“I almost caught a crab,” she sputtered.
Before Bobby could tell her that crabs didn’t live in brooks, they had reached the piece of swamp land and all four children rushed for the fluttering bit of white which had attracted Bobby’s attention.
“Why, it’s a shirt!” said Twaddles in great disappointment.
Whatever he had expected to see, it certainly 144 wasn’t a shirt and he felt cheated. Jud had to laugh at the queer expression on his face.
Meg, however, did not laugh. She was eyeing the shirt closely and Jud saw that she had something on her mind. Perhaps Meg was his favorite among the children, if he had a favorite. He had once told Linda that Meg was a “regular little woman” and indeed, quiet as she was, she often saw things that other people did not notice.
“Jud,” she said now, “that shirt hasn’t any buttons on it and the pocket is ripped. And Linda brought her sewing basket.”
Bobby looked at his little sister as though he thought she was losing her mind.
“What’s a sewing basket got to do with it?” he demanded.
“It needs mending,” said Meg soberly. “Maybe the man who washed it hasn’t any needle and thread.”
The twins declared that everyone had needle and thread, but Jud rather spoiled their argument by announcing that he had none.