Five Go to Billycock Hill Read Free Page B

Toby bent down and spoke into Binky"s ear.
    „Binky, shake paws with this nice girl - she"s a friend."
    He nodded at George. „Hold out your hand," he said.
    George bent down to the collie and held out her hand. At once the dog put up his paw and allowed her to shake it solemnly.
    „Now you," said Toby to Anne, and she did the same. She liked this dog Binky, with his bright brown eyes and long, sleek nose.
    „Does your dog shake hands, too?" asked Toby. George nodded, „He does? Right - tel him to shake paws with Binky. Binky, shake!"
    „Timmy, shake," commanded George, and very politely and solemnly the two dogs shook paws, eyeing each other cautiously. Timmy gave a sudden little whine - and then the two were tearing round the yard together, barking furiously, chasing one another, rol ing over, and having a wonderful game.
    „That"s all right, then," said Toby, pleased. „Binky"s quite al right with anyone, human or animal, so long as he can shake hands with them. I"ve taught him that. But he"s a dud ratter! He just can"t seem to nip a rat. Well - let"s go and see my mother. She"s expecting you. She"s got a whopping great tea."
    This was al very satisfactory! Just the kind of welcome the Five liked. Anne looked sideways at Toby. She thought he was rather nice. George wasn"t so sure. He had a rose in his button-hole - was it a trick one, and was he going to ask her to smell it?

    „We saw a little yel ow-haired boy just now," said Anne. „With a tiny pigling."
    „Oh, that"s Benny with his pet pig," said Toby, laughing. „He cal s it Curly - and he adores it!
    We"ve offered him a kitten or a puppy - but no, he wants that pigling. They go everywhere together - like Mary and her lamb! Benny"s a pet - he really is. Kid brothers are usual y a nuisance, you know, but Benny isn"t."
    „Kid sisters are a bit of a nuisance sometimes, too," said Dick, glancing slyly at Anne, who at once gave him a determined punch. „Stil - Anne"s not too bad, is she, Ju?"
    Toby"s mother, Mrs Thomas, was a plump and jolly woman, with a smile as wide as Toby"s and Benny"s. She made them all very welcome.
    „Come along in," she said. „Toby"s pleased you"re going to camp hereabouts - he"s got al the tents and rugs you"l need - and you can come every day and get eggs and milk and bread and butter and anything else you need from here. Don"t be afraid to ask!"
    There was suddenly the scamper of little hooves and Curly the pigling came running indoors.
    „There, now!" said Toby"s mother. „There"s that pigling again. Benny, Benny - you are NOT
    to let Curly come indoors. Cats I don"t mind, nor dogs - but pigs I won"t have. Benny!"
    Benny appeared, looking most apologetic. „Sorry, Mum - but he"s lively today. Oooh, I say
    - what a tea! Can we have some yet?"
    „I"l just make the tea - unless you"d rather have some of our creamy milk?" said Toby"s mother.
    „Oh, milk, please, Mrs Thomas," said Anne, and they all said the same. Nothing could be nicer than icy-cold, creamy farm milk from the dairy on a hot day like this.
    They all sat down to tea, and the four visitors wished they had not had such a big lunch!
    A large ham sat on the table, and there were crusty loaves of new bread. Crisp lettuces, dewy and cool, and red radishes were side by side in a big glass dish. On the sideboard was an enormous cake, and beside it a dish of scones. Great slabs of butter and jugs of creamy milk were there, too, with honey and home-made jam.
    „I wish I was hungry, really hungry," said Dick. „This is just the kind of meal for a hungry day."
    „I didn"t think you"d have had much lunch," said Mrs Thomas. „Now then, Toby - you"re the host. See to your guests, please - and, Benny, take the pigling off your knee. I wil not have him at the table."
    „Curly wil be very upset if he sees that ham," said Toby slyly. „That"s his grandfather!"
    Benny put Curly down hurriedly, afraid that his feelings might be hurt. The pigling went to sit beside Timmy, who,