"Now we can have some fun!" added George.
"Oh, where'd you find them?" asked Martha and Anne in one breath.
"Never mind where—get into them and let's go to war," retorted John, taking his uniform to one of the bedrooms.
The outer door from the parlor to the corridor was well secured against surprise, and then the children quickly dressed in the uniforms. Canes left by the two gentlemen, and umbrellas, were perfectly satisfactory guns for the soldiers. One after the other they appeared in the parlor, and laughingly admired one another.
"Now what? We're all ready," said John.
"Martha, twist up your curls! Soldiers can't have such hair when they fight!" scorned George.
So Martha ran to her mother's room and pinned up her hair, keeping it on top of her head by dragging her father's travelling cap over it.
The boys also got their caps, and then they stood in line while George drilled them.
"This room is too small for any fun," said Jack.
"Can't we parade down the hallway? If we hear any one coming we can hide," suggested Martha.