Quick-witted Patty chose just the tone that she knew would irritate him. “Certainly, Mr. Van Reypen,” she said, carelessly, and as she handed him her card, she turned to smile at another man who was just coming to speak to her. When Philip handed back her card, she took it without looking at it, or at him, and handed it to Mr. Drayton, seemingly greatly interested in what dances he might select.
Van Reypen looked at her a moment in amazement. He had intended to be cool toward her, but the tables were turned, and she was decidedly cool toward him.
However, his look of surprise was not lost upon Miss Patricia Fairfield, who saw him out of the corner of her eye, even though she was apparently engrossed with Mr. Drayton.
And then, as usual, Patty was besieged by several men at once, all begging for dances, and her card was quickly filled.
“What can I do with so many suitors?” she cried, raising her hands in pretty bewilderment, as her card was passed from one to another. “Don’t take all the dances, please; I want to save some for my special favourites.”
“Meaning me?” said Kenneth Harper, who had just joined the group in time to hear Patty’s remark.
“You, for one,” said Patty, smiling on him, “but there are seventeen others.”
“I’m two or three of the seventeen,” said Roger, gaining possession of the card. “May I have three, Patty?”
One look flashed from Roger’s dark eyes to Patty’s blue ones, and in that glance their foolish little quarrel was forgiven and forgotten.
Roger had a big, generous nature, and so had Patty, and with a smile they were good friends again.