"Which is perfectly ridiculous!" said Patty to herself, as she realised the state of things. "Those boys needn't think they can dictate to me at my own party!" Whereupon, perverse Patty began to make herself extremely and especially agreeable to Mr. Lansing, and Mona was greatly delighted at the turn things had taken. Christine and Mr. Hepworth joined in the conversation, and perhaps because of what Patty had said earlier in the evening, Mr. Lansing avoided to a great extent the use of slang expressions, and made himself really interesting and entertaining. "What a fascinating man he is," said Christine later, to Patty, when Mona and her new friend had walked away to the "extra" supper dance. "Do you think so?" said Patty, looking at Christine in astonishment. "He was rather nicer than I thought him at first, but, Christine, I never dreamed _you_ would approve of him! But you never can tell when a quiet little mouse like you is going to break loose. Why did you like him, Christine?" "I don't know exactly; only he seemed so breezy and unusual." "Yes, he's that," and Patty wagged her head, knowingly; "but I don't like him very much, Christine, and you mustn't, either. Now run away and play." Patty's last direction was because she saw a young man coming to ask Christine for this dance; while two others were rapidly coming toward herself. The rest of the evening was danced gaily away, but neither Roger nor Philip Van Reypen came near Patty. To be sure, she had plenty of partners, but she felt a little offended at her two friends' attitude, for she knew she hadn't really deserved it. But when the dance was over, Patty's good-nights to Roger and Philip were quite as gentle and cordial as those she said to any one else. She smiled her best smiles at them, and though not as responsive as usual, they made polite adieux and departed with no further reference to the troublesome matter. CHAPTER III HAPPY SATURDAYS As was not to be wondered at, Patty slept late the next morning. And when she awakened, she lay, cozily tucked in her coverlets, thinking over the occurrences of the night before. Presently Jane came in with a dainty tray of chocolate and rolls, and then, with some big, fluffy pillows behind her, Patty sat up in bed, and thoughtfully nibbled away at a crust. Then Nan came in, in her pretty morning gown, and, drawing up a little rocker, sat down by Patty's bedside. "Are you in mood for a gossip, Patty?" she asked, and Patty replied, "Yes, indeedy! I want to talk over the whole thing. In the first place, Nan, it was a howling, screaming success, wasn't it?" "Why, yes, of course; how could it be otherwise? with the nicest people and the nicest flowers and the nicest girl in New York City!" "In the whole United States, you mean," said Patty, complacently, as she took a spoonful of chocolate. "Yes, the party in all its parts was all right. There wasn't a flaw. But, oh, Nan, I got into a scrap with the boys."