They had paused for a moment to rest, and for a time their hands were unclasped. Patricia thought that this was just her chance. She touched Arabella"s arm.
"Come," she whispered, and Arabella followed.
It happened that no one noticed that the two had left their playmates, and soon they were flying around in a circle, singing their verses, and choosing as before.
The conservatory was brightly lighted, and the perfume of the flowers was rich and heavy. The fountain plashed in its shallow basin, and it seemed like a glimpse of fairyland. Patricia looked about to see if any one had followed them, but no one was near.
"Now this is what I"m going to show you," she said. "You see that one lovely fountain?" Oh, yes, Arabella saw that.
"Well, there"s _two_ fountains, and _I_ know where the other one is.
I"ll let you try to find it first, and if you can"t find it, I"ll show it to you."
"How do _you_ know where it is?" questioned Arabella.
Patricia looked very important.
"I know, because I _do_ know," she said.
Arabella looked into this corner, and peeped into that, and between them they managed to tip over some small pots of valuable plants, but the music and laughter in the drawing-room prevented any sounds in the conservatory from being heard. At last Arabella was disgusted.
"I don"t believe there"s two fountains," she said.
"Then I"ll _show_ you," said Patricia, "and I"ll tell you how I know.
Just see here," and she pointed to the jet of water which flew high in air, letting fall a veil of mist and spray.
"That"s where the butler turns the water on to set the fountain playing.
I was in here once when I saw him turn that little thing round, and I saw the water fly right up in a minute."
Arabella watched Patricia closely.
"But where"s the _other_ fountain?" she asked impatiently.
"Oh, you"ll see in a second. Come over here," Patricia said, laughing softly.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "There! that"s another fountain."]
"There!" she said, pointing to a pipe that ran along the floor beneath a shelf filled with flowering plants; "that"s _another_ fountain, and I should think they"d have both playing when they have a party."
"That"s _not_ a fountain!" said Arabella.
"Well, I guess I know, and so will you in a second, for I"m going to set it going. See here!"
"Fizz-z-sss!"
A cloud of steam filled the little conservatory, and the two frightened girls screamed with terror, believing that nothing less than an explosion had happened. The servants rushed in and quickly turned off the steam, while Mrs. Dainty and Aunt Charlotte, who had hastened to the rescue, tried to quiet the fear of the mischief-makers.
Not a word was said of the beautiful plants which were now completely ruined, and Mrs. Dainty"s kindness made Patricia feel ashamed.
"I"m sorry," she whispered, and no one had ever before heard her say that. Arabella was fairly hysterical, laughing and crying at the same time, but Aunt Charlotte at last succeeded in calming her, and when the little banquet was announced, they joined the other children, and were as happy as any of the merry party that marched out to the great dining-room.
CHAPTER IX
TWO SLEIGHRIDES
In the centre of the table was a huge round cake encrusted with gorgeous frosting in the forms of beautiful flowers. Around its sides were festoons of buds and blossoms, while here and there a sugar b.u.t.terfly was poised as if ready for flight.
There were flowers beside every plate, there were ices in wonderful shapes, there were bonbons and nuts in abundance, while great silver baskets were heaped with luscious fruits.
What a treat it was! How they laughed and talked as they enjoyed the feast! How bright the lights, how sweet the scent of the lovely flowers with which every room was decorated!
From the drawing-room the tender music floated in. Oh, it was like a dream of fairyland!
Nina Earl watched Patricia closely.
"I guess you never saw a finer party than _this_," she said.
Patricia stared for a moment, then she said just what one might have expected.
"This _is_ a lovely party, and I never saw a grander one except one I went to when I was in N" York, where they had a cake as big as this whole table, and--"
"Then the table to hold such a cake as that must have been pretty big to get inside of any room!" laughed Reginald.
"Well, you didn"t see it, so you can"t know how grand it looked,"
Patricia replied, and as that was quite true, Reginald had nothing to say.
Lola Blessington sat beside Nancy, and many of the older guests watched the two as they talked together, and thought how charming they were, and how very unlike.
Lola"s blue eyes were merry, and her sea-nymph"s costume was very becoming, while Nancy"s fine dark eyes and graceful figure never looked prettier than in her lovely shepherdess frock.
At Nancy"s right sat Dorothy, and her beautiful little face showed the joy that was in her heart. She was always happiest when giving pleasure to others.
And when at last the feast had been enjoyed, more merry games had been played, and tripping feet had danced to lively measures, then the great hall clock hands pointed to the hour, and the guests remembered that it was quite time to be thinking of home.
A surprise awaited the merrymakers, for when good-nights had been said, and they stepped out into the crisp air, they shouted with delight, for lo, while they had been in the warm, flower-scented rooms, a snowstorm had been covering the steps, the gardens, the avenue with a white velvet carpet!
"Hurrah!" shouted Reginald, "this is the first snowstorm, and there"ll be fun every day as long as it lasts."
Long icicles hung like diamond pendants from roof and balcony, and still the snow-flakes like downy feathers were falling lazily, as if they knew not whether to pause, or to continue to descend.
And when the last carriage had rolled down the driveway Dorothy turned, and clasping Nancy"s hands, she said:
"Oh, there never was such a perfect party! We"ll always remember it."
"Always," said Nancy.