"I'm glad I'm here!" she assured herself, as she dashed cold water into her suspiciously reddened eyes. "I know I shall have all sorts of odd and interesting adventures here; and I'm determined to be happy whatever happens. And, anyway, it will be over soon. A week isn't long." Putting on a trim morning dress, of soft old rose cashmere, with a fine embroidered white yoke, she went sedately down to the breakfast room. She had been told to come to breakfast at nine o'clock, and the clock struck the hour just as she crossed the threshold. Instead of her employer, she was astounded to see Philip Van Reypen calmly seated at the table. "Jolly to see you again!" he cried, as he jumped up to greet her. "Just thought I'd run in for a bite of breakfast, and to inquire how Aunty Van's cold is." "I didn't know she had a cold," said Patty, primly, trying to act as she thought a companion ought to act. "Neither did I," said the irrepressible Philip. "But I didn't know but she might have caught one in the night. A germ flying in at the window, or something." Mindful of Mrs. Van Reypen's admonitions, Patty tried not to appear interested in the young man's remarks, but it was impossible to ignore the fact that he was interested in her. She responded to his gay banter in monosyllables, and kept her dancing eyes veiled by their own long-fringed lids, but this only served to pique Philip's curiosity. "I've a notion to spend the day here, with Aunty Van," he said, and then Patty glanced up at him in positive alarm. "Don't!" she cried, and her face betokened a genuine distress. "Why not?" said the surprised young man; "have you learned to dislike me so cordially already?" Amiable Patty couldn't stand for this misinterpretation of her attitude, and her involuntary, smiling glance was a sufficient disclaimer. But she was saved the necessity of a verbal reply, for just at that moment Mrs. Van Reypen came into the room. CHAPTER XV PERSISTENT PHILIP "Why, Philip!" Mrs. Van Reypen exclaimed; "you are indeed growing attentive to your aged aunt!" "Middle-aged aunt!" he returned, gallantly; "and belonging to the early middle-ages at that! I told you I should call this morning, and I'd like another egg, please, aunty." "You may have all the eggs you want, but I am not at all pleased with your presence here after I expressly forbade it." "Oh, it isn't a crime to call on one's own aunt, is it?" "It's extremely rude. I have a busy day before me, and I don't want a bothersome nephew around." Mrs. Van Reypen was exceedingly fond of Philip, and loved to have him at her house, but it was easy to be seen, now, that she considered him far too much interested in pretty Patty. And partly because he was interested, and partly to tease his long-suffering aunt, the young man declared his intention of spending the day with them. "I can't have you, Philip," said Mrs. Van Reypen, decidedly. "I want you to go away immediately after breakfast."