Then a
few minutes later she had accepted a similar invitation from that stupid
young Roland. Kenneth was obliged to admit to himself that young Roland
did not look stupid just at present, for he had some talent as a
comedian, and was acting the part of a funny Chinaman with success. But
that didn't make any difference to Kenneth, and he looked reproachfully
at Patty, as she accepted the flowers and gay compliments from her
attendant cavalier.

Patty had intended to explain to Kenneth why it had been possible for her
to leave the gypsy camp in charge of another fortune teller, but when she
saw the boy's moody expression and sulky attitude her sense of humour was
touched, and she giggled to herself at the idea of Kenneth being angry at
such a trifle.

She thought it distinctly silly of him, and being in a mischievous mood,
she concluded he ought to be punished for such foolishness. So instead of
smiling at him, she gave him only a careless glance, and then devoted her
attention to the others.

Patty was a general favourite, and her happy, sunny ways made friends for
her wherever she went. She was therefore surrounded by a crowd of merry
young people, some of whom had just been introduced to her, and others
whom she had known longer; and as she laughed and chatted with them,
Kenneth began to think that he was acting rather foolishly, and longed to
join the group around the gypsy queen.

But the boy was both sensitive and proud, and he could not quite bring
himself to overlook what he considered an intentional unkindness on the
part of Patty.

So, wandering away from the pergola, he visited other booths, and chatted
with other groups, determined to ignore Patty and her perversities.

Patty, not being an obtuse young person, saw through all this, and chose
to be amused by it.

"Dear old Ken," she thought to herself, "what a goose he is! I'll get Nan
to ask him to have supper with us all in the English Dairy, and then I
expect he'll thaw out that frozen manner of his."

Feeling that she ought to return to her own post, Patty told her Chinaman
so, and together they went back to the Romany Rest; but as Patty was
about to take her place again at the fortune teller's table, Mr. Phelps
came along and desired her to go with him, and have her photograph taken.
At first Patty demurred, though she greatly wanted to go, but Miss Leslie
said she was not at all tired of fortune telling, and would gladly
continue to substitute