It was Patty’s nature to make friends quickly, and during her stay in Kent, she had a royal good time. Lord Ruthven talked over the matter with Lady Hamilton, and as he chose to consider it all a great joke on himself, she also took his view of it. As for Patty, she was so engrossed with other people that she nearly forgot all about the moonlight episode.
Only sometimes, when she chanced to catch sight of Lord Ruthven, she would say to herself, “Sylvester, Sylvester!” and then turn away to hide her laughter.
They stayed over until Tuesday, and then took the noon train back to London, Lady Herenden expressing an earnest wish that Patty would visit her again. Lady Kitty and Patty reached the Savoy duly, and Mr. Fairfield invited the returned travellers to dinner in the great Restaurant. This was a treat in itself, and Patty gleefully ran up to her room to dress for dinner.
“Lend me one of your gowns to wear, Kitty?” she said, roguishly, looking in at her friend’s door.
“Go away, you bad child. You’re not in my care, now. I shall confess all to your father to-night at dinner, and then I’ve done with you.”
“You’ve chosen a wise time,” said Patty, sagely. “Father’s always especially good-natured at dinner.”
“Let us hope he will be,” said Lady Hamilton, who was really a little anxious about it all. But she need not have been, for when the story was told, both Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield looked upon it as a huge joke.
Nan, especially, was almost convulsed with laughter at the account Patty gave of the moonlight scene, and her tragic repetition in a stage whisper of “Sylvester, Sylvester!” was truly funny of itself.
“It couldn’t be helped,” said Mr. Fairfield, “and it was in no way your fault, Lady Hamilton. It would have been a pity to shut Patty in her room on such a gala occasion, and no one could foresee that she was going to throw herself at the Earl’s head!”
“Father!” exclaimed Patty, “I didn’t do any such thing! He threw himself at my feet, if you please.”