"I have a plan," broke in Mollie, "but I can't tell it now. It's to be a surprise for Miss Sallie and the major."

"Dear me!" exclaimed Miss Sallie. "Are we to feel honored or slighted, Major?"

"Oh, not slighted," protested Mollie. "It is something that will amuse you."

"What is it?" asked a voice from the doorway. "I am palpitating to know."

Everybody looked up in surprise at the apparition of Jimmie regarding the company gravely with his one good eye. His other eye was swathed in a bandage, and his nose was swollen and red. There was a joyous peal of laughter from the a.s.sembled party.

"Why, Jimmie," cried Martin, "you look like an exhausted Dutchman."

"Don't throw stones, my son," replied Jimmie. "You're a Dutchman yourself, remember."

"Come in and have some dinner, Jimmie," coaxed the major.

"I've dined, thank you, sir. My kind nurse saw to that, and I feel considerably better."

"How did you happen to black your eye, you poor boy?" asked Mollie.

Stephen cleared his throat audibly. Why on earth had he not cautioned Mollie not to ask Jimmie any questions? But Ruth came to the rescue and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"You mustn't ask Jimmie embarra.s.sing questions, Mollie. A black eye and a red nose are enough to bear for the present."

The major relieved the situation by saying:

"Now, Mistress Mollie, we are ready to be surprised."

"Come on," said Stephen, taking Jimmie by the arm, and as they stood aside, he whispered into his ear: "Keep it dark about the tramps. Uncle will explain."

"The surprise is this," explained Mollie, detaining the young people in the hall. "Why not give our masquerade to-night?"

"This is as good a time as any other," agreed Martin.

"Oh, you children!" exclaimed Stephen.

"Don't be a wet blanket, Stephen," said Martin.

"Oh, I simply thought perhaps the girls might be tired or something,"

replied Stephen. "We'll all dress up if you like."

"What fun!" cried Mollie. "Jose, you're to be a pirate, remember."

"I think Jose would make a good highwayman," observed Bab, "with a knife in his belt and a slouch hat on." She had no sooner spoken than she repented her words.

"Perhaps I would, Mademoiselle," he replied gently, with a deep sigh.

CHAPTER XVIII-THE MASQUERADE

The picture they made as they filed down the oak staircase two by two and all attired in their antique costumes was one long remembered by the servants of Ten Eyck Hall, who had gathered below to see the masqueraders. Miss Stuart and the major, standing together at the door of the red drawing room, were amazed and delighted.

"Is this a company of ghosts," cried the major, "ghosts of my dear departed ancestors returned to the halls of their youth?"

"Look at the dears!" exclaimed Miss Sallie. "How pretty they are in their ancient finery! Ruth, my child, you are the very image of the portrait of your great-grandmother at home. And here is Bab, who might have stepped out of an old miniature."

"So she has," replied Ruth. "In that pink dress she is a perfect likeness of the miniature the hermit had."

"Jose," said the major kindly, for he could not insult a guest by believing evil of him until it had been actually proved, "you do not belong to this company of belles and beaux. You look more like a Spanish gallant of an earlier day, in that velvet coat and cavalier hat. As for you two slips of girls," he continued, smiling at Mollie and Grace, "you might be my two colonial great-aunts stepped down from their frames. But come along, now. We must have a little fun, after all this trouble you have taken to amuse us. Strike up, my poor bruised Jimmie, and we'll have a dance."

Jimmie had volunteered to furnish the music. His face, in its present state, needed no further disguise, he said. The furniture was moved back, the rugs rolled up, and in a few minutes the dancers were whirling in a waltz. There was a change of partners at the second dance, and Bab found herself dancing with Jose. He was not familiar with the American two-step, so, after a few rounds, they stepped out upon the piazza for a breath of the cool evening air.

"Aren't you afraid to stay out here, Jose, after your experience of the other night?" Bab asked.

"Are you afraid, Barbara?" he replied.

"Why should I be?" she answered. "It was evidently you the a.s.sa.s.sin was after."

He winced at the word "a.s.sa.s.sin," and did not reply. The two stood gazing silently out onto the stretch of lawn in front of the house.

Presently Jose sighed deeply.

"I am afraid you are unhappy," said Bab sympathetically.

"Madamoiselle Barbara," he replied, "I am in great trouble. I tell you because you have already been more observing than the others, and because I see you keep your counsel."

"Why don't you ask Major Ten Eyck's advice, Jose?" asked Barbara, "he is so kind and gentle. I know he would love to help you."

"In this case," replied the Spaniard, with a frightened look in his eyes, "he might not be so kind. I am afraid to tell him. To-night I shall decide what to do. It may be that it would be better to go away. I cannot tell, now."

"Tell me, Jose, have your troubles any connection with the Gypsies?"

"Yes," he a.s.sented.

A shadowy figure moved up the lawn and approached the house. Jose stirred uneasily.

"Who is that?" he whispered. "Don't you think you had better go in?"

"No," replied Barbara. "I am not afraid, if you are not."

It was Zerlina, and, seeing the two people on the porch, she paused irresolutely.

"What is it, Zerlina?" called Barbara. "Do you want to see anyone?"

"My grandmother is over there," replied the girl, pointing to the shrubbery. "She has come to tell fortunes, if it pleases the ladies."

Zerlina did not look at Bab, as she spoke. She was looking at Jose, long and curiously. And he returned the gaze with interest.