Five minutes later, when Priscilla stuck her head in to find out if, by chance, anything remained of Patty, she saw Peters on his knees on the floor of her bedroom, with the dismembered stove scattered about him, and heard him saying, "I don't know as I have any call to report you, for I s'pose, since they're up, they might as well stay"; and Patty's voice returning: "You're _very_ kind, Mr. Peters. Of course if we'd _known_--" Priscilla shut the door softly, and retired around the corner to await Peters's departure. "How in the world did you manage him?" she asked, bursting in as soon as the sound of his footsteps had died away down the corridor. "I expected to sing a requiem over your remains, and I found Peters on his knees, engaged in amicable conversation." Patty smiled inscrutably. "You must remember," she said, "that Peters is not only a janitor: he is also a man." II An Early Fright "I'll make the tea to-day," said Patty, graciously. "As you please," said Priscilla, with a skeptical shrug. Patty bustled about amid a rattle of china. "The cups are rather dusty," she observed dubiously. "You'd better wash them," Priscilla returned. "No," said Patty; "it's too much trouble. Just close the blinds, please, and we'll light the candles, and that will do as well. Come in," she called in answer to a knock. Georgie Merriles, Lucille Carter, and the Bartlet Twin appeared in the doorway. "Did I hear the two P's were going to serve tea this afternoon?" inquired the Twin. "Yes; come in. I'm going to make it myself," answered Patty, "and you'll see how much more attentive a hostess I am than Priscilla. Here, Twin," she added, "you take the kettle out and fill it with water; and, Lucille, please go and borrow some alcohol from the freshmen at the end of the corridor; our bottle's empty. I'd do it myself, only I've borrowed such a lot lately, and they don't know you, you see. And--oh, Georgie, you're an obliging dear; just run down-stairs to the store and get some sugar. I think I saw some money in that silver inkstand on Priscilla's desk." "We've got some sugar," objected Priscilla. "I bought a whole pound yesterday." "No, my lamb; we haven't got it any more. I lent it to Bonnie Connaught last night. Just hunt around for the spoons," she added. "I think I saw them on the bottom shelf of the bookcase, behind Kipling." "And what, may I ask, are _you_ going to do?" inquired Priscilla. "I?" said Patty. "Oh, I am going to sit in the arm-chair and preside." Ten minutes later, the company being disposed about the room on cushions, and the party well under way, it was discovered that there were no lemons. "Are you sure?" asked Patty, anxiously. "Not one," said Priscilla, peering into the stein where the lemons were kept. "I," said Georgie, "refuse to go to the store again."