Never too dignified to have a bit of fun, and always ready to please the children, he hurried forward and entered the ring.

“As if I’d lose a moment in joining three such charming young ladies,” he said, while the laughing children danced yet faster around the merry four.

How handsome he looked as he stood among his little friends.  A brave, athletic young man he was, with a heart full of love for the children, who returned his affection with interest.

“Now, Uncle Harry, it’s your turn to sing,” said Flossie.  “Do you know the verse you ought to sing?”

“I don’t believe I do know the one which belongs in this game, but I’ll sing one of my own,” he said with a laugh.

  “You are so charming, all in a ring,
   Hardly I know of which siren to sing,
   Yet if I must choose, then it shall be
   Mollie, bright Mollie to come unto me.”

His was a fine voice, and he sang his improvised verse to the music of one of his favorite songs, “Beautiful Dreamer.”

“Oh, I wish you had to sing ever so many verses,” Jeanette said impulsively, and he bowed to her earnestly spoken compliment.

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.”