There were great shocks of corn stalks standing about, and everywhere pumpkins carved into lanterns. In every pumpkin there was a lighted electric bulb—Mr. Gould was a careful farmer, and he wouldn’t have any candles in his barn. There were no chairs, but heaps of sofa cushions, covered with gingham covers so that no one need be afraid to use them—the covers would wash. There was the piano in one corner, just as Catherine had promised, too.
“Where’s Catherine?” asked Elizabeth Ann, staring around her.
There were pirates and sailors and gypsy girls and American Indians and fairy princesses flitting about. Elizabeth Ann thought she recognized several of the girls in her class, but she couldn’t be sure, because they wore masks. There were Generals in uniforms with hundreds of brass buttons winking in the light. And there were farmers, in wide straw hats and brand new ones too, though, thought Elizabeth Ann, straw hats were funny in October.
“I think that’s Catherine,” whispered Doris, pointing to a fairy princess who stood talking to Aunt Nan—the only guest who did not wear a mask.
As soon as she saw the fairy princess, Elizabeth Ann felt that Doris was right. The princess was about as tall as Catherine was, but it was her dress that made Elizabeth Ann so sure. No one but Catherine Gould would have a dress like that to wear to a party.
The dress was some soft white stuff and it was completely covered with little silver spangles. Every time the girl who wore it moved a step, the spangles shone and glittered. There was a silver crown to go with the dress, and a long scepter too. Oh, that was Catherine Gould—Elizabeth Ann had no doubt of it.
“We want to march!” called Aunt Nan, when everyone had come up and spoken to her—as they weren’t expected to find the real hostess till the time to unmask came.
By the time Elizabeth Ann and Doris had reached Aunt Nan and had shaken hands with her, the fairy princess had disappeared. Now Elizabeth Ann looked around expectantly, for of course Catherine could play the piano. She talked about her music lessons all the time.
“Is there anyone here who will play for us?” asked Aunt Nan, looking hard at a little clown in a red and yellow suit.
The clown backed away hastily.