psychic, you know–"
"And what are psychics,—clearly, now, Patty, what are psychics?"
"Why, they're–they're–"
"Yes, go on."
"Well, they're—why, they're psychics! That's what they are."
"Patty, you're an irresistible little goose!" and Mrs. Farrington bent down to kiss the pretty, flushed face, and then laughingly declared she had no more time to waste on psychics, and trailed away.
"Now, tell us all about it, Patsy," said Elise. "I shan't let you get up till you do."
"There's not much to tell, Elise; but I liked to learn about the things they were talking about and so I stayed later than I should have. But since your mother is so lovely about it, I don't care what any one else says."
"Oh, pshaw,—your staying late,—that was nothing. But what did they do over there so interesting? I can't see any sense in their talk."
"I can't see much myself, and that's why I want to learn. I'm awfully ignorant of higher ethics,—and—things like that."
"Higher ethics? H—m. Is it sort of Uplift ideas?"
"No, not that exactly."
"Fudge, you don't know what it is, 'exactly,' and between you and me, I don't think you have the glimmer of a ghost of an idea what it is all about! Now, have you?"
"If I had, I couldn't make you understand! You're antagonistic. You have to be receptive and responsive and–"
"Patty, you're a goose! A silly idiot of a goose! But such a dear, pretty little goose, that with all your faults we love you still! Now, I'll scoot, and you get dressed, for we're going somewhere today."
"Where?"
"Never you mind, Miss Curiosity. Just put on a house dress and come down to breakfast, and you'll find out."
Elise ran away, but Mona lingered.
"Patty," she said, a little gravely, "Philip is terribly upset about last night."
"I don't care if he is, Mona. He has no right to be. He has no authority over me."
"What! When you've become engaged to him?"
"I'm not engaged to him at all."
"He says you are."
"Did he really say that, Mona?"
"Not in so many words, but he implied that there was an understanding between you."
"Understanding! I hate that word,—used that way! There's a misunderstanding between us, if there's anything!"
"But you're going to be engaged to him, aren't you, Patty?"
"No, I don't think so. Not after last night. Why, he was horrid, Mona, after I came home. He scolded me, and I wouldn't stay to listen.
I ran upstairs."
"Oh, Patty, I wish you'd make up with him, and be friends again, and be engaged to him, and announce it at my wedding."
"Did he say all that to you last night? Did he make those delightful plans, and talk them over with you and Roger?"
"Don't look so furious. It just came about, you see. We were sitting there, waiting for you to come home, and Phil was saying how he adores you, and how he wanted your promise, but he had to wait a certain time before you would say positively. And, of course, we were talking about my wedding, and I said it would be nice to announce your engagement then, it's always so picturesque to announce one wedding at another–"
"I'm sorry I can't oblige you, Mona, but if you want an engagement announced at your wedding I'm afraid you'll have to get some other girl. You can keep the same man, if you like!"
"Oh, Patty, don't be cross with me! It wasn't my fault!"
"That's so, Mona,—I'm a pig! Forgive me, dear. Now, to make up, I'll tell you just how it is. I have told Philip that I'd give him my answer in about two weeks. And that will be your wedding day. But my answer is to be yes, only if he succeeds in teaching me to love him by that time. And I don't mind telling you, that the way he talked to me last night doesn't exactly further his cause!"
"But, Patty, he was angry, you know, and jealous of those foolish Blaney people."
"They're not foolish,—and I can't bear men who are jealous. Now, Mona, girlie, you 'tend to your own suitor. You've quite enough to do in the next two weeks, without dipping your pretty little fingers in my pie."
"Yes," sighed Mona, "I have."
CHAPTER V
When Patty entered the dining-room, she found the rest already at breakfast.
"'Scuse me for being late," she said, as she took her place, "but I was up late last night."
She smiled gaily at Philip, whose somewhat frowning face relaxed into an answering smile.
"Never mind that, Patty," said Mona, "listen to what we're planning.
Philip thinks it would be a good idea to buy Red Chimneys for the Kiddies' Home, and we're going to motor over to Spring Beach today to look at it."
"Fine! but why go to look at it? We all know exactly what it looks like–"
"Yes, Patty," said Philip, "but there are several matters to see about. I know the house, generally speaking, but I want to look it over with the idea of a Home in mind. Count up the rooms, get measurements and so forth, to present in my report to the Board of Managers."
"All right, I'd like to go. I think it would be fun. Lunch at the hotel, I suppose."
"Yes, or take something with us and picnic at the house."
"Oh, that's lots nicer, don't you think so, Elise?"
"Well, you see, Patty, it doesn't matter to me which you do, as I'm not going. I'm sorry, but I've some engagements today that I must keep, so, if you don't mind, I'm going to ask to be left at home."
"All right, then it's up to us. What say, Mona? Picnic sandwiches?"
"Yes, and some Thermos stuff,—soup and chocolate. That will give us more time to look over the house. There are some things I want to see about, if it's to leave my possession forever."
"Why don't you keep it, Mona? Why wouldn't you and Roger like it for a summer home?"
"We talked it over, and I'm rather tired of the place. And Roger prefers going to different places each year. Father told me I could have the house, and do what I liked with it, sell it or keep it. But if they want it for this Home arrangement, I think I'll be rather glad to let it go."
The quartet started off in high spirits at the prospect of a jolly day. The big limousine was most comfortable and well equipped. An ample luncheon was stowed away in hampers, and a skilful and careful chauffeur drove them at a speedy gait. It was a glorious, clear, cold, sunshiny day, and the open windows gave them plenty of fresh air.
Patty, enveloped in furs, nestled in one corner of the wide back seat, and Mona was in the other. The two men faced them. Not a word had passed between Patty and Philip about the night before, and Patty wondered if he intended to let the matter go by without further reference.
"You see it's this way," Philip began, addressing Patty; "I haven't really had an opportunity of telling you about it yet. We don't want to do anything much in the matter of the Home before Spring. But as Mona's house is in the market, and as it seems like an ideal place to have for the children, I thought we'd better look into it, and, if advisable, buy it and then wait a few months before doing anything further."
"I think so, too, Phil," Patty agreed. "I counted up the rooms and it will easily accommodate twenty or twenty-five kiddies, and that's as many as we can take care of, isn't it?"
"I think so; for the present, anyway. And you know, Patty, all you have to do is to approve or disapprove of the purchase, and what you say, goes."
"What an important personage you are, Patty," said Roger. "Your lightest word is law."
"It