The party was Mrs.Green, the housekeeper, a good-natured lady upon whom Tom had played many a joke in the past.
"Gosh! I mustn't be discovered!" he muttered, and looked around for some place to hide.

Under the staircase was a recess containing a number of hooks with cloaks and overcoats, and into this he crowded, drawing one of the overcoats so as to completely cover the upper portion of his body.
Hardly had he gained the hiding place when Mrs.Green reached the lower hallway.

Tom heard her pause at the foot of the stairs, strike a match, and light the big swinging lamp hanging from overhead.
"I might as well mend that overcoat now, while the captain is away," Tom heard her murmur to herself.

"It's only a buttonhole that's torn out, and a tailor would charge him four times what it's worth--and he always so good at Christmas-time!" "She's looking out for her present," thought Tom, with a grin.

"But that's none of my affair.