“What a lovely path!” she exclaimed; “will it take us straight home? Are you sure it will?”
“Quite sure,” said Winfried. “You will see your way in no time if you run hand-in-hand.”
“What a funny idea,” laughed the child; and Mavis too looked pleased.
“I’m quite sure it’s a fairy road,” she was beginning to say, but, looking round, their little guide had disappeared. Then came his voice:
“Good-night,” he said cheerfully. “I’ve shut-to the stone door, and I’m up on the top of it. Good-night, little ladies. Run home hand-in-hand.”
The girls looked at each other.
“Upon my word,” exclaimed Ruby, not quite knowing what to say, “if old Adam isn’t a wizard his grandson is. I think we’d better get out of this as quick as we can, Mavis.”
She seemed half frightened and half provoked. Mavis, on the contrary, was quite simply delighted.
“I shouldn’t wonder if this was the mermaid’s own way to the cottage,” she said. “I’m sure old Adam and Winfried aren’t wizards; but I do think they must be some kind of good fairies, or at least they must have to do with fairies. Come along, Ruby, hand-in-hand;” and she held out her own hand.
But Ruby by this time had grown cross.