But Frieda put her finger on her lip and shook her head to say that she must not tell Beth anything, even at this late hour, and, taking her coat, Frieda led the way to the elevator and put Beth in. Down-stairs Beth found three other figures swathed like herself in scant dull yellow silk--Natalie, Alys and Dirk. She stared, then began to take a more hopeful view of the queer costume. If there were so many copies of it they must have some fine purpose. “All ready?” asked Aunt Alida, hastening out from the reception room where she had waited for her flock. Beth saw that she was clad in beauty unconcealed, so the cocoon-like sheath was not for her. “Léon is at the door, children!” cried Aunt Alida, as always, refreshingly excited and happy in the prospect of pleasure for the children. She led the way to the car, put the three girls in the back seat, took Dirk with her in the middle seats, Frieda took her place beside Léon and they were off. They drove circuitously, from street to street, from Fifth Avenue to Madison Avenue, in the blocks which lay between, and everywhere they were joined by other cars, each containing one or more of the mysterious silk-clad figures, wearing exactly the same long, dull silk enveloping coats which Beth and her cousins wore. These cars fell in line with the Cortlandt car till they had a lengthy procession of various cars, all carrying human chrysalides. Everybody they passed stared, but that did not matter. Most people smiled at the procession, recognizing it as a children’s party of some sort. The line of motors stopped in turn under the porte-cochère of one of the most splendid hotels in the city and each discharged its burden of guests and maids. The party was met by a preternaturally tall person in quiet livery who said: “Lady Harrowdene’s party? Thank you, madam. This way if you please,” and conducted Mrs. Cortlandt and all her dull silken followers to elevators which took them up to the second floor, where they were led by the tall man who looked, Natalie whispered, “like the Washington monument,” to a room opening out of a ballroom in which the children heard violins tuning. “Her ladyship is here, Mrs. Cortlandt,” said the tall man throwing open the door. Then he bowed low and withdrew. Lady Harrowdene came rapidly forward to meet them. “So glad you are come at last!” she said. “Oh, no, you are not late, Alida, but I was a bit early and waiting was tedious. How beautifully you have carried out the idea! Aren’t they charming, the chrysalis-girls? Please present me to my--and your--guests.”