ps," he suggested.

"Yes," agreed Patty. "And, by the way, what a jumper that cat must
be."

"Small wonder, with everybody waiting to see how she jumps! Oh, pshaw!
here comes a horde of people, and our pleasant tete-a-tete is
spoiled!"

"Never mind; we'll have another some time," and Patty gave him a
dimpled smile that quite completed the undoing of Mr. Harold Ferris.

The "horde" proved to be two young men from nearby country houses, Mr.
Collins and Mr. Hoyt. And then the other members of the household
appeared, and soon dinner was announced.

"We haven't any especial guest of honour," said Mrs. Kenerley, "for
you're all so very honourable. So pair off just as you like."

Hal Ferris jumped a low chair and two footstools to reach Patty before
any one else could. "Come in with me," he said. "I know the way to the
dining-room."

"I'm glad to be shown," said Patty. "You see, I've never been here
before."

"I know it; that's why I'm being so kind to you. To-morrow I'll take
you up in the tower--it's great."

"Why, is this place a castle?"

"Not exactly, but it's modelled after an old chateau. Really, it's a
most interesting house."

"All right. To-morrow we'll explore it thoroughly."

And then they took their seats at the table, and as the party was
small, conversation became general.

Suddenly Patty became aware that Mr. Collins, who sat on the other side
of her, was trying to attract her attention. He was a mild-mannered
young man, and he looked at her reproachfully.

"I've asked you a question three times, Miss Fairfield," he said, "and
you never even heard it."

"Then you certainly can't expect me to answer it, Mr. Collins," and
Patty laughed gaily. "Won't you repeat it for me, please? I'll promise
to hear it this time."

"I said, did you ever make a lemon pig?"

"A lemon pig! No, I never did. How do you make it?"

"Oh, they're the maddest fun! I say, Mrs. Kenerley, mayn't we have a
lemon?"

"Certainly, Mr. Collins."

"And, oh, I say, Mrs. Kenerley, if it isn't too much trouble, mayn't
we have a box of matches, and two black pins, and a bit of paper?"

"And a colander and a tack hammer and a bar of soap?" asked Ferris,
but Mr. Collins said, gravely: "No, we don't want those."

The articles he had asked for were soon provided, and in the slow,
grave way in which he did everything, Mr. Collins began to make the
strange animal of which he had spoken. The lemon formed the whole pig,
with four