“That sounds a little complicated, Patty, but I’m sure you mean it as a compliment, so I’ll take it as such.”
A little before eight o’clock, Patty, in her shimmering gown, went dancing downstairs.
The rooms were already crowded with guests, and the first familiar face Patty saw was that of Mr. Hepworth, who came toward her with a glad smile of greeting.
“How grown-up we are looking to-night,” he said. “I shall have to paint your portrait all over again, and you must wear that gown, and we will call it, ‘A Moonlight Sonata,’ and send it to the exhibition.”
“That will be lovely!” exclaimed Patty; “but can you paint silver?”
“Well, I could try to get a silvery effect, at least.”
“That wouldn’t do; it must be the real thing. I think you could only get it right by using aluminum paint like they paint the letter-boxes with.”
“Yes,” said Mr. Hepworth, “that would be realistic, at least, but I see a crowd of your young friends coming this way, and I feel quite sure they mean to carry you off. So won’t you promise me a dance or two, when the time comes for that part of the programme?”
“Yes, indeed,” said Patty, “and there is going to be dancing after the supper.”
Mr. Hepworth looked after Patty, as, all unconscious of his gaze, she went on through the rooms with the young friends who had claimed her.