You know Adele Kenerley, who was down at Mona's last
summer,--well, she and Jim have bought a place at Fern Falls,--wherever
that may be,--somewhere up in Connecticut,--in the Berkshires, you
know. Heavenly in summer, dunno what it'll be in winter. But all the
same that's where the house party is, Christmas,--stay two or three
weeks,--all our crowd,--oh, Nan! isn't it beatific!"

Patty bounded to her feet, and gathering up the sides of her
accordion-pleated gown, she executed a triumphant dance about the
room, winding up by kicking her little blue silk slipper straight over
Nan's head.

"Moderate your transports, my love," Nan said, calmly. "I don't want
concussion of the brain, from being hit by a French heel."

"Not much of a compliment to my skilful ballet dancing," and Patty
flung herself into the cushions again. "But, Nan, you don't understand;
everybody's going! Elise and Mona and the boys, and oh, gracious, _do_
show some enthusiasm!"

"Don't have to," said Nan, smiling, "when you show enough for a
dozen."

"Well, I'll call up Mona, she'll have something to say."

Patty reached for the telephone, and in a few moments both girls were
talking at once, and the conversation ran something like this:

"Yes, I did, and, Patty----"

"Of course I am! Oh, I don't know about that! If I----"

"But of course if Daisy is there----"

"Well, we can't help that, and anyway----"

"Tuesday, I suppose; but Adele said----"

"No, Monday, Mona, for us, and the boys----"

"I'm not sure that I'll go. You see----"

"Now, stop such nonsense! Of course he isn't invited, but I'll never
speak to you again if----"

"Oh, of course I will, but I'll only stay----"

"Yes, all our best frocks, and lots of presents and, oh, Mona, come on
over here, do. There's oceans of things to talk about!"

"All right, I will. Good-bye."

"Good-bye." And Patty hung up the receiver. "She's coming over here,
Nan; there's so much to plan for, you know. Do help me, won't you? A
regular Christmas tree, and all that, you know; and presents for
everybody, and a dance at the country club, and I don't know what
all."

"Yes, you will have a lovely time." And Nan smiled with sympathy at
the excited girl, whose sparkling eyes and tumbled hair betokened her
state of mind.

Mona came over and spent the rest of the day, and plans were made and
unmade and remade with startling rapidity.

Mona began to voice regrets that Mr. Lansing was not invited to