The Wishing-Chair Again Part 1

THE WIs.h.i.+NG-CHAIR AGAIN.

BY.

ENID BLYTON.

Home for the Holidays.

MOLLIE and Peter had just arrived home for the holidays. Their schools had broken up the same day, which was very lucky, and Mother had met them at the station.

They hugged her hard. aMother! It's grand to see you again. How's everyone?a aFine,a said Mother. aThe garden's looking lovely, your bedrooms are all ready for you, and your playroom at the bottom of the garden is longing for you to go there and play as usual.a The two children looked at one another. They had a Secret. A very big one. One they couldn't possibly mention even in their letters to one another at school. How they were longing to talk about it now!

aCan we just pop down to our playroom first of all?a asked Peter when they got home.

aOh, no, dear!a said Mother. aYou must come upstairs and washa"and help me to unpack your things. You will have plenty of time to spend in your playroom these holidays.a The children's secret was in their playrooma"and they so badly wanted to see it again. Now they would have to wait. They went upstairs, washed their hands and did their hair, and then went down to tea.

aCan we go to our playroom after we've helped you to unpack?a asked Peter. aDo let us, Mother! We do want to see it again.a Mother laughed. aVery wella"leave me to unpack, and go along. I expect you want to see if I've given away any of your things. Well, I haven't. I never do that without asking you.a After tea the children went up to their bedrooms to put on old clothes. Peter spoke to Mollie in a low voice.

aMollie! Do you think c.h.i.n.ky will be down in our playroom waiting for usa"with the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair?a aI do hope so,a said Mollie. aOh, Peter, it was dreadful trying to keep our Secret all the term long and never saying anything to anyone, or even writing about it to you.a aWell, it's such a marvellous Secret it's worth keeping well,a said Peter. aDo you remember when we first got the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair, Mollie?a aYes,a said Mollie. aWe went to a funny little shop that sold old, old things, to get something for Mother's birthday, and we saw heaps of queer enchanted things there. And we were frightened and huddled together in an old chair...a aAnd we wished we were safe back at home,a said Peter, aand, hey presto! the chair grew little red wings on its legs, and flew out of a window with us, and took us back to our playroom!a aYes. And it wouldn't go back to the shop even when we commanded it to,a said Mollie. aSo we had to keep ita"our very own Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair.a aAnd do you remember how we went off in it again, and came to a castle where there was a giant who kept a little servant called c.h.i.n.ky?a said Peter. aAnd we rescued him and took him home in the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair with us.a aThat was lovely,a said Mollie. aAnd after that c.h.i.n.ky lived down in our playroom and looked after the chair for us...a aAnd told us when it grew its wings so that we could all fly off in it again and have wonderful adventures,a said Peter.

aThen we had to go to school and leave it.a aBut it didn't matter really, because c.h.i.n.ky took the chair home to his mother's cottage and lived with her and took care of it for us,a said Mollie.

aAnd he said he'd come back as soon as we came home for the holidays, and bring the chair with him so that we could go adventuring again,a finished Peter. aIf Mother only knew that's the reason we want to get down to the playrooma" to see if c.h.i.n.ky is there, and to see the dear old Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair again.a Mother popped her head in at the door. aWhatever are you two chattering about? Telling each other all that happened during the term, I suppose. Are you going down to the playrooma"because if you are, here's the key.a aOh, thank you, Mother. Yes, we're just going,a said Peter, and he took the key. aCome on, Molliea" let's go and see all our toys again.a aAnd the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair,a said Mollie in a whisper.

aAnd c.h.i.n.ky.a They rushed downstairs and out into the garden. It was the end of July and the weather was very hot indeed. The garden was full of flowers, it was lovely, lovely to be home! No more lessons for eight weeks, no more preps, no more scoldings for forgetting this, that and the other.

They raced down to the playroom, which was really a big, airy shed at the bottom of the garden. Peter slid the key into the lock. ac.h.i.n.ky!a he called. aAre you here?a He unlocked the door. The children went into the playroom and looked round. It was a nice room, with a big rug on the floor, shelves for their books and toys, a cot with Mollie's old dolls in it, and a large dolls' house in the corner.

But there was no Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair and no c.h.i.n.ky, the pixie! The children stared round in dismay.

aHe's not here,a said Peter. aHe said he would come today with the chair. I gave him the date and he wrote it down in his note-book.a aI hope he's not ill,a said Mollie. They looked all round the playroom, set the musical box going and opened the windows.

They felt disappointed. They had so looked forward to seeing c.h.i.n.ky, and to sitting once more in the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair. Suddenly a little face looked in at the door.

Mollie gave a shout. ac.h.i.n.ky! It's you! We were so worried about you! We hoped you'd be here.a Both children gave the little pixie a hug. c.h.i.n.ky grinned. aWell, how could I be here waiting for you if the door was locked and the windows fastened, silly? I may be a pixie, but I can't fly through locked doors.

I say, it's good to see you both again. I have missed you. Were you very bored away at school?a aOh, no,a said Peter. aBoarding school is simply lovely. We both loved ita"but we're jolly glad to be home again. Eight weeks, c.h.i.n.ky! Marvellous.a ac.h.i.n.ky, where's the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair?a asked Mollie anxiously. aNothing's happened to it, has it? Have you got it with you?a aWell, I brought it here this morning,a said c.h.i.n.ky, abut when I found the door of the playroom was locked and couldn't get in I hid it under the hedge at the bottom of the garden. But you'd be surprised how many people nearly found it!a aBut n.o.body goes to the bottom of the garden!a said Peter.

aOh, don't they!a said c.h.i.n.ky. aWell, first of all your gardener thought he'd cut the hedge there today, and I had an awful job dragging the chair from one hiding-place to another. Then an old gipsy woman came by, and she almost saw it, but I barked like a dog and she ran away.a The children laughed. aPoor old c.h.i.n.ky! You must have been glad when we got here at last.a aI was,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aEspecially when an old brownie came by and began sniffing round. He's got a real nose for smelling out anything magic, and I thought he'd smell out the chaira"but I ran out and asked him to come and have dinner with me, and he was so pleased he forgot about the magic smell and came with me.a aLet's go and get it,a said Peter. aI'm longing to sit in it again. Has it grown its wings much since we left it with you, c.h.i.n.ky?a aNot once,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aFunny, isn't it? It's just stood in my mother's kitchen like any ordinary chair, and never grown even one red wing! I think it was waiting for you to come back.a aI hope it wasa"because then it may grow its wings heaps of times,a said Peter, aand we'll go off on lots of adventures.a They went to the hedge. aThere it is!a said Mollie in excitement. aI can see one of its legs sticking out.a So she could. They dragged out the old chair and looked at it. aJust the same!a said Peter in delight. aAnd how well you've kept it, c.h.i.n.ky. It's polished so brightly.a aAh, that was my mother did that,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aShe said such a wonderful chair should have a wonderful polish, and she was at it every day, rub, rub, rub till the chair groaned!a Peter carried the chair back to the playroom. c.h.i.n.ky went in front to make sure there was n.o.body looking. They didn't want any questions asked about why chairs should be hidden in hedges. They set it down in its old place in the playroom. Then they all climbed into it.

aIt's just the same,a said Peter. aWe feel a bit more squashed than usual because Mollie and I seem to have grown at school. But you haven't grown, c.h.i.n.ky.a aNo. I shan't grow any more,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aDon't you wish the chair would grow its wings and go flapping off somewhere with us now?a aOh, yes,a said Mollie. aChair, do grow your wings a"just to please us! Even if it's only to take us a little way up into the air and back.a But the chair didn't. The children looked anxiously down at its legs to see if the red buds were forming that sprouted into wings, but there was nothing there.

aIt's no good,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aIt won't grow its wings just because it's asked. It can be very obstinate, you know. All I hope is that it hasn't forgotten how to grow wings after being still so long. I shouldn't like the magic to fade away.a This was a dreadful thought. The children patted the arms of the chair. aDear Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair! You haven't forgotten how to grow wings, have you?a The chair gave a remarkable creak, a very long one. Everyone laughed. aIt's all right!a said c.h.i.n.ky. aThat's its way of telling us it hasn't forgotten. A creak is the only voice it's got!a Mother came down the garden. aChildren! Daddy's home. He wants to see you!a aRight!a called back Peter. He turned to c.h.i.n.ky. aSee you tomorrow, c.h.i.n.ky. You can cuddle up on the old sofa as usual, with the rug and the cus.h.i.+on, for the night. You'll live in our playroom, won't you, as you did before, and tell us when the chair grows its wings?a aYes. I shall like to live here once more,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aGoodbye. It's fine to see you again.a The children ran back to the house. They had a very nice evening indeed telling their parents everything that had happened in the term. Then off they went to bed, glad to be in their own dear little rooms again.

But they hadn't been asleep very long before Peter began to dream that he was a rat being shaken by a dog. It was a very unpleasant dream, and he woke up with a jump.

It was c.h.i.n.ky shaking him by the arm. aWake up! a whispered the pixie. aThe chair's grown its wings already. They're big, strong ones, and they're flapping like anything. If you want an adventure, hurry up!a Well! What a thrill! Peter woke Mollie and they pulled on clothes very quickly and ran down the garden. They heard a loud flapping noise as they reached the playroom shed. aIt's the chair's wings,a panted c.h.i.n.ky. aCome ona"we'll just sit in it before it goes flying off!a

Off on an Adventure.

THE children raced in at the playroom door and made for the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair. They could see it easily in the bright moonlight. It was just about to fly off when they flung themselves in it. c.h.i.n.ky squeezed between them, sitting on the top of the back of the chair.

aGood old Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair!a said Peter. aYou didn't take long to grow your wings! Where are we going?a aWhere would you like to go?a said c.h.i.n.ky. aWish, and we'll go wherever you wish.a aWella"let me seea"oh dear, I simply can't think of anywhere,a said Mollie. aPeter, you wisha"quickly.a aEra"Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair, take us toa"toa"oh, goodness knows where I want it to go!a cried Peter. aI simply don't . . .a But dear me, the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair was off! It flapped its wings very strongly indeed, rose up into the air, flew towards the door and out of ita"then up into the air it went, flapping its red wings in the moonlight.

c.h.i.n.ky giggled. aOh, Petera"you said 'Take us to Goodness Knows Where',a said the pixie. aAnd that's just about where we're going!a aGraciousa"is there really a land called Goodness Knows Where?a said Peter, in surprise.

aYes. Don't you remember when we went to the Land of Scallywags once, the Prince of Goodness Knows Where came to see me,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aI was pretending to be a King. Well, I suppose it's his Land we're going to.a aWhere is it?a said Mollie.

aGoodness knows!a said c.h.i.n.ky. aI don't. I've never met anyone who did, either.a aThe Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair seems to know,a said Peter, as it flew higher and higher in the air.

But it didn't know, really. It dropped downwards after a time and came to a tiny village that looked almost as if it were made of Meccano. Peter leaned out of the chair and gazed with great interest at it. aLook at that bridge,a he said. aI've made plenty of bridges like that with my Meccano set. Hey, chair, whatever are you doing now?a The chair hadn't landed in the village. It had flown a few feet above the queer little houses and had then shot upwards again. Now it was flying away from it very fast.

aBlow!a said Peter. aJust as I was having a good look at that Meccano bridge.a The chair flew on again, and then came to a heaving ma.s.s of water. Was it the sea? Or a lake? The children didn't know. aLook at that lovely silver moon-path on the sea,a said Mollie, leaning out of the chair. aI'm sure it leads to the moon!a The chair seemed to think so, too. It flew down to the water, got on the moon-path and followed it steadily, up and up and up.

aHey! This isn't the way to Goodness Knows Where!a cried c.h.i.n.ky, in alarm. aIt's the way to the moon. Don't be silly, Chair, for goodness' sake!a The chair stopped and hovered in mid-air as if it had heard c.h.i.n.ky and was changing its mind. To the children's great relief it left the moon-path and flew on till it came to a little island. This was perfectly round and flat, and had one big tree standing up in the middle of it. Under the tree was a boat and someone was fast asleep in it.

aOh, that's my cousin, Sleep-Alone,a said c.h.i.n.ky, in surprise. aHe's a funny fellow, you knowa"can't bear to sleep if anyone else is within miles of him. So he has a boat and an aeroplane, and each night he takes one or the other and goes off to some lonely place to sleep. Hey there, Sleep-Alone!a c.h.i.n.ky's shout made the children jump. The chair jumped, too, and Mollie was almost jerked off. She clutched at the arm.

The little man in the boat awoke. He was more like a brownie than a pixie and had a very long beard, which he had wound neatly round his neck like a scarf. He was most surprised to see the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair landing on the island just near him. He scowled at c.h.i.n.ky.

aWhat's all this? Coming and shouting at me in the middle of the night! Can't I ever sleep alone?a aYou always do!a said c.h.i.n.ky. aDon't be so cross. Aren't you surprised to see us?a aNot a bit,a said Sleep-Alone. aYou're always turning up when I don't want to have company. Go away. I've a cold coming on and I feel gloomy.a aIs that why you've got your beard wound round your necka"to keep it warm?a asked Mollie. aHow long is it when it unwinds?a aI've no idea,a said Sleep-Alone, who seemed really a very disagreeable fellow. aWhere are you going in the middle of the night? Are you quite mad?a aWe're going to Goodness Knows Where,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aBut the chair doesn't seem to know the way. Do you know it?a aGoodness knows where it is,a said Sleep-Alone, pulling his beard tighter round his neck. aBetter ask her.a The children and c.h.i.n.ky stared. aAsk who?a said c.h.i.n.ky.

aGoodness, of course,a said Sleep-Alone, settling down in his boat again.

aWhat do you mean, Goodness?a said Peter, feeling muddled.

aI mean what I said. Goodness knows where it is, so why don't you go and ask her,a said Sleep-Alone. aGo and ask Goodness!a aOha"is Goodness the name of a person then?a said Mollie, suddenly seeing light.

aYou are a very stupid little girl, I think,a said Sleep-Alone. aAm I to go on and on saying the same thing over and over again? Now good night, and go and find Goodness if you want to disturb someone else.a aWhere does she live?a bellowed c.h.i.n.ky in Sleep-Alone's ear, afraid that he would go to sleep before he told them anything else.

That was too much for Sleep-Alone. He shot up and reached for an oar. Before c.h.i.n.ky could get out of the way he had given him such a slap with the oar-blade that c.h.i.n.ky yelled at the top of his voice. Then Sleep-alone turned on the two children, waving the oar in a most alarming manner.

Peter pulled Mollie to the chair. He put out a hand and dragged c.h.i.n.ky to it too, shouting, aGo to Goodness, Chair, go to Goodness, wherever she is!a Up rose the chair so very suddenly that c.h.i.n.ky fell off and had to be dragged up again, getting another slap with the oar as he struggled.

Sleep-Alone roared after them. aNow I'm thoroughly awake and I shan't go to sleep tonight. You wait until I see you again, c.h.i.n.ky, I'll fly you off in my aeroplane to the Land of Rubbish and drop you in the biggest dustbin there!a aHe's not a very nice cousin to have, is he?a said Mollie, when they had left Sleep-Alone well behind. aI hope we don't see him again.a aWho is this Goodness, I wonder?a said Peter.

aNever heard of her,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aBut the chair really seems to know where it's going this time, so I suppose it knows Goodness all right!a The Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair was flying very steadily to the east now. It had left the water behind and was now over some land that lay s.h.i.+ning in the moonlight. The children could see towers and pinnacles, but they were too high up to see anything clearly.

The chair suddenly flew downwards. It came to a small cottage. All three of its chimneys were smoking. The smoke was green, and the children knew that was a sign that a witch lived there.

aI saya"that's witch-smoke,a said Peter, nervously. He had met witches before on his adventures, and he knew quite a bit about them.

aI hope the chair has come to the right place,a said Mollie, as it landed gently on the path just outside the door of the little cottage.

They jumped off the chair, dragged it under a tree and went to knock at the door. A little old woman opened it. She looked so ordinary that the children felt sure she wasn't a witch.

aPlease, is this where Goodness lives?a asked c.h.i.n.ky, politely.

aNot exactly. But I keep a Book of Goodness,a said the old woman. aHave you come to seek advice from it?a aWella"we rather wanted to know where the Land of Goodness Knows Where is,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aAnd we were told that only Goodness knew where it was!a aAh, wella"you will have to consult my Goodness Book then,a said the old woman. aWait till I get on my things.a She left them in a tiny kitchen and disappeared. When she came back, what a difference in her! She had on a tall, pointed hat, the kind witches and wizards wear, and a great cloak that kept blowing out round her as if she kept a wind under its folds. She no longer looked an ordinary little old womana"she was a proper witch, but her eyes were kind and smiling.

She took down from a shelf a very big book indeed. It seemed to be full of names and very tiny writing. aWhat are your names?a she asked. aI must look you up in my Goodness Book before you can be told what you want to know.a They told her, and she ran her finger down column after column. aAha"Petera"helped a boy with his homework for a whole week last terma"remembered his mother's birthdaya"owned up when he did something wronga"my word, there's a whole list of goodness here. And Mollie, tooa"gave up her half-holiday to stay in with a friend who was illa"told the truth when she knew she would get into trouble for doing soa"quite a long list of goodness for her, too.a aNow me,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aI've been living with my mother. I do try to be good to her.a The old woman ran her finger down the list again and nodded her head. aYesa"-did his mother's shopping and never grumbleda"took her breakfast in bed each daya"never forgot to feed the doga"yes, you're all right, c.h.i.n.ky.a aWhat happens next?a said Peter. The witch took her Book of Goodness to a curious hole in the middle of the kitchen floor. It suddenly glowed as if it were full of s.h.i.+ning water. The witch held the book over it, and out of it slid little gleaming streaks of colour. aThat's your Goodness going into the magic pool,a she said. aNow, ask what you want to know.a c.h.i.n.ky asked, in rather a trembling voice, aWe want to know where the Land of Goodness Knows Where is.a And dear me, a very extraordinary thing happened! On the top of the s.h.i.+ning water appeared a s.h.i.+mmering map. In the middle of it was marked aLand of Goodness Knows Where.a The children and c.h.i.n.ky leaned over it eagerly, trying to see how to get there.

aLooka"we fly due east to the rising sun,a began c.h.i.n.ky, then he stopped. They had all heard a very peculiar noise outside. A loud creaking noise.

aThe chair's calling to us!a cried c.h.i.n.ky and he rushed to the door. aOh, looka"it's flying awaya"and somebody else is in it. Somebody's stolen the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair! Whatever shall we do?a

Where Can the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair Be?.

WHO'S taken our chair?a cried Peter, in despair. aWe can't get back home now. Come back, Chair!a But the chair was under somebody else's commands now, and it took no notice. It rose higher and higher and was soon no more than a speck in the moonlight. The three stared at one another, very upset indeed.

aOur very first adventurea"and the chair's gone,a said Mollie, in a shaky voice. aIt's too bad. Right at the very beginning of the holidays, too.a aWho was that taking our chaira"do you know?a c.h.i.n.ky asked the witch, who was busy smoothing the surface of the water in the hole in the floor with what looked like a fine brush. The map that had shone there was now gone, and the water was empty of reflection or picture. The children wondered what would appear there next.

The witch shook her head. aNoa"I don't know,a she said. aI didn't hear anyone out there because I was so busy in here with you. All kinds of people come to ask me questions, you know, just as you did, and watch to see what appears in my magic pool. Some of the people are very queer. I expect it was one of thema"and he saw your chair, knew what it was and flew off in it at once. It would be very valuable to him.a aI do think it's bad luck,a said Mollie, tears coming into her eyes. aOur very first night. And how are we to get back home again?a aYou can catch the Dawn Bus if you like,a said the witch. aIt will be along here in a few minutes' time. As soon as the sky turns silver in the east it comes rumbling along.a aWell a" I suppose that's what we'd better do,a said c.h.i.n.ky. aAnd I'll jolly well find out who's taken our chair, and I'll pummel him till he cries for mercy.a aYou be careful or you'll appear in the Book of Badness instead of the Book of Goodness,a said the witch, warningly. aNow, listen, I can hear the bus.a Wondering whatever kind of people caught the Dawn Bus, Mollie and the others went out to catch it. It came rumbling along, looking more like a toy bus than a real one. It was crammed with little folk of all kinds! Brownies with long beards leaned against one another, fast asleep. Two tiny fairies slept with their arms round each other. A wizard nodded off to sleep, his pointed hat getting more and more crooked each moment a" and three goblins yawned so widely that their mischievous little faces seemed all mouth!

aThe bus is full,a said Mollie, in dismay.

aSit in front with the driver, then,a said the witch. aGo on, or you'll miss it!a So Mollie, Peter and c.h.i.n.ky squashed themselves in front with the driver. He was a brownie, and wore his beard tied round his waist and made into a bow behind. It looked very odd.

aPlenty of room,a he said, and moved up so far that he couldn't reach the wheel to drive the bus. aYou drive it,a he said to c.h.i.n.ky, and very pleased indeed, c.h.i.n.ky took the wheel.

But, goodness gracious me, c.h.i.n.ky was no good at all at driving buses! He nearly hit a tree, swerved violently and went into an enormous puddle that splashed everyone from head to foot, and then went straight into a ditch and out of it at top speed.

By this time all the pa.s.sengers were wide awake and shouting in alarm. aStop him! He's mad! Fetch a policeman!a The bus-driver was upset to hear all the shouting. He moved back to his wheel so quickly that c.h.i.n.ky was flung out into the road. He got up and ran after the bus, shouting.

But the bus-driver wouldn't stop. He drove on at top speed, though Mollie and Peter begged him to go back for c.h.i.n.ky.

aI don't know how to back this bus,a said the brownie driver, solemnly. aI keep meaning to learn but I never seem to have time. Most annoying. Still, I hardly ever want to back.a aWell, stop if you don't know how to back,a cried Peter, but the brownie looked really horrified.

aWhata"stop before I come to a stopping-place? You must be mad. No, noa"full speed ahead is my motto. I've got to get all these tired pa.s.sengers back home as soon as possible.a aWhy are they so tired?a said Mollie, seeing the wizard beginning to nod again, making his hat slide down right over his long nose.

aWell, they've all been to a moonlight dance,a said the driver. aVery nice dance, too. I went to it. Last time I went to one I was so tired when I drove my bus home that I fell asleep when I was driving it. Found myself in the Land of Dreamland in no time, and used up every drop of my petrol.a This all sounded rather extraordinary. Mollie and Peter looked at him nervously, hoping that he wouldn't fall asleep this time. They felt very sleepy themselves, and Mollie could hardly keep her eyes open. She worried about c.h.i.n.ky. Would he find his way back to the playroom all right? And, oh dear, what were they going to do about the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair?

Just as she was thinking that she fell sound asleep. Peter was already asleep. The driver looked at them, gave a grunt, and fell asleep himself.

So, of course, the bus went straight on to Dreamland again, and when Peter and Mollie awoke, they were not in the bus at all but in their own beds! Mollie tried to remember all that had happened. Was it real or was it a dream? She thought she had better go and ask Peter.

She went to his room. He was sitting up in bed and rubbing his eyes. aI know what you've come to ask me,a he said. aThe same question I was coming to ask you. Did we dream it or didn't we? And how did we get back here?a aThat bus must have gone to the Land of Dreamland again,a said Mollie. aBut how we got here I don't know. I'm still in my day-clothesa"look!a aSo am I,a said Peter, astonished. aWell, that shows it was real then. Oh, deara"do you suppose c.h.i.n.ky is back yet?a aShall we go and see now?a said Mollie. aWe've got time before breakfast.a But they hadn't, because the breakfast bell rang just then. They cleaned their teeth, did their hair, washed and tidied their crumpled clothesa"then down they went.

Afterwards they made their beds, asked their mother if she wanted them to do anything and then ran down to the playroom at the bottom of the garden.

c.h.i.n.ky was there! He was lying on the sofa fast asleep, his mouth wide open.

aOh dear, I do think it's terribly tempting to put things into open mouths!a said Mollie. ac.h.i.n.ky, wake up!a He didn't stir. Mollie shook him.

aDon't wake me, Mother,a murmured c.h.i.n.ky, trying to turn over. aLet me sleep.a ac.h.i.n.kya"you're not at home, you're here,a said Peter, shaking him again.

aMother, don'ta"I'll do the shopping later,a muttered poor c.h.i.n.ky, rolled over on his other sidea"and fell right off the sofa!

That woke him up with a jerk. He gave a shout of alarm, opened his eyes and sat up.

aI say, did you tip me off the sofa?a he said. aYou needn't have done that.a aWe didn't. You rolled off yourself,a said Mollie with a laugh. aHow did you get back last night, c.h.i.n.ky?a aI walked all the waya"so no wonder I'm tired this morning,a said c.h.i.n.ky, his eyes beginning to close again. aI did think you might have stopped the bus and picked me up.a aThe driver wouldn't stop,a explained Peter. aHe was awfully silly, really. We were very upset at leaving you behind.a aThe thing is, c.h.i.n.kya"how are we going to find out where the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair has gone?a said Peter, seriously. aIt's only the beginning of the holidays, you know, and if we don't get it back the holidays will be very dull indeed.a aI'm too sleepy to think,a said c.h.i.n.ky, and fell asleep again. Mollie shook him impatiently.

ac.h.i.n.ky, do wake up. We really are very worried about the Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair.a But there was no waking c.h.i.n.ky this time! He was so sound asleep that he didn't even stir when Mollie tickled him under the arms. Usually that made him scream and squirm.

The two children were disappointed. They stayed in the playroom till dinner-time, but c.h.i.n.ky didn't wake up. They went indoors to have their dinner and then came down to see if c.h.i.n.ky was awake yet. He wasn't!

Just then there came a soft tapping at the door and a little voice said ac.h.i.n.ky! Are you there?a Peter opened the door. Outside stood a small elf, looking rather alarmed. He held a leaflet in his hand. aOh, I'm very sorry,a he said. aI didn't know you were here. I wanted c.h.i.n.ky.a aHe's so fast asleep we can't wake him,a said Peter. aCan we give him a message?a aYes. Tell him I saw this notice of his,a said the little elf, and showed it to the children. It was a little card, printed in c.h.i.n.ky's writing.

aLost or stolen.Genuine Wis.h.i.+ng-Chair.

Please give any information about it to.

c.h.i.n.kY.

(I shall be in the playroom.)'.

aAnything else?a asked Peter.

aWella"you might tell him I think I know where the chair is,a said the little elf, shyly.

aDo you?a cried both children. aWell, tell us, thena"it's our chair!a aThere's to be a sale of furniture at a brownie's shop not far away,a said the elf, aand there are six old chairs to be sold. Now, I know he only had fivea"so where did the sixth come from? Look, here's a picture of them.a The children looked at the picture. Peter gave a cry. aWhy, they're exactly like our chair. Are they all wis.h.i.+ng-chairs, then?a aOh, no. Your chair is very unusual. I expect what happened is that the thief who flew off on your chair wondered how to hide it. He remembered somebody who had five chairs just like it and offered it to him to make the set complete.a aI don't see why he should do that,a said Mollie, puzzled.

aWait,a said the elf. an.o.body would suspect that one of the six chairs was a wis.h.i.+ng-chaira"and I've no doubt that the thief will send someone to bid a price for all six, and when he gets them he will suddenly say that he has discovered one of them is a wis.h.i.+ng-chair, and sell it to a wizard for a sack of gold!a aI think that's a horrid trick,a said Mollie, in disgust. aWell, it looks as if we'll have to go along to this furniture shop and have a look at the chairs, to see if we can find out which one is ours. Oh, dear, I do wish c.h.i.n.ky would wake up.a aYou'd better go as soon as you can,a said the elf. aThe thief won't lose much time in buying it back, with the other chairs thrown in!a So they tried to wake c.h.i.n.ky againa"but he just wouldn't wake up! aWe'll have to go by ourselves,a said Peter at last. aElf, will you show us the way? You will? Right, then off we go! Leave your message on the table for c.h.i.n.ky to see, then he'll guess where we've gone!a