or two. May I have
one of those?"

"Oh, I never arrange those in advance," said Patty. "My partners take
their chances on those. But I'll give you half of this dance," and she
calmly cut in two the one dance against which Philip Van Reypen had
set his aristocratic initials.

Then the dancing began, and what with the fine music, the perfect
floor, and usually good partners, Patty enjoyed herself thoroughly.
She loved dancing, and being accomplished in all sorts of fancy
dances, could learn any new or intricate steps in a moment.

After a few dances she found herself whirling about the room with
Roger, and she determined to carry out her plan of reconciling him and
Mona. Mr. Lansing was not at the dance, for Elise had positively
declined to invite him; and so, though Mona was there, she was rather
cool to Elise, and favoured Roger only with a distant bow as a
greeting.

"You and Mona are acting like two silly idiots," was Patty's somewhat
definite manner of beginning her conversation.

"You think so?" said Roger, as he guided her skilfully round another
couple who were madly dashing toward them.

"Yes, I do. And, Roger, I want you to take my advice and make up with
her."

"I've nothing to make up."

"Yes, you have, too. You and Mona are good friends, or have been, and
there's no reason why you should act as you do."

"There's a very good reason; and he has most objectionable manners,"
declared Roger, looking sulky.

"I don't like his manners, either; but I tell you honestly, Roger,
you're going about it the wrong way. I know Mona awfully well,--better
than you do. And she's proud-spirited, and even a little contrary, and
if you act as you do toward her, you simply throw her into the arms of
that objectionable-mannered man!"

"Good Heavens, Patty, what a speech!"

"Well, of course, I don't mean literally, but if you won't speak to
her at all, on account of Mr. Lansing, why of course she's going to
feel just piqued enough to smile on him all the more. Can't you
understand that?"

"Let her!" growled Roger.

"No, we won't let her,--any such thing! I don't like that man a bit
better than you do, but do you suppose I'm going to show it by being
unkind and mean to Mona? That's not tactful."

"I don't want to be tactful. I want him to let her alone."

"Well, you can't make him do that, unless you shoot him; and that
means a lot of bother all round."

"It might be worth the bother."

"Don't talk nonsense