CHAPTER XI

MARGERY MAKES A CUSTARD

“Oh, dear, but I jutht do wonder what the boyth are going to do!” lisped Tommy, as the motor boat started once more on its travels.

“There’s nothing very uncertain, in their own minds,” laughed Harriet.  “Just see how fast they’re going.  They’ve decided upon something.”

“They’re going back to their camp, but I’ve an idea they’re going to come over soon,” guessed Hazel, “and make a regular search for us.”

“Something of that sort,” agreed Miss Elting.

“Well,” said Jane sagely, “from their speed and the comfortable way they’re all sitting, I’m sure the boys are not doing any guessing about their plans.”

“No.  They’ve pathed the guething over to uth,” lisped Tommy sagely.

“Anyway,” said Jane McCarthy, “if our friends can’t find us, then our enemies can’t, either.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Harriet nodded.

“I wish I knew what the boys’ plan is.  At any rate we must begin to think of outwitting them a second time.”

“How?” asked Hazel eagerly.

“Oh, I have the greatest scheme!  That is, if they come back again,” added Harriet.  “We will just have those boys so mystified that they won’t know what they are doing.”

“What do you propose to do?” asked Hazel.

“That is a dark secret.  We won’t even whisper it to the little birds yet, lest they carry it to our friends the tramps.  I have an idea that our friends will be back here to-night.  Just what they are going to do I don’t know, but I think they are going to spy on the farmhouse.  I wish they would come over to our Island of Delight.  There are a number of things we could do to puzzle them.  And then—­”

“And then the wise housekeeper forgot all about her supper,” interrupted Miss Elting, amid a chorus of laughter and many blushes from Harriet, who, in the excitement of planning to get the better of George Baker and his friends, had forgotten her household duties.

“Very good.  I will confess that I have been dilatory.  What do you girls wish for supper?”

“The same old thing—­the old stand-by, bacon and eggs and coffee, and—­”

“I know what I am going to have,” interrupted Margery.  “I’m going to have some custard.  I haven’t had any custard since I left home.”

“Can you make it?” asked the guardian.

“Of course I can.”

“You are quite sure of that?” teased Harriet.

“I guess I know.  I’ve made it ever so many times.  You will like it, if you get a chance to eat any of it.  I am making this for myself.”

“Thelfithh,” jeered Tommy.  “Make me thome plum pudding and thome angel food while you are about it.  I jutht love angel food and plum duff, ath my father callth it.”

“Custard is good enough for you, Tommy Thompson,” laughed Margery.  “May I make the custard, Miss Elting?”