"MabelCHawley-FourLittleBlossomsOnAppleTreeIsland" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hawley Mabel C)

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."
So there was a story connected with this island which had such a pretty name! No
wonder the four little Blossoms thought it must be a wonderful place. They were
so anxious to be off that it seemed to them they simply could not be patient for
two long weeks.
"But school doesn't closeЧnot until the middle of May!" Meg voiced this
distressing thought when she and Bobby were at the Oak Hill school door. "Oh,
Bobby, wouldn't it be awful if every one went to Apple Tree Island except us!"
Bobby insisted that such a dreadful thing wasn't to be thought of, but the idea
troubled him all through the morning session. At noon, for he and Meg went home
to lunch, he asked Mother Blossom whether she thought he and Meg would be left
out of the island plan because of the fact that school would still be in session
when the Blossoms started.
"Why, my dear little son, what a notion!" cried Mother Blossom, kissing him
warmly. "As if we could be happy two seconds without you and Meg! Daddy and I
talked it over, and we decided, before I told you children of the plan, that if
we had to go before school closed it wouldn't be such a serious matter, because
you both have had excellent reports and the last school month is given over to
review work. If you and Meg have been attentive throughout the term, and Miss
Mason says you have, you can afford to miss a few weeks."
Bobby was immensely relieved and looked over at Meg to see if she did not share
his pleasure. Meg, however, was scowling at Twaddles, who seemed decidedly
uncomfortable.
"Mother!" Meg had been waiting for her mother's attention. "Mother, you ought to
see what Twaddles did to me this morning."
Bobby suddenly snickered.
"Oh, Mother," he giggled, "it was the funniest thing you ever saw! It hopped
right across Bertrand Ashe's foot and Meg went to pick it up and it went, plop!