Bess broke down and wet Nan’s shoulder with her angry tears. But they were a relief. She sobbed out at last:
“I hope I’ll never, never see a shoe-box lunch again! I just do——”
To interrupt her came a solemn summons on the door of Number Seven—rap, rap, rap! The two newcomers to Lakeview Hall looked at each other, startled.
CHAPTER XI
THE PROCESSION OF THE SAWNEYS
“Goodness! what can that be?” demanded Nan.
Rap! rap! rap! the knock was repeated.
“Did you lock that door, Bess?” exclaimed Nan.
Before her chum could answer, the knob was turned and the door swung slowly open. Several figures crowded about the opening portal. It was no summons by one of the teachers, as Nan and Bess had expected. The first figure that appeared clearly to the startled vision of the two chums was rather appalling.
It was a tall girl with a pillow case drawn over her head and shoulders. Her arms were thrust through two holes in the sides and she could see through two smaller holes burned in the pillow case. She leaned on a broom, the brush part of which was also covered with white muslin. Upon this background was drawn a horned owl in charcoal.