Renée thought she must be dreaming--or was Pat stark crazy?
"I couldn't sleep and I was thinking I'd change that 'long' for 'carry,' 'cause there'r so many words rhyme with that--and I looked in my pocket and it was gone!"
Renée was aghast at the seriousness of the loss! Putting on their slippers they stole down the stairs and made a thorough search. But they could find no trace of the missing ballad! At last Renée persuaded the disconsolate Pat to go back to bed.
"Well, I'll just have to write it again!" she sighed, digging her tired head into the pillow. "Maybe this time I'll write it in prose 'cause it's such a bother making words rhyme! Only, poets are so much nicer than just authors, don't you think so, Renée? Renée----"
But for the first time Renée failed to meet her friend with sympathetic understanding--she soundly sleeping!
CHAPTER XII
THE GAME
"Renée! Aunt Pen! Guess!" Pat climbed the stairs two steps at a time.
"I'd guess that you had been running every inch of the way home," laughed Aunt Pen, for Pat's cheeks were scarlet from the outdoor air and her hair was tumbling down about her ears.
"I should say I had! Such good luck! Or"--she attempted to correct herself--"of course it isn't exactly good luck, only--True Scott sprained her ankle and I'm to play guard in the game tomorrow!"