After supper the whole party went to the large drawing-room to dance.

Kit Cameron made a bee-line for Patty.  “You’ll give me the first dance, won’t you?” he said, simply, “because I’ve stayed away from you all supper time.”

Patty hesitated.  “I’m willing, Mr. Cameron,” she said, “but for one thing.  I’m awfully exacting in the matter of dancing, and if you’re not a good dancer it would go far to spoil our pleasant acquaintance.  Suppose we don’t risk it.”

Cameron considered.  “I am a good dancer,” he said, “but Marie has told me that you’re something phenomenal in that line.  So I daresay you will be disappointed in me.  All right, suppose we don’t risk it.”

Cameron half turned away, as if he had relinquished the idea of dancing with Patty, and that young woman was somewhat taken aback.  She had assumed her new friend would insist on dancing with her, and she had no mind to let him escape thus.  She was just about to say, impulsively, “Oh well, let’s try it, anyway,” when she caught a gleam from the corner of his eye, and she realised in a flash that he felt sure she would call him back!

This was enough for capricious Patty, and she turned away from him, but not so quickly but that she saw his face suddenly fall, proving that she had been quite right in her diagnosis of the case.

She smiled on Van Reypen, who was hovering near, and he came to her at once.

“Our dance, Patty?” he said, eagerly, holding out his hand.

“Yes, Philip,” she answered simply, laying her hand in his. and in a moment they were circling the room.

“Don’t be cross to me, will you, Philip?” said Patty with an appealing note in her soft voice.

“No; you little torment, you.  I’ll never be cross to you, if you won’t flirt with other men.”

“Philip,” and Patty spoke quite seriously, “I’ll be cross with you, if you don’t stop taking that attitude with me.  It isn’t for you to say whether I shall flirt with other men or not!”

“No, I know it;” and Philip was unexpectedly humble.  “I wish it was for me to say, Patty.”

“Stop talking nonsense, or I’ll stop dancing with you!  By the way, Phil, you’re an awfully good dancer.”

“I’m glad there’s something about me that pleases your ladyship.”

“Yes; so am I. It certainly isn’t your temper!”

And then Philip smiled into Patty’s eyes, and peace was restored, as it always was after their little squabbles.

The dance over, they sat for a few moments, and then Kenneth Harper asked to be Patty’s next partner.

“All right, Ken,” said Patty; “but sit down here just a minute; I want to watch the others.”

What Patty really wanted was to see Mr. Cameron dance; and in a few moments he went past them with Elise.

“That man’s all round clever,” commented Kenneth.  “He dances just as he plays the violin, exquisitely.  Why, Patty, he’s a poem in patent leathers!”