"I hope they will like it. I've never danced before these people
before. I've pleased ordinary audiences, but the Cosmos are so
critical--it would break my heart if they didn't approve."

"Of course they'll approve! They'll go crazy over you. But you must
throw yourself utterly into the spirit of it. We know at once if
you're afraid or over-reserved. Abandon must be your keynote. Real
interpretation of Grantham's wonderful ideas."

"They are wonderful," agreed Patty. "Mr. Grantham is a true poet. He
sees Nature at her best and with an intuition almost divine."

Her blue eyes shone with earnestness and Blaney gazed at her in
adoration.

"You perfect thing!" he murmured; "you have found your right
environment among us. You are wasted on the ordinary, unthinking
masses of society. You are Nature's child. What a pity you must live
a conventional life. Patty, can't you break loose? Can't you give up
your present hampering existence and come and throw in your lot with
ours? Live here. Alla would warmly welcome you as a sister----"

"And will you be my brother, Sam? I've never had a brother."

"No, I refuse to be your brother! I'll be--well, say, your guardian.
How'd you like to be my ward?"

"I didn't know girls ever were wards except in old-fashioned novels.
And there, they always marry their guardians."

"Well?"

"Oh, my gracious, is this a proposal!" Something in Blaney's tone had
warned Patty that light banter was the best course, and she rattled on;
"if so, postpone it, please. I really must go very soon and dress for
my dance."

"I know it. I will wait for a more fitting time and place. You ought
to be wooed in a sylvan glade----"

"Oh, I'd rather a bosky dell! I've always been crazy to be wooed in a
bosky dell. A leafy bower is the nearest I've come to it."

"Who wooed you there?"

"Can't remember exactly. But it was the third from the last,--I think."

"You little witch! Do you know how fascinating you are?"

"No; tell me." Patty was in mischievous mood, and looked up demurely
at Blaney.

"By Jove, I will! As soon as I can get you alone. Run away, now, and
do your dance. And, listen; I command you to think of me at every
step."

"Can't promise that. It's all I can do to remember Mr. Grantham's
steps; they're fearfully complicated. So--you think of me,--instead."

With a saucy smile at Blaney, Patty slipped from her place, and went
around to the dressing room.

"