Alfredo came up with his buttonhook-like torches, and his metal bowl. “I give you a treat,” he announced to Uncle Quentin. “You would like to see me fire-eat?”

Uncle Quentin stared at him as if he thought he had gone raving mad.

“He’s a fire-eater, Uncle,” explained Dick.

“Oh. No thank you, my good man. I would rather not see you eat fire,” said Uncle Quentin, politely but very firmly. Alfredo was most disappointed. He had meant to give this man a real treat to make up for locking him into the caravan! He went away sadly, and Mrs. Alfredo screamed after him.

“You foolish man. Who wants to see you fire-eat? You have no brains. You are a big, silly bad man. You keep away with your fire-eating!” She disappeared into her caravan, and Uncle Quentin looked after her, astonished at her sudden outburst.

“This is really a very extraordinary place,” he said. “And most extraordinary people. I’m going back home today, George. Wouldn’t you all like to come with me? I don’t really feel it’s the right thing for you to get mixed up in so many queer doings.”

“Oh no, Father,” said George, in horror. “Go home when we’ve only just settled in! Of course not. None of us want to leave — do we Julian?” she said, looking round beseechingly at him.

Julian answered at once. “George is right, Uncle. We’re just beginning to enjoy ourselves here. I think we’re all agreed on that?”

“We are,” said everyone, and Timmy thumped his tail hard and gave a very loud “WOOF.”

“Very well,” said Uncle Quentin, getting up. “I must go, I suppose. I’ll catch the bus down to the station. Come down with me.”

They went to see him off on the bus. It came up well on time and he got in.

“Good-bye,” he said. “What message shall I give your mother, George? She’ll expect to hear something from the five of you.”

“Well,” shouted everyone, as the bus rumbled off, “well — just tell her the FIVE ARE HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME! Good-bye, Uncle Quentin, good-bye!”

THE END

ENID BLYTON (London, United Kingdom, 11th August 1897 - London, 28th November 1968). Enid Mary Blyton was born on 11th August 1897 at 354 Lordship Lane, a two-bedroom flat above a shop in East Dulwich, South London. Shortly after her birth her parents moved to Beckenham in Kent and it was there, in a number of different houses over the years, that Enid Blyton spent her childhood. She had two younger brothers — Hanly, born in 1899, and Carey, born in 1902.

ENID AND HER FATHER, THOMAS CAREY BLYTON

Enid’s father, Thomas, was a cutlery salesman as a young man. He then joined his uncle’s firm selling Yorkshire cloth and, later still, set up his own business as a clothing wholesaler. He and his daughter had a close, loving relationship — both had dark hair and alert brown eyes, and shared an appetite for knowledge and a zest for life. Together they enjoyed nature rambles, gardening, the theatre, art, music and literature. When Enid had whooping cough as a baby, and was not expected to live till morning, her father refused to accept the doctor’s opinion and sat up all night with her, cradling her and willing her to survive.