h impressively.

"Patricia Kendall," she said, severely, "don't ever let me hear you
even _whisper_ such nonsense to yourself. Miss Jinny is too nice and
sensible to be made fun of in that way, and I won't have it. Remember,
once for all I won't have it!"

"All right," acquiesced Patricia, meekly. "I didn't mean to be silly.
I'm a lot fonder of her than you are, and I was only thinking what fun
it would be for her, don't you see?"

"I see that you are a feather-headed kitten," said Elinor, not at all
mollified. "Miss Jinny will do very well as she is without your
romantic nonsense to mortify her. I I'm ashamed of you, indeed I am,
Patricia. I thought you had more delicacy."

Patricia lifted her brows, perplexed and inquiring, and then dropped
them with a shrug that seemed to indicate that the matter no longer
interested her.

"What are _you_ going to do with that lovely old shawl she brought you,
Elinor?" she asked, tossing the end of her long braid over her shoulder
and yawning luxuriantly. "I'd like to make a party dress of that
heavenly silk cloak I got, but it seems like cutting up one's own
grandmother."

Elinor gave a start. "Well, I declare, if I didn't forget all about
it!" she exclaimed. "We were so excited with the presents and all,
that I never told you! It's going to be perfectly gorgeous. I know
you'll be crazy over it."

Patricia flung herself on her sister, overwhelming her in a flurry of
pink kimono and white arms. "Tell me!" she cried. "Tell me this
minute, you aggravating thing! You're getting to be a regular miser of
your news--you won't give up till it's dragged out of you. Speak, or
I'll have your life!"

Elinor held her close, laughing with enjoyment at her ardor.

"It isn't anything to kill for, Miss Pat," she rippled. "It's merely
the Academy ball that takes place next week----"

Patricia flung off the encircling arms, and was on her feet in an
instant.

"And we are going?" she demanded breathlessly. "Oh, say that we are
going, Elinor!"

"Of course we're going," said Elinor, evenly. "What else should we do?
And I want you to persuade Miss Jinny to stay over for it, Miss Pat."

"That will I!" cried Patricia, heartily. "We'll ship Judy to Mrs.
Shelly on an afternoon train, and make Miss Jinny feel it's her duty to
chaperone us among the wild and woolly artists. Oh, it will be
contemptibly easy! But," and her face fell in dismay, "what are we to
wear? We haven