"Think of it!" cried Patty; "she had everything a girl could possibly want yesterday, and now to-day she has a few bushels more!" It was literally true. Getting free, somehow, of her own impedimenta, Patty ran over to see Elise's things. "You look like a fancy bazaar gone to smash," she declared, as she saw Elise in the midst of her Christmas portion. "I feel like an International Exhibition," returned Elise. "I've gifts from all parts of the known world!" "And unknown!" said Kenneth, picking up various gimcracks of whose name or use he had no idea. "But this is what I like best," she went on, smiling at Kenneth, as she held up the dainty little card-case he had given her. "I shall use this only when calling on my dearest friends." "Good for you!" he returned. "Glad you like it. And as I know you've lots of dearest friends, I'll promise, when it's worn out, to give you another." Elise looked a trifle disappointed at this offhand response to her more earnest speech, but she only smiled gaily, and turned the subject. CHAPTER V SKATING AND DANCING "Kenneth thinks an awful lot of you, Patty," said Elise, as, after the Christmas party was all over, the girls were indulging in a good-night chat. "Pooh," said Patty, who, in kimono and bedroom slippers, nestled in a big easy-chair in front of the wood-fire in Elise's dressing-room. "I've known Ken for years, and we do think a lot of each other. But you needn't take that tone, Elise. It's a boy and girl chumminess, and you know it. Why, Ken doesn't think any more of me than Roger does." "Oh, Roger! Why, he's perfectly gone on you. He worships the ground you walk on. Surely, Patty, you've noticed Roger's devotion." "What's the matter with you, Elise? Where'd you get these crazy notions about devotion and worship? If you'll excuse my French,--you make me tired!" "Don't you like to have the boys devoted to you, Patty?" "No, I don't! I like their jolly friendship, of course. I like to talk to Ken and Roger, or to Clifford Morse, or any of the boys of our set; but as for _devotion_, I don't see any." "None so blind as those who won't see," said Elise, who had finished brushing her hair, and now sank down on an ottoman by Patty's side. "Well, then, I'll stay blind, for I don't want to see devoted swains worshipping the Persian rugs I walk on! Though if you mean these beautiful rugs that are on all the floors of your house, Elise, I don't know that I blame the swains so much. By the way, I suppose some of them are 'prayer rugs' anyway, so that makes it all the more appropriate." "Oh, Patty, you're such a silly! You're not like other girls." "You surprise me, Elise! Also you flatter me! I had an idea I belonged to the common herd." "Patty, _will_ you be serious? Roger is terribly in love with you." "Really, Elise? How interesting! Now, what would you do in a case like that?" "I'd consider it seriously, at any rate."