That naturally suggested the burning of Rome, with Nero, personated by Eunice, fiddling, as she sat on a very high and very insecure tower, built of trunks and chairs and three-legged tables, while the inhabitants of the city tore around to save their property.
Then they tied themselves up in bags, drawn over their feet and around their waists, for tails, and played they were mermaids, disporting themselves among the rocks and seaweeds, represented by boxes and old drapery, properly arranged on one of the lower levels of the floor.
This lasted until Kenneth, trying to imitate the older girls in diving off a bowlder on to a feather bed beneath, missed his balance and fell entangled in the bag that served him for a tail. He bumped his poor little head and made his nose bleed, and was borne off shrieking, by Eliza, who just then appeared on the scene.
Then the Craigs and Hilda had to go home to dinner, and the twins went out to play.
After dinner, Cricket and Eunice wandered up stairs to the garret again.
“What let’s do now?” asked Eunice, as they sat among the ruins of Rome.
“Why, let’s—” Cricket looked vaguely around. “Let’s dress up in those clothes up there.”
Some old clothes of Dr. Ward’s, and of Donald’s, hung up on the wall.
“Oh, that will be fun,” cried Eunice, jumping down. “We haven’t dressed up this summer, once.”
They slipped out of their gingham dresses and petticoats, and with much giggling and merriment got themselves into the boys’ clothes.