However, of all their games and pastimes, the one of which the four little Blossoms never tired, was to go and play around the ruins of the Harley shack.  The island was so safe a place, such an ideal playground for little people, that Father and Mother Blossom felt no uneasiness no matter where the children went.  They must be home punctually to meals and they must not go in the water anywhere without asking permission and then only on the bathing beach if no older person was with them.  These few rules were all they had to remember and it was small wonder that they often said Apple Tree Island was the nicest place in the world!  Aunt Polly had sent Bobby a little watch and he could “tell time” nicely; so no matter how far they wandered they had no excuse for not coming back to the bungalow when Mother Blossom set them a time limit.

“Let’s go to Mr. Harley’s house,” suggested Meg one bright morning.

That was the way they always spoke of the forlorn shack—­it was “Mr. Harley’s house.”

“All right, let’s,” agreed Bobby.  “I’ll ask Mother if we can take our lunch.  We don’t want the twins this time, do we?”

Bobby and Meg had been washing the breakfast dishes while Mother Blossom, at the pretty desk in the large hall, was making out a grocery list for Father Blossom to take to town on the morning boat.  Meg and Bobby were learning to be the best little helpers one ever saw; in fact, this Summer all the children had learned a great deal about housekeeping and they meant to astonish Norah with their knowledge when they went home.

“I think it would be nice if we could play by ourselves,” said Meg gently, in answer to Bobby’s question.

Meg and Bobby sometimes felt that they would like to play a game without the aid of Dot and Twaddles.  Not that they did not love the small sister and brother dearly, but Meg and Bobby usually liked to do the very same thing in the very same way, and Dot and Twaddles were apt to want to do it six different ways and all at once!  That, as you may understand, occasionally led to disputes.

“Take your lunch and play at Mr. Harley’s house?” said Mother Blossom, laying down her pencil and smiling at the two earnest faces.  “I don’t know why not.  I’ll put some sandwiches up for you as soon as I finish this list.”

“And may just Meg and I go, Mother?” added Bobby coaxingly.

“Oh, Bobby, you know the twins will be disappointed,” Mother Blossom replied.  “They do love to poke around that shack and I’m afraid they will feel hurt if they think you do not want them.”

She tapped her pencil absently on the desk for a moment.

“I tell you, children,” she cried, putting an arm around each.  “Suppose you and Meg, Bobby, go on to the shack and play by yourselves this morning; then, at noon, I’ll send the twins with lunch for all of you and you stay an hour or two longer and play with them.  How will that be?”