But now the robin attracted all their attention. He came to a stand just in front of their window, and then looked up at them with the most unmistakable air of invitation.
'We're to go with him, I'm sure we are,' said Maia, beginning to dance with excitement; 'but how can we get to him? All the doors downstairs will be closed, and it's far too high to jump.'
Rollo, who had been leaning out of the window the better to see the robin, suddenly drew his head in again with a puzzled expression.
'It's very strange,' he said. 'I'm sure it wasn't there this morning. Look, Maia, do you see the top of a ladder just a tiny bit at this side of the window? I could get on to it quite easily.'
'So could I,' said Maia, after peeping out. 'It's all right, Rollo. She's had it put there for us. Look at the robin—he knows all about it. You go first, and when you get down call to me and tell me how to manage.'
Two minutes after, Rollo's voice called up that it was all right. Maia would find it quite easy if she came rather slowly, which she did, and to her great delight soon found herself beside her brother.
'Dear me, we've forgotten our hats and jackets,' she exclaimed. 'But it's not cold—how is that?'
'You haven't forgotten your—what is it you've got on?' said Rollo, looking at her.
'And you—what have you got on?' said Maia in turn. 'Why, we've both got cloaks on, something like the shawl we had for the air-journey, only they're quite, quite white.'
'Like the snow—we can't be seen. They're as good as invisible cloaks,' said Rollo, laughing in glee.