"To two or three florists, I should think," said Mr. Hepworth. "What can we do with them all?" But the crowd of merry young people set to work, and in an hour the floral chaos was reduced to a wonderful vision of symmetry and beauty. Under Mr. Hepworth's directions, the flowers were banked on the mantels and window-seats, and hung in groups on the wall, and clustered on the door-frames in a profusion which had behind it a methodical and symmetrical intent. "It's perfectly beautiful!" declared Nan, who, with her husband, was taking her first view of the finished effect. "It's a perfect shame to spoil this bower of beauty by cramming it with a crowd of people, who will jostle your bouquets all to bits." "Well, we can't help it," said Patty. "You see, we invited the people, as well as the flowers, so we must take the consequences. But they can't reach those that are up high, and as soon as the party is over, I'm going to put them all in fresh water----" "What! the party?" and Kenneth looked astounded. "I mean the flowers," said Patty, not deigning to laugh at his foolishness. "And then, to-morrow morning, I'm going to send them all to the hospital." "The people?" said Kenneth again. "That's thoughtful of you, Patty! I have no doubt they'll be in condition to go. I'm about ready, myself." "Well, you may go now," and Patty smiled at him. "Your work is done here, and I'm going away to dress. Good-bye, Ken; this is the last time you'll see me as a little girl. When next we meet, I shall be a young lady, a fully-fledged society lady, whose only thoughts will be for dancing and gaiety of all sorts." "Nonsense," said Kenneth; "you can't scare me. You'll be the same old Patty, foolish and irresponsible,--but sunshiny and sweet as ever." "Thank you, Ken," said Patty, for there was a note of earnestness in Kenneth's voice that the girl was quick to catch. They had been friends since childhood, and while Patty did not take her "coming out" very seriously, yet she realised that it meant she was grown up and a child no longer. "Don't let it all spoil you, Patty." It was Mr. Hepworth who said this, as he was about to follow Kenneth out. "I have a right to lecture you, you know, and I want to warn you----" "Oh, don't do it now, Mr. Hepworth," said Patty, laughing; "the occasion is solemn enough, I'm sure, and if you lecture me, I shall burst into large weeps of tears! Do let me 'come out' without being lectured, and you can come round to-morrow and give me all the warnings you like." "You're right, little Patty," and Hepworth looked at her kindly. "I ought not to spoil one of the happiest days of your life with too serious thought. Yours is a butterfly nature----" "But butterfly natures are nice; aren't they, Mr. Hepworth?" and Patty looked up at him with the roguishness that she could never quite control.