The Wishing-Chair Again Read Online Free PDF

and cream, and bread and butter—would you like that?”
    In the ordinary way the children would have said no thank you to any idea of going to bed early—but they really were so sleepy that they both yawned together and said yes, that sounded nice, thank you, Mother!
    So upstairs they went and fell asleep immediately after the raspberries and cream. Mother was really very surprised when she peeped in to see them.
    “Poor children—I expect all the excitement of coming home from school has tired them out,” she said. “I'll make them up sandwiches tomorrow and send them out on a picnic.”
    They woke up early the next morning and their first thought was about the Wishing-Chair.
    “Let's go down and see Chinky,” said Mollie. “We've got time before breakfast.”
    So they dressed quickly and ran down to their playroom. But no Chinky was there—and no note either. He hadn't been back, then.
    Wherever could he be?
    “Oh dear, first the Wishing-Chair goes, and now Chinky,” said Mollie. “What's happened to him? I think we'd better go and ask that elf if he's seen him, Peter.”
    “We shan't have time before breakfast,” said Peter. “We'll come down as soon as we've done any jobs Mother wants us to do.”
    They were both delighted when Mother suggested that they should take their lunch with them and go out for a day's picnicking. Why—that would be just right! They could go and hunt out the elf—and find Chinky—and perhaps go to Mr. Spells with him. Splendid!
    So they eagerly took the packets of sandwiches, cake and chocolate that Mother made up for them, and Peter put them into a little satchel to carry. Off they went. They peeped into their playroom just to make sure that Chinky still hadn't come back.
    No, he hadn't. “Better leave a note for him, then!” said Peter.
    “What have you said?” asked Mollie, glancing over her shoulder.
    “I've said 'Why didn't you wait for us, silly? Now we've got to go and look for you whilst you're still looking for us!' ”
    Mollie laughed. “Oh dear—this really is getting ridiculous. Come on—let's go to the tree-house and see if the elf is in.”
    So off they went, down the garden, through the hedge, and across the field to where the dark patch of grass was—the ‘fairy-ring.’ They sat down in the middle of it and Mollie felt about for the button to press. She found something that felt rather like a little knob of earth and pressed it. Yes—it was the right button!
    Down they went, not nearly as fast as the day before, because Mollie didn't press the button so hard. Then along the passage, past the queer bright little doors, and up the spiral stairway. They knocked on the door.
    “It's us—Mollie and Peter. Can we come in?”
    The door flew open and there stood the elf. He looked very pleased. “Well, this is really friendly of you. Come in.”
    “We've come to ask you something,” said Mollie. “Have you seen Chinky?”
    “Oh, yes—he came to me yesterday, after I'd said goodbye to you, and I told him all you'd told me—and off he went to find Polly Polish and get the latest news,” said the elf.
    “Well, he hasn't come back yet.” said Mollie. “Where do you suppose he is?”
    “Gone to see his mother, perhaps?” suggested the elf. “I really don't know. It's not much good looking for him, really, you know—he might be anywhere.”
    “Yes—that's true,” said Peter. “Well, what shall we do, Mollie? Try and find Mr. Spells of Wizard Cottage by ourselves?”
    “Oh, I know where he lives,” said the elf. “He's quite a nice fellow. I'll tell you the way. You want to take the bus through the Tall Hill, and then take the boat to the Mill. Not far off on the top of a hill you'll see a large cottage in the shape of a castle—only you can't call it a castle because it's not big enough. Mr. Spells lives there.''
    “Oh, thank you,” said Peter, and off they went to catch the bus. It was one like they had caught the other night, but it had