and the other on another three feet away. It
is hard for even a janitor to be dignified in such a position, and
while he was gathering his scattered impressions Patty looked longingly
around the room for some one to enjoy the spectacle with her. She felt
that the silence was becoming ominous, however, and she hastened to
interrupt it.

"There's something wrong with that stove; it won't burn a bit. I am
afraid we didn't put it together just right. I shouldn't be surprised if
_you_ might be able to tell what's the matter with it, Mr. Peters." She
smiled sweetly. "Men know such a lot about such things! Would you mind
looking at it?"

Peters grunted again; but he approached the stove.

Five minutes later, when Priscilla stuck her head in to find out if, by
chance, anything remained of Patty, she saw Peters on his knees on the
floor of her bedroom, with the dismembered stove scattered about him,
and heard him saying, "I don't know as I have any call to report you,
for I s'pose, since they're up, they might as well stay"; and Patty's
voice returning: "You're _very_ kind, Mr. Peters. Of course if we'd
_known_--" Priscilla shut the door softly, and retired around the corner
to await Peters's departure.

"How in the world did you manage him?" she asked, bursting in as soon as
the sound of his footsteps had died away down the corridor. "I expected
to sing a requiem over your remains, and I found Peters on his knees,
engaged in amicable conversation."

Patty smiled inscrutably. "You must remember," she said, "that Peters is
not only a janitor: he is also a man."

II

An Early Fright

"I'll make the tea to-day," said Patty, graciously.

"As you please," said Priscilla, with a skeptical shrug.

Patty bustled about amid a rattle of china. "The cups are rather dusty,"
she observed dubiously.

"You'd better wash them," Priscilla returned.

"No," said Patty; "it's too much trouble. Just close the blinds, please,
and we'll light the candles, and that will do as well. Come in," she
called in answer to a knock.

Georgie Merriles, Lucille Carter, and the Bartlet Twin appeared in the
doorway.

"Did I hear the two P's were going to serve tea this afternoon?"
inquired the Twin.

"Yes; come in. I'm going to make it myself," answered Patty, "and you'll
see how much more attentive a hostess I am than Priscilla. Here, Twin,"
she added, "you take the kettle out and fill it with water; and,
Lucille, please go and borrow