“Well, I can’t! Now, look here, Patty. You know how much I care for you, but I won’t have you talking to me like a Dutch Aunt. I made father bring me to New York this winter, so I could be near you, and we could have fun together. But, if you’re going to scold me all the time, we won’t have any fun at all.”
Patty began to realise that, though Mona might be coaxed, she could never be driven. So she concluded to drop the subject, and use more thought and tact in her endeavours to break up Mona’s new friendship.
And then Clementine Morse came, so the matter had to be laid aside.
“Is Jenny here?” asked Clementine, as she tossed off her furs.
“My guest, Jenny Bisbee. She’s the ribbon girl I told you about. I had the greatest time to get her off for the afternoon. I had to go to Walker’s, you know, and see all sorts of Heads of Departments. My! they acted like Crowned Heads! They said it wouldn’t do at all,—it would establish a precedent,—and all sorts of things like that. But, somehow or other, I wheedled them into it, and at last they said Jenny might come. She was just crazy about it. She said, she never has any fun in her life, except looking at the new ribbons when they come in! Oh, girls, isn’t it awful never to have any fun? I expect Jenny will be embarrassed, but I’m sure she’ll enjoy it all. Oh, how lovely the table looks! Mona, you are a wonder! I never should have thought of all those Christmas fixings.”
“I’m glad you like them. Say, Clementine, don’t you think it would be nice to have men members in our club?”
“Why, I don’t know. No, I guess not, though my brother Clifford says it’s a great game, and he’d like to help us.”
“Yes, and I know another man who wants to help,” said Mona, eagerly, when Clementine interrupted her.
“I hope it isn’t that strange being you brought to Patty’s party! Wherever did you pick up that freak, Mona?”