Fudge Attic presented a bright contrast to the darkness out of doors, for it was gay with lights and coloured bunting and the paraffine waxed floor all ready waiting for impatient feet. Bridget, stationed just off the landing of the stairway, queened it over a huge punch-bowl filled with lemonade, while the laundry had been transformed into a buffet given in charge of Mose.
The music was furnished by the two captains, one with his fiddle and the other with a concertina. As it was impossible for both to play and keep time together, they alternated in the demonstration of their art.
Lanciers and quadrilles were the popular dances with the captains, so they tuned up for a grand march to begin with. The maskers, in couples, waited to take part although “every couple was not a pair.”
A Grand Pasha with a diamond sunburst in the front of his turban led a Red Cross nurse around the attic; following came a Knight in (tin) armour with a Gypsy Maiden. Then came a Happy Hooligan and a Girlie Girl; next, Little Red Riding Hood and a Pumpkin Clown and directly at their heels ran the two bears on all fours, sniffing eagerly at the basket carried by their prospective victim.
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine came stately and slowly all by herself—the branches taking up such a spread of room. After her danced the Yellow Kid with the Spanish Maid who shook a tambourine tinkling with bells. A bewitching Japanese consorted with a well-filled Laundry Bag and the News-of-the-Day came with a Breton peasant carrying a swaddled babe. Last but not least the Pirate of Penzance marched with a Pierrette.
With an excruciating wail from the fiddle, the march ended and a breathless instant ensued when every one tried to pierce the disguise of the others. No one would speak for fear of being identified by “next friends.” The two bears could growl of course, and this they did to their own great satisfaction.
Captain Ed shouted in his most nautical voice, “Take yer pardners for the lanciers!”
In feigned tones cavaliers invited Nurse, Bag and Jap to step the light fantastic with them, while Bears clung to a Pine and Red Riding Hood until the sets were all made up.
At the command “Salute pardners!” heads bowed low and the two bears swayed bearfully from side to side. Then at the call “Swing corners!” both bears tried to hug the little Jap girl so closely that she cried out to the Pasha for help.
During this lively dance the Lonesome-Pine Flo-Flo left much of her Trail upon the floor and Mose found it necessary to hurriedly sweep up the branches with a broom.