The talk was deliberate. Each wise and weighty opinion advanced was thoughtfully considered and argued, and Patty listened, striving to comprehend the jargon. Time passed rapidly, and, at last, she realised that most of the guests had gone, and there remained only about a half dozen of the most talkative ones. Sam Blaney himself was the conversational leader. He went off on long tirades, and though Patty strove to follow his theories, they seemed to her vague and incomprehensible. She found herself getting sleepy, though she would have indignantly repudiated such an idea. Another man, Mr. Griscom, slightly differed in opinions with Blaney and the debates between the two were raptly listened to by the others. A chiming clock struck two. "Good gracious!" exclaimed Patty, "it can't be two o'clock! Where are the others? Where is Elise?" "They've gone, long ago," said Blaney, smiling. "You know you said I might take you home, and so I told the Farringtons I would do so. "But I didn't mean to stay as late as this! Why, I had no idea it was after twelve! Oh, please, Mr. Blaney, take me home at once. What will Mrs. Farrington think? I've never stayed anywhere so late before,--alone,--I mean." "You're not alone, Patricia, dear," said Alla, surprised at Patty's evident alarm. "You're ours now, you know, and we will care for you and protect you. Sam will take you home, and if you fear Mrs. Farrington's reproaches, I will go with you and explain." "Oh, not that," and Patty smiled. "I don't fear her, you know. I'm not a child, and I can do as I like. But it is not my custom to stay later than the people I came with." "But all your customs will change now. We are a law unto ourselves. Bohemians are free of conventions and rules. Simply tell Mrs. Farrington that you have joined our circle and you will henceforth be governed by our ideas and customs. As you say, you are not a child, you can do as you like." "Of course you can," said Mr. Griscom. "I'm going that way, I'll take you home, if you like." "Thank you," said Patty, "but I have accepted Mr. Blaney's escort." "That's right," said Blaney, heartily. "Oh, there'll be no trouble,--no trouble at all. I'll take Miss Fairfield home, and if any comments are made, they'll be made to me." Patty felt uneasy. She didn't know exactly why, for she had done nothing wrong, but it was so very late, and she wondered what the Farringtons would think of her. She got her wraps and Alla kissed her good-bye. "Dear little Patricia," she said, affectionately. "It is all right. It seems unaccustomed, I know, but you are ours now, and your friends must get used to it." It was only a few blocks to walk over to Pine Laurel, and Patty started off with Sam Blaney. "You're anxious, Miss Fairfield," he said, kindly, "and I'm sorry. Can I help at all? I assure you I had no thought of your staying with us longer than you wished. Shall I go in and explain to your friends?"