It was the same all over the factory. Everywhere the teddy bears went they were confronted with dolls or toy animals or soldiers or the Pipps children. When the bears tried to escape into the streams, the mermaids and rubber ducks soon got them back out again.
Finally, everyone had gathered back in the foyer to stare down at four big sacks full of wriggling teddy bears.
“Marvellous!” Hoggle exclaimed, rubbing his hands together with glee. “Is that all of them, captain?”
Hoggle was speaking to one of the toy soldiers, who stood to attention and said, “Yes, sir, that’s the lot. We’ve gone around the entire factory and there are no bears left.”
“At last,” Hoggle said.
“You need to put them back in your grandfather’s trunk,” Betty said, and she gave the sacks a wary look. “It’s got a padlock attached on the outside, so they won’t be able to pick it from in there.”
“I’ll put them straight in,” Hoggle said with a nod. He smiled at the goblin and said, “That was a marvellous job you did, bringing those toys to life. Simply marvellous.” He adjusted his top hat and added, “Perhaps you and I could be partners, Betty? With your magic and my craftsmanship, I have a feeling that Betty and Hoggle’s Toy Factory would make the most wonderful toys the world has ever seen. We’d share the profits, of course.”
Betty gave Hoggle a wide grin and shook his hand. “It’s a deal,” she said.
“This has been a real adventure, but we should be going,” Tess said, glancing towards the windows. It was getting dark outside and she knew that her mother would be starting to worry about them.
“I must fetch your wages first,” Hoggle said. “After all, you’ve worked hard, even though it was at a different job than you’d thought.”
“Do you think there might still be jobs for us here?” Tess asked hopefully. “It’s just that we really do need the money to save our farm. And you’ll need people to help if you’re going to start making toys again, won’t you?”
“Indeed, yes,” Hoggle replied, looking pleased. “If you’d like to come back at the same time tomorrow, I’m sure I’ll find jobs for you.”
“Oh, thank you!” Tess said. She was thinking of the cows back home and that perhaps they might be able to save them after all. “Well, we’ll see you tomorrow, then—”
“Wait a moment,” Hoggle said. “I owe you four a great deal.” He looked thoughtful and rubbed his chin. “In fact, I think you have all earned a special bonus. How about a toy each to take home?”
The children gasped.
“To keep?” Stacy squealed.
“Absolutely,” Hoggle replied. “You may each pick one toy.”
“Oh, I’d just love one of the mermaid dolls!” Stacy said.
“I’d like a toy soldier!” Niles cried.
“Can I take Betty?” Oliver asked, looking longingly at the goblin.
“Betty isn’t a toy,” Tess said, and tutted at Oliver. “Plus you just heard that she’s going to be Hoggle’s new partner.”
“Perhaps you could come to our house for tea, then?” Oliver suggested to Betty.
The goblin pulled another bogey from her nose and inspected it on the end of her finger. “Would your parents mind?” Betty asked.
“Perhaps we could meet you in the woods for a picnic instead,” Tess said.
“Well, if I can’t have Betty, then I’ll have a rubber duck,” Oliver announced.
“Say please,” Tess said.
“Please.”
“And you?” Hoggle asked, turning his bright blue eyes on Tess. “What would you like?”
Before Tess could even reply, the white rocking horse was whinnying and tugging at her sleeve.
Hoggle grinned. “It looks as if the toy has already chosen you,” he said.
Tess threw her arms around the rocking horse. Even though the toy was made of wood, the scent of real horses and sweet hay seemed to fill her nose.
“Thank you, Mr Hoggle,” Tess said. “I promise we’ll take good care of them.”
CHAPTER 12The Teddy-Bear Heart
The children were on their way home from the factory when Tess said, “Remember Dad’s rule about Hoggle toys? He might not let us have them in the house. I think we should keep our toys a secret for now.”
“How?” Stacy asked, and she clutched her mermaid doll to her chest. “Mum will probably be looking out for us from the window. She’s bound to see your horse.”
The white rocking horse neighed and nudged Tess gently.
“I know,” Tess said. “We’ll go round the back and hide the toys in the cowshed for now. We can smuggle them into the house later.”
So they did just that – finding a warm corner of the cowshed for the toys to nestle down for the night.
Then the children went around to the front door of the house where their mother was waiting for them on the doorstep.
“Oh, there you are!” she exclaimed, hurrying forwards to greet them. “You had me worried.”
“There was a lot of cleaning to do, Mum,” Tess said. “We didn’t realise it was so late.”
“Mr Hoggle should have made sure that you left on time,” their mother said, sounding annoyed. But then she smiled at them and said, “Well, you won’t have to go back anyway. I heard there was an absolute riot at the summer school when they tried to serve the health-food shop’s carrot juice and pickled vegetables. So the school won’t be using them any more and have re-ordered our chocolate milk and sugar mice.”
“They have?” Tess gasped.
Her mother nodded, beaming. “Yes, they’ve already paid us up front for the next year. So, you see, you won’t need to work at that toy factory after all.”
Tess glanced at her siblings, who all looked crestfallen.
“Actually, Mum,” Tess said, turning back to her.
