"They'll miss us at tea, I expect," said Doris. "Yes, but they won't know where to look for us. They'll hunt in every place except the right one. No one would ever dream we were on the roof," said May dismally. "Call again," said Ella, who was waxing tearful. "Cuckoo!" tried May once more, with a tinge of despair in her voice. This time Patty judged it discreet to come to the rescue, and emerging quietly from the shade of the rhododendron on the far side, she strolled up in a casual manner. "Why, what are you three doing there?" she exclaimed, with well-feigned surprise. "Oh, Patty! is that you?" cried Doris, with great relief. "Ward has taken away the ladder and we can't come down. I wish you'd go and fetch him." "He hasn't taken the ladder away; it's lying on the ground under the wall," replied Patty. "Then put it up for us, that's a sweet girl," said Ella, in a far more civil tone than she generally used. "I don't know, on the whole, that I will," answered Patty. Her three companions gasped. "Why not?" asked Doris. "Don't tease, Patty! It's getting dark and cold," said May. "Do be quick, Patty!" said Ella. "It would be colder still if you spent the night there," said Patty. "Think how nice it would be for me, though, to have the bedroom all to myself!" "Patty, you can't really mean to leave us here!" "If I put the ladder up, I shall expect something in return," declared Patty. "All right. Go on. What do you want?" "You'll all three have to promise never to light the gas again after Miss Rowe's turned it out, and not to read books that aren't allowed." "Don't be stupid, Patty; we've argued that point so often." [Illustration: "YOU'LL ALL THREE HAVE TO PROMISE NEVER TO LIGHT THE GAS AGAIN AFTER MISS ROWE'S TURNED IT OUT"] "Very well," said Patty, briefly, pretending to walk away. A despairing wail from the girls, however, brought her back. "Don't go! Won't you take anything else?" entreated Doris. "Not a single thing," said Patty, firmly. "How mean you are!" "There's the tea bell," said Patty. "You'd better decide quickly, because I can't wait." "Suppose we promise only to read books out of the library," began Ella, "and light the gas sometimes?" "Good-night!" replied Patty, turning this time as if she really meant to go. "We'll promise! We'll promise!" cried the three shivering figures on the roof. "Everything?" "Yes, if you like." "On your honour?" "On our honour." "Never again?" "Never." "It's a bargain, then. Now you may all come down." Patty reared the ladder against the wall, and held it steady while her companions descended. She felt in good spirits, for she had enjoyed the fun of keeping them imprisoned, and had been able by guile to extort a promise which her strongest protests had hitherto failed to gain from them.