“It makes you look a girl! Take it off!”

George took it off in disappointment. How very aggravating that this girl Berta should make a better boy than she did! She threw the cap on the table, half-cross that they had bought it.

“Go upstairs and put some of the things on,” said Aunt Fanny, amused at all these goings-on. Up went Berta obediently, and soon came down again, neatly arrayed in grey shorts, grey shirt and blue tie.

Everyone roared with laughter. Berta was now quite enjoying herself and paraded round the room, her cap tilted on one side of her head.

“She looks like a very tidy, neat little boy, a good and most angelic child!” said Julian. “Dear Leslie, you must get yourself just a little dirty — you look too good to be true.”

“I don’t like getting dirty,” said Berta. “I think…”

But what she thought nobody knew because at that moment the door opened and Uncle Quentin came into the room.

“I’d like to know how you think I can do my work with all this hooting and cackling going on,” he began, and then he suddenly saw Berta, and stopped.

“Who’s this?” he said, looking Berta up and down.

“Don’t you know, Father?” said George.

“Of course not. Never seen him in my life before!” said her father. “Don’t tell me it’s somebody else come to stay.”

“It’s Berta,” said Anne, with a giggle.

“Berta — now who’s Berta?” said Uncle Quentin, frowning. “I seem to have heard that name before.”

“The girl you thought might be kidnapped,” explained Dick.

“Oh Berta—Elbur’s girl!” said Uncle Quentin. “I remember her all right. But who’s this? This boy? I’ve never seen him before. What’s your name, boy?”

“Leslie,” said Berta. “But I was Berta when you saw me at breakfast.”

“Good heavens!” said Uncle Quentin, amazed. “What a — what a transformation! Why, your own father wouldn’t know you. I hope I remember who you are. Keep reminding me, if I don’t.”

Off he went, back to his study. The children laughed, and Aunt Fanny had to laugh too.

“By the way,” she said, “I want you all to have lunch at home today, because it’s really too late now to start making sandwiches and packing baskets, it’s only cold ham and salad, so don’t get too hungry, will you!”

“Is there time for a bathe?” asked Julian, looking at his watch.

“Yes — if you’ll come in about twelve o’clock and pick the fruit for a pudding for lunch,” said his aunt. “It takes ages to pick enough for eight people, and Joan and I have a lot to do today.”

“Right. We’ll go for a bathe now, and then we’ll ALL pick fruit,” said Julian. “Bags I pick the plums. The raspberries are such fiddley little things.”

“Have you a swim-suit, Berta, I mean Leslie?” asked George.

“Yes. It’s an absolutely plain one, like a boy’s, so I’ll be all right in it,” said Berta. “Hurray, I shan’t need to wear a cap. Boys never do.”