“Yes, the Timothy Grass Golf Club is a splendid place, and the winter casino,—The Playbox, they call it,—is most attractive. Oh, we’ll have a good time whatever happens.”
By way of entertaining Helen, Van Reypen had proposed a day at the Country Club, and his invitation was eagerly accepted. There was snow enough on the ground to make good sleighing, and the air was crisp, cold and clear. Warmly garbed for their trip, the two girls ran downstairs to find Philip awaiting them.
“Hooray for two plucky ones!” he cried; “I thought maybe you’d back out on account of the storm.”
“Where’s the storm?” asked Helen. “I don’t see any.”
“You wear rose-coloured glasses. There’s snow in the air, some flying, and more waiting above, ready to come down. But not enough to hurt two such well-befurred Esquimoses! Come along, then.”
The novelty of a real old-fashioned sleighride was a great pleasure and as the fast horses flew along, the girls exclaimed at the new delight of such transportation.
“Are Roger and Mona going in a sleigh, too?” asked Patty.
“Yes, I think so. They’ll come later, as Mona just had a telegram that her father is coming to see her today.”
“But she’ll come to us, won’t she?” Patty asked, quickly. “She’s our chaperon, you know. It wouldn’t do at all for Helen and me to go to the Club without her.”
“Oh, yes, she said she’d come, as soon as her father arrives and she gets him comfortably welcomed. She’s very fond of him, you know.”
“Yes, and he’s an awfully nice man. What time will we get back, Phil?”
“’Long about five o’clock or so. We won’t reach the Club before noon. Then we’ll have time for a game of indoor tennis or whatever you like, of that sort. Then luncheon, and in the afternoon there’s time for a game of Bridge if you choose.”
“Probably we won’t do anything but sit around and chatter,” opined Helen, who was not fond of games. “Mr. Herron is coming, isn’t he?”
“Yes, my lady. But you mustn’t flirt with him, or you’ll turn his head completely.”
“She has done that already,” laughed Patty; “Mr. Herron just sits and gazes at my fair cousin, whenever occasion offers.”
“Nor can any one blame him for that. Look at the ice jam in the river! What a winter we’re having, to be sure.”