He scowled at Patty, he threw a reproachful glance at Elise, and the atmosphere suddenly charged with gloom.
Patty felt that it was her fault and that she had perhaps gone too far.
The man was Elise's guest and it wasn't right to make fun of him, if he did sound foolish.

So, ignoring the past conversation, Patty smiled, and said, "It is too bad about the storm, isn't it?
We had expected to have such a fine tennis game today.

You play, of course ?" It was a chance shot, but Patty felt pretty sure that such a big, muscular chap would be fond of outdoor sports and, as it turned out, he was.

Moreover, it would be a grumpy poet, indeed, who wouldn't relent under the magic of Patty's smile.
"Yes, I do," he replied, animatedly, and then the talk turned to the game, and the chances of the storm abating and play being possible in a day or two.
"Hello, Blaney," said Roger Farrington, coming into the room.

"How's everything ?" "All right, Farry.