For ten minutes she continued to write, then called out:
“Come here, children, and sign this letter.”
“Never put your signature to a paper until you know what it’s all about,” Bee warned Mabel.
“Oh, you needn’t be so cautious. I was going to let you see what I wrote. Here!”
Patsy handed the letter to Bee.
Heads together, Mabel and Bee proceeded to read that which made them smile.
“Dear Wood Nymph,” the letter said. “Why won’t you come and play with us, instead of hiding away in the thickets? We are just four young girls like yourself, so you need not be afraid of us. We found the red book in the patio, so we know that you must have paid us a call yesterday while we were away from Las Golondrinas.
“Why don’t you come and see us when we are at home? We’d love to have you. The next time you see us at the bathing-beach please come out of the woods and show us that you are not a tricksy sprite but a real live girl like ourselves.
“We are placing this note in a book which we are sure you will like to read. We are going to leave the book on the sands just where you found the red book. After you have read it, won’t you bring it straight to us and get acquainted?
“Your friends,