Jenny certainly had a good dinner for them all. There was a large and delicious stew with carrots, onions and peas swimming in the gravy, and plenty of potatoes. Everyone tucked in well, and Mischief, who loved the peas, took quite a few from Tinker’s plate, his little paw creeping up, and neatly snatching a pea from the gravy.

The girls went out to help bring in the next course, which was a big steamed pudding with plenty of raisins in it. Mischief at once jigged up and down in delight, for he loved raisins. He leapt on to the table, and received a sharp smack from the Professor, who unfortunately smacked the pudding dish at the same time, making the pudding jump in the air.

“Good gracious, Dad — we nearly lost the pudding!” cried Tinker. “And it’s my favourite. Oh, don’t give us such small pieces! Mischief, get off the table. You are NOT to put your paw into the white sauce!”

So Mischief disappeared under the table, where he received quite a lot of raisins from various kindly hands, unseen by the Professor. Timmy felt rather left out. He was under the table too, having been rather scared by the Professor’s angry voice, but as he didn’t very much like raisins, he wasn’t as lucky as Mischief.

“Ha — I enjoyed that!” said the Professor, having cleaned his plate thoroughly. “Nothing like a good breakfast!”

“It was midday dinner, Dad!” said Tinker. “You don’t have pudding at breakfast.”

“Dear me, of course — that was pudding!” said his father, and laughed his great laugh. “Now you can all do exactly what you like, so long as you do NOT go into my study, OR my workroom OR that tower. AND DON’T MEDDLE WITH ANYTHING! Mischief, get off the water-jug, you’ll upset it. Can’t you teach that monkey some table-manners, Tinker?”

And with that he marched out of the room, and disappeared into some mysterious passage that apparently led to his study or workroom. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.

“We’ll clear away and then I’ll show you your rooms,” said Tinker. “I do hope you won’t find it too dull here.”

Dull, Tinker! You needn’t worry! There is far too much excitement waiting for the Five — and you too! Just wait a bit, and see!

Chapter Four

Jenny has a very good idea

Tinker raced out to the kitchen to fetch a tray or two. He made a most peculiar noise as he went, and for a moment Timmy looked extremely startled.

“Goodness — don’t say that Tinker still has that awful habit of pretending to be some kind of car!” groaned Julian. “How on earth does his father put up with it? What’s he think he is now? A motor-bicycle, by the sound of it.”

There was a sudden crash and a loud yell. The Five raced down the kitchen passage to find out what had happened, Timmy at the front.