"What are they playing there?" she asked.
"A burlesque," cried Kate Lester, "'Artful Artemis and the Shy Shepherd.'"
"Kate," cried Mrs. Pellypop, in a severe tone, "how can you talk so? In my young days girls knew nothing of such things."
"I wish she wouldn't go back into the dark ages," whispered Pat to Carmela, "she must be a hundred, and young at that," whereon Carmela laughed.
"Well," said Ronald, dismally, "if none of the ladies will come, perhaps the gentlemen will."
"I'm engaged," said Vassalla, promptly.
"Thank heaven," thought Ronald, muttering the regrets which politeness demanded.
"I will come, Mr. Monteith," said Sir Mark, "and I've no doubt Mr. Ryan----"
"Oh, I'll be all there," said Pat, gaily; "I adore burlesque; the stage educates the people, begad, and a mighty nice schoolmaster it is."
"That will be three all together," said Ronald, "so I'll ask my friend, Mr. Foster, to make a fourth; but what are the ladies' plans for to-night?"