"If I like! you know well enough the love I have for landscapes, and above all for seascapes! How do you get to it?"
"Follow me ... you shall see."
Marta started out toward a clump of pines situated not far from the house, and Ricardo followed her. The girl wore a marine blue dress with white lace trimmings, and she had on her head a straw hat with a wreath of red convolvulus.
"After we reach that grove, you are going to enjoy a surprise."
"Indeed?"
"Just wait and see!"
In fact, after they had reached the grove and had been walking some time in it, they came upon a grotto half covered up with trees and underbrush. Marta, without saying a word, entered it, and in two seconds disappeared from sight. Ricardo waited an instant in uncertainty and deep surprise; but a gay peal of laughter echoing from within startled him from his stupor.
"What does this mean? Don't you dare to come in, coward?"
"But, child, don't you see, you might get hurt!"
"Come in, come in, brave warrior!"