Everybody laughed when a tall, serious-faced girl responded:
"I guess I am that, myself!"
It was toward the last that Clifford Morse asked:
"Who's the dearest girl I know?"
and as Patty's line rhymed, she said, demurely:
"Guess I am,—if YOU think so!"
"I'm in luck," said Clifford, as he led her to the dance. "You're such a belle, Patty Fairfield, that I seldom get a whole dance with you."
"Faint heart never won fair lady," laughed Patty, shaking her fan at him. "I always accept invitations."
"Accept mine, then, for the next dance," said Philip Van Reypen, who overheard her words as he was passing.
"No programmes to-night," returned Patty, smiling at him. "Ask me at dance time."