Carrying the heavy baskets, the Brownie Scouts trudged on to the Myles home.
Jane had been coached in her lines. When Mrs. Myles presently opened the door, she made a very pretty speech about being Little Red Riding Hood.
“And I’m the big bad wolf!” added Veve, not to be cut out of the act.
Mrs. Myles gazed at the two baskets filled to overflowing with attractively wrapped foods.
“Dear me!” she exclaimed. “Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, eh? And what is this?”
“Baskets of food we’ve brought through the woods,” said Jane quickly. “You’re supposed to be Grandma and take the gifts.”
“Come in, come in,” Mrs. Myles invited, belatedly thinking of her manners.
She seemed very flustered as she examined the many packages. The girls could not tell at first whether or not she was offended.
“Now I’m sure you have all of these things,” Miss Gordon said. “The Brownie Scouts like to be helpful, and they especially appreciated the way you gave them buttons the other day. I hope you don’t mind humoring them in this little game.”
“Mind?” Mrs. Myles laughed rather excitedly. “I’ve needed some of these things for a long while.” Aware that she was revealing too much about herself, the woman added hastily: “The grocery store is so far from here, I don’t buy as regularly as I should.”