"I think you're right," said Mr. Fairfield, as he looked fondly at his daughter. "She is growing up just as I want her to, and developing the traits I most want her to possess. A frank simplicity of manner, a happy, fun-loving disposition, and a gentle, unselfish soul." Meantime Patty and Mr. Hepworth were sitting on the stairs. "Now my cup of happiness is full," remarked Patty. "I have always thought it must be perfect bliss to sit on the stairs at a party. I don't know why, I'm sure, but all the information I have gathered from art and literature have led me to consider it the height of earthly joy." "And is it proving all your fancy painted it?" asked Mr. Hepworth, who was sitting a step below. "Yes--that is, it's almost perfect." "And what is the lacking element?" "Oh, I wouldn't like to tell you," said Patty, and Mr. Hepworth was not quite certain whether her confusion were real or simulated. "May I guess?" he asked. "Yes, if you'll promise not to guess true," said Patty. "If you did, I should be overcome with blushing embarrassment." "But I am going to guess, and if I guess true I will promise to go and bring you the element that will complete your happiness." "That sounds so tempting," said Patty, "that now I hope you _will_ guess true. What is the missing joy?" "Kenneth Harper," said Mr. Hepworth, looking at Patty curiously. Without a trace of a blush Patty broke into gay laughter. "Oh, you are ridiculous!" she said. "I have _you_ here, why should I want him?" "Then what is it you do want?" and Mr. Hepworth looked away as he evaded her question. "Since you make me confess my very prosaic desires, I'll own up that I'd like a strawberry ice." "Well, that's just what I'm dying for myself," said Mr. Hepworth gaily; "and if you'll reserve this orchestra chair for me, I'll go and forage for it. It looks almost impossible to get through that crowd, but I'll return either with my shield or on it. Unless you'd rather I'd send Harper back with the ice?" "Do just as you please," said Patty, with a sudden touch of coquetry in her smiling eyes; "it doesn't matter a bit to me." But though a willing messenger, Mr. Hepworth found it impossible to accomplish his errand with any degree of rapidity, and when he returned, successful but tardy, he found young Harper waiting where he had left Patty. "She's gone off to dance with Frank Elliott," explained the boy cheerfully, "and she said you and I could divide the ices between us." "All right," said the artist; "here's your share." The next morning Patty, Nan, and Marian went down to the beach for a quiet chat. "Let's shake everybody," said Patty, "and just go off by ourselves. I'm tired of a lot of people." "You're becoming such a belle, Patty," said Nan, "that I'm afraid you'll be bothered with a lot of people the rest of your life."