Then they all went out to luncheon, and among the pretty table decorations and merry first of April jests, Patty managed to smuggle in at Bee's place a funny little figure. It was a bauble doll dressed like a Jester or Court Fool. And he bore a tiny flag in his hand, bearing the legend, April first.
"I AM an April Fool!" Beatrice admitted, as she took her seat, "but I forgive Patty for making me one, if all of the rest of you will forgive me."
Bee made this apology so prettily, and her roguish dark eyes flashed so brightly, that forgiveness was freely bestowed, and indeed, as one of the guests remarked, there was nothing to forgive.
But the story was told over and over again, and Patty was beset with questions as to how she chanced to discover the fraud.
"Why, I just happened to," she said, smiling; "I think I'm a detective by instinct; but there's not much credit due to me, for I knew Beatrice and Mr. Cameron were always planning jokes, and I couldn't believe they'd let the first of April pass by without some special demonstration. So I kept my eyes open,—and I couldn't help seeing what I did see."
"You're a Seer from Seeville," declared Bee, "and I promise I shall never try to trick you again."
"Which means," said Patty, calmly, "that you'll never cease trying until you accomplish it, and you say that to put me off my guard."
The baffled look on Bee's face proved that this was true, and everybody laughed.
It was that very same evening that Kenneth came to call, and Patty merrily told him the whole story.
She was not much surprised that he disapproved heartily of the joke.