"Come on over here, Florence," called Patty huskily, from the other side of the yard. "Let's talk over here."
Florence was puzzled, but consented. "What you want to talk over here for?" she asked as she came near her friend.
"Oh, I don't know," said Patty. "Let's go out in the front yard."
She led the way round the house, and a moment later uttered a cry of surprise as the firm of Atwater & Rooter, passing along the pavement, hesitated at the gate. Their celebrated eyes showed doubt for a moment, then a brazenness: Herbert and Henry decided to come in.
"Isn't this the funniest thing?" cried Patty. "After what I just said awhile ago--you know, Florence. Don't you dare to tell 'em!"
"I cert'nly won't!" her hostess promised, and, turning inhospitably to the two callers, "What on earth you want around here?" she inquired.
Herbert chivalrously took upon himself the duty of response. "Look here; this is my own aunt and uncle's yard, isn't it? I guess if I want to come in it I got a perfect right to."
"I should say so," his partner said warmly.
"Why, of course!" the cordial Patty agreed. "We can play some nice Sunday games, or something. Let's sit on the porch steps and think what to do."
"I just as soon," said Henry Rooter. "I got nothin' p'ticular to do."
"I haven't either," said Herbert.
Thereupon, Patty sat between them on the steps.
"This is per-feckly grand!" she cried. "Come on, Florence, aren't you going to sit down with all the rest of us?"
"Well, pray kindly excuse me!" said Miss Atwater; and she added that she would neither sit on the same steps with Herbert Atwater and Henry Rooter, nor, even if they entreated her with accompanying genuflections, would she have anything else whatever to do with them. She concluded with a reference to the oldest pair of shoes she might ever come to possess; and withdrew to the railing of the veranda at a point farthest from the steps; and, seated there, swinging one foot rhythmically, she sang hymns in a tone at once plaintive and inimical.
It was not lost upon her, however, that her withdrawal had little effect upon her guests. They chattered gaily, and Patty devised, or remembered, harmless little games that could be played by a few people as well as by many; and the three participants were so congenial and noisy and made so merry, that before long Florence was unable to avoid the impression that whether she liked it or not she was giving quite a party.