"Yes, I know it. But there are worse things in this world than freaks. I'd rather a man would be a freak than a--a mud turtle!" "Are many of your friends mud turtles?" "Yes, they are. They stick their heads in the sand----" "Look out for your Natural History! You're thinking of ostriches." "All the same. Now, Sam Blaney----" "Patty! You don't mean to say that chap is _Sam_ Blaney! I thought he looked a bit familiar! Sam! old Sam Blaney! Well!" "What's the matter, Billee? Do you know him?" "I used to, when we were boys. Fifteen or more years ago. I doubt if he'd even remember my name. We went to a public school together. Sam Blaney! Well!" "You exasperating thing! Don't sit there saying 'Well!' and '_Sam_ Blaney!' but tell me what you know of him." "Nothing, child, nothing. I haven't seen or heard of him for--since we were fourteen years old or so. Where did you pick him up?" Patty told of her meeting the Blaneys at Lakewood, and of her continuing their acquaintance in New York. But suddenly Farnsworth seemed to lose interest in her story. "Never mind the Blaneys," he said. "I want to talk to _you_. What do you think, my girl? I've won out in that matter of business I've been at so long." "Have you? I'm very glad. I don't know what it was all about, Little Billee, but if you've succeeded in what you wanted to do, I'm very glad." "Yes, I have. And it means,--it means, Patty, that I shall live in New York now, all the time." "Yes?" "Yes. And it means, too, if this interests you, that I'm a rich man,--a very rich man." "That's nice, Bill; I congratulate you." "Oh, thank you." Farnsworth's voice had grown suddenly cold, and the eager light had faded from his blue eyes. He looked at Patty, and quickly looked away. "I thought you might care," he said. A strange thought came to Patty. Could he possibly mean that since he was a rich man, she would smile on his suit? Could he think that she would accept his attentions more gladly because of his newly acquired wealth? The idea made her furiously angry. If Farnsworth thought her that mercenary--if he deemed her so utterly sordid--well, her respect for him was decidedly lessened! CHAPTER XIV PATTY'S DANCE The Christmas Eve party at the Blaneys' was in full swing. A man at the piano was performing a monologue that was partly spoken, partly sung. It was cleverly done, and the audience showed its appreciation by outspoken comments. "A little lame on that top note, old chap. S'pose you try it over--ah, that's better!" Patty sat next to Sam Blaney. Chick had expected to come, but Elise had persuaded him to attend her party instead. This rather pleased Patty, for she feared Chick's gay banter and she knew he didn't care for the Cosmic Centre Club and their ways. "You are so wonderful!" Blaney was saying, as he looked at her. "I never cared for Christmas before."