ssed laughter at
this version of Philip's attitude toward her.

"Yes, I'm sure he did. For usually he likes my companions--especially if
they're pretty. And you're pretty, Miss Fairfield. Not the type I admire
myself,--I prefer brunettes,--but still you are pretty in your own way."

"Thank you," said Patty, meekly.

"And you're especially pretty when you dance. I wish you could dance for
me now; but, of course, I wouldn't let you dance on Sunday. That's the
worst of Sundays. There's so little one can do."

"Shall I sing hymns to you?" inquired Patty, gently, for she really felt
sorry for the discontented old lady.

"Yes, if you like," was the not very gracious rejoinder, and, without
accompaniment, Patty sang the old, well-known hymns in her true, sweet
voice.

The twilight was falling, and, as Patty's soothing music continued, Mrs.
Van Reypen fell asleep in her chair.

Exhausted by a really difficult day Patty also dropped into a doze, and
the two slept peacefully in their chairs in front of the dying embers of
the wood fire.

It was thus that Philip Van Reypen found them as he came softly in at
five o'clock.

"Well, I'll be excused," he said, to himself, "if I ever saw anything to
beat that!"

His gaze had wandered from his sleeping aunt to Patty, now sound asleep
in a big armchair.

The crimson velvet made a perfect background for her golden curls, a bit
tumbled by her afternoon exertions at being entertaining.

Her posture was one of graceful relaxation, and pretty Patty had never
looked prettier than she did then, asleep in the faint firelight.

"By Jove!" exclaimed the young man, but not aloud, "if that isn't the
prettiest sight ever. I believe there's a tradition that one may kiss a
lady whom one finds asleep in her chair, but I won't. She's a dear little
girl, and she shan't be teased."

Then Mr. Philip Van Reypen deliberately, and noiselessly, lifted another
large armchair and, carefully disposing his own goodly proportioned frame
within it, proceeded to fall asleep himself--or if not really asleep, he
gave an exceedingly good imitation of it.

Patty woke first. As she slowly opened her eyes she saw Philip dimly
through the now rapidly gathering dusk.

Quick as a flash she took in the situation, and shut her eyes again,
though not until Philip had seen her from beneath his own quivering lids.

After a time she peeped again.

"Why play hide-and-seek?" he whispered.

"What about your prom