15-A SCARLET SILK CAPE

A SCARLET SILK CAPE We left the castle through the sewers. Then we crept around to the front. It was night. and the castle looked dark and spooky. We knocked at the door. The hunchback greeted us. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" he grumbled. I tried to look very professional. "Are you looking for help by any chance?" I said. "We're looking for work." The shrimpy mouse smirked and let us in. "IAMCOINCTOCALLTHEYOUNCCOUNTESS! WAITHERE IN THE HALL!" he instructed.

A few seconds later, I heard a rustling sound. I turned around, and the young countess was already beside me! How could she get there so fast? I wondered. I could tell Thea was just as puzzled as I was by the rodent's speedy entrance. Meanwhile, Snobella was looking us over carefully. She patted our fur. She checked our teeth. She looked in our ears and waved a paw in front of our eyes. I'm surprised she didn't ask us to walk a straight line or sing a song. Eventually, she seemed satisfied, though, because she waved us on. "YOU two can go put on your uniforms," she said to Benjamin and me. Then she pointed at Thea. "You can follow me," she told my sister You will iron my wrap, sew the hem of my scarlet silk cape, and curl and powder my wig. Then you will polish the

buckles of my silk shoes and well. the list goes on and on. There are just so many things for you to do before the ball!" She gave a smug little wave before scampering off to her room. My sister shot me a murderous look. I pretended I hadn't seen it. I knew she would never let me hear the end of this one. But I couldn't worry about it now. I quickly followed the sneering hunchback down the dark hallway.