Free Mystery of the Disappearing Cat by Enid Blyton

questions.
    “Nobody,” said the maid. “You see, Lady Candling had quite a tea-party yesterday — nine or ten people altogether — and Cook and I were busy all the time. We didn’t go down the garden at all between four and five o’clock, we had such a lot to do. If we had slipped down, we might have seen the thief at his work. Ah! it was a good day for the thief — with Miss Harmer out, and Tupping out, and Cook and me busy, and Lady Candling up here at the house with her friends!”
    “It was,” said Pip. “It looks as if the thief must have known all that too, to arrange his theft so neatly.”
    “That’s why we think it must be Luke,” said the girl. “Though I always liked Luke. A bit simple, but always very kind. And that Tupping’s a perfect horror to him.”
    “Don’t you like Tupping either?” said Bets eagerly.
    “He’s a rude, bad-tempered old man!” said the girl. “But don’t you say I said so. Cook and me wish it had been him that took the cat. Well, I mustn’t talk to you any more. You go out and find her ladyship.”
    Pip and Bets went into the sunny garden. “From what the maid says it’s quite clear that we can cross Lady Candling, the parlourmaid, and the cook off our list of Suspects,” said Pip. “Hallo! there’s Miss Trimble.”
    Miss Trimble advanced to meet them. Bets spoke to Pip in a whisper.
    “Pip! Let’s count how many times her glasses fall off! They keep on doing it.”
    “Well, children!” said Miss Trimble in her bird-like voice, giving them a wide and toothy smile. “Are you looking for Lady Candling? I think I have seen this little girl before, haven’t I? Aren’t you the little girl that the strawberry runners ran away with? Oh, what a joke, ha, ha!”
    She laughed, and her glasses fell off, dangling on their little chain. She put them on again.
    “Yes, I’m the little girl,” said Bets. “And we have come to see Lady Candling.”
    “Oh, what a pity! She’s just gone out!” said Miss Trimble. “I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with poor old me!”
    She laughed again, and her glasses fell off. “Twice,” said Bets, under her breath.
    “Do you know where Luke is?” said Pip, thinking it would be a good idea to go and find him if he was anywhere about.
    “No, I don’t,” said Miss Trimble. “He didn’t turn up today. Tupping was very annoyed about it.”
    “Did Lady Candling give Luke the sack, Miss Tremble?” asked Bets.
    “My name is Trimble, not Tremble,” said Miss Trimble.
    “No, Lady Candling didn’t give him notice. At least, I don’t think so. Wasn’t it a pity about that lovely cat? I saw her at four o’clock, you know.”
    “Yes, you were with my mother,” said Pip. “I suppose you didn’t see anyone near the cat-house except Luke?”
    “No, nobody,” said Miss Trimble. “Luke was there, of course, digging hard all the time. Your mother and I were only there a minute or two, then I had to hurry back to the tea-table, because there was a lot for me to do there. I didn’t have a moment to myself until after the party.”
    “Then you couldn’t have stolen the cat!” said Pip, with a laugh. Miss Trimble jumped, and her glasses fell off. Her nose went even redder than it already was.
    “What a funny joke!” she said, and she tried to disentangle her glasses from her lace collar. “The very idea of stealing anything makes me go hot and cold!”
    “Could we go and see the cats, Miss Tremble?” asked Bets.
    “I should think so,” said Miss Trimble. “My name is Trimble, not Tremble. Do try and remember. Miss Harmer is with the cats. We’ll go and see her. Come along, dears.”
    She tripped along in front of them, her glasses on her nose once more. They fell off going down a few steps, and Bets counted out loud.
    “That’s four times.”
    “Four times what, dear?” said Miss Trimble, turning round and smiling sweetly. She put up her hand to stop her glasses from falling.
    “Don’t stop them,” said