"No," said Mrs. Homer, her eyes twinkling at Patty's look of
amazement. "He detests girls. Even my daughters, his cousins, are
nuisances, he says. Still he likes to come down here and sit on my
balcony, and tease them. He lives with his parents in the apartment
just above us."

"He sounds an interesting youth," said Patty, and then, as Roger
came up and asked her for a dance, she promptly forgot the musical
nephew.

At supper-time, Patty's crowd of intimates gathered around her, and
they occupied a pleasant corner of the dining-room.

"What'll you have, Patsums?" asked Roger, as a waiter brought a tray
full of dainty viands.

"Sandwiches and bouillon," said Patty, promptly; "I'm honestly
hungry."

"The result of exercise in the open air," murmured Philip Van
Reypen, as he took a seat directly behind her.

Patty gave an involuntary giggle, and then turned upon Philip what
she meant to be an icy glare. He grinned back at her, which made her
furious, and she deliberately and ostentatiously ignored him.

"Hello, you two on the outs?" inquired Kenneth, casually.

"Oh, no!" said Philip, with emphasis; "far from it!"