The girls sat sipping tea and eating crumpets, and Patty began to think that Mona was not nearly as unlikable as she had thought. Her shortcomings were more those of an impulsive and untrained nature than any more serious faults. She was well educated and well read, and Patty found that they had many favourite books and authors in common. But she was pushing, and she continually asserted her intention of being Patty’s intimate friend, until Patty lost her patience and broke out, rather sharply.
“Look here, Mona,” she said, “I like you, or at least I think I’m going to like you, but I won’t be pushed or pulled into a friendship so suddenly. You don’t know me at all, but once in a while I have a way of speaking my mind right straight out, and I tell you frankly that, if you want to be friends with me, you’ll upset the whole kettle of fish by rushing it too hard!”
Mona looked utterly amazed. “What are you talking about?” she said. “Do you call me pushing?”
“I do that!” declared Patty; “just exactly that! and you know it as well as I do! I shouldn’t talk to anybody like this on such short acquaintance, but you brought it on yourself, and, if you want to get angry, you may!”
“Angry!” echoed Mona. “Why, I like you all the better for such straightforward talk! I’m sorry I seem pushing, but,—well,—‘you brought it on yourself’!”
Patty had to laugh at this, for it was really a subtle compliment to her own attractiveness. Also, she decided she could do little by scolding Mona. So she began to talk of other things, leaving the question of friendship to be settled some other time.
Soon they started homeward again, for, as Patty explained to her guest, she was under promise to get home before dark.
“How beautifully your car runs,” said Mona, as they skimmed smoothly along. “Do you never have an accident?”
“Nothing of any account,” returned Patty, and then she told Mona of the day when her wheels got stuck in the sand. “But I have never had anything more serious than that,” she went on, “and I hope I never shall. Have you never run a car yourself?”
“No, it never occurred to me to do so. We have several cars, of course, and lots of chauffeurs and grooms, but only since I’ve seen you in your car have I thought of driving one myself. But I’m going to; I’ve already asked father to get me one exactly like this.”