“I’ve got my key,” said Uncle Quentin, and he put it into the front door lock. He opened the door and Sally leapt straight into Berta’s arms, licking her face from forehead to chin!

Aunt Fanny went into the hall and called. “Anyone at home?”

No answer. Timmy heard her call, but as George did not stir, he didn’t either. He was not going to leave George for a minute, not even to go downstairs!

Aunt Fanny walked into all the rooms on the ground floor. Nobody there! She marvelled at the remains of the meal spread all over the dining-room table, and even more at the dirty pans and dishes in the kitchen. What was Joan thinking of? WHERE was everybody? She did not expect George to be there, because she knew George had been kidnapped — but where in the world were all the others?

She went upstairs and her husband followed with Berta and her father. They were all feeling most astonished now. They went into Julian’s room — good gracious he was there, then! And Dick too — lying floppily on their beds, absolutely sound asleep! Aunt Fanny couldn’t understand it.

And then she went into the girls’ room — and there was Anne fast asleep too — and GOOD GRACIOUS, could that be George? But surely George was kidnapped — then how — why — where…

Her mother suddenly put her arms round the sleeping George and kissed her and hugged her. She had worried so much about her — and now here she was, safe and sound after all!

George awoke at once. She sat up and gazed at her mother and father in astonishment.

“Oh — you’re back! Oh, how lovely! When did you come?”

“Just now,” said her mother. “But George — why is everyone asleep — and how did you get here — we thought you were…”

“Oh, Mother — yes, of course you don’t know half the story, do you?” said George. “Gosh, there’s Berta here too — and your Pops, Berta! Hallo, everyone.”

She was still so sleepy that she was not quite sure whether this was a dream or not. But then Anne woke up and squealed, and that woke Julian and Dick. They came into the very crowded bedroom, and soon there was such a noise that Joan and Jo, in the room above, awoke too.

Down they came, looking very dishevelled, Joan full of apologies. She rushed downstairs to put some coffee on and bumped into the two policemen in the hall. She screamed.

“Excuse me, Miss,” said the sergeant to Joan. “Isn’t anyone ever coming down again? We’re supposed to be guarding Miss Berta.”

“Oh my — you don’t need to do that now!” said Joan. “Didn’t Master Julian telephone you last night — this morning, I mean — I thought he was going to.”

“What about?” said the sergeant.

“About the kidnappers. Everything’s all right,” explained Joan to the two astonished policemen. “We’ve got Miss George back — and oh, bless us all, there’s those kidnappers — you haven’t been told they’re all locked up and waiting for you, have you?”