d, as he waved the dagger aloft.

"S T!" moaned Daisy, swaying from side to side, as if in an agony of
fear.

"U! V! W!" and the blade of the dagger rested against the fair neck,
as the dreadful brigand, with a fierce shout, attacked his victim.

"X Y!" Daisy shrieked, and then toppled over, as if killed, while Jim,
with a frenzied yell of "Z!" towered, triumphant, above his slain
captive.

How they all laughed; for it was good acting, though of course greatly
burlesqued. But both had a touch of dramatic genius, and they had
often given this little exhibition in their old school days.

"Fine!" said Adele, who was shaking with laughter. "You never did it
better, Daisy. You ought to go on the stage."

Daisy smiled and bowed at the applause, and began to twist up her
hair.

"My beloved subjects," said the Lord of Misrule, "you are sure some
actors! I didn't know I had so much talent concealed about my kingdom.
I shall now aim for a higher touch of histrionic art. Let us stop at
nothing! Let us give the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet. I will
command Miss Galbraith to play the part of Juliet, and if no one
volunteers as Romeo, I'll modestly remark that I'm a ripping good
actor myself."

"Too late," said Roger, calmly; "I've already signed for the part,"
and taking Mona's hand, he led her toward the staircase.

"I can't!" protested Mona. "I don't know a word of it!"

"Can't! Won't!" cried the Lord of Misrule, in stentorian tones. "Those
words are not allowed in this my Court. Ha, maiden, dost desire the
dungeon for thine? Dost hanker after prison fare? Fie! Get to thy
place and take thy cue."

Mona flung her lace handkerchief on her head for a little Juliet cap,
and accepting a large lace scarf which a lady offered her as she
passed, and an enormous bunch of roses, which Jim hastily took from a
vase and gave her, they all agreed she was perfectly costumed for
Juliet.

Upstairs she went, and drawing a chair to the railing, looked over at
Roger below. He had hastily opened a small cupboard, and caught up a
broad black hat of Adele's, with a long, willowed ostrich plume. He
put it on, so that the feather hung straight down his face, and he
kept blowing it out of his eyes. Daisy had offered him a gay, flowered
chiffon scarf as he passed her, and he tied it round his waist like a
sash.

"'Oh, Romeo! Romeo! Romeo!'" began Mona.

"'Wherefore,'" prompted Roger in a stage whisper.

"'Wherefore,'" said Mona, o