"Now, you may do as you like until luncheon time," said Mrs. Van Reypen, "for I shall go to my room and lie down for a rest. My maid will attend me, so I will bid you adieu until one o'clock. Wander round the house if you choose. You will find much to interest you." "Right you are!" thought Patty to herself. "I don't believe I'd have to wander far to find a jolly comrade to interest me!" But she well knew if Mr. Philip Van Reypen was still in the house, and if she should encounter him and chat with him, it would greatly enrage the old lady. "And," thought Patty, "since I've made good with my dancing it's a shame to spoil my record by talking to Sir Philip. But he is pleasant." Determined to do her duty, she went straight to her own room, though tempted to "wander round the house." And sure enough, though she didn't know it, Mr. Van Reypen was watching her from behind the drawing-room draperies. His face fell as he saw her go up the stairs, and, though he waited some time, she did not return. "Saucy Puss!" he thought. "But I'll have a chat with her yet." Going to the library he scribbled a note, and sent it by a servant to Miss Fairfield's room. The note said: "Do come down and talk to a lonely, neglected waif, if only for a few minutes. "P. V. R." Patty laughed as she read it, but she only said to the maid who brought it: "Please say to Mr. Van Reypen that there is no answer." The maid departed, but, in less than ten minutes, returned with another note: "You're afraid of Aunty Van! Come on. I will protect you. Just for a few moments' chat on the stairs. "P. V. R." Again Patty sent the message, "There is no answer." Soon came a third note: "I think you are horrid! And you don't dance prettily at all!" "Oho!" thought Patty. "Getting saucy, is he?" She made no response whatever to the maid this time, but she was not greatly surprised when another note came: "If you don't come down, I'm going out to drown myself. P." Patty began to be annoyed. The servants must think all this very strange, and yet surely she could not help it. "Wait a moment, Delia," she said. "Please say to Mr. Van Reypen that I will see him in the library, at once." After a moment she followed the maid downstairs, and went straight to the library, where the young man awaited her. His face lighted up with gladness, as he held out his hand. "Forgive me if I was impertinent," he said, with such a charming air of apology that Patty had to smile. "I forgive the impertinence," she returned, "but you are making real trouble for me." "What do you mean?" he cried, looking dismayed.