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  “Oh, dear!” thought Milly-Molly-Mandy, “I must shout out to the next person who comes by.”

  The next person who came in sight was a little girl in a white muslin frock, who went into Miss Muggins’ shop. Milly-Molly-Mandy had seen her before – she had just come to live at the Big House with the green railings, past the crossroads. Presently the little girl came out again with a little paper bag (Milly-Molly-Mandy wondered if it held raspberry-drops or aniseed-balls). She was rather a long way off, but Milly-Molly-Mandy thought she must try to shout loud enough to make her hear.

  But then she couldn’t think what to shout! The little girl didn’t look quite the sort of little girl you’d suddenly shout “Hi!” to, and Milly-Molly-Mandy didn’t want to call out “Help!” as if she were falling, and she didn’t know the little girl’s name. It was really quite awkward.

  And then the little girl popped something from the paper bag into her mouth and wandered down to look at the ducks. And when she got near she suddenly saw Milly-Molly-Mandy up in the tree!

  The little girl stopped and looked at Milly-Molly-Mandy, and Milly-Molly-Mandy held on and looked at the little girl. And then the little girl said, “Can’t you get down?”

  And Milly-Molly-Mandy said, “Oh, please will you help get me down? I’ve been up here such a long time!”

  So the little girl looked around, and then she ran back to Mr Blunt’s garden and beckoned someone to the palings. And then Billy Blunt’s head looked over. And then the little girl explained what was the matter. And then Billy Blunt ran out of the garden into the corn-shop. And then Mr Blunt came out of the corn-shop with a long ladder. And then he set the ladder under the tree and climbed up. And then he hoisted Milly-Molly-Mandy off the branch on to his shoulder, and brought her safely down. (And it was good to be on the ground once more!)

  Milly-Molly-Mandy said, “Thank you very much!” to Mr Blunt and Billy Blunt, and then the little girl gave her a raspberry-drop, and they talked. And then they had another raspberry-drop, and the little girl said she had a summer-house in her garden, and asked if Milly-Molly-Mandy would come and play in it with her that afternoon.

  So, as soon as Milly-Molly-Mandy had finished dinner, Mother put a clean pink-and-white cotton frock on her, and she ran hoppity-skip all the way down to the village.

  And Milly-Molly-Mandy felt very glad indeed that she hadn’t called out sooner, or she might never have been invited to play with the little girl at the Big House with the iron railings!

  4

  Milly-Molly-Mandy

  Goes to a Concert

  Once upon a time Milly-Molly-Mandy was going to a grown-up concert with Father and Mother and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty. (They had all got their tickets.)

  It was to be held in the Village Institute at seven o’clock, and it wouldn’t be over until quite nine o’clock, which was lovely and late for Milly-Molly-Mandy. But you see this wasn’t like an ordinary concert, where people you didn’t know sang and did things.

  It was a quite extra specially important concert, for Aunty was going to play on the piano on the platform, and the young lady who helped Mrs Hubble in her baker’s shop was going to sing, and some other people whom Milly-Molly-Mandy had heard spoken of were going to do things too. So it was very exciting indeed.

  Aunty had a new mauve silk scarf for her neck, and a newly trimmed hat, and her handkerchief was sprinkled with the lavender water that Milly-Molly-Mandy had given her last Christmas.

  Milly-Molly-Mandy felt so proud that it was being used for such a special occasion. (Aunty put a drop on Milly-Molly-Mandy’s own handkerchief too.)

  When they had all got into their best clothes and shoes, they said goodbye to Toby the dog and Topsy the cat, and started off for the village – Father and Mother and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty and Milly-Molly-Mandy. And they as nearly as possible forgot to take the tickets with them off the mantelpiece! But Mother remembered just in time.

  There were several people already in their seats when Father and Mother and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty and Milly-Molly-Mandy got to the Institute. Mr and Mrs Hubble and the young lady who helped them were just in front, and Mr and Mrs Blunt and Mr and Mrs Moggs (little-friend-Susan’s father and mother) were just behind (Billy Blunt and little-friend-Susan weren’t there, but then they hadn’t got an aunty who was going to play on the platform, so it wasn’t so important for them to be up late).

  The platform looked very nice, with plants in crinkly green paper. And the piano was standing there, all ready for Aunty. People were coming in very fast, and it wasn’t long before the hall was full and everybody was talking and rustling programmes. Then people started clapping, and Milly-Molly-Mandy saw that some ladies and gentlemen with violins and things were going up steps on to the platform, with very solemn faces. A lady hit one or two notes on the piano, and the people with violins played a lot of funny noises without taking any notice of each other (Mother said they were “tuning up”). And then they all started off playing properly, and the concert had begun.

  Milly-Molly-Mandy did enjoy it. She clapped as hard as ever she could, and so did everybody else, when the music stopped. After that people sang one at a time, or a lot at a time, or played the piano, and one man sang a funny song (which made Milly-Molly-Mandy laugh and everybody else too).

  But Milly-Molly-Mandy was longing for the time to come for Aunty to play.

  She was just asking Mother in a whisper when Aunty was going to play, when she heard a queer little sound, just like a dog walking on the wooden floor. And she looked round and saw people at the back of the hall glancing down here and there, smiling and pointing.

  And presently what should she feel but a cold, wet nose on her leg, and what should she see but a white, furry object coming out from under her chair.

  And there was Toby the dog (without a ticket), looking just as pleased with himself as he could be for having found them!

  Milly-Molly-Mandy was very shocked at him and so was Mother. She said, “Naughty Toby!” in a whisper, and Father pushed him under the seat and made him lie down. They couldn’t disturb the concert by taking him out just then.

  So there Toby the dog stayed and heard the concert without a ticket; and now and then Milly-Molly-Mandy put down her hand and Toby the dog licked it and half got up to wag his tail. But Father said, “Ssh!” so Milly-Molly-Mandy put her hand back in her lap, and Toby the dog settled down again. But they liked being near each other.

  Then the time came for the young lady who helped Mrs Hubble to sing, and Aunty to play for her. So the young lady got up and dropped her handbag, and Aunty got up and dropped her music (it made Toby the dog jump!). But they were picked up again, and then Aunty and the young lady went up on to the platform.

  And who do you think went up with them?

  Why, Toby the dog! Looking just as if he thought Aunty had meant him to follow!

  Everybody laughed, and Aunty pointed to Toby the dog to go down again. But Toby the dog didn’t seem to understand, and he got behind the piano and wouldn’t come out.

  So Aunty had to play and the young lady to sing with Toby the dog peeping out now and then from behind the piano, and everybody tried not to notice him, lest it should make them laugh.

  But still Aunty played beautifully and the young lady sang, and Milly-Molly-Mandy clapped as hard as she could, and so did everybody else when the song was finished. In fact, they all clapped so loud that Toby the dog gave a surprised bark, and everybody laughed again.

  They had another try then to get Toby the dog off the platform, but Toby the dog wouldn’t come.

  Then Father said, “Milly-Molly-Mandy, you go and see if you can get him.”

  So Milly-Molly-Mandy slipped off her seat, past the people’s knees, and climbed up the steps on to the platform (in front of all the audience).

  And she said, “Toby, come here!” round the corner of the piano, and Toby the dog put out his nose and sniffed her hand, and Milly-
Molly-Mandy was able to catch hold of his collar and pull him out.

  She walked right across the platform with Toby the dog in her arms, and everybody laughed, and somebody (I think it was the Blacksmith) called out, “Bravo! Encore!” and clapped.

  SHE WALKED RIGHT ACROSS THE PLATFORM

  And Milly-Molly-Mandy (feeling very hot) hurried down the steps, with Toby the dog licking all over one side of her cheek and hair.

  There was only a little bit of the concert to come after that, so Milly-Molly-Mandy stood at the back of the hall with Toby the dog till it was finished. Then everybody started crowding to the door. Most of them smiled at Milly-Molly-Mandy and Toby the dog as they stood waiting for Father and Mother and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty to come.

  Mr Jakes the Postman, passing with Mrs Jakes, said, “Well, well! I didn’t expect to see you turning out a public character just yet awhile, young lady.” And Milly-Molly-Mandy laughed with Mr Jakes.

  Then Mr Rudge, the Blacksmith, passed, and he said solemnly, “You and Toby gave us a very fine performance indeed. If I’d known beforehand I’d have sent you up a bouquet each.” Milly-Molly-Mandy liked the Blacksmith – he was a nice man.

  “Well,” said Aunty, as they all walked home together in the dark, “I think if we’d known Toby was going to perform up on the platform tonight, we’d have given him a bath and a new collar first!”

  5

  Milly-Molly-Mandy

  Has her Photo Taken

  Once upon a time, when Milly-Molly-Mandy went down to the village with a list of things Mother wanted from the grocer’s, she saw something new in the middle of Mr Smale the Grocer’s shopwindow.

  It was a board with some photographs of people pinned on, and underneath them was written that Mr D. Hammett would be there to take tasteful and artistic photos for one week only at prices strictly moderate.

  When Milly-Molly-Mandy went up the step into the shop (which always had such a smell of its own, a cardboardy, bacony sort of smell) she looked about, wondering where Mr D. Hammett was and what his camera was like.

  She guessed he must be in the little room at the back of the shop, for there was a notice on the door, though it was too dark to read it; and through the door (which was a bit open) she could see part of what looked like a sheet hung up, with grey bulrushes painted on it.

  While Mr Smale was taking her order (the raisins and baking-powder she was to bring, as Mother was wanting them, but the other things were too heavy, so Mr Smale was please to send them later) Milly-Molly-Mandy kept her eye on the door at the back of the shop. And presently it opened, and a young man with rather a pink face (he had just had his photo taken) hurried out of the shop; while another man with a small moustache and his hair parted in the middle said, “Good morning to you, sir,” from the doorway.

  Milly-Molly-Mandy guessed this must be Mr D. Hammett himself, but she did not stare at him.

  Mr D. Hammett said, “Good morning, young lady. Wouldn’t you like to have your photo taken?”

  Milly-Molly-Mandy said, “No, thank you,” but she took one of his handbills which he gave her. And while she was walking back along the white road with the hedges each side she read it all through.

  And she found the price for one person alone was one shilling each photograph, artistically mounted. (If you wanted a group it was more money.) Milly-Molly-Mandy had exactly one shilling in her money-box, which was very funny. She had counted it only yesterday, all in pennies.

  When Milly-Molly-Mandy got home to the nice white cottage with the thatched roof, she was just going to give Mother the handbill, with the raisins and baking-powder, when all of a sudden she thought she wouldn’t, for she had an idea! It was a very exciting idea indeed! Milly-Molly-Mandy wondered if she could ever do it – it was such an exciting idea!

  And this is what the idea was: She would have her photo taken all by herself, without telling anybody, and give it to Mother for a surprise present!

  That very afternoon Milly-Molly-Mandy slipped up to her little bedroom, and brushed her hair and put on her hat and pulled up her socks and washed her hands and face and got the pennies out of her money-box. And she was just creeping downstairs when Aunty called:

  “Milly-Molly-Mandy! Uncle is driving me into the town to get some material. Do you want to come too?”

  Milly-Molly-Mandy didn’t like to say no, because they would wonder why, as she generally liked the chance of a drive in the pony-trap to see all the shops and things. So she had to put off going to the photographer’s that day.

  Next day Milly-Molly-Mandy tidied up again and swung on the gate for a little while before she went down to the village, so that nobody should wonder where or why she was going.

  But when she got to the village, whom should she meet but Miss Muggins’ niece, Jilly. And Miss Muggins’ Jilly said, “Hullo, Milly-Molly-Mandy! Where’re you going?”

  Milly-Molly-Mandy didn’t want to tell Miss Muggins’ Jilly her secret, so they stood and talked for a bit. But Miss Muggins’ Jilly didn’t seem as if she would go, so at last Milly-Molly-Mandy had just to walk back home again, with her pennies still in her hand!

  The next day Grandma wanted Milly-Molly-Mandy to get her some wool from Miss Muggins’ shop, and Milly-Molly-Mandy thought she might perhaps manage to be photographed at the same time. So she tidied herself carefully and set off.

  But as she passed the Moggs’ cottage little-friend-Susan popped her head over the wall and said, “Hullo, Milly-Molly-Mandy! Where’re you going? Wait for me!” So they went on together.

  When Milly-Molly-Mandy had got the wool from Miss Muggins’ shop, she said, “You’d better not wait for me, Susan – I think perhaps I’m going to the grocer’s next.”

  But little-friend-Susan said, “Oh, I don’t mind waiting. You won’t be long, will you?”

  Milly-Molly-Mandy thought a moment. After all, little-friend-Susan was a “best friend”. So she said in a whisper, “Susan, if you won’t say a single tiny word I’ll tell you a great secret! I’m going to get my photo taken for Mother! But you’re not to say a single tiny word, Susan.”

  Little-friend-Susan solemnly promised not to say a single tiny word about it, and then she waited patiently while Milly-Molly-Mandy went into Mr Smale the Grocer’s shop, holding her pennies very tight.

  Mr D. Hammett said he was fortunately disengaged at that moment, so he took her straight into the back room where the bulrush sheet was hanging. Milly-Molly-Mandy gave him her handful of pennies lest she should drop them in the middle of the photographing.

  And then Mr D. Hammett stood her by a little table in front of the bulrush sheet, and he took some flowers out of a vase and gave them to her to hold. (Milly-Molly-Mandy didn’t much like it, because the stalks were wet!)

  Then Mr D. Hammett put a black cloth over his head and moved his camera’s long legs about. And then he said, “Do you think you could manage a smile – just a very little one?” But Milly-Molly-Mandy felt as if she didn’t know a bit how to smile – it all felt so solemn and queer. So Mr D. Hammett took the photo as she was.

  “DO YOU THIINK YOU COULD MANAGE A SMILE?”

  And then he took the flowers from her hand and said that the photo would be ready on the morrow, if she would kindly call for it, and he bowed her out.

  And Milly-Molly-Mandy felt very glad that little-friend-Susan was outside waiting for her.

  After breakfast next day Milly-Molly-Mandy said to Mother, “Muvver, would you like something nice to happen today?”

  And Mother said, “I always like something nice to happen, Milly-Molly-Mandy!”

  Then Milly-Molly-Mandy said,” I think – I’m not sure, but I think – something extra nice is going to happen today!” And Mother was very pleased.

  When Milly-Molly-Mandy went down to the village it was too early, and the photo wasn’t finished yet, but Mr D. Hammett said it would be ready that afternoon.

  At dinner-time Mother said, “Milly-Molly-Mandy, hasn’t the nice th
ing happened yet? I’m getting so excited.”

  And Milly-Molly-Mandy said, “It’s very nearly happened. I wonder if you’re going to like it!” Mother was quite sure that she was; and Father and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty were all very curious.

  That afternoon Mr D. Hammett had the photo ready for her, wrapped in paper, and Milly-Molly-Mandy ran nearly all the way home with it. (She stopped a minute at the Moggs’ cottage to show it to little-friend-Susan, who thought it was lovely.)

  She ran straight into the kitchen and put it in Mother’s lap, on the darning-bag, and stood holding herself in very tight.

  Mother said, “Oh, Milly-Molly-Mandy! I do believe the nice thing has really happened!” She opened the paper very slowly and carefully, and took out the photograph, stuck on a beautiful card with crinkled edges.

  And when Mother looked at the photograph she said: “Why! If it isn’t a picture of my little Milly-Molly-Mandy, looking as solemn as a little owl!”

  And Mother and Milly-Molly-Mandy laughed and hugged each other, while Father and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty all looked at the photograph in turn.

  Then Mother wanted it back, and she put it on the mantelpiece where they could all see it.

  And Mother thought it was a lovely surprise present, though she couldn’t help laughing each time she looked at it. But that, said Mother, was only because she was so very pleased!

  6

  Milly-Molly-Mandy

  Goes to the Pictures

  Once upon a time Milly-Molly-Mandy found out there was a moving-picture show every Saturday evening in the next village. (It was the young lady who helped Mrs Hubble in the baker’s shop who told her.)