"Blyton, Enid - Barney Junior Mystery 02 - The Rilloby Fair Mystery" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

"Loony'll get you if you don't look out. Loony'll get you if you don't look out!" chanted Diana, and skipped into Roger's room to help her mother. Sardine was sitting on the window-sill there, her long tail waving from side to side.

"What have you two been doing to make Sardine so cross?" asked her mother.

"Well, I like that! She was lying doggo on the stairs waiting to trip us up!" said Diana indignantly.

"Lying catto, you mean!" said Roger with a chortle.

"Oh, Roger — you sound like Snubby when you say things like that!" said his mother. "Diana, make Roger's bed whilst he and I bring in the divan."

They were all busy that day, preparing for Great-uncle Robert and Snubby — what an odd pair! Great-uncle Robert was so old and polite and pompous, correct in every way — and Snubby was so very much the opposite, cheeky, idiotic and unexpected in all he did. Mrs. Lynton had quite a few qualms when she thought of them in the house together.

As for Loony, he would probably drive the old man mad. All the same Loony was a darling, and Mrs. Lynton, like everyone else, had fallen under his spell. Dear, silky-coated, melting-eyed Loony. There was probably only one person in the household who would regard Loony with bitter dislike — and that was Sardine.

At last the two rooms were done. The guest-room looked nice and bright and clean. Flowers arranged by Diana stood on the dressing-table, bright yellow daffodils matched by the yellow towels hanging by the basin.

Roger's room looked different, now that it had the extra divan in. It wasn't very big anyhow, and looked very crowded now, with the divan and an extra chair. Mrs. Lynton also added an old rug in one corner for Loony to sleep on.

"Oh, Mother! What's the good of that?" said Roger. "You know where Loony always sleeps — on Snubby's feet."

His mother sighed. It looked as if these holidays were going to be just a little bit too exciting. She was quite right — they were!





CHAPTER 2

SNUBBY ENJOYS HIMSELF



SNUBBY was pleased to be going to his cousins' home for the holidays. He liked Mrs. Lynton, their mother, and he quite liked Mr. Lynton, though he was secretly afraid of his sudden tempers. It would be good to see Diana and Roger again.

His luggage had gone in advance. He only had a small bag with him — and Loony, of course. He was now waiting for the train, a snub-nosed, red-haired, freckled boy of twelve. He whistled tunelessly as he waited, and Loony pricked up his ears as he always did when his beloved master made a noise of any sort.

The train came in with such a roar and rumble that Loony was startled. He jerked away in alarm, and rushed into the waiting-room, where he cowered Under a seat.

Snubby followed, indignantly. "What do you think you're doing, idiot, rushing away like that! Anyone would think you'd never seen a train before. Come here!"

The train gave a piercing whistle, and Loony cowered back still farther. Snubby had a job to get him to move.

"Look here — the train will be gone before we've caught it if you don't look out!" shouted Snubby, exasperated. "Come OUT, I tell you. What's come over you?"

He dragged poor Loony out at last, lumped him into his arms and staggered to the train. The porter was already slamming the doors.

"Hey you — get in quickly!" yelled the man. "Train's just going!"

Poor Snubby had no chance to choose his carriage carefully as he usually did. He liked a completely empty one, so that he could occupy each corner in turn, and look out of any window he liked. There was no time to look into even one carriage now. He wrenched open a door, threw Loony in, and fell in himself, landing on hands and knees. The porter slammed the door, and the train moved off.