“Oh, Roger!” cried Patty, and she grasped his hand and showed unfeigned gladness at seeing him.  Patty was devoted to her friends, and Roger was one of her schoolday chums.  Mona came forward and greeted the new guest, and introduced him to the strangers.

“Isn’t this just too downright jolly!” Roger exclaimed, as he looked at the sea and shore, and then brought his gaze back to the merry group on the veranda.  “Haven’t you any chaperon person?  Or are we all kids together?”

“We have two chaperons,” announced Patty, proudly.  “One, you may see, just down that rose path.  The lady in trailing lavender is our house chaperon, Mrs. Parsons.  The impressive looking personage beside her is an artist of high degree.  But our other chaperon,—­ ah, here she comes!  Mrs. Kenerley.”

Adele Kenerley appeared then, looking very sweet and dainty in her fresh summer frock, and laughingly expressed her willingness to keep the house party in order and decorum.

“It won’t be so very easy, Mrs. Kenerley,” said Roger.  “My word for it, these are wilful and prankish girls.  I’ve known Miss Fairfield for years, and she’s capable of any mischief.  Miss Galbraith, now, is more sedate.”

“Nonsense!” cried Patty.  “I’m the sedate one.”

“You don’t look it,” observed Mona.  “Your hair is a sight!”

“It is,” said Laurence Cromer, coming up and catching the last remark; “a sight for gods and men!  Miss Fairfield, I beseech you, don’t do it up in fillets and things; leave it just as it is, do!”

“Indeed I won’t,” said Patty, and she ran away to her own room to put her curly locks in order.  She was quite shocked at the mirrored picture of tousled tresses, and did it all up a little more severely than usual, by way of amends.

“May I come in?” and Daisy Dow, after a quick tap at the door, walked in, without waiting for an answer.

“What lovely hair!” she exclaimed, as Patty pushed in more and more hairpins.  “You’re a perfect duck, anyway.  I foresee I shall be terribly jealous of you.  But I say, Patty,—­I may call you Patty, mayn’t I?—­don’t you dare to steal Big Bill Farnsworth away from me!  He’s my own particular property and I don’t allow trespassing.”

There was an earnest tone underlying Daisy’s gay words that made Patty look up at her quickly.  “Are you engaged to him?” she asked.

“No,—­not exactly.  At least, it isn’t announced.  But—­”

“Oh, pshaw, don’t trouble to explain.  I won’t bother your big adorer.  But if he chooses to speak to me, I shan’t be purposely rude to him.  I like boys and young men, Miss Dow, and I like to talk and play and dance with them.  But I’ve no special interest in any one, and if you have, I shall certainly respect it,—­be sure of that.”

“You’re a brick, Patty!  I was sure you were the minute I laid my two honest grey eyes on you.  But you’re ’most too pretty for my peace of mind.  Bill adores pretty girls.”