Clementine Rose and the Treasure Box 6 by Jacqueline Harvey

Clementine Rose chased the ball as it bumped and rolled across the front lawn. Lavender, her teacup pig, scurried along beside her, grunting and squealing. Clementine reached the ball first. She stopped it with her foot and then kicked it back towards Uncle Digby. Lavender spun around and ran after it.
    â€˜You two are going to be exhausted,’ said Clementine’s mother, Lady Clarissa Appleby. She was pulling weeds from the flowerbed beside the fence.

    â€˜I know,’ Clementine puffed. ‘Lavender will need a big rest this afternoon.’
    Lady Clarissa grinned. ‘I meant you and Uncle Digby, darling.’
    â€˜Oh,’ said Clementine, giggling.
    â€˜I’m all right,’ the old man protested with a flick of his hand.
    â€˜Well, I think I’m just about done here,’ said Lady Clarissa. She dumped a giant clump of clover into the hessian sack beside her.
    Digby rolled the ball gently towards Lavender, who pushed it along with her snout. ‘You know, that pig’s a natural with a soccer ball.’
    â€˜Maybe she can join our team,’ said Clementine. ‘You could too, Uncle Digby.’
    Clementine couldn’t wait to start soccer in a few weeks’ time. She was going to be on a team with her friends Poppy and Sophie, and some boys too. Sophie’s father, Pierre, had offered to be the coach and they would play in a local Saturday morning competition.
    The old man shook his head. ‘I don’t think so, Clementine. I’m about sixty-five years too old to be playing in the Under 7s.’ He walked over to Clarissa and reached for the sack. ‘I’ll take those weeds around to the bin.’
    â€˜Thank you,’ said Clarissa. She removed her gloves and brushed some dirt from her skirt.
    â€˜Do you want to kick with me, Mummy?’ Clementine asked.
    â€˜Maybe later, sweetheart. I think we should pop inside and have something to eat.’
    The front door opened and Clementine’s great-aunt walked out onto the steps. ‘When’s lunch, Clarissa? A person could starve to death in this house,’ she harrumphed.
    Lady Clarissa rolled her eyes at Clementine. ‘We’re coming now, Aunt Violet. I don’t suppose you thought to make a start on some sandwiches?’
    Aunt Violet winced. ‘I wouldn’t know where to begin.’
    â€˜It’s not that hard,’ Clementine chimed in. ‘You just have to get the bread and butter and some things to put inside. I’ll teach you.’
    â€˜Stop being so practical, Clementine. Some people were born to cook and others were born to eat. Clearly I fall into the latter category.’
    Clementine wondered what that meant.
    â€˜Why don’t you get your ball and bring Lavender inside, darling,’ Lady Clarissa suggested.
    Lavender had nudged the ball all the way across the lawn. Now it was stuck under some bushes by the low stone wall that separated Penberthy House from the road. Just as Clementine bent down to pick up the ball, a truck rumbled past. There were large letters written on the side and three men sitting in the front.
    Lady Clarissa looked at the vehicle. A young fellow wearing a blue singlet grinned and waved at her. Clarissa raised her hand and waved back.
    Clementine grabbed her soccer ball and raced over to her mother, who had joined Aunt Violet on the front porch.
    â€˜What did it say on the truck?’ she asked.
    â€˜Griffin Brothers Removals,’ Lady Clarissa informed her.
    A silver station wagon turned into the road and followed the truck. A woman waved from the front passenger seat. Clarissa thought she saw some children in the back.
    â€˜They must be the new neighbours,’ she said.
    Clementine’s eyes grew wide.
    There was only one other dwelling past Penberthy House, a cottage at the very end of the lane.
    â€˜Godfathers, who’d want to live in that dump?’ Aunt Violet said with a shudder.
    Clementine shook her