Five Run Away Together by Enid Blyton Read Free Book Online Page A

his paws and slept—but he kept one ear cocked for danger. Timothy didn't trust the Sticks any more than the children did!
    The children awoke very early in the morning. Julian awoke first. It was a marvellous day. Julian went to the window and looked out. The sky was a very pale blue, and rosy-pink clouds floated about it. The sea was a clean blue too, smooth and calm. Julian remembered what Anne often said—she said that the world in the early morning always looked as if it had come back fresh from the laundry — so clean and new and fresh!
    The children all bathed before breakfast, and this time they were back at half-past eight, afraid that George's father might telephone early again. Julian saw Mrs. Stick on the stairs and called to her.
    "Has my uncle telephoned yet?"
    "No," said the woman, in a surly tone. She had been hoping that the telephone would ring while the children were out, then, as she had done the day before, she could answer it, and get a few words in first.
    "We'll have breakfast now, please," said Julian. "A. good breakfast, Mrs. Stick. My uncle might ask us what we'd had for breakfast, mightn't he? You never know."
    Mrs. Stick evidently thought that Julian might tell his uncle if she gave them only bread and butter for breakfast, so very soon the children smelt a delicious smell of bacon frying. Mrs. Stick brought in a dish of it garnished with tomatoes. She banged it down on the table with the
    plates. Edgar arrived with a pot of tea and a tray of cups and saucers.
    "Ah, here is dear Edgar!" said Julian, in a tone of amiable surprise. "Dear old spotty-face!"
    "Garn!" said Edgar, and banged down the teapot. Timmy growled, and Edgar fled for his life.
    George didn't want any breakfast. Julian put hers back in the warm dish and put a plate over it. He knew that she was waiting for news. If only the telephone would ring—then she would know if her mother was really better or not.

    It did ring as they were halfway through the meal. George was there before the bell had stopped pealing. She put the receiver to her ear. "Father! Yes, it's George. How's Mother?"
    There was a pause as George listened. All the children stopped eating and listened in silence, waiting for George to speak. They would know by her next words if the news was good or not.
    "Oh—oh, I'm so glad!" they heard George say. "Did she have the operation yesterday?
    Oh, you never told me! But it's all right now, is it? Poor Mother! Give her my love. I do want to see her. Oh Father, can't I come?"
    Evidently the answer was no. George listened for a while, then spoke a few more words and said good-bye.
    She ran into the sitting-room. "You heard, didn't you?" she said, joyfully. "Mother's better. She'll get all right now, and will be back home soon—in about ten days. Father won't come back till he brings her home. It's good news about Mother—but I'm afraid we can't get rid of the Sticks."

Chapter Eight
    GEORGE'S PLAN

    MRS. STICK had overheard the conversation on the telephone—at least, she had heard George's side of it. She knew that George's mother was better and that her father would not return till her mother could be brought home. That would be in about ten days! The Sticks could have a fine time till then, no doubt about that!
    George suddenly found that her appetite had come back. She ate her bacon hungrily, and scraped the dish round with a piece of bread. She had three cups of tea, and then sat back contentedly.
    "I feel better," she said. Anne slipped her hand in hers. She was very glad that her aunt was going to be all right. If it wasn't for those awful Sticks they could have a lovely time. Then George said something that made Julian cross.
    "Well, now that I know Mother is going to be better, I can stand up to the Sticks all right by myself with Timmy. So I want you three to go back home and finish the hols without me. I shall be all right."
    "Shut up, George," said Julian. "We've argued this all out before. I've made up my