Jud had taken the automobile over to the one garage the week before and it was not ready yet.
“Now try to amuse yourselves and don’t get into mischief,” cautioned Aunt Polly, as Jud brought Nelly Bly and the buggy to the door. “I’m sorry I have to leave you when Linda is away, but you’ll be all right. Jud will be within call, and I’ll be back about five. I’m going to pick up Linda and bring her back.”
“What are you going to do, Jud?” asked Dot, as Aunt Polly drove out of the gate. Dot was in a clean dry dress and none the worse for her ducking.
“Can’t we help you?” asked Meg kindly.
“Now look here,” Jud said, in his pleasant, slow voice. “I’m going to be all-fired busy in the back garden. If anything frightens you, sing out and I’ll hear you. If you want to talk to any one, go down to the house, and Mother will listen to you. But please don’t bother me.”
“But what’ll we do?” persisted Bobby.
Jud pointed to the tent that had been Father Blossom’s surprise.
“Play Indians, why don’t you?” he suggested. “Don’t believe you’ve had those clothes on three times since you got ’em. If any one had sent me a tent when I was a kid, you couldn’t have kept me from playing with it.”
“We might as well play Indian,” said Meg, when Jud had gone off to his garden, whistling. “Dot and I’ll put on our suits and you and Twaddles wear yours. I wish I had a tomahawk.”