She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen’s attitude toward her.
However, it couldn’t be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.
She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.
She played the piano and sang a little, then she wandered about the large and lonely rooms. Patty was a sociable creature, and had never before spent an evening entirely alone, unless when engaged in some important and engrossing work.
But after a while the telephone rang, and when the parlour-maid told her the call was for her she flew to the instrument with glad anticipation.
“Hello!” she cried, and “Hello!” returned a familiar voice.
“Oh, Ken! of all people. How did you know I was here?”
“Oh, I found it out! How are you? May I come to see you?”
“No, indeed! I’m a companion. I’m not expected to have callers. But I’m glad to talk to you this way. I’m alone in the house, except for the servants.”
“Alone! Then let me come up for a few minutes, and chat.”