Patty's Motor Car

With a beseeching glance and a drooping curve to her lips, Patty then murmured, in low tones, “Can’t you ever forgive me, – Philip?”

“Patty! Of course I can! And there’s nothing to forgive, you little rogue! But now you’re going to call me Philip, all the time, aren’t you?”

“I thpothe I am,” said Patty, foolishly, and in an idiotic tone, and then they both giggled.

“And now can you be entertaining?” asked Patty, briskly; “and not just sit up and remark that it is a charming day?”

“But the day is more charming than ever!” declared Philip. “And I must emphasise the fact.”

“But, goodness gracious me! wherever is that halfway place? Have we passed the tumble-down old house with vines clambering all over it?”

“No, we haven’t passed it yet,” said Philip, innocently.

“We ought to reach it soon, – I’m sure it’s time.”

“How complimentary you are! Does the way seem so long?”

“It doesn’t seem so long, but it seems strange. I don’t remember these houses. Did we pass them on the way over?”

“You must have been so busy driving the car you didn’t see them.”

“Nonsense! I’ve never been this way before in my life! You’ve taken the wrong road, and you’ve done it on purpose, – Philip!”

“So I have, Patty! At least it’s a different road, but it isn’t a wrong road. It’s just as direct to ‘The Pebbles’ as the other road, but it has the advantage of not passing by the clambering house with the tumble-down vines!”

“Oh, you’ve done it, so we’d slip Roger!”

“Of course I did! Clever of me, wasn’t it? Oh, you haven’t the entire monopoly of clever ideas, if you did mend your motor car with chocolate!”

Philip was gleefully chuckling at his successful ruse, and, when Patty realised that she couldn’t help herself, she laughed, too.

“Roger won’t mind, anyway,” she said; “he’s such a good-natured old duck. And I’ll make it up to him by taking him out for the whole day to-morrow, on a picnic with my new lunch basket. I’ve been wanting to try that lovely basket, and see if it will carry a picnic for two.”

Philip’s face suddenly lost its jovial smile. “There’ll be a ‘picnic for two,’ if you cut up any such trick as that! And you and young Farrington will see what kind of a picnic I mean! Why, Patty, you’re hostess of this house party of yours. You can’t desert all your other guests, – and go skylarking off with only one of them.”

“Unless it’s you,” said Patty, with a demure glance at him.

“Yes, unless it’s me,” said Philip, smiling broadly.

CHAPTER XVII

A DINNER AND A DANCE

When Patty and Philip reached home, a little later than the others, Roger was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Roger?” asked Patty, as she jumped out of the car, for she wanted to make peace with him at once.

“He’s gone over to ‘Red Chimneys,’” said Elise, laughing. “He’s taken a terrible fancy to that Galbraith girl.”

“I told you we needn’t mind about Roger,” said Patty to Philip. “I’m glad he does like Mona, though I confess I was a little surprised at first.”

Very soon Roger came back to “The Pebbles,” bringing Mona with him.

“Hello, people!” the girl called out, as she neared the veranda. “You kept terribly sly about your birthday, didn’t you, Patty? But Mr. Farrington told me last night, and father telegraphed to New York for a present for me to give you, and it’s just arrived by special messenger. How do you like it?” and Mona tossed a small box into Patty’s lap.

The others crowded round to see, and Patty opened the box, to find a beautiful jewel pendant hung on a slender thread of a platinum neck-chain. The pendant was a fair-sized sapphire, surrounded by tiny diamonds, and was of fine design and workmanship.

“Mona! How lovely!” cried Patty. “But I can’t accept such a valuable present from you.”

“Nonsense! It’s a mere trinket. I’m delighted to give it to you, and father was delighted to get it for me, so you’ll simply have to take it. I was only afraid you wouldn’t think it pretty!”

“Pretty? Why, it’s perfectly beautiful!” and Patty clasped the chain around her neck at once. She was a little uncertain how to take the gift, but she could not so hurt Mona’s feelings as to refuse it, and, if she accepted it, she might as well do it gracefully. She cast an enquiring glance at Nan, who, as usual, came to her aid.

“It’s a lovely present, Patty; and Mona is most kind and generous to give it to you. I’m sure we all appreciate it.”

Thus tacitly advised, Patty thanked Mona prettily, and then Nan declared it was time to think about dressing for dinner.

“You’re coming, Mona, aren’t you?” said Patty, for she knew Nan had invited her.

“Oh, yes, indeed; I’ll be the first one here and the last one to leave. Trust me for that!” and, with a merry laugh, Mona ran away across the two lawns to her own house.

“She’s all right!” said Roger, looking after her.

“Yes, she is,” said Patty, generously; and, indeed, Mona had risen in her estimation since Roger showed such approval of her.

And then the group separated, to meet again at the birthday dinner.

The three girls gathered in Patty’s room for a short chat first.

“What are you going to wear, Patty?” asked Elise.

“Oh, I have a new blue affair that’s perfectly dear. What’s yours, Christine?”

“White,” said Christine, simply. “I can’t wear many colours.”

“You don’t need to, you angel person,” said Patty, kissing her. “You’ll look heavenly in white. I’ve never seen you in evening dress. It is evening dress, isn’t it, Christine?”

“Yes; that is, it’s a round neck, but it’s very simple.”

“You’re simple yourself,” said Patty; “simply sweet! Isn’t she, Elise?”

It was Patty’s delight to make Elise admire Christine, and of course it wasn’t possible, when thus appealed to, for Elise to do anything but acquiesce in Patty’s opinion.

“And now, honey, what’s your gorgeous creation that’s to dazzle the eyes of the country people down here?” said Patty.

“Mine is green,” returned Elise; “and it’s a good enough frock, but I know it won’t be in it with yours, Patsy.”

“Nonsense! It’s probably far handsomer. Aren’t we all getting grown-up, to have dinner parties and low-neck gowns! Though mine isn’t exactly low neck, it’s just cut out sort of round.”