Chapter 14 WHERE IS GEORGE?
Next morning, about half past seven, Joan went downstairs as usual. Berta was awake and decided¹ tofetch Sally from George's bedroom. She put on her dressing-gown and padded 61downstairs with Timmy behind her, to George's room on the floor below. The door was shut, and sheknocked gently.
'Come in,' said Anne's sleepy voice. 'Oh, it's you, Berta.'
'Yes. I've come for Sally,' said Berta. 'Hallo - where's George?'
Anne looked at the empty bed beside hers. 'I don't know. The last thing I heard of her was in themiddle of the night when we got cross because Sally wouldn't settle down, and George said shewould take her down to the kennel².'
'Oh. Well, probably George has gone down to fetch her back,' said Berta. 'I'll go up and dress. It's aheavenly morning again. Are you going to bathe before breakfast, because if so I'll just put on myswim-suit.'
'Yes. I think we might today - we're nice and early,' said Anne, scrambling³ out of bed. 'Go and wakethe boys. Timmy, go down and find George.'
Dick and Julian were awake, and quite ready for a before-breakfast bathe. Anne joined them as theywent downstairs. Berta had already gone down and had discovered Sally in the kennel, most excitedto see her. She pranced⁴ round barking happily.
Timmy came up to the children, looking puzzled. He had hunted everywhere for George and hadn'tfound her. 'Woof,' he said to Anne. 'Woof, woof!' It was just as if he were saying, 'Please, where isGeorge?'
'Haven't you found George yet?' said Anne in surprise. She called to Joan. 'Joan, where's George?
Has she gone down to bathe already?'
'I haven't seen her,' said Joan. 'But I expect she has because the garden-door was open when I camedown, and I guessed one of you had gone for an early bathe.'
'Well, George must be down on the beach, then,' said Anne, feeling rather puzzled. Why hadn'tGeorge wakened her and told her to come too?
Soon all four were on the beach with the two dogs, Sally very happy to be with Berta again, andTimmy very downcast and puzzled. He stood staring up the beach and down, looking quite lost.
'I can't see George anywhere,' said Dick, suddenly feeling scared. 'She's not in the sea.'
They all gazed over the water, but no one was bathing that morning. Anne turned to Julian in suddenpanic.
'Ju! Where is she?'
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'I wish I knew,' said Julian, anxiously. 'She's not here. And she hasn't gone out in her boat - it's overthere. Let's go back to the house.'

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