e on Monday night,
but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly
regretted her decision.

She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been
foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening
reading in the library.

She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and
her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many
house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to
overhear her.

She played the piano and sang a little, then she wandered about the large
and lonely rooms. Patty was a sociable creature, and had never before
spent an evening entirely alone, unless when engaged in some important
and engrossing work.

But after a while the telephone rang, and when the parlour-maid told her
the call was for her she flew to the instrument with glad anticipation.

"Hello!" she cried, and "Hello!" returned a familiar voice.

"Oh, Ken! of all people. How _did_ you know I was here?"

"Oh, I found it out! How are you? May I come to see you?"

"No, indeed! I'm a companion. I'm not expected to have callers. But I'm
glad to talk to you this way. I'm alone in the house, except for the
servants."

"Alone! Then let me come up for a few minutes, and chat."

"No; Mrs. Van Reypen wouldn't like it, I'm sure. But, oh, Ken, I'm making
good this time! On Thursday the week will be up, and I'll get my fifteen
dollars. Isn't that gay?"

"You're a plucky girl, Patty, and I congratulate you. Is it very horrid?"

"No, it isn't exactly horrid, but I'm fearfully homesick. But it's only
three more days now, and won't I be glad to get home!"

"And we'll be glad to have you. The goldfish are dull and moping, and we
all want our Patty back again."

"That's nice of you. But, Ken, how did you know where to find me? I made
Nan and father promise not to tell."

"Well, I may as well confess: I basely worried it out of Miller. I asked
him where he took you to last Thursday afternoon."

"Oh! I meant to tell him not to tell, but I forgot it. Well, it doesn't
matter much, as you chanced to strike a time when I'm alone. But don't
call me up again. I'm not supposed to have any social acquaintances."

"Good for you, Patty! If you play the game, play it well. I expect you're
a prim, demure companion as ever was."

"Of course I am. And if the lady didn't have s