But when they reached it, Mr. Fairfield exclaimed in amazement. "That little house?" he said. "Oh, I see; that's the chicken-coop you spoke of. Well, where is the house?"
"This is the house," said Laura; "but, somehow, it does look smaller than usual; still, it's a great deal bigger inside."
"No doubt," said Frank. "I've often noticed that the inside of a house is much larger than the outside. Of course, we can't all go in at once, but I'm willing to wait my turn. Who will go first?"
"Very well, you may stay outside," said Laura. "I think the rest of us can all squeeze in at once, if we try."
But Frank followed the rest of the party, and, passing through the narrow hall, they entered the tiny parlour.
"I never was in such a crowded room," said Marian. "I can scarcely get my breath. I had no idea there were so many of us."
"Well, you're not going to live here," said Laura. "There's room enough for just Patty and her father."
"There is, if we each take a room to ourself," said Mr. Fairfield. "You may have this parlour, my daughter, and I'll take the library. Where is the library, Miss Russell?"
"I think it has just stepped out," said Frank; "at any rate, it isn't on this floor; there's only this room, and the dining-room, and a kitchen cupboard."
"Very likely the library is on the third floor," said Marian; "that would be convenient."