the music-stool for her, and she ran her delicate old
fingers lightly over the keys.

"I'm sadly out of practice," she said, "but I can play a tinkling minuet
and you may dance to it."

She began a melodious little air, and Patty, after listening a moment,
nodded her head, and ran to take her place.

Mrs. Van Reypen was so seated at the piano that she could watch Patty's
dance, and in a moment the two were in harmony, and Patty was gliding and
bowing in a charming minuet, while Mrs. Van Reypen played in perfect
sympathy.

The dance was nearly over when Patty discovered the smiling face of Mr.
Philip Van Reypen in the doorway.

His aunt could not see him, and Patty saw only his reflection in the
mirror. He gave her a pleading glance, and put his finger on his lip,
entreating her silence.

So she went on, without seeming to see him. But she wondered what his
aunt would say after the dance was over.

Indeed, the funny side of the situation struck her so forcibly that she
unconsciously smiled broadly at her own thoughts.

"That's right," said Mrs. Van Reypen, as the dancing and music both came
to an end; "I am glad to see you smile as you dance. I have seen some
dancers who look positively agonised as they do difficult steps."

Patty smiled again, remembering that she had had a reason to smile as she
danced, and she wondered why Philip didn't appear.

But he didn't, and, except that she had seen him so clearly in the
mirror, and he had asked her, silently but unmistakably, not to divulge
the fact of his presence, she would have thought she only imagined him
there in the doorway.

"You dance wonderfully well," went on Mrs. Van Reypen. "You have had very
good training. I shall be glad to have you dance for me often. But--and
please remember this--never when any one else is here. I wish you to
dance for me only. If I have guests, or if my nephew is here, you are not
to dance."

This was almost too much for Patty's gravity. For she well knew the old
lady was foolishly alarmed lest her nephew should fall in love with a
humble "companion," and, knowing that the said nephew had gleefully
watched the dance, it was difficult not to show her amusement.

But she only said, "I will remember, Mrs. Van Reypen." She couldn't tell
of the intruder after his frantic appeal to her for silence, so she
determined to ignore the episode.

"Now, you may do as you like until luncheon time," said Mrs. Van Reypen,
"for I shall go t