mystery. I want you, Son," and he turned with a kindly look to Mr.
Bunker, "and I want your wife and the six little Bunkers."

"Maybe the children will be afraid of the ghost," said their mother.

"We won't tell them anything about it," said Grandpa Ford with a laugh.
"They'll never know a thing about it."

If he had only seen Russ and Rose listening on the porch under the
window!

"Well, as long as they don't know about it, I don't see that they can be
frightened," said Mr. Bunker. "As you say, it is queer, but maybe Mr.
Ripley can explain the queer noises and other things."

"Maybe he can," agreed Grandpa Ford. "That's what I came on to see
about, and I'll take you all back with me."

"But it will soon be cold weather," objected Mother Bunker.

"All the better!" laughed Grandpa Ford. "There is no nicer place in the
world in winter than Great Hedge. The big hedge made of what are almost
trees, keeps off the cold north wind. We always have plenty of snow up
in New York state, and the children will have no end of good times. You
must all arrange to come back with me."

"Well, I suppose we'll have to," said Mrs. Bunker. "But we won't say
anything to the children about the ghost."

"Unless they find it out for themselves," remarked Daddy Bunker. "And if