Free The Secret Seven by Enid Blyton Page A

notes. Then there was only Barbara left. She was away!
    «Bother!» said Peter. But when he heard she was coming back that night he was pleased. «Will she be able to come and see us tomorrow morning?» he asked Barbara's mother, and she said yes, she thought so.
    «Well, that's all five», said Janet as they turned to go home. «Come on, Scamper. We'll go, for a slide on the pond. The ice is as thick as anything!»
    They had a lovely time on the pond, and how they laughed at poor Scamper! His legs kept sliding out from under him in all directions as he tried to run on the ice. In the end he slid along on his back, and the children, weak with laughing, had to haul him off the pond.
    Scamper was cross. He turned and growled at the pond. He didn't understand it at all. He could drink it in the summer, and paddle in it – now look at it! Something queer had happened, and he didn't like it.
    That afternoon the two children and Scamper went down to the old shed. It was warm, because the boiler was going well nearby to heat the big greenhouse. Peter looked round.
    «It feels quite cosy. Let's arrange boxes for seats – and get the old garden cushions out. And we'll ask Mummy if we can have some lemonade or something, and biscuits. We'll have a really proper meeting!»
    They pulled out some boxes and fetched the old cushions. They laid sacks on the ground for a carpet, and Janet cleaned a little shelf to put the lemonade and biscuits on, if their mother let them have them.
    «There are only five boxes that are sittable on», said Peter. «Someone will have to sit on the floor.»
    «Oh, no – there are two enormous flower-pots in the corner over there», said Janet. «Let's drag them out and turn them upside down. They'll be fine to sit on then.»
    So, with the five boxes and the two flower-pots, there were seats for everyone.
    The bell rang for tea. «Well, we've just finished nicely», said Peter. «I know what I'm going to do tonight, Janet.»
    «What?» asked Janet.
    «I'm going to draw two big letter S's», said Peter, «and colour them green – cut them out, mount them on cardboard, and then stick them to the door of the shed.»
    «Oh, yes – S.S. – Secret Seven», said Janet. «That would be grand!»

2 – The Secret Seven Society
     
    The next morning five children made their way to Old Mill House, where Peter and Janet lived. It took its name from the ruined mill that stood up on the hill, some distance away, which had not been used for many years.
    George came first. He walked down the garden and came to the shed. The first thing he saw was the sign on the door, S.S. There it was, bold and clear in bright green.
    He knocked on the door. There was a silence. He knocked again. Still no reply, though he felt sure that Peter and Janet were there because he was certain he had seen Janet's face at the little window of the shed.
    He heard a snuffling under the door. That must be Scamper! He knocked again, impatiently.
    «Give the password, silly!» said Peter's voice.
    «Oh, I forgot», said George. «Wenceslas!»
    The door opened at once. George grinned and went in. He looked round. «I say – this is jolly cosy. Is it to be our meeting-place these hols?»
    «Yes. It's nice and warm here», said Peter. «Where's your badge? Your button with S.S. on?»
    «Blow – I forgot it», said George. «I hope I haven't lost it.»
    «You're not a very good member», said Janet sternly. «Forgetting to say the password, and forgetting your badge as well.»
    «Sorry», said George. «To tell you the truth I'd almost forgotten about the Secret Society too!»
    «Well, you don't deserve to belong then», said Peter.
    «Just because we haven't met for some time! I do think – »
    There was another knock at the door. It was Pam and Barbara. There was silence in the shed. Everyone was listening for the password.
    «Wenceslas», hissed Barbara, in such a peculiar voice that everyone jumped.
    «Wenceslas», whispered Pam. The door opened,