippers on the wrong feet,” said Linda. “Let me do it, Rosie.”

“No. It’s my job. I want to,” said Rosie, changing over the slippers. “Mummy, shall I wash up after you’ve had your tea?”

“You and your washing-up!” said Mummy. “I believe you just want to be allowed to turn on the taps!”

She stood up and went to hang up her coat and get her pretty overall. “I must wash out Daddy’s pyjamas and take them clean to the hospital to-morrow,” she said. “You make me a cup of tea when the kettle boils, Linda, and bring it to me. Dear me—it will seem strange not to have Daddy coming home to-night!”

When Mummy had washed out the pyjamas, and put several things ready in a bag to take to the hospital the next morning, she went in to see Mrs. Fraser.

The children were left alone in the little sitting-room.

“I shall buy Daddy a big bunch of violets,” said Linda. “He loves those. I shall take them to him when I visit him.”

“And I shall buy his favourite magazine,” said Roddy. “All about aeroplanes.”

“I shall buy him a new bicycle if his is broken,” said Rosie.

“Don’t be silly,” said Linda. “You haven’t nearly enough money.”

“Well, I’ve got more than you,” said Rosie, looking quite fierce.

“You haven’t!” said Linda. “You spend all your pennies instead of saving any!”

“All the same—Rosie’s right,” said Roddy, and he took down the four little money-boxes from the mantelpiece. Rosie’s was in the shape of a pig, with a slit in his back. Linda’s was a little house and you posted pennies down a chimney. The two boys had money-boxes exactly like the red pillar-boxes in the road.

Roddy dumped them all down on the table—and only one made a jingling sound, and that was Rosie’s pig!

“Oh!” said Linda, suddenly remembering. “Of course—it was Rosie’s birthday last week, and we spent all our money on presents!”

“Yes,” said Rosie, beaming. “A little tiny car—and a box of chocolates—and a book. I like them all.”

But the other three were staring at one another in dismay. No money in their boxes—not even a penny! Then how were they going to buy even a tiny present to take to Daddy?

“What are we going to do?” said Ian, at last. “Rosie’s the only one with any money—and there’s only one penny and one ha’penny in her box. So nobody can buy Daddy a present!”

“Mummy will give us some pennies to buy presents,” said Rosie. But the others frowned at her at once.

“They wouldn’t be presents from us if Mummy paid for them!” said Linda. “No—we’ve got to get some ourselves. But how can we, Roddy?”

“We’ll make plans,” said Roddy. “Good plans. Now—has anyone an idea to earn money? I’ve got one already!”