"To be sure, miss," said Sadie, politely.
Patty ran down the corridor to the door of the reception-room, and then
swept slowly in with what she called an air of continental repose. The
room was empty. She glanced about in some surprise, for she knew that
the two reception-rooms on the other side of the hall were being used
for the doll show. She tiptoed over and peered in through the half-open
door. The room was filled with dolls in rows and tiers; every piece of
furniture was covered with them; and in a far corner, at the end of a
long vista of dolls, appeared Mr. Algernon Vivian Todhunter, gingerly
sitting on the edge of a sofa, surrounded by flaxen-haired baby dolls,
and awkwardly holding in his lap the three he had displaced.
Patty drew back behind the door, and spent fully three minutes in
regaining her continental repose; then she entered the room and greeted
Mr. Todhunter effusively. He carefully transferred the dolls to his left
arm and stood up and shook hands.
"Let me take the little dears," said Patty, kindly; "I'm afraid they're
in your way."
Mr. Todhunter murmured something about its being a pleasure and a
privilege to hold them.
Patty plumped up their clothes and rearranged them on the sofa with
motherly solicitude, while Mr. Todhunter watched her gravely, his
national politeness and his reportorial instinct each struggling for the
mastery. Finally he began tentatively: "I say, Miss Wyatt, do--er--the
young ladies spend much time playing with dolls?"
"No," said Patty, candidly; "I don't think you could say they spend
_too_ much. I have never heard of but one girl actually neglecting her
work for it. You mustn't think that we have as many dolls as this here
_every_ night," she went on. "It is rather an unusual occurrence. Once a
year the girls hold what they call a doll show to see who has dressed
her doll the best."
"Ah, I see," said Mr. Todhunter; "a little friendly rivalry."
"Purely friendly," said Patty.
As they started for the dining-room Mr. Todhunter adjusted his monocle
and took a parting look at the doll show.
"I'm afraid you think us childish, Mr. Todhunter," said Patty.
"Not at all, Miss Wyatt," he assured her hastily. "I think it quite
charming, you know, and so--er--unexpected. I had always been told that
they played somewhat peculiar games at these women's colleges, but I
never supposed they did anything so feminine as to play with dolls."
[Illustration: Mr. Algernon Vivian Todhunter, gingerly sitting on the
edge of a chair]
* * * * *
WHEN Patty returned to her room that night, she found Georgie and
Priscilla surrounded by grammars and dictionaries, doing German prose.
Her appearance was hailed with a cry of indignant protest.
"When _I_ have a man," said Priscilla, "I divide him up among my
friends."
"_Especially_ when he's a curiosity," added Georgie.
"And we dressed up in grand clothes, and stood in your way coming out of
chapel," went on Priscilla, "and you never even looked at us."
"Englishmen are so bashful," apologized Patty; "I didn't want to
frighten him."
Priscilla looked at her suspiciously. "Patty, I hope you didn't impose
on the poor man's credulity."
"Certainly not!" said Patty, with dignity. "I explained everything he
asked me, and was most careful not to exaggerate. But," she added with
engaging frankness, "I cannot be responsible for any _impressions_ he
may have obtained. When an Englishman once gets an idea, you know, it's
almost impossible to change it."