This was a new problem for Meg and she thought about it for several minutes.
“Dot and Twaddles can stay here,” she decided, “and if the man comes, they can tell him that I will bring his shirt back as soon as it is mended.”
But the twins did not take kindly to the idea of being left alone. They said they were going back when Jud went.
“Then you take the shirt, and I’ll stay,” said Meg, who seldom gave up a plan, once she had made it. “Please ask Linda to put the buttons on and mend the pocket and then you bring it right back.”
Jud looked doubtful at the thought of leaving Meg, even when Bobby declared he would stay with her.
“I have to go, for the children can’t get back alone,” he said, “but you mustn’t go away from here: I want to be able to find you when I bring the laundry home.”
Bobby and Meg laughed and promised to stay close to the bush. Meg folded up the shirt and stuffed it in Jud’s pocket, because she said 147 Dot would drop it in the water if she tried to carry it and Twaddles would want to play with it and might get it dirty. Then Meg and Bobby watched the three wade back and when they reached the opposite bank, they waved to them.
Though Jud had said they could not land, there was a narrow strip of ground firm enough to hold them and it was on this the bush grew where the unknown man had hung his washing.
“I don’t see any house for him to live in,” said Bobby curiously.