"Yes, of course. I oughtn't to have asked you. But I'm so delighted with this poem of mine, that I spoke unthinkingly. Now, I must run away; Elise is beckoning frantically, and I daresay the guests are taking leave of me, and I'm not there! Good-bye, Mr. Blaney, until we meet in New York. And thank you more than I can say for your gift, your ever-to-be treasured gift." "It is my privilege to have offered it and for me to thank you for the opportunity." CHAPTER IX A SHOWER "If you ask me," Patty said to Nan, "I think these 'shower' affairs are ridiculous. All the girls who are coming today will give Mona a wedding present, so why add a shower gift?" "I didn't ask you," returned Nan, "but since you raise the question, I'll just remark, in passing, that it's part of the performance, and it's no more ridiculous than lots of the other flummery that goes along with a this year's model wedding. _I_ didn't have any showers,--but that was then." "Right you are, Lady Gay, and as Mona most especially desired this mark of esteem from her friends, I'm glad she's going to have it." "But I thought showers were usually surprises,--I didn't know the bride-elect requested one, or even knew of it beforehand." "Your think is correct. It's most unusual, but Mona is unusual, and any surprise in connection with her wedding would be impossible. She knows it all, and the arrangements are all under her direct supervision. It's going to be a pretty stunning affair, Nansome." "So I gather from what I hear. While you were at Lakewood, I didn't get much of the news about it, but since your return I've heard of nothing else." "And you won't until after the fifteenth. I declare, Nan, I've had no time for a real heart to heart talk with you since I got back. I haven't even told you about the Blaneys." "Oh, the highbrow people? No; were they interesting?" "Yes, indeed. You'll meet them at the wedding. Now, see here, I've asked half a dozen of the crowd to stay to dinner tonight after the shower, so look after the commissariat, won't you?" "With pleasure. Who's staying?" "Oh, Mona and Roger and Elise and Kit Cameron and Phil,--that's all." "Elise and Kit are pretty good friends, aren't they?" "Yes, there may be another wedding in the dim future." "Be careful, Patty. They say 'Three times a bridesmaid, never a bride,' you know." "Goodness! I must beware. I was bridesmaid for Christine,--and now for Mona,--then, if I'm bridesmaid for Elise, my last hope vanishes! I might be her maid of honor, though. Does that count?" "Yes, counts just the same. But perhaps you'll be married before Elise. She isn't engaged yet." "Neither am I." "Same as." "Indeed it _isn't_ same as! Philip made me pretty mad down at Lakewood. He scorned my new friends, the Blaneys, and he was most disagreeable about it, too."