"Oh, Barker will take me over in a runabout."
"But Barker's to take me to the station. You'd better go with the rest,
Daisy."
Something in Bill's tone made Daisy acquiesce, so she said, shortly,
"Oh, very well," and turned toward the house.
She went to her room, and Farnsworth looked about for Patty. She was nowhere to be seen, and all the first floor rooms were empty save for a servant here and there. Finally Bill said to a parlourmaid, "Please go to Miss Fairfield and ask her if she will come down and see Mr. Farnsworth just a minute."
The maid departed, and a moment later Patty came down. She was all dressed for the dinner, in a soft, shimmering, pale blue chiffon, and she wore Bill's wreath in her hair.
"Apple Blossom," he said, softly, and his voice choked in his throat.
"I've been trying to get you a moment alone all day," he said, "but I couldn't. I believe you evaded me on purpose!"
"Why should I?" and Patty looked a little scared.
"I'll tell you why! Because you knew what I wanted to say to you! Because you KNOW—confound that butler! He's everywhere at once! Patty, come in the drawing-room."
"Jane's in there," said Patty, demurely, and smiling up at Bill from under her long lashes.