"Yes, farms and things," Polly agreed. "They bring in fresh vegetables every morning."
"Don't talk of vegetables—I'm starved," said Margy, and they all owned that whether it was the riddles or the swim in salt water that was responsible, the fact remained that they were exceedingly hungry.
The three mothers had spent a busy morning, and the trunks were unpacked, light curtains hung at the doors and windows—"to take away the bare, rented look," Mrs. Marley explained—fresh towels and bureau scarfs distributed throughout the rooms, and, best of all, a substantial lunch cooked and waiting.
"Now, this afternoon you're to rest," announced Mr. Williamson. "Whatever these young Indians do, they mustn't make a single demand on any mother. If we are not careful every one will have a fine vacation except these mothers, who will work harder than they do at home."
"Oh, the worst is done now," Mrs. Williamson said quickly. "We're ready to keep house with as little fuss and trouble as possible. This afternoon we have planned to take our needlework down to the beach, if you'll put up the tent for us."
A large square of canvas was rolled up in the back hall, and this, Mrs. Meeker had explained, was to be tied over a simple frame of light wood that rested in the sand. This gave the sketchiest kind of a "tent," merely a protection from the sun, but affording a comfortable place to sit and read and sew. The beach at this end of the town was dotted with these tents, and here mothers sat for hours while their babies slept and the older children frolicked on the sands.
By the time the tent was up, the Riddle Club members had decided that what they needed was exercise, and they declared they would walk to the post-office, going by way of the beach. There could not be any mail yet, but it would be interesting to see the town and, as Artie remarked, it was their duty to know the location of the post-office. Artie had a lively sense of duty, and now and then his friends confused it with curiosity.
"Here comes a girl in a pink dress," said Margy, when they had walked about half a mile up the beach. "She looks something like Mattie Helms, doesn't she?"
Margy and Polly and Jess wore dark blue skirts and middy blouses, and the two girls coming toward them were dressed in fluffy light-colored frocks and one carried a blue parasol.