costumes.â
The Aldens stopped at their car and got their suitcases. Then they went with Linda to a small log cabin at one end of the green. There was a lantern on the front steps. Linda lit the lantern with a match, and led the children inside. By the flickering light of the lantern, the children saw they were in a square room. Across from the door was a large stone hearth with a cast iron pot hanging in the center. A simple wooden table stood in the middle of the room. On either side of the room was a door leading into two smaller rooms.
âJessie and Violet can sleep here,â Linda said, leading the children into the small room on the left. There was a double bed with a wooden frame, fluffy pillows, and a patchwork quilt pulled over it. âAnd the room on the other side has a double bed for you and Henry,â Linda told Benny.
âDid Thomas Heathcliff live here?â asked Benny.
âNo, he lived in the farmhouse at the other end of the village,â Linda said. âThis little cabin was for his guests. And itâs still used just for extra-special guests.â
âItâs wonderful!â cried Violet.
âIt reminds me of the boxcar days,â said Benny.
âIf you need anything, I sleep in the apartment over my office, which is right next door,â Linda said.
âWeâll be fine,â Jessie assured her. âWe like being on our own.â
âNow that youâre settled, Iâm going back to my hotel,â Grandfather said. âIâll meet you at the tavern at lunchtime tomorrow.â
âSee you!â Benny said, giving his grandfather a big hug.
âGood night!â the other children called out as Linda and Grandfather closed the door behind them.
The Aldens woke up the next morning to sunlight streaming through the tiny windows of their cabin. Linda had given them colonial costumes the night before, and the children put them on excitedly. The blouses and skirts fit Jessie and Violet perfectly. âLook how cute you look!â Jessie said, helping Violet tie on her bonnet.
Benny put on his shirt and his breeches, which were a little bit too long. âThese were the smallest pair Linda could find,â Henry said.
Jessie rolled the breeches up at the waist, and fastened them with safety pins she had in her suitcase. She was very organized and always came prepared.
Henry looked quite handsome in his blue breeches and vest. âDonât forget your hat, Benny.â He handed his brother the three-cornered hat. Benny had just finished buckling his shoes, and was jumping about in his new outfit.
Linda had told them to go to the print shop that morning and help Eric.
âWhat about breakfast?â Benny asked as he helped Jessie smooth the quilts over the beds.
âRemember we saw that little bakery yesterday? We can get something there,â Violet suggested.
âBut I donât remember where it was,â Benny said, following the others out of the cabin.
âI think we should be able to find it pretty easily,â Jessie said, breathing in deeply.
âWeâll just follow our noses!â said Henry.
Sure enough, the Aldens could smell something delicious drifting their way. They walked toward the scent, and soon found themselves in front of the small bake shop. Over the door hung a wooden sign shaped like a loaf of bread, and through the window they could see baskets of fresh-baked rolls and muffins on the countertop.
Each of the Aldens bought a muffin: corn for Jessie, cranberry for Henry and Violet, and blueberry for Benny. The woman behind the counter also sold them cups of milk, although she explained that in colonial times, they would have had to milk their own cow.
âIâm glad we donât have to do that,â Benny said.
The Aldens sat on a bench outside the bakery and ate the warm muffins and drank the cold milk.
After breakfast, they headed to the print shop, which was on the other