conditions, he would be sulky all the evening. Nor could she insist on
having the Delafields asked after the way he had put it.

She then nobly endeavoured to undo the mischief she had wrought.

"No, Philip, I don't care especially about the Delafields. And if Miss
Fairfield thinks it will not tire her too much I shall be glad to have
her accept your kindness."

His kindness, indeed! Patty felt like saying, "Do you know I am Patricia
Fairfield, and it is I who confer an honour when I accept an invitation?"

It wasn't exactly pride, but Patty had been brought up in an atmosphere
of somewhat old-fashioned chivalry, and it jarred on her sense of the
fitness of things to have Philip's invitation to her referred to as a
"kindness."

So she decided to take a stand herself.

"I thank you for your _kindness_, Mr. Van Reypen," she said, with just
the slightest emphasis on _kindness_, "but I cannot accept it. I quite
agree with Mrs. Van Reypen that I need rest."

The speech was absurd on the face of it, for Patty's rosy, dimpled cheeks
and sparkling eyes betokened no weariness or lassitude.

But Mrs. Van Reypen accepted this evidence of the girl's obedience to her
wishes, and said:

"You are right, Miss Fairfield, and my nephew will excuse you from his
party."

Philip sent her a reproachful glance, and Patty dropped her eyes again,
wishing dinner was over.

At last the ladies left the table, and Philip rose and held aside the
portiere while his aunt passed through.

As Patty followed, he detained her a moment, and whispered:

"It is cruel of you to punish me for my aunt's unkindness."

"I can't help it," said Patty, and as her troubled eyes met his angry
ones they both smiled, and peace was restored.

"After Friday," whispered Patty, as she went through the doorway.

"After Friday," he repeated, puzzled by her words, but reassured by her
smiles.

And then Mrs. Van Reypen sent Patty to her room for the night, and when
Philip came to the drawing-room he found he was destined to be
entertained by his aunt alone.

"Of course," said Patty, to her own reflection in her mirror, "a
companion can't expect to sit with 'the quality,' but it does seem a
shame to dress up pretty like this and then be sent to bed at nine
o'clock! Never mind, only three evenings more in this house, and then
victory for Patty Fairfield!"

CHAPTER XVII

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatr