Free Five Go to Mystery Moor by Enid Blyton Page B

of your tales? You can tell it after supper."
    „It"s not Henry"s tale," said George, annoyed that Henry should get all the limelight again, and take the blacksmith"s tale for her own. „It"s one old Ben told us. Ju, you tell it!"
    „Nobody is to tell it now," said Captain Johnson. „You came in late for supper, we waited for you, and the least you can do is to get on with your eating."
    The five juniors at the other table were disappointed. They had hoped to hear another of Henry"s marvel ous stories. But Captain Johnson was hungry and tired.
    „Old Ben is a great age, as you said," began Henry, after a few mouthfuls. „He -"
    „Not another word, please, Henrietta," said the captain, curtly. Henry went red and George grinned, kicking at Dick under the table. Unfortunately she kicked Henry instead, and the girl glared at her for a whole minute.
    „Oh dear!" thought Anne. „Just as we"d had such a lovely day! I suppose we"re all tired and scratchy."
    „Why did you kick me'?" began Henry in a cross voice, as soon as she and George left the table with the others.
    „Shut up, you two," said Julian. „She probably meant to kick me or Dick, not you."
    Henry shut up. She didn"t like Julian to tick her off. George looked mutinous and went off with Timmy.
    Dick yawned. „What jobs are there to do, if any?" he said. „Don"t say there"s washing-up again. I feel I might break a few things."
    Mrs Johnson heard him and laughed. „No, there"s no washing-up. The woman has come in to do it tonight. Have a look at the horses - and see that Jenny the mare is not with Flash, you know she doesn"t like her for some reason, and wil kick out at her. She must always be kept in another field."
    „That"s all right, Mrs Johnson," said Wil iam, suddenly appearing, stolid and competent as ever. „I"ve seen to that. I"ve seen to everything, real y."
    „You"re better than any stable-boy, Wil iam," said Mrs Johnson, smiling at him. „I wish you"d take a permanent job here!"
    „I wish you meant that," said Wil iam, earnestly. There was nothing he would have liked better! He went off looking pleased.
    „I think you"d better al go to bed then, as Wil iam appears to have done everything necessary," said Mrs Johnson. „Any plans for tomorrow?"
    „Not yet," said Julian, trying to stop a yawn. „So if you want anything done, we"ll do it."
    „We"ll see what tomorrow brings," said Mrs Johnson and said good night. The boys said good night to the three girls and went off to the stable.

    „Gosh, we"ve forgotten to undress and wash and everything," said Julian, half-asleep.
    „What"s the matter with us at this place? I can"t seem to keep my eyes open after half-past eight!"
    The next day certainly brought a few things. It brought a letter for Henry that fil ed her with disgust. It brought two letters for Mrs Johnson that made her start fussing and worrying. It brought a telegram for Captain Johnson that sent him down to the station at once.
    Henrietta"s letter was from two of her great-aunts. They announced that as they would be near the stables that day and the following, they would like to fetch her and take her out with them.
    „Blow!" said Henrietta, ungrateful y. „Great-Aunts Hannah and Lucy would choose this very week to come along and see me! Just when Julian and Dick are here, and everything is such fun. Can"t I phone and say I"m too busy, Mrs Johnson?"
    „Certainly not," said Mrs Johnson, shocked. „That would be very rude, Henry, and you know it. You"re having the whole of the Easter holidays here, and yet you think you can"t spare two days. As a matter of fact I shal be glad if your aunts do take you off my hands for a couple of days."
    „Why?" asked Henry, astonished. „Have I been a nuisance?"
    „Oh no, but I"ve had two letters this morning telling me that four children are coming unexpectedly," said Mrs Johnson. „They were not supposed to come til three of the others left this week-end, but there you are! These things