Read Online Clementine Rose and the Treasure Box 6 by Jacqueline Harvey - Free Book Online Page B

‘I’ve heard stories of cats and dogs who do that.’
    â€˜Then he’ll be there in about ten years’ time,’ Teddy said. ‘He’s not exactly fast, is he?’
    â€˜Stop saying that,’ Tilda said sulkily. ‘You don’t care about him.’
    â€˜Yes, I do,’ Teddy said. ‘He’s my tortoise too.’
    â€˜But you don’t look after him as much as I do.’ Tilda’s eyes glistened.
    â€˜Sorry, Tilda.’ Teddy put his arm around his twin sister. ‘I’m sure he’ll come home.’ Teddy wasn’t sure at all, but at least if Flash had escaped outside he had a nice place to live by the creek with plenty of things to eat.
    â€˜Why don’t you go and get your booth ready?’ Basil suggested. ‘Have you got the money tin and some change sorted?’
    Soon the crowds began to pour into the garden. Aunt Violet insisted that she wasn’t taking any tours until ten o’clock but by nine-thirty there was a line of people waiting to go in. Mrs Bottomley had come along to help her, so after quite a bit of discussion Aunt Violet decided to open early. She had thought about upping the price for the inconvenience but Mrs Bottomley talked her out of it.
    Clementine and her friends were doing great business in their photo booth.
    Lavender was behaving perfectly, sitting beside the eager children and adults while Basil snapped away. Tilda and Teddy were taking people’s names and telling them what time they could come and collect their pictures, while Araminta was in charge of the money. Clementine made sure that Lavender was feeling all right and not too tired.
    By early afternoon the children were starving and Basil said that they should shut up shop for a while and take a break. ‘Besides,’ he said, ‘Lavender has been smiling so much her face must be sore.’
    â€˜Lavender can’t smile,’ Clementine said with a giggle.
    Basil winked. ‘I don’t know, Clementine. I think she can.’
    There was a jumping castle that the children had their eyes on and a lucky dip stall that they wanted to visit.
    Aunt Violet decided that she and Mrs Bottomley were due for a break too.Mrs Bottomley was keen to have a quick look at the stalls before the best things were gone.

    The crowds had thinned out a bit since the morning rush but Lady Clarissa couldn’t believe how much they had already raised.
    â€˜What a wonderful day, Clarissa,’ Father Bob said as he walked into the kitchen to hand over another tin of money from his flower stall. ‘I think we’ll have that new hall built sooner than we thought.’
    Clarissa smiled. She certainly hoped so.

Clementine and her friends wandered into Mrs Mogg’s cafe.
    â€˜Hello there, my lovelies. What can I get you?’ the woman called.
    â€˜May I please have a vanilla milkshake and a chocolate brownie?’ Clementine asked. ‘And a bowl of water for Lavender, please.’
    The other children all ordered chocolate milkshakes and a variety of cupcakes.
    Clementine reached into her pocket andhanded over a crisp note. ‘It’s my pocket money,’ she said proudly.
    Araminta paid for herself and the twins and the children sat down. Clementine got the water bowl for Lavender and Mrs Mogg gave the little pig an extra brownie. She said it had fallen on the ground earlier and she was saving it especially for her.
    Aunt Violet and Mrs Bottomley walked into the tent.
    â€˜Hello Aunt Violet. How are your tours going?’ Clementine asked.
    â€˜Perfectly well, apart from that little monster Joshua Tribble. I found him in my bedroom teasing Pharaoh,’ her great-aunt replied. ‘But Mrs Bottomley dealt with him. I don’t think he’ll be trespassing anywhere ever again.’
    Mrs Bottomley smiled, revealing a row of yellowed teeth. Clementine wondered what she’d done to him. She didn’t like to think. Maybe