here a maid in cap and apron was
busily serving the punch. Chuck kept his eyes fastened on his
companion as if he were determined to penetrate her mask and the saucy
hood that jingled as they walked. He did not look up until they were
at the table and when he did it was to find the monk and the donkey
with--he blinked, not his partner, for she was beside him, but surely
her double.

CHAPTER XII

CHUCK GUESSES RIGHT

Janet and Phyllis looked at each other and smiled. Janet's companions
were as astonished as Chuck. They looked at first one and then the
other of the girls, and then Howard whistled.

"Golly," he exclaimed. It was not a word that fitted his costume but
it exactly suited his confused frame of mind.

"I am seeing double or else I'm going crazy and I don't like the
feeling," he protested. "Somebody pinch me."

Both John and Chuck took him at his word and complied heartily with his
request. The result was a loud but quickly suppressed "ouch" and a
backward lunge that almost upset the table with its precious burden of
lemonade.

Chuck took Phyllis by the arm and almost shook her.

"Then you weren't you; I mean her," he said none too clearly, "but you
let me think you were."

"You mean I let you think I was I. Well, I couldn't very well help
it." Phyllis's tone was apologetic, but her eyes danced.

Chuck looked appealingly at Janet.

"You know what I mean," he said.

"Of course, it's perfectly plain," Janet replied consolingly. "You
thought she was me while all the time she was she and me was me,"--the
hodge-podge of pronouns and their ungrammatical use was too much for
poor Chuck. He buried his head in his hands, the picture of despair.

Phyllis took the opportunity of exchanging a nod and a sly wink with
Janet that she apparently understood, for without a second's hesitation
she slipped out of her place and Phyllis took it.

"Well, anyhow you can dance,"--Chuck lifted his head and looked at
Janet. Howard and John promptly doubled over in a fit of laughter.

"Oh, but I'm so sorry I can't," Janet said demurely.

Chuck looked at Phyllis. "Then neither of you dance, I see," he said
slowly.

"Why, I never said I couldn't," Phyllis protested, and Howard, who was
trying to recover his first fit of laughter by drinking a cup of punch,
choked and had to be severely thumped on the back by John.

Chuck looked angry and puzzled for a minute and then he acknowledged
his defeat and l