"Yes! yes!" shouted the twins.
"Some place in a tree," continued Madge.
The applause became louder than ever. Climbing trees was the favourite amusement of all the children, and no game found favour for long which did not include something of the kind.
"A tree like this, will it be?" inquired Betty.
"Of course not," replied Madge. She had her own idea, and could not help feeling rather irritated with the younger ones for not entering into it without any explanations. "This is hardly like a real tree," she continued; "more like a garden-seat, you know. If we fell out of it, I don't believe we should be hurt a bit."
This statement was felt by the assembled company to be quite true, though perhaps a little ungrateful, seeing how very much use they made of the laburnum.
"Now, I should like a tree which would be a real fortress," continued Madge. "A regular place of refuge—"
"What is a refuge?" interrupted John.
"Why, a place of safety, of course! Where one can hide from the enemy and—"
"What enemy?" again interrupted John.