Jack Pennington asked Patty for the first dance, and, a little to his surprise, she graciously granted it. He had hardly hoped for this honour, but he didn’t know that Patty had planned it thus in order to avoid selecting one of her house party in preference to the others. So she danced with Jack Pennington, and afterward, as they sauntered out on the veranda, all the other men clustered around Patty, begging for dances, until her programme was full, and many of the dances had been divided. Of course, as Patty was hostess, she would naturally receive much attention, but her own merry and charming personality made her easily the most popular girl present, though the others were almost equally so. Handsome Elise was a general favourite, and Christine’s delicate Southern beauty attracted many admirers.
Mona was resplendent in bright pink silk, elaborately ornamented. She wore too many jewels, as always, but her whole-souled, good-tempered gaiety, and her hearty enjoyment of the occasion, made her attractive to many.
After a dance with Philip, Patty and he wandered out on to the veranda, and sat for a moment on the railing.
“Beautiful show, Patty,” he said; “one of the prettiest parties I ever saw. These lanterns are gorgeous. Why don’t you keep them here all the time? Sets off the house wonderfully. Come down on the lawn for a little stroll.”
“I’m afraid you’ll kidnap me,” said Patty, mischievously.
“No; honest I won’t. Though I’d like to. Say, let’s get Camilla out, and go for a little spin. Will you?”
“Indeed, I won’t! We got out of that other scrape pretty well. But I’m not going to take any chances again! Beside, the next dance is Kenneth’s. I’d better get back where he can find me.”
“Oh, he’ll hunt you up, all right! Hello! Who’s this?”
Some one came running toward them through the semi-darkness. It was Mona, out of breath and laughing. “Hide me!” she cried. “Hide me! I’m running away from Roger!”
“How extraordinary,” laughed Patty. “You are a coquettish young thing, aren’t you, Mona?”