Julian looked at his watch. “Nearly two o’clock. Well, Martin, if we’re going to see that half past two programme of yours, we’d better be getting on.”

Carrying baskets of primroses and violets, the girls began to climb up the steep side of the quarry. Julian took Anne’s basket from her, afraid she might slip and fall. Soon they were all at the top. The air felt quite cool there after the warmth of the quarry.

They made their way to the cliff path and before long were passing the coastguard’s cottage. He was out in his garden, and he waved to them.

They went in the gateway of the next-door cottage. Martin pushed the door open. His father was sitting at the window of the room inside, reading. He got up with a broad, welcoming smile.

“Well, well, well! This is nice! Come along in, do. Yes, the dog as well. I don’t mind dogs a bit. I like them.”

It seemed rather a crowd in the small room. They all shook hands politely. Martin explained hurriedly that he had brought the children to see a television programme.

“A good idea,” said Mr Curton, still beaming. Anne stared at his great eyebrows. They were very long and thick. She wondered why he didn’t have them trimmed — but perhaps he liked them like that. They made him look very fierce, she thought.

The four looked round the little room. There was a television set standing at the far end, on a table. There was also a magnificent wireless — and something else that made the boys stare with interest.

“Hallo! You’ve got a transmitting set, as well as a receiving set,” said Julian.

“Yes,” said Mr Curton. “It’s a hobby of mine. I made that set.”

“Well! You must be brainy!” said Dick.

“What’s a transmitting set?” asked Anne. “I haven’t heard of one before.”

“Oh, it just means a set to send out messages by wireless — like police-cars have, when they send back messages to the police stations,” said Dick. “This is a very powerful one, though.”

Martin was fiddling about with the television switches. Then the programme began.

It was great fun seeing the television programme. When it was over Mr Curton asked them to stay to tea.

“Now don’t say no,” he said. “I’ll ring up and ask your aunt, if you like, if you’re afraid she might be worried.”

“Well — if you’d do that, sir,” said Julian. “I think she would wonder where we’d gone!”

Mr Curton rang up Aunt Fanny. Yes, it was quite all right for them to stay, but they mustn’t be too late back. So they settled down to an unexpectedly good tea. Martin was not very talkative, but Mr Curton made up for it. He laughed and joked and was altogether very good company.

The talk came round to Kirrin Island. Mr Curton said how beautiful it looked each evening. George looked pleased.

“Yes,” she said. “I always think that. I do wish Father hadn’t chosen this particular time to work on my island. I’d planned to go and stay there.”