Especially fine trees were two that were usually called the twin
maples. These two very old trees grew side by side, their great
trunks not more than four feet apart and their branches so
intermingled that they were practically one tree in two parts. The
delightful shade of this double tree afforded a favorite
playground for the children, and they had missed it during the
past week when they were forbidden to go into the meadow.

As they neared the meadow, Marjorie grew more and more amazed.
There was nothing unusual in sight: no swing, no merry-go-round,
and certainly nothing that a key could unlock. They reached the
twin maples, and then Uncle Steve said: "If you'll all step around
to the other side of this tree I think we may discover that
missing keyhole."

The girls scampered around, and, looking up into the tree, they
saw such an astonishing sight that the three simply sat down on
the ground and stared at it. It was nothing more nor less than a
house, a real little house high above the ground and nestled into
the branches of the trees, just as a bird's nest might be.

The house, which was big enough for the girls to have gone into if
they could have reached it, had a front door and a window on
either side. There was a veranda on which stood three small rustic
benches, quite strong enough to have held the three girls had they
had wings to fly up there. The veranda had a railing around it,
above which hung two hanging-baskets filled with bright flowers.

The door was shut and a keyhole could be distinctly seen.