"Yes, he'll be here for dinner. And Mona, too. I say, Blaney, we'll bring 'em along to your party, eh?" "Of course. Alla will be delighted to have them. No matter if we're crowded. You see, Miss Fairfield, our place is small, but our welcome is vurry, vurry large----" Blaney waved his long arms, as if including the whole world in his capacious welcome. "You're vurry, vurry kind," returned Patty, unconsciously imitating his peculiar pronunciation. "I'm just crazy to see your studio. It seemed as if the time would never come. And I want to meet your sister, too. I know it will be a lovely party. I've never been to a real Bohemian Studio party." "Oh, we don't call it Bohemian, because, you see, it _is_ Bohemian. Only make-believe Bohemians call themselves so. You'll learn to distinguish the difference." "I hope so. I've always wanted to know what Bohemianism really is." "We'll show you tonight. What are you going to wear?" "My goodness, I don't know. I hadn't thought about it. Also, I've never been asked a question like that before." "Ah, but it means so much! If your gown should be out of key----" Blaney rolled up his eyes and spread his hands, as if the thought were too appalling for words. Patty giggled. "I hope it won't be," she said. "But, tell me, what is the key? Maybe I can strike it." "The key," and the poet looked thoughtful, "ah, yes, I have it! The key will be saffron and ultramarine." Patty gasped. "Oh, I haven't a frock to my name in those colours!" "But you can harmonise,--yes, harmonise. You will, won't you? If you didn't, I couldn't bear it." "Oh, then I'll harmonise, yes, I promise you I will. I'll find something that won't make a discord. But can you dictate to all your guests like this?" "Alas, no! Would that I might! And now I must go. Alla will be wanting me." "What is he, anyway?" said Patty, as after his adieux, the poet swung away, with his queer, loping gait. "Bats in his belfry," returned Roger, laughing. "He's the real thing in high-art souls,--if you get what I mean." "Oh, I don't know," demurred Patty; "I think he's sincere." "You do! Well, he may be, for all of me. But if he is, give me base deception, every time! Don't you fall in love with him, Patty, Van Reypen wouldn't stand for it." "I don't know what Mr. Van Reypen has to say about it," returned Patty, with a heightened colour. "And remember, Roger, not everybody is so absorbed in loving and being loved as you are!" Patty's roguish smile was affectionate as well, for she was fond of Roger, and also of Mona, and she was deeply interested in their love affair. Their engagement had been a short one, and now that the wedding day was so near, the whole Farrington family could think or talk of little else. And as a house guest and a dear friend, Patty, too, was enthusiastic and excited about the preparations.