"Can't you even say thank you?" Dickie began. "Can't you see what a marvellous idea we made?"

" 'Course, we're sorry for Agnes and her sister," Mary continued, "but I wouldn't be surprised if we don't have an adventure in that Clun place. Would you, twin?"

"We have to think of everything," Dickie went on, "and it makes us exhausted. Partikerly when you two just don't say 'thanks' when we have the ideas... Oh, well! If you don't want to say anything you needn't."

"We'll go and tell Tom all about it," Mary said. "We like Tom. He's nice."

"He's got manners. He says 'thank you'," and the two of them sauntered as one, with Macbeth between them, through the gate and along the lane towards Ingles' Farm.

David laughed. "Let 'em go, Peter. We'll cut round by the corner of the wood. It's all working out isn't it?"

Peter nodded. "Sounds fun. Will you mind if I take Sally if we can go? I'd love to ride her over there, although I should have to start earlier than you. You know, David, it was a good idea of the twins. They do get them sometimes. Do you think the Warrenders will come?"

"Sure of it. Nothing will stop Penny if she makes up her mind to it. She's red-headed."

"So you said before," Peter said. "I'm sick of hearing about it. Let's go and find Tom."

They followed the twins up the lane and had not gone very far before they heard the throb of a tractor.

"Bother! I'd forgotten for the minute," David said, "but, of course, Mr Ingles is threshing to-day, so Tom will be busy. I believe they started yesterday and should be through to-night... Let's go and see."

They found the twins sitting in their favourite position on the top bar of Mr Ingles' farmyard gate, watching the thresher and its gang at work. They saw Tom on the top of a stack, flinging sheaves of corn on to the moving band of the elevator. He raised a hand in salute and grinned before going back to his work.

"No use waiting here for Tom," Peter said after a little. "Let's go and see Mrs Ingles and ask her first."

This was an excellent idea, for within a very few minutes of their surprise visit to the kitchen Mrs Ingles had agreed to persuade her husband to let Tom go away for a week. When Mrs Ingles made up her mind that something was going to happen, it did happen, and so when Tom came in for his dinner his aunt had already had ten minutes with Mr Ingles, and the matter was settled so quickly that Tom could hardly believe it. As soon as he had finished his meal he went out into the sunshine and found the others.

"All O.K.," he called as he closed the door. "I can come... Who had this brainwave?"