1George is all alone
2All together again
3A pleasant morning
4The fair-folk arrive
5Night and morning
6Unfriendly folk
7A letter — a walk — and a shock
8Where are the caravans?
9A great surprise
10Back with the fair-folk again
11A very strange thing
12Fire-eating and other things!
13Off to the castle
14Faynights Castle
15An interesting day
16Secret ways
17Excitement and shocks
18Jo has an adventure on her own
19Jo joins in
20A lot of excitement
21In the tower room
22Beauty and Jo enjoy themselves
23Having a wonderful time!

Chapter One
GEORGE IS ALL ALONE
Contents/Next
"Ido think it's mean," saidGeorge, fiercely. "Why can't I go when the others do? I've had two weeksat home, and haven't seen the others since school broke up. And now they're offfor a wonderful fortnight and I'm not with them."
"Don'tbe silly, George," said her mother. "You can go as soon as that coldof yours is better."
"It'sbetter now," said George, scowling. "Mother, you know it is!"
"That'senough, Georgina," said her father, looking up from his newspaper."This is the third breakfast-time we've had this argument. Be quiet."
Georgewould never answer anyone when she was called Georgina — so, much as she wouldhave liked to say something back, she pursed up her mouth and looked away.
Hermother laughed. "Oh, George, dear! Don't look so terribly fierce. It wasyour own fault you got this cold — you wouldgo and bathe and stay in far too long — and after all, it's only the third weekin April!"
"Ialways bathe in April," said George, sulkily.
"Isaid 'BE QUIET'," said her father, banging down his paper on the table."One more word from you, George, and you won't go to your three cousins atall."
"Woof,"said Timmy, from under the table. He didn't like it when anyone spoke angrilyto George.
"Anddon't you start arguing with me,either," said George's father, poking Timmy with his toe, and scowlingexactly like George.

Hiswife laughed again. "Oh, be quiet, the two of you," she said"George, be patient dear. I'll let you go off to your cousins as soon asever I can — tomorrow, if you're good, and don't cough much today."
"Oh,Mother — why didn't you say so before?" said George, her scowldisappearing like magic. "I didn't cough once in the night. I'm perfectlyall right today. Oh, if I can go off to Faynights Castle tomorrow, I promise I won't cough once today!"
"What'sthis about Faynights Castle?" demanded her father, looking up again."First I've heard of it!"
"Ohno, Quentin dear, I've told you at least three times," said his wife."Julian, Dick and Anne have been lent two funny old caravans by a schoolfriend. They are in a field near Faynights Castle."
"Oh.So they're not staying in a castle,then," said George's father. "Can't have that. I won't have Georgecoming home all high and mighty."
"Georgecouldn't possibly be high andmighty," said his wife. "It's as much as I can do to get her to keepher nails clean and wear clean shorts. Do be sensible, Quentin. You knowperfectly well that George and her cousins always like to go off onextraordinary holidays together."
"Andhave adventures," grinned George, who was now in a very good temper indeedat the thought of going to join her cousins the next day.
"No.You're not to have any of those awful adventures this time," said hermother. "Anyway, I don't see how you can, staying in a peaceful place likethe village of Faynights Castle, living in a couple of old caravans."
"Iwouldn't trust George anywhere," said her husband. "Give her just a sniff of an adventure, and she's afterit. I never knew anyone like George. Thank goodness we've only got one child. Idon't feel as if I could cope with two or three Georges."
"Thereare plenty of people like George," said his wife. "Julian and Dickfor instance. Always in the middle of something or other — with Anne taggingbehind, longing for a peaceful life."
"Well,I've had enough of this argument," said George's father, pushing his chairout vigorously, and accidentally kicking Timmy under the table. He yelped.
"Thatdog's got no brains," said the impatient man. "Lies under the tableat every meal and expects me to remember he's there! Well, I'm going to do somework."

Hewent out of the room. The dining-room door banged. Then the study door banged.Then a window was shut with a bang. A fire was poked very vigorously. There wasthe creak of an armchair as someone sat down in it heavily. Then there wassilence.
"Nowyour father's lost to the world till lunchtime," said George's mother."Dear, oh dear — I've told him at leastthree times about Faynights Castle, where your cousins are staying, bless him.Now, George, I do really think you can go tomorrow, dear — you look so muchbetter today. You can get your things ready and I'll pack them thisafternoon."
"Thankyou, Mother," said George, giving her a sudden hug. "Anyway, Fatherwill be glad to have me out of the house for a bit! I'm too noisy forhim!"
"You'rea pair!" said her mother, remembering the slammed doors and other things."You're both a perfect nuisance at times, but I couldn't bear to dowithout you! Oh, Timmy, are you still under the table? I wish you wouldn'tleave your tail about so! Did I hurt you?"
"Oh,he doesn't mind you treading on it,Mother," said George, generously. "I'm going to get my things readythis very minute. How do I get to Faynights Castle? By train?"
"Yes.I'll take you to Kirrin Station, and you can catch the ten-forty," saidher mother. "You change at Limming Ho, and take the train that goes toFaynights. If you send a card to Julian, he'll get it tomorrow morning and willmeet you."
"I'llwrite it now," said George, happily. "Oh, Mother, I began to beafraid this awful cold would hang on all through the holidays! I shan't batheagain on such a cold day in April."
"Yousaid that last year — and the year before that too," said her mother."You have a very short memory, George!"
"Comeon, Timmy!" said George, and the two of them went out of the door like awhirlwind. It slammed behind them, and the house shook.
Atonce the study door opened and an angry voice yelled loudly. "Who's thatslamming doors when I'm at work? Can't ANYBODY in this house shut a doorquietly?"
Georgegrinned as she fled upstairs. The biggest slammer-of-doors was her father, buthe only heard the slams made by other people. George turned her writing-caseinside out to find a post-card. She must post it at once or Julian wouldn't getit — and it would be so nice to haveall her three cousins meeting her!
"We'reoff tomorrow," she told Timmy, who looked up at her and wagged his tailvigorously. "Yes, you're coming too, of course — then the Five will all betogether again.

TheFamous Five! You'll like that, won't you, Tim? So shall I!"
Shescribbled the post-card and flew down to post it. Slam went the front door, andher father almost jumped out of his skin. He was a very clever and hard-workingscientist, impatient, hot-tempered, kindly and very forgetful. How he"wished his daughter was not so exactly like him, but was like his quiet,gentle little niece Anne!
Georgeposted the card. It was short and to the point.
"Coldgone. Coming tomorrow. Arriving 12.5 so make sure you all meet me and Timmy.Our tails are well up, I can tell you!
George."
Georgeturned out her drawers and began to pick out the things she wanted to take withher. Her mother came to help. There was always an argument about packing,because George wanted to take as little as possible, and no warm things at all,and her mother had exactly opposite ideas.
However,between the two of them they managed to pack the suit-case full of quitesensible things. George refused as usual to take a dress of any sort.
"Iwonder when you'll grow out of wanting to be a boy, and of acting likeone!" said her mother, exasperated.
"Allright, all right — take those awful old shorts if you want to, and that redjersey. But you are to pack thosewarm vests. I put them in once, and you took them out. And you must take a warmrug, Julian says. The caravans are not very warm this weather."
"Iwonder what they're like," said George, stuffing the vests in."They're funny, old-fashioned ones, Julian said in his letter. Perhapsthey're like the gypsies have — not the modern, stream-lined ones that arepulled along by cars."
"You'llsee tomorrow," said her mother. "Oh, George — you're coughingagain!"
"Justthe dust, that's all," said George going purple in the face trying to holdback the tickle in her throat. She drank a glass of water in a hurry. It wouldbe too dreadful if her mother said she wasn't to go after all!
However,her mother really did think that George was better. She had been in bed for aweek, making a terrible fuss, and being a very difficult patient. Now, afterbeing up for a few days she really seemed herself again.
"Itwill do her good to get down to Faynights and it's good strong air," thoughther mother. "She needs company again, too — she doesn't like having to beall alone, knowing the others are holidaying without her."
Georgefelt happy that evening. Only one more night and she would be off to afortnight's caravanning! If only the weather was good, what a fine time theywould have!
Suddenlythe telephone shrilled out. R-r-r-r-r-r-ring! R-r-r-r-r-ring!
George'smother went to answer it. "Hallo!" she said, "Oh — it's you,Julian. Is everything all right?"

Georgesped out into the hall at once. Oh, surely, surely, nothing had happened!Surely Julian wasn't ringing to tell her not to come! She listenedbreathlessly.
"What'sthat you say, Julian? I can't make out what you're talking about, dear. Yes, ofcourse, your uncle is all right. Why shouldn't he be? No, he hasn'tdisappeared. Julian, what are youtalking about?"
Georgelistened impatiently. What was allthis? But it turned out to be something quite ordinary, really. When at lasther mother put down the receiver, she told George.
"Don'thop about like that, George. It's quiteall right,
you can go tomorrow. Julian was only ringingup to make sure that your father wasn't one of the scientists who have suddenlydisappeared. Apparently in tonight's paper there is a short report about twothat have completely vanished — and dear old Julian wanted to make sure yourfather was here safely!"
"Asif Father would vanish!'said George, scornfully. "Julian must be mad! It'sjust two more of those silly scientists who are disloyal to this country, anddisappear to another country to sell our secrets! I could have told Julian that!"

Chapter Two
ALL TOGETHER AGAIN
Contents—Prev/Next
Nextmorning, on a dewy hillside a good distance from Kirrin, where George lived,two boys leapt down the steps of a caravan, and went to one nearby. They rappedon the door.
"Anne!Are you awake? It's a heavenly day!"
"Ofcourse I'm awake!" cried a voice. "The door's unlocked. Come in. I'mgetting breakfast."
Julianand Dick pushed open the blue-painted door. Anne was standing at a little stoveat one end of her caravan, boiling eggs in a saucepan.
"Ican't look round," she said. "I'm timing them by my watch. One minutemore to go."
"Thepostman has just brought a card from George," said Julian. "She saysher tail and Timmy's are both well up! I'm glad she's coming at last — and oldTimmy too."
"We'llall go and meet her," said Anne, still with her eyes on her watch."Twenty seconds more."
"Weonly came here ourselves three days ago," said Dick. "So she hasn'treally missed much. Surely those eggs will be hard-boiled, Anne!"
Annestopped looking at her watch. "No, they won't. They'll be justright." She scooped them out of the little saucepan with a big spoon."Put them in the egg-cups, Dick. There they are—just under yournose."
Dickpicked an egg up from the plate on which Anne had placed them. It was so hotthat he dropped it with a yell, and it broke its shell. Yolk flowed out of it.
"DICK!You saw me take it out of boilingwater!" said Anne "Now I've got to do another. It's a pity old Timmyisn't here. He'd soon have licked that broken egg up from the floor and savedme clearing up the mess."
"We'lleat our breakfast sitting on the steps of your caravan, Anne," saidJulian. "The sun's so lovely."

"Theremust be about a thousand jackdaws there," said Dick. "I wish we hadfield-glasses so that we could watch them. It would be as good as a circus. Ilove the way they all fly up together, and circle round and round and yet neverbump into one another."
"Dothey nest in that old castle?" asked Anne.
"Oh,yes — they fill up the towers with big sticks," said Dick, "and put theirnests on the top. I bet we'd find the ground beneath the towers strewnankle-deep in sticks if we went to see."
"Well,let's go one day when George is here," said Anne. "It only costs fivepence to go in. I like old castles. I like the feel of old places."
"Sodo I," said Julian. "I hope George brings the field-glasses she hadfor her birthday. We could take them up into the castle with us and see allround the countryside for miles and miles. We could count the sevencounties!"
"Imust wash up," said Anne, getting up. "I must tidy the caravans toobefore George comes."
"Youdon't really think old George will notice if they're tidy or not, do you?"said Dick. "It will be a waste of your time, Anne!"
ButAnne always enjoyed tidying things and putting them away in cupboards or onshelves. She liked having the two caravans to look after. She had just got usedto them nicely and was looking forward to showing George round them.
Sheskipped over to the hedge and picked a great bunch of primroses. Back she wentand divided them into two. She stuffed half into one little blue bowl, settheir green crinkled leaves round them, and then put the other half into asecond bowl.
"There— you go with the green and yellow curtains!" she said. She was soon verybusy sweeping and dusting. She debated whether to send Dick to the stream towash the breakfast things, and decided not to. Dick wasn't too good withcrockery, and it was not theirs to break — it belonged to the owner of thecaravans.
Bythe time it was half-past eleven the caravans were spick and span. George'ssheets and blankets were on the shelf above her bunk, which, in the daytime,let down neatly against the wall to make more room. Anne had a bunk on theopposite side.
"Thisis the kind of holiday I like,"said Anne to herself. "Somewhere small to live, fields and hills justoutside, picnicky meals — and not too much adventure!"
"Whatare you murmuring about, Anne?" said Dick, peeping in at the window."Did I hear something about adventure? Are you looking for onealready?"
"Goodgracious no!" said Anne. "It's the last thing I want! And the lastthing we'll get too, in this quiet little place, thank goodness."

Dick grinned. "Well, you neverknow," he said. "Are you ready to come and meet George, Anne? It'sabout time we went."
Annewent down the steps and joined Dick and Julian. "Better lock thedoor," said Dick. "We've locked ours." He locked Anne's door andthe three set off down the grassy hillside to the stile that led into the lanebelow. The old castle on the opposite hill seemed to tower up higher and higheras they went down and down towards the village.
"Itwill be lovely to see Timmy again," said Anne. "And I'll be jollyglad to have George too, in my caravan. I didn't really mind being alone at night — but it's always nice to have Georgenear me, and Timmy grunting in his sleep."
"Youwant to sleep with Dick if you like grunts and snorts and moans," saidJulian. "What do you dreamabout, Dick? You must have more nightmares than anyone else in thekingdom!"
"Inever grunt or snort or moan,"said Dick indignantly. "You want to hear yourself! Why…"
"Look— isn't that the train coming in — isn't that it curving round the line in thedistance?" said Anne. "It must be! There's only one train in themorning here! We'd better run!"
Theyran at top speed. The train drew in at the station just as they raced on to theplatform. A head of short curly hair looked out from a window—and then anotherdark brown head just below it.
"George— and Timmy!" yelled Anne.
"Hallo!"shouted George, almost falling out of the door.
"WOOF!"barked Timmy, and leapt down to the platform almost on top of Dick. Down jumpedGeorge, her eyes shining. She hugged Anne, and gave Julian and Dick a puncheach. "I'm here!" she said. "I felt awful knowing you were awaycamping without me. I gave poor old Mother a dreadful time."
"Ibet you did," said Julian, and linked his arm in hers. "Let me takethat suit-case. We'll just slip into the village first and have a fewice-creams to celebrate. There's a shop here that has some jolly decentones."
"Good.I feel exactly like ice-creams," said George, happily. "Look, Timmyknows what you said. His tongue is hanging out for an ice-cream already. Timmy,aren't you pleased we're all together again?"
"Woof,"said Timmy, and licked Anne's hand for the twentieth time.
"Ireally ought to bring a towel with me when I meet Timmy," said Anne."His licks are so very wet. Oh no, not again,Timmy — go and use your tongue on Julian!"
"Isay, look — George has brought herfield-glasses with her!" said Dick, suddenly noticing that the brown strapover George's shoulder did not belong to a camera but to a very fine leathercase that held the new field-glasses. "Good! We wanted to watch thejackdaws with them and there are some herons down on the marsh too."
"Well,I thought I must bring them,"said George. "It's the first hols I've had a chance to use them. Motherwouldn't let me take them to school. I say—how much further is this ice-creamshop?"
"Inthe dairy here," said Julian, marching her in. "And I advise you tostart off with vanilla, go on to strawberry and finish up with chocolate."
"Youdo have good ideas!" said George. "I hope you've got some money aswell, if we're going to eat ice-creams at this rate. Mother didn't give me verymuch to spend."
Theysat down and ordered ice-creams. The plump little shop-woman smiled at them.She knew them by now. "This is very good weather for you," she said."Are there many caravanners up on Faynights Field?"
"No,not many," said Julian, beginning his ice.
"Well,you're going to have a few more," said the little plump lady. "I hearthere's some fair-folk coming — they usually camp up in your field. You'll havesome fun if so."
"Oh,good!" said Dick. "We'll really be able to make a few friends then.We like fair-folk, don't we, Timmy?"
ChapterThree

"Youneedn't! I love them both, and I think they're miles nicer than the moderncaravans down there. Somehow these seem real!"
"Oh,the others are real enough," said Julian. "And they've got more space— but space doesn't matter to us because we shall live outside most of thetime."
"Dowe have a camp-fire?" asked George, eagerly. "Oh, yes — I see we do.There's the ashy patch where you had your fire. Oh, Julian, do let's have afire there at night and sit round it in the darkness!"
"Withmidges biting us and bats flapping all round," said Dick. "Yes,certainly we will! Come inside, George."
"She'sto come into my caravan first," said Anne, and pushed George up the steps.George was really delighted.
Shewas very happy to think she was going to have a peaceful two weeks here withher three cousins and Timmy. She pulled her bunk up and down to see how itworked. She opened the larder and cupboard doors. Then she went to see theboys' caravan.
"Howtidy!" she said, in surprise."I expected Anne's to be tidy — but yours is just as spick and span. Ohdear — " I hope you haven't all turned over a new leaf and become models ofneatness. I haven't!"
"Don'tworry," said Dick, with a grin. "Anne has been at work — you know howshe loves to put everything in its place. We don't need to worry about anythingwhen she's about. Good old Anne!"
"Allthe same, George will have to help me," said Anne, firmly. "I don'texpect boys to tidy up and cook and do things like that — but George ought tobecause she's a girl."
"Ifonly I'd been born a boy!" groaned George. "All right Anne, I'll domy share — sometimes. I say — there won't be much room for Timmy on my bunk atnights, will there?"
"Well,he's not coming on mine," said Anne. "He can sleep on the floor on arug. Can't you, Timmy?"
"Woof,"said Timmy, without wagging his tail at all. He looked very disapproving.
"Thereyou are — he says he wouldn't dreamof doing such a thing!" said George. "He always sleeps on my feet."
Theywent outside again. It really was a lovely day. The primroses opened more andmore of their little yellow flowers, and a blackbird suddenly burst into afluting song on the bough of a hawthorn tree in the hedge nearby.
"Didanyone get a paper in the village?" asked Dick. "Oh, you did, Julian.Good. Let's have a look at the weather forecast. If it's good we might go for along walk this afternoon. The sea is not really very far off."
Juliantook the folded paper from his pocket and threw it over to Dick. He sat down onthe steps of his caravan and opened it.
Hewas looking for the paragraph giving the weather forecast when headlines caughthis eye. He gave an exclamation.
"Hallo!Here's a bit more about those two vanished scientists, Julian!"
"Oh!"said George, remembering Julian's telephone call of the night before."Julian, whatever in the world made you think my father could be one ofthe vanished scientists? As if he would ever be disloyal to his country andtake his secrets anywhere else!"