"Yes, he is. He showed off big rolls of money at the Sale----" "But, Patty, he was buying things, wasn't he?" "I don't care if he was. And, besides, Adele, he--well, he implied, if he didn't say it straight out, that now he was rich, maybe I'd marry him! As if I was a fortune-hunter!" "Oh, Patty, you little goose! Bill has always been poor, or at least, he had only a moderate income. I can see how he would be glad if he had good fortune, to offer it to you. Poor Bill! You mistook his meaning, I'm sure." "No, I didn't, and I hate him, and I never want to hear his name mentioned again!" "Nor see him?" "Mercy, no! And now, drop the subject. I tell you I came up here to get away from him! He's in love with Daisy Dow, anyway." "What makes you think so?" "Oh, he's always with her. And he gave her some lovely books that he had bought on purpose for me! And, Daisy says things all the time that prove it. I don't want anything to do with another girl's rustic swain. That I don't!" "Just a minute, Patty. Do you really consider Bill a rustic,--uncultured, and all that, I mean?" Patty looked serious. "No, Adele, I don't. He hasn't a certain polish, that some men have, but he is a thorough gentleman and a splendid man. I must say that, in all honesty. But he is a domineering, head-strong nature, and he couldn't make any girl happy!" "Oh, couldn't he!" said Adele, but she said it to herself, not aloud. The subject was really dropped then, and Patty began to dress for luncheon. "I'm going to put on this white crepe de chine," she said. "I found it hanging in the wardrobe, left from last summer. I'd almost forgotten I had it. It's a pretty frock, isn't it?" "Yes. But, I grieve to state, Pattibelle, we'll be alone at lunch, you and I. Jim has gone miles off in the country, and won't be back before six or so." "Whatever for?" "Oh,--on some business." "Business! On Sunday?" "He's looking at a car he's thinking of buying. The man could only see him today." "Oh, well, all right. But I'll dress up anyway, for my own self-respect. I like myself better in a pretty gown, and I'm not going to take naps all day today, I can tell you." Patty flew around, making her toilette, and humming little snatches of song. Adele thought she had never seen her look so pretty. The white frock was soft and filmy; the round neck a trifle low, the frilled sleeves showing her dimpled arms, and a soft sash made of a breadth of palest pink silk, round the waist. "You're a dream!" declared Adele. "It's a shame to waste such a vision of beauty on me. I believe I'll telephone for Bob Peyton to come over to lunch." "No, don't. I'd rather not have him. I like to be alone with you much better. Ask him over for dinner, if you like." So the two lunched alone, and then came the difficult crisis. Patty flatly rebelled against Adele's suggestion that she take an afternoon nap to be fresh for the evening.