Then Patty explained her appearance at dinner in Lady Hamilton’s gown, and to her pleased surprise, the Earl laughed long and loudly.
“Best joke ever!” he declared; “a baby like you giving an imitation of the ‘belle of the ball’!”
“I’m not so infantile,” said Patty, pouting a little, for the Earl now treated her as if she were about twelve.
“You are!” he declared. “You ought to be in the schoolroom eating bread and jam.”
“I’d like the bread and jam well enough, for I’m getting hungrier every minute.”
“Well, it’s an hour yet to luncheon time; come along and I’ll show you the rose orchard. It may make you forget your gnawing pangs of hunger.”
On pleasant terms, then, they went through the gate in the high hedge that surrounded the enclosure. The rose orchard was unique. It had originally been a fruit orchard, and as most of the trees were dead, and many of them fallen, roses had been trained over their trunks and branches. The gorgeous masses of bloom covered the old gnarled wood, and the climbing roses twined lovingly around branches and boughs. Here and there were rustic seats and arbours; and there were many bird-houses, whose tiny occupants were exceedingly tame and sociable. Several other guests were walking about, and Patty and the Earl joined a group which included their host and hostess.
“How do you like it?” said Lady Herenden, drawing Patty’s arm through her own.
“It’s the most beautiful place since the Garden of Eden,” said Patty, so enthusiastically that everybody laughed.
Then Mr. Snowden sauntered up, and reminded Patty of her promise to go walking with him.