The Famous Five - Five On A Treasure Island - Enid Blyton

chapter 1 (A GREAT SURPRISE)

'Mum, have you decided about our summer holidays yet?' said Julian, at the breakfast-table. 'Can we go to Polseath as usual?"

'I'm afraid not,' said his mother. "They're full up this year.'

The three children at the breakfast-table looked at one another in great disappointment. They loved the house at Polseath, and the beach was perfect for swimming.

Cheer up, said Dad. 'We'll find somewhere else just as good for you. But Mum and I won't be going with you this year. Did Mum tell you?' "No!" said Anne in surprise. "But... you always come

with us on our holidays!'

Well, this time Dad and I have planned to go to Scotland,' said Mum. 'Just the two of us! You're all old enough to look after yourselves now, and we thought you'd love the chance to have a holiday on your own! But now that you can't go to Polseath, I don't really know where to send you."

What about Quentin's?' said Dad suddenly. Quentin was his brother, the children's uncle. They had onlyseen him once, and had found him a bit scary. He was a very tall, frowning man, a clever scientist who spent all his time studying. He lived by the sea- but that was pretty much all that the children knew about him!

'Quentin?' said Mum. What made you think of him? I shouldn't think he'd want the children messing about in his little house."

Well,' said Dad, I bumped into Quentin's wife in town the other day, and I don't think things are going 100 well for them. Fanny said that she's thinking of getting a lodger for a while, to bring a bit of money in Their house is by the sea, you know. It might be just the thing for the children. Fanny's very nice - she'd look after them."

"Yes-and she has a child of her own, too," said Mum. "What's her name-something unusual-yes, Georginal How old would she be? About eleven, I should think

Same age as me,' said Dick. 'It's strange to think we've got a cousin who we've never met! She must get lonely all by herself. I've got Julian and Anne to play with-but Georgina is just one on her own. I bet she'd be

glad to see us." 'Well, your Aunt Fanny said that Georgina would love a bit of company," said Dad. "You know, I really think that would solve the problem, if we ring Fanny and arrange for the children to go there. It would help Fanny, I'm sure, and Georgina would love to have someone to play with in the holidays. And we'd know that our three were safe."

The children began to feel excited. It would be fun togo to a place they had never visited before, and stay with an unknown cousin. 'Are there cliffs and rocks and sandy beaches there?"

asked Anne. 'Is it a nice place?"

'I don't remember it very well,' said Dad. 'But I'm sure it's an exciting kind of place. Anyway, you'll love it! It's called Kirrin Bay. Your Aunt Fanny has lived there all her life, and wouldn't leave it for anything.'

'Oh Dad. ring Aunt Fanny right now and ask her if we can go there!' cried Dick. "Please! I just feel as if it's the right place somehow. It sounds sort of adventurous!"

'You always say that, wherever you go!' said Dad, with a laugh. 'All right - I'll ring up and see if there's any chance.'

They had all finished their breakfast, but they waited

while Dad went out into the hall to telephone.

I hope it's all right!' said Julian. 'I wonder what Georgina's like. Funny name, isn't it? More like a boy's than a girl's. So she's eleven - a year younger than I am - same age as you, Dick - and a year older than you, Anne. She ought to fit in with us all right. We'll have lots of fun!'