Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR HOME, WISHING-CHAIR, HOME! 'I think we'd better go,' Binky said in a low voice to Peter and Mollie. They darted out of the door and Mister Grim followed. But just outside the door he ran into a crowd of brownies that popped up from nowhere quite suddenly, and over he went! When he got up the children and Binky were nowhere to be seen.

Binky and the others raced to find the wishing-chair. Where was the bush they had hidden it in? Ah, there it was! They ran to the bush- but, oh dear, the chair wasn't there! 'One of the brownies must have found it and taken it,' said Binky. Just then Winks ran up and pulled at his arm. 'I found your wishing-chair and hid it in the shed,' he said. 'I was afraid Mister Grim might see it if he walked round the garden. Come along- I'll show you where it is.' He took the three to an old broken-down shed. The roof had fallen in at one end. There were no windows to the shed, so it was very dark inside. Binky groped his way in- and immediately fell over the wishing-chair.

The wings waved gently as they felt Binky's anxious hands. The chair creaked softly. Binky knew it was glad to have him again. 'Wishing-chair, we must go quickly,' said Binky, and he climbed on to the seat. 'Come on, Peter and Mollie- quickly, before Mister Grim comes!'

'What about Winks? Aren't we going to take him, too?' said Mollie. 'Oh- would you really?' said Winks, in delight. 'You really are very kind. I hate this school. I've been trying to escape for ages.' He was just about to squeeze in the chair with the others when somebody appeared at the doorway. It was Mister Grim! 'So here you are!' he said, peering in. 'Fly out where the roof has fallen in, fly out there!' suddenly shouted Winks. 'The chair can just squeeze through it!' And the chair rose up into the air and flew to where the roof had fallen in! It got stuck half-way through, but Peter broke away a bit more roof and the chair suddenly shot through and out into the open air.

'Oh, poor Winks- we've left him there,' cried Mollie, almost in tears. 'Go on, chair, fly off with them!' shouted Winks from below in the shed. 'Don't mind me! Escape while you can.' The chair flew out of hearing. Binky and Peter were very silent. Mollie wiped her eyes with her hanky. 'We'll go back for him,' said Binky, taking Mollie's hand.

'And what about our toys, too?' said Mollie, with a sniff. 'It's dreadful to have to leave Rosebud behind, too.' 'And my engine,' said Peter, gloomily, 'and the skittles and soldiers.' 'We'll get them all back,' said Binky, comfortingly. 'You wait and see.' The chair took them back to the playroom. It gave a creaking sort of sigh and set itself down in its place. Its wings at once vanished. 'There! Its wings have gone already,' said Mollie, ready to cry again. 'So now we can't go and rescue Winks today.' Mother's voice was heard calling down the garden. 'Children! It's past tea-time- and you didn't come in to dinner either. Where are you?' 'Oh, dear- now we shall have to go,' said