Read Online Elspeth Hart and the Perilous Voyage by Sarah Forbes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sarah Forbes
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tasty.”
“Gah!” Miss Crabb shuddered with rage and marched towards Gladys, but she slipped on an old banana skin and landed on her back with her feet in the air. As you can imagine, dear reader, this did not improve her mood.
“Stupid banana skin … idiot child … my plan’s been RUINED!” Miss Crabb cried as she hauled herself upright. She started kicking the door in a fit of rage.
Jimmy McScoff gave the door a thump from the outside and Miss Crabb jumped backwards.
“Put a sock in it, woman!” he yelled. “I’ve got a fish slice out here and I’m not afraid to use it!”
Miss Crabb grumbled to herself, but she sat down next to Gladys and stared at the door through narrowed eyes.
“You haven’t seen the last of me, Elspeth Hart,” she muttered.
22
The Very Last Sighting of Miss Crabb
On the final morning of the HMS Unsinkable ’s voyage, Elspeth woke up early and lay for a long time, thinking about her mum and dad as the ship ploughed on through the waves.
Are you really in Australia? she wondered. She thought about how worried they must be. I’m going to find you, Mum and Dad ,she thought. She concentrated as hard as she could, trying to make her thoughts zip across the world to wherever her parents were. The recipe is safe at last and I’m going to find you.
Just then, a loud voice came over the tannoy. “Lords, ladies and gentlemen! We hope you have had a wonderful time on the HMS Unsinkable. Please be advised that we dock in New York in fifteen minutes.”
“This is it, Elspeth,” Rory said, jumping out of bed. “We’re almost there! Can you see any land yet?”
They both peered out of the porthole and spotted a long, hazy line of coast in the distance. Then they heard Cassie’s special knock at the door.
“I can’t stop,” Cassie said, rushing in. “I just wanted to give you this. It’s mymum’s old golfing umbrella. It’s huge. You can put it up when you’re leaving and slip through the crowd. The weather forecast says rain, so everyone will have umbrellas, and they won’t notice another…” Cassie gave a little hiccup and swiped at her eyes.
“Cassie, are you crying?” Rory asked.
“No!” said Cassie indignantly. “I never cry! Crying’s for babies!” But she dashed across the room and hugged first Rory, then Elspeth. Then she patted Lazlo on the head and for once he didn’t try to bite or wriggle away.
“I’ll write to you both,” Cassie said. Then she sniffed and wiped at her eyes again. “Can’t stay,” she added, and hurried out.
Elspeth and Rory smiled at each other.
“Looks like Cassie’s not very good at goodbyes,” said Rory.
“Maybe she’s not as tough as she makes out,” Elspeth said. “I hope we meet her again one day.”
Elspeth felt as though she was in a dream as they followed the stream of passengers getting off the ship. Nobody paid any attention to them, because they were all too busy talking about what an exciting voyage it had been.
“I can’t imagine I shall EVER be able to eat another meal after all that drama!” Petunia was saying loudly as she moved down the gangway with Albert.
“Yes, dear,” said Albert.
“I quite agree,” said Lady Spewitt. She was holding Tinkiewinks, who was dressed in a sailor costume.
“I’m thinking of writing a book about it,” said Lady Spewitt. “It will be called Our Terror on the Seas , and Tinkiewinks will help me write it!”
Tinkiewinks howled and tried to scratch her, but Lady Spewitt gave a dainty laugh and pretended she hadn’t noticed.
The rain was hammering on Elspeth and Rory’s umbrella, and they had to make their way carefully down the slippery gangway. Elspeth could just make out some people on the docks. One of them was a man in a smart uniform holding a sign that read Guests of Mr Tunnock.
“Master Rory! I have been expecting you and your friend!” The butler swept towards them, taking their bags and drawing them towards a taxi.
He was nothing like Mr
“Gah!” Miss Crabb shuddered with rage and marched towards Gladys, but she slipped on an old banana skin and landed on her back with her feet in the air. As you can imagine, dear reader, this did not improve her mood.
“Stupid banana skin … idiot child … my plan’s been RUINED!” Miss Crabb cried as she hauled herself upright. She started kicking the door in a fit of rage.
Jimmy McScoff gave the door a thump from the outside and Miss Crabb jumped backwards.
“Put a sock in it, woman!” he yelled. “I’ve got a fish slice out here and I’m not afraid to use it!”
Miss Crabb grumbled to herself, but she sat down next to Gladys and stared at the door through narrowed eyes.
“You haven’t seen the last of me, Elspeth Hart,” she muttered.
22
The Very Last Sighting of Miss Crabb
On the final morning of the HMS Unsinkable ’s voyage, Elspeth woke up early and lay for a long time, thinking about her mum and dad as the ship ploughed on through the waves.
Are you really in Australia? she wondered. She thought about how worried they must be. I’m going to find you, Mum and Dad ,she thought. She concentrated as hard as she could, trying to make her thoughts zip across the world to wherever her parents were. The recipe is safe at last and I’m going to find you.
Just then, a loud voice came over the tannoy. “Lords, ladies and gentlemen! We hope you have had a wonderful time on the HMS Unsinkable. Please be advised that we dock in New York in fifteen minutes.”
“This is it, Elspeth,” Rory said, jumping out of bed. “We’re almost there! Can you see any land yet?”
They both peered out of the porthole and spotted a long, hazy line of coast in the distance. Then they heard Cassie’s special knock at the door.
“I can’t stop,” Cassie said, rushing in. “I just wanted to give you this. It’s mymum’s old golfing umbrella. It’s huge. You can put it up when you’re leaving and slip through the crowd. The weather forecast says rain, so everyone will have umbrellas, and they won’t notice another…” Cassie gave a little hiccup and swiped at her eyes.
“Cassie, are you crying?” Rory asked.
“No!” said Cassie indignantly. “I never cry! Crying’s for babies!” But she dashed across the room and hugged first Rory, then Elspeth. Then she patted Lazlo on the head and for once he didn’t try to bite or wriggle away.
“I’ll write to you both,” Cassie said. Then she sniffed and wiped at her eyes again. “Can’t stay,” she added, and hurried out.
Elspeth and Rory smiled at each other.
“Looks like Cassie’s not very good at goodbyes,” said Rory.
“Maybe she’s not as tough as she makes out,” Elspeth said. “I hope we meet her again one day.”
Elspeth felt as though she was in a dream as they followed the stream of passengers getting off the ship. Nobody paid any attention to them, because they were all too busy talking about what an exciting voyage it had been.
“I can’t imagine I shall EVER be able to eat another meal after all that drama!” Petunia was saying loudly as she moved down the gangway with Albert.
“Yes, dear,” said Albert.
“I quite agree,” said Lady Spewitt. She was holding Tinkiewinks, who was dressed in a sailor costume.
“I’m thinking of writing a book about it,” said Lady Spewitt. “It will be called Our Terror on the Seas , and Tinkiewinks will help me write it!”
Tinkiewinks howled and tried to scratch her, but Lady Spewitt gave a dainty laugh and pretended she hadn’t noticed.
The rain was hammering on Elspeth and Rory’s umbrella, and they had to make their way carefully down the slippery gangway. Elspeth could just make out some people on the docks. One of them was a man in a smart uniform holding a sign that read Guests of Mr Tunnock.
“Master Rory! I have been expecting you and your friend!” The butler swept towards them, taking their bags and drawing them towards a taxi.
He was nothing like Mr
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