The twins had spent the day grubbing in the garden.  “Hunting grasshoppers,” Twaddles said, as Mother Blossom buttoned him into a clean blouse for supper.

“Why, it’s months too early for grasshoppers,” said Meg scornfully.  “They never come till it’s hot in the summertime.  How can you be so silly, Twaddles?”

“Huh!” was the best response Twaddles could make to this remark, but when he was ready to go downstairs he slipped into Meg’s room.  Her blue serge skirt and a fresh middy blouse lay over a chair and Twaddles knew she would wear them to school the next day.  With a quick glance toward the door he slipped something into the pocket of the blouse, which was stitched into the turned up hem.

“Twaddles!” called Dot.  “Twaddles!  Hurry up.  Mother says she wants to tell us something.  Come on down.”

Mother Blossom was smiling as though something pleased her very much.

“Come into the living-room, children,” she said, as the four little Blossoms came running downstairs.  “Daddy has telephoned that he won’t be home to supper and we may take a few minutes to hear my news.  Do you think you would like to go to Apple Tree Island?”

“Apple Tree Island?” repeated Twaddles, who never could keep still.  “Is it a place, Mother?”

“A beautiful place, darling,” she assured him.  “It has green grass and gray rocks and crooked old apple trees and is set down in the center of the prettiest lake you ever saw.”

“Who lives there, Mother?” asked Meg.  “Are we going visiting?”

“Not exactly visiting,” explained Mother Blossom.  “You know Daddy’s friend, Mr. Winthrop?  He owns a bungalow on Apple Tree Island, and this summer he and his family are going to England.  He has told Daddy that we may have the use of this house if we care to go up to the lake.”

“Let’s go!” cried Dot instantly.  “Won’t it be fun to live on an island like Robinson Crusoe?  When are we going, Mother?”

Mother Blossom laughed.

“That is for Daddy to say,” she answered.  “I’m not sure that we are really going.”

CHAPTER IV

TWADDLES’ GRASSHOPPER

Apple Tree Island was the main topic of conversation at the table that night.  The four little Blossoms were wildly excited at the prospect of going on an island to live, and Twaddles had a secret idea that one swam out to it from the mainland.

“I haven’t told you the very nicest part of the plan,” said Mother Blossom, as she served the pudding.  “If we go, and mind you, children, nothing is definitely settled yet, Daddy will drive us in the new car and we’ll stop at Brookside to see Aunt Polly!”

They were all in bed long before Father Blossom came home, and the next morning Meg and Bobby hurried off to school, leaving the twins to talk about the proposed trip.

“I’ll tell you the story of Apple Tree Island to-night,” Father Blossom had promised them at breakfast.  “I think I can safely say that we will go in a week or so, or as soon as Mother can get you ready and make her plans.  I have to get some equipment for the car, too.”