Jenny was very pleased with their help. She was short and fat, and waddled rather than walked, but managed to get here and there remarkably quickly.

“I’ll show your visitors their bedrooms after we’ve cleared,” she said. “But, you know, Tinker, those mattresses we sent to be remade haven’t come back yet. I’ve told your father a dozen times to telephone about them, but I’m sure he hasn’t remembered.”

“Oh, JENNY!” said Tinker, in dismay. “That means that the two beds for visitors can’t be slept in! What ever are we to do?”

“Well, your Dad will have to ring up for new mattresses to be sent today,” said Jenny. “Maybe they would send them out by van.”

Tinker immediately became a furniture van and rushed down the passage, into the dining-room and back again, Mischief following him in delight. He made a noise exactly like a slow-moving van, and the children couldn’t help laughing.

The Professor shot out of his study, his hands to his ears. “TINKER! COME HERE!”

“No thanks,” said Tinker, warily. “Sorry, Father. I was a van bringing the mattresses you forgot to order for the beds for visitors.”

But the Professor didn’t seem to hear. He advanced on Tinker, who fled upstairs with Mischief leaping after him. Professor Hayling turned on Jenny.

“Can’t you keep the children quiet? What do I pay you for?”

“Cleaning, cooking and washing,” she said, briskly. “But I’m not a nurse for children, sir. That Tinker of yours could do with half a dozen nurses, and he’d still be a nuisance to you while he was in the house. Why don’t you let him take his tent and camp out in the field with his friends? It’s hot weather and those new mattresses haven’t come, and they’d all love it. I can cook for the children and take them out meals — or they could come and fetch them.”

The Professor looked as if he could give Jenny a big hug. The children waited eagerly to see what he would say. Camping out — that would be fun in this weather — and honestly, living in the same house as the Professor wasn’t going to be much fun. Timmy gave a little whine as if to say, “Fine idea! Let’s go at once!”

“Good idea, Jenny. VERY good idea!” said Professor Hayling. “But that monkey’s to camp out too. Then perhaps he won’t jump in at my workroom window and fiddle about with my models!”

He marched back into his study and slammed the door so hard that the whole house shook. Timmy was startled and gave a yelp. Mischief the monkey leapt up the stairs, howling in fright. Tinker began to dance round in joy, and very firmly Jenny took hold of him and propelled him into her big, clean kitchen.

“Wait, Jenny, I’ve remembered something. We’ve only one tent, and that’s mine, a small one. I’ll have to ask Dad if I can get two big ones!” And before anyone could stop him he was banging at the Professor’s door, then flung it open, and shouted out his request.