“Julian says that he and Dick can get off immediately after breakfast,” said Anne. “So can we, so that’s all right. He says we’ve got to take very little with us - just night-things, tooth-brush, hair-brush and flannel and a rolled-up mac. And any biscuits or chocolate we can buy, Have you any money left?”

“A bit,” said George. “Not much. Enough to buy a few bars of chocolate, I think. Anyway, you’ve got all the biscuits your mother sent last week. We can take some of those.”

“Yes. And the barley sugar one of my aunts sent,” said Anne. ‘But Julian says we’re not to take much because this is to be a proper hike, and we’ll get tired if we have to carry a heavy load. Oh, he said put in two pairs of extra socks.”

“Right,” said George, and she patted Timmy who was lying close beside her. “There’s going to be a long walky-walk, Tim. Won’t you love that!”

Timmy grunted comfortably. He wondered if there would be any rabbits on the walk. A walk wasn’t really exciting unless there were rabbits all over the place. Timmy thought it was a pity that rabbits were allowed to live down holes. They always disappeared most unfairly just when he had nearly caught one!

Anne and George went to see their house-mistress to tell her that they were not going to Kirrin Cottage after all, but were going walking.

“My brother says he has written to you,” said Anne. “So you’ll know all about it tomorrow, Miss Peters. And George’s mother will be writing too. We can go, can’t we?”

“Oh, yes - it will be a lovely half-term for you!” said Miss Peters. “Especially if this sunny weather lasts. Where are you going?”

“Over the moors,” said Anne. “In the very loneliest, most deserted parts that Julian can find! We might see deer and wild ponies and perhaps even a few badgers. We shall walk and walk.”

“But where will you sleep if the parts you are going to are so very lonely?” asked Miss Peters.

“Oh Julian is arranging all that,” said George. “He’s been looking up little inns and farm-houses on the map, and we shall make for those at night. It will be too cold to sleep out of doors.”

“It certainly will!” said Miss Peters. “Well don’t get into trouble, that’s all I know what you five are when you get together. I imagine Timmy is going with you too?”

“Of course!” said George. “I wouldn’t go if he didn’t go! I couldn’t leave him here alone.”

The two girls got their things ready as Friday came near. The biscuits were taken out of the tin and put into paper bags. The barley sugar was put into a bag too, and the bars of chocolate.

Both girls had rucksacks with straps for their shoulders. They packed and repacked them several times. One by one more and more things were added. Anne felt she must take a book to read. George said they must each take a torch with a new battery.