Chapter 4
CRAGGY-TOPS
The train sped on through the countryside, passing many stations, and stopping at very few. On towards the coast it went, through high mountains that towered up, over silver rivers, through big, straggling towns.
And then it came to wilder country. The sea-wind came in at the window. I can smell the sea already, said Jack, who had only once before been to the sea, and scarcely remembered it.
The train stopped at last at a lonely little station. Here we are, said Philip. Tumble out. Hi, Jo-Jo! Here I am. Have you got the old car handy?
Jack and Lucy-Ann saw a coloured man coming towards them. His skin was black, his teeth were very white, and he rolled his eyes in a peculiar way. Running behind him was a girl a little older than Lucy-Ann, but tall for her age. She had the same brown, wavy hair that Philip had, and the same tuft in front.
Another Tufty, thought Jack, but a fiercer one. It must be Dinah.
It was Dinah. She had come with Jo-Jo to meet Philip, in the ramshackle old car. She stopped short in the greatest surprise when she saw Lucy-Ann and Jack. Jack grinned, but Lucy-Ann, suddenly feeling shy of this strapping, confident-looking girl, hid behind her brother. Dinah stared in even greater amazement at Kiki, who was telling Jo-Jo to wipe his feet at once.
You mind your manners, said Jo-Jo roughly, talking to the bird as if it was a human being. Kiki put up her crest and growled angrily, like a dog. Jo-Jo looked startled.
That a bird? he enquired of Philip.
Yes, said Philip. Jo-Jo, put that trunk in the car too. It belongs to my two friends.
They coming to Craggy-Tops? said Jo-Jo in the greatest surprise. Miss Polly, she didn’t say nothing about any friends, no, she didn’t.
Philip, who are they? asked Dinah, coming up and joining the little group.
Two friends from Mr. Roy’s, said Philip. I’ll tell you all about it afterwards. He winked at Dinah to make her understand that he would explain when Jo-Jo was not there. This is Freckles I told you about him, you know and Lucy-Ann too.
The three children solemnly shook hands. Then they all got into the jerky, jumpy old car, with the two trunks at the back, and Jo-Jo drove off in a manner that seemed most dangerous to Lucy-Ann. She clutched the side of the car, half frightened.
They drove through wild hills, rocky and bare. Soon they saw the sea in the distance. High cliffs bounded it except for breaks here and there. It certainly was a wild and desolate coast. They passed ruined mansions and cottages on their way.
They were burnt in the battles I told you about, said Philip. And no-one has rebuilt them. Craggy-Tops more or less escaped.
That’s the cliff behind which Craggy-Tops is built, said Dinah, pointing. The others saw a high, rocky cliff, and just jutting up they could see a small round tower, which they imagined was part of Craggy-Tops.
Craggy-Tops is built out of reach of the waves, said Philip, but on stormy nights the spray dashes against the window almost as strongly as the waves pound the shore.
Lucy-Ann and Jack thought it all sounded very thrilling. It would be fun to stay in a house that had spray dashed against its windows. They did hope there would be a terrific storm whilst they were there.
Is Miss Polly expecting you all? asked Jo-Jo suddenly. He was plainly puzzled by the two extra children. She didn’t say nothing to me about them.
Didn’t she? How strange! said Philip. Kiki screeched with laughter, and Jo-Jo wrinkled up his black nose in dislike of the noise. He was not going to fall in love with Kiki, that was certain. Jack didn’t like the way the black fellow looked at his pet bird.
Dinah suddenly gave a shriek and pushed Philip away from her. Oh! You’ve got a mouse down your neck! I saw its nose peeping out. Take it away, Philip; you know I can’t bear mice.
Oh, shut up and don’t be an idiot, said Philip crossly. Dinah at once flew into one of her tempers. She clutched Philip’s collar and shook him, trying to dislodge the mouse and frighten it away. Philip gave Dinah a push, and she banged her head against the side of the car. She at once slapped him hard. Jack and Lucy-Ann stared in surprise.
Beast! said Dinah. I wish you hadn’t come back. Take your two horrid friends and go off again to Mr. Roy.
They’re not horrid, said Philip, in a mild tone. They’re fun. He put his mouth to Dinah’s ear, after seeing that Jo-Jo was paying no attention, and whispered: They’ve escaped from Mr. Roy. I asked them to. Their uncle will pay Aunt Polly for them to stay with us, and she can pay that bill you told me about. See?
Dinah forgot her temper as quickly as it had come. She stared with interest at the brother and sister, rubbing her bruised head as she did so. What would Aunt Polly say? Where would they sleep? This was going to be exciting.
Jo-Jo drove headlong over the bumpy, stony road. Jack wondered that any car could stand such driving. They drove up the cliff, then down a hidden way that sloped round to Craggy-Tops.
And there, suddenly, was the roaring sea and Craggy-Tops standing sullenly above it, built half-way down the cliff. The car stopped, and the children got out. Jack gazed at the strange house. It was a queer place. Once it had two towers, but one had fallen in. The other still stood. The house was built of great grey stones, and was massive and ugly, but somehow rather grand. It faced the sea with a proud and angry look, as if defying the strong gale and the restless ocean. Jack looked down at the water. On it, and circling above it, were hundreds of wild sea-birds of all kinds. It was a perfect paradise of birds. The boy’s heart sang for joy. Birds by the hundred, birds by the thousand. He would be able to study them to his heart’s content, find their nests, photograph them at his leisure. What a time he would have!
A woman came to the door, and looked down at the four children in surprise. She was thin, and her hair was sandy-coloured and wispy. She looked tired and faded.
Hallo, Aunt Polly! cried Philip, running up the stone steps. I’m back!
So I see, said his aunt, giving him a peck of a kiss on his cheek. But who are these?
Aunt Polly, they’re friends of mine, said Philip earnestly. They couldn’t go home because their uncle broke his leg. So I brought them here. Their uncle will pay you for having them.
Philip! How can you do a thing like this? Springing people on me without telling me! said Aunt Polly sharply. Where will they sleep? You know we’ve no room.
They can sleep in the tower-room, said Philip. The tower-room! How lovely! Jack and Lucy-Ann were thrilled.
There’s no beds there, said Aunt Polly, in a disagreeable tone. They’ll have to go back. They can stay the night and then go back.
Lucy-Ann looked ready to cry. There was a harshness in Aunt Polly’s tone that she could not bear. She felt unwelcome and miserable. Jack put his arm round her and gave her a squeeze.
He was determined that he would not go back. The sight of those gliding, circling, soaring birds had filled his heart with joy. Oh, to lie on the cliff and watch them! He would not go back!
They all went in, Jo-Jo carrying the trunks. Aunt Polly looked with much disfavour on Kiki.
A parrot too! she said. Nasty, squawking, screeching bird! I never liked parrots. It’s bad enough to have all the creatures you collect, Philip, without a parrot coming too.
Poor Polly, poor old Polly, said Kiki unexpectedly. Aunt Polly looked at the bird, startled.
How does it know my name? she asked in astonishment.
Kiki didn’t. It was a name she herself was often called, and she often said Poor old Polly! or Poor old Kiki! She saw that she had made an impression on this sharp-voiced woman, and she repeated the words softly, as if she was about to burst into tears.
Poor Polly! Dear Polly! Poor, dear old Polly!
Well I never! said Aunt Polly, and looked at the parrot more kindly. Aunt Polly felt ill, tired and harassed, but no-one ever said they were sorry, or seemed to notice it. Now here was a bird pitying her and speaking to her more kindly than anyone had for years! Aunt Polly felt strange about it, but quite pleased.
You can take a mattress up to the tower-room, and sleep there tonight with the boy what’s his name? said Aunt Polly to Philip. The girl can sleep tonight with Dinah. It’s a small bed, but I can’t help that. If you bring people here without telling me, I can’t prepare for them.