r. "Never mind, Miss Pat dear," she
said. "Perhaps when Madame Milano knows how bad you feel about missing
her reception she'll do something that's a lot nicer for you."

Bruce chuckled and his face cleared. "Wait a minute," he said hastily,
and disappeared into the other room.

"What in the world--" began Elinor and then she, too, smiled. "He's
telephoning to Madame Milano. Listen, Patricia."

Patricia heard with rising hopes the deep regret of Bruce's rich tones
as he explained to the prima donna the reason Patricia had not availed
herself of the gracious invitation. The pauses in which Bruce listened
must have been filled to his satisfaction, for after he had hung up the
receiver he came back into the studio rubbing his hands gleefully.

"Did you hear me put it to her?" he asked, grinning. "I got her hotel
and then her apartment and then her maid, and finally the Madame
herself. She is sorrier than she was ten minutes ago and she is going to
ask you to her Monday 'Hour,' as she calls it, a much more intimate
affair, I can assure you."

Patricia clasped her hands rapturously. "Oh, you _duck_!" she cried
ardently. "You're the cleverest thing in the world to get me another
invitation. Am I to go alone? And what time am I to come?"

"You're to have your elder sister for a chaperon and your distinguished
brother-in-law as attendant," replied Bruce gravely. "I wanted to put in
a word for you, Judy, but I was afraid to push her too hard this time."

"I couldn't go, thank you," returned Judith composedly. "I have an extra
in French tomorrow after school and I've made an engagement to go to the
French church with Mademoiselle afterward."

Patricia was in the seventh heaven of delight at the prospect of
actually taking tea with the noted singer and her intimate friends. She
plied Bruce with innumerable questions and grew so Patricia-like and
merry over the absurd answers he manufactured to meet her demands that
the picnic supper was the gayest family affair they had had since
Patricia left them.

"I'll be over at three tomorrow, Elinor," she promised as they left her
at the green entrance door of Artemis Lodge after having walked home
with her through the sparkling night. "Don't let Bruce be late, or
she'll never forgive us."

Elinor promised to keep an eye on her erring husband and see that
everything went smoothly this time.

Patricia watched the three figures walking briskly down the street, and
she closed the