Patty fairly jumped; then, seeing the smile that came into his eyes, she put out both hands to King Lear, and said, gladly: "Bill! Little Billee! Oh, I _am_ glad to see you!" "Are you, really?" And Bill Farnsworth's voice had a slight tremor in it. "Are you sure of that, my girl?" "Of course I am," and Patty had regained her gay demeanour, which she had lost in her moment of intense surprise. "Oh, of course I am! I was so sorry to have missed you last week. And Jim said you went back to Arizona." "I did expect to, but I was detained in New York, and only this morning I found I could run up here and stay till to-morrow. I couldn't get here earlier, and when I reached the house, you had all started. So I got into these togs, and came along." "Your togs are wonderful, Little Billee. I never saw you look so stunning, not even as Father Neptune." "That was a great show, wasn't it?" and Big Bill smiled at the recollection. "But I say, Little Girl, you're looking rather wonderful yourself to-night. Oh, Patty, it's good to see you again!" "And it's good to see you; though it doesn't seem as if I had really seen you. That mask and beard completely cover up your noble countenance." "And I wish you'd take off that dinky little scrap of blue, so I can see if you are still my Apple Blossom Girl." "But I thought you wanted the extra dance." "I don't believe there's going to be any extra, after all. I think the people are anxious to get their masks off, and if so we'll have our dance after supper." CHAPTER XVIII BACK TO NEW YORK Farnsworth was right. There was no extra before supper, and the guests were even now flocking to the supper-room. Philip came toward them, looking for Patty, his mask already off. "Oh, can we really take them off now?" cried Patty. "I'm so glad. They're horridly uncomfortable. I'll never wear one again. I love a fancy dress party, but I don't see any sense in a masquerade." She took off her mask as she spoke, and her pretty face was flushed pink and her hair was curling in moist ringlets about her temples. Farnsworth looked down on her as he removed his own mask. "Apple Blossom!" he exclaimed again, and the comparison was very apt, for the pink and white of Patty's face was just the color of the blossoms. Then the two men looked at each other, and Patty suddenly realised that they had never met. "Oh, you don't know each other, do you?" she exclaimed. "And you my two best friends! Mr. Farnsworth, this is Mr. Van Reypen. And now, which of you is going to take me to supper?"