Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO Hours later the Five trudged home, tired but satisfied. They now knew exactly how the garden was going to look. Aunt Fanny called out to them from the

kitchen. 'Can you all come here, please? I'd like you to meet someone.'

George recognised the old lady at the table. 'Oh, hello, Mrs Tidyworth.' 'Hello, dear Georgina. Oh, my, you've grown since the last time I saw you.' 'Please don't call me that, George started to say, but was almost drowned out by the noise of Timmy bounding up, barking and wagging his tail.

'Well, hello there.' Mrs Tidyworth patted Timmy's head. 'Aren't you friendly? And these must be your cousins, George. It's very nice to meet you all. Fanny told me about your offer to help with the garden.'

'Yes!' Anne said excitedly, clapping her hands. 'I've planned the flower bed. We're going to have red and white roses.' Mrs Tidyworth's eyes took on a faraway look. 'Oh, my. Tidy loved flowers. He liked tulips, carnations, pansies, foxgloves, snowdrops, daffodils, hollyhocks and roses too. And those are just the ones I can remember off the top of my head.' Anne blinked. 'Oh.'

'May we show you our ideas?' Julian asked, pulling out a chair. He rolled his plan out on the table and guided Mrs Tidyworth through the sketch. 'This is the entrance. We'll have a lawn area here and a sandpit here...'