Then her host, Jim Kenerley, appeared, and Hal Ferris, Adele’s brother, and, greatly to Patty’s surprise, Philip Van Reypen.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Phil,” said Patty, after she had greeted the men of the house.

“I’m only here for a short time,” returned Philip; “Mrs. Kenerley invited me to stay as long as I behaved myself; but you know, Patty, I can’t do that very long.”

“No, indeed!  You’ll be starting to-morrow morning at that rate!”

“Now, Patty, that’s unkind of you.  However, under your angelic influence, I may behave well enough to stay till the afternoon train.”

“You’re a beautiful behaver, Mr. Van Reypen,” declared his hostess, “and I shan’t let naughty Patty cast aspersions.”

“What are those things, Adele?” asked Patty; “I’m sure I never cast anything like that at anybody, and I wouldn’t hit him if I did.  I can’t hit the side of a barn.”

“I know they say that about women,” said Hal Ferris; “but I believe it’s a base libel.  At least, I think they could be taught to accomplish such a feat.  I believe I’ll organise a class of young ladies and teach them how to hit the side of a barn.”

“But why hit it at all?” asked Daisy; “what has the poor barn done to be hit?”

“Lots of people get hit when they don’t deserve it,” said Kenerley.  “But don’t use our barn, Hal, use the neighbour’s.  Because under your tuition, your pupils might get proficient enough to hit it.”

“I’m so glad to be here when it isn’t winter,” said Patty, looking around her.  They were having tea on one of the wide verandas, which, though still enclosed with glass, had many panes open to the spring air.

“From now on, it’s lovely here,” said Adele; “almost every day we have one more sash open and then pretty soon we take them all out.”

“It was lovely last winter, when we had tea by the hall fireplace, but this is better still,” and Patty leaned back in her Japanese wicker easy-chair and nibbled contentedly at her plate of little cakes.

The tea hour at the Kenerleys’ was always a pleasant affair, and in warm weather neighbours from the nearby country houses were apt to stroll over.  On this occasion two or three came and Patty became acquainted with several young ladies.

“You know what I told you,” said Adele to Patty, after they had left.  “We have plenty of girls around here, but not many men.  So for the May-party, I want you to ask a few of your friends to come up.”

“All right, I will; the boys will all be glad to come.  Which ones do you want?”

“I’ve already asked Roger Farrington, and we’ll see about the others later.”

“All right,” said Patty, carelessly; “I’ve one or two new friends whom I’m sure you will like.”

The next day Patty had a brilliant idea for a joke on Kit Cameron.  It popped into her head quite suddenly, and she gleefully told her scheme to Adele and Daisy, as they sat together in Adele’s own pleasant sitting-room.