“So much the better,” Cynthia declared. “It will be the best joke of the season. What time does he usually arrive?”
“He said, in telling one of the class, that he always leaves the Kit Kat at half past eleven, and reaches the street door of the turret on the stroke of twelve.”
“Delightful!” exclaimed Winnie. “Fortune favors our plans. What fun it will be!”
It was thought best not to admit Milly into our confidence, for fear that she could not keep the secret. All went well. We played our tricks and Winnie told ghost stories, but it seemed as if midnight would never come. At one time we fancied we heard a noise in the turret and we looked at each other apprehensively. Had anything happened to bring Professor Waite back earlier than usual, and would our plans miscarry, after all? At ten minutes before twelve we organized the procession. Milly was timid and persisted in being in the middle. To our disgust Adelaide refused to lead. “Winnie proposes it; let Winnie go first,” she said resolutely.
“All right,” Winnie assented, after a thoughtful pause. “I will if Adelaide will come next.”
Cynthia and I looked at her inquiringly. We did not quite see how this would answer.
“Tib, let’s go and see if Snooks is in bed and the coast is clear,” Winnie suggested. “It’s a pity that we can’t get into the studio through this door, but that chest is too heavy for us to push aside.”
Winnie and I reconnoitered, and as we opened the door into the turret she told me her plan.
“I will lead rapidly and when I get to the bottom will scud into that little closet under the stairs where they keep the lawn mower, so that Adelaide will be virtually at the head. We must start right away, so as to give me a chance to get into my haven of refuge before Professor Waite arrives.”
We all tiptoed into the studio and lighted our candles there, after we had closed the corridor door. We had had quite a time collecting mirrors. Adelaide and Milly possessed handsome silver-backed hand-glasses. Winnie carried a pretty toilet mirror with three folding leaves. I had a work box with looking-glass inside the lid, and Cynthia had unscrewed the large mirror from her bureau. We were all giggling and shivering when Winnie, our marshal, gave the signal for the start in the following order: Winnie, Adelaide, Milly, myself, and Cynthia bringing up the rear.