"But
you ought not to keep it all to yourselves. Can't you let me be an
honorary member of the S. A. S.?"

"Certainly, Miss Lord!" said Patty sweetly. "If you care to belong, we
should _love_ to have you."

"Lordy wants to be a Siren!" she announced to her two fellow members
when she met them shortly in the gymnasium. The account of the interview
was received with hilarity. Miss Lord was anything but the accepted type
of siren.

"I thought a few smiles might relieve the gloom of Latin class," Patty
explained. "It amuses Lordy to think she's helping the children in their
play; and it doesn't hurt the children."

For a time the S. A. S. flourished with the natural health of youth, but
as the novelty wore off, the business of becoming beautiful grew
onerous. Mae and Rosalie continued to study the beauty book with dogged
perseverance,--the subject lay along the line of their natural
ambitions--but Patty felt other matters calling. Spring field sports had
commenced, and the nearness of the annual match with Highland-Hall,
crowded out her interest in cold cream and almond meal. She and Mae were
not naturally _simpatica_, and in spite of Mae's insistence, Patty
became an apathetic siren.

One Saturday just after the spring recess, Patty received permission to
lunch in town with "Uncle Bobby." He was an uncle by courtesy only, but
Patty had failed to inform the Dowager that the title was not his by
natural right. She knew well what the result would be. It is quite
proper to have luncheon with an uncle; and quite improper with even the
oldest and baldest of family friends.

When the "hearse" returned from the station at dusk with Mademoiselle
and the city contingent, Rosalie Patton was waiting the arrival on the
porte-cochere. She separated Patty from the group and whispered in her
ear.

"The most awful thing has happened!"

"What?" Patty demanded.

"The S. A. S. All is discovered!"

"Not really!" cried Patty, aghast.

"Yes! Come in here."

Rosalie drew her into the empty cloak-room and shut the door.

"You mean--they've found out the name--and everything?" Patty demanded
breathlessly.

"Not quite everything, but they would have if it hadn't been for Lordy.
She saved us for once."

"Lordy saved us!" There was incredulity mixed with Patty's horror. "What
do you mean?"

"Well, yesterday, Mae went shopping in the village with Miss
Wadsworth--and you know what kind of a chaperone Waddy makes." Patty
nodded i