but if you want an engagement
announced at your wedding I'm afraid you'll have to get some other
girl. You can keep the same man, if you like!"

"Oh, Patty, don't be cross with me! It wasn't my fault!"

"That's so, Mona,--I'm a pig! Forgive me, dear. Now, to make up, I'll
tell you just how it is. I have told Philip that I'd give him my
answer in about two weeks. And that will be your wedding day. But my
answer is to be yes, only if he succeeds in teaching me to love him by
that time. And I don't mind telling you, that the way he talked to me
last night doesn't exactly further his cause!"

"But, Patty, he was angry, you know, and jealous of those foolish
Blaney people."

"They're not foolish,--and I can't bear men who are jealous. Now,
Mona, girlie, you 'tend to your own suitor. You've quite enough to do
in the next two weeks, without dipping your pretty little fingers in my
pie."

"Yes," sighed Mona, "I have."

CHAPTER V

AT RED CHIMNEYS

When Patty entered the dining-room, she found the rest already at
breakfast.

"'Scuse me for being late," she said, as she took her place, "but I was
up late last night."

She smiled gaily at Philip, whose somewhat frowning face relaxed into
an answering smile.

"Never mind that, Patty," said Mona, "listen to what we're planning.
Philip thinks it would be a good idea to buy Red Chimneys for the
Kiddies' Home, and we're going to motor over to Spring Beach today to
look at it."

"Fine! but why go to look at it? We all know exactly what it looks
like----"

"Yes, Patty," said Philip, "but there are several matters to see about.
I know the house, generally speaking, but I want to look it over with
the idea of a Home in mind. Count up the rooms, get measurements and
so forth, to present in my report to the Board of Managers."

"All right, I'd like to go. I think it would be fun. Lunch at the
hotel, I suppose."

"Yes, or take something with us and picnic at the house."

"Oh, that's lots nicer, don't you think so, Elise?"

"Well, you see, Patty, it doesn't matter to me which you do, as I'm not
going. I'm sorry, but I've some engagements today that I must keep,
so, if you don't mind, I'm going to ask to be left at home."

"All right, then it's up to us. What say, Mona? Picnic sandwiches?"

"Yes, and some Thermos stuff,--soup and chocolate. That will give us
more time to look over the house. There are some things I want to see
about, if it's t