"Blyton, Enid - Famous Five 14 - Five Have Plenty of Fun" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

СHallo - are these your kids?Т said one of the men, stopping.
СTheyТve just come in from the beach,Т said Aunt Fanny hurriedly. СIТm afraid they are not really fit to be seen. I...Т
СGreat snakes!Т said the man, СdonТt you dare to apologise for kids like these! I never saw such a fine lot in my life - theyТre wunnerful!Т
He spoke with an American accent, and beamed all over his face. The children warmed to him at once. He turned to GeorgeТs father. СThese all yours?Т he asked. СI bet youТre proud of them! How did they get that tan - they look like Red Indians! My, my - wish my Berta looked like that!Т
СTheyТre not all mine,Т said Uncle Quentin, looking quite horrified at the thought. СOnly this one is mine,Т and he put his hand on GeorgeТs shoulder. СThe others are nephews and a niece.Т
СWell, I must say youТve got a fine boy,Т said the American, ruffling GeorgeТs short curls. As a rule she hated people who did that, but because he mistook her for a boy, she grinned happily!
СMy girlТs going to your school,Т he said to Anne. СGive her a bit of help, will you? SheТll be scared stiff at first.Т
СOf course I will,Т said Anne, taking a liking to the huge loud-voiced American. He didnТt look a bit like a scientist. The other man did, though. He was round-shouldered and wore owl-like glasses, and, as Uncle Quentin often did, he stared into the distance as if he was not hearing a single word that anyone said.
Uncle Quentin thought this gossiping had lasted long enough. He waved the children away.
СCome and have lunch,Т he said to the other men. The second man followed him at once, but the big American stayed behind. He thrust his hands into his pocket and brought out a pound note. He gave it to Anne.
СSpend that on yourselves,Т he said. СAnd be kind to my Berta, wonТt you?Т
He disappeared into the dining-room and shut the door with a loud bang. СGoodness - what will Father say to a bang like that!Т said George, with a sudden giggle. СI like him, donТt you? That must be his car outside. I canТt imagine the other man even riding a bicycle, let alone driving a car!Т
СChildren - take your picnic basket and go!Т said Aunt Fanny, urgently. СI must run and see that everything is all right!Т
She thrust a big basket into JulianТs hands, and disappeared into the dining-room. Julian grinned as he felt the weight of the basket.
СCome along,Т he said. СThis feels good! Back to the beach, everyone!Т


Chapter Two

A VISITOR IN THE NIGHT

The Five were on the beach in two minutes, and Julian undid the basket. It was full of neatly packed sandwiches, and packets of biscuits and chocolate. A bag contained ripe plums, and there were two bottles of lemonade.
СHome-made!Т said Dick, taking it out. And icy-cold. And whatТs this? A fruit cake - a whole fruit cake - weТre in luck.Т
СWoof,Т said Timmy, approvingly, and sniffled inside the basket.
Wrapped in brown paper were some biscuits and a bone, together with a small pot of paste. George undid the packet. СI packed these for you, Timmy,Т she said. СSay thank you!Т
Timmy licked her so lavishly that she cried out for mercy. СPass me the towel, Ju!Т she said. СTimmyТs made my face all wet. Get away now, Timmy - youТve thanked me quite enough! Get away, I said. How can I spread paste on your biscuits if you stick your nose into the pot all the time?Т
СYou spoil Timmy dreadfully,Т said Anne. СAll right, all right - you neednТt scowl at me, George! I agree that heТs worth spoiling. Take your bone a bit farther away from me, Tim - itТs smelly!Т
They were soon eating sardine sandwiches with tomatoes, and egg-and-lettuce sandwiches after that. Then they started on the fruit cake and the lemonade.
СI canТt think why people ever have table-meals when they can have picnics,Т said Dick. СThink of Uncle and Aunt and those two men tucking into a hot meal indoors on a day like this. Phew!Т
СI liked that big American,Т said George.
СAha! We all know why,Т said Dick, annoyingly. СHe thought you were a boy. Will you ever grow out of that, George?Т
СTimmyТs trying to get at the cake!Т said Anne. СQuick, George, stop him!Т
They all lay back on the sand after their picnic, and Julian began a long story of some trick that he and Dick had played on their form-master at school. He was most annoyed because nobody laughed at the funny part, and sat up to see why.
СAll asleep!Т he said, in disgust. Then he cocked his head just as Timmy pricked up his ears. A loud roaring noise came to him.
СJust the American revving up his car, do you think, Tim?Т said Julian. The boy stood up and saw the great car tearing down the sea road.
The day was too hot to do anything but laze. The Five were quite content to do that on their first day together again. Soon they would want to plan all kinds of things, but the first day at Kirrin was a day for picking up old threads, teasing Timmy, getting into the СfeelТ of things again, as Dick said.
Dick and Julian had been abroad for four weeks, and Anne had been away to camp and had had a school friend to stay with her at home afterwards. George had been alone at Kirrin so it was wonderful to all the Five to meet together once more for three whole summer weeks. At Kirrin too, Kirrin by the sea, with its lovely beach, its fine boating - and its exciting little island across Kirrin Bay!
As usual the first day or two passed in a kind of dream, and then the children began to plan exciting things to do.
СWeТll go to Kirrin Island again,Т said Dick. СWeТve not been there for ages.Т
СWeТll go fishing in Lobster Cove,Т said Julian.
СWeТll go and explore some of the caves in the cliffs,Т said George. СI meant to do that these hols, but somehow itТs no fun going alone.Т
On the third day, just as they were finishing making their beds, the telephone bell rang.
СIТll go!Т yelled Julian to his aunt, and went to answer it. An urgent voice spoke at the other end.
СWhoТs that? Oh, you, Julian - youТre QuentinТs nephew, arenТt you? Listen, tell your uncle IТm coming over tonight - yes, tonight. Latish, say. Tell him to wait up for me. ItТs important.Т
СBut, wonТt you speak to him yourself?Т said Julian, surprised. СIТll fetch him, if youТll...Т
But the line had gone dead. Julian was puzzled. The man hadnТt even given his name - but Julian had recognised the voice. It was the big, cheery American who had come to see his uncle two days before! What had happened? What was all the excitement about?
He went to find his uncle but he was not in his study. So he found his aunt instead.
СAunt Fanny,Т he said, СI think that was the big American on the phone - the one who came to lunch the other day. He said I was to tell Uncle Quentin that he was coming here tonight - late, he said - and that Uncle was to wait up for him, because it was important.Т
СDear me!Т said his aunt, startled. СIs he going to stay the night then? WeТve no bedroom free now you and the others are here.Т
СHe didnТt say, Aunt Fanny,Т said Julian. СIТm awfully sorry not to be able to tell you any details - but just as I was saying IТd fetch Uncle Quentin, he rang off - in the very middle of what I was saying.Т