“Then we put our night-gowns over our dresses, and were laid peacefully in bed when Betsey came up, earlier than usual; for it was evident that Miss Cotton felt a little suspicious at our sudden weariness.

“For half an hour we lay laughing and whispering, as we waited for the signal from Sally. At last we heard a cricket chirp shrilly under the window, and, flying up, saw a little figure below in the twilight.

‘“Oh, quick! quick!’ cried Sally, panting with haste. ‘Draw up the basket, and then get me in, for I saw Mr. Cotton in the market, and ran all the way home, so that I might get in before he came.’

“Up came the heavy basket, bumping and scraping on the way, and smelling, oh, so nice! Down went the rope, and with a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, we hoisted poor Sally half-way up to the window, when, sad to tell, the rope slipped and down she fell, only being saved from broken bones by the hay-cock under the window.

‘“He’s coming! he’s coming! Oh, pull me up, for mercy sake!’ cried Sally, scrambling to her feet unhurt, but a good deal shaken.

“We saw a dark figure approaching, and dragged her in with more bumping and scraping, and embraced her with rapture, for we had just escaped being detected by Mr. John, whose eyes were as sharp as his ears were dull.

“We heard the front door shut, then a murmur of voices, and then Betsey’s heavy step coming upstairs.

“Under the bed went the basket, and into the beds went the conspirators, and nothing could have been more decorous than the appearance of the room when Betsey popped her head in.

‘“Master’s an old fidget to send me travelling up again, just because he fancied he saw something amiss at the window. Nothing but a curtain flapping, or a shadder, for the poor dears is sleeping like lambs.’

“We heard her say this to herself, and a general titter agitated the white coverlets as she departed.

“Sally was in high feather at the success of her exploit, and danced about like an elf, as she put her night-gown on over her frock, braided her hair in funny little tails all over her head, and fastened the great red pin-cushion on her bosom for a breast-pin in honour of the feast.

“The other girls went to their rooms as agreed upon, and all was soon dark and still upstairs, while Miss Cotton began to enjoy herself below, as she always did when ‘her young charges’ were safely disposed of.

“Then ghosts began to walk, and the mice scuttled back to their holes in alarm, for white figures glided from room to room, till all were assembled in the little chamber.

“The watch was set at the entry door, the signal agreed upon, the candle lighted, and the feast spread forth upon a newspaper on the bed, with the coverlet arranged so that it could be whisked over the refreshments at a moment’s notice.

“How good everything was, to be sure! I don’t think I’ve eaten any pies since that had such a delicious flavour as those broken ones, eaten hastily, in that little oven of a room, with Sally making jokes, and the others enjoying stolen sweets with true girlish relish. Of course it was very wicked, but I must tell the truth.

“We were just beginning on the cake when the loud scratching of a rat disturbed us.

‘“The signal! fly! run! hide! Hush, don’t laugh!’ cried several voices, and we scuttled into bed as rapidly and noiselessly as possible, with our mouths and hands full.