A small figure paused a moment in the doorway, then stepped back, and peeped out, scanning the groups upon the piazza.
"She isn't there!" he whispered. "She's backed out, an' she said she'd do it!"
He drew back into the shadow, and waited, hoping that when he looked again he might see her.
A second peep at the guests on the piazza showed that Floretta was not among them.
"She didn't try to do it!" he muttered.
He held something in his hand, which he kept behind his back.
He was about to peep again when a light hand touched his shoulder.
He turned, and there stood Floretta, looking prettier than usual in her short white frock, white shoes, and pink hair ribbons.
"Did you get one?" whispered Jack.
"Look!" said Floretta, and from behind her back she produced a long corn-cob. "I took mine from the table at noon, when ma wasn't looking, and ran from the dining-room, and hid it in our room," said Floretta. "How did you get yours?"