“If you girls are going to wear those funny long cloaks, of course they’ll hide who you are, but you’ll every one of you know us fellows,” said Reginald, who felt that the girls were more favored.

“Indeed, we won’t know you,” laughed Dorothy, “for papa insists that you boys must wear dominoes, too.”

“Hurrah for us, I say!” shouted Reginald; “we’ll have as much fun as you girls will.”  “And we’ve two weeks to wait,” said Katie Dean, “and all that time we’re not to tell what we’re to be.”

“Nor even the color of our dominoes,” said Jeanette.

“I sha’n’t tell what I’m to be,” Reginald proudly said, “but some of you girls will just have to tell; girls can’t keep a secret.”

“We can keep a secret, Reginald Dean,” said Mollie, to which Flossie chimed in: 

“Yes, indeed we can.  I can’t tell what I’m to be, because I don’t know; mamma hasn’t told me, but I do know what color I’m to wear, and I won’t tell that!”

Reginald liked to tease.

“Somebody’ll tell something, see ’f they don’t!” he said, nodding and laughing.

* * * * *

It was now just a week from the day set
for the party.

Arabella, hurrying along the avenue, tried to thrust her arms into the sleeves of her jacket.

“O dear!  I shouldn’t think this jacket had any armholes!” she cried impatiently.

She had hurried out before Aunt Matilda could stop her, and she was trying to get her jacket on without pausing to do so.  At last her arms were in her sleeves, and she looked ahead to see if any one was in sight.

“She’ll be awful cross if I’m late,” thought Arabella, and she tried to run even faster.

There were two reasons for Arabella’s haste.  The first was that she had promised to meet Patricia, and the second reason was that it was Saturday morning, and if she remained at home Aunt Matilda would be sure to find something for her to do.  Of course Aunt Matilda would ask where she had been, and why she had run out so early, and oh, no end of questions!

“It’ll be by-’m-bye when Aunt Matilda questions me,” whispered Arabella, adding cheerfully:  “and by-’m-bye isn’t now.”

“Hello!” called Patricia, “you’re some late, but not very.”

“Why, I’m here as soon as you are,” said Arabella.

“I know that,” Patricia replied, “but I thought you’d be over to my house by this time.”

“Aren’t we ’most there?” questioned Arabella.

“Almost, and not quite,” said Patricia, “and anyway I was going to stop at a store before I go over to my house.  Ma gave me some money and I’m going to spend it for candy.  Have you got any to spend?”

Arabella shook her head.

“Aunt Matilda won’t let me spend money; she has her views about folks spending money, she says.”

“I wouldn’t want her for my aunt,” said Patricia.