Patty stepped out from the doorway and smiled at her visitor.
"All right, Elise," she said, "you may. I'll send out your dinner, and you can sleep here, too, if you like."
"No, I'll come in for my board and lodging, but all the rest of the time look for me here! I'm going to have some lavender frocks made,—dimities and organdies, and then I'll be part of the picture."
"Oh, do! I can't wear lavender or purple," Patty sighed.
"Nonsense! Of course you can. You only mean you've never tried. That bisque doll complexion of yours will stand any color. Let's both get wisteria-coloured frocks, and—"
Elise's plans were interrupted by the appearance of Farnsworth and two men who had arrived for the house party. These were our old friends, Philip Van Reypen and Chickering Channing.
Still a devoted admirer of pretty Patty, Van Reypen had become reconciled to his fate, and moreover had discovered his ability to take pleasure in the society of other charming young women.
Channing was the same old merry Chick, and he was exuberant in his praise of the beautiful home of the Farnsworths which he now saw for the first time.
"Great little old place!" he exclaimed, enthusiastically. "But why such an enormousness? Are you going to keep boarders?"
"Yes, if you'll stay," laughed Patty. "But, you see it was a bargain,—so we snapped it up."