Patty's Social Season by Carolyn Wells

At eight o'clock that same evening, Patty came down to her own dinner / party. An hour's rest had freshened her up wonderfully, and she had / changed her little white frock for a dinner gown of pale green / chiffon, sparkling with silver embroidery. It trailed behind her in a / most grown-up fashion, and she entered the drawing-room with an / exaggerated air of dignity.

"Huh," cried Roger; "look at grown-up Patty! Isn't she the haughty / lady? Patty, if you put on such airs, you'll be old before your time!"

"Airs, nothing! " retorted Patty, and with a skipping little dance / step, she crossed the room, picked up a sofa pillow, and aimed it / deftly at Roger, who caught it on the wing.

"That's better," he said. "We can't have any of these _grande dame_ / airs. Now, who is the lucky man who is to take you out to dinner? Me?"

"No, not you," and Patty looked at him, critically; "you won't do, and / neither will Kenneth, nor Phil Van Reypen, nor Mr. Hepworth. " She / looked at them each in turn, and smiled so merrily that they could take / no offence. "I think," she said, "I shall select the best-looking and / best-natured gentleman, and walk out with him. " Whereupon she tucked / her arm through her father's, and led the way to the dining-room, / followed by the rest of the merry crowd.

The dinner was a beautiful one, for Nan had spared no pains or thought / to make it worthy of the occasion. At the girls' places were beautiful / souvenirs, in the shape of fans of carved ivory with lace mounts, / while the men received attractive stick-pins.

"Shall you feel like dancing after all this gaiety, Patty? " asked Van / Reypen.

"Well, rather! " declared Patty. "Why, I'd feel like dancing if I'd / been through a -- civil war! I could scarcely keep still when the / orchestra was playing this afternoon, and I'm crazy for to-night's / dance to begin."

"Frivolous young person, very," murmured Philip. "Never saw such / devotion to the vain follies of life! However, since you're determined / to dance, will you honour me with the first one to-night?"

"Why, I don't mind, if you don't," said Patty, dimpling at him.

"And give me the second," said Kenneth and Roger simultaneously.

"I can't do these sums in my head," said Patty; "I'll get all mixed / up. Let's wait till we get our dance orders, and fill them up, hit or / miss."

"You be the miss and I'll try to make a hit," said Philip.

"What waggery! " exclaimed Patty, shaking her head. "If you're too / clever, Philip, I can't dance with you. When I dance, I keep my mind / on my feet, not on my head."

"That explains your good dancing," said Mr. Hepworth, laughing. / "Perhaps, if I could keep my mind on my feet, I could dance better."

"Oh, you're too highminded for such low levels," laughed Patty, while / Mona, who was rather practical, said, seriously, "Do you really think / about your feet all the time you're dancing, Patty?"

"No," returned Patty; "sometimes I have to think about my partner's / feet, to keep out of the way of them."

When they returned to the drawing-room, they found it had been cleared / for the dance, and soon the evening guests began to arrive.

Patty again stood by Nan to receive them, and after greeting many / people she knew, she was surprised to find herself confronted by a / stranger. He was a thick-set, stockily-built man, several years older / than most of Patty's friends. He had black hair and eyes and a short / black moustache and a round, heavy type of face. His black eyes were / of the audacious sort, and he flashed a glance of admiration at Patty. / Before she could speak, or even offer her hand, Mona sprang forward, / saying, "Patty, this is my friend Mr. Lansing. I took the liberty of / inviting him to your dance. Mrs. Fairfield, may I present Mr. / Lansing?"

Patty was angry. This, of course, must be the man of whom Mr. / Galbraith had spoken, and, aside from the fact that he seemed / undesirable, Patty felt that Mona had no right to invite him without / asking permission from her hostess.