"Blyton, Enid - Famous Five 12 - Five Go Down to The Sea" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

СSure to,Т said Julian. СSheТs a pet. IТve never felt so welcome in my life. Are we ready? Come on down, then. IТm beginning to feel very empty indeed.Т
The high tea that awaited them was truly magnificent. A huge ham gleaming as pink as TimmyТs tongue; a salad fit for a king. In fact, as Dick said, fit for several kings, it was so enormous. It had in it everything that anyone could possibly want.
СLettuce, tomatoes, onions, radishes, mustard and cress, carrot grated up - that is carrot, isnТt it, Mrs Penruthlan?Т said Dick. СAnd lashings of hard-boiled eggs.Т
There was an enormous tureen of new potatoes, all gleaming with melted butter, scattered with parsley. There was a big bottle of home-made salad cream.
СLook at that cream cheese, too,Т marvelled Dick, quite overcome. СAnd that fruit cake. And are those drop-scones, or what? Are we supposed to have something of everything, Mrs Penruthlan?Т
СOh, yes,Т said the plump little woman, smiling at DickТs pleasure. СAnd thereТs a cherry tart made with our own cherries, and our own cream with it. I know what hungry children are. IТve had seven of my own, all married and gone away. So I have to make do with other peopleТs when I can get them.Т
СIТm jolly glad you happened to get hold of us,Т said Dick, beginning on ham and salad. СWell, weТll keep you busy, Mrs Penruthlan. WeТve all got big appetites!Т
СAh, IТve not met any children yet that could eat like mine,Т said Mrs Penruthlan, sounding really sorry. СSame as IТve not met any man that can eat like Mr Penruthlan. HeТs a fine eater, he is. HeТll be in soon.Т
СI hope we shall leave enough for him,Т said Anne, looking at the ham and the half-empty salad dish. СNo wonder my uncleТs friend, the man who came to stay here, went away as fat as butter, Mrs Penruthlan.Т
СOh, the poor man!Т said their hostess, who was now filling up their glasses with rich, creamy milk. СThin as my husbandТs old rake, he was, and all his bones showing and creaking. He said УNoФ to this and УNoФ to that, but I took no notice of him at all. If he didnТt eat his dinner, IТd take his tray away and tidy it up, and then in ten minutes IТd take it back again and say: УDinner-time, sir, and I hope youТre hungry!Ф And heТd start all over again, and maybe that time heТd really tuck in!Т
СBut didnТt he know youТd already taken him his dinner-tray once?Т said Julian, astonished. СGoodness, he must have been a dreamer.Т
СI took his tray in three times once,Т said Mrs Penruthlan. СSo you be careful in case I do the same kind of thing to you!Т
СI should love it!Т grinned Julian. СYes, please, IТd like some more ham. And more salad.Т
Footsteps came outside the room, on the stone floor of the hall. The door opened and the farmer himself came in. The children stared at him in awe.
He was a strange and magnificent figure of a man - tall, well over six feet, broadly built, and as dark as a sunburnt Spaniard. His mane of hair was black and curly, and his eyes were as black as his hair.
СThis is Mr Penruthlan,Т said his wife, and the children stood up to shake hands, feeling half afraid of this dark giant.
He nodded his head and shook hands. His hand was enormous, and was covered with hairs so thick and black that it was like fur. Anne felt that it would be quite nice and soft to stroke, like a catТs back!Т
He didnТt say a word, but sat down and let his wife serve him. СWell, Mr Penruthlan,Т she said, Сand howТs the cow getting along?Т
СAh,Т said the farmer, taking a plate of ham. The children gazed at the slices in awe, seven or eight of them. Goodness!
СOh, IТm glad sheТs all right,Т said Mrs Penruthlan, stacking up some dirty plates. СAnd is the calf a dear little thing - and whatТs the colour?Т
СAh,Т said Mr Penruthlan, nodding his head.
СRed and white, like its mother! ThatТs good, isnТt it?Т said his wife, who seemed to have a miraculous way of interpreting his СAhsТ. СWhat shall we call it?Т
Everyone badly wanted to say СAhТ, but nobody dared. However, Mr Penruthlan didnТt say СAhТ that time, but something that sounded like СOckТ.
СYes, weТll call it Buttercup, then,Т said his wife, nodding her head. СYou always have such good ideas, Mr Penruthlan.Т
It sounded odd to hear her call her husband by his surname like that, and yet, somehow, the children couldnТt imagine this giant of a fellow even owning a name like Jack or Jim. They went on with their own meal, enjoying every minute of it, watching Mr Penruthlan shovel in great mouthfuls, and working his way quickly through every dish. Mrs Penruthlan saw them watching him.
СHeТs a grand eater, isnТt he?Т she said, proudly. СSo were all my children. When they were at home, I was kept really busy, but now, with only Mr Penruthlan to feed, I feel quite lost. ThatТs why I like people here. YouТll tell me if you donТt have enough to eat, wonТt you?Т
They all laughed, and Timmy barked. He had had a wonderful meal, too, it was the remains of Mrs PenruthlanТs big stock-pot, and was very tasty indeed. He had also got the largest bone he had ever had in his life. The only thing that really worried the well-fed Timmy now was, where could he put the bone out of the way of the farm dogs?
Mr Penruthlan suddenly made a peculiar noise and began undoing a trouser pocket at the back. СOo-ah!Т he said, and brought out a dirty, folded piece of paper. He handed it to his wife, who unfolded it and read it. She looked up at the children, smiling.
СNow, hereТs a bit of excitement!Т she said. СThe Barnies will be along this week! YouТll love them.Т
СWhat are the Barnies?Т asked George, puzzled at Mrs PenruthlanТs evident pleasure and excitement.
СOh, theyТre travelling players that wander round the countryside and play and act in our big barns,Т said Mrs Penruthlan. СWeТve no cinemas for miles, you know, so the Barnies are always very welcome.Т
СOh, you call them Barnies because they use your barns for their shows,Т said Anne, seeing light. СYes, we shall love to see them, Mrs Penruthlan. Will they play in your barn?Т
СYes. WeТll have all the village here when the Barnies come,Т said Mrs Penruthlan, her cheeks going red with delight. СAnd maybe people from Trelin Village, too. Now, thereТs a treat for you!Т
СAh,Т said Mr Penruthlan, and nodded his great head. Evidently he liked the Barnies, too. He gave a sudden laugh and said something short and quite incomprehensible.
СHe says youТll like Clopper the horse,Т said his wife, laughing. СThe things he does! The way he sits down and crosses his legs. Well, you wait and see. That horse!Т
This sounded rather astonishing. A horse that sat down and crossed its legs? Julian winked at Dick. They would most certainly see the Barnies!

Chapter Three

THE FIRST EVENING

After their wonderful high tea the four children didnТt really feel like doing very much. Dick thought he ought to mend his puncture, but wasnТt sure that he could bend over properly!
Mrs Penruthlan began to stack the dishes and clear away. George and Anne offered to help her. СWell, thatТs kind of you, Anne and Georgina,Т said the farmerТs wife. СBut youТre tired tonight. You can give me a hand some other time. By the way, which of you is which?Т
СIТm Anne,Т said Anne.
СAnd IТm George, not Georgina,Т said George. СSo please donТt call me that. I hate it. I always wanted to be a boy, so I only like to be called George.Т
СWhat she really means is that she wonТt answer unless you do call her George,Т said Anne. СWell, if you really are sure you donТt need our help, weТll go out with the boys.Т
So out they went, George really looking far more like a boy than a girl, with her grey shorts and shirt and her short, curly hair and freckled face. She put her hands in her pockets and tried to walk like Dick!
Dick soon found his puncture and mended it. Mr Penruthlan came by with some straw for his cow and new calf. The boys watched him in awe, for he was carrying almost a wagon load of straw tied up in bales! What strength he had! He nodded to them and passed without a word.
СWhy doesnТt he talk?Т wondered Dick. СI suppose all his seven children take after their talkative mother, and he never had a chance to get a word in. And itТs too late now, heТs forgotten how to!Т
They laughed. СWhat a giant of a man,Т said Julian. СI hope I grow as big as that.Т