As the Secret Seven went down the hill in the farm-van, glad to have done a really good job, they saw a man in the distance, walking slowly up. "I bet that's Luke Bolan," said Janet. "I hope he'll be pleased when he sees what we've done for him."
"I expect he will," said her mother. "But you must remember that even though he has a roof over his head now, he and Mrs Bolan have lost every one of their possessions ... except that old pram! And it's a terrible thing to lose things you have had for years and years ... like Luke's banjo."
"Are they expensive?" asked Jack.
"Good gracious yes!" said Colin. "My uncle paid a mint of money for his!" And he began to pretend that he was playing a banjo, strumming with his fingers and making a banjo-like noise that made everyone laugh.
"Do we have another meeting soon?" asked Barbara. "I wish we could. It was nice to have the two we've just had."
"Well, let's," said Peter. "Even though there isn't anything to have a meeting about, we could talk and have a bit of fun. Mother, can we get out of the van now and walk over the fields? It's such a nice afternoon."
"Yes ... and if you'd all like to come back afterwards to a late high tea, I'll have it ready for you," said his mother. "You really have worked very hard, and you must be getting hungry already! I'll telephone to tell the other mothers."
"Oh Mother! You really are a pet!" said Janet, and everyone agreed. "Of course we'd like high tea ... what shall we have? Eggs? Ham?"
"Wait and see," said her mother, laughing. "Well, out you all get, and I'll drive on alone. Good-bye for an hour or two!"
The Seven leapt out of the van, Scamper too, and set off across the fields. It was a wonderful spring day, with the birds singing madly and primroses everywhere. Cowslips nodded on the hillsides too, and celandines shone out from the ditches.
"They're so shining-bright that they look as if they've been polished," said Barbara.
A voice suddenly hailed them, and the Seven stopped. "Ahoy there! Wait for us!"
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"Blow! It's Susie and Binkie," said Jack in disgust. Sure enough it was ... and they came leaping down the hill at top speed.
"Hallo! What happened about the caravan?" yelled Susie.
They told her, and she and Binkie listened with interest. "You might have let us help!" said Susie reproachfully. "Even though we don't belong to the Secret Seven."
"Well, we said you could buy the Bolans anything you wanted to," said Janet. "Why don't you? You could take it up to the caravan yourselves."
"Well, we jolly well will," said Susie. "Can we come with you now, or are you the high-and-mighty Secret Seven again, all on your own?"
"Don't be an ass," said Peter. "You can see we're not holding a meeting just at this moment, so of course you can come with us."
"Binkie's made up a poem," said Susie, with a sudden little giggle. "All about the Secret Seven."
"Well, we don't want to hear it," said George, feeling quite certain that it wouldn't be a very polite one.
"It's got a chorus," said Susie. "Hasn't it, Binkie? Let Binkie say the poem, Peter, and we can all join in the chorus."
"Don't you let her, Peter," said Jack, at once. "You've no idea how rude Susie and Binkie can get when they put their heads together."
But Susie was not going to be stopped, nor Binkie either. Binkie began to chant lines in a loud, sing-song manner, dancing about in front of them.
"Oh see the Secret Seven
So very smug and pi,
Eyes turned up to Heaven,
When they come walking by!
They think they're very clever,
Alas, we don't agree,
We think the Secret Seven
Are silly as can be!
"Chorus, please... And here Susie joined in at the top of her voice "
"Silly as can be, Silly as..."
But that was too much for the Secret Seven. With one accord they ran at the irritating Binkie and the aggravating Susie, yelling loudly.
"How dare you make up that song! Shut up! You horrible girl! Be quiet! We'll..."
But Susie and Binkie were racing away at top speed, laughing at the anger of the Secret Seven. "Serves you right for not letting us help this afternoon!" yelled Susie, stopping for a moment. "You just look out for us! We'll pay you out for that!"
Then off they raced again.
"I thought this would happen," said Jack gloomily. "I'm very sorry about it ... but I can't help having Susie for my sister. As for Binkie ... think what you'd all feel like if you had to have a girl like her staying a whole week with you!"
"It's a very rude and untruthful song," said Barbara, who always hated being made fun of.
"It's just a little bit funny too," said George, but nobody would agree with him. They were now walking beside a field where a scarecrow stood, and stopped to have a look at him. A rook stood on his old black hat, and he looked very comical.
The wind waved his torn old tweed coat about and made him seem alive. "He's got Daddy's old trousers on," said Janet, with a laugh. "The ones Mummy didn't like because they were too light and showed the dirt so much. And someone's tied a dirty scarf round his neck. It looks like the one our cowman used to wear - red with white spots!"
The rook bent over the scarecrow's face and pecked it. "Shoo!" shouted Peter indignantly. "You're supposed to be scared of him. Shoo, rook, shoo!"
The rook gave two loud caws that sounded exactly as if it was laughing, spread its big black wings, and flew off slowly, cawing as it went.
"I bet it's saying something rude ... like Binkie," said George. "I say, I'm awfully hungry now. What about that tea your mother promised us, Peter?"
That made them all hurry off at once. Eggs, ham,cold sausages, cheese, a fruit cake ... they could eat the whole lot. So could Scamper.Wuff-wuff!
