Hepsy looked scared. “What’s the matter, Miss Jannet?”
“Oh, nothing. I’m just looking for a ghost.”
Hepsy looked more bewildered than ever. Jannet continued, “Where’s Vittoria?”
“She said she was not coming home to-night,—but, but I wasn’t to tell. Her beau was taking her to the movie and she always stays with one of the girls, I mean, she has done it once or twice.”
“Don’t worry, Hepsy. I’m not concerned with whether Vittoria stays out or not. I just wanted to know if she were here. I’ll tell you why to-morrow. Just go back to bed. I’m sorry I wakened you. By the way, what perfume does Vittoria use?”
“Why, why that’s funny, I guess she uses mine that my aunt gave me for my birthday. It’s black narcissus.” Hepsy spoke with much pride. “It’s awful sweet. There it is on the dresser.”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll take a sniff”; and Jannet ran into the room, then out again in a jiffy. “Thanks, Hepsy. You have helped me very much.”
Quietly Jannet stole back, past Cousin Di’s room, over into the old part once more. She found Paulina and Nell coming out of her room with anxious faces. For once Paulina did not look stolid. “Where have you been?” inquired Nell. “I had a time to waken Paulina, and then she had heard the ghost and wouldn’t go near the attic, so we finally came to your room, to find the lights on, and you nowhere to be seen, and this panel open! Say, Jannet, I climbed up into that room, and Paulina after me!”
“Did you find the ghost’s costume there?”
“No! What do you mean?”