Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon. At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon. "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?" "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail." "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to." "And then it's the memory of it," said Mona. "You know yourself how pleasant it is to look back and remember any pleasure you may have had; and when it's only one, and such a big one, the pleasure of remembrance is even greater." "That's good philosophy, Mona," said Mr. Fairfield, approvingly, "and I take back what I said. I think the plans you girls have made are excellent; and I, too, will be glad to help if I can." "Other people have offered to help us," began Mona, but Patty interrupted her, saying: "We don't want any help from people individually. I mean, father, if you will lend us the car, and things like that, we'll be glad, of course. But we don't want any personal assistance in our plans." "All right, chickadee; far be it from me to intrude. But I thought perhaps if you wanted to make a little excursion, say, to see the Statue of Liberty, or even to go to the circus, you might like a man along with you as a Courier General." "That's just what Mr. Lansing said!" exclaimed Mona, which was the very remark Patty had been fearing. "That's just what we're _not_ going to do!" she declared. "We're only going to places where we can go by ourselves, or if we need a chaperon, we'll take Nan. But we don't want any men in on this deal." "I don't see why," began Mona, but Patty promptly silenced her by saying, "You _do_ see why. Now, Mona, don't say anything more about it. There isn't any circus now, and it's time enough when it comes, to decide about going to it; and I don't want to go, anyway. There are lots of things nicer than a circus." "Mr. Lansing said he'd send us a box for the Hippodrome, some Saturday afternoon," said Mona, a little diffidently. "That's awfully kind of him," said Nan. "I should think you girls would be delighted with that." "A box," and Patty looked scornful. "Why, a box only holds six, so with us four, we could only invite two guests. I don't think much of that scheme!" "I'll donate a box also," said Mr. Fairfield. "You can get them adjoining, and with two of you girls in one and two in the other, you can invite eight guests."