Read Online Five on Finniston Farm by Enid Blyton - Free Book Online Page A

word!" said George, thril ed. „I just can"t wait to tell the boys! What a story - and it real y sounded true, Anne, didn"t it? I vote we find out where that old castle real y stood, and then go and have a look round. Who knows what we might find! Come along - let"s get back to the farm as quickly as we can!"

Chapter Ten
QUITE A BIT OF SHOUTING

    Anne and George, with Timmy running in front, went back to the farm to find the boys, but they couldn"t see them anywhere and gave it up. Then they went indoors and found Mrs Philpot shel ing peas. They took over the job at once.
    „The boys are stil helping to mend the henhouse," said Mrs Philpot. “The Harries are pleased to have two more pairs of hands to help them! Something always seems to need repairing! If only we could get a few things we need so badly - a new tractor, for instance.
    But they cost so much! The barns want mending too, and the hen-houses are almost falling down!"
    „I hope the harvest wil be good for you," said Anne. „That wil help, won"t it?"
    „Oh yes - we"ll keep our fingers crossed for fine weather from now on!" said Mrs Philpot.
    „Thank goodness the cows are such good milkers! What we should do without our milk-money, I really don"t know! But there - why should I bother you with my troubles when you"re here for a nice holiday!"
    „You don"t bother us - and we think it"s awfully nice of you to let us help," said Anne. „We shouldn"t like it if you didn"t!"
    The girls had no chance of telling the boys what old Mr Finniston had told them, until the afternoon came. They were up at the henhouses with the two Harries and Snippet, happily hammering and sawing. Snippet was delighted to have so many people whistling cheerily round him, and busily took bits of wood from one boy to another, under the mistaken impression that he was a great help!
    Nosey the jackdaw was there too, but he wasn"t nearly so popular as Snippet! He pounced on any bright nail or screw he saw, and flew off with it, heedless of the exasperated shouts that followed him.
    „Blow that jackdaw!" said Julian, looking up crossly. „He"s just taken the very nail I wanted!
    Nosey by name and nosey by nature!"
    The twins laughed. They seemed entirely different children now that they were friendly -
    amusing, helpful and most responsible. Julian and Dick admired them - no work was too hard, no hours were too long if they could help their mother or father.
    „We hated you coming here because we knew it would give Mother so much more work,"
    said Harry. „We thought if we were beastly to you, you"d go. But you don"t make more work! You help an awful lot. It"s fun to have you here."
    „I hope the girls are back," said Dick. „I know your mother wants help with the peas - such a lot of people to shel for - let me see - counting in your Great-Grand-dad, there wil be about a dozen people in to dinner. Whew! I certainly do hope the girls are in. Ah - here comes that nosey jackdaw again. Look out, Dick, he"s after those screws. Snippet, chase him!"
    Away went the tiny poodle after the cheeky jackdaw, barking in his high little voice, thoroughly enjoying having so many children round him. Nosey flew up on to the top of the hen-house, and flapped his wings, chacking rude things in a very loud voice indeed.
    Dinner was rather a crowded meal, for everyone was there. Great-Grand-dad frowned when he saw Mr Henning come in with Junior. Junior strutted to his place at table, giving George his best scowl. However, she was just as good at scowling as Junior, and Mr Henning, who happened to catch sight of her giant-size scowl, had quite a shock.
    „Now, now, my boy," he said to her. „Why pul such an ugly face?"

    Nobody told him that George was a girl. Mrs Philpot was really very much amused. She liked George, and couldn"t help thinking she would have made a very good boy indeed!
    „Er - Mrs Philpot - would it be all right if I bring a friend to lunch here tomorrow?" asked Mr Henning. „He"s called