careful, I shall cry! So, if you hold me to
my promise, I'll answer you now, but it will be No. I can't say
Yes,--tonight."

"Then don't say anything. I'll wait, dearest. Oh, Patty, of course,
I'll wait. You are exhausted and nervous and you want to rest. Don't
answer me now, dear, for I don't want that answer you spoke of! Let's
wait a week or so longer, and then make up our mind. Shall us?"

"Yes, Phil, and thank you for being so good to me."

CHAPTER XI

THE CITY STUDIO

"I'm quite anxious to see this paragon of a poet," said Nan, as she sat
in Patty's room one evening.

Patty was dressing for the party at the Blaneys', and Sam was coming to
take her.

"You'll like him, Nan, you can't help it. He is most interesting,--not
a bit like other men. And they have such delightful people at their
parties. They do big things, you know,--really big."

"Such as what?"

"Oh, they sing, and play on unusual instruments,--zitherns and
lutes----"

"That doesn't sound so awfully wonderful."

"No; I suppose not. But it's the _way_ they do it,--and the--the
atmosphere, you know, and the general exalted effect----"

"The what?"

"Oh, I don't know how to express it so you'll understand,--but I like
it all. It's on a higher plane than the usual evening party."

"Don't they dance?"

"Yes, some. But more Solo dances, and Interpretative ones. I'm going
to do a splendid dance for them, soon. Mr. Blaney is making it up for
me."

"Can I see it?"

"I guess so. I think they mean to have a large audience for that
occasion."

"What _are_ you doing, Patty? Are you going to wear your hair like
that?"

"Yes, Sam likes it so."

"But, my gracious goodness, you look like a crazy person!"

"Oh, not so bad as that."

Patty spoke carelessly, but her colour heightened a little. She was
sitting at her toilet mirror, while Nan lounged in an easy chair, near
by. Patty's golden hair was drawn smoothly down from a central part,
and tightly confined at the back of her neck, where it was rolled and
twisted into an immense knot, hard and round, that was exceedingly
unbecoming.

"It's awful!" declared Nan, "I never saw you look really plain before."

"It's all right," and Patty tossed her head. "That fluffy, curly
business is a sign of a light-weight brain,--this arrangement is far
more intellectual."

"And is that your gown!" Nan fairly gasped, as Patty took from her
wardrobe a strange-looking affair o