Jon grunted. "Chuck me that pullover. If I've got to sit up and talk I might as well be comfortable... Thanks... Oh! I dunno, Penny. I expect the grown-ups will say we did lots of things wrong, but I don't think not telling them was too awful... It was just that I wasn't sure what was the best thing to do. I never mind doing things, but sometimes it's knowing when to do them that's so difficult."

She was sitting now over by the window with her hands clasped in her lap and looking suspiciously demure.

"Sometimes," she said, "I loathe you, but other times, like now, you're quite nice... Now, let's arrange what to say. I suppose we must tell them everything... Do you realize, Jon, that after all that excitement yesterday we haven't found the treasure and that we forgot all about it?... Let's tell the others all about Miss B. and Slinky - I wonder what's really happened to them? - and then have another meeting and start all over again to find the treasure by ourselves... Do you know, Jon, I'd give anything to find that for your mother... And if those other beasts have run away, and I bet they have, we shall be able to hunt properly without interruptions. I'm sure there must be a treasure or the Ballinger wouldn't have been so keen to get the map and an answer to the clue."

"Go away and leave me in peace," Jon groaned. "You're always worrying me to do something you've thought of... Go and cool your red head somewhere, Penny. Go and hold it in a draught while I dress... When I come down I'll get Mother to ask the Mortons to come and have whatever meal is due next, and then we must tell them all what we know..."

"You said just now it didn't matter about not telling them, Jon! Now we're so near let's go on by ourselves."

"We're not near, you chump! We're no nearer than we were when we got to earthen vessels... Now get out, or I'll throw things at you."

Sadly, Penny departed. Over her shoulder she gave him a soulful and reproachful look and then slipped out hurriedly when he bent under the bed for a slipper.

When Jon came downstairs she was sitting on the arm of one of the big leather chairs in the lounge talking to her aunt. A log was smouldering on the iron dogs and the sun slanted in through the windows, set Penny's red head aflame and then settled in a golden pool on the floor. Jon walked over and kissed his mother, and before he could change his mind, said: