"Well, I can do that for you," and the old man smiled again at the two children. "Come," he said, and he held out a hand to each of them.
Bunny and Sue toddled along. They were quite happy now. They did not stop to think that their parents and their grandparents might be worried, for it was quite late. Bunny and Sue did not often worry. They just let things happen the way they would.
"Here's my house," said the hermit, after he had gone along a winding path. He pointed to a log cabin amid the trees.
"Oh, that's nice!" exclaimed Bunny.
"It's like a play-house!" cried Sue. "Don't you wish we had that, Bunny?"
"Yes, I do. But we couldn't have it; could we?" and he looked up into the face of the hermit.
"No, I'm afraid not, little boy. I need it to live in, and to keep the rain and snow from me."
"Oh, do you stay here in the winter?" asked Sue, surprised.
"Yes."
"Isn't it cold?"