cheap,
owing to fly specks that would not rub off. The wreath was hoisted on
the end of a shinny stick and marched through the corridor to the tune
of "John Brown's Body," while Mademoiselle ineffectually wrung her hands
and begged for quiet.

"_Mes cheres enfantes_--it is ten o'clock. _Soyez tranquilles._
Patty--_Mon Dieu_--How you are bad! Margarite McCoy, you do not listen
to me? _Nous verrons!_ Go to your room, dis in-stant! You do not belong
in my hall. Children! I implore. Go to bed--all--_tout de suite_!"

The procession cheered and marched on, until Miss Lord descended from
the East and commanded silence. Miss Lord when incensed was effectual.
The peace of conquest settled for a time over Paradise Alley, and she
returned to her own camp. But a fresh hub-bub broke out, when it was
discovered that someone had sprinkled granulated sugar, in liberal
quantities, through every bed in the Alley. Patty and Conny would have
been suspected, had their own sheets not yielded a plentiful harvest. It
was another half hour before the beds were remade, and the school
finally composed to sleep.

When the teacher on duty had made her last rounds, and everything was
quiet, Patty turned back the covers of her bed and cautiously stepped to
the floor. She was still fully clothed, except that she had changed her
shoes for softer soled bedroom slippers, better fitted for nocturnal
adventures. Priscilla and Conny joined her. Fortunately a full moon
shone high in the sky, and they needed no artificial light. Aided by her
two assistants, Patty draped the sheets of her bed about her into two
voluminous wings, and fastened them securely with safety pins. A pillow
slip was pulled over her head and the corners tied into ears. They
hesitated a moment with scissors suspended.

"Hurry up and cut a nose," Patty whispered. "I'm smothering!"

"It seems sort of too bad to spoil a perfectly good pillow slip," said
Priscilla, with a slight access of conscience.

"I'll drop some money in the missionary box," Patty promised.

The nose and eyes were cut; a grinning mouth and devilishly curved
eyebrows were added with burnt cork. The pillow slip was tied firmly
about her neck to allow no chance of slipping, the ears waved
lopsidedly; she was the most amazing specter that ever left a
respectable grave.

These preparations had occupied some time. It was already ten minutes of
twelve.

"I'll wait till the stroke of midnight," said Patty. "Then I'l