Then they found speech.
"Our beautiful cakes!" "Where are they ?" "Who's done this ?" "Oh! the _brutes_!" "Who's been in ?" "How _dare_ they ?" "Wherever have they put them ?" "Have they eaten them ?" "Oh! What a shame!" "What _are_ we to do ?" It was indeed a desperate situation, for loud thumps at the door proclaimed the advent of the visitors, who seemed likely to be provided with a decidedly Barmecide feast.

Delia, however, had an inspiration.
She stooped on hands and knees and foraged under the beds, announcing by a jubilant screech that she had discovered the lost property.

It did not take long to move away the stones and to transfer the plates from the floor to the table, after which three much flustered hostesses opened the door and gushed a welcome to their guests.

It was rather a motley group who entered: Irene as a nun in waterproof and hood; Agnes as a Red Cross Nurse; Esther a Turk, with a towel for a turban; Joan a sportsman in her gymnasium knickers; Sheila, in a tricolor cap, represented France; and Lorna was draped with the Union Jack; Jess with a plaid arranged as a kilt made a sturdy Highlander; Mary was an Irish colleen; while Delia, in a wrapper ornamental with fringes of tissue paper, stood for "Carnival." A white dressing jacket trimmed with green leaves, and a garland of flowers were waiting for Peachy, and when the latter was popped on her head she was promptly proclaimed "Queen o' the May." Very much flattered by these preparations in her honor, the guest of the occasion took her place at the table.
"I'm absolutely astounded," she announced.

"Where did you get all this spread?
You don't mean to tell me Antonio was _allowed_ to go and buy it! It's too topping for words!" "We thought it had gone out of the window, a moment ago," said Jess, explaining their horrible predicament as she wielded the teapot.
The Camellia Buds listened aghast.