“And fell over Loony,” said Diana.
“Yes. Funny the way Loony always gets under the feet of anyone who’s angry with Snubby,” said Roger. “Remarkably clever dog, Loony!”
Each night the four of them sat in the caravan and listened to the news on their portable radio. They hadn’t seen a single newspaper since they had set off on their holiday, but as Miss Pepper said, it didn’t do to cut themselves off completely from everything.
“Someone might have landed on the moon—or started a war—or had an earthquake,” said Miss Pepper. “We had better listen in just once a day.”
On the fifth night, they were as usual sitting in the caravan, listening to the evening news on the little radio. The children listened with only half an ear, until the announcer came to the weather. That was really important! Was the weather still going to be warm and sunny?
The news came to an end. It had been very dull—a new strike—a long speech by somebody important—a new kind of aeroplane tested—and then there came a message that made them all sit up at once.
Miss Pepper was just about to turn off the radio, when the voice spoke urgently.
“Here is a message, please, for Mrs. Lynton, who with her children, is on a caravan tour. Will she please telephone Hillsley 68251 at once, as her sister is dangerously ill? I will repeat that. Here is a message for... ”
No one spoke for a few seconds, or even moved, as the message was repeated. Then Diana whispered. “Mummy—it’s us they are trying to reach! You’re Mrs. Lynton—and oh Mummy, does it mean... ”
“It means that something’s happened to your mother’s sister—your Aunt Pat,” said Miss Pepper, getting up at once. “Don’t worry too much, my dear—we’ll drive straight off to a telephone box, and find out what’s wrong.”
“Oh dear—what can have happened?” said Mrs. Lynton, looking very pale. “I’ll have to go back—I’ll have to go to Pat. Oh, I feel quite dazed.”
The children felt dazed too. What a dreadful thing to happen in the middle of a lovely holiday! Poor Auntie Pat—what could have happened—“Dangerously ill”—that sounded very frightening.
“You two children stay here in the caravan,” said Miss Pepper briskly, taking charge as usual. “I’ll drive your mother to the nearest village and we’ll telephone. We’ll get back here as soon as possible. Cheer up, Diana—don’t look so upset, dear. It may not be as bad as it sounds.”
In two minutes Miss Pepper was driving the car down the lane, the children’s mother sitting silently beside her. Roger and Diana went outside the caravan, and sat down in the heather. It was a very light night, and, although they could not see to read, they could just see each other’s faces. Diana was crying.
Roger gave her a quick hug. “It mayn’t be so bad,” he said. “I expect Mummy will have to go back, though. We’ll have to as well, I suppose.”
“But how can we?” wept Diana. “Cook’s away now, and the house is shut up. There’d be nobody there.”
“I’d forgotten that. And what about old Snubby?” said Roger. “He can’t stay at Auntie Pat’s if she’s ill—or gone to hospital. What’s to happen to him?”
“And to us too,” said Diana. “Mummy will certainly stay to look after Auntie Pat. She’s so fond of her. Oh what an awful thing to happen in the middle of such a lovely holiday!”
It seemed a very long time before their mother came back with Miss Pepper. The children heard the car coming in the darkness and stood up at once. They ran to it as soon as their mother got out.
But it wasn’t their mother! It was Miss Pepper—and it wasn’t their car either, it was a taxi!
“Oh—what’s happened? Where’s Mummy?” cried Diana.
“Gone off in the car to see to your auntie,” said Miss Pepper, paying the taxi-driver. “She’s had a fall and hurt her head, and the doctors thought she might die. But they’ve just given your mother a better report of her, and have asked her to get back as soon as she can, as your aunt keeps calling for her.”
“Oh! Poor Mummy!” said Diana, thinking of her mother driving fast through the night, all alone, worrying about her sister. “Oh, Miss Pepper—do you think Auntie Pat will be all right?”
“From the doctors’ latest report, I should think she will,” said Miss Pepper, comfortingly. “So don’t fret too much. It’s silly to cross bridges before you come to them. Mummy sent you her love, and says she’ll give us the latest news in the morning, if I go into the village to telephone. It’s not very far.”
“Will Mummy come back here, and go on with our holiday?” asked Roger.
“No. No, I think I can say that quite definitely,” said Miss Pepper. “I’m pretty sure she will want to stay with your Aunt Pat till she’s really on the mend. We had no time to decide exactly what to do—but I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with me for a bit, my dears! I promised your mother I’d be with you till she can have you home again.”
“But—but what are our plans now, then?” asked Roger feeling rather dazed. “We’ve this caravan—but no car—and our house is shut up. Will we leave the caravan here and go and stay with you, Miss Pepper?”
“I really do not know, Roger dear,” said Miss Pepper. “Shall we leave everything till to-morrow? Things like this do happen, you know—and then we often find out how strong—or weak—we are! Your mother now, was full of courage as soon as she got over the shock; she was ready to face up to anything!”
“What about poor Snubby?” said Diana. “He’s staying with Auntie Pat. Oh, Miss Pepper—Auntie Pat didn’t fall over Loony, did she?”
“No—she slipped off a ladder,” said Miss Pepper. “Now—I’m going to open a bottle of orangeade, and find those chocolate biscuits and macaroons we had over from lunch—and we’re going to have a nice little supper.”
The two children felt glad to have Miss Pepper with them. She was cheerful and brisk, and even made one or two little jokes. Roger felt more cheerful too, after his supper, but Diana was still scared and upset.
“Roger, would you like to sleep in your mother’s bunk to-night in the caravan with Diana and me?” Miss Pepper asked. “I expect Diana would like you in here with us to-night.”
“Yes. Yes, I’d like to sleep here instead of in the open,” said Roger, and Diana nodded, pleased. Now if she was awake in the night and felt scared and sad, she could talk to Roger. Brothers were good to have when things went wrong!
Soon the caravan was in darkness, while three people tried to get to sleep. What news would the morning bring? Good—or bad? And what was going to happen to their holiday?
CHAPTER THREE
GOOD OLD BARNEY!
Next morning Miss Pepper was up bright and early, and woke the two children. “Wake up!” she said. “We’ll
