ber herself! She said it
was a branch of the Sunshine Society, and that Mae had never meant to
flirt with the young man. She had just meant to smile and be kind to
everybody she came in contact with, and he had taken advantage. And Mae
said, yes, that was the way of it, and she shoved off all the blame on
that poor innocent soda-water clerk."

"Just like her," Patty nodded.

"And now Mae is _perfectly furious_ with him for getting her into
trouble. She says that he's a horrid little thing with a turn-up nose,
and that she'll never drink another glass of soda-water as long as she
stays in St. Ursula's."

"And they're going to let her stay?"

"Yes. The Dowager tore up the telegram. But she gave Mae ten demerits,
and made her go without dessert for a week, and learn Thanatopsis by
heart. And she can't _ever_ go shopping in the village any more. When
she needs new hair ribbons or stockings or anything, she must send for
them by some of the other girls."

"And what's the Dowager going to do to us?"

"Nothing at all--and if it hadn't been for Lordy, we'd all three have
been expelled."

"And I've always detested Lordy," said Patty contritely. "Isn't it
dreadful? You simply can't keep enemies. Just as you think people are
perfectly horrid, and begin to enjoy hating them, they all of a sudden
turn out nice."

"I hate Mae Mertelle," said Rosalie.

"So do I!" Patty agreed cordially.

"I'm going to leave her old society."

"I'm already out." Patty glanced toward the mirror. "And I'm not
freckled and I'm not squint-eyed."

"What do you mean?" Rosalie stared; she had for the moment forgotten the
dread nature of the oath.

"I've told Uncle Bobby."

"Oh, Patty! How could you?"

"I--I--that is--" Patty appeared momentarily confused. "You see," she
confessed, "I thought myself that it would be sort of interesting to
practice on somebody, so I--I--just tried--"

"And did he--"

Patty shook her head.

"It was awfully uphill work. He never helped a bit. And then he noticed
my bracelet and wanted to know what S. A. S. meant. And before I knew
it, I was telling him!"

"What did he say?"

"First he roared; then he got awfully sober, and he gave me a long
lecture--it was really very impressive--sort of like Sunday School, you
know. And he took the bracelet away from me and put it in his pocket.
He told me he'd send me something nicer."

"What do you s'pose it will be?" asked Rosalie interestedly.

"I hope it won'