Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present 3 Read Online Free

meowed loudly, before padding over to where Lavender was sitting. He began to lick the side of the little pig’s face.
    ‘Urgh. I said come.’ Aunt Violet glared at the cat, which ignored her completely. ‘Have it your way, then. I think you’ve been infected by that ghastly pig.’
    She stomped upstairs and out of sight.
    ‘Lavender’s not ghastly,’ Clementine whispered as she disappeared. ‘You are!’
    Her mother and Uncle Digby remained silent, but they were both thinking exactly the same thing.

After lunch, Digby Pertwhistle met Clementine and Lavender at the back door. A chill wind had sprung up and Clementine had put on her favourite pink coat and long snuggly boots with lamb’s wool lining.
    Uncle Digby grabbed his scarf and coat from the rack beside the door and the trio set off for the village, armed with Lady Clarissa’s list.
    ‘Don’t forget the mail,’ she called after them.
    The garden was quiet but inside the marquee was a hive of activity, with Mr Smote and his assistants in the midst of their decorating. Two large stone lions now guarded the entrance to the tent.
    ‘Look at those!’ Clementine gasped. ‘How did they get there?’
    Uncle Digby pointed to a little tabletop truck with a crane on the back. ‘I think that’s how.’
    ‘People go to a lot of trouble for weddings, don’t they?’ Clementine marvelled as she hung back, trying to get another glimpse inside the marquee.
    ‘Come along, Clemmie, we’d best hurry up. I still have some polishing to finish when we get back.’ The old man lengthened his stride and Clemmie and Lavender ran to catch up.
    Even though she’d almost put Angus’s party completely out of her mind, Clementine couldn’t help wondering if there might be some mail for her at the store.
    By the time they crossed the stream and passed the church to arrive at Mrs Mogg’s store, Uncle Digby was completely out of breath.
    ‘Are you all right?’ Clementine asked as he sat down heavily on the bench outside.
    ‘Yes, yes, just a bit tired. Must be old age catching up with me.’ He smiled reassuringly at Clementine as she tied Lavender’s lead to one of the chair legs.
    Uncle Digby pushed open the door and the little bell tinkled. Clementine skipped in ahead of him to the toasty warmth of the shop. Today it smelt like hot pies and cinnamon. The old man pulled Lady Clarissa’s shopping list from his coat pocket while Clementine went straight to the counter.
    Margaret Mogg walked through from the flat that was attached to the back of the building.
    ‘Hello there, Clementine,’ she greeted the child warmly. ‘And what can I do for you today?’
    ‘Hello Mrs Mogg. Uncle Digby has a list and Mummy asked if I could collect the mail,’ Clementine said importantly.
    ‘Of course.’ Mrs Mogg turned to the pigeonholes behind the counter. Everyone in the village had their own little cubbyhole for the mail, as there was no postman in Penberthy Floss. ‘Well, that’s odd.’ She peered into the empty space. ‘Nothing here at all, Clementine.’
    Clemmie frowned. She didn’t want to think about Angus’s stupid party any more. She wasn’t going and that was that.
    Mrs Mogg thought it was very unusual. In fact, she couldn’t remember a day when there’d been no mail for Lady Clarissa. The woman was always winning competitions and seemed to get an awful lot of bills too.
    Mrs Mogg walked back to the counter and looked over at Clementine. ‘How are things coming along at the house?’
    ‘Very well, thank you. The marquee is up. That’s a fancy name for the tent,’ Clementine explained. ‘And Mr Smote is decorating it inside and he’s even put two giant lions at the entrance to stand guard.’
    Mrs Mogg gasped and put her hand to her mouth. ‘Lions?’
    ‘Oh, they’re not real. They’re made of stone. Uncle Digby said that it’s probably got something to do with the man who’s getting married. He’s from another country, and they have lions on their