“All right, Patty, I’ll do all I can to make it pleasant for you. But, you know, we have only four guest rooms. How big did you mean your house party to be?”
“Well, of course the two Farringtons and Christine and Kenneth would be about all we could accommodate. Then I thought, if Mr. Hepworth and Mr. Van Reypen cared to come, they could stay at the hotel.”
“It doesn’t seem very hospitable to invite them that way,” said Nan, demurring.
“Then they’ll have to stay home,” said Patty, cheerfully, “for, as you say, we have only the four rooms to give them. I thought our house was large, but it doesn’t seem so when you begin to invite guests.”
“Well, we’ll see about it,” said Nan.
CHAPTER X
THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD
That evening they discussed the project with Mr. Fairfield.
“I heartily approve of the plan,” he said. “It’s time we had some young life down here to stir Patty up. She’s getting too sentimental from gazing at the sea and sky. And I think it will be quite all right to invite two of the men to lodge at the hotel. They can come over here for all their meals, and so they will practically be part of the house party. But, Patty, are you sure you want this house party for several days? You may find it more of a burden than you think, to entertain guests so long.”
“Oh, they’re not formal guests; it’s just a young people’s frolic. We’ll go motoring and swimming and picnicking just as we like. But, of course, on my birthday I shall have a party,—a real party.”