Carolyn Wells

Patty's Social Season Carolyn Wells

At eight o'clock that same evening, Patty came down to her own dinner party. An hour'srest had freshened her up wonderfully, and she had changed her little white frock for adinner gown of pale green chiffon, sparkling with silver embroidery. It trailed behind her ina most grown-up fashion, and she entered the drawing-room with an exaggerated air ofdignity."Huh," cried Roger; "look at grown-up Patty! Isn't she the haughty lady? Patty, if you put onsuch airs, you'll be old before your time!""Airs, nothing!" retorted Patty, and with a skipping little dance step, she crossed the room, picked up a sofa pillow, and aimed it deftly at Roger, who caught it on the wing."That's better," he said. "We can't have any of these grande dame airs. Now, who is the luckyman who is to take you out to dinner? Me?""No, not you," and Patty looked at him, critically; "you won't do, and neither will Kenneth, nor Phil Van Reypen, nor Mr. Hepworth." She looked at them each in turn, and smiled somerrily that they could take no offence. "I think," she said, "I shall select the best-lookingand best-natured gentleman, and walk out with him." Whereupon she tucked her armthrough her father's, and led the way to the dining-room, followed by the rest of the merrycrowd. The dinner was a beautiful one, for Nan had spared no pains or thought to make it worthyof the occasion. At the girls' places were beautiful souvenirs, in the shape of fans of carvedivory with lace mounts, while the men received attractive stick-pins."Shall you feel like dancing after all this gaiety, Patty?" asked Van Reypen."Well, rather!" declared Patty. "Why, I'd feel like dancing if I'd been through a-civil war! Icould scarcely keep still when the orchestra was playing this afternoon, and I'm crazy forto-night's dance to begin.""Frivolous young person, very," murmured Philip. "Never saw such devotion to the vainfollies of life! However, since you're determined to dance, will you honour me with the firstone to-night?""Why, I don't mind, if you don't," said Patty, dimpling at him."And give me the second," said Kenneth and Roger simultaneously."I can't do these sums in my head," said Patty; "I'll get all mixed up. Let's wait till we get ourdance orders, and fill them up, hit or miss.""You be the miss and I'll try to make a hit," said Phili