Meta perceived that she wavered and immediately seized her advantage.
"Come now, Vi, I'm sure you don't want to give pain to your mamma, or to get me into trouble. Do you?"
"No, Meta, indeed I don't, but—"
"Hush! somebody's coming," exclaimed Meta, locking the closet door, having just finished her work, and hastily dropping the key into her pocket.
"Come, girls, come quick! we're sending up a balloon, from the lawn!" cried Eddie throwing open the door to make his announcement, then rushing away again.
The girls ran after him, in much excitement, and forgetting for the time the trouble they were in; for spite of Meta's sophistry her conscience was by no means easy.
The ladies had returned and in dinner dress were gathered on the veranda. Mr. Travilla seemed to be managing the affair, with Mr. Dinsmore's assistance, while the other gentlemen, children and servants, were grouped about them on the lawn.
Meta and Violet quickly took their places with the rest and just at that moment the balloon, released from its fastenings, shot up into the air.
There was a general shout and clapping of hands, but instantly hushed by a shrill sharp cry of distress from overhead.
"Oh! oh! pull it down again! pull it down! pull it down! I only got in for fun, and I'm so frightened! I shall fall out! I shall be killed! oh! oh! oh!"