Enid Blyton by Adventures of Mr Pink-Whistle Page B

them up on the big airer that swung from the kitchen ceiling. Then she went upstairs to see how the children were getting on.
    "I'll have to iron your clothes in the morning," she told them. "First, the line

    fell down and then two dogs ran over the washing. It's all in the kitchen now. Nothing can happen to it there."
    But she was wrong. Something did! A big heap of soot tumbled down the chimney, and when Mr. Pink-Whistle looked up at the clothes, they were all black with the flying soot!
    "How dare you!" cried Mr. Pink-Whistle, shaking his fist at the soot. "How dare you! Oh, I can't bear this! I can't. I must put it right; I must—I must!"
    And out he rushed to put things right-funny old Pink-Whistle!
     

CHAPTER II

    MR. PINK-WHISTLE PUTS THINGS  RIGHT

    WELL, what do you think Mr. Pink-Whistle meant to do?    He meant to go and buy new clothes for all the four children!    Good old Mr. Pink-Whistle!
    He was so upset to think that the clothes had been spoilt for the third time, after Mrs. Spink had worked so hard and so cheerfully, that he had to blow his nose hard to keep from crying.
    "It's not fair!" he kept saying. "Why do these things happen when people try so hard? I won't have it! I shall put it right. It's no good being sorry about
    things if you don't do something to put them right!"
    He quite forgot that he was invisible still, and that people couldn't see him. So when he walked into a draper's shop and the door-bell rang, the girl there was most alarmed to hear a voice and to see nobody!
    "I want to see some party-clothes," said Mr. Pink-Whistle. "For two little boys and two little girls."
    "Oooh!" said the shop-girl, frightened, for she could still see nobody. "There's somebody speaking and there's nobody here! Help! Help!"
    "Oh, sorry!" said Mr. Pink-Whistle, remembering that he couldn't be seen. At once he came back again, and his fat little body, big ears, and green eyes appeared in front of the surprised girl.
    "Now don't run away or do anything silly," said Mr. Pink-Whistle. "It's just a secret I have—I can make myself disappear  or not.

    Please show me the children's clothes you have."
    The girl looked into Mr. Pink-Whistle's kind red face, and knew that he couldn't harm anyone. She took down some boxes and drew open some drawers. In a little while she and Mr. Pink-Whistle were talking about what would be best for Teddy, Eliza, Harry, and Bonny to wear at the school party.
    They chose new vests, warm and white.    They chose knickers and socks, two pretty petticoats, two pairs of grey flannel shorts for the boys, and two blue silk frocks for the girls. Mr. Pink-Whistle chose a green jersey for Harry and a red one for Teddy.
    "Would that be all, do you think?" asked the girl, who was really quite enjoying herself now, for Mr. Pink-Whistle had told her all about poor Mrs. Spink, and she was feeling quite excited to think of the surprise that this funny little secret man was planning.
    "Well—what about hair-ribbons for the two girls to match their frocks?" asked Mr. Pink-Whistle?"Or don't girls wear them now?"
    "Oh, of course they do!" said the shop-girl, and she measured and cut two fine hair-ribbons of blue silk for Eliza and Bonny. "Oh, and have the children shoes, sir? Did those get spoilt too?"
    "Well, Mrs. Spink didn't wash the shoes," said Mr. Pink-Whistle."But I remember seeing them in the kitchen—very poor old shoes, too. I'd better have four pairs, I think."
    So they chose brown shoes that they thought would fit the children—and then that was really all. The girl did everything up in a big parcel and gave it to Mr. Pink-Whistle. They beamed at one another, pleased to think of the secret they both shared.
    Mr. Pink-Whistle paid for the things. Then he said good-bye and went. He ran straight back to Mrs. Spink's. He nearly forgot to make himself disappear, but just remembered in time. Then he opened the door and marched in, unseen by anyone.
    Mrs. Spink was still upstairs with her