impersonal greeting still rankled in Patty's mind, but,
though it both hurt and angered her, she had no intention of showing
her feelings. So, she went to the other extreme and was madly gay and
merry, laughing and jesting with everybody and enjoying herself to the
utmost.

She looked adorable. The pale pink of her bridesmaid costume was most
becoming and her wreath of pink roses, which had slipped a little to
one side, gave her the effect of a Queen Titania. Her eyes were like
two blue stars, and a pink flush showed on her cheeks, while her
scarlet lips smiled or pouted with her changing moods.

"Did you ever see such colouring as that girl has!" murmured Daisy Dow
to Farnsworth. "I never saw such truly gold hair, or such _blue_ blue
eyes, or such a wonderful complexion."

Daisy spoke whole-heartedly and generously, for she loved Patty, and
she thought her the prettiest girl she knew.

"She is pretty," agreed Farnsworth. "Tell me about her,--about all the
crowd. I've been away a month and lots can happen in that time. Is
Patty engaged to Van Reypen?"

"It isn't announced," said Daisy, "but I think she really is. I
shouldn't be surprised if they announce it tonight, after Mona goes
away."

"Fine chap, Van Reypen. How about the others? Kit and Elise?"

"Yes, I think so. Though that isn't announced either. Goodness, Bill,
suppose they all get engaged and married and leave me to be the only
old maid in our set!"

"No fear of that, Daisy. Unless you prefer it so,--and I hope you
won't."

"You hope that! Why, Bill, if I thought you hoped it----"

Just then a commotion arose as Mona left the table.

"Ready, girls," she cried out. "I'm going to toss my bouquet. Hold
out your hands, all of you."

Obediently, her bridesmaids stood in a row, with their hands held out.
There was no question of catching the flowers, for Mona after
deliberately looking over the lot, tossed it into Patty's hands. "For
you," she said, and, laughing, ran away.

"Greatness thrust upon me!" Patty laughed, looking at the great bunch
of white orchids and valley lilies, with its fluttering tendrils and
ends of ribbon. "Must I really live up to this favour? Must I really
be a bride myself before the year is up? Of course, if it is
obligatory----"

She looked up, half shy, and caught Van Reypen's gaze upon her. She
turned toward Farnsworth, but he was looking another way. Plucking one
stem of lilies of the valley from