Lights blazed from every window of the stone house, the great garden
was brilliantly lighted, even the twinkling stars overhead seemed
brighter than usual, as if they knew of the party, and were laughing as
they watched the little guests arriving.

Lightly they stepped from their carriages, and flew up the steps as if
their feet had wings.

What was their surprise to see the manservant, at the door as usual, to
be sure, but in a fine old suit of livery that made him look like an
English serving-man of many, many years ago.

Yes, there was the maid in the hall in a cute Watteau costume, a tiny
lace cap on her head, and a kerchief over her flowered gown. She
presented her salver, and each little guest laid a card upon it, with
the name of the character which she represented. These were merely to
be kept as souvenirs, that later Dorothy might look them over, and see
what a variety of noted personages had called to do her honor.

They were not to be announced, for while the names of the girls'
costumes would not tell _which_ girl wore it, the characters that the
boys took would of course be male personages.

So the little guests tripped through the great hall, and into the long
drawing-room, where another surprise awaited them.

There stood handsome Mr. Dainty in royal robes, as a king, his beautiful
wife in velvet and ermine as his queen, and gentle Aunt Charlotte as