"Now, now, Elise, don't ask leading questions. And, also, let's turn the tables. When a certain nice young man that I wot of, so adores you, how can you resist him?" "I don't know that I shall," replied Elise, blushing. "Oho! Bad as that, eh? Now I see why you're so interested in my affairs of the heart. Misery loves company." "But I'm not miserable." "No, of course not. Howsumever, if you insist on asking Philip Van down to the circus, I shall advise asking one Mr. Kit Cameron." "You're a day behind the fair! I've asked him and he can't come." "Too bad. But, just for that, I won't have Phil, either. Then we can both be heart-whole and fancy free." "All right. Bob Riggs has taken a large and elegant notion to you, and I am engaged in the pleasant pastime of subjugating Hal Merritt, so we shan't want for rustic swains." "As if we ever had! But as for me, this circus business seems a piece of work, and I must apply myself to it, or rejoice in a failure at the eventful moment." "You're right. Let's go over to Mme. Beauvais' and see about her making our costumes." "Come on, we'll go now." The next few days the girls devoted all their time to their costumes and to rehearsals for the circus. It was a more elaborate affair than Patty had anticipated, and the men who were to represent animals had marvellous suits of fur that closely imitated the real thing in wild beasts. A bear, who was ordinarily Jack Fenn, captivated Patty from the first, and when she proposed to dance with him, Bob Riggs caught at the idea. "Capital!" he cried, "just the thing, Miss Fairfield. Hit of the evening, I assure you. Come, begin your rehearsal at once." It was not easy, for the bear costume made its wearer clumsy and he awkwardly tripped and nearly upset Patty. But she good-naturedly tried the steps over and over until they began to do better. "It'll right itself after a few more rehearsals," she said, encouragingly. "Come over to the Farringtons' mornings, and we'll get a little extra practice." Fenn did so, and, as they perfected the dance, all who saw it prophesied it would be the hit of the whole affair. And everybody was pleased save and except Ray Rose. She had taken quietly enough the substitution of Patty for herself as _premiere danseuse_, and had even said she preferred the part that had been assigned her. But when the Bear dance began to be talked about with such enthusiasm, she commenced to find fault. "How did you happen to worm yourself into my place, Miss Fairfield?" she said at a rehearsal. "Did you make up this Bear foolery?" "I'm afraid I did, Miss Rose," returned Patty, smiling. "You've no criticism to make, have you?" "None, except that I wanted that part that Mr. Riggs saw fit to give you, and I'm madder'n hops 'cause I haven't got it." "Why, I'll give it to you," and Patty smiled at the pouting girl. "Oh, you can't do that now, it's too late." "Why didn't you tell me sooner that you wanted it?"