ves at the table at the hastily arranged
places provided for them, and the dinner began amidst great gayety.

When the fish had been disposed of Ted leaned forward to catch Elinor's
eye. "Have you broken the news to the future prima donna?" he asked
with interest. "I saw Merton today--you know his sister is living at
Venusburg now--and he said it was a dandy place. Receptions every week.
Tea-room on the premises. Art mongers and singers and a few chaperones
that know their business----"

Patricia broke in with puzzled wonder: "What are you talking about,
Ted?" she demanded. "What has Elinor to do with tea-rooms and the like?"

Ted looked surprised in his turn. "Haven't they told you yet?" he
inquired doubtfully. "Perhaps I oughtn't to have----"

Elinor hastened to reassure him. "It's all right, Ted dear," she said.
"We hadn't told Miss Pat because we thought she mightn't like it and we
wanted her to have this one evening without a flaw. But she has to know
tomorrow, so she may as well hear it now."

Patricia's heart sank as Elinor turned to her, and her first words were
not encouraging.

"I know how you love to be with us all," she said, hesitating for the
best words, "but Madame Milano has written that she wants you to agree
absolutely to her suggestions as to your studies and----"

Patricia flushed suddenly. "Well, if it means that I have to go away all
by myself and never have any real family times, like we've just begun to
have after all these years," she declared hotly, "I simply won't do it,
no matter what comes of it."

There was a little pause in the animated talk at the other end of the
table where Bruce and Marian Todd were discussing architecture with Tom
Hughes, and Bruce bent an anxious glance at his rebellious
sister-in-law.

"Humph, listen to that, will you?" said Ted, appealing to Margaret. "She
isn't a bit grateful--not she. She turns down a real thorough-going
opera singer without a spasm. Time was when she groveled--fairly
groveled--at Milano's lightest suggestion. At Leeuwarden, for
instance----"

Patricia had caught the look in Bruce's eye and she flung her petulance
from her with her usual energy.

"Never mind preaching any more, St. Francis-Edward-David
Carson-Kendall, I'll be good," she said lightly. "Tell me the worst,
Elinor, so that I may have it over. I always did think I'd like to
expire among lights and flowers."

It was an effort to put her own feelings to one side, but she