“You are so charming, all in a ring,
Hardly I know of which siren to sing,
Yet if I must choose, then it shall be
Mollie, bright Mollie to come unto me.”
His was a fine voice, and he sang his improvised verse to the music of one of his favorite songs, “Beautiful Dreamer.”
“Oh, I wish you had to sing ever so many verses,” Jeanette said impulsively, and he bowed to her earnestly spoken compliment.
They had paused for a moment to rest, and for a time their hands were unclasped. Patricia thought that this was just her chance. She touched Arabella's arm.
“Come,” she whispered, and Arabella followed.
It happened that no one noticed that the two had left their playmates, and soon they were flying around in a circle, singing their verses, and choosing as before.
The conservatory was brightly lighted, and the perfume of the flowers was rich and heavy. The fountain plashed in its shallow basin, and it seemed like a glimpse of fairyland. Patricia looked about to see if any one had followed them, but no one was near.
“Now this is what I'm going to show you,” she said. “You see that one lovely fountain?”
Oh, yes, Arabella saw that.
“Well, there's two fountains, and I know where the other one is. I'll let you try to find it first, and if you can't find it, I'll show it to you.”