Action & Adventure, Teen & Young Adult 

A GREAT SURPRISE ‘Mother, have you heard about our summer holidays yet?’ said Julian, at the breakfast-table. ‘Can we go to Polseath as usual?’ ‘I’m afraid not,’ said his mother. ‘They are quite full up this year.’ The three children at the breakfast-table looked at one another in great disappointment. They did so love the house at Polseath. The beach was so lovely there, too, and the bathing was fine. ‘Cheer up,’ said Daddy. ‘I dare say we’ll find somewhere else just as good for you. And anyway, Mother and I won’t be able to go with you this year. Has Mother told you?’ ‘No!’ said Anne. ‘Oh, Mother - is it true? Can’t you really come with us on our holidays? You always do.’ ‘Well, this time Daddy wants me to go to Scotland with him,’ said Mother. ‘All by ourselves! And as you are really getting big enough to look after yourselves now, we thought it would be rather fun for you to have a holiday on your own too. But now that you can’t go to Polseath, I don’t really quite know where to send you.’ ‘What about Quentin’s?’ suddenly said Daddy. Quentin was his brother, the children’s uncle. They had only seen him once, and had been rather frightened of him. He was a very tall, frowning man, a clever scientist who spent all his time studying. He lived by the sea - but that was about all dial the children knew of him! ‘Quentin?’ said Mother, pursing up her lips. ‘Whatever made you think of him? I shouldn’t think he’d want the children messing about in his little house.’ ‘Well,’ said Daddy, ‘I had to see Quentin’s wife in town the other day, about a business matter - and I don’t think things are going too well for them. Fanny said that she would be quite glad if she could hear of one or two people to live with her for a while, to bring a little money in. Their house is by the sea, you know. It might be just the thing for the children. Fanny is very nice - she would look after them well.’ - from Amzon