" and Patty smiled, as Daisy said a somewhat abrupt
good-night, and went away.

There were still a few embers of a wood fire glowing on the hearth,
and Patty sat down before it in a big arm-chair.

"I don't know why I'm so glad," she said to herself, her weariness all
gone now. "But I did feel neglected to have Little Billee send the
other girls cards, and leave me out. I'd like to see it; I hardly
glanced at theirs,--though I remember, they weren't very pretty. I'd
like to see Little Billee again, but I don't suppose I ever shall.
Well, there are plenty of other nice boys in the world, so it doesn't
matter much. All the same, I'd like to see that card. I believe I'll
go down and get it. There's always a low light in the hall, and I can
feel it between the books."

Patty hesitated for some time, but finally her impatience or curiosity
got the better of her, and she softly opened her door and peeped out.
There were low lights in the halls, and as she listened over the
banister and heard no sounds, Patty began to creep softly down the
stairs. Her trailing robe of light blue crepe de chine was edged with
swansdown, and she drew it about her, as she noiselessly tiptoed along
in her slippered feet.

The hall light shone dimly into the library, through which Patty could
see a brighter light in the smoking-room beyond. She listened a
moment, but hearing no voices, concluded she could creep into the
library, capture her card, and return undiscovered.

"And, anyway," she thought to herself, "there can't be anybody in the
smoking-room, or I would hear them talking."

It was easy to proceed without a sound by stepping softly along the
thick rugs, and as Patty knew exactly where the cyclopaedias were
shelved, she made straight for that bookcase. It was next to the
smoking-room doorway, and as Patty reached it, she peeped around the
portiere to make sure that the next room was unoccupied.

But to her surprise, she saw Philip Van Reypen stretched out in a big
arm-chair in front of the fire. His eyes were closed, but Patty saw he
was not asleep, as he was slowly smoking a cigar. Patty saw him
sidewise, and she stood for a second contemplating the handsome
profile and the fine physique of the man, who looked especially
graceful in his careless and unconscious position.

Almost holding her breath, lest he should hear her, Patty moved
noiselessly to the shelves, being then out of sight behind a
portiere.

By slow, careful mov