The Little Secret Read Online Free PDF

boots with high heels.
    â€œI thought I’d better dress down,” said Lady Matilda. “Jane’s family will be very simple folk, and I want to put them at their ease.”
    Dan, Jon and the twins had rushed out of the house to stare at the gleaming car. They stared even harder when they saw Staffa’s mother. Jane had told them very little about Lady Matilda, mainly because she didn’t think anyone would believe her.
    Lady Matilda gave them a gracious wave. “What handsome brothers you have, Jane.” She pointed to Mom and Dad, who were standing at the door with little Ted. “And I suppose these two humble peasants are your parents?”
    Staffa’s white cheeks turned pink. “They’re not peasants!” she hissed.
    Dad obviously wanted to laugh, but was too kind. “How do you do, Lady Matilda. Welcome to our humble home.” He gave the girls a friendly wink. “Please come inside and have a cup of tea.”
    Mom picked up little Ted, just in time to stop him from grabbing Lady Matilda’s tweed bloomers with his very dirty hand. “It’s lovely to meet you at last — now we can thank you for all the presents.”
    â€œMy dear Mrs. Hughes, please don’t thank me!” cried Lady Matilda. “It was the least I could do!”
    She strode into the house. Mom and Dad hurried after her.
    â€œSorry about the chaos,” Dad said.
    Lady Matilda did not seem to notice the eggy plates and piles of crumbs, or the crowd of boys’ faces staring at her from the doorway. She sat down on the strongest-looking chair, which creaked under her weight, and almost disappeared between the cheeks of her bloomered bottom.
    â€œI have come with an invitation,” she said. “In the few weeks that Staffa and I have known your daughter Jane, we have grown very fond of her. She is such a treasure — so delicate and refined!”
    The boys snorted with laughter. Mom made a warning face at them.
    â€œMy daughter and I will soon be leaving this part of the country,” said Lady Matilda. “And we would very much like to take Jane back to our home, for a short holiday.”
    â€œOh, yes!” Staffa cried. “Please say you’ll come, Jane!”
    â€œI — I don’t know —” Jane was bewildered. She had never been away from her home, unless you counted the family camping trips at the seaside. She had never been separated from her family, and the prospect was a little scary. But it was a dazzling offer — to see, with her own eyes, the fabulous lakes, castles and mountains of Lady Matilda’s stories.
    Lady Matilda smiled her big, rather cold red-and-white smile. “Just for a few weeks, at the beginning of the long summer vacation. We will travel in my car, and I hope we’ll be able to buy Jane some new clothes that are actually designed for girls — well, she’ll need some, for her new school.”
    Mom and Dad looked at each other. Jane knew they wanted her to start at King’s Lumpton High with proper girls’ clothes, and were worried about finding the money.
    â€œIt’s really kind of you,” Mom began, “but we couldn’t —”
    â€œYou would be doing me a great favor, Mrs. Hughes,” Lady Matilda said. “Poor Staffa gets so lonely — don’t you, dear?”
    â€œNothing’s any fun when you’re on your own.” Staffa said. “Do say yes, Jane — there’s so much I’d like to show you!”
    â€œOur country home is a very healthy place,” Lady Matilda went on. “But the communications are primitive. You mustn’t worry if Jane can’t speak to you on the telephone. She can keep in touch with postcards, which were always good enough in my day. And I promise — I absolutely promise — to treat her like my very own daughter. She will live like a princess, which is nothing less than she