same evening she was invited to dine and go to the opera with Mrs.
Van Reypen.

Patty was a great favourite with the aristocratic old lady, and was
frequently asked to the Van Reypen home. It is needless to say that
Mrs. Van Reypen's nephew, Philip, usually managed to be present at
any of his aunt's affairs that were graced by Patty's presence. And,
indeed, it was an open secret that Mrs. Van Reypen would be greatly
pleased if Patty would smile on the suit of her favourite and
beloved nephew.

But Patty's smiles were uncertain. Sometimes it would suit her
caprice to smile on Philip, and again she would positively snub him
to such an extent that the young man was disgruntled for days at a
time.

"But," as Patty remarked to herself, "if I'm nice to him, he takes
too much for granted. So I have to discipline him to keep him where
he belongs."

The dinner at the Van Reypen mansion was, as always, long and
elaborate, and perhaps a trifle dull.

Mrs. Van Reypen's affection for Patty was of a selfish sort, and it
never occurred to her to invite guests of Patty's age, or who could
be entertaining to the girl.

And so to-night the other guests were an elderly couple by the name
of Bellamy and a rather stupid, middle-aged bachelor,--Mr. Crosby.
These with the two Van Reypens and Patty made up the whole party.