Carolyn Wells

Patty's Motor Car Carolyn Wells

Nearly all the guests had left the Fairfield house, after Nan's pleasant afternoon tea. Philip Van Reypen had escorted his aunt out to her carriage, and she had driven away, while the young man returned for a few moments' further chat with his hostess. Though he and Nan had met but a few times, they had become rather chummy, which, however, was not unusual for him, if he liked anybody. Young Van Reypen was of a gay and social nature, and made friends easily by his sheergood-humour. He admired Mrs. Fairfield very much, but, even more, he admired Patty. Eversince he had met her unexpectedly on his aunt's staircase, he had thought her the prettiestand sweetest girl he had ever seen. So he was making every endeavour to cultivate heracquaintance, and, being of rather astute observation, he concluded it wise to make friendswith the whole Fairfield family. So the big, handsome chap went back to the drawing-room, and dropped on a sofabeside Nan."It's awfully cold out," he observed, plaintively."Is it?" returned his hostess, innocently."Yes; I hate to go out in the cold.""But you have to go, sooner or later.""Yes; but it may be warmer later.""On the contrary, it will probably grow colder.""Oh! do you think so? But, then again, it may not, and I'm quite willing to take thechance.""Mr. Van Reypen, I do believe you're hinting for an invitation to stay here to dinner!""Oh, Mrs. Fairfield, how clever you are! How could you possibly guess that, now?"Nan laughed and hesitated. She liked the young man, but she wasn't sure that Pattywanted him there. Patty was developing into a somewhat decided young person, and likedto make her own plans. And Nan well knew that Patty was the real magnet that drew Mr. Van Reypen so often to the house."What do you think?" she said, as the girl came into the room; "this plain-spoken youngman is giving me to understand that, if he were urged, he would dine here to-night.""Of course, it would require a great deal of most insistent urging," put in Philip."Don't let's urge him," said Patty, but the merry smile she flashed at the young manbelied her word