that is."

"Pooh! Roger is jealous."

"Yes, I think he is. But, aside from that, he's right about Mr.
Lansing not being the right kind of a friend for you. Philip Van
Reypen says the same thing."

"Oh, pshaw! Mr. Van Reypen is an old stuck-up! He thinks nobody is any
good if they don't begin their names with a Van."

"Now, Mona, don't be silly. I'm sure I don't know what you see so
admirable in Mr. Lansing, but I do think you ought to be advised by
others who know better than you. Why, your own father doesn't like
him."

"I know dad doesn't; but--well, all the same, I _do_! Why, Patty, he's
awfully interesting, and he brings me flowers and candy and books----"

"Now, stop, Mona. You know you don't care for those things! You can
have all you want, without Mr. Lansing's gifts. You like him, because
he flatters you, and--well, I must admit that he has a way with him."

"Oh, yes, Patty, he has! Why, when you know him, he's really
fascinating!"

"Well, don't let him fascinate you. He's loud, Mona. He's not our
sort. Now, do promise me to see less of him, won't you? He seems to be
calling on you very often."

"Yes, he does. But how can I stop that? I can't be rude to him."

"Well, you can be cool. Every girl can discourage a man's attentions,
if she wants to."

"H'm; you seem to know a great deal about it."

"I only know what my common sense tells me. Mona, dear, _do_ drop that
man! Why, Roger is worth a dozen of him!"

"Roger's all right,--but Mr. Lansing is so,--so,--well, he's
different."

"He is, indeed! And that's the trouble. The difference is all in
Roger's favour, if you only could see it."

"Well, I can't! Now, look here, Patty. You know how much I care for
you, but I won't have you talking to me like a Dutch Aunt. I made
father bring me to New York this winter, so I could be near you, and
we could have fun together. But, if you're going to scold me all the
time, we won't have any fun at all."

Patty began to realise that, though Mona might be coaxed, she could
never be driven. So she concluded to drop the subject, and use more
thought and tact in her endeavours to break up Mona's new friendship.

And then Clementine Morse came, so the matter had to be laid aside.

"Is Jenny here?" asked Clementine, as she tossed off her furs.

"Jenny who?"

"My guest, Jenny Bisbee. She's the ribbon girl I told you about. I had
the greatest time to get her off for the afternoon. I had to go to
Walker's, yo