s hungry and that's what made me tired!
Oh, hello, Mona! Did you get leave of absence, too?"

"Yes; the mad rush is pretty much over. Only a few late stragglers
now, and Elise is floating them. Here's Roger. He says you wouldn't
speak to him this afternoon, except to say, 'oh, thank you!' three
times."

"I couldn't help it," returned Patty, laughing. "That's all I said to
anybody. I felt like a rubber stamp--repeating myself. Well, thank
goodness, I'm out!"

"But you're not a bit more grown up than when you were in," said
Kenneth, joining the group around Patty.

"Oh, pshaw, I'm never going to be grown up. Now I'm rested, Philip;
please take me back to Nan. She said we must return soon."

So Patty went back to the drawing-room, and insisted that her
stepmother should go for a little refreshment. "I can hold the fort
alone now," she said; "you've no idea how capable I am, now that I'm
really out. Run along, Nan, and get some of those sandwiches; they're
awfully good."

"It isn't romantic, Patty, to think about eating when you're
celebrating an occasion like this," reproved Philip.

"Well, I'm not romantic," declared Patty, "and I never expect to be.
Oh, how do you do, Mr. Galbraith? It's so late, I feared you weren't
coming." And Patty held out her hand to Mona's father.

"How d'y'do, Patty?" And Mr. Galbraith shook hands heartily. "I
suppose I ought to say all sorts of pretty things to you, but you
know, I'm not much up in social chat."

"I'm glad of it," said Patty, "and then I won't have to say, 'oh,
thank you!' to you. Mona is looking beautiful this afternoon, isn't
she?"

"She's a fine girl--a fine girl." Mr. Galbraith's eyes rested on his
daughter a little thoughtfully. He was a Chicago man, who had made his
fortune suddenly, and was a little bewildered at his own success. His
one interest in life, outside of business matters, was his daughter
Mona, for whom he desired every possible good, and to whose wishes and
whims he always willingly consented.

At her request, he had closed his Chicago home and come to spend the
winter in New York, that Mona might be near Patty, whom she adored.
The Galbraiths were living for the winter at the Plaza Hotel, and
Patty, who had grown fond of Mona, was glad to have her friend so near
her.

"She's a fine girl," Mr. Galbraith repeated, "and a good-looking
girl." He paused a moment, and then added in a sudden burst of
confidence, "but, Patty, I wish she had a mother