Though Marjorie became accustomed to it afterward, it was not an easy matter to climb the rope ladder for the first time; but under Uncle Steve's direction she began to learn the trick of it, and safely reached the top. Agile Molly scrambled up as if she had been used to rope ladders all her life; but to timid Stella the climbing seemed an impossible feat. But Uncle Steve held the ladder firmly at the bottom, and Marjorie encouraged her from the top, while Molly threw herself flat on the porch and reached down a helping hand.
At last the three girls were safely on the little veranda, and the sensation was as delightful as it was strange. To sit on the little benches, high above the ground, and look out straight across the meadow; and then, turning to either side, to see the great limbs and branches of the old maple-trees, was indeed a fairy-tale experience.
Over the door swung a quaint little old-fashioned signboard, on which in gilt letters were the words "Breezy Inn."
With bewildering anticipations of further delight, Marjorie took her little key and unlocked the door.
Grandma and Uncle Steve, watching from below, heard shouts of joy as the girls disappeared through the doorway.
But in a moment they reappeared at the windows, and their beaming faces told the tale of their happiness.
"Good-by," called Uncle Steve, "the presentation is over and 'Breezy Inn' is yours. I've fastened the ladder firmly, so you can go up and down as you choose. The furnishings are your birthday present from Grandma, but we're going back now to a house that we can get into; and you children had better show up there about dinner-time. Meanwhile, have all the fun you can."
Grandma and Uncle Steve went away, leaving the children to explore and make acquaintance of "Breezy Inn."
It was a fairy house, indeed; and yet, though tiny, everything seemed to be just large enough.
The interior of the house was one large room; and a smaller room, like an ell, at the back. The large room contained the front door and two front windows, also a window at each end. The smaller room had no outer exit, but three windows gave ample light and air.