Dolly was with Reggie Stuart, though neither of them knew it, and Dotty was with Tod Brown, in equally blissful ignorance.
They marched to the dining-room, and there awaited them a true Hallowe’en table. Decked with yellow paper and red ribbons, loaded with dainties of all sorts, and crowded with little gnomes, witches, black cats, owls and goblins for souvenirs, it was a welcome sight.
They all took their seats, and at a given signal were bidden to remove their masks.
Mr. Rawlins gave the signal.
“Ready, everybody,” he said. “When I count three, off with your face coverings. You’ve been hidden long enough, and I for one will be glad to see your happy smiles. One, two, three!”
And, already loosened, off came every mask, and the flushed, smiling faces looked eagerly at each other.
Dolly was stunned when her eyes lighted on Bernice, for she had concluded the Elf was really Dotty, and she thought the red witch was Grace.
But more surprised even than Dolly was Lollie Henry. He caught sight of Bernice’s smiling face, and he fairly jumped, as he involuntarily exclaimed, “By Gum!” Then suddenly his good manners came to his rescue, and though disappointed in his partner, he managed to look pleasant, and went on. “This is an unexpected pleasure! I didn’t know you were to be here.”
“And you wish I wasn’t!” Bernice flashed back, for she didn’t misunderstand him.
“Not a bit of it! Haven’t I been chasing the Elf around all the evening?”