At Red Chimneys, several young people were playing tennis, but Patty called Mona to her and told her briefly of the plan.
“Glorious!” cried Mona. “If it were not for that old Tea, we could go right along now. But we’ll come tomorrow. Where shall we meet you?”
Quickly Farnsworth told her, and then turned to see his old friend, Channing.
“Chick, old boy!” he cried. “My, but it’s good to see you again!”
Channing was presented to Patty, who looked at him in amazement. He was the biggest man she had ever seen, even taller than Bill Farnsworth. He looked enormously strong, and when he smiled, his large mouth parted to show two rows of big, white, even teeth, that somehow made Patty feel like Red Ridinghood before the wolf. But there was little time for getting acquainted, for it was almost train time.
A few words between the two men as to meeting next day, and then the motor flew to the station.
And only just in time, for though Bill handed Patty on to the steps with care, he had to scramble up himself as the train was about to start.
“How do you like eloping?” he said, smilingly, as they rolled away.
“Fine,” said Patty, dimpling, “but must it always be done in quite such a hurry?”
“Not always; next time we’ll take it easier. Now, let’s make a list of our house guests.”