Weatherley Parade by Richmal Crompton

Author:Richmal Crompton [Crompton, Richmal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2017-04-20T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Prue, wearing a short gingham frock and sun-bonnet, her teddy bear tucked under her arm, came trotting through the open door of the hotel into the garden. She had stayed indoors for her afternoon rest and was now eager to join the others on the beach. Anthea and the nurse followed her, Anthea carrying a bucket and spade, the nurse a tea-basket.

“Let’s just see that Baby’s all right,” said Anthea, and the two went across the lawn to where the baby Roger slept in his pram in the shadow of the tall hedge. They contemplated him admiringly.

“Hasn’t he got brown since we came here?” said Anthea.

“Yes, he’s getting on a treat,” agreed the nurse.

Prue, having stood on tiptoe but failed to reach the latch of the gate, was battering at the gate itself with three-year-old impatience.

“Open!” she said imperiously. “Prue wants to go out.”

The nurse unfastened the latch and they stepped out onto the beach.

“There’s Mrs. Clive with Jo and Cherry,” said Anthea. “She said she’d stay with them till you came out . . . All right, darling,” to Prue, who was clamouring for her bucket and spade, “let’s put Teddy in your bucket, then you can carry them all. Now off you go!”

Prue ran down to join the others, her bare brown feet flashing over the sand, her sun-bonnet falling back from her short fair curls.

“She’s growing out of all her frocks,” said Anthea, “but it really isn’t worth while making any more now. They won’t fit her next summer.”

“I can let that one down,” said the nurse. “It has quite a deep hem. And I can finish that blue one I’m making. I have got it here.” She patted the tea-basket.

“I’ll get on with it this afternoon. Shall I come in to help with Baby after tea?”

“No, I’ll put him to bed. You stay out with the children. There are some oranges and bananas and bread and jam sandwiches and a bottle of milk in the basket. If you want anything else, send Jo back for it . . . I thought she was looking a bit pale this morning, didn’t you? We must remember to give her a dose tonight. And I shouldn’t let her paddle too much . . .”

“Just look at Piers!” said the nurse, pointing to where Piers stood, balanced precariously half-way up the cliff.

“Isn’t he a monkey!” smiled Anthea. “He’s worn out all his knickers on those rocks. It’s a good thing we brought plenty of stuff for patching . . . you’d better bring Prue in a little before the others. She runs about so much and gets over-tired.” She waved to Billy, the twins, Leslie and Mrs. Malvern, who were coming along the lane towards the front entrance of the hotel. “Well, I suppose I’d better go in. I’d rather stay out with the babies, but Major Weatherley likes us all to be in for tea.”

Nurse made her way over the sands, and Anthea remained at the gate, surveying the little party as a general might survey his forces.

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