"Why do I want to cry, Mother?" Meg kept asking. "What makes me sorry?"
"'Cause we don't know where Mrs. Harley went," asserted Twaddles wisely.
"That's it, darling," said Mother Blossom tenderly.
From the Harley shack, the Blossoms went down to the shore and, by using Father Blossom's field glasses, were able to see the two islands that lay to the north of Apple Tree Island and which, rumor said, were used by smugglers. But the children could not forget the Harleys, and as they continued their walk around the island they discussed the mysterious disappearance of Mrs. Harley and the children.
"I wish we could find 'em!" said Meg earnestly. "Wouldn't that be fine, Bobby?"
"Yes. But how can we?" replied the practical Bobby. "They aren't on the island, and we are. Perhaps they went to China."
"I'm so sorry for Mr. Harley," struck in Dot. "Do you remember his little boys, Bobby?"
Bobby wasn't sure.
"I don't think I do," he answered cautiously. "If one of 'em wore a blue sailor suit with a red tie and the other had long pants, then I do; I'll ask Mother."
"My dear little son!" exclaimed Mother Blossom, laughing when Bobby asked her if the Harley boys wore such clothes. "They were little fellows, about the size of Twaddles—how could one of them wear long trousers? And you were eight months old, just a little baby. You are thinking of some other boys you have seen."