Chapter 2 A VISITOR TO TEA
George and Timmy were waiting for Julian, Dick and Anne, when they arrived home. Timmy wasstanding in the road, ears pricked¹, long tail waving. He went quite mad when he saw their bicyclesrounding the corner, and galloped² towards them at top speed, barking madly, much to the horror of abaker's boy with a large basket.
5The boy disappeared into the nearest garden at top speed, yelling 'Mad dog, mad dog!' Timmy torepast, and forced the three to dismount, for they were afraid of knocking him over.
'Dear Timmy!' said Anne, patting the excited dog. 'Do put your tongue in - I'm sure it will fall outsome day!'
Timmy ran to each of them in turn, woofing in delight, licking everyone, and altogether behaving asif he hadn't seen them for a year!
'Now that's enough, old boy,' said Dick, pushing him away, and trying to mount his bicycle oncemore. 'After all, we did see you yesterday. Where's George?'
George had heard Timmy barking, and had now run out into the road too. The three cycled up to her,and she grinned happily at them.
'Hallo! You've been shopping, I see. Shut up barking, Timmy, you talk too much. Sorry you couldn'tcome over to Kirrin Cottage - but I'm jolly glad you asked me to come to you - my father still hasn'tfound the papers he's lost, and honestly our place is like a mad-house -cupboards being turned out - even the kitchen store-cupboard! and I left poor Mother up in the loft,looking there - though why Father should think they might be there, I don't know!'
'Poor old George - I can just see your father tearing his hair, and shouting - and all the time he'sprobably put the papers into the waste-paper basket by mistake!' said Dick, with a chuckle³.
'Gracious - we never thought of that!' said George. 'I'd better phone Mother at once, and tell her tolook. Bright idea of yours, Dick.'
'Well, you go and phone, and we'll put our bikes away,' said Julian. 'Take your nose away from thatbag of sausages, Timmy. You're in disgrace over sausages, let me tell you. You're suspected of eatingtoo many last night!'
'He did eat rather a lot,' said George. 'I took my eye off him, and he wolfed quite a few. I say, who'sthis Mrs. Layman⁴ who's coming to tea? Have we got to stay in and have tea with her? I hoped wemight be going off for a picnic this afternoon.'
'Nothing doing, old thing,' said Dick, 'Mrs. Layman is

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