“Yes,” said Meg, dreamily.
“Would you two like to belong to me?”
Meg’s hands dropped, and she turned her shining eyes.
“I’ve been talking to your Aunt Matilda about that big house of mine,” he went on. “It’s empty. There’s too much room in it. I want to take you two, and see if you can fill it up. Will you come?”
“IT’S A QUEER SIGHT,” SHE SAID TO JOHN HOLT.
Meg and Robin turned their eyes upon each other in a dazed way.
“Will we come?” they stammered.
“Mrs. Jennings is willing,” said John Holt. “You two have things to do in the world. I’ll help you to learn to do them. You,” with the short laugh—“you shall tell me fairy stories.”
Fairy stories! What was this? Their hearts beat in their breasts like little hammers. The gondola moved smoothly over the scintillating water, and the jewel-strung towers and domes rose white against the lovely night. Meg looked around her, and uttered a little cry.