Then Mrs. Van Reypen dismissed her, saying:
“Go to your room now, my dear, and occupy yourself as you choose until dinner-time. Dinner is at seven. There will be no guests, but you will wear a light, pretty gown, if you please. I am punctilious in such matters.”
Patty went to her room, greatly pleased with the turn events had taken. She wished she could telephone home how pleasantly she was getting along; but she thought wiser not to do that so soon.
As it neared dinner-time, she put on one of her prettiest dresses, a light blue chiffon, with a touch of silver embroidery round the half-low throat and short sleeves.
A few minutes before seven, she went slowly down the dark, old staircase, with its massive newels and balusters.
As she reached the middle steps, she observed an attractive, but bored-looking young man in the hall.
He had not noticed her light steps, and Patty paused a moment to look at him. As she stood, wondering who he might be, he chanced to turn, and saw her.
The young man ran his eyes swiftly, from the cloud of blue chiffon, up to the smiling face, with its crown of massed golden hair, which a saucy bow of blue ribbon did its best to hold in place.
His face promptly lost its bored expression, and with his hands still in his pockets, he involuntarily breathed a long, low whistle.
The sound seemed to bring back his lost wits, and quickly drawing his hands into view, he stepped forward, saying: