He halted and looked round on the laughing company.
"My word of honor! I forgot!—Lady Polly, I humbly beg your gracious pardon!" He bowed low.
"Granted, Sir Rogue!" she replied, dropping a curtsy.
Full of the spirit of mischief, Patricia slipped away to the piano.
And so the waltzing began.
Of course, everybody knew what to expect from their "men-folk" partners unless they were exceedingly wary, and only an occasional couple whirled into the enchanted circle.
Ice cream and cakes were succeeded by music and the singing of carols, until somebody suggested that it was time to go home.
The host took out his watch.
"I shall not open the door for anybody yet," he declared. "Only ten o'clock! Master Lark will give us another song!"
But before the command had been obeyed, the telephone rang lustily.
"Oh, is it!" Mrs. Randolph heard her husband say. "Thank you all, and a Merry Christmas to every one of you!"