The long, dreamy day had roused in Patty a contrary wilfulness, and she was quite ready for fun if any came her way. At dinner Mrs. Van Reypen monopolised the conversation. She talked mostly to Philip, but occasionally addressed a remark to Patty. She was exceedingly polite to her, but made her feel that her share of the conversation must be formal and conventional. Then she would chatter to her nephew about matters unknown to Patty, and then perhaps again throw an observation about the weather at her "companion." Patty accepted all this willingly enough, but Philip didn't. He couldn't keep his eyes off Patty, who was looking her very prettiest, and whose own eyes, when she raised them, were full of smiles. But in vain he endeavoured to make her talk to him. Patty remembered Mrs. Van Reypen's injunctions, and, though her bewitching personality made such effort useless, she tried to be absolutely and uninterestingly silent. "Aunty Van," said Philip, at last, giving up his attempts to make Patty converse, "let's have a little theatre party to-morrow night. Shall us? I'll get a box, and if you and Miss Fairfield will go, I'll be delighted." "I'll go, with pleasure," replied his aunt, "but Miss Fairfield will be obliged to decline. She has been out late too often since she has been here, and she needs rest. So invite the Delafields instead, and that will make a pleasant quartette." For an instant Patty was furiously angry at this summary disposal of herself, but when she saw Philip's face she almost screamed with laughter. Crestfallen faintly expressed his appearance. He was crushed, and looked absolutely stunned. "How he is under his aunt's thumb!" thought Patty, secretly disgusted at his lack of self-assertion, but she suddenly changed her mind. "Thank you, Aunty Van," she heard him saying, in a cool, determined voice, "but I prefer to choose my own guests. I do not care to ask the Delafields--unless you especially desire it. I am sorry Miss Fairfield cannot go, but I trust you will honour me with your presence." Philip had scored. Mrs. Van Reypen well knew if she went alone with her nephew, under such conditions, he would be sulky all the evening. Nor could she insist on having the Delafields asked after the way he had put it. She then nobly endeavoured to undo the mischief she had wrought. "No, Philip, I don't care especially about the Delafields. And if Miss Fairfield thinks it will not tire her too much I shall be glad to have her accept your kindness." His kindness, indeed! Patty felt like saying, "Do you know I am Patricia Fairfield, and it is I who confer an honour when I accept an invitation?" It wasn't exactly pride, but Patty had been brought up in an atmosphere of somewhat old-fashioned chivalry, and it jarred on her sense of the fitness of things to have Philip's invitation to her referred to as a "kindness." So she decided to take a stand herself.