Hepworth."
Patty might not have added the last name if she had not just then seen
that gentleman coming toward her.
He looked at Patty with an especial kindliness in his eyes, and
said gently:
"Miss Fairfield, may I see your card?"
Patty flushed a little and her eyes fell.
"Please don't talk like that," she said. "I'm not grown up, if I am
dressed up. I'm only Patty, and if you call me anything else I'll
run away."
"Don't run away," said Mr. Hepworth, still looking at her with that grave
kindliness that seemed to have about it a touch of sadness. "I will call
you Patty as long as you will stay with me."
Then Patty smiled again, quite her own merry little self, and gave him
her card, saying:
"Put your name down a lot of times, please; you are a beautiful dancer,
and I like best to dance with the people I know best."
"I wish I had a rubber stamp," said Mr. Hepworth; "it's very fatiguing to
write one's name on every line."
"Oh, good gracious!" cried Patty, "don't take them all. I want to save a
lot for Frank and Ken--"
"And your father," said Mr. Hepworth.
"Papa? He doesn't dance--at least, I never saw him."
"But he did dance that last waltz, with Miss Allen."
"With Nan? Well, then, I rather think he can dance with his own
daughter. Don't take any more; I want all the rest for him, and please
take me to him."
"Here he comes now. Mr. Fairfield, your daughter wishes a word with you."
"Papa Fairfield!" exclaimed Patty, "you never told me you could dance!"
"You never asked me; you took it for granted that I was too old to frisk
around the ballroom.
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