“Homage done, you may be
Of this merry company,”
and with another blast of the whistle the bandage was taken from her eyes, and a string which seemed to have been made fast to her sash put into her hand, to which she gave a jerk, expecting to find the whistle attached to it; but instead there was a golden scarf-pin of delicate workmanship.
“Oh, how pretty!” she exclaimed. “Am I to keep it!”
But only the song answered:
“Away, away,
In the cave no longer stay,
Others come to share our play,”
and one of the attendant genii drew her aside to make room for the next blindfolded victim, who was already being introduced in like manner as she had been.
All, old and young alike, took part in the sport, going through the same ceremonies, and they had a very merry time; indeed, the older people seemed to feel almost as young as the children for the time being.