Still William by Richmal Crompton Read Free Book Online Page B

the tangle of untidy hair that fell over her eyes. She watched him silently and cautiously. Just as he
was going to speak Violet Elizabeth’s nurse entered. It says much for Violet Elizabeth’s disguise that her nurse only threw her a passing glance. Violet Elizabeth’s nurse’s
eyes were red-rimmed.
    ‘Please, sir, Mrs Bott says is there any news?’
    ‘No,’ said Mr Bott desperately. ‘Tell her I’ve rung up the police every minute since she sent last. How is she?’
    ‘Please, sir, she’s in hysterics again.’
    Mr Bott groaned.
    Ever since Violet Elizabeth’s disappearance Mrs Bott had been indulging in hysterics in her bedroom and taking it out on Violet Elizabeth’s nurse. In return Violet Elizabeth’s
nurse had hysterics in the nursery and took it out on the nursery maid. In return the nursery maid had hysterics in the kitchen and took it out on the kitchen maid. The kitchen maid had no time for
hysterics but she took it out on the cat.
    ‘Please, sir, she says she’s too ill to speak now. She told me to tell you so, sir.’
    Mr Bott groaned again. Suddenly he turned to the four children and their keepers.
    ‘You’ve got their names and addresses, haven’t you? Well, see here, children. Go out and see if you can find my little gal for me. She’s lost. Look in the woods and round
the village and – everywhere. And if you find her I’ll let you off. See?’
    They murmured perfunctory thanks and retired, followed by Violet Elizabeth who had not uttered one word within her paternal mansion.
    In the woods they turned on her sternly.
    ‘It’s you he wants. You’re her.’
    ‘Yeth,’ agreed the tousled ragamuffin who was Violet Elizabeth, sweetly, ‘ith me.’
    ‘Well, we’re going to find you an’ take you back.’
    ‘Oh, pleath , I don’t want to be found and tooken back. I like being with you.’
    ‘Well, we can’t keep you about with us all day, can we?’ argued William sternly. ‘You’ve gotter go home sometime same as we’ve gotter go home sometime. Well,
we jolly well want our dinner now and we’re jolly well going home an’ we’re jolly well goin’ to take you home. He might give us something and—’
    ‘All right,’ agreed Violet Elizabeth holding up her face, ‘if you’ll all kith me I’ll be found an’ tooken back.’
    The four of them stood again before Mr Bott’s desk. William and Ginger and Douglas took a step back and Violet Elizabeth took a step forward.
    ‘We’ve found her,’ said William.
    ‘Where?’ said Mr Bott looking round.
    ‘Ith me,’ piped Violet Elizabeth.
    Mr Bott started.
    ‘You?’ he repeated in amazement.
    ‘Yeth, Father, ith me.’
    ‘But, but – God bless my soul—’ he ejaculated peering at the unfamiliar apparition. ‘It’s impossible.’
    Then he rang for Violet Elizabeth’s nurse.
    ‘Is this Violet Elizabeth?’ he said.
    ‘Yeth, ith me,’ said Violet Elizabeth again.
    Violet Elizabeth’s nurse pushed back the tangle of hair.
    ‘Oh, the poor poor child!’ she cried. ‘The poor child!’
    ‘God bless my soul,’ said Mr Bott again. ‘Take her away. I don’t know what you do to her, but do it and don’t let her mother see her till it’s done, and you
boys stay here.’
    ‘Oh, my lamb!’ sobbed Violet Elizabeth’s nurse as she led her away. ‘My poor lamb!’
    In an incredibly short time they returned. The mysterious something had been done. Violet Elizabeth’s head was a mass of curls. Her face shone with cleanliness. Dainty lace-trimmed skirts
stuck out ballet-dancer-wise beneath the pale blue waistband. Mr Bott took a deep breath.

    ‘GOD BLESS MY SOUL!’ EXCLAIMED MR BOTT, PEERING AT THE APPARITION. ‘IT’S IMPOSSIBLE.’
    ‘Now fetch her mother,’ he said.

    ‘WE’VE FOUND HER,’ ANNOUNCED WILLIAM, AND VIOLET ELIZABETH TOOK A STEP FORWARD. ‘ITH ME,’ SHE PIPED.
    Like a tornado entered Mrs Bott. She still heaved with hysterics. She enfolded Violet Elizabeth to her visibly palpitating