Read Online Alice-Miranda in Paris 7 by Jacqueline Harvey - Free Book Online

to avoid being clobbered.
    ‘Yes, well, one does try to look the part.’ Mr Lipp began jogging up and down on the spot.
    The group was interrupted by a growling noise and the sound of claws tripping over the tiled floor.
    ‘Lulu, stop right there,’ Monsieur Crabbe commanded. The little dog paid no attention. She raced over to Mr Lipp and began to bark noisily.
    Monsieur Crabbe rushed after the dog. ‘I’m afraid she is upset that I haven’t taken her on a long enough walk today,’ he apologised. He was wondering if the man’s orange leisure suit may also have had something to do with Lulu’s distress, but he kept that to himself.
    ‘Oh, she’s gorgeous,’ said Alice-Miranda as she leaned down to give Lulu a pat.
    ‘Grandpa’s got a dog just like her,’ Millie said. ‘Is she a miniature dachshund?’
    Monsieur Crabbe nodded. ‘
Oui
. Her name is Lulu.’
    ‘Like the hotel,’ Alice-Miranda said. Lulu had calmed down and was lapping up the attention as Alice-Miranda rubbed her ears and Millie stroked the top of her head. ‘Would you like us to take her to the park, Monsieur Crabbe?’
    At the mention of the word park, Lulu began to wag her tail so hard it looked as if it was in danger of being shaken right off the end of her body.
    Monsieur Crabbe frowned. ‘Oh, I’m not sure.’
    Madame Crabbe reappeared, holding a different frame with the new photograph already inside. ‘Oh, Henri, please let the children take her. I’m sure they will look after her and bring her back in one piece.’
    ‘Yes, we promise we will, won’t we, Millie?’ said Alice-Miranda, nodding excitedly.
    ‘Children, we must get going, otherwise your run around might end up being just a walk there and back,’ Miss Reedy said.
    Alice-Miranda stared up at Monsieur Crabbe, with her brown eyes as big as saucers.
    ‘Oh, all right, you can take her,’ the man relented. ‘I will just get her lead.’
    Madame Crabbe was way ahead of her husband. ‘Here you are.’ She handed the green lead over to the girls. There were two plastic bags attached.
    ‘She might, you know . . .’ Monsieur Crabbe pointed at the bags.
    Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘It’s all right. We know what to do.’
    Monsieur Crabbe picked up Lulu and planted a kiss on the top of her furry head. ‘You be good for these little girls.’
    ‘They are going to the park, Henri, not to the moon. I don’t get that much attention when I visit my mother for a week,’ Madame Crabbe sighed.
    ‘Of course not,’ Henri Crabbe said. ‘That is because I am always hoping you will stay much longer.’
    He then grabbed his wife around the waist and planted a kiss on her cheek.
    ‘See what I have to put up with?’ Madame Crabbe laughed.
    The children giggled.
    ‘We won’t be too long,’ said Miss Reedy. She looked wistfully at the couple’s display and blushed. ‘And I’ll keep an eye on Lulu.’
    Mr Lipp, who had continued his jogging on the spot, suddenly charged towards the door, with some of the more energetic students hot on his heels. ‘All you slowpokes can catch up. Sure you don’t want to join me, Plumpy?’ he called before he shot out the door.
    Josiah Plumpton’s nose glowed red and you could almost see the smoke coming out of his little pink ears. ‘The cheek of that man. How dare he?’
    Miss Reedy touched Mr Plumpton on the arm. ‘Please don’t let him worry you, Josiah.’
    Mr Plumpton frowned. He was wondering how he could compete with Mr Lipp’s ever-growing list of talents. Dramatist, conductor and now, apparently, an athlete too.
    Alice-Miranda and Millie walked ahead of their teachers, with Lulu guiding the way.
    ‘I don’t think Hairy’s outfit impressed Miss Reedy at all,’ Millie whispered. ‘Or his jogging. More pathetic than athletic, I think.’
    ‘Millie! At least he’s
trying
to impress her. I think Mr Lipp really likes Miss Reedy. I just hope that she lets him know that Mr Plumpton’s her man,’ Alice-Miranda replied.

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