Chapter Twelve GEORGE IN TROUBLE
　　'WHAT'S the matter?' asked George, as the three children tore up to her. 'Has something happened?'
　　'Yes, George. Someone has taken three most important pages out of your father's book!' pantedJulian. 'And broken the test-tubes he was making an experiment with. Mr. Roland thinks you mighthave had something to do with it!'
　　'The beast!' said George, her blue eyes deepening with anger. 'As if I'd do a thing like that! Whyshould he think it's me, anyway?'
　　'Well, George, you left that bottle of oil in the study fender,' said Anne. 'I haven't told anyone at allwhat you told me happened last night - but somehow Mr. Roland guessed you had something to dowith the bottle of oil.'
　　'Didn't you tell the boys how I got Timmy indoors?' asked George. 'Well, there's nothing much to tell,Julian, I just heard poor old Tim coughing in the night, and I half-dressed, went down, and took himinto the study, where there was a fire. Mother keeps a bottle of oil that she used to rub her chest withwhen she has a cough - so I thought it might do Timmy's cold good, too. I got the oil and rubbed himwell - and we both fell asleep by the fire till six o'clock. I was sleepy when I woke up, and forgot theoil. That's all.'
　　'And you didn't take any pages from the book Uncle Quentin is writing, and you didn't break anythingin the study, did you?' said Anne.
　　'Of course not, silly,' said George, indignantly. 'How can you ask me a thing like that? You must bemad.'
　　George never told a lie, and the others always believed her, whatever she said. They stared at her, andshe stared back.
　　'I wonder who could have taken those pages then?' said Julian. 'Maybe your father will come acrossthem, after all. I expect he put them into some safe place and then forgot all about them.
　　And the test-tubes might easily have over-balanced and broken themselves. Some of them look veryshaky to me.'
　　'I suppose I shall get into trouble now for taking Tim into the study,' said George.
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　　'And for not coming into lessons this morning,' said Dick. 'You really are an idiot, George. I neverknew anyone like you for walking right into trouble.'
　　'Hadn't you better stay out a bit longer, till everyone has calmed down a bit?' said Anne.
　　'No,' said George at once. 'If I'm going to get into a row, I'll get into it now! I'm not afraid!'
　　She marched over the cliff path, with Timmy running round her as usual. The others followed. Itwasn't nice to think that George was going to get into such trouble.
　　They came to the house and went up the path.
　　Mr. Roland saw them from the window and opened the door. He glanced at George.
　　'Your father wants to see you in the study,' said the tutor. Then he turned to the others, lookingannoyed.
　　'Why did you go out without me? I meant to go with you.'

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