“That’s so; I thought you were an old woman at first! It’s a dandy disguise, Harry.”
“Do you really think so?” Harry asked, somewhat mollified. “I had a terrible time getting the things, because of course I couldn’t ask for them; if I had, my disguise would have been no longer a secret, would it?”
Roy shook his head.
“And so I had to swipe—borrow them, I mean, without saying anything to mama. And if I should meet her wouldn’t she be surprised?” And Harry giggled behind the veil.
“I’ll just bet she would,” laughed Roy. “Have you seen anything of—”
“S-sh! Some one approaches!” cried Harry. “Follow me, but take no notice!”
Several boys had come out on to the steps of School Hall and were looking curiously across. Harry seized the folds of the ridiculous blue skirt and lifted it so that she could walk without tripping over it. Then, raising the silver-handled umbrella in a gesture of caution she turned and stole stealthily into the building. Roy, vastly amused, followed. Harry crossed to the dining-room, opened the door and beckoned. To enter the dining-room outside of meal-hours was strictly against the rules, but Harry was a law unto herself, and Roy ventured after her. Then she closed the door, turned the key in the lock and raised the black veil.
“Now,” she said, “we are safe for the moment.”
“Yes, that’s all very well, but supposing Dick takes it into his silly head to disappear while we are in here talking?”
“Then we must find him.”