"Don't worry. Besides, I've no intention of being engaged. What's the
use, if I'm sweet and light enough now?"

"You're going to announce your engagement in just fifteen days from
now, my lady. Why, that will be Farrington's wedding day! By Jove,
what an idea! We'll announce it at their wedding!"

"We'll do nothing of the sort. You take too much for granted."

"Well, you promised----"

"I know what I promised. But the fifteenth is a long way off yet."

"That may be, but it's bound to get here. Come in the house now. It's
too damp for you out here."

They went in, and found Mona and Elise chattering like two magpies,
with Roger trying to get in a word edgeways.

"Hello, Patty," cried Mona, springing up to greet her. "My, how fine
you're looking! Lakewood agrees with you all right. And Patty, the
bridesmaids _are_ going to sing, after all. Will you be home in time
for one or two rehearsals?"

"Yes, indeed. I'll come up whenever you want me, Mona."

"Good girl. Now I must go and dress for dinner. I'd no idea we'd get
here so late; and Roger says there's a party on for tonight."

"Yes," laughed Patty; "and it's a party you have to get keyed up to,--I
mean your gown."

"What are you talking about?"

"Come along and I'll tell you."

The two girls went off together, and half an hour later Elise found
them in Patty's room, still talking and no beginning made in the matter
of dressing.

But later, when the young people left the house to go to the Studio
party, they were resplendent of costume. Patty had told the other
girls what Mr. Blaney had said, and though they scoffed at it, they
agreed not to wear anything that might be too desperately inharmonious.

Mona was in white, declaring that that could offend nobody. Elise wore
pale yellow, for the same logical reason. Patty had on a gown of soft
chiffon, of old-gold colour, which, she said, was the nearest to
saffron she had ever had or ever hoped to have.

"I don't like the word saffron," she declared; "somehow it makes me
think of camomile tea."

"Naturally," said Roger; "I believe they're both yarbs. Blaney might
call this affair a Saffron Tea, and have done with it."

But the gown was most becoming to Patty. The dull old-gold tints sets
off her fair skin, and her bright gold hair, piled high, was topped
with a gold and amber comb. Round her throat was an old-fashioned
necklace of topazes, lent her by Mrs. Farrington. Altogether, sh