Patty rose, and in a nearby mirror saw her crown.  It was a slender wreath of wonderfully fine workmanship.  Leaves of fairy-like silver filigree, and tiny apple blossoms, of pink and white enamel.  Light in weight, soft, yet sparkling in effect, it rested on her fair head, in no way interfering with the silver star that flashed above it.  Indeed, it seemed the last touch needed to perfect the beauty of Patty’s costume, and her face was more than ever like an apple blossom as she turned to thank Farnsworth for his gift.

But before she could do so, several people sprang in from the hall, where they had been watching the coronation ceremony.

“Hooray for you two!” cried Roger.  “You show true dramatic genius!  Patty, you’re a peach to-night!  Bill, you’re a hummer!”

Only Daisy was unsmiling.  A pang of jealousy thrilled her heart, as she saw the exquisite picture Patty made, and saw, too, the lovely gift Farnsworth had given her.  Daisy’s costume was beautiful and exceedingly artistic, but the grey, misty garb seemed tame beside Patty’s clear coloured draperies and bright, sea-weed tangled hair.

“Patty, you’re wonderful!” Mona exclaimed.  “If I weren’t so weighted down with this dragging train, I’d hug you!”

Mona looked regal in her Cleopatra costume.  She had chosen a rich white and gold brocaded satin, and the gold lace on the train which hung from her shoulders, made it heavy indeed.  She was loaded with jewels, both real and paste, and her Egyptian headdress was both gorgeous and becoming.  Mona had never looked so well, and Roger, who was Father Nile, expressed his admiration frankly.

“I say, Mona,” he declared, “if the real Cleo Pat looked like you, I don’t blame old Mark for flirting with her.  Maybe I’ll flirt with you before the evening is over.”

“Ha!  Minion!  Methinks thou art presumptuous!” said Mona, marching about theatrically.  But she smiled at Roger, for the two had become good friends.

Adele and Jim Kenerley were Dutch young people, and in blue and white cotton costumes, looked as if they had just alighted from an old Delft platter.

Laurence Cromer took no costume part, as he had to direct the posing of the characters and the scenic details of the parade.

Mrs. Parsons was enchanted with the gorgeousness of her party of young people, and when Patty gave her a sprig of seaweed to tuck in her bodice, she felt as if she belonged to the water carnival.

Motors carried the laughing crowd to the Sayres’ house, from where the floats were to start.

Of course Old Ocean’s Float led the parade.  Though not very realistic, it was a theatrical representation of the sea, and the great billows, made of green muslin crested with cotton batting and stretched over somewhat wabbly framework, tossed and swayed almost like the Atlantic breakers.  At the back end of the float was a great canopied throne, on which sat the gold-crowned Neptune holding his firmly planted trident.  Before him seemed to dance the Spirit of the Sea, for Patty, now in one pose and now in another, was outlined against the dark billows with charming effect.  A bright electric light streaming from a point above the throne, illuminated both characters and threw into relief the shells and seaweed that decorated the sides of the float.