e, Patricia getting in only a few
words here and there, and when the music stopped he steered her to a
particularly gay group under a big palm in a corner, and introduced her
to the two Halden girls and their mother, and then went off in search
of Elinor and Miss Jinny.

Patricia found the Haldens, mother and daughters, so much to her mind
that she was full of regret that she had not met them earlier. They
were kindly, whole-hearted people who lived without any quarrel with
life, and Patricia, as well as Elinor and Miss Jinny, rejoiced openly
in the prospect of a summer together in dear old Rockham.

They parted, at the end of the sumptuous supper in the transformed
ante-chamber, with a thousand plans for the coming season and a strong
sense of enrichment in the friendship of these sincere and attractive
neighbors.

"What do you think of the artists _now_?" asked Patricia, leaning back
in the carriage as they were being whirled homeward. "Are they such
serious people as you thought them, Norn?"

"They're so mighty much in earnest that they'll break their necks to do
a thing right," retorted Miss Jinny with spirit. "It's their being so
serious that makes them play so well."

Elinor smiled assent, and Miss Jinny went on.

"When folks are sure a thing's worth while, they make it _go_. Think
of how that same party would have slumped if everybody hadn't felt it
was the most serious thing in the world to make it real." Then, with a
sudden pounce, she changed the subject. "I've seen your wonderful
Doris Leighton, Miss Pat, and I must say I don't take very much stock
in her."

Patricia felt that same indefinite sense of loss and disillusionment
which had haunted her earlier in the evening, and she shrank back into
her corner without a word, fearing that Miss Jinny's clear vision might
after all substantiate her shadowy misgivings.

It was Elinor who rushed to the defense. "We've always found her
sweet-tempered and kind, haven't we, Patricia? She's very popular and
perhaps you thought her spoiled, but I'm sure, dear Miss Jinny, if you
knew her better you'd like her as much as we do."

Miss Jinny gave a snort that almost shook her whiskers off.

"I'll be bound for you, Elinor Kendall, to find the sweetness in every
sour apple. Not that your Doris Leighton is sour on the outside.
She's much too sweet for my taste. I don't trust them when they're so
unearthly sweet."

Patricia recalled Griffin's remarks on