Emily Feather and the Chest of Charms Read Online Free Page B

by the way. He noticed the After Eights had gone.”
    â€œHow did a mouse that small eat a whole bag of Maltesers?” Emily said, peering at Brownie. He was very tiny, but having said that, he was making good progress on the chocolate digestive. Slow but steady. He just had to keep stopping to suck chocolate off his whiskers.
    â€œWell, I might have helped him a bit. And I had a couple of After Eights too. And I did have to give Gruff one, because he was being a bit jealous about Brownie. But Dad said half the box was gone and that just wasn’t true. Anyway, he’s a chocolate mouse, Ems. He’s just made that way. And you were the one who made him, so you can’t complain. In fact, I think it’s your duty to help me feed him properly. Can you make us some brownies?”
    Robin stared at her pleadingly and Emily was sure that the mouse had understood too. He stopped eating and his ears seemed to prick up. There was definitely an excited, hopeful look in his tiny, dark-chocolate eyes.
    â€œI’ll make some later, I promise. But I need to talk to you about something important first.”
    Robin sat up, hugging Brownie against him tightly. The little mouse peered accusingly at Emily over the top of Robin’s fingers. “What have you done now?” Robin whispered crossly. “Please tell me you haven’t rescued another random water sprite? You’re going to get me into so much trouble with Mum and Dad!”
    â€œIt’s nothing like that!” Emily swallowed. “And it isn’t my fault, this time, anyway. It’s Lory. I’m worried about her.”
    Robin snorted. “Why? Lory can look after herself, Emily. Better than you can.”
    â€œIt’s that boy. None of us like him, have you noticed that? Lark really doesn’t—”
    â€œBecause she’s jealous! She’s not used to Lory wanting to hang around with someone who isn’t her.”
    â€œMaybe. But I don’t think it’s just that.” Emily frowned. “He hasn’t met Mum or Dad. They haven’t even seen him out of the window, or anything like that. How come? Should he be able to do that?”
    Robin looked at her seriously and Emily realized he was finally paying proper attention to what she was saying. “No. No, he shouldn’t. Are you sure? Dad doesn’t know anything about him?”
    â€œMum said he didn’t. He’d have told her, wouldn’t he?”
    â€œI suppose so…”
    â€œWhat does it mean?” Emily asked nervously. “Is Dan one of you?”
    â€œNo!” Robin laughed scornfully. “I’d be able to tell. Unless he had really amazing disguise spells. And Lory would know, wouldn’t she? Don’t be stupid.”
    Emily bit her lip to stop herself saying something grumpy back. She had a feeling that Robin was being so rude about it because he wasn’t actually certain he was right. And he was scared.
    â€œCan people do disguise spells like that?”
    â€œYes,” Robin muttered. “But you have to be very strong. It’s like when Lark and Lory were telling you about make-up, remember? You asked why didn’t they just do it with magic, but it’s not so easy, because you have to keep the spell going for so long, and make sure it’s the same every time someone sees you. Same for a disguise spell.” He shook his head. “He really can’t be one of us. I’m sure I’d know.”
    He didn’t look very sure, though, and Brownie had stopped eating the biscuit, as if he could feel that something was wrong – although it could just have been that he was full. Emily reckoned he’d already eaten at least his own weight in digestive. The little mouse pattered down Robin’s arm and on to the bedside table, where he crawled inside one of Eva’s pretty painted teacups. Robin must have borrowed it from the kitchen. It was lined with what looked