Directly after supper Lucy and Dora began to dress as ghosts. Each wore an old pillow-case in which Mother said they might cut holes for eyes and noses and arms. Mother tied the points so they looked like ears. She also tied tapes around their necks to make the cases fit better. Then their eye-holes would not slide about.
“I declare!” she said when they were dressed. “I wouldn’t like to meet you in the dark myself!”
Lucy and Dora jumped up and down with delight. If Mother felt that way, mere strangers would be terribly scared.
Father lighted the lanterns. He told them to be very careful not to set themselves on fire, and not to go near any burning leaves.
Mother told them not to go down into the square because big and rough boys might be out. She told them to keep in their own part of town and to ring door-bells only where they knew the people who lived in the houses.
The children said they would remember and skipped happily away. Underneath the pillow-cases they wore warm sweaters. First they rang the Bakers’ bell and Marion rushed to the door. She stopped short when she saw the two white figures with their lanterns.
“It is Lucy and Dora!” she exclaimed. “I am almost ready to come out. Which way are you going?”
They told her and ran off to make another call. The grown people in Westmore were very patient with the children that evening. They opened their doors when the bells rang and spoke pleasantly to the little ghosts. Some of them pretended to be afraid and most of them admired the sweet smile of Dora’s lantern. One gentleman gave them each a chocolate cream.