Chapter 1 FIVE MAKE A HOLIDAY PLAN
　　'Really, Quentin, you are most difficult to cope with!' said Aunt Fanny to her husband.
　　The four children sat at the table, eating breakfast, and looking very interested. What had UncleQuentin done now? Julian winked¹ at Dick, and Anne kicked George under the table. Would UncleQuentin explode into a temper, as he sometimes did?
　　Uncle Quentin held a letter in his hand, which his wife had just given back to him after she had readit. It was the letter that was causing all the trouble, Uncle Quentin frowned - and then decided² not toexplode. Instead he spoke³ quite mildly.
　　'Well, Fanny dear - how can I possibly be expected to remember exactly when the children's holidayscome, and if they are going to be here with us or with your sister? You know I have my scientificwork to do - and very important it is too, at the moment. I can't remember when the children's schoolsbreak up or go back!'
　　'You could always ask me,' said Aunt Fanny, exasperated⁴. 'Really, Quentin - have you forgotten howwe discussed having Julian, Dick and Anne here these Easter holidays because they all enjoy Kirrinand the sea so much at this time of the year? You said you would arrange to go off to yourconferences after they had had their holidays - not in the very middle of them!'
　　'But they've broken up so late!' said Uncle Quentin. 'I didn't know they were going to do that.'
　　'Well, but you know Easter came late this year, so they broke up late,' said Aunt Fanny, with a sigh.
　　'Father wouldn't think of that,' said George. 'What's the matter, Mother? Does Father want to go awayin the middle of our holidays, or what?'
　　'Yes,' said Aunt Fanny, and she stretched out her hand for the letter again. 'Let me see - he wouldhave to go off in two days' time - and I must certainly go with him. I can't possibly leave you childrenalone here, with nobody in the house. If Joanna were not ill it would be all right - but she won't beback for a week or two.'
　　Joanna was the cook. The children were all very fond of her, and had been sorry to find her missingwhen they had arrived for the holidays.
　　'We can look after ourselves,' said Dick. 'Anne is quite a good little cook.'
　　2
　　'I can help too,' said George. Her real name was Georgina, but everyone called her George. Hermother smiled.

分享到：