“Go on — tell me,” persisted George, an angry frown on her forehead. “You beasts! You did go! And you never woke me up to go with you! Oh, I do think you’re mean!”

“Did you see anything?” said Anne, her eyes going from one boy to another. Each of the girls sensed that there had been some kind of adventure in the night.

“Well,” began Julian. And then there was an interruption. Cecil came round the haystack, his eyes red with crying. He glared at Jock.

“Your father wants you,” he said. “You’re to go at once. You’re a beast, and I want to go home. Can’t you hear your father yelling for you? He’s got a stick — but I’m not sorry for you! I hope he whacks you hard!”

Chapter Twelve

George loses her temper

Jock made a face at Cecil and got up. He went slowly off round the haystack, and the others listened in silence for whacks and yells. But none came.

“He frightened me,” said Cecil, sitting down by the others.

“Poor ickle ting,” said Dick at once.

“Darling baby,” said George.

“Mother’s pet,” said Julian. Cecil glared at them all. He got up again, very red.

“If I didn’t know my manners, I’d smack your faces,” he said, and marched off hurriedly, before his own could be smacked.

The four sat in silence. They were sorry for Jock. George was angry and sulky because she knew the others had gone off without her the night before. Anne was worried.

They all sat there for about ten minutes. Then round the haystack came Jock’s mother, looking distressed. She carried a big basket of food.

The children all stood up politely. “Good morning, Mrs. Andrews,” said Julian.

“I’m sorry I can’t ask you to stop to-day,” said Mrs. Andrews. “But Jock has really behaved very foolishly. I wouldn’t let Mr. Andrews give him a hiding because it would only make Jock hate his stepfather, and that would never do. So I’ve sent him up to bed for the day. You won’t be able to see him, I’m afraid. Here is some food for you to take. Oh, dear — I’m really very sorry about all this. I can’t think what came over Jock to behave in such a way. It’s not a bit like him.”

Cecil’s face appeared round the haystack, looking rather smug. Julian grinned to himself.

“Would you like us to take Cecil for a nice long walk over the moors?” he said. “We can climb hills and jump over streams and scramble through the heather. It would make such a nice day for him.”

Cecil’s face immediately disappeared.

“Well,” said Mrs. Andrews, “that really would be very kind of you. Now that Jock’s been sent upstairs for the day there’s no one for Cecil to play with. But I’m afraid he’s a bit of a mother’s boy, you know. You’ll have to go carefully with him. Cecil! Cecil! Where are you? Come and make friends with these children.”