Rosy Posy was too little to have a special chum, so Boffin was her companion.
Leaf-houses was a favorite game with all of them, and soon the three guests came skipping through the gate.
The leaves had been raked from the lawn, but down in the orchard they were on the ground like a thick carpet. The orchard had many maples and elms, as well as fruit trees, so there were leaves of all sorts.
"Isn't it fun to scuffle through 'em!" said Marjorie, as she led the way, shuffling along, almost knee-deep in the brown, dry leaves.
"More fun to roll!" cried Dick, tumbling down and floundering about.
Down went Rosy Posy in imitation of Dick's performance, and then they all fell into the leaves, and burrowed about like rabbits.
Presently Marjorie's head emerged like a bright-eyed turtle poking out from its shell, and shaking the dead leaves out of her curls, she said: "Come on, let's make houses. King, won't you and Dick get some rakes?"
The boys flew off to the toolhouse, and came back with several rakes, both wood and iron ones.
"Here's all we can find," said King. "Some of us can rake, and some can build things."
They all set to work with a will, and soon two houses were in process of construction.