But he was so gay and good-natured, so full of pranks and foolery, that it was impossible to snub him or to be annoyed with him.

He was a civil engineer, having already built up a good-sized business.  But he seemed to be both able and willing to leave his office at any hour of the day or night for any occasion where Patty was concerned.

But he apparently fulfilled her wishes as to being her friend and chum and comrade, without falling in love with her.

“He’s a thoroughly nice chap,” Mr. Fairfield often said; “good-natured and right-minded, as well as clever and talented.”

So, as he was also a favourite with Nan, he dropped in at the Fairfield house very often, and Patty grew to like him very much.

The opera party had duly taken place and had been a pleasant success.  The musical entertainment was being planned for some weeks hence, as it was not easy to find a near-by date which suited all concerned.

One morning, as Patty was fluttering around her boudoir and looking over her mail, the telephone rang and the familiar “Hello, Princess,” sounded in her ear.

“Hello, most noble Knight,” she responded, “what would’st thou of me?”

“A boon so great that I fear to ask it!  Won’t you promise it in advance?”

“What I promise in advance, I never fulfil.”

“Don’t do it, then!  I’ll ask you first.  You see, it’s this way.  My angelic and altogether delightful sister Lora lives in Eastchester with her stalwart husband and a blossom-bud of a kiddy.  Now it seems that there’s a wonderful country-club ball up there, and she thinks it will be nice if you and I should attend that same.”

“And what do you think about it?”

“Oh, I don’t have any thoughts concerning it, until I know what you think.  And then, of course, that’s precisely what I think.”

“When is it?”

“To-morrow night.”

“Mercy me!  So soon!  Well, I haven’t anything on for to-morrow night; but the next night Mr. Van Reypen is making a theatre party for me that I wouldn’t miss for anything.”

“H’m! how lovely!  Well, Princess, what say you to my humble plea?”

“What are your plans?  How do I get there?”

“Why, thusly; my sister will invite you to her home, and incidentally to the ball.  She will also ask my cousin Marie and Mr. Harper, who is not at all averse, it seems to me, to playing Marie’s little lamb!”

“Have you noticed that?  So have I. Well, go on.”

“Well, then, I thought it would be nice if we four should motor out to Eastchester to-morrow afternoon, go straight to sister’s, do up the ball business and motor back the next day.  There’s the whole case in a nutshell.  Now pronounce my doom!”

“It seems to me just the nicest sort of a racket, and if your sister invites me, I shall most certainly accept.”

“Oh, bless you for ever!  Princess Poppycheek.  I shall telephone Lora at once, and she will write you an invitation on her best stationery, and she will also telephone you, and if you wish it she will come and call on you.”