The Wishing-Chair Again Part 3

c.h.i.n.kY was gloomy and cross that evening. The children were sad, and felt ashamed that they had gone quite so mad with the Growing Ointment. They felt very guilty indeed about c.h.i.n.ky's wand. He had been so proud of it.

aWill you come and tell us if the Wishing-Chair grows its wings again tonight, c.h.i.n.ky?a asked Mollie when it was time for them to go back to the house.

aI might,a said c.h.i.n.ky gruffly. aAnd I might not. I might go off by myself in it.a aOh, no, don't do that,a begged Mollie. aThat would be horrid of you. Dear c.h.i.n.ky, please be nice and forgive us for losing your wand.a aAll right,a said c.h.i.n.ky, cheering up a little.

aI really do feel very upset about losing my doll Rosebud, you know,a went on poor Mollie. aI feel just as upset about her as you feel about your wand.a aAnd I'm miserable about my engine,a said Peter. aIt was the finest I ever had.a aWella"we'll hope the Wishing-Chair grows its wings again tonight, then, and we can go and fetch everything,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aI'll come and tap on your windows if it grows its wings.a But c.h.i.n.ky didn't tap on their windows at all. The chair didn't grow any wings in the night. Molly sighed.

aJust when we so badly want it to fly, it won't grow wings! Now today we've got to behave nicely and be on our best behaviour, because Mother's got visitors. Perhaps we shan't be able to go down to the playroom at alla At eleven o'clock, when the visitors had arrived and Mother was giving them coffee and the children were handing round plates of biscuits and buns, c.h.i.n.ky appeared at the window.

He was horrified when he saw so many people there and disappeared at once. The children hadn't caught sight of him.

But old Mrs. James had seen him and was most astonished. aWhat a curious-looking child there is in the garden,a she remarked to the children's mother. aChild?a said Mother, surprised. aThere are no children in the garden today. My two are here, as you see.a aBut I'm sure I saw a child peeping in at the window,a said Mrs. James, nodding her head till all the feathers on her hat waved about. aMost peculiar ears this child had, tooa" kind of pointed.a Then the two children p.r.i.c.ked their own ears up at once! They knew who the peculiar child wasa"it was c.h.i.n.ky. And he could only have come for one reasona"the Wishing-Chair had grown its wings! They looked at one another in despair. Now what were they to do?

There was only one thing. They must do something to make Mother send them out of the room.

So Mollie suddenly spilt the plate of biscuits all over the floor, and Peter spilt a cup of coffee.

Mother looked vexed. aOh, deara"how clumsy of you!a she said. aGo and ask Jane if she will please bring a cloth, Mollie. And I think you and Peter had better go now. I don't want anything else spilt.a aSorry, Mother,a said Peter, and he really was sorry. But somehow he had got to get down to the playroom to see what c.h.i.n.ky wanted. Mollie felt the same.

They shot out of the room. Mollie called to Jane to take a cloth to wipe up the coffee, and then both children raced down to the playroom.

aI hope c.h.i.n.ky hasn't gone off in the chair by himself,a panted Peter. aIf he saw us with all those visitors he might think we couldn't possibly comea"and then he'd fly off alone.a The got to the playroom door just as c.h.i.n.ky was flying out in the Wishing-Chair. They b.u.mped into one another, and Peter caught hold of one of the chair's legs.

aJust in time!a he cried. aHelp us up, c.h.i.n.ky!a c.h.i.n.ky pulled them up with him. Then the chair flapped its green and yellow wings and flew strongly up into the air.

aI was afraid you wouldn't be able to come,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aI was just setting off by myself. The chair had only grown its wings a few minutes before I peeped in at the window.a aWhat fine, big, strong wings it's got now,a said Peter. aThey make quite a draught round my legs. It will be able to fly faster now.a aWhere are we going?a asked Mollie.

aI don't know,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aI just said to the Chair, 'Go and find my wand, and Rosebud, and the rest of the toys,' and it seemed to know the place I meant, because it rose up at once. I've no idea where we shall land. I only hope it's somewhere nice.

It would be awful to go to the Village of Slipperies, or to the Land of Rubbish, or somewhere like that.a aOh deara"I hope it's somewhere nice, too,a said Mollie. aThe chair is flying very high, isn't it?a aDo you think it may be going to Toyland?a asked Peter. aI wouldn't mind that at all. After all, most of the things were toys. I think it's very likely they may have gone there.a aIt certainly seems to be taking the way to Toyland as far as I remember,a said c.h.i.n.ky, peering down. aI know we pa.s.s over the Village of Golliwogs before we reach Toyland, and we're very near that now.a The children looked down to see if they could see any golliwog in the village they were flying overa"but they were too high up to see the people in the streets. They looked as small as ants.

aYesa"there's Toyland, far over there,a said c.h.i.n.ky, pointing. aThat must be where we're going.a But it wasn't. The chair suddenly began to fly down and down at a great rate, and it was plain that it was going to land.

aWell! This isn't Toyland!a said c.h.i.n.ky in surprise. aGood gracious! I do believe it's the school run by Mister Grim, for Bad Brownies. Surely the toys haven't gone there!a The chair landed in the grounds of a big house, just near a wall. c.h.i.n.ky and the children got off. They pushed the chair under a bush to hide it. Then they looked cautiously round.

From the big building in the distance came a chanting noise. The children and c.h.i.n.ky listened.

aI mustn't scream or whistle or shout.

Because Mister Grim is always about,

I mustn't stamp or slam any door.

Or jump or slide on the schoolroom floor.

aI mustn't be greedy, untidy or lazy

Because Mister Grim would be driven quite crazy,

I mustn't be slow, and I MUST be quick,

Because Mister Grim has a very BIG STICK!a

aOoooh!a said Mollie. aI don't like the sound of that. That must be the poor Bad Brownies learning verses for Mister Grim.a aYes,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aI do wish we hadn't come here. I've half a mind to get in the Wishing-Chair and go off again. I've always been told that Mister Grim is a very hard master. We don't want to be caught by him.a aCaught!a said Peter. aBut we're two children and a pixiea"we're not browniesa"and this is a school for brownies.a aI know,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aI just don't like the feel of this place, that's all. If you think it's all right, we'll stay and see if we can possibly find where our toys are.a aI think we'd better,a said Peter. aWella"what's the first thing to do?a aListena"is that the brownies coming out to play?a said Mollie as a perfect babel of noise reached them. Then came the sound of feet running and in a trice about fifty small brownies surrounded them. They all looked merry, mischievous little fellows, too young to have grown their brownie beards yet.

aWho are you? Are you new pupils for this awful school?a asked a small brownie, pushing himself forward. aMy name's Winks. What's yours?a All the little brownies crowded round, listening eagerly. c.h.i.n.ky pushed them back.

aDon't crowd so. No, we haven't come to your school. We came because we're looking for things we've lost, and we think they may be somewhere here. My name's c.h.i.n.ky. These are real children, Peter and Mollie.a aWell, be careful Mister Grim doesn't see you,a said Winks. aHe's in a very bad temper these daysa" worse than he's ever been.a aWhy?a asked Peter.

aBecause we found the cupboard where he kept his canes and we broke the whole lot!a chuckled the Brownie. aEvery one of them.a aCan't he slap you or smack you, though?a said Peter.

aOh, yesa"but we dodge,a said Winks. aCan't dodge a cane very well, though. I saya"do be careful he doesn't catch you.a aWhat are you looking for?a asked another brownie. aI'm Hoho, you can trust me.a aWell,a said c.h.i.n.ky, awe came here to look for a lot of flying toysa"and my new wand. It had wings, too.a aFlying toys!a said Winks. aAnd a flying wand. Well! Have we seen anything like that, boys?a aYes!a shouted Hoho at once. aDon't you remember? Yesterday evening we saw something very peculiara"we thought they were curious birds flying about in the air. They must have been your toys.a aWhat happened to them?a asked Peter.

aWell, old Grim was out in the garden smoking his evening pipe,a said Hoho. aAnd he suddenly looked up and saw them, too. He was very excited, and called out some words we couldn't hear. . . .a aAnd what we thought were the peculiar birds came right down to him,a said Winks. aBut they must have been your toys on the way to Toyland! He caught sight of them and made them come to him!a aWell, whatever can he do with them?a said Hoho. aWe are never allowed any toys at all. I suppose he will sell them to his friend the Magician Sly-Boots.a aOh dear,a said Mollie. aWell, we must try and get them before he does. Will you show us where you think Mister Grim might have hidden our toys?a aYes, we'll show you!a shouted the brownies. aBut do be careful you aren't caught!a They took c.h.i.n.ky and the children to the big building, all walking on tiptoe and shushing each other.

Hoho led them inside. He pointed to a winding stair. aGo up there,a he whispered. aYou'll come to a little landing. On the left side is a door. That's the storeroom, where I expect Mister Grim has put the toys.a aCreep ina"and see if you can find them,a whispered Winks.

aCome on,a said c.h.i.n.ky to the others. aIt's now or never! If we find our things we'll take them and rush down and out into the garden, and be off in the Wishing-Chair before Mister Grim even knows we're here!a aSh!a said Mollie, and they all began to go up the stairs on tiptoe. aShhhhhhh!a

Mister Grim's School for Bad Brownies.

UP the stairs went the three, treading very quietly indeed, hoping that not one of the stairs would creak or crack.

The brownies crowded round the door at the bottom of the stairs, holding their breath and watching. Up and up and upa"and there was the landing at last! Now for the door on the left.

They saw the door. They tiptoed to it and Peter turned the handle. Would it be locked? No, it wasn't!

They peeped inside. Yes, it was the storeroom, and stacks of books, pencils, rulers, ink-bottles, old desks, and all kinds of things were there.

aCan't see our toys,a whispered c.h.i.n.ky. aOr my wand. Let's look in all the drawers and all the cupboards.a So they began opening the drawers and hunting in them, and pulling open the cupboard doors and peering in at the shelves. But they could find nothing more exciting than books and pens and rubbers.

And then c.h.i.n.ky gave a soft cry. aLook here,a he said. aHere they are!a The others ran quickly over to him. He had opened a big chesta"and there, lying quietly in the top of it, their wings vanished, lay all the toys they had losta" yes, Rosebud was there, and Peter's engine, and the top and the soldiersa"everything.

But waita"no, not quite everything. aI can't see my wand anywhere,a said c.h.i.n.ky, hunting desperately. aOh, where is it? Look quickly, you two.a They hunted all through the chest, but there didn't seem to be any wand there. They looked in despair at one another. They simply must find c.h.i.n.ky's wand. aI'm glad we've found the toys,a whispered c.h.i.n.ky, abut it's dreadful that I can't find my wand. It's got a lot of magic in it, you know. I wouldn't want Mister Grim to use that.a Then the children heard a noise that froze them to the floor. Footstepsa"footsteps coming slowly and heavily up the stairs. Not light, quick, brownie steps, but slow, ponderous ones. Would the footsteps come to the storeroom?

In panic the children and c.h.i.n.ky squeezed themselves into a cupboard, not having time to put away the toys they had pulled out of the chest. The door openeda" and somebody walked in!

The children hardly dared to breathe and c.h.i.n.ky almost choked. Then a voice spoke.

aSOMEONE has been here. SOMEONE has tried to steal toys. And that SOMEONE is here still. Come out!a The children didn't move. They were much too scared to do a thing. And then poor c.h.i.n.ky choked! He had some dust in his throat and he simply couldn't hold his coughing in any longer. He gave a choke and then coughed loudly.

Footsteps marched to the cupboard and the door was flung wide open.

There stood Mister Grima"exactly like his name! He was a big, burly brownie, with a tremendous beard falling to the floor. He had pointed ears and s.h.a.ggy eyebrows that almost hid his eyes.

aHO!a he said in a booming voice. aSo the SOMEONE is not one person, but three. Come out!a Peter, Mollie and c.h.i.n.ky came out, poor c.h.i.n.ky still coughing. Mister Grim took them each firmly by the back of the neck and sat them down on the window-seat.

aAnd now will you kindly tell me why you came to steal my toys?a he said. aHow did you know they were there, and who told you about them?a aThey're not your toys, sir,a Peter said at last in rather a trembling voice. aThey're ours. We let them grow wings yesterday by using Growing Ointment on them a"and they flew away. We came to fetch them.a aA very likely story indeed,a said Mister Grim scornfully. aAnd how did you come here?a aUp the stairs,a said Mollie.

Mister Grim frowned a fierce frown. aDon't be foolish, girl,a he said. aI mean, how did you arrive herea"by bus or traina"and how did you get into the grounds?a c.h.i.n.ky gave the others a sharp nudge. Mollie had just been going to say that they had come in their Wishing-Chair, but she shut her mouth again tightly. Of course she mustn't give that away! Why, Mister Grim would search the grounds and find it!

aWell?a said Mister Grim. aI am asking you a questiona"and when I ask questions I expect them to be answered.a Still no reply from any of the three. Mister Grim leaned forward. aShall I tell you how you came? You must have friends here among the browniesa"and they helped you to climb the wall, and told you to take the toys! Aha! Don't try to say you didn't do that.a They didn't say a word. Mister Grim got up and put the toys back in the chest. aYou,a he said to c.h.i.n.ky, ayou are a pixie, and I don't usually take pixies into my school. But you are a very bad pixie, I can see, and I shall keep you here. And I shall keep these two as well. I'm not sure what they area"but even if they are real, proper children, which I very much doubt, they deserve to be punished by being my pupils here for a term.a aOh, no!a said Mollie in horror. aWhat will our mother say? You can't do that.a aYou will see,a said Mister Grim. aNow go downstairs, find the brownie called Winks, and tell him you are to come into cla.s.s when the bell rings. He will give you books and pencils.a The three of them had to go downstairs in a row, Mister Grim behind them. They were frightened! This was serious. Unless they could manage somehow to get to their Wishing-Chair, they would simply have to stay at Mister Grim's school!

They found Winks and told him quickly what had happened. He was very sorry. aBad luck!a he said. aVery bad luck. Well, it's lucky for you that old Grim hasn't got a stick to whip you with just now. Come ona"I'll get you your books and things. Sit by me in cla.s.s and I'll try and help you all I can.a He took them into a big room and gave them books and pencils. Almost at once a bell rang loudly and all the brownies trooped in quickly. Not one of them spoke a word. They took their places quietly and waited.

aWhy are you sent here, Winks?a whispered c.h.i.n.ky as they all waited for Mister Grim to appear.

aBecause I used my grandmother's Blue Spell and turned all her pigs blue,a whispered back Winks.

aAnd I was sent here because I put a spell into my father's shoe-tongues and they were rude to him all the way down our street and back,a whispered Hoho.

aAnd I was sent because...a began another brownie, when slow and heavy footsteps were heard. In came Mister Grim and stood at his big desk.

aSit!a he said, as if the Brownies were all little dogs. They sat.

aWe have three new pupils,a said Mister Grim. aI regret to say that I caught them stealinga"STEALINGa" from my store-room. If I find out who helped them into this school and told them about the toys they came to steal, I shall take my stick to him. Brrrrrr!a This was very frightening. Mollie didn't even dare to cry. She comforted herself by thinking of the Wishing-Chair hidden under the bush in the garden. They would run to it as soon as ever they could!

aNow we will have mental numbers,a said Mister Grim, and a little groan ran round the cla.s.s. aYou, boy, what number is left when you take eighty-two and sixty-four from one hundred and three?a He was pointing at poor Peter. Peter went red. What a silly question! You couldn't take eighty-two and sixty-four from one hundred and three.

aSay six hundred and fifty,a whispered Winks. aHe doesn't know the answer himself!a aSix hundred and fifty,a said Peter boldly. Everyone clapped as if he were right.

aEra"very good,a said Mister Grim. Then he pointed to Mollie. aHow many pips are there in seven pounds of raspberry jam?a aSeven pounds of raspberry jam?a repeated Mollie, wondering if she had heard aright. aEra"well...a aSay none at all, because your mother only makes raspberry jelly and strains the pips out,a whispered Winks.

aEra"none at all,a said Mollie.

aHow do you make that out?a thundered Mister Grim in a very frightening voice.

aBecause my mother makes raspberry jelly and strains all the pips out,a said Mollie. Everyone clapped again.

aSilence!a said Mister Grim. aNow you, pixiea" and see you are very, very careful in your answer. If I take fifty-two hairs from my beard, how many will there be left?a c.h.i.n.ky stared desperately at the long beard that swept down to the floor. aWell,a he began... and then Winks whispered to him.

aSay 'the rest'!a he hissed.

aEra"well, the rest of the hair will be left,a he said. Mister Grim suddenly pounded on the desk with his hand. aYou, Winks!a he shouted. aI heard you whispering thena"you told him the answera"and I believe you told the others the answers, too. Come here! I'll give you the stick. Aha, you think because all my canes were broken that I haven't got onea"but I have! You just wait.a aPlease, sir, I'm sorry,a said Winks. aI just thought I'd help them as they were new. I was trying to be good, sir, and helpful, I really was. You're always telling us to be that, sir.a aNo excuses,a said Mister Grim, and he turned to a cupboard behind him. He unlocked it and took out a long, thin stick. He tried it on the deska"crack, crack!

aCome up here, Winks,a he said, and poor Winks went up. He got two strokes on his hands. Mollie was very upset, but Hoho whispered, aDon't worrya"Winks always puts a little spell in his hands and he doesn't mind a bit if he's whacked. He doesn't feel it!a Mollie felt comforted. Winks winked at her as he went back to his seat. Mister Grim went to take a book from a shelfa"and as he turned his back c.h.i.n.ky clutched Peter by the elbow.

aPeter!a he hissed, ado you see what his stick is? It's my WAND! He's using it for a stick. Oh my, if only I could get hold of it!a Peter stared. Yesa"the stick on the desk was c.h.i.n.ky's little wand. Oh, if only it had wings now and could fly to c.h.i.n.ky!

But it hadn't. c.h.i.n.ky never took his eyes off it as the cla.s.s went on and on. aI must get it,a he kept saying to himself. aI MUST get it! But how can I? Oh, for a really good idea!a

c.h.i.n.ky is Naughty.

MORNING school came to an end at last. Mister Grim rapped on his desk with his sticka" c.h.i.n.ky's wand!

aAttention, all of you!a he said. aDinner will be in ten minutes' time. Anyone who is late or who has dirty hands or untidy hair will go without.a Winks groaned. aIt's awful,a he said to Peter when Mister Grim had gone out. aThere's never enough dinner for everyone, so Mister Grim just says, 'Here, you, your hair is untidy,' or 'Here, you, your nails aren't clean,' and about a dozen of us have to go without our dinner.a aWhat a dreadful school!a said Peter. aWhy don't you run away?a aHow can we?a said Winks. aYou've seen the high wall round the grounds, and all the gates are locked. I wish I could get out of here, it's a horrid place, and I really would be good if I could escape.a aWould there be room for him in the Wishing-Chair, do you think?a whispered Mollie to c.h.i.n.ky. aHe's so nice. I'd like to help him, c.h.i.n.ky.a aSo would I,a whispered back c.h.i.n.ky. aWell, we'll see.a Poor c.h.i.n.ky was one of those who had to go without his dinner. Mister Grim stood at the door of the dining-hall as each brownie walked in. Every so often he pounced on one and roared at him.

aHere, you, you haven't washed behind your ears! No dinner! Here, you, why aren't your nails scrubbed? No dinner!a And when c.h.i.n.ky tried to slip past him he hit him hard on the shoulder with his hand and roared aHere, you, why haven't you brushed your hair? No dinner!a aI did brush it,a said c.h.i.n.ky indignantly, abut it's the kind of hair that won't lie down.a aNo dinner today for untidy hair, and no dinner tomorrow for answering back,a said Mister Grim.

aOh, I say, that's not fair,a said c.h.i.n.ky.

aAnd no dinner the third day for being rude,a said Mister Grim. aAnother word from you and I'll cane you with this new stick of mine!a He slapped the wand down so hard on a nearby table that c.h.i.n.ky was afraid it would break in half. But fortunately it didn't.

c.h.i.n.ky went out of the room, looking angry and sulky. Horrid Mister Grim! He joined all the brownies who were also to go without their dinner.

Peter and Mollie were very sorry for c.h.i.n.ky. When the pudding came they tried to stuff two tarts into their pockets to take to him. But the pastry fell to pieces and their pockets were all jammy and horrid. Mister Grim saw the crumbs of pastry around their pockets as they marched past him after dinner. He tapped them with the wand.

aAha! Trying to stuff food into your pockets. Greedy children! No dinner for you tomorrow!a Peter tried to s.n.a.t.c.h the wand away from Mister Grim, hoping to run and give it to c.h.i.n.ky, but Mister Grim was too quick for him. Up in the air it went, and poor Peter got a stinging slash on his arm. Fortunately his sleeve was nice and thick, so he didn't feel it much.

aBad boy!a roared Mister Grim. aStay in after school this afternoon and write out one thousand times 'I must not s.n.a.t.c.h'.a There was a little time before afternoon school. Peter, c.h.i.n.ky, Mollie and Winks had a meeting in a far corner of the grounds.

aWinks, that's my wand Mister Grim has got and is using for a stick,a said c.h.i.n.ky.

Winks whistled. aI say! That's a fine bit of news. We ought to be able to do something about that.a aBut what?a asked c.h.i.n.ky. aI'm so afraid he will break my wand, and then it will be no use. Somehow or other we've got to get it back.a aNow listen,a said Winks. aA wand will never hit its owner, you know that. Well, what about being very naughty in cla.s.s this afternoon and having to go up to Mister Grim to be punisheda"and your wand will refuse to cane you, of coursea"and surely you can easily get it back then, and do a bit of magic to get yourselves free?a aOooh, yes,a said c.h.i.n.ky, looking very cheerful. aThat's an awfully good idea of yours, Winks. I'd forgotten that a wand never turns against its owner. I'll be very naughtya"and then we'll see what happens.a They all went in to afternoon school feeling rather excited. What would happen? It would certainly be fun to see c.h.i.n.ky being very naughty, to begin witha"and even greater fun to see the wand refusing to punish him!

c.h.i.n.ky began by yawning very loudly indeed. Mister Grim heard him and tapped hard on his desk with the wanda"crack! crack!