By PHILIP ARDAGH
Tom Dashwood was up before the cock crowed, which wasn't as early as you might think because it was a Friday. Though the cock started crowing at dawn most days, it had a little lie-in on Fridays.
It was still pretty early however, and the servants had only been up five hours when Tom came into the great hall.
The straw the servants used for their bedding had been cleared away ages ago, and Cook had laid some breakfast on the long table.
Tom and his family didn't usually have breakfast together but this was not a normal Friday.
The day before, a big man had arrive at the Manor House. He wore a floppy hat shaped like a round, squishy loaf of bread. His name was Able Morris and he had been sent by Tom's uncle, Lord Dashwood, to take Tom back to Dashwood Castle so that the boy could train to be a page.
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Price: $14.95
Age group: 8 plus years
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The Green Men of Gressingham: Part 1
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