Free Mystery of the Strange Bundle by Enid Blyton

shortbread biscuits, and, of course, the large chocolate sponge, which had a thick cream filling.
    “I vote we march down in a body to the kitchen after tea and give three cheers,” said Larry. “Well, ‘flu’ certainly has its good points - afterwards! I hope we shall all be fed up just as much in school when we get there.”
    “We shall be - but not in quite the same way as we are being fed up now!” grinned Pip, offering the scones round. “I soon get fed-up at school.”
    “Ha ha! Joke over,” said Larry, biting into his scone. “Gosh - this is the most buttery scone I ever had. Buster would just love to lick my face clean after it!”
    It was a lovely tea - cosy, companionable, and full of silly jokes. Buster accepted tit-bits from every one, and was not above abstracting a biscuit from the plate when no one was looking.
    They ate everything, and Pip asked every one politely if he should go down and ask for any more. But nobody could manage another thing. Buster thumped his tail on the carpet to say that he wouldn’t mind a few more biscuits, but unfortunately nobody took any notice of him.
    They played a game of Monopoly after tea, but had to stop before it was finished. Both Larry and Daisy had been told to get home by a quarter-past six, as an aunt was coming to stay.
    “Will you have time to go in and see that boy next door - Erb, didn’t you say his name was?” asked Fatty.
    “Oh yes - I’ll leave Daisy chatting brightly to Aunt Pamela,” said Larry. “She’s good at that sort of thing. Well, come on, Daisy. We must go. I’ll ring you later on this evening, Fatty.”
    They all went down to the kitchen and gave three cheers for their good tea. The two maids were tickled and pleased. “Go on with you,” said the cook. “You’re only doing this to get as good a tea next time you come. Oh, there’s Buster. Did they give you any tea, Buster?”
    Buster drooped his tail as if to say no. “Oh, you fibber!” said Pip. “Who stole a biscuit off the plate? You thought I wasn’t looking, but I was. Good thing I was your host or I’d have had something to say to you!”
    Larry, Daisy, and Fatty went to say goodbye and thank you to Mrs. Hilton, who was always very strict about good manners. Then they went off together down the drive to the front gate. Fatty wheeled his bicycle.
    “I hope I don’t meet Goon,” he said. “I’ve got no lamp at the front. Well, so long, Larry and Daisy. Here’s to the new Mystery, even if it’s just a tiddler - and don’t forget to phone me, Larry.”
    “Right,” said Larry. “And good luck with your Uncle Horatious and your Uncle Tobias and the night-watchmen, Fatty. You’d better keep a sharp eye on those two uncles of yours in future!”
     
    Larry does a Little Work - and so does Fatty
     
    Larry and Daisy arrived home just at a quarter-past six. Their aunt was already there. Larry chatted politely for ten minutes and then escaped, leaving Daisy to carry on the good work. He slipped up to his room and found his new book on garden birds. Erb would love to borrow that!
    He went into the gate of the next-door house and made his way to the back door. He rapped four times. That was the signal to Erb that he had come to see him about something.
    Erb opened the door. “Hallo!” he said. “What’s up?”
    “Nothing,” said Larry. “I just wondered if you’d like to borrow my new book. It’s got every single garden bird in it - all the ones we get here, of course!”
    “Come in,” said Erb, eagerly. “Mum’s out. Let’s have a look at the book. Coo, it’s a beauty! Will you really lend it to me.”
    Erb sat down at the table and opened the book. He would have been pleased if Larry had gone back home straight away and left him to it. Herbert was certainly mad on birds, Larry reflected.
    He wondered how to begin his questions about the night before - when suddenly Erb gave him just the opening he needed.
    “Oooh - here’s a fine chapter on owls,” he said. “And what smashing pictures. I love owls. I’m always