Patty sat very still, and closed her eyes, as Philip could see through the holes in her blue mask.
Then she opened them, and said, with a smile: “I looked and hunted good, Philip, and I can’t find a bit of love for you. But there’s an awful big, nice, warm friendship, if you care about that.”
“I do care about that, Patty. I care very much for it, but I want more.”
Just at that moment King Lear and Zenobia strolled past them, and Patty almost forgot Philip as she gazed after the two majestic figures.
“Patty,” he said, recalling her attention, “Patty, dear, I say I want more.”
“Piggy-wig!” exclaimed Patty, with her blue eyes twinkling at him through the mask. “More what? I was looking at King Lear, and I lost the thread of your discourse, Philip.”
“Patty Fairfield, I’d like to shake you! Don’t you know what I’m asking of you?”
“Well, even if I do, I must say, Philip, that I can’t carry on a serious conversation with a mask on. Now, you know, they take these things off pretty soon, and then——”
“And then may I ask you again, Patty, and will you listen to me and answer me?”
“Dunno. I make no promises. Philip, this dance is over. I expect they’re going to unmask now. Come on, let’s go back to our crowd.”