Chapter 5
Pip set off early for Fatty's in the morning.
"Goodbye, Bets! Hope you and Daisy don't pick us out too easily!" he called to his sister in the garden.
"I'm sure I'll know you anywhere, Pip!" laughed Bets. "But we shall see!"
Pip set off, whistling. As soon as he had disappeared down the road, Daisy arrived with a basket.
"Ooh, the gypsy clothes!" said Bets excitedly.
"Where can we dress, Bets?" Daisy asked. "Your mother will have a fright if she sees two gypsy girls coming down the stairs from your playroom!"
"I have already thought of that," replied Bets, proudly. "We can use our garden shed, just like Fatty does."
"Smashing," replied Daisy, and the two girls hastened over to the old shed at the bottom of the garden.
"Well, it's not as well-kept as Fatty's!" Daisy remarked as they went inside. "It's jolly dirty in here. We can rub the clothes on the floor for good measure!"
"Oh, look, there's my old dresser!" exclaimed Bets. "We can see how we look in the mirror before we leave."
Daisy pulled out two ragged dresses from the basket. "I thought we could wear these over our normal clothes," she explained. "It's jumble Mother had up in the attic. I believe they used to belong to our cook's daughter."
They put the shapeless dresses on over their clothes, looked at their reflections in the mirror and laughed.
"Mummy would certainly have a fright if she saw me dressed like this," said Bets. "But Daisy, what about our hair? Yours is dark but mine is blonde! I'll never pass as a gypsy girl!"
"We can wear these," said Daisy, pulling out two knitted woollen hats from the basket. "I can let my hair show but you'll have to tuck yours inside."
"Perfect," said Bets, happily. "And look here, Daisy! We really aren't brown enough as we are. Mummy had some make-up she didn't like and gave it to us for our dress-up box. I thought we could use it to make our faces darker like Fatty does."
"Well done, Bets!" Daisy was proud of the younger girl. They carefully applied the make-up to their faces. "Gosh, we look frightfully like gypsies. I shouldn't be surprised if old Goon tells us to clear-orf!"
They went outside to rub dirt onto their arms and legs.
"Don't forget to get some under your fingernails, Daisy," said Bets. "Remember that's how we spotted Fatty once!" They dug deep into the dirt and inspected each other's hands.
"Hie! You there! Get out of this garden!" The Daykin's gardener was shaking a rake in their direction. Bets and Daisy shrieked and ran outside and down the lane.
"You don't think he'll tell your mother, do you?" Daisy asked.
"I suppose he will," replied Bets. "But Daisy! He didn't recognise us! Our disguise must be working!"
"Jolly good!" said Daisy. "Well, it's about time to head to the market anyway. Let's go." They walked down the road for a few minutes before Bets shrieked.
"What is it?" asked Daisy.
"Our shoes!" cried Bets. Daisy looked down at the neat black Mary-Janes they were both wearing.
"Blow!" she said. "I suppose we'll have to take them off and go bare-foot when we get to the market."
"We shall have to remember to dirty our feet as well," said Bets. "Jolly good you remembered to bring your basket, Daisy!"
"I wonder if we shall spot the boys?" Daisy asked. "I feel certain I could pick Larry out."
"I said the same to Pip," said Bets. "I suppose we will soon see!"