and all you have to do is to skip up there, unlock the door, and
take possession."

But instead of doing this, Marjorie, with a squeal of delight,
threw her arms around Uncle Steve's neck.

"You dear, old, blessed uncle!" she cried. "I understand it all
now; but truly I couldn't think how we were ever going to get up
there. It's a lovely surprise, the best I ever had! You are SO
good to me, and Grandma, too!"

Having nearly squeezed the breath out of Uncle Steve, Marjorie
left him, and flying over to Grandma, treated her to a similar
demonstration. And then, with her precious key tightly clasped in
her hand, she started to climb the rather wabbly ladder. Impetuous
Molly was crazy to follow, but Uncle Steve declared that it was
the law of the house that there must never be more than one on the
ladder at a time.

Though Marjorie became accustomed to it afterward, it was not an
easy matter to climb the rope ladder for the first time; but under
Uncle Steve's direction she began to learn the trick of it, and
safely reached the top. Agile Molly scrambled up as if she had
been used to rope ladders all her life; but to timid Stella the
climbing seemed an impossible feat. But Uncle Steve held the
ladder firmly at the bottom, and Marjorie encouraged her from the
top, while Molly threw herself flat on the porch and reached down
a helping hand.

At last the three girls were safely on the little veranda, and the