"Blyton, Enid - Famous Five 20 - Five Have a Mystery to Solve" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

‘Listen!’ said Julian, cocking his head to one side. ‘Is that somebody calling us?’
Yes - it was. When Julian went outside, he saw Mrs Layman at the gate that led on to the hillside where the cottage stood. He went over to her.
‘We LOVE the cottage!’ he said. ‘And if it’s all right, we’d like to move in today. We can easily pop home and bring back anything we want. It’s a glorious old place, isn’t it - and the view must be the finest anywhere!’
‘Well, that harbour is the second biggest stretch of water in the whole world,’ said Mrs Layman. ‘The only stretch that is any bigger, is Sydney Harbour - so you have something to feast your eyes on, Julian!’
‘My word, yes,’ said Julian. ‘It’s amazing - and so very blue! I only wish I could paint - but I can’t. At least - not very well!’
‘What about Wilfrid?’ said Mrs Layman, anxiously. ‘Is he behaving himself? He’s - well - he’s rather a dificult boy at times. And he can be very rude. He hasn’t any brothers to rub off his awkward corners, you see.’
‘Oh, don’t you worry about Wilfrid!’ said Julian, cheerfully. ‘He’ll have to toe the line, and do as he’s told. We all do our bit, when we’re away together. He’s a wonder with animals, isn’t he?’
‘Well - yes, I suppose he is!’ said Mrs Layman. ‘Though I can’t say I like pet snakes, or pet beetles, and owls that come and hoot down the chimney at night to find out if Wilfrid will go out and hoot back to them!’
Julian laughed. ‘We shan’t mind that,’ he said. ‘And he’s managed to get over what might have been our biggest difficulty - he has made friends with our dog, Timmy. In fact, he informed us that if Timmy stayed, we could all stay - but only if Timmy stayed!’
Mrs Layman laughed. ‘That’s so like Wilfrid,’ she said. ‘He’s an odd boy. Don’t stand any nonsense from him!’
‘We shan’t,’ said Julian, cheerfully. ‘I’m surprised he wants to stay on with us, actually. I should have thought he would rather go home, than be with a lot of strangers.’
‘He can’t go home,’ said Mrs Layman. ‘His sister has measles, and his mother doesn’t want Wilfrid to catch it. So you’ll have to put up with him, I fear.’
‘And he’ll have to put up with us!’ said Julian. ‘Thanks very much for letting us have the cottage, Mrs Layman. We’ll take great care of everything.’
‘I know you will,’ said the old lady. ‘Well, goodbye, Julian. Have a good time. I’ll get back to my car now. Give Wilfrid my love. I hope he doesn’t fill the cottage with animals of all kinds!’
‘We shan’t mind if he does!’ said Julian, and waited politely until Mrs Layman had disappeared, and he could hear the noise of a car starting up.
He went back to the cottage and stood outside, looking down at the amazing view. The harbour was full of boats, big and little. A steamer went busily along, making for a great seaside town far away on the other side.
Anne came to join Julian. ‘Glorious, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘We’re so very high up here that it seems as if we can see half the world at our feet. Is that an island in the middle of the harbour, Ju?’
‘Yes - and a well-wooded one too!’ said Julian. ‘I wonder what it’s called - and who lives there. I can’t see a single house there, can you?’
Dick called to Anne. ‘Anne! George and I are going to fetch our bikes and ride down to the village. Give us your shopping list, will you? Julian, is there anything special you want us to pack for you at home, and bring back, besides your night-things and a change of clothes?’
‘Yes - don’t go off yet!’ called Julian, hurrying into the cottage. ‘I’ve made a list somewhere. I think I’d better go with you. There will be food and other things to bring back - unless Mother would bring everything up by car this afternoon.’
‘Yes - that’s a good idea,’ said Dick. ‘We’ll go to Kirrin Cottage first and get George’s things - and then home to get ours. I’ll leave all the shopping with Mother, and all our luggage, so that she can pop up here in the car with it. She’ll love the view!’
‘I’ll stay behind and tidy up the cottage, and find out how the stove works,’ said Anne, happily. ‘I’ll have everything neat and tidy by the time Mother comes this afternoon, Dick. Oh, here’s Julian with the list. Why don’t you go off on your bike with George and Dick, Julian? I’ll be quite happy here, messing about.’
‘Yes, I’m going to,’ said Julian, putting his list into his pocket. ‘Look after yourself, Anne! We’ll take Timmy with us, to give him a run.’
Off went the three, Timmy loping behind, very glad of the run. Anne waited till they were out of sight, then went happily back to the cottage. She was almost there when she heard someone calling her. She turned and saw a fresh-faced woman waving.
‘I’m Sally!’ she called. ‘Do you want any help with the cooking and cleaning? Wilfrid told me not to come any more, but if you want me, I will.’
‘Oh, I think we can manage, Sally,’ said Anne. ‘There’s so many of us now, we can do all the jobs. Did you sleep here?’
‘Oh no, miss!’ said Sally, coming up. ‘I just came in to help, and then went back home. You tell me if you want me any time, and I’ll gladly come. Where’s that monkey of a Wilfrid? He spoke to me very rudely this morning, the young varmint. I’ll tell his grandmother of him - not that that’s much good! He just laughs at her! Don’t you stand any nonsense from him!’
‘I won’t,’ said Anne, smiling. ‘Where do you live, in case we do want you?’
‘Just the other side of the road, in the small wood there,’ said Sally. ‘You’ll see my tiny cottage when you go by the wood on your bikes.’
She disappeared up the hill and across the road there. Anne went back happily to her household tasks. She cleaned out the little larder, and then found a pail and went to the well. She hung the pail on the hook at the end of the rope, and then worked the old handle that let the pail down to the water, swinging on the rope. Splash! It was soon full, and Anne wound it up again. The water looked crystal clear, and was as cold as ice - but all the same Anne wondered if she ought to boil it!
Someone came quietly behind her - and jumped at her with a loud howl! Anne dropped the pail of water, and gave a scream. Then she saw it was Wilfrid, dancing round her, grinning.
‘Idiot!’ she said. ‘Now you just go and get me some more water.’
‘Where’s that big dog?’ demanded Wilfrid, looking all round. ‘I can’t see him. You can’t any of you stay here unless you have that dog. I like him. He’s a wonderful dog.’
‘He’s gone down to the village with the others,’ said Anne. ‘Now will you please pick up that pail and get more water?’
‘No, I won’t,’ said Wilfrid. ‘I’m not your servant! Get it yourself!’
‘Very well, I will. But I’ll tell George, who owns Timmy, how rude you are - and you may be quite sure that Timmy won’t be friends with you,’ said Anne, picking up the pail.
‘I’ll get the water, I’ll get the water!’ shouted Wilfrid, and snatched the pail. ‘Don’t you dare to tell George or Timmy tales of me. Don’t you dare!’
And off he went to the well and filled the pail. Well! What a time they were all going to have with such a very peculiar boy! Anne didn’t like him at all!


Chapter Five
WILFRID IS MOST ANNOYING - AND ANNE IS MOST SURPRISING!

Wilfrid brought back the pail to Anne, and dumped it down. ‘Like to see my pet beetles?’ he said.
‘No thank you,’ said Anne. ‘I don’t like beetles very much.’
‘Well, you ought to!’ said Wilfrid. ‘I’ve two very beautiful ones. You can hold them if you like. Their tiny feet feel very queer when they walk all over your hand.’
‘I don’t mind beetles, but I don’t WANT them walking over my hand,’ said poor Anne, who really was a bit afraid of what she called ‘creepy-crawly’ things. ‘Do get out of my way, Wilfrid. If you had any manners, you’d carry that pail indoors for me.’
‘I haven’t any manners,’ said Wilfrid. ‘Everybody tells me that. Anyway, I don’t want to carry your pail, if you don’t want to see my beetles.’
‘Oh go away!’ said Anne, exasperated, picking up the pail herself. Wilfrid went to a little thick bush and sat down by it. He put his face almost on the grass, and looked under the bush. Anne felt uncomfortable. Was he going to call his beetles out? She couldn’t help putting down her pail, and standing still to watch.
No beetles came out from under the bush - but something else did. A very large, awkward-looking toad came crawling out, and sat there, looking up at Wilfrid with the greatest friendliness. Anne was amazed. How did Wilfrid know the toad was there? And why in the world should it come out to see him? She stood and stared - and shivered, because she really did not like toads. ‘I know they have beautiful eyes, and are intelligent, and eat all kinds of harmful insects, but I just can’t go near one!’ she thought. ‘Oh goodness - Wilfrid’s tickling its back - and it’s scratching where he’s tickled it - just like we would!’