"No, don't tell me; I'd rather be surprised. Come on, I'm ready; let's go down and talk to the boys."
Patty had done up her pretty hair in the prevailing fashion of the day; but though the soft braids encircled her head, many little golden curls escaped and made a soft outline round her face. Her frock, of pale rose colour, had a collarless lace yoke, and was very becoming.
"You can wear any colour, Patty," declared Elise. "Of course, blue is yours, by right, but you're dear in that pinky thing."
"Ah, sweet chub, I hoped I should be dear to thee in any old thing," remarked Patty, as, slipping her arm through that of Elise, the two girls went downstairs.
"Ha, Patty resplendent!" exclaimed Roger, as they entered the library. "Don't you dare to be a grown-up young lady, Patty Fairfield, or I shall cut your acquaintance."
"Not I! Don't be alarmed, Roger. I am still childlike and bland."
"Your cousin Ethelyn is going to make her début next week. I have a bid to the ceremonies."
"Yes, so have I. Well, let her 'come out,' if she likes. I prefer to 'stay in' for another year, anyway."
"So do I," said Elise. "Mother says I ought to come out next winter, but I'm not bothering about it yet."
"Let's have a good time this winter, then," said Kenneth, "while we're all children. If you girls come out next winter, you'll be so gay with dances and parties, I can't play with you at all."
"All right," agreed Patty. "But have you time to play, yourself, Ken? I thought you were fearfully busy absorbing the laws of the United States."
"Oh, I do have to hammer at that all day, and some evenings, too. But it's an unwritten law that a fellow must have some fun; so I'll take an afternoon off now and then, to come round and tease you girls."
Then dinner was announced and, following their elders, the young people went out to the dining-room.
"Oh, how pretty!" cried Patty, as she saw the table, for the decoration, though simple, was most effective.
Along the centre of the white cloth, lay a long bed of holly leaves, on which the word "Welcome" was outlined in holly berries.
There were no other flowers, and the glossy green and vivid scarlet made a charming centrepiece, surrounded, as it was, by dainty silver, glass, and china.