"
"Not very! You little scamp, what do you know about it? Have you
had a wide experience in proposals?"
"I shouldn't tell you if I had. One of flour, two of butter,
three--"
"Three blithering wheelbarrows! Apple Blossom, have you any idea
how I love you?"
"Don't put me out, Bill. One of flour, two of butter, three eggs--"
"Now, isn't she the limit?" mused Bill, apparently addressing the
crabs. "I express my devotion in terms of endearment, and she
babbles like a parrot of flour and butter!"
"If I don't, you'll have no croquettes," and Patty moulded the
mixture into oval balls, and arranged them in a frying sieve.
As the time grew shorter they worked away in earnest, and soon
after one o'clock everything was ready. The finishing touches and
the serving of the hot dishes were left to the butler and
waitress, who were none too willing to do anything outside their
own restricted sphere, but whom Patty cajoled by smiles, till they
were her abject slaves.
"Now go and tidy yourself up," Patty said to Bill, "and I will
too, and see who can get down to the drawing-room first."
"Huh, I haven't to arrange a lot of furbelows. I'll beat you all
to pieces."
But he little knew Patty's powers of haste in emergency, and when
fifteen minutes later he descended to the drawing-room, where the
guests were already arriving, Patty was there before him.
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