Bill's laugh was so infectious that Patty couldn't help joining it, but she said:
"I can't, Little Billee. It's too late, and I'm too tired, and—"
"But I'm going away to-morrow."
"You are! I didn't know."
"Do you CARE? Oh, Patty, come out for a minute, I want to tell you something."
Still in her green draperies and silver wreath, Patty stepped out on the veranda, saying, "Just for a tiny minute, then."
Bill had discarded his Neptune trappings, and in evening dress, was his handsome self again.
"You were fine as Neptune," said Patty, looking at him critically as he stood against a veranda pillar, "but you're better as a plain man."
"Thank you!" said Bill, ironically.
"Fishing! Well, I DIDN'T mean that you're plain, but,—I won't say what
I did mean."