. "I'll go away for a time,
and I'll return and escort you home. What time shall I come back?"

"You needn't come back at all. I'll go home with Elise, or if not, I
daresay Mr. Blaney will see that I get home safely. Won't you?" she
added, turning to the resplendent figure nearby.

"Won't I what?" he asked gaily. "But the answer is yes, to anything
you may ask. Even to the half of my kingdom, and then the other half.
To be sure, my kingdom is small, and half of it is my sister's, but you
can command it all."

"Oh, no, nothing so great as that! Merely to see me back to my
rooftree in safety, if I outstay my escort."

"You're going to outstay everybody. Why, the fun hasn't begun yet.
Don't dream of going home now!"

"I won't," and Patty turned deliberately away from Philip and began to
chat with a group of guests to whom she had previously been introduced.

"Join our ranks," said one vivacious young girl. "We're the
intelligent idiots, perhaps the wisest sages of our time. We're having
a symposium of souls----"

"Miss Fairfield isn't interested in souls yet," interrupted Blaney,
"she's not unnaturally starving to death. The feast is unusually
delayed tonight."

"It's coming now," announced Alla. "To the food, all!"

Philip was nowhere to be seen, nor did Patty see the Farringtons near
her, but feeling glad of the hint of refreshments, she followed where
Blaney led. Soon, she found herself ensconced on a divan, heaped with
pillows, and many people were offering her strange-looking dishes.

"_Chili con carne_?" said one, "or common or garden Welsh Rabbit?"

"I never tasted the Chili stuff," laughed Patty, "but I love Welsh
Rabbit. I'll take that, please."

But, alas, the Welsh Rabbit Patty had in mind was a golden, delectable
confection, light and dainty of character. She was served with a
goodly portion of a darkish, tough substance, of rubbery tendencies and
strong cohesive powers.

In vain she essayed to eat it; it was unmanageable, and, to her taste,
positively inedible. Yet the others were apparently enjoying it, so
she made valiant efforts to consume her own.

"Fine, isn't it?" said Alla, with enthusiasm, "why, you're not eating
any! You don't like it! Take this away, Sam, and bring Miss Fairfield
some of the Tamale stuff."

And then, the Rabbit was succeeded by a concoction so much worse, that
Patty was appalled at the mere sight and odour of it.

"Oh, please," she said, hastily,