George went up the steps. “I’ve been inside a few caravans,” she said. “But never one quite like this.”

She peeped in curiously. It certainly wasn’t very clean, but it wasn’t as dirty as she expected either.

“It’s not smelly, is it?” said Sniffer, quite anxiously. “I tidied it up today, seeing as how I thought you were all visiting me. That’s our bed at the back. We all sleep on it.”

George stared at the big bunk-like bed stretched at the end of the caravan, covered with a bright quilt. She imagined the whole family sleeping there, close together. Well at least they would be warm in the winter.

“Don’t you get hot in the summer, sleeping in this small caravan?” asked George.

“Oh no, only my grandma sleeps here then,” said Sniffer, swallowing a sniff in a hurry, before George could hear it. “Me and the others sleep under the caravan. Then if it rains it don’t matter.”

“Well, thanks for showing me so many things,” said George, looking round at the cupboards, the little locker-seats, and the over-big chest of drawers. “How you all get in here is a miracle.”

She didn’t go in. Even though Sniffer had tidied up, there was still a distinctly peculiar smell hanging about!

“Come and see us tomorrow, Sniffer,” she said, going down the steps. “Clip may be all right by then. And Sniffer, don’t you forget you’ve got a hanky now!”

“I won’t forget,” said Sniffer, proudly. “I’ll keep it as clean as can be, Master George!”

Chapter Eight

Sniffer makes a promise

George was feeling very lonely by the time the evening came. How had the others got on without her? Had they missed her at all? Perhaps they hadn’t even thought of her!

“Anyway, they didn’t have you, Timmy!” said George. “You wouldn’t go off and leave me, would you?”

Timmy pressed against her, glad to see that she was happier again. He wondered where the others were, and where they had gone to all day.

There was suddenly a clattering of hooves in the stable-yard and George flew to the door. Yes, they were back! How should she behave? She felt cross and relieved and rather humble and glad all at once! She stood there, not knowing whether to frown or to smile.

The others made up her mind for her. “Hallo, George!” shouted Dick. “We did miss you!”

“How’s your head?” called Anne. “I hope it’s better!”

“Hallo!” called Henry. “You ought to have come. We’ve had a super day!”

“Come and help us stable the horses, George,” shouted Julian. “Tell us what you’ve been doing!”

Timmy had sped over to them, barking in delight. George found her legs running towards them too, a welcoming smile on her face.

“Hallo!” she called. “Let me help! Did you really miss me? I missed you too.”

The boys were very relieved to see that George was herself again. Nothing more was said about her headache! She busied herself unsaddling the horses and listening to their story of the day. Then she told them about Sniffer and his patrins, and how she had given him a brand-new handkerchief.