Jane, however, would have no part in the pretense.
“We have to do this right or it won’t work,” Veve instructed the Brownies. “Everyone close her eyes.”
“Not I!” announced Jane.
“Now everyone wish very hard for a beautiful little house right above our heads in this oak,” went on Veve, ignoring Jane. “Wish hard, hard, HARD.”
Jane snickered.
“Where’s your tree house?” she teased. “I don’t hear any hammering.”
“The charm didn’t work because you wouldn’t wish,” Veve retorted crossly.
“It didn’t work because there aren’t any brownies,” corrected Jane. “Of all the silly ideas—”
A stone clattered down the hillside, rolling and bouncing until it came to rest almost at the base of the oak tree.
“What was that?” Jane interrupted herself, startled by the sound.