"Hello!" said Meg.
Apparently the little girl had not heard her coming, for she jumped when Meg spoke and turned swiftly. Then she shrieked loudly and dashed for the house. Peter came out at once.
"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.
