“You’ll see tomorrow,” said her mother. “Oh, George — you’re coughing again!”

“Just the dust, that’s all,” said George going purple in the face trying to hold back the tickle in her throat. She drank a glass of water in a hurry. It would be too dreadful if her mother said she wasn’t to go after all!

However, her mother really did think that George was better. She had been in bed for a week, making a terrible fuss, and being a very difficult patient. Now, after being up for a few days she really seemed herself again.

“It will do her good to get down to Faynights and it’s good strong air,” thought her mother. “She needs company again, too — she doesn’t like having to be all alone, knowing the others are holidaying without her.”

George felt happy that evening. Only one more night and she would be off to a fortnight’s caravanning! If only the weather was good, what a fine time they would have!

Suddenly the telephone shrilled out. R-r-r-r-r-r-ring! R-r-r-r-r-ring!

George’s mother went to answer it. “Hallo!” she said. “Oh — it’s you, Julian. Is everything all right?”

George sped out into the hall at once. Oh, surely, surely, nothing had happened! Surely Julian wasn’t ringing to tell her not to come! She listened breathlessly.

“What’s that you say, Julian? I can’t make out what you’re talking about, dear. Yes, of course, your uncle is all right. Why shouldn’t he be? No, he hasn’t disappeared. Julian, what are you talking about?”

George listened impatiently. What was all this? But it turned out to be something quite ordinary, really. When at last her mother put down the receiver, she told George.

“Don’t hop about like that, George. It’s quite all right, you can go tomorrow. Julian was only ringing up to make sure that your father wasn’t one of the scientists who have suddenly disappeared. Apparently in tonight’s paper there is a short report about two that have completely vanished — and dear old Julian wanted to make sure your father was here safely!”

“As if Father would vanish!” said George, scornfully. “Julian must be mad! It’s just two more of those silly scientists who are disloyal to this country, and disappear to another country to sell our secrets! I could have told Julian that!”

Chapter Two

All together again

Next morning, on a dewy hillside a good distance from Kirrin, where George lived, two boys leapt down the steps of a caravan, and went to one nearby. They rapped on the door.

“Anne! Are you awake? It’s a heavenly day!”

“Of course I’m awake!” cried a voice. “The door’s unlocked. Come in. I’m getting breakfast.”

Julian and Dick pushed open the blue-painted door. Anne was standing at a little stove at one end of her caravan, boiling eggs in a saucepan.

“I can’t look round,” she said. “I’m timing them by my watch. One minute more to go.”

“The postman has just brought a card from George,” said Julian. “She says her tail and Timmy’s are both well up! I’m glad she’s coming at last — and old Timmy too.”