Eve Garnett

The Family from One End Street

1957. Puffin Classics, 2004.

At last they reached an entrance to the Park...There seemed to be hundreds and hundreds of carts and horses of all kinds drawn up in a line that stretched far out of sight. Coal Carts, Railway Vans, Brewers' Wagons, and last, but certainly not least, Dust Carts: and dust carts of every description, and all - horses and carts - looking more like something out of the most expensive toy-shop than anything in real life!

The Ruggles family has come to see the London Cart Horse Parade, held every Easter in Regent's Park (it has since been moved to West Sussex). Waiting for it to start, the children go off to the 'Play Park' near the Lake. Their long absence causes some concern and mother sets off to investigate.

As Mrs. Ruggles neared the crowd, Kate ran to meet her. "Oo, Mum, come quick!" she cried, pulling her mother by the hand and stuttering in her excitement. "P-Pamela's in the Lake and a p-policeman says our Peg's been s-stealing!"...Sure enough, there was Peg, howling in the arms of a policeman, and Pamela, not in the Lake, but dripping on land and howling too, while Lily Rose and a Park-keeper did their best to wring the water out of her pink silk flounces!... "This your little girl?" inquired the policeman, indicating Peg. "You'd better teach her can't pick flowers in Public Parks," he added sternly, and deposited the howling Peg in her mother's arms; to her horror Mrs. Ruggles beheld a large bunch of choice pink roses in one of Peg's fat hands