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Mrs. Plackett more clearly,” Mary Jane said.
    “Not if we swipe her spectacles when we tuck her in,” Smooth Kitty replied. “We want her to see Mrs. Plackett. We want her thoroughly convinced she’s sleeping with a living Mrs. Plackett. In the night, after the fire’s died down and the drugs have made Miss Fringle quite unconscious, we’ll make the switch and get the body out of there.”
    “Switch?” Stout Alice inquired. “What will we switch for Mrs. Plackett’s body, a scarecrow?”
    Smooth Kitty studied Stout Alice.
    The latter girl took a step backward.
    “Oh, no, Kit. You wouldn’t.”
    Smooth Kitty placed her hands on Stout Alice’s cheeks and planted a little kiss on her forehead. “No scarecrow, dear,” she said. “Promise you’ll forgive me for what I’m about to say, but you’re simply the best for the job. We shall switch you for our dearly departed headmistress.”

CHAPTER 4
    Stout Alice ran her hands about her thick middle and sighed. “I only have myself to blame for this, I suppose.”
    “You’re the ideal fit for the task,” Smooth Kitty said soothingly. “You’re a natural actress. Last Christmas, when we did our tragedy plays, you were…”
    “Lying in bed sleeping isn’t playing Lady Macbeth,” Alice said. “No need to try and make nice. I’m the best fit for the job because I’m the best fit for Mrs. Plackett’s clothes. I even have her horrid double chin.” Stout Alice composed herself bravely. “Never mind. I’d better go find one of her nightgowns and caps, and try not to think about having the figure of a sixty-year-old woman.”
    “Your complexion’s much nicer,” Pocked Louise called after her retreating form, but Alice ignored her. Dour Elinor slipped away to build up the bedroom fire.
    Pocked Louise handed Smooth Kitty a cup of chamomile tea. “Here you are. Brewed to perfection and laced with sleeping draught. Miss Fringle will snore like a hound in no time. I’ll go clear off the dining room table. All our dinner things are still there.”
    Dull Martha stretched her arms high above her head and yawned. “I’m absolutely worn to death. Oh! What an unfortunate thing to say today.” She poured hot water from the kettle into the dishpan. “I’d better get washing up so we can all get to bed.”
    “Never mind, Martha,” Disgraceful Mary Jane said. “You cooked today, so I’ll wash. Off you go to bed.”
    A love light filled Dull Martha’s eyes as she gazed at the older girl. “Oh, would you? Thanks awfully. I’ll owe you.”
    “Not a bit, my little mouse. Trundle off, now. You too, Roberta. Nighty-night.”
    When both girls had trudged up the stairs, Smooth Kitty took a long look at Disgraceful Mary Jane. “That was kind of you.”
    Mary Jane shook her head and scrubbed some soap onto her dishwashing brush. “Penance. I was a beast to them earlier, when they let Miss Fringle in and then tripped her.”
    Kitty laughed and banked down the stove for the night. “We’re lucky they did. They saved our skins. Dr. Snelling was just about to discover Mrs. Plackett was no longer with us.”
    “Bless that poor dear Martha,” Mary Jane said. “She’s gone and used every pan in the house to cook dinner, I think. Here’s one for the beans, and here’s another for potatoes. One for boiled onions, and three for the veal! A roaster, and … these tiny frypans look like a doll should use them.”
    “She’s a bit of a doll herself. Pretty and…”
    “Head full of f luff.”
    “Ssh!”
    “You started it.” Disgraceful Mary Jane grinned. “Miss Fringle called her plain tonight.”
    “Of all the nerve!” cried Kitty. “Wait. Before, or after Martha tripped her? Never mind. Don’t answer that.” She seized the teacup and headed for the parlor, where a fidgety Miss Fringle awaited her.
    “What took so long?” she demanded. “Constance Plackett would never keep an injured guest waiting like this.”
    Kitty smiled with all her teeth. Call