But not having asked which was Mr. Patten's room, I was at
a loss and almost discovered by a maid who was turning down the
beds--much to early, also, and not allowed in the best houses
until nine-thirty, since otherwise the rooms look undressed and
informle.
I had but Time to duck into another chamber, and from there
to a closet.
_I remained in that closet all night_.
I will explain. No sooner had the maid gone than a Woman
came into the room and closed the door. I heard her moving
around and I suddenly felt that she was going to bed, and might
get her _robe de nuit_ out of the closet. I was petrafied. But
it seems, while she really _was_ undressing at that early hour,
the maid had laid her night clothes out, and I was saved.
Very soon a knock came to the door, and somhody came in,
like Mrs. Patten's voice and said: "You're not going to bed,
surely!"
"I'm going to pretend to have a sick headache," said the
other Person, and I knew it was the One-peace Lady. "He's going
to come back in a frenzey, and he'll take it out on me, unless
I'm prepared."
"Poor Reggie!" said Mrs.
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