events of the evening. Patty told him of the many
pleasures that had been planned for her, during the rest of her visit at
Mrs. Allen's, and he was truly glad that the girl was to have a taste of
the social gaiety that so strongly appealed to her.

"Miss Fairfield," said Ethel Banks, coming up to Patty, as the music
stopped, "I've been talking with my father, and he says if you and Mr.
and Mrs. Allen will go, he'll take us all in the automobile down to
Atlantic City for the week-end."

"How perfectly gorgeous!" cried Patty, her eyes dancing with delight.
"I'd love to go. I've never been in an automobile but a few times in my
life, and never for such a long trip as that. Let's go and ask Mrs. Allen
at once."

Without further thought of Mr. Hepworth, save to give him a smiling nod
as she turned away, Patty went with Ethel to ask Mrs. Allen about the
projected trip.

Mrs. Allen was delighted to go, and said she would also answer for her
husband. So it was arranged, and the girls went dancing back to Mr. Banks
to tell him so. Ethel's father was a kind-hearted, hospitable man, whose
principal thought was to give pleasure to his only child. Ethel had no
mother, and Mrs. Allen had often before chaperoned the girl on similar
excursions to the one now in prospect.

As Mr. Banks was an enthusiastic motorist, and drove his own car, there
was ample room for Mr. and Mrs. Allen and Patty.

Soon the wedding guests departed, and Patty was glad to take off her
pretty gown and tumble into bed.

She slept late the next morning, and awoke to find Mrs. Allen sitting on
the bed beside her, caressing her curly hair.

"I hate to waken you," said that lady, "but it's after ten o'clock, and
you know you are to go to your Cousin Helen's to spend the day. I want
you to come home early this evening, as I have a little party planned for
you, and so it's only right that you should start as soon as possible
this morning. Here is a nice cup of cocoa and a bit of toast. Let me slip
a kimono around you, while you breakfast."

In her usual busy way, Mrs. Allen fluttered about, while she talked, and
after putting a kimono round her visitor, she drew up beside her a small
table, containing a dainty breakfast tray.

"It's just as well you're going away to-day," Mrs. Allen chattered on,
"because the house is a perfect sight. Not one thing is in its place, and
about a dozen men have already arrived to try to straighten out the
chaos. So, as you ma