“Oh, I say now, Jimmie, what a beastly idea!” exclaimed Alfred, equally disgusted.
“Come on, fellows; don’t throw cold water on the scheme if the girls like it,” put in Stephen.
And so the party was arranged.
All this time José had never left the partition, but had kept up a continuous thumping to find the sliding panel.
“Everybody take a hand, and we will carry down everything we can find, and then we won’t have to make another trip,” called Stephen. “Come, José, we’re going to dress up. You’ll have to be a pirate. Here’s a red sash and a three cornered hat that will just suit your style.”
So saying, the cavalcade departed from the dark old attic, laden with spoils.
“If this is to be a surprise on uncle and Miss Stuart, we had better hide the things, hadn’t we?” observed Martin, who was very cautious and always thought ahead, once he had decided to do a thing.
“Very well. We’ll let Mary take charge of them and divide them later,” replied Stephen. “You had better go take your naps now, girls,” he added in a whisper, “or we’ll have the old lady and gentleman on our necks.”
The young people separated, the boys taking a corridor leading to the left wing, the girls following the main hall. Bab left the others and started downstairs.
“I’ll be right back,” she called. “I left my handkerchief in the library.”