There was a wan moon to give them light enough to find the way to the foot of the bluff. But it was a ghostly moon, too, and aided objects along the way in casting weird shadows. May Winslow clung close to Nan and Bess. Grace and Lillie made up the rest of the trembling group who looked to Nan for comfort and support. Laura Polk and “Procrastination Boggs” brought up a more or less courageous rear. In between were girls in all stages of excitement, from a state of hysterical fear to equally hysterical laughter.
They came finally to the foot of the long flight of steps and Nan marshalled her forces. “Now, girls, pluck up your spirits. Close ranks! Forward—march!” she commanded.
“Wha—what’s that?” quavered Lillie Nevin.
“Oh! oh!” from Grace.
“Now, you sawneys!” called the red-haired girl from the rear. “Behave! Don’t try to give us all a conniption fit.”
“What’s that?” demanded one of the other girls.
“Huh! are you seeing things, too?” cried Amelia.
“No. What kind of a fit is a ‘conniption’?”
“Don’t know,” admitted Laura. “But I’ve heard my grandmother from New England speak familiarly of ’em. What’s the matter up front?”
“Oh, Lil and Grace are balking,” declared Nan, with disgust. “Do come on, children. I have an electric lamp. We sha’n’t be entirely in the dark.”