"Hold your tongue and go to work, or we shall not be ready in time. We've got to trim all the jigamarees, hang the thingummies while they are fresh, and see that the basket of treasures arrives safely," said Alf, with such mysterious nods and smiles that the girls were instantly consumed by an intense curiosity to know what "thingummies" and "jigamarees" were, while "treasures" had such a rich sound that they began to hope the boys were really going to atone for the past by some splendid piece of generosity.
"Come punctually at eleven and bring your boxes with you; they will be a good deal lighter when you come down again;" with which cheering remark Frank led off his men, leaving the girls to watch the clock with anxious, yet eager eyes.
Their wonder and suspense was much increased by the fact that Lotty was sent for and carried off by an escort of two. Listening at the foot of the back-stairs they heard her little voice exclaim approvingly:
"Oh how funny! how berry nice!" then the door closed, and the girls heard no more.
As the clock struck, up marched seven young ladies, each with a bon-bon box under her arm and
