“It’s a simply heavenly morning,” said George. “Going to be a frightfully hot day. Do get up. We’re going to find the stream and wash in it. It seems silly to lug heavy buckets of water to and fro for washing, if the stream’s nearby.”

Dick awoke too. He and Julian decided to go and take a bathe in the stream. They wandered out into the sunny morning, feeling very happy and very hungry. The girls were just coming back from the stream.

“It’s over there,” said Anne, pointing. “Timmy, go with them and show them. It’s a lovely little brown stream, awfully cold, and it’s got ferns along its banks. We’ve left the bucket there. Bring it back full, will you?”

“What do you want us to do that for, if you’ve already washed?” asked Dick.

“We want water for washing-up the dishes,” said Anne. “I suddenly remembered we’d need water for that. I say, do you think we ought to wake up Mr. Luffy? There’s no sign of him yet.”

“No, let him sleep,” said Julian. “He’s probably tired out with driving the car so slowly! We can easily save him some breakfast. What are we going to have?”

“We’ve unpacked some bacon rashers and tomatoes,” said Anne, who was a very good little housewife and loved cooking. “How do you light the stove, Julian?”

“George knows,” said Julian. “I say, did we pack a frying-pan?”

“Yes. I packed it myself,” said Anne. “Do go and bathe if you’re going to. Breakfast will be ready before you are!”

Timmy gravely trotted off with the boys and showed them the stream. Julian and Dick at once lay down in the clear brown bed, and kicked wildly. Timmy leapt in too, and there were yells and shrieks.

“Well — I should think we’ve woken up old Luffy now!” said Dick, rubbing himself down with a rough towel. “How lovely and cold that was. The trouble is it’s made me feel twice as hungry!”

“Doesn’t that frying bacon smell good?” said Julian, sniffing the air. They walked back to the girls. There was still no sign of Mr. Luffy. He must indeed sleep very soundly!

They sat down in the heather and began their breakfast. Anne had fried big rounds of bread in the fat, and the boys told her she was the best cook in the world. She was very pleased.

“I shall look after the food side for you,” she said. “But George must help with the preparing of the meals and washing-up. See, George?”

George didn’t see. She hated doing all the things that girls had to do, such as making beds and washing-up. She looked sulky.

“Look at old George! Why bother about the washing-up when there’s Timmy only too pleased to use his tongue to wash every plate?” said Dick.

Everyone laughed, even George. “All right,” she said, “I’ll help, of course. Only let’s use as few plates as possible, then there won’t be much washing-up. Is there any more fried bread, Anne?”