22-HERE COME THE CARRIAGES!

HERE COME THE CARRIAGES! Just then, the kitchen door flew open. The hunchback came skipping in. "THE FIRST GUEST IS ON HIS WAY HERE!" he announced. He leaned out of the window to watch one of the carriages approach. "HOW RUDE NO ONE ARRIVES EARLY TO A BALL!" he shrieked, running to the door. I caught my cousin's eye. "Well, what do we do now?" I asked Trap wiped away his tears. "I must pull myself together and serve dinner," he said, trying to keep a stiff upper snout. "PLEASE STAY AND HELP ME. Then we can all leave when the ball is over."

We agreed to stay as long as Trap promised to come home with us after the ball. Minutes later, we heard a shrieking female voice. "My dress! Where is that foolish maid?!" it cried. It was Countess Snobella. Thea left, looking rather grim. Benjamin and I hurried off to the ballroom. The front door opened and the hunchback called out at the top of his lungs, "THE MARQUISE OF SWEET BLOOD AND THE BARONESS LOW FLIGHT!" Meanwhile, more carriages pulled in front of the castle. The hunchback continued announcing each guest. His voice grew hoarse from all the yelling. "THE GRAND DUKE OF SILVERWING, PRINGE WOBBLY GLIDE, BARON RED HOT

BREATH, MARQUISE DE PLASMA, COUNT SCHNOZ VONDER NOSE!" The guests were all dressed in long silk capes. They glided quietly into the big hall. Count von Ratoff welcomed them with his usual sad smile. Rancid rat hairs, he needed some cheering up. Maybe my cousin's insect dinner would do the trick.