“Oh, the car! The girl next door isn’t a little beauty! Well, that is, I suppose she is good-looking in her own way, but——”
“But you don’t like her, isn’t that it?” and Elise smiled at her own intuition.
“No, I don’t like her,” declared Patty, honestly; “but I’m trying to. I’ll tell you all about it some other time, and, anyway, you’ll probably see her for yourself while you’re here. This is her home we’re passing now.”
“Gorgeous place,” said Elise, as she looked at the imposing “Red Chimneys.” “But I like this next place better. This big white house is lovely.”
“Good for you, Elise! This is ‘The Pebbles,’ and your own destination.”
Patty turned into the drive, and stopped at the broad steps of the front veranda. Nan was there to welcome them, and the two girls sprang out as Miller appeared to take the car away.
“Roger will be here soon!” exclaimed Patty, while Nan greeted Elise warmly. “He’s coming over in the stage, and he’ll bring the luggage. Come on, Elise, I’ll show you your room.”
The two girls went off, and Patty took Elise to one of the pretty guest rooms. They stayed there chatting until Elise’s trunk came, and then Patty declared she must run down and entertain Roger, while Elise unpacked her things.
She found the boy still on the front veranda talking to Nan, with whom he was a great favourite. Indeed, all Patty’s boy friends were favourites with Nan, and she was so charming and attractive herself that they all liked to chat with her.
Kenneth Harper she looked upon as her especial protégé, for he was alone in the city; and Mr. Hepworth, of course, was one of her old friends.