Phyllis, A Twin [1920] by Dorothy Whitehill

Author:Dorothy Whitehill [Whitehill, Dorothy & Munsey's]
Format: epub
Tags: Literature
ISBN: 9781112223426
Publisher: Cornell University Library
Published: 2009-11-15T20:33:08.164000+00:00

CHAPTER XI. THE MASQUERADE “Aunt Jane's poll parrot, what a mob!”

The four girls, each in a domino exactly like the others, stood at the door of the Greys' immense drawing-room and surveyed the scene before them. It was, of course, Sally who spoke.

Phyllis laughed softly. “If you go about saying that, Sally, it won't be hard to know who you are,” she warned.

“You'll have to forget Aunt Jane and her poll parrot for to-night,” a voice soft and tinkling drawled.

This time Janet laughed. “How about your drawl, Taffy?” she inquired.

“Oh, dear, this will never do,” Phyllis protested. “We will all have to keep as quiet as possible and only answer 'yes' and 'no.'”

Sally's blue eyes opened wide behind her mask of black satin.

“Oh, but that won't be any fun at all!” she cried.

“We might mumble everything we want to say,” suggested Janet; “and if we all do it, it will be more confusing than ever.”

“Good idea, 'How do you do this evening; isn't the room beautiful?'” Daphne mumbled in a monotone.

“Oh, Taffy,” Janet laughed, “even your very best friend wouldn't know you.”

“Well, then let's go in and pay our respects to Muriel; she and her mother are over there by the other door,” Sally suggested, and led the way.

The room through which they walked was indeed beautiful. Ivory white woodwork made a fitting frame for the pale gold brocade that hung on the walls. Ferns and great bowls of roses filled every corner, and the perfume of the flowers scented the warm air of the room. Two crystal chandeliers blazed in all the glory of their rainbow colors and reflected their brilliance in the polished floor.

Groups of girls and boys chattered and laughed and tried to guess the identity of each other. Every hero and heroine in history was represented, and they nodded and bowed to dainty Mother Goose folk.

The simplicity of the four dominoes made a strange spot of color as they walked together towards their hostesses. They were all about the same height and build, they marched in step, and their bells jingled in unison.

“How do you do,” they mumbled as they shook hands.

Muriel Grey, dressed, as Miss Pringle had suggested, in the dainty pinks and blues of a Dresden shepherdess, stood beside her mother. She was not masked as her guests were, and her puzzled surprise was plain to be seen.

“Why, who can you be?” she exclaimed. “I have guessed every girl and boy so far, but I haven't the slightest idea who you are. Please say something,” she begged.

“You look very pretty to-night.”

“What a lot of people there are.”

“We are all so glad to be here.”

“Think hard and you will surely guess.”

All four answers were mumbled at once and poor Muriel was more confused than ever.

“I think your costumes are delightful and it is great fun to have four unknown guests,” Mrs. Grey said. “I shall be watching you all anxiously when the gong rings to unmask. Don't run away like Cinderella when you hear it, will you?” she added, smiling.

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