ha," said Everson, "the conservatory for theirs! It must be all
right! Shall we trail 'em?"

"Yes," said Patty. "I don't care if they see us. Let's walk through
the conservatory."

They did so, and spied Mona and Roger sitting under a group of palms,
engaged in earnest conversation. They were not smiling, but they were
talking very seriously, with no indication of quarrelling.

"I guess it's all right," said Patty, with a little sigh. "It's
awfully nice to have friends, Mr. Everson, but sometimes they're a
great care; aren't they?"

"If you'll let me be your friend, Miss Fairfield, I'll promise never
to be a care, and I'll help you to care for your other cares."

"Goodness, what a complicated offer! If I could straighten all those
cares you speak of, I might decide to take you as a friend. I think I
will, anyway,--you were so nice about giving me this dance."

"I was only too delighted to do so, Miss Fairfield."

"Thank you. You know it is in place of our other one, number sixteen."

"Oh, we must have that also."

"No, it was a fair exchange. You can get another partner for sixteen."

"But I don't want to. If you throw me over, I shall sit in a corner
and mope."

"Oh, don't do that! Well, I'll tell you what, I'll give you half of
sixteen, and you can mope the other half."

And then Patty's next partner claimed her, and Mr. Everson went away.

Having done all she could in the matter of conciliating Mona and
Roger, Patty bethought herself of her own little tiff with Philip Van
Reypen. It did not bother her much, for she had little doubt that she
could soon cajole him back to friendship, and she assured herself that
if she couldn't, she didn't care.

And so, when he came to claim his dance, which was the last before
supper, Patty met him with an air of cool politeness, which greatly
irritated the Van Reypen pride.

He had thought, had even hoped, Patty would be humble and repentant,
but she showed no such attitude, and the young man was slightly at a
loss as to what manner to assume, himself.

But he followed her lead, and with punctilious courtesy asked her to
dance, and they stepped out on to the floor.

For a few rounds they danced in silence, and then Philip said, in a
perfunctory way: "You're enjoying this party?"

"I have been, up to this dance," and Patty smiled pleasantly, as she
spoke.

"And you're not enjoying yourself now?" Philip said, suppressing his
desire to shake her.

"Oh, _no_, s