"Are you fond of motoring, Mrs. Hastings?" he asked, innocently,
while Patty, on his other side, felt her heart beat madly and her
cheeks grow red.

But Susan wasn't caught napping this time.

"Oh, I like it," she said, "but I'm not fair crazy about it, like
some." She smiled benignly at Patty, and the few guests who
overheard the remarks thought nothing of it.

But naughty Jack went on.

"Oh, then you know of Miss Fairfield's fad. I didn't know you knew
her so well. I thought you had just arrived here. Have you been to
Spring Beach before?"

Susan looked at Jack with twinkling eyes. She well knew he was
saying these things to tease Patty, and she looked kindly at the
embarrassed girl as she replied:

"Oh, my niece, Mona, has told me so much about her friend, Miss
Fairfield, that I feel as if I had known her a long time."

Patty gasped. Surely Susan could take care of herself, after that
astounding speech!

Jack chuckled silently, and as the game promised rare sport, he
kept on.

"Are you fond of bridge, Mrs. Hastings?"