Read Online Five Go to Billycock Hill by Enid Blyton - Free Book Online

in catching it.
    „What a magnificent creature!" said Dick, shutting the box. „Now come on - we"ll give Mr Gringle a surprise!"
    „What about that witch woman - you know, Mrs Janes, who looks exactly like a witch?"
    said Anne. „I don"t want to meet her again."
    „I"l tel her to jump on her broomstick and fly away!" said Julian with a laugh. „Don"t be sil y, Anne - she can"t hurt you."
    They went off round the hil , taking the little path down which Mr Gringle had guided them. Soon they saw the reflection of the sun glittering on the glass-houses. Anne and George hesitated as they came near, and Timmy stopped, too, his tail down.
    „Well, stay there, then," said Dick, impatiently. „Ju and I won"t be long!" And off went the two boys together, while George and Anne waited in the distance.
    „I hope they won"t be long!" said Anne, worried. „I don"t know why I feel creepy here, but I do!"

Chapter Ten
BUTTERFLY FARM AGAIN

    Dick and Julian went to the glass-houses where the butterflies and caterpillars lived. They peered through the panes, but could see nobody there.
    „Mr Gringle must be in the cottage," said Julian. „Let"s stand outside and cal - he"ll come out then. I don"t much like Mrs Janes."
    So they stood outside the tumble-down cottage and shouted: „Mr Gringle! Mr Gringle!"
    Nobody answered. No Mr Gringle came out, but somebody pul ed aside the corner of a window curtain upstairs and peeped out. The boys shouted again, waving at the window.
    „Mr Gringle! We"ve got a rare butterfly for you!'
    The window opened and old Mrs Janes looked out, seeming more witch-like than ever.
    „Mr Gringle"s away!" she mumbled.
    „What about his friend Mr Brent - the one we didn"t see?" shouted Dick. „Is he in?"
    The old woman stared at them, mumbled something else, and then disappeared very suddenly indeed from the window.
    Dick looked at Julian in surprise.
    „Why did she go so suddenly? Almost as if somebody pul ed her roughly away? Julian, I don"t like it."
    „Why? Do you think that son of hers is here - the one she said was cruel to her?" asked Julian, who was puzzled, too.
    „I don"t know," said Dick. „Let"s snoop round a bit. Perhaps Mr Gringle is somewhere about, whatever old Mrs Janes says!"
    They went round the corner of the house and peered into a shed. Nobody there. Then they heard footsteps and turned round hurriedly. A man was coming towards them, smal and thin, with a pinched-looking face, and dark glasses. He carried a butterfly net, and nodded at the two boys.
    „My friend Gringle is away," he said. „Can I do anything for you?"
    „Oh - you"re Mr Brent, then?" said Dick. „Look - we"ve found a rare butterfly. That"s why we came!"
    He undid the box in which the butterfly was peaceful y resting, having found a tiny grain of sugar to feed on. Mr Brent looked at it through his dark glasses.
    „Hm! Hm!" he said, peering closely at it. „Yes, very fine indeed. I"l buy it off you for five shil ings."
    „Oh, you can have it for nothing," said Dick. „What is it?"
    „Can"t say without examining it closely," said Mr Brent, and took the box and put the lid on again.
    „But isn"t it some kind of Fritil ary?" asked Julian. „We thought it was."
    „Quite likely," said Mr Brent, and suddenly produced two half-crowns and shoved them at Dick. „Here you are. Much obliged. I"l tel Mr Gringle you came."
    He turned abruptly and went off, his butterfly net stil over his shoulder. Dick stared at the two half-crowns in his hand, then at the receding back of Mr Brent. „What a queer fel ow!"
    he said. „Well, I must say that he and Mr Gringle are a pair! What are we to do with this five shil ings, Julian? I don"t want it!"
    „Let"s see if we can give it to that poor Mrs Janes," said Julian, always generous. „She looks as if they paid her only about a shil ing a week, poor soul!"
    They went round to the front of the house, hoping to fmd the old woman, and after a little hesitation knocked at the door.