The three of them sat on the steps, lazing in the sun, when they had finished their breakfast. They looked at the ruined old castle, and watched the jackdaws circling round the four towers.

“There must be about a thousand jackdaws there,” said Dick. “I wish we had field-glasses so that we could watch them. It would be as good as a circus. I love the way they all fly up together, and circle round and round and yet never bump into one another.”

“Do they nest in that old castle?” asked Anne.

“Oh, yes — they fill up the towers with big sticks,” said Dick, “and put their nests on the top. I bet we’d find the ground beneath the towers strewn ankle-deep in sticks if we went to see.”

“Well, let’s go one day when George is here,” said Anne. “It only costs five pence to go in. I like old castles. I like the feel of old places.”

“So do I,” said Julian. “I hope George brings the field-glasses she had for her birthday. We could take them up into the castle with us and see all round the countryside for miles and miles. We could count the seven counties!”

“I must wash up,” said Anne, getting up. “I must tidy the caravans too before George comes.”

“You don’t really think old George will notice if they’re tidy or not, do you?” said Dick. “It will be a waste of your time, Anne!”

But Anne always enjoyed tidying things and putting them away in cupboards or on shelves. She liked having the two caravans to look after. She had just got used to them nicely and was looking forward to showing George round them.

She skipped over to the hedge and picked a great bunch of primroses. Back she went and divided them into two. She stuffed half into one little blue bowl, set their green crinkled leaves round them, and then put the other half into a second bowl.

“There — you go with the green and yellow curtains!” she said. She was soon very busy sweeping and dusting. She debated whether to send Dick to the stream to wash the breakfast things, and decided not to. Dick wasn’t too good with crockery, and it was not theirs to break — it belonged to the owner of the caravans.

By the time it was half-past eleven the caravans were spick and span. George’s sheets and blankets were on the shelf above her bunk, which, in the daytime, let down neatly against the wall to make more room. Anne had a bunk on the opposite side.

“This is the kind of holiday I like,” said Anne to herself. “Somewhere small to live, fields and hills just outside, picnicky meals — and not too much adventure!”

“What are you murmuring about, Anne?” said Dick, peeping in at the window. “Did I hear something about adventure? Are you looking for one already?”

“Good gracious no!” said Anne. “It’s the last thing I want! And the last thing we’ll get too, in this quiet little place, thank goodness.”