Enid Blyton by MR. PINK-WHISTLE INTERFERES Read Free Book Online Page B

her mother, and they asked Eileen to go too. So she was very happy, and she counted the days till the Great Day came.
    "Mother, it's Galliano's Circus," she said happily. "I shall see Lotta on her horse, Black Beauty, and I shall see Jimmy and his performing dog, Lucky. I shall see Jumbo, the dear old elephant, playing cricket with his keeper, and I shall see Lillinut and all his monkeys. Oh, won't it be fun?"
    The day came at last. Eileen woke up—but oh, what a pity, she had a horrid sore feeling in her throat that made her choke and cough. Mother heard her and came in.
    "Have you got a sore throat?" she asked Eileen. The little girl didn't want to say yes, because she knew that sore throats meant being kept in bed—but she always told her mother the truth, so she nodded her head.
    "It's not very bad, Mother," she said. "It won't stop my going to the circus. I can hardly feel it."
    Then she coughed again, and that hurt her throat. Mother made her open her mouth.
    "Oh, darling," she said, "you really have got a very nasty throat. I simply daren't let you go out to-day. And, besides, Mary might catch it if you go with her. You can't possibly go out—you must stay in bed."
    Poor Eileen. She began to cry bitterly, and buried her face in her pillow. "It's not fair," she wept. "Just the very day I was going to the circus—the VERY day! Oh, I do feel so unhappy. Now Mary will go without me. They will take someone else. Somebody else will have my treat. Mother, it's NOT FAIR."
    "No—it doesn't seem fair, darling," said Mother. "But things aren't always fair, you know. Cheer up. I will go out and buy you a toy this afternoon when you sleep. Then you shall have it at tea-time."
    Mother went out of the room. Eileen cried for a little while, then she fell asleep. She didn't want any breakfast, and she didn't want any dinner. Her throat hurt her. She was cross and miserable. When Mother tucked her up for an afternoon rest, Eileen began to sob again.
    "Mary and her mother are just starting out for the circus. They're catching the bus. Mother, it isn't fair!"
    "Now don't cry any more or you won't sleep," said Mother, and she went to the door. "I'm just going out to buy you a surprise."
    Eileen heard the front door bang. She tried to go to sleep, but she couldn't. She kept thinking of Mary. Now they would have arrived at the circus. Now they would be taking their seats round the ring. Now the band would play.
    She began to cry again. She wasn't really a cry-baby, but when you feel ill you can't help crying at all kinds of things, can you?
    "I don't think it's a bit fair," wept the little girl. "I don't, I don't."
    Now who should come along under the window at that very minute but dear old Mr. Pink-Whistle! You know how he loves to put things right, if he can—so you can guess that he stopped at once and listened.
    "A little girl in trouble!" he said to himself. "I must look into this!"
    He went to the front door and pushed it. It opened to him, for he was half-magic. Up the stairs he went and into Eileen's room. The little girl heard him opening the door, and she stared at him in surprise, for he had the green eyes and pointed ears of the fairy-folk.
    "Hallo," said Mr. Pink-Whistle. "What's the trouble?"
    "I was going to the circus to-day—but now I've got a bad throat and I can't," said Eileen, the tears running down her cheeks again. "Who are you? I like you."
    "I'm Mr. Pink-Whistle," said the little man. "I like you, too. I think you would be quite pretty if you didn't spoil your face with crying."
    "Well, you'd cry, too, if you couldn't go to the circus after all," said Eileen. "I just simply can't help it. I keep thinking of it."
    "I suppose you wouldn't like to see my circus, would you?" suddenly asked Mr. Pink-Whistle. "I mean I'm sure it isn't as good as Galliano's —but it's quite fun."
    "But how can I see it if I'm in bed?" said Eileen in astonishment.
    "Easily!" said Pink-Whistle. "There's room on your bed for my circus