The recollection of that supper in the pantry was too much for her, and she burst into laughter.
“What is the matter with you, Patty?” said Adèle. “You’re acting like a harmless lunatic! However, I’m sent to tell you to hop up and get dressed, for one of your admirers below stairs wants you to go for a sleighride with him.”
“Jim?” asked Patty, looking up with a smile.
“No; Mr. Van Reypen.”
“Oh, good gracious! I don’t care about going riding with Philip; I can see him in New York. I hoped it was Hal,—that’s why I said Jim.”
“Patty,” said her hostess, “you’re a born coquette, and always will be! But your wiles are wasted on me. Save them for your suitors. But, truly, Mr. Van Reypen is going on an errand for me, and he said that he wanted to show you some little attention while he was here, and he guessed he’d let you go along with him in the cutter.”
“Oh, a cutter ride,” and Patty began to scramble out of bed. “That sounds rather good fun. But I’d rather go with Hal.”
“Well, you’re candid, at any rate,” said Daisy. “But as it happens, Hal and I are going to practise some music this morning.”
“Oh, in that case, I’ve nothing more to say.” And Patty smiled good-naturedly at Daisy. “And I suppose Mona and Roger are going somewhere to play by themselves.”
“Nothing of the sort,” said Mona. “Roger’s going back to the city this morning, and I’m going to write letters.”