For long hours the girls lay awake, but once asleep nothing disturbed them and they awoke in the morning feeling refreshed in spite of the harrowing night.
“It’s always something of a surprise each morning when I wake up and find I’m still alive,” Kitty laughed.
At breakfast Iris chanced to remark that an old croquet set had been stored in the attic and Doris and Kitty asked if they might use it.
“Certainly,” Iris assured them. “I’ll get it out of the attic for you.”
“Oh, let us get it ourselves,” Doris begged. “I just love to poke around in attics. It’s on the third floor above our wing, isn’t it?”
Azalea and Iris exchanged quick, startled glances.
“Oh, no,” Iris returned hastily. “The attic is in the left wing.”
“But I thought there was a floor above our bedroom,” Doris said, somewhat puzzled. “We’ve been hearing such queer noises at night.”
“Mice undoubtedly,” Azalea explained and arose from the table. “If you want to see the attic, come with me.”
They went to the kitchen for a lantern and then mounted the stairs to the third floor above the left wing. Azalea unlocked the door and told them to look about as much as they liked.