Chapter 3

Pip, Bets, Larry and Daisy stood on the empty platform in dispair.

"Where could Fatty have gone?" asked Daisy.

"Don't worry, Daisy," said Larry. "He may well have slipped out. There were so many people and we were distracted by that horrid boy and his dog."

"The dog wasn't horrid though," said Bets. "He seemed lovely."

"Well, let's go and walk to Fatty's and see if he got past us," said Pip. "Though I don't fancy him having to drag his trunk along!"

They hadn't got very far down the road when they spotted Fatty and Buster strolling towards the Trotteville house.

"Hie! Fatty!" called Pip. Fatty turned and grinned.

"Well, better late than never," he said. "I did wonder why there was no-one to meet me at the station!"

"We were there, Fatty," explained Daisy. "But it was so crowded on the platform and this beastly boy with a dog got us distracted. I'm glad we caught up with you. Your mother asked us to come and meet you as she had to go out and there's nobody at home at your house. You're to come to the Hilton's."

"Tea at the Hilton, eh? Well, I can't say I mind that too much!" grinned Fatty. "We'll be able to have a good catch-up. I really must tell you some of the things that happened to me this term. You'll never . . ."

"Believe how wonderful you were, I expect," said Larry. Really, Fatty was like this every time he came home from school. It didn't take long to pull him into line though!

"Fatty, where is your trunk?" asked Bets.

"Oh, I asked Gus the porter to send it home for me," Fatty replied. "I hope it shan't go missing between the station and my house. I have some smashing new disguises I've picked up. I can't wait to show you them all!"

"Jolly good," replied Larry. "It really is fun trying to pick you out of a crowd when you're in disguise, Fatty. I say, I don't suppose you could teach Pip and I a few things these hols? It doesn't seem fair that you get all the fun!"

"Oh, Fatty, do," begged Bets. "It would be such fun for Daisy and I to find all three of you!"

Fatty grinned. "I'm sure I could manage that. Pip and Larry are almost as tall as me now, it should be a lot easier to disguise them! And I do believe it will be jolly easier to paint someone else's face."

Larry and Pip looked at each other excitedly. Finally, a chance to join Fatty in his undercover work! They reached the Hilton home where Mrs Hilton greeted Fatty warmly and sent the children up to the playroom with a picnic tea.

"It's jolly good to all be together again," Fatty said, munching on a slice of carrot cake. "Any more ginger beer?"

"I'll go and get some more from Cook," said Bets. "Come and help me, Daisy."

The two girls went downstairs.

"I say, Bets, it doesn't seem fair that the boys have all the fun of disguising themselves," said Daisy. "How about when they dress up and have us find them, we go in disguise ourselves?"

"Oh, yes, do let's!" exclaimed Bets. "We could dress up as gypsy children in jumble and old hats."

They begged another bottle of ginger beer from Cook and took it back upstairs to the playroom where the boys were deep in discussion about their proposed disguises.

"Why don't we do it tomorrow?" asked Fatty. "We could go to the market on Chelsea Common. Plenty of people there. It will be quite a challenge for Daisy and Bets!"

The girls exchanged smiles.

"Sounds smashing, Fatty," replied Daisy. "I expect you boys will need some time to prepare. Why don't you all meet at Fatty's shed at in the morning? I'll come over to the Daykins to collect Bets and we'll head to the market at noon and try and spot you."

"Jolly good," said Pip. "Now, who's for a game of Snap?"