"Blyton, Enid - Adventure 01 - The Island of Adventure" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

Dinah suddenly gave a shriek and pushed Philip away from her. Oh! You've got a mouse down your neck! I saw its nose peeping out. Take it away, Philip; you know I can't bear mice.
Oh, shut up and don't be an idiot, said Philip crossly. Dinah at once flew into one of her tempers. She clutched Philip's collar and shook him, trying to dislodge the mouse and frighten it away. Philip gave Dinah a push, and she banged her head against the side of the car. She at once slapped him hard. Jack and Lucy-Ann stared in surprise.
Beast! said Dinah. I wish you hadn't come back. Take your two horrid friends and go off again to Mr. Roy.
They're not horrid, said Philip, in a mild tone. They're fun. He put his mouth to Dinah's ear, after seeing that Jo-Jo was paying no attention, and whispered: They've escaped from Mr. Roy. I asked them to. Their uncle will pay Aunt Polly for them to stay with us, and she can pay that bill you told me about. See?
Dinah forgot her temper as quickly as it had come. She stared with interest at the brother and sister, rubbing her bruised head as she did so. What would Aunt Polly say? Where would they sleep? This was going to be exciting.
Jo-Jo drove headlong over the bumpy, stony road. Jack wondered that any car could stand such driving. They drove up the cliff, then down a hidden way that sloped round to Craggy-Tops.
And there, suddenly, was the roaring sea and Craggy-Tops standing sullenly above it, built half-way down the cliff. The car stopped, and the children got out. Jack gazed at the strange house. It was a queer place. Once it had two towers, but one had fallen in. The other still stood. The house was built of great grey stones, and was massive and ugly, but somehow rather grand. It faced the sea with a proud and angry look, as if defying the strong gale and the restless ocean. Jack looked down at the water. On it, and circling above it, were hundreds of wild sea-birds of all kinds. It was a perfect paradise of birds. The boy's heart sang for joy. Birds by the hundred, birds by the thousand. He would be able to study them to his heart's content, find their nests, photograph them at his leisure. What a time he would have!
A woman came to the door, and looked down at the four children in surprise. She was thin, and her hair was sandy-coloured and wispy. She looked tired and faded.
Hallo, Aunt Polly! cried Philip, running up the stone steps. I'm back!
So I see, said his aunt, giving him a peck of a kiss on his cheek. But who are these?
Aunt Polly, they're friends of mine, said Philip earnestly. They couldn't go home because their uncle broke his leg. So I brought them here. Their uncle will pay you for having them.
Philip! How can you do a thing like this? Springing people on me without telling me! said Aunt Polly sharply. Where will they sleep? You know we've no room.
They can sleep in the tower-room, said Philip. The tower-room! How lovely! Jack and Lucy-Ann were thrilled.
There's no beds there, said Aunt Polly, in a disagreeable tone. They'll have to go back. They can stay the night and then go back.
Lucy-Ann looked ready to cry. There was a harshness in Aunt Polly's tone that she could not bear. She felt unwelcome and miserable. Jack put his arm round her and gave her a squeeze.
He was determined that he would not go back. The sight of those gliding, circling, soaring birds had filled his heart with joy. Oh, to lie on the cliff and watch them! He would not go back!
They all went in, Jo-Jo carrying the trunks. Aunt Polly looked with much disfavour on Kiki.
A parrot too! she said. Nasty, squawking, screeching bird! I never liked parrots. It's bad enough to have all the creatures you collect, Philip, without a parrot coming too.
Poor Polly, poor old Polly, said Kiki unexpectedly. Aunt Polly looked at the bird, startled.
How does it know my name? she asked in astonishment.
Kiki didn't. It was a name she herself was often called, and she often said Poor old Polly! or Poor old Kiki! She saw that she had made an impression on this sharp-voiced woman, and she repeated the words softly, as if she was about to burst into tears.
Poor Polly! Dear Polly! Poor, dear old Polly!
Well I never! said Aunt Polly, and looked at the parrot more kindly. Aunt Polly felt ill, tired and harassed, but no-one ever said they were sorry, or seemed to notice it. Now here was a bird pitying her and speaking to her more kindly than anyone had for years! Aunt Polly felt strange about it, but quite pleased.
You can take a mattress up to the tower-room, and sleep there tonight with the boy what's his name? said Aunt Polly to Philip. The girl can sleep tonight with Dinah. It's a small bed, but I can't help that. If you bring people here without telling me, I can't prepare for them.
The children sat down to a good meal. Aunt Polly was a good cook. It was a mixture of tea and supper, and the children tucked into it well. All they had had that day, since their breakfast, were the sandwiches that Mr. Roy had packed for Philip and one packet of sandwiches did not go far between three hungry children.
Dinah gave a sneeze, and the parrot spoke to her sternly. Where's your handkerchief?
Aunt Polly looked at the bird in surprised admiration. Well, I'm always saying that to Dinah, she said. That bird seems to be a most sensible creature.
Kiki was pleased at Aunt Polly's admiration. Poor Polly, poor dear Polly, she said, her head coyly on one side, her bright eye glinting at Aunt Polly.
Aunt Polly likes your parrot better than she likes you, whispered Philip to Jack, with a grin.
After the meal, Aunt Polly took Philip to his uncle's study. He knocked and went in. His Uncle Jocelyn was bent over a sheaf of yellow papers, examining them with a magnifying-glass. He grunted at Philip.
So you're back again. Behave yourself and keep out of my way. I shall be very busy these holidays.
Jocelyn, Philip has brought two children back with him and a parrot, said Aunt Polly.
A parrot? said Uncle Jocelyn. Why a parrot?
Jocelyn, that parrot belongs to one of the children that Philip brought home, said Aunt Polly. Philip wants these children to stay here.
Can't have them. Don't mind the parrot, said Uncle Jocelyn. Keep the parrot if you want it. Send it away if you don't. I'm busy.
He bent over his papers again. Aunt Polly gave a sigh and shut the door. He's so interested in the past that he forgets all about the present, she said, half to herself.
Well I suppose I must ring up Mr. Roy myself. He'll be wondering about those children.
She went to the telephone. Philip followed close behind her, longing to know what Mr. Roy would say. Dinah peeped out from the sitting-room and Philip nodded towards the telephone. If only Mr. Roy was cross and said he would not have Jack and Lucy-Ann back! If only Aunt Polly would think the cheque was big enough to make it worth while letting them stay!


Chapter 5
SETTLING IN AT CRAGGY-TOPS

It seemed ages before Aunt Polly got through to Mr. Roy. The master was worried and puzzled. Jack and Lucy-Ann had not returned, of course, and at first he had thought they had gone off for one of their walks, and that Jack had found some unusual bird and had forgotten all about time.
But as the hours went by and still the children had not come back, he became seriously worried. It did not occur to him that they might have gone with Philip, or he would have telephoned to the boy's aunt at once.
He was most relieved to hear Mrs. Sullivan, Philip's aunt, speaking, giving him the news that the children were safe.
They arrived here with Philip, she said, with some sharpness. I cannot think how it was that they were allowed to do this. I cannot possibly keep them.
Mr. Roy's heart sank. He had hoped for one wild moment that his problem concerning Jack and Lucy-Ann, and that tiresome parrot, was solved. Now it seemed as if it wasn't.
Well, Mrs. Sullivan, said Mr. Roy politely, though he did not feel at all civil, I'm sorry about it. The children went down to see Philip off, and I suppose the boy persuaded them to go with him. It's a pity you could not keep them for the rest of the holidays, as they would probably be happier with you and Philip. No doubt they have told you that their uncle cannot have them back these holidays. He sent me a cheque for a large sum of money, hoping I could have them. But I should be pleased to hand this over to you if you felt that you could take charge of them, and we could get Mr. Trent's consent to it.
There was a pause. How much was the cheque? asked Mrs. Sullivan.