It was a moment before I could speak. Then I managed to ask what had happened to me.
“It’s Katie, Lizzie,” Aggie said between sobs. “I think she must have found the blackberry cordial we left here, and it’s gone to her head!”
Our position was very unfortunate, especially as time was important. Katie was merely playful, but on any attempt to move on our part she would trumpet loudly and reach up for us. Most annoying of all, she had taken a fancy to one of my shoes and kept reaching up and pulling at it.
“Let her have it, if it keeps her quiet,” Aggie said tartly when I told her. “Give her anything she wants. Give her your bonnet. I never liked it, anyhow.”
It was then after midnight, but fortunately it was very soon after that that we saw an electric flash and heard our dear Tish’s voice.
“Aggie! Lizzie!” she called. And then she saw the elephant and advanced toward her.
“Katie!” she said. “What are you doing here? I’ve been looking for you all over the lot!” She then turned the flash on Katie and beheld her swaying. “Shame on you,” she said. “I believe you’ve been drinking.”
“Don’t reprove her; kill her”; Aggie said suddenly from overhead, and Tish looked up.
“I thought so,” she said rather sharply. “I cannot count on the faintest coöperation. I need two courageous hearts, and I find you roosting like frightened chickens on a beam. That elephant’s harmless. She’s only playing.”
“I don’t like the way she plays, then,” I protested angrily. “If you do, play with her yourself.”