"Guess you frightened her," he said. "And Christopher Columbus, I don't wonder. You look like a band of Indians let loose."
"My! we forgot these clothes," said Bobby. "Meg didn't mean to frighten her. Look at Twaddles--she scared him pretty near stiff yelling like that."
Mrs. Cook came out to the wagon presently, to tell Peter that she would come the next week. She was a little thin, brown-faced woman, and she was even shyer than Dot, who usually shrank out of sight when there were any strangers around.
"These Miss Polly's 'lations?" asked Mrs. Cook, twisting her apron nervously.
"Every one of 'em," announced Peter. "These, ma'am, are the four little Blossoms!"
"We didn't mean to scare your little girl," said Meg bravely. "I guess she thought we were Indians. These are just play clothes."
"Emma Louise scares easy," said Mrs. Cook. "All my children do."
"How many have you?" asked Twaddles, meaning to be polite.
"Nine," replied Mrs. Cook serenely. "Four boys and five girls."
"We have to be going, if we get back in time for supper," hinted Peter, gathering up the reins. "I'll tell the Missus you'll walk down Tuesday morning, then, and I'll drive you home at night."
"Wait a minute," begged Dot, as Peter was about to turn Terry. It was the first word she had spoken since they had reached the Cook house. "Give these to the little girl."
It was the chain of gay-colored beads Dot wore around her neck with the Indian dress, and Mrs. Cook's face wrinkled into a smile of delight.
"Emma Louise will love 'em," she declared brightly. "I'm much obliged."
Dot was too shy to say anything, but she blushed and smiled and inwardly wished that Peter would drive on. Soon they were going down the mountain again.
"Aunt Polly's at home!" shouted Dot, as they turned into the drive and she saw a white figure rocking in the porch swing.
Aunt Polly was very glad to see them, and she had not been worried because Jud had told her where the children had gone. The milking was done, she said, and everything fed, so if they would get washed and dressed right away for supper, Linda would put it on the table while they were upstairs.
"Linda looked as if she'd been crying," said Meg, slipping off the Indian dress and pulling on a clean white piqué. "Her eyes were all red."