"Yes, Roger's mad at me, too, on account of that same poor, misunderstood young gentleman. But they'll get over it. Don't worry, Patty." "Mona, I'd like to shake you! I might just as well reason with the Rock of Gibraltar as to try to influence _you_. Don't you know that your father asked me to try to persuade you to drop that Lansing man?" Patty had not intended to divulge this confidence of Mr. Galbraith, but she was at her wit's end to find some argument that would carry any weight with her headstrong friend. "Oh, daddy!" said Mona, carelessly. "He talks to me by the hour, and I just laugh at him and drum tunes on his dear old bald head. He hasn't anything, really, against Mr. Lansing, you know; it's nothing but prejudice." "A very well-founded prejudice, then! Why, Mona, that man isn't fit to--to----" "To worship the ground I walk on," suggested Mona, calmly. "Well, he does, Patty, so you may as well stop interfering." "Oh, if you look upon it as interfering!" "Well, I don't know what you call it, if not that. But I don't mind. Go ahead, if it amuses you. But I'm sorry if my affairs make trouble between you and your friends. However, I don't believe Mr. Van Reypen will stay angry at you very long. And as for Roger,--well, I wouldn't worry about him. Of course, you're going to Elise's dance on Tuesday night?" "Yes, of course. And I've no doubt I'll make up with Roger, then; but I don't know about Philip. I doubt if he'll be there." "I haven't the least doubt. Where you are, there will Mr. Van Reypen be, also,--if he can possibly get an invitation." * * * * * Mona was right in her opinion. At Elise's dance on Tuesday night, almost the first man Patty saw, as she entered the drawing-room, was Philip Van Reypen. He greeted her pleasantly, but with a certain reserve quite different from his usual eager cordiality. "May I have a dance, Miss Fairfield?" he said, holding out his hand for her card. Quick-witted Patty chose just the tone that she knew would irritate him. "Certainly, Mr. Van Reypen," she said, carelessly, and as she handed him her card, she turned to smile at another man who was just coming to speak to her. When Philip handed back her card, she took it without looking at it, or at him, and handed it to Mr. Drayton, seemingly greatly interested in what dances he might select. Van Reypen looked at her a moment in amazement. He had intended to be cool toward her, but the tables were turned, and she was decidedly cool toward him. However, his look of surprise was not lost upon Miss Patricia Fairfield, who saw him out of the corner of her eye, even though she was apparently engrossed with Mr. Drayton. And then, as usual, Patty was besieged by several men at once, all begging for dances, and her card was quickly filled.