Mystery Of The Burnt Cottage by Enid Blyton Page A

there that evening,” said Daisy. “It was her evening off. She said so.”
    “Well, how are we to know she didn’t go back to Hiccup’s and hide in the garden?” said Fatty.
    “It seehis as if half the village was hiding in that garden on the evening of the fire,” said Larry. “The old tramp was there - and we think Smellie was - and we know Peeks was - and now you say perhaps Lily was too!”
    “I know. It’s really funny to think how full Hiccup’s garden was that evening!” grinned Fatty. “Well - don’t you think it would be a good thing to go and see Lily? I don’t suspect her of anything - but it would be just as well to see if she can tell us anything to help us,”
    “Yes - it’s quite a good Idea,” said Larry. “Blow -there’s your dinner-bell. Pip. We’ll have to leave thiags till this afternoon. We’ll all go down and see Lily - we’ll take something for the cat and kittens again. And what about Mr. Smellie’s shoe? When shall we take that back?”
    “We’d better take it back this evening,” said Daisy. “You take it back, Larry, when it’s dark. You may find the garden door open, and you can just slip in and put the shoe back.”
    “Right,” said Larry, and he got up to go. “We’ll be back after lunch, Find-Outers. By the way - how are your bruises, Fatty?”
    “Fine,” said Fatty proudly. “I’ll show you them.”
    “Can’t stop now,” said Larry. “I’ll see them this afternoon. So long!”
    “One’s going yellow already,” said Fatty. But Larry and Daisy were gone. Pip and Bets were running to the house, afraid of getting into trouble if they waited any longer. Fatty went off with Buster, hoping that the others wouldn’t forget about his bruises in the afternoon.
    They all met together again at half-past two. Daisy had stopped at the fishmonger’s and bought some fish for the cats. It smelt very strong, and Buster kept worrying her to undo the paper. Nobody asked Fatty about his braises.
    He was offended, and sat gloomily whilst the others discussed what to say to Lily. Bets noticed his face and was surprised.
    “What’s the matter, Fatty?” she asked. “Are you ill?”
    “No,” said Fatty. “Just a bit stiff, that’s all.”
    Daisy took a look at him and gave a little squeal of laughter. “Oh, poor Fatty! We said we’d look at His bruises and we haven’t!”
    Every one laughed. “Fatty’s an awful baby,” said Larry. “Cheer up, Fat-One. Show us your bruises and let us admire every one of them, big, medium and small.”
    “They’re not worth mentioning,” said Fatty stiffly. “Come on - let’s get going. We’d better get off quickly, or it will be tea-time before we’ve finished talking.”
    “We’ll see his bruises at tea-time,” whispered Daisy to Larry. “He’s gone all sulky now!”
    So they set off down the lane to find Lily. They felt certain they would not be caught by Hiccup this time because Pip had seen him go by in his car not long before.
    “One or two of us must talk to Mrs. Minns,” said Larry, “and the others had better try and get Lily out into the garden and talk to her. We’ll see how things go.”
    But, as it happened, everything was very easy. Mrs. Minns was out, and there was no one in the kitchen but Lily. She was pleased to see the children and Buster.
    “I’ll just put Sweetie and the kittens out in the hall, and shut the door,” she said. “Then that little dog can come in. I like dogs. What’s His name? Buster I That’s a nice name for a dog. Buster! Buster! Would you like a bone?”
    Soon the cat and kittens were safely out of the way and Buster was gnawing a bone on the floor. Lily got out some chocolate from a drawer and handed it round. The children liked her. She seemed much more cheerful without Mrs. Minns to shout at her.
    “We gave that note to Horace Peeks,” said Larry. “We found him all right.”
    “Yes, I got a letter from him today,” said Lily. She looked rather sad suddenly.