u
once in a while."

"What my chums may do is no criterion for an absolute stranger,"--and
now Patty spoke very haughtily indeed.

"That's so, Miss Fairfield; you're dead right,--and I apologise. But,
truly, it's a habit with me. I'm from Chicago, and I believe people
use more slang out there."

"The best Chicago people don't," said Patty, seriously.

Mr. Lansing smiled at her, a trifle whimsically.

"I'm afraid I don't class up with the best people," he confessed; "but
if it will please you better, I'll cut out the slang. Shall we have a
turn at this two-step?"

Patty rose without a word, and in a moment they were circling the
floor. Mr. Lansing was a good dancer, and especially skilful in
guiding his partner. Patty, herself such an expert dancer, was
peculiarly sensitive to the good points of a partner, and she enjoyed
the dance with Mr. Lansing, even though she felt she did not like the
man. And yet he had a certain fascination in his manner, and when the
dance was over, Patty looked at him with kinder eyes than she had when
they began. But all that he had won of her favour he lost by his final
speech, for as the dance ended, he said, brusquely: "Now, I'll tumble
you into a seat, and chase my next victim."

Patty stood looking after him, almost moved to laughter at what he had
said, and yet indignant that a man, and a comparative stranger, should
address her thus.

"What's the matter, Lady Fair?" and Philip Van Reypen came up to her.
"Methinks thou hast a ruffled brow."

"No, it's my frock that's ruffled," said Patty, demurely. "You men
know so little of millinery!"

"That's true enough, and if you will smile again, I'll drop the
subject of ruffles. And now for my errand; will you go out to supper
with me?"

"Goodness, is it supper time? I thought the evening had scarcely
begun!"

"Alas! look at the programme," and Van Reypen showed her that it was,
indeed, time for intermission.

"Intermission is French for supper," he said, gravely, "and I'd like
to know if you'd rather sit on the stairs in good old orthodox party
fashion, or if you'd rather go to the dining-room in state?"

"Who are on the stairs?"

"I shall be, if you are. You don't want to know more than that, do
you?" The young man's gaze was so reproachful that Patty giggled.

"You are a great factor in my happiness, Mr. Van Reypen," she said,
saucily; "but you are not all the world to me! So, if I flock on the
stairs with you, I must kn