“There’s the Pond!” called the practical Harold.
The children broke into a run.
They came out on a cleared space with a boat-house and a long jetty, leading from a newly-shingled shed into the water. “This is for the canoes,” Maida explained. She unlocked the door and showed a single wide empty room.
“Oh let’s go home and get the canoes and bring them down here,” Arthur explained. “I’m wild to try them.”
“It will take two to carry each canoe,” Harold explained, “and we need bathing suits.”
“There are bathing suits at home for all of us,” Maida explained. “Shall we turn back?” She asked this question politely, but she said it a little reluctantly.
Rosie seemed to see her reluctance.
“Did you have another plan, Maida?” Rosie demanded.
“Well you see,” Maida answered slowly, “there’s a gypsy camp half way round the Magic Mirror and I thought you might like to visit it.”