hall always think of that day when I see wistaria. It
is odd we should meet again next time in a place so much the same--and
just as unexpectedly."
"Just as unexpectedly," echoed Mr. Brett, in an odd, thoughtful tone.
"It's wonderful that we should meet at all--considering everything."
Then he laughed, rather bitterly, I thought. "Aren't you afraid of me,
Lady Betty, after your experience of journalists--since I've half
hinted to you I may be acting in that capacity to-night?"
"Afraid of you?" I repeated, laughing. "As if I could be. I would trust
you in everything."
As I said that, a lot of people came out of the Maze in the marquee, by
the exit Mr. Brett had found for me. They streamed into the dimly
lighted pergola, in their fantastic costumes, laughing and talking, and
the beautiful peace of the blue night--broken only by the throb of
distant music--was gone completely.
I had thought of taking off my mask, but I was glad now that I'd kept
it on.
They came towards us, all in great spirits, having a game of "Follow my
Leader," and their leader, a Chinese Mandarin, was offering to guide
them to the Cave of Aladdin. I was glad that the Flame Spirit wasn't in
the gay procession. Evidently he had missed me, and gone some other
way; or else he was too angry to wish to find me again.
The crowd stopped to speak to us, making jokes in disguised voices.
Some of the things they said made me feel that it would be
uncomfortable to linger behind with the Puritan, when they had passed
on.
"Let's join them, shall we?" I asked. "They're going to Aladdin's Cave.
Wouldn't you like to see it?"
"Yes," he said. And we followed the wild party, at a discreet distance.
We went into the house again, by a roundabout way, and it wasn't until
we were in the big hall that we learned just how Aladdin's Cave was to
be found. On a background of dark red flowers, made into a great shield
and hung over a door, glittered and scintillated three words, in
electric light, "To Aladdin's Cave." The letters had been lighted up
only since I had been gone, for I suppose the idea was to make everyone
go into the Maze first.
We had to pass through several rooms and corridors, all of which had
been emptied of furniture and lined with canvas scenery cleverly
painted to illustrate events in the story of Aladdin. Everything was
shown up to the time that Aladdin went down into the Cave at the
bidding of the magician disguised as his "uncle"; an
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