"No, it won't leak out,--and, if it did, what harm? Susan is a
nice, respectable woman, and as a member of my family is capable
of chaperoning me in her own personality. But I choose this other
game because it's more fun. I shall dress her up in,--in,--Susan,
you couldn't wear a gown of Mrs. Fairfield's, could you?"

"The saints presarve us, Miss Patty, it wuddent go halfway round
me!"

"No; so it wouldn't. Well, I'll find something. Oh, there's a gown
in the attic that Mrs. Allen left here--she's Nan's mother,
Mona,--that will be just right. It's grey satin and silver lace. Oh,
Susan, you'll look GREAT!"

Mona still seemed a trifle unconvinced.

"Patty," she said, "you know I usually think what you do is all
right,--but this,--well, this seems so very crazy."

"Mona, my child," said Patty, serenely, "I warned you that our
ways might clash, and you said I might do exactly as I chose while
at 'Red Chimneys.'"

"So I did, Patty,--and so I do. I'll go home now, and leave the
rest of this performance to you. Come over soon, won't you?"

"Yes," said Patty, "I'll be there for dinner. Good-bye, Mona."

After Mona had gone, Patty turned to Susan.