e had a
shower, so Mona wants one, and I'm going to give it for her."

"All right. What kind?"

"Dunno yet, but something strikingly novel and original. I shall set
my great intellect to work on it at once, and invite the people by
notes from here, before I go back to New York."

"All right, my lady, but if you don't get to bed now, you'll be pale
and holler-eyed tomorrow, and that will upset your placid vanity."

"Wretch! As if I had a glimmer of a trace of a vestige of that deadly
sin!"

The girls were very busy during the last few days of Patty's stay in
Lakewood. There were many matters to attend to in connection with the
approaching wedding. Also, Patty had become a favourite in the social
circle and many parties were made especially for her.

And the day before their departure, Elise gave a little farewell tea,
to which were bidden only the people Patty liked best.

The Blaneys were there, and, capturing Patty, Sam took her from the
laughing crowd and led her to a secluded alcove of the veranda. It was
a pleasant nook, enclosed with glass panes, and filled with ferns and
palms.

"Sit thee down," said Blaney, arranging a few cushions in a long low
wicker chair.

"I'm glad to," and Patty dropped into the seat. "I do think teas are
the limit for tiring people out."

"You oughtn't to waste yourself on teas. It's a crime," and Blaney
looked positively indignant.

"What would be the proper caper for my indefatigable energy?"

"You oughtn't to be energetic at all. For you, just to _be_, is
enough."

"Not much it isn't! Why, if I just be'd, and didn't do anything else,
I should die of that extreme bored feeling. And, it isn't like you to
recommend such an existence, anyway."

"I shouldn't for any one else. But you, oh, my lily-fair girl, you are
so beautiful, so peerless----"

"Good gracious, Mr. Blaney, what has come over you?" Patty sat up
straight, in dismay, for she had no intention of being talked to in
that vein by Sam Blaney.

"The spell of your presence," he replied; "the spell of your
beauty,--your charm, your----"

"Please don't," said Patty, "please don't talk to me like that! I
don't like it."

"No? Then of course I'll stop. But the spell remains. The witchery
of your face, your voice----"

"There you go again! You promised to stop."

"How can I, with you as inspiration? My soul expands,--my heart beats
in lilting rhythms, you seem to me a flame goddess----"

"Ju