"Sh—sh-sh-sh!" she warned in startled sibilance.
"Shush goes if you say so. Not dancing?"
"No. They wouldn't let me," said Pat mournfully.
"Who wouldn't?"
"The family."
"Snoutrage," declared the stranger economically. "You're one of the family, are you?"
"Yes. I'm the kid. I hate it."
"Cinderella; yes? The lovely but wicked sisters—they're peaches, too." He spoke clearly but a little disjointedly. "But you're not rigged for the part. You've got your regal rags on."
"They're not mine. They're my sister's. I sneaked 'em."
"Snappy child!" he laughed. "Let's have a look."