And it was in bringing his toy balloon home, on the end of a long string,
letting it float in the air over his head that Mun Bun had had the
accident at the tree when the blown-up rubber bag got caught in the
branch. He wouldn't leave it, of course, and Rose ran to tell her mother.
That's how it all happened.

"Well, come in to lunch now!" called Mrs. Bunker to the other children,
who were, playing in the yard. "And don't go away from the house this
afternoon. It's quite warm, and I don't want any of you to go off in the
blazing sun. If you do we can't go to Grandma Bell's."

This was enough to make them all promise they would spend the afternoon in
the shade near the house, while Mrs. Bunker and Norah went on with the
packing of the trunks. A great many things must be taken along on the
visit to Maine, when so many children have to be looked after. They used
up much clothing.

"How long're we going to stay at Grandma Bell's?" asked Russ, as he left
the dining-room after lunch.

"Oh, perhaps a month," his mother answered. "She told us to come and stay
as long as we liked, but I hardly think we shall be there all summer."

"Shall we come back home?" asked Rose.

"I hardly know," said Mrs. Bunker. "We may go to visit some of your
cousins or aunts--land knows you have enough!"

"Oh, wouldn't it be fun if we could go out West to Uncle Fred's ranch?"