Then he sprang down the steps, and clasping the Christmas Spirit, the two tripped away into a gay impromptu dance. "Everybody dance!" shouted the Lord of Misrule, brandishing his sceptre aloft, and obedient to his orders, the others caught the gay spirit, and soon they were all dancing. Later they had the country dances--Virginia reel, Sir Roger, and others which Patty had never heard of before, but which she had no difficulty in learning. It was not long, however, before she laid aside her somewhat uncomfortable wings, and also the illusion draperies, which did not well survive the intricacies of the figure dances. So, once again in her pretty pink frock, she entered into the dances with the zest she always felt for that amusement. "I think it's my turn," said Roger, coming up to her at last. "And I'm glad to be with a friend again, after all these strangers," she said, as they danced away. "Though they're awfully nice men, and some of them are very good dancers. You and Mona are all right, aren't you, Roger?" Patty said this so suddenly that he was caught off his guard. "Not all right," he said, "and never will be until she'll consent to cut the acquaintance of that Lansing!" "She'll never do that!" and Patty wagged her head positively. "Then she can get along without my friendship." "Now, Roger, what's the use of acting like that? Mona has a right to choose her friends." "Patty, I believe you like that man yourself!" "I don't dislike him; at least, not as much as you do. But I don't see any reason for you to take the matter so seriously. At any rate, while you're up here, forget it, won't you, and be good to Mona." "Oh, I'll be good to her fast enough, if she'll be good to me. I think a heap of that girl, Patty, and I don't want to see her in the clutches of a bad man like Lansing." "You don't know that he's a bad man." "Well, he's a fortune-hunter,--that's bad enough." "Pooh, every man that looks at a girl doesn't want to marry her for her money." "But that man does." "Then cut him out! Why, Roger, you're worth a dozen Lansings, and if you want to marry Mona, why don't you tell her so?" "Oh, Patty, do you think I'd have the ghost of a chance?" "I certainly do. That is, if Mona has a grain of sense in that pretty head of hers." "Well,--say, Patty,--this sounds queer, I know,--but you and I are such pals,--couldn't you just say a good word for----" "Roger Farrington! the idea! I never supposed you were _bashful_!" "I never was before,--but I'm a little afraid of Mona. She's so,--so decided, you know." "Very well. Make her decide in your favour. But, mark my words, young man, you'll never win her by getting grumpy and sour just because she smiles on another man. In fact, you'd better praise Mr. Lansing. That would be the best way to make her lose interest in him." "Patty Fairfield! I'm ashamed of you. I always knew you were a flirt, but anything like that would be downright deception."