."

Judith flushed and tossed her mane with a gratified air. "Oh, they
don't think much of _me_," she rejoined. "They make fun of me lots of
times."

"Is that so?" said Bruce, with great concern. "I'm sorry to hear that.
I tell you what, Judy, we'll form a partnership, you and I, and we'll
see to it that they behave themselves better in the future. They've
proved that they can't take proper care of themselves, so we'll have to
play guardian angels."

Elinor merely smiled her gentle, affectionate smile, but Patricia
rippled out in mocking laughter.

"I like that!" she cried. "Who took care of us all those years when we
were poor and alone in the world? It's late in the day for Elinor to
need protectors."

"Nevertheless, she's going to have 'em," declared Bruce with
undisturbed geniality. "You may mock us and you may shock us and you
may say you don't care, but we're on the job for keeps, aren't we,
Judith, _ma chere_? And the first step we're going to take in our new
position is to drag you both off to luncheon this very minute. You'd
best give in gracefully, for both Judy and I are fearfully strong and
ferocious."

Judith giggled, but Patricia rose briskly.

"I guess you won't have to chloroform us to drag us there this time,"
she retorted. "I'm glad we're presentable, anyway. Aren't you
thankful I made you put on your best duds, Norn? There's nothing like
being contented when one feeds, and I couldn't partake of the stalled
ox with any satisfaction in my old school rags."

Judith cuddled close to Bruce on the settee while Elinor went for her
wraps.

"Patricia's awfully superficial, I think," she confided to him
cheerfully, as she watched her readjusting her bright hair beneath the
pretty hat rim at the quaint old mirror of the bookcase. "She's so set
on pretty things. She just worships anyone who is pretty--no matter
whether she understands their character or not. I wish we could make
her more serious-minded and careful."

"Pooh," said Patricia, turning from her own reflection with a gay
laugh. "You don't need to try. I do worship beauty, and I always
shall. I like to laugh and sing and be happy. I like blue skies
because God made them that way. And I don't think a pink rose is
wickeder for being pink than if it were grubby gray. _I_ think being
happy is the serious business of life--when you take other people in
with you--and I reckon God thinks so too."

"Pa-tri-cia!" ejaculated J