ch
happier. The evening was all too short. Patty whirled through dance after
dance, and between them was restored to Lady Herenden or Lady Hamilton,
only to be claimed the next minute by another partner.

"What a belle it is!" said Lady Herenden, patting the girl's shoulder
affectionately. "You have made a real sensation, Miss Fairfield."

"But I'm Cinderella, to-night," she said, gaily.

"Wait till to-morrow, and see all my popularity vanish."

Lady Herenden did not understand, but took it as merry chaff and paid no
heed.

Then Lord Ruthven came for the last dance.

"This is an extra, Miss Fairfield," he said; "will you give it to me?"

Patty agreed, but as they walked away, his Lordship said:

"You look really tired; would you not rather sit on the terrace than
dance?"

"I am tired," said Patty, honestly; "I think it's carrying this heavy
train around. I've never before danced in a long gown."

"Then you shall rest. Let us sit on the terrace, and I'll send for an ice
for you."

Lord Ruthven was very kind and courteous. He found a delightful corner of
the terrace unoccupied, and he arranged two wicker easy-chairs, where
they might be just out of the way of the promenaders. He asked a footman
to bring the ices, and then seated himself beside Patty.

"Is it not beautiful," he said, "the rose garden in the moonlight? One
can almost fancy the roses opening beneath the moon's light as in daytime
by the sun's warm rays."

"Yes," said Patty, falling in with his fanciful mood, "and I think,
perhaps, at night, the white roses and the pale yellow ones bloom. Then
at daybreak, the pink or blush roses open, and at midday the deep red
ones."

"You have the mind of a poet, Miss Fairfield. Where do you get those
graceful conceits?"

"Oh, I don't know," said Patty, carelessly; "I think they are the result
of this beautiful moonlight night, and these picturesque surroundings."

"Yes, I am sure that is true. You have a soul that responds to all beauty
in art or nature. Let us take a short turn in the rose garden, and get a
view of this noble old house with the moonlight full upon it."

"But I want my ice cream," objected Patty, who still had her schoolgirl
appetite.

"We'll stay but a moment, and we'll return to find it awaiting us,"
gently insisted Lord Ruthven, and Patty amiably went down the terrace
steps and along the garden path with him.

Near a clump of cedars, only a short distance away, they turned to lo