Five on a Hike Together

“ANNE!” shouted George, running after her cousin as she went along to her classroom. “Anne! I’ve just been down to the letter-board and there’s a letter from your brother Julian. I’ve brought it for you.”Anne stopped. “Oh thanks,” she said. “What can Julian want? He only wrote a few days ago—it’s most extraordinary for him to write again so soon. It must be something important.”“Well, open it and see,” said George. “Hurry up—I’ve got a maths class to go to.”Anne ripped open the envelope. She pulled out a sheet of notepaper and read it quickly. She looked up at George, her eyes shining.“George! Julian and Dick have got a few days off at our half-term week-end! Somebody’s won a wonderful scholarship or something, and the boys have got two days tacked on to a week-end to celebrate! They want us to join them in a hike, and all go off together.”“What a glorious idea!” said George. “Good old Julian. I bet he thought of that. Let’s read the letter, Anne.”