Patty's Friends

me from the dining-room

women, and when she glanced around, it wa

said, "but now there is an opportunity, le

miling; "where shal

Louis XIV. tête-à-tête. "We'll pretend that it is a real schoolroom, with four walls

ce to her far-away school-da

stern schoolmaster, and I the stupid p

terrupted by Lady Herenden'

followed the others to the gre

ould look down upon the dancers. A fine orchestra furnished the music, and Patty, who

Ruthven, and in a moment they w

erican steps, but she was so completely mistress of the ar

nished, "for you must have been told so often how wonderfully well yo

n, leaving her with Lady Herenden, he excused himself and went away. Then Patty was besieged with would-be partners. He

till sulky, and he looked so like a cro

at him by way of invitation,

you want?" she

ind," he said, in a low voice. "I will take a

g was all too short. Patty whirled through dance after dance, and between them was restore

ting the girl's shoulder affectionately. "You

lla, to-night,"

ow, and see all my

rstand, but took it as mer

ven came for t

Fairfield," he said; "

s they walked away,

ould you not rather sit o

ink it's carrying this heavy train around

s sit on the terrace, and I

upied, and he arranged two wicker easy-chairs, where they might be just out of the way of t

moonlight? One can almost fancy the roses opening beneat

aps, at night, the white roses and the pale yellow ones bloom. Then at d

Miss Fairfield. Where do you

hink they are the result of this beautiful moonl

auty in art or nature. Let us take a short turn in the rose garden, a

objected Patty, who still h

ing us," gently insisted Lord Ruthven, and Patty amiably we

se. Herenden Hall was always a splendid picture, but especially at night, backgrounded by a gray

ever saw. See that great, quiet roof sloping darkly away, and benea

Patty, "but not so beautiful as another one I see. A lovely face fra

was not used to such speeches as this, and she said, gr

. Let me tell you something. Let me justify myself. I oughtn't to talk to you lik

not at all compreh

sperately in love with you that I can't down it. Oh, I know I oughtn't to be talking to you like this. I ought to

n account of her grown-up gown! The absurdity of it impressed her far more than the romantic si

e pink; "don't talk like that. Please cut me that lovely

ut the flowers she asked for. Then he stood, tr

seem a grown woman, and yet the situation alarmed her

eated, "that you

" returned Patty, in a matter-o

tion, "and now will you accept these flowers as a gift f

but Lord Ruthven still held them, too,

ey don't mean anything

atty's two hands, rose

tly; "they mean I love

the troubled, beseechi

ven-please!" said Patty, her

me by some less formal name. Patty

t was too much for Pa

e said in a low tone, but her

d his clasp tightened on her hands. "Now y

d her lips on the verge of laughter. Then, gently disengaging her hands

ld," he said, "Patty, I won't keep you now, but to-morro

Patty, really laughing now. "You wi

eproachfully, and then they had reach

own rooms, and the moonlight on Herenden Ha

ad been unpacked. She went straight on and tapped at Lady Hamilton's door. "Get me ou

ady Kitty, looking round. "Didn't

speech, as she emerged from the heap of lace and silk. "I'll see you

r hair fell in two long braids, with curly tails; a dainty dressing-gown enveloped her slight figure; and on he

llow at her friend's feet, and

n, "come to the story at once. Wh

I suppose," said Patty, demurely;

starting up, and quite upse

on Patty, placidly;

all about it at once! Oh, what shal

t, Kitty. If I hadn't worn your gown, he

be true. You must ha

ow what a man means when he says he loves me and beg

e remembrance of it, and she rocked back an

and tell me the truth.

l her voice. "And I am telling you the truth

did thi

zen yards away from you all. I'm sure if you'd been liste

able merriment at this recollectio

d you te

mind. And I see my trunks have come, so he surely will. You see h

sn't a

as. He doubtless wants a dignified, stately Lady Ruthven, and

s nice of you, to

, Kitty, when he sees me to-morrow in my own little pink musli

know what to say to you. But I hope y

ntity. I don't mind it so much now that it's over, but I was scared stiff at the time. On

her during the evening, in the ballroom and on th

he tale was finished. "I don't think you even flirted with hi

th conviction. "You know, moonlight and roses and a su

along to bed, now, and get up in the morning your own swe

t like it a bit, except that it w

father will be annoyed. You

ddy all about it. And I rather