Bobby opened the bag and took out four packages neatly wrapped in paper and tied with cord.
“How’ll we know which is which?” he asked.
“That’s for you to find out,” returned his aunt, giving him a kiss.
Mother Blossom sat down on the bed and began talking in a low tone to Aunt Polly and the four children raced downstairs and out to the garage to open their presents. They liked the garage because there was plenty of space to play in, where, indeed, they had four empty rooms above the first floor for their own uses.
This morning they rushed upstairs so fast that they never thought of Philip till, as they reached 29 the top step, Meg looked back and saw the little dog painfully hobbling after them on his three good legs.
“He wants to come, too,” she said. “Here, Philip, come on up, good doggie.”
Philip managed to finish his climb and then lay down on the floor, panting, but satisfied to be where his friends were.
“I’ll give each one a package,” Bobby decided. “Then we’ll open them, one at a time, like Christmas. You first, Meg.”
Meg ripped the string off her parcel with a single motion and pulled off the paper in such a hurry that she tore it in two. Meg always hurried to solve mysteries.
“Why, it’s a game!” she cried, when she had opened the box. “All in pieces. Look!”