"No danger," and Mona shook her head. "Why do people want to make
themselves such frights?"

"Their dress interprets their souls," said Van Reypen, sarcastically,
"and their souls are frights."

"Nothing of the sort, Phil," flared out Patty; "I'd like you to
remember those people are my friends."

"Well, my dear, if you choose to have friends with souls like frights,
it is, of course, your privilege; but you must allow me to express my
opinion of them."

"And so you may,--but not to me."

"Very well; consider I was talking to Mona,--which I really was."

"Then continue to talk to her, for I don't want to talk to you."

"All right, pretty Patty,--pretty little sunny-faced Patty,--all right."

Philip's voice was teasing and his smile was irritating, and Patty was
angry at him anyway, yet she couldn't help laughing at his speech, for
she looked as cross as a thunder cloud, and she knew it. That is, as
near to the crossness of a thunder cloud as Patty Fairfield could
manage. Her cheeks were reddened by the cold wind and her blue eyes
always looked bluer in a frosty atmosphere. And now, as an
uncontrollable smile parted her scarlet lips, and her white teeth
gleamed, and her dimples came into view, Patty justified Philip's term
of "pretty Patty," but she quickly concealed her smile by sinking her
chin deep into the great fur collar of her coat.

"Wasn't it a crazy party?" Mona went on, not realising she was on a
dangerous subject. "They all took themselves so seriously."

"Why shouldn't they?" said Patty, coming up out of her fur cave; "it
might be better if we all took ourselves more seriously,--such a lot of
triflers and sillyheads as we are!"

"And such a lot of piffle-peddlers and hard-boiled eggs as they are!"
said Philip, fairly snorting in disgust.

"Oh, very well!" and Patty sank again into the chinchilla cavern.

Roger touched Mona's foot with his own, and gave her an urgent,
significant glance, as he said, with a determination to change the
subject, "We'll just about get to Red Chimneys in time for luncheon.
Shall we have our picnic before we explore the house? I'm as hungry as
three bears and a hunter."

"So'm I," agreed Van Reypen, taking the cue. "What's in the hampers?
Unless something pretty substantial, I vote we go to a hotel to feast."

"No," said Mona, "that wouldn't be half as much fun. It's the
picnicking that's so jolly. If you agree, Patty," she added, for if
Patty had any