But Miss Galbraith was not so easily baffled. “Oh, are you like that?” she said. “Now I’m just the opposite! I know at once if I like anybody, and I do like you, and so I’m going to call you Patty. Of course, if you’re so cautious about making friends, you’ll have to adopt me more slowly. But I’ll warrant it won’t be long before you’ll call me Mona in spite of yourself. And you, too, Mrs. Fairfield,” she added, turning to Nan.
Patty gasped, for she almost thought the forward girl was going to call Nan by her first name, but Mona did not go quite so far as that.
“You have a beautiful home here,” said Nan, in order to change the subject. “Have you lived here long?”
“This is the fourth summer,” said Mona; “my father built it, and he said he didn’t care what it cost, if only it was the most expensive house at Spring Beach.”
“I fancy he achieved his desire,” said Nan, politely.
“Oh, yes, indeed! There’s no other house been put up yet that cost nearly as much, and I don’t believe there will be.”
“Probably not,” said Patty. “But it seems large for only two of you.”
“Yes, but we have a great many servants; and, then, we like to have company. We invite a great deal of company, though they don’t always come. It’s strange how few people enjoy the seashore.”
Patty privately thought that there might be other reasons for the guests’ refusals than a dislike for the seashore, but she only said, “Yes, I like to have company, too; but I’m never lonely, even if I’m entirely alone.”
“Yes, I can see that’s your disposition,—sunshiny and sweet always. Oh, I’m so glad you’ve come to Spring Beach! I’ve wanted just such a friend.”