s pleasantly and
happily as with those she liked better.

Roger grumbled at this.

"You're wasted on a fellow like Harry Barr," he said, as he and Patty
started for a turn. "He dances like a grain-thresher, and yet you bob
along with him as smilingly as if you were dancing with a decent
tripper."

"Why not?" returned Patty; "he's pleasant and kind. He doesn't _talk_
like a grain-thresher, and he can't help his dancing. Or rather, his lack
of it, for you can't call those gymnastics of his dancing. Oh, Roger,
there's Mr. Hepworth!"

Sure enough, Mr. Hepworth had just come in, and as Patty spoke, he caught
her eye and smiled.

She smiled back, and when the dance was over asked Roger to take her to
him.

"Old Hepworth?" said Roger, in surprise. "You can't waste time on him,
Patty; your dance card is full, you know."

"I don't care, I must just speak to him. I haven't seen him since I came
home. Whoever belongs to my next dance can wait a few minutes."

"All right; come on, then." Roger led her across the room, and with a
smiling face, and in tones of glad welcome, she said:

"Oh, Mr. Hepworth, how do you do?"

"Patty!" he exclaimed, taking her hands in his. "I'm so glad to see you
again."

There was a thrill in his voice that startled her, but she only said,
"And so am I glad to see you. Why haven't you been to call on me?"

"I've just returned from a Southern trip. Only reached New York
to-night,--and here I am."

"Here I am, too, but I can't talk to you now. My programme is full, and I
make it a point always to keep my engagements."

"Not one dance left?" said Mr. Hepworth, looking over the scribbled card.

"Not one! I'm so sorry,--but, of course, I didn't know you were coming."

"Of course not. Run along now, and enjoy yourself, and I'll call on you,
if I may, some time when you are at home."

"Yes, do," said Patty, realising that Mr. Hepworth was the same kind,
thoughtful friend he had always been.

"I wonder why I'm so glad to see him," she thought to herself, as she
walked away with her new partner; "but I am, all the same."

CHAPTER VI

A FAIR PROPOSITION

It was on the afternoon of New Year's Day that Mr. Hepworth came to call
on Patty. She was at home again, having returned from her visit to Elise
a few days after Christmas.

"You know I am old-fashioned," he said, as he greeted the Fairfield
family, and joined their circle round the library fire. "But I don't
suppose you thoug