“Well, we could have a little stove,” Veve defended her idea. “It would make the house cozy and nice on chilly days.”
“Let’s be content with the room as it is,” said Miss Gordon.
“You don’t really think we’d get a stove if we wished for it?” Veve demanded.
“Probably not,” laughed Miss Gordon. “This oak tree seems to have large ears however. Even though one can’t believe in magic, strange things have happened here--delightful but amazing things. I simply can’t understand who would give us this little house.”
“You’re certain you didn’t arrange to have it built for us as a nice surprise?” questioned Rosemary.
“Gracious, no!” the teacher denied. “The house was as much of a shock to me as to anyone else.”
“Mr. Karwhite says he didn’t do it either,” commented Connie, thinking aloud. “He smiles whenever he speaks of the tree house though. I think he must know who built it or at least have an idea.”
“I intend to talk to him,” said the Brownie leader. “I’d like to know who built the place, if only to express our appreciation.”
Knowing that they must make haste, the girls hurriedly left the tree house. Walking carefully on the slippery steps, they descended single file to the ground.
“Miss Gordon is right!” Connie announced as they started away from the clearing. “It’s certainly going to rain again.”
Miss Gordon was somewhat disturbed to note how swiftly the clouds were moving.
“We must hurry, girls,” she urged. “I think we can make it to the gatehouse at least.”
The Brownies walked as fast as they could, but the trail was muddy. Often they had to make little detours to avoid deep patches of surface water. Mud caked on their galoshes and had to be dug off with sticks. Drippy bushes splattered droplets, dampening their uniforms.
“I feel like an elephant walking!” laughed Veve, lifting up an overshoe encased foot which was heavy with muck. “Here I go! Plop! Plop! Plop!”
“Never mind the comedy,” called Miss Gordon from the head of the line. “If we don’t move faster, the storm will catch us again.”
Made uneasy by the darkening of the trail, the girls heeded their leader’s warning.
Even though they walked fast, they were far from the gatehouse when rain again began to fall. The drops were smaller this time, but they came down steadily.