"He wasn't. He's coming on on purpose for the event. I wanted him especially. At least, Mona did."
"All the same," said Mona. "Oh, yes, of course I wanted Big Bill here.
We've been friends for years, and he must dance at my wedding."
It was the first time Patty had seen Van Reypen since her return from Lakewood, and, during the evening, he drew her away from the others and leading her to the semi-privacy of a big davenport in the library, he announced he was going to talk to her.
"Talk away," said Patty, "but I warn you, I've no time or attention for anything not connected with wedding bells."
"But this is connected with wedding bells," and Philip's dark eyes smiled into her own, "only, not Mona's chimes. Our own."
"Don't, Phil," said Patty, gently, noting his serious look and tone. "I've got four days yet till the fifteenth, and,—oh, pshaw, I might as well tell you now, that I'm not going to be engaged to you."
"Patty!" and Van Reypen's face went white. "You don't mean that."
"Yes, I do. I've had so much wedding doings for Mona, I'm sick and tired of it. I don't want to be engaged myself, or hear of anybody else being engaged, until I forget all about all this fuss and feathers."
"There does seem to be an awful lot of fussy feathers, or whatever you call it, about the affair, doesn't there?"
"Yes; and I'm glad to do all I can for Mona. I'm enjoying it, too, but
I don't want any wedding of my own for years and years and years."