The Palace Library Read Free

the sheets.  It was like someone sucking up a drink with a
straw and using blotting paper all at the same time.  Moments later, the
sheets were completely dry.  The girls looked at each other in awe and
then giggled again.
    Grace
thought for a moment:  “Shall we go and give the book back to the
Librarian and tell him what fun it was?  Maybe he’ll lend us another one
if we show him we can look after it?”
    Then
Eleanor added, “Shall we ask Harry to come too?”

 
4.  The Great West Door
     
    The girls decided that if they
tried to get dressed, they would make too much noise.  They also thought
that if they went to wake Harry, they would make even more noise and anyway,
Grace still thought he would be mean to her.  So they put on their
dressing gowns and crept along the corridors avoiding as many of the squeaking
floorboards as they could. 
    Grace
stopped suddenly and put her hand on Eleanor’s shoulder.
    “What
is it?” Eleanor whispered.
    “I
think we should get Harry after all,” Grace replied.
    “Are
you sure?” replied Eleanor, but she smiled thinking it was the right decision.
    “Yes. 
If he doesn’t believe me then that’s too bad, but it would be a pity not to
tell him where we’re going.”
    When
they turned to go back the way they had come, they were less cautious about the
floorboards and several squeaked.  They seemed extra loud passing Horrible
Hair Bun’s room, but they stood still and listened carefully holding their
breath.  Nothing.  So they turned the corner to Harry’s room.
    Harry’s
door was wide open with the lights blazing.  It was a mess.  It was
as if Harry had dressed very quickly and left everything else on the
floor.  Now if it had been at home, Eleanor would not have been
surprised.  Her brother’s room was a mess all the time there, but here at
Great Uncle Jasper’s house, it was different.  Horrible Hair Bun was so
strict that they kept all their rooms pristine.
    The
girls walked into the room and looked around.
    “Where
is he?” asked Eleanor.  “Where’s he gone?”
    The
deep voice that replied made them jump and they turned round to face Great
Uncle Jasper and both felt slightly sheepish.  Horrible Hair Bun stood
just behind him, frowning as usual, but looking subdued and strained.
    “I
had to send him out to The Palace Library,” said their Great Uncle quietly.
    “Do
you want me to get them dressed?” asked the housekeeper, interrupting.
    “No. 
There will be no time.  Edgar will have to see to that,” he said sharply
and without explanation.  Great Uncle Jasper turned to her.  “Perhaps
you could prepare my breakfast.  I will speak to the girls alone.” 
It was a dismissal and the girls looked on in awe, as they had never seen
Horrible Hair Bun receiving orders before.
    “Come
with me girls.  We will need to talk as we go.”  It was the gentle
voice they knew again.  Great Uncle Jasper put his hands out.  They
didn’t know him that well and normally he was a distant figure, but it was a
comforting gesture and they each took one of his hands as they walked.
    “I
need to send you after Harry.  I have sent him out to The Library on an
important journey.  Time is short, so he has gone ahead.  He will
need your help.”
    “Why
did you say ‘out’ to The Library again?  Isn’t it in your house? 
Doesn’t Edgar work for you?” asked Grace.
    “You
are very sharp to notice that, Grace; but no, The Palace Library isn’t in this
house, although it may appear so to you.  The Palace Library is so well
hidden that even the few people who know about it sometimes have trouble
finding it.  It doesn’t have any doors in the conventional sense. 
The doors into The Library are quite different to our normal understanding. 
They may not really even exist in our world at all.  The Library has a way
of summoning people to it.  People like you and Eleanor and Harry.
    “I
am one of the lucky ones who know about The Library. But