2 A glorious idea
　　After Miss Lawson had hurriedly said goodbye to Mrs Mannering, and the front door had shutafter her, Mrs Mannering came back into the children’s playroom looking very cross.
　　‘That was too bad of you, really! I feel very annoyed and angry. How could you let Kiki behavelike that, Jack¹! – and Philip, there was no need at all for you to make those rats all appear at once.’
　　‘But, Mother,’ argued Philip, ‘I can’t go away without my rats, so it was only fair to let MissLawson know what she was in for – I mean, I was really being very honest and . . .’
　　‘You were being most obstructive,’ said Mrs Mannering crossly. And you know you were. Iconsider you are all being really unhelpful. You know you can’t go back to school yet – you alllook thin and pale, and you really must pick up first – and I’m doing my best to give you a goodholiday in the care of somebody responsible.’
　　‘Sorry, Aunt Allie,’ said Jack, seeing that Mrs Mannering really was upset. ‘You see – it’s thekind of holiday we’d hate. We’re too big to be chivvied about by Miss Lawson. Now – if it wasold Bill . . .’
　　Old Bill! Everyone brightened up at the thought of old Bill Smugs. His real name wasCunningham, but as he had introduced himself as Bill Smugs in their very first adventure, BillSmugs he remained. What adventures they had had with him!
　　‘Golly, yes! – if we could go away with Bill,’ said Philip, rubbing Squeaker’s noseaffectionately.
　　‘Yes – and dive into the middle of another dreadful adventure,’ said Mrs Mannering. ‘I knowBill!’
　　‘Oh no, Aunt Allie – it’s us children who have the adventures, and drag old Bill into them,’ saidJack. ‘Really it is. But we haven’t heard from Bill for ages and ages.’
　　This was true. Bill seemed to have disappeared off the map. He hadn’t answered the children’sletters. Mrs Mannering hadn’t heard a word. He was not at his home and hadn’t been there forweeks.
　　But nobody worried much about him – Bill was always on secret and dangerous missions, anddisappeared for weeks at a time. Still, this time he really had been gone for ages without a word toanyone. Never mind – he would suddenly turn up, ready for a holiday, grinning all over hischeerful ruddy face.
　　If only he would turn up now, this very afternoon! That would be grand. Nobody would mindmissing the glorious summer term for a week or two if only they could go off with Bill.
　　But no Bill came – and something had to be

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