y
Chase said that Nancy's dancing was "simply lovely."

"Well, I never did see a girl dance like that," said Betty.

"Well, she _ought_ to dance. She's had enough training, besides she used
to dance on the stage. Who couldn't dance if they had a chance like
that?"

"A whole lot of people couldn't," said Betty, sharply. "_I_ couldn't for
one, and I guess there are a few others."

"Do you mean me?" Patricia asked, sharply, her eyes flashing.

"I mean any one silly enough to say that Nancy's dancing was anything
but wonderful," Betty said, and she turned to Valerie, leaving Patricia
to talk to herself, or to no one, if she chose.

Patricia had hoped to lessen interest in Nancy, but what she had said
had had an opposite effect.

It had increased their already lively interest to such an extent that
many who had not yet met her were wild to know her, and those who
already were her friends were eager to question her as to her career.
They longed to hear all about her training, her first appearance at the
theater, and countless questions they wanted to ask her. Patricia had
made Nancy more popular than before.

CHAPTER VIII

A BIT OF SPITE

For several days Patricia was so busy thinking, that Arabella felt
rather lonely. Arabella had been writing a letter to her Aunt Matilda,
and endeavoring to answer all the questions that that peculiar woman had
asked. It had occupied her spare time for two days, and was not yet
ready to mail.

"O dear!" sighed Arabella, "I don't like to write letters."

"Don't write them," Patricia advised.

"Why, Patricia Levine! You know if I didn't answer Aunt Matilda's letter
she'd pack her suit-case, and come right here!"

"Good gracious! Hurry up and finish it," cried Patricia. "I wouldn't
want her coming here."

"I've got a cold, so I couldn't go out to mail it," drawled Arabella.

"Don't let that stop you," cried Patricia, "for I'll gladly go out to
mail it for you, if it'll keep your Aunt Matilda away."

Later, when Patricia went down the hall on the way to post the letter,
she saw that Dorothy's door was slightly ajar. Of course Patricia's
sharp eyes saw it, and, because she never could resist the temptation to
listen, where she might hear something not intended for her ears, she
paused.

Nancy was speaking of the man that she had seen standing at the edge of
the forest, on the day of the sleigh-ride. Again she told Dorothy how it
had frightened her, adding:

"He l