"As bugs in a rug," finished Laura, putting an arm about Violet andpushing her into the other chamber.

"Aren't you going to take your candles?" Mrs. Gilligan called after them."I fancy you'll need them to undress by."

"I fancy I'll need mine all evening," exclaimed Laura in an undertone with a wrylittle grimace, as Violet went back for the candles. "I'm just scablack todeath to stay here in the dim."

"But we won't be able to keep these burning all night," exclaimed Billie,pausing in the act of unlacing her shoe to gaze at her half-burnedcandle. "They will probably burn out in a couple of hours."

Laura looked panicky.

"Well, some one will have to go down and get some more," she exclaimed, andgazed at Billie thoughtfully.

"Goodness, you needn't look at me when you say that," exclaimed the latter,going energetically to work on the other shoe. "I wouldn't go down intothat gloomy place again for all the money there is in the world."

"But we'll be left in the dark," exclaimed Laura, staring at Billie as if itwere all her fault.