"Oh, fiddlesticks! I like it. I don't mind it's being cheap, I'm tired of expensive things and glad of a change." "Oh, I don't mean that way," and Van Reypen looked genuinely distressed. "I wouldn't care how poor people were, if they were----" "Respectable?" "No, not that, these people are respectable, of course. But,--sincere, that's what I mean. This bunch are fakirs, they pretend to brains and knowledge and wisdom that they don't possess." "And I suppose you do! Have you got all the knowledge and wisdom in the world?" "At least I don't pretend to have the knowledge that I haven't!" "But you pretend to have a whole lot of authority over me that you haven't! I tell you, Phil, I'm not going to be ordered about by you! I came to this party because I wanted to see it, and I'm going to stay till it's over, and you can do what you like." "All right, then," and Phil looked grave. "I'll go away for a time, and I'll return and escort you home. What time shall I come back?" "You needn't come back at all. I'll go home with Elise, or if not, I daresay Mr. Blaney will see that I get home safely. Won't you?" she added, turning to the resplendent figure nearby. "Won't I what?" he asked gaily. "But the answer is yes, to anything you may ask. Even to the half of my kingdom, and then the other half. To be sure, my kingdom is small, and half of it is my sister's, but you can command it all." "Oh, no, nothing so great as that! Merely to see me back to my rooftree in safety, if I outstay my escort." "You're going to outstay everybody. Why, the fun hasn't begun yet. Don't dream of going home now!" "I won't," and Patty turned deliberately away from Philip and began to chat with a group of guests to whom she had previously been introduced. "Join our ranks," said one vivacious young girl. "We're the intelligent idiots, perhaps the wisest sages of our time. We're having a symposium of souls----" "Miss Fairfield isn't interested in souls yet," interrupted Blaney, "she's not unnaturally starving to death. The feast is unusually delayed tonight." "It's coming now," announced Alla. "To the food, all!" Philip was nowhere to be seen, nor did Patty see the Farringtons near her, but feeling glad of the hint of refreshments, she followed where Blaney led. Soon, she found herself ensconced on a divan, heaped with pillows, and many people were offering her strange-looking dishes. "_Chili con carne_?" said one, "or common or garden Welsh Rabbit?" "I never tasted the Chili stuff," laughed Patty, "but I love Welsh Rabbit. I'll take that, please." But, alas, the Welsh Rabbit Patty had in mind was a golden, delectable confection, light and dainty of character. She was served with a goodly portion of a darkish, tough substance, of rubbery tendencies and strong cohesive powers.