“David, dearest,” pleaded Carol weakly.

“Go on parade in my pajamas, dear?” he questioned promptly.

“Let’s both go then,” compromised Carol, and she and Miss Landbury, hand in hand, marched like Trojans to the switch in the other room, Carol clicked the button, and then came a wild and inglorious rush back to the mattress on the floor.

“Good night, girls.”

“Good night, David.”

“Good night, Mr. Duke.”

“Good night, Miss Landbury.”

“Good night, Mrs. Duke.”

Then sweet and blessed silence, which lasted for at least five minutes before there sounded a distinct, persistent rapping on their door.

Carol and Miss Landbury rushed to the protection of each other’s arms, and before David had time to call, the door opened, the switch clicked once more, and Gooding, his hair sticking out in every possible direction, his bath robe flapping ungracefully about his knees, confronted them.

“This is a shame,” he began ingratiatingly.  “I know it.  But I’ve got to have some one to talk to.  I can’t go to sleep and—­ Heavens, what’s that on the floor?”

“It is I and my friend, Miss Landbury,” said Carol quietly.  “We are having a slumber party.”

“Yes, all party and no slumber,” muttered David.

“Well, I am glad I happened in.  I was lonesome off there by myself.  You know you do get sick of being alone all the time.  Shove over, old man, and I’ll join the party.”

David looked at him in astonishment.

“Nothing doing,” he said.  “This cot isn’t big enough for two.  Go in and use Carol’s bed if you like.”

“It’s too far off,” objected Gooding.  “Be sociable, Duke.”

“There isn’t any mattress there anyhow,” said Carol.

They looked at one another in a quandary.

“Go on back to bed, Gooding,” said David, at last.  “This is no time for conversation.”

Gooding would not hear of it.  “Here I am and here I stay,” he said with finality.  “I’ve been seeing white shadows and feeling clammy fingers all night.”

“Well, what are you going to do?  We’ve got a full house, you can see that.”

“Go and get your own mattress and blankets and use them on my bed,” urged Carol.

Miss Landbury turned on her side and closed her eyes.  She was taken care of, she should worry over Mr. Gooding!

“I don’t want to stay in there by myself,” said Gooding again.  “Isn’t there room out here?”

“Do you see any?”

“Well, I’ll move in the room with you,” volunteered David.

Miss Landbury sat up abruptly.

“We won’t stay here without you, David,” said Carol.

“I tell you what,” said Gooding brightly, “we’ll get my mattress and put it in the room for me, and we’ll move David’s mattress on Carol’s bed for David, and then we’ll move the girls’ mattress in on the floor for them.”