airs. Now, who is the lucky man who is to take you out to dinner? Me?"

"No, not you," and Patty looked at him, critically; "you won't do, and
neither will Kenneth, nor Phil Van Reypen, nor Mr. Hepworth." She
looked at them each in turn, and smiled so merrily that they could take
no offence. "I think," she said, "I shall select the best-looking and
best-natured gentleman, and walk out with him." Whereupon she tucked
her arm through her father's, and led the way to the dining-room,
followed by the rest of the merry crowd.

The dinner was a beautiful one, for Nan had spared no pains or thought
to make it worthy of the occasion. At the girls' places were beautiful
souvenirs, in the shape of fans of carved ivory with lace mounts,
while the men received attractive stick-pins.

"Shall you feel like dancing after all this gaiety, Patty?" asked Van
Reypen.

"Well, rather!" declared Patty. "Why, I'd feel like dancing if I'd
been through a--civil war! I could scarcely keep still when the
orchestra was playing this afternoon, and I'm crazy for to-night's
dance to begin."

"Frivolous young person, very," murmured Philip. "Never saw such
devotion to the vain follies of life! However, since you're determined
to dance, will you honour me with the first one to-night?"

"Why, I don't mind, if you don't," said Patty, dimpling at him.

"And give me the second," said Kenneth and Roger simultaneously.

"I can't do these sums in my head," said Patty; "I'll get all mixed
up. Let's wait till we get our dance orders, and fill them up, hit or
miss."

"You be the miss and I'll try to make a hit," said Philip.

"What waggery!" exclaimed Patty, shaking her head. "If you're too
clever, Philip, I can't dance with you. When I dance, I keep my mind
on my feet, not on my head."

"That explains your good dancing," said Mr. Hepworth, laughing.
"Perhaps, if I could keep my mind on my feet, I could dance better."

"Oh, you're too highminded for such low levels," laughed Patty, while
Mona, who was rather practical, said, seriously, "Do you really think
about your feet all the time you're dancing, Patty?"

"No," returned Patty; "sometimes I have to think about my partner's
feet, to keep out of the way of them."

When they returned to the drawing-room, they found it had been cleared
for the dance, and soon the evening guests began to arrive.

Patty again stood by Nan to receive them, and after greeting many
people she knew, she was surprise