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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Patty's Summer Days, by Carolyn Wells
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Patty's Summer Days
+
+
+Author: Carolyn Wells
+
+
+
+Release Date: June 21, 2008  [eBook #25865]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY'S SUMMER DAYS***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland, and the Project
+Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
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+
+PATTY'S SUMMER DAYS
+
+by
+
+CAROLYN WELLS
+
+Author of "Idle Idylls," "Patty in the City," etc.
+
+Illustrated
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+New York Dodd, Mead & Company 1909
+
+Copyright, 1906, by
+Dodd, Mead & Company
+
+Published, September, 1906
+
+
+
+To
+ELEANOR SHIPLEY HALSEY
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER                             PAGE
+      I  A Gay Household               1
+     II  Wedding Bells                13
+    III  Atlantic City                27
+     IV  Lessons Again                40
+      V  A New Home                   53
+     VI  Busy Days                    66
+    VII  A Rescue                     79
+   VIII  Commencement Day             92
+     IX  The Play                    105
+      X  A Motor Trip                118
+     XI  Dick Phelps                 130
+    XII  Old China                   143
+   XIII  A Stormy Ride               155
+    XIV  Pine Branches               169
+     XV  Miss Aurora Bender          182
+    XVI  A Quilting Party            195
+   XVII  A Summer Christmas          208
+  XVIII  At Sandy Cove               221
+    XIX  Rosabel                     234
+     XX  The Rolands                 246
+    XXI  The Crusoes                 259
+   XXII  The Bazaar Of All Nations   271
+  XXIII  The End Of The Summer       287
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+"Patty fairly reveled in Nan's beautiful trousseau"             8
+
+"'There, you can see for yourself, there ain't no chip or
+crack into it'"                                               147
+
+"Although a successful snapshot was only achieved after
+many attempts"                                                176
+
+"Patty arrayed herself in a flowered silk of Dresden effect"  203
+
+"In a few minutes Patty was feeding Rosabel bread and milk"   234
+
+
+
+
+
+
+PATTY'S SUMMER DAYS
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A GAY HOUSEHOLD
+
+
+"Isn't Mrs. Phelps too perfectly sweet! That is the loveliest fan I ever
+laid eyes on, and to think it's mine!"
+
+"And _will_ you look at this? A silver coffee-machine! Oh, Nan, mayn't I
+make it work, sometimes?"
+
+"Indeed you may; and oh, see this! A piece of antique Japanese bronze!
+Isn't it _great?_"
+
+"I don't like it as well as the sparkling, shiny things. This silver tray
+beats it all hollow. Did you ever see such a brightness in your life?"
+
+"Patty, you're hopelessly Philistine! But that tray is lovely, and of an
+exquisite design."
+
+Patty and Nan were unpacking wedding presents, and the room was strewn
+with boxes, tissue paper, cotton wool, and shredded-paper packing.
+
+Only three days more, and then Nan Allen was to marry Mr. Fairfield,
+Patty's father.
+
+Patty was spending the whole week at the Allen home in Philadelphia, and
+was almost as much interested in the wedding preparations as Nan herself.
+
+"I don't think there's anything so much fun as a house with a wedding
+fuss in it," said Patty to Mrs. Allen, as Nan's mother came into the room
+where the girls were.
+
+"Just wait till you come to your own wedding fuss, and then see if you
+think it's so much fun," said Nan, who was rapidly scribbling names of
+friends to whom she must write notes of acknowledgment for their gifts.
+
+"That's too far in the future even to think of," said Patty, "and
+besides, I must get my father married and settled, before I can think of
+myself."
+
+She wagged her head at Nan with a comical look, and they all laughed.
+
+It was a great joke that Patty's father should be about to marry her dear
+girl friend. But Patty was mightily pleased at the prospect, and looked
+forward with happiness to the enlarged home circle.
+
+"The trouble is," said Patty, "I don't know what to call this august
+personage who insists on becoming my father's wife."
+
+"I shall rule you with a rod of iron," said Nan, "and you'll stand so in
+awe of me, that you won't dare to call me anything."
+
+"You think so, do you?" said Patty saucily. "Well, just let me inform
+you, Mrs. Fairfield, that is to be, that I intend to lead you a dance!
+You'll be responsible for my manners and behaviour, and I wish you joy of
+your undertaking. I think I shall call you _Stepmamma_."
+
+"Do," said Nan placidly, "and I'll call you Stepdaughter Patricia."
+
+"Joking aside," said Patty, "honestly, Nan, I am perfectly delighted that
+the time is coming so soon to have you with us. Ever since last fall I
+have waited patiently, and it seemed as if Easter would never come. Won't
+we have good times though after you get back from your trip and we get
+settled in that lovely house in New York! If only I didn't have to go to
+school, and study like fury out of school, too, we could have heaps of
+fun."
+
+"I'm afraid you're studying too hard, Patty," said Mrs. Allen, looking at
+her young guest.
+
+"She is, Mother," said Nan, "and I wish she wouldn't. Why do you do it,
+Patty?"
+
+"Well, you see, it's this way. I found out the first of the year that I
+was ahead of my class in some studies, and that if I worked extra hard I
+could get ahead on the other studies, and,--well, I can't exactly explain
+it, but it's like putting two years' work into one; and then I could
+graduate from the Oliphant school this June, instead of going there
+another year, as I had expected. Then, if I do that, Papa says I may stay
+home next year, and just have masters in music and French, and whatever
+branches I want to keep up. So I'm trying, but I hardly think I can pass
+the examinations after all."
+
+"Well, you're not going to study while you're here," said Mrs. Allen,
+"and after we get Nan packed off on Thursday, you and I are going to have
+lovely times. You must stay with me as long as you can, for I shall be
+dreadfully lonesome without my own girl."
+
+"Thank you, dear Mrs. Allen, I am very happy here, and I love to stay
+with you; but of course I can stay only as long as our Easter vacation
+lasts. I must go back to New York the early part of next week."
+
+"Well, we'll cram all the fun possible into the few days you are here
+then," and Patty's gay little hostess bustled away to look after her
+household appointments.
+
+Mrs. Allen was of a social, pleasure-loving nature. Indeed, it was often
+said that she cared more for parties and festive gatherings than did her
+daughter Nan.
+
+Nobody was surprised to learn that Nan Allen was to marry a man many
+years older than herself. The surprise came when they met Mr. Fairfield
+and discovered that that gentleman appeared to be much younger than he
+undoubtedly was.
+
+For Patty's father, though nearly forty years old, had a frank, ingenuous
+manner, and a smile that was almost boyish in its gaiety.
+
+Mrs. Allen was in her element superintending her daughter's wedding, and
+the whole affair was to be on a most elaborate scale. Far more so than
+Nan herself wished, for her tastes were simple, and she would have
+preferred a quieter celebration of the occasion.
+
+But as Mrs. Allen said, it was her last opportunity to provide an
+entertainment for her daughter, and she would not allow her plans to be
+thwarted.
+
+So preparations for the great event went busily on. Carpenters came and
+enclosed the wide verandas, and decorators came and hung the newly made
+walls with white cheese cloth, and trimmed them with garlands of green.
+The house was invaded with decorators, caterers, and helpers of all
+sorts, while neighbours and friends of Mrs. Allen and of Nan flew in and
+out at all hours.
+
+The present-room was continually thronged by admiring friends who never
+tired of looking at the beautiful gifts already upon the tables, or
+watching the opening of new ones.
+
+"There's the thirteenth cut-glass ice-tub," said Nan, as she tore the
+tissue paper wrapping from an exquisite piece of sparkling glass. "I
+should think it an unlucky number if I didn't feel sure that one or two
+more would come yet."
+
+"What are you going to do with them all, Nan?" asked one of her girl
+friends; "shall you exchange any of your duplicate gifts?"
+
+"No indeed," said Nan, "I'm too conservative and old-fashioned to
+exchange my wedding gifts. I shall keep the whole thirteen, and then when
+one gets broken, I can replace it with another. Accidents will happen,
+you know."
+
+"But not thirteen times, and all ice-tubs!" said Patty, laughing. "You'll
+have to use them as individuals, Nan. When you give a dinner party of
+twelve, each guest can have a separate ice-tub, which will be very
+convenient."
+
+"I don't care," said Nan, taking the jest good-humouredly, "I shall keep
+them all, no matter how many I get. And I always did like ice-tubs,
+anyway."
+
+Another great excitement was when Nan's gowns were sent home from the
+dressmaker's. Patty was frankly fond of pretty clothes, and she fairly
+revelled in Nan's beautiful _trousseau_. To please Patty, the bride-elect
+tried them all on, one after another, and each seemed more beautiful than
+the one before. When at last Nan stood arrayed in her bridal gown, with
+veil and orange blossoms complete, Patty's ecstacy knew no bounds.
+
+"You are a picture, Nan!" she cried. "A perfect dream! I never saw such a
+beautiful bride. Oh, I am so glad you're coming to live with us, and then
+I can try on that white satin confection and prance around in it myself."
+
+They all laughed at this, and Nan exclaimed, in mock reproach:
+
+"I'd like to see you do it, Miss! Prance around in my wedding gown,
+indeed! Have you no more respect for your elderly and antiquated
+Stepmamma than that?"
+
+Patty giggled at Nan's pretended severity, and danced round her, patting
+a fold here, and picking out a bow there, and having a good time
+generally.
+
+The next day there was a luncheon, to which Mrs. Allen had invited a
+number of Nan's dearest girl friends.
+
+Patty enjoyed this especially, for not only did she dearly love a pretty
+affair of this sort, but Mrs. Allen had let her help with the
+preparations, and Patty had even suggested some original ideas which
+found favour in Mrs. Allen's eyes.
+
+Over the table was suspended a floral wedding bell, which was supplied
+with not only one clapper, but a dozen. These clappers were ingenious
+little contrivances, and from each hung a long and narrow white ribbon.
+After the luncheon, each ribbon was apportioned to a guest, and at a
+given signal the ribbons were pulled, whereupon each clapper sprang open,
+and a tiny white paper fluttered down to the table.
+
+[Illustration: "Patty fairly reveled in Nan's beautiful trousseau"]
+
+These papers each bore the name of one of the guests, and when opened
+were found to contain a rhymed jingle foretelling in a humorous way the
+fate of each girl. Patty had written the merry little verses, and they
+were read aloud amid much laughter and fun.
+
+As Patty did not know these Philadelphia girls very well, many of her
+verses which foretold their fates were necessarily merely graceful little
+jingles, without any attempt at special appropriateness.
+
+One which fell to the lot of a dainty little golden-haired girl ran thus:
+
+                Your cheeks are red, your eyes are blue;
+                Your hair is gold, your heart is too.
+
+Another which was applied to a specially good-humoured maiden read thus:
+
+            The longer you live the sweeter you'll grow;
+            Your fair cup of joy shall have no trace of woe.
+
+But some of the girls had special hopes or interests, and these Patty
+touched upon. An aspiring music lover was thus warned:
+
+                   If you would really learn to play,
+                   Pray practice seven hours a day,
+                   And then perhaps at last you may.
+
+And an earnest art student received this somewhat doubtful encouragement:
+
+                      You'll try to paint in oil,
+                      And your persistent toil,
+                      Will many a canvas spoil.
+
+Patty's own verse was a little hit at her dislike for study, and her
+taste in another direction:
+
+                  Little you care to read a book,
+                  But, goodness me, how you can cook!
+
+Nan's came last of all, and she read it aloud amid the gay laughter of
+the girls:
+
+             Ere many days shall pass o'er your fair head,
+             Your fate is, pretty lady, to be wed;
+             Yet scarcely can you be a happy wife,
+             For Patty F. will lead you such a life!
+
+The girls thought these merry little jingles great fun, and each
+carefully preserved her "fortune" to take home as a souvenir of the
+occasion.
+
+Bumble Barlow was at this luncheon, for the Barlows were friends and near
+neighbours of the Allens.
+
+Readers who knew Patty in her earlier years, will remember Bumble as the
+cousin who lived at the "Hurly-Burly" down on Long Island.
+
+Although Bumble was a little older, and insisted on being called by her
+real name of Helen, she was the same old mischievous fly-away as ever.
+She was delighted to see Patty again, and coaxed her to come and stay
+with them, instead of with the Allens. But Mrs. Allen would not hear of
+such an arrangement, and could only be induced to give her consent that
+Patty should spend one day with the Barlows during her visit in
+Philadelphia.
+
+The short time that was left before the wedding day flew by as if on
+wings. So much was going on both in the line of gaiety and entertainment,
+and also by way of preparation for the great event, that Patty began to
+wonder whether social life was not, after all, as wearing as the more
+prosaic school work.
+
+But Mrs. Allen said, when this question was referred to her, "Not a bit
+of it! All this gaiety does you good, Patty. You need recreation from
+that everlasting grind of school work, and you'll go back to it next week
+refreshed, and ready to do better work than ever."
+
+"I'm sure of it," said Patty, "and I shall never forget the fun we're
+having this week. It's just like a bit of Fairyland. I've never had such
+an experience before."
+
+Patty's life had been one of simple pleasures and duties. She had a great
+capacity for enjoyment, but heretofore had only known fun and frolic of a
+more childish nature. This glimpse into what seemed to be really truly
+grown-up society was bewildering and very enjoyable, and Patty found it
+quite easy to adapt herself to its requirements.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+WEDDING BELLS
+
+
+At last the wedding day arrived, and a brighter or more sunshiny day
+could not have been asked for by the most exacting of brides.
+
+It was to be an evening wedding, but from early in the morning there was
+a constant succession of exciting events. The last touches were being put
+to the decorations, belated presents were coming in, house guests were
+arriving, messengers coming and going, and through it all Mrs. Allen
+bustled about, supremely happy in watching the culminating success of her
+elaborate plans. Patty looked at her with a wondering admiration, for she
+always admired capability, and Mrs. Allen was exhibiting what might
+almost be called generalship in her house that day.
+
+Of course, Patty had no care or responsibility, and nothing to do but
+enjoy herself, so she did this thoroughly.
+
+In the morning Marian and Frank Elliott came. They were staying at the
+Barlows', and Mr. Fairfield was staying there too.
+
+It sometimes seemed to Patty that her father ought to have played a more
+prominent part in all the preliminary festivities, but Mrs. Allen calmly
+told her, in Mr. Fairfield's presence, that a bridegroom had no part in
+wedding affairs until the time of the ceremony itself.
+
+Mr. Fairfield laughed good-humouredly, and replied that he was quite
+satisfied to be left out of the mad rush, until the real occasion came.
+
+Like Nan, Mr. Fairfield would have preferred a quiet wedding, but Mrs.
+Allen utterly refused to hear of such a thing. Nan was her only daughter,
+and this her only chance to arrange an entertainment such as her soul
+delighted in. Mr. Allen was willing to indulge his wife in her wishes,
+and was exceedingly hospitable by nature. Moreover, he took great pride
+in his charming daughter, and wanted everything done that could in any
+way contribute to the success or add to the beauty of her wedding
+celebration.
+
+Patty fluttered around the house in a sort of inconsequent delight. Now
+in the present-room, looking over the beautiful collection, now chatting
+with her cousins, or other friends, now strolling through the great
+parlours with their wonderful decorations of banked roses and
+garland-draped ceilings.
+
+Dinner was early that night, as the ceremony was to be performed at eight
+o'clock, and after dinner Patty flew to her room to don her own beautiful
+new gown.
+
+This dress delighted Patty's beauty-loving heart. It was a white tulle
+sprinkled with silver, and its soft, dainty glitter seemed to Patty like
+moonlight on the snow. Her hair was done low on her neck, in a most
+becoming fashion, and her only ornament was a necklace of pearls which
+had belonged to her mother, and which her father had given her that very
+day. The first Mrs. Fairfield had died when Patty was a mere baby, so of
+course she had no recollection of her, but she had always idealised the
+personality of her mother, and she took the beautiful pearls from her
+father with almost a feeling of reverence as she touched them.
+
+"I'm so glad it's Nan you're going to marry, Papa," she said. "I wouldn't
+like it as well if it were somebody who would really try to be a
+stepmother to me, but dear old Nan is more like a sister, and I'm so glad
+she's ours."
+
+"I'm glad you're pleased, Patty, dear, and I only hope Nan will never
+regret marrying a man so much older than herself."
+
+"You're not old, Papa Fairfield," cried Patty indignantly; "I won't have
+you say such a thing! Why, you're not forty yet, and Nan is twenty-four.
+Why, that's hardly any difference at all."
+
+"So Nan says," said Mr. Fairfield, smiling, "so I dare say my
+arithmetic's at fault."
+
+"Of course it is," said Patty, "and you don't look a bit old either. Why,
+you look as young as Mr. Hepworth, and he looks nearly as young as
+Kenneth, and Kenneth's only two years older than I am."
+
+"That sounds a little complicated, Patty, but I'm sure you mean it as a
+compliment, so I'll take it as such."
+
+A little before eight o'clock, Patty, in her shimmering gown, went
+dancing downstairs.
+
+The rooms were already crowded with guests, and the first familiar face
+Patty saw was that of Mr. Hepworth, who came toward her with a glad smile
+of greeting.
+
+"How grown-up we are looking to-night," he said. "I shall have to paint
+your portrait all over again, and you must wear that gown, and we will
+call it, 'A Moonlight Sonata,' and send it to the exhibition."
+
+"That will be lovely!" exclaimed Patty; "but can you paint silver?"
+
+"Well, I could try to get a silvery effect, at least."
+
+"That wouldn't do; it must be the real thing. I think you could only get
+it right by using aluminum paint like they paint the letter-boxes with."
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Hepworth, "that would be realistic, at least, but I see a
+crowd of your young friends coming this way, and I feel quite sure they
+mean to carry you off. So won't you promise me a dance or two, when the
+time comes for that part of the programme?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Patty, "and there is going to be dancing after the
+supper."
+
+Mr. Hepworth looked after Patty, as, all unconscious of his gaze, she
+went on through the rooms with the young friends who had claimed her.
+
+Gilbert Hepworth had long realised his growing interest in Patty, and
+acknowledged to himself that he loved the girl devotedly. But he had
+never by word or look intimated this, and had no intention of doing so
+until she should be some years older. He, himself, was thirty-four, and
+he knew that must seem old indeed to a girl of seventeen. So he really
+had little hope that he ever could win her for his own, but he allowed
+himself the pleasure of her society whenever opportunity offered, and it
+pleased him to do for her such acts of courtesy and kindness as could not
+be construed into special attentions, or indication of an unwelcome
+devotion.
+
+Among the group that surrounded Patty was Kenneth Harper, a college boy
+who was a good chum of Patty's and a favourite with Mr. Fairfield. Marian
+and Frank were with them, also Bob and Bumble, the Barlow Twins, and a
+number of the Philadelphia young people.
+
+This group laughed and chatted merrily until the orchestra struck up the
+wedding march, and an expectant hush fell upon the assembly.
+
+At Nan's special request, there were no bridesmaids, and when the bride
+entered with her father, she was, as Patty had prophesied, a perfect
+picture in her beautiful wedding gown.
+
+Mr. Fairfield seemed to think so too, and his happy smile as he came to
+meet her, gave Patty a thrill of gladness to think that this happiness
+had come to her father. His life had been lonely, and she was glad that
+it was to be shared by such a truly sweet and lovely woman as Nan.
+
+Patty was the first to congratulate the wedded pair, and Mr. Hepworth,
+who was an usher, escorted her up to them that she might do so. Patty
+kissed both the bride and the bridegroom with whole-hearted affection,
+and after a few merry words turned away to give place to others.
+
+"Come on, Patty," said Kenneth, "a whole crowd of us are going to camp
+out in one of those jolly cozy corners on the verandah, and have our
+supper there."
+
+So Patty went with the merry crowd, and found that Kenneth had selected a
+conveniently located spot near one of the dining-room windows.
+
+"I'm so glad it's supper time," she said, as they settled themselves
+comfortably in their chosen retreat. "I've been so busy and excited
+to-day that I've hardly eaten a thing, and I'm starving with hunger. And
+now that I've got my father safely married, and off my hands, I feel
+relieved of a great responsibility, and can eat my supper with a mind at
+rest."
+
+"When I'm married," said Helen Barlow, "I mean to have a wedding exactly
+like this one. I think it's the loveliest one I ever saw."
+
+"You won't, though, Bumble," said Patty, laughing. "In the first place,
+you'll forget to order your wedding gown until a day or two before the
+occasion, and of course it won't be done. And then you'll forget to send
+out the invitations, so of course you'll have no guests. And I'm sure
+you'll forget to invite the minister, so there'll be no ceremony,
+anyway."
+
+Bumble laughed good-naturedly at this, for the helter-skelter ways of the
+Barlow family were well known to everybody.
+
+"It would be that way," she said, "if I looked after things myself, but I
+shall expect you, Patty, to take entire charge of the occasion, and then
+everything will go along like clockwork."
+
+"Are you staying long in Philadelphia, Miss Fairfield?" asked Ethel
+Banks, a Philadelphia girl, who lived not far from the Allens.
+
+"A few days longer," said Patty. "I have to go back to New York next
+Tuesday, and then no more gaiety for me. I don't know how I shall survive
+such a sudden change, but after this mad whirl of parties and things, I
+have to come down to plain everyday studying of lessons,--but we won't
+talk about that now; it's a painful subject to me at any time, but
+especially when I'm at a party."
+
+"Me, too," said Kenneth. "If ever I get through college, I don't think
+I'll want to see a book for the next twenty years."
+
+"I didn't know you hated your lessons so, Kenneth," said Marian. "I
+thought Patty was the only one of my friends who was willing to avow that
+she was like that 'Poor little Paul, who didn't like study at all.'"
+
+"Yes, I'm a Paul too," said Kenneth, "and I may as well own up to it."
+
+"But you don't let it interfere with your work," said Patty; "you dig
+just as hard as if you really enjoyed it."
+
+"So do you," said Kenneth, "but some day after we have both been
+graduated, I suppose we'll be glad that we did our digging after all."
+
+A little later, Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield went away, amid showers of
+_confetti_, and after that there was an hour of informal dancing.
+
+Patty was besieged with partners asking for a dance, and as there was no
+programme, she would make no promises, but accepted whoever might ask her
+first at the beginning of each dance. She liked to dance with Kenneth,
+for his step suited hers perfectly, and her cousin Bob was also an
+exceptionally good dancer.
+
+But Patty showed no partiality, and enjoyed all the dances with her usual
+enthusiasm.
+
+Suddenly she remembered that she had promised Mr. Hepworth a dance, but
+he had not come to claim it. Wondering, she looked around to see where he
+might be, and discovered him watching her from across the room.
+
+There was an amused smile on his face, and Patty went to him, and asked
+him in her direct way, why he didn't claim his dance.
+
+"You are so surrounded," he said, "by other and more attractive partners,
+that I hated to disturb you."
+
+"Nonsense," said Patty, without a trace of self-consciousness or
+embarrassment. "I like you better than lots of these Philadelphia boys.
+Come on."
+
+"Thank you for the compliment," said Mr. Hepworth, as they began to
+dance, "but you seemed to be finding these Philadelphia boys very
+agreeable."
+
+"They're nice enough," said Patty, carelessly, "and some of them are good
+dancers, but not as good as you are, Mr. Hepworth. Do you know you dance
+like a--like a--will-o'-the-wisp."
+
+"I never met a will-o'-the-wisp, but I'm sure they must be delightful
+people, to judge from the enthusiastic tone in which you mention them. Do
+you never get tired of parties and dancing, Patty?"
+
+"Oh, no, indeed. I love it all. But you see I haven't had very much. I've
+never been to but two or three real dancing-parties in my life. Why, I've
+only just outgrown children's parties. I may get tired of it all, after
+two or three seasons, but as yet it's such a novelty to me that I enjoy
+every speck of it."
+
+Mr. Hepworth suddenly realised how many social seasons he had been
+through, and how far removed he was from this young debutante in his
+views on such matters. He assured himself that he need never hope she
+would take any special interest in him, and he vowed she should never
+know of his feelings toward her. So he adapted his mood to hers, and
+chatted gaily of the events of the evening. Patty told him of the many
+pleasures that had been planned for her, during the rest of her visit at
+Mrs. Allen's, and he was truly glad that the girl was to have a taste of
+the social gaiety that so strongly appealed to her.
+
+"Miss Fairfield," said Ethel Banks, coming up to Patty, as the music
+stopped, "I've been talking with my father, and he says if you and Mr.
+and Mrs. Allen will go, he'll take us all in the automobile down to
+Atlantic City for the week-end."
+
+"How perfectly gorgeous!" cried Patty, her eyes dancing with delight.
+"I'd love to go. I've never been in an automobile but a few times in my
+life, and never for such a long trip as that. Let's go and ask Mrs. Allen
+at once."
+
+Without further thought of Mr. Hepworth, save to give him a smiling nod
+as she turned away, Patty went with Ethel to ask Mrs. Allen about the
+projected trip.
+
+Mrs. Allen was delighted to go, and said she would also answer for her
+husband. So it was arranged, and the girls went dancing back to Mr. Banks
+to tell him so. Ethel's father was a kind-hearted, hospitable man, whose
+principal thought was to give pleasure to his only child. Ethel had no
+mother, and Mrs. Allen had often before chaperoned the girl on similar
+excursions to the one now in prospect.
+
+As Mr. Banks was an enthusiastic motorist, and drove his own car, there
+was ample room for Mr. and Mrs. Allen and Patty.
+
+Soon the wedding guests departed, and Patty was glad to take off her
+pretty gown and tumble into bed.
+
+She slept late the next morning, and awoke to find Mrs. Allen sitting on
+the bed beside her, caressing her curly hair.
+
+"I hate to waken you," said that lady, "but it's after ten o'clock, and
+you know you are to go to your Cousin Helen's to spend the day. I want
+you to come home early this evening, as I have a little party planned for
+you, and so it's only right that you should start as soon as possible
+this morning. Here is a nice cup of cocoa and a bit of toast. Let me slip
+a kimono around you, while you breakfast."
+
+In her usual busy way, Mrs. Allen fluttered about, while she talked, and
+after putting a kimono round her visitor, she drew up beside her a small
+table, containing a dainty breakfast tray.
+
+"It's just as well you're going away to-day," Mrs. Allen chattered on,
+"because the house is a perfect sight. Not one thing is in its place, and
+about a dozen men have already arrived to try to straighten out the
+chaos. So, as you may judge, my dear, since I have to superintend all
+these things, I'll really get along better without you. Now, you get
+dressed, and run right along to the Barlows'. James will take you over in
+the pony cart, and he'll come for you again at eight o'clock this
+evening. Mind, now, you're not to stay a minute after eight o'clock, for
+I have invited some young people here to see you. I'll send the carriage
+to-night, and then you can bring your Barlow cousins back with you."
+
+As Mrs. Allen rattled on, she had been fussing around the room getting
+out Patty's clothes to wear that day, and acting in such a generally
+motherly manner that Patty felt sure she must be missing Nan, and she
+couldn't help feeling very sorry for her, and told her so.
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Allen, "it's awful. I've only just begun to realise that
+I've lost my girl; still it had to come, I suppose, sooner or later, and
+I wouldn't put a straw in the way of Nan's happiness. Well, I shall get
+used to it in time, I suppose, and then sometimes I shall expect Nan to
+come and visit me."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+ATLANTIC CITY
+
+
+Patty's day at the Barlows' was a decided contrast to her visit at Mrs.
+Allen's.
+
+In the Allen home every detail of housekeeping was complete and very
+carefully looked after, while at the Barlows' everything went along in a
+slipshod, hit-or-miss fashion.
+
+Patty well remembered her visit at their summer home which they called
+the Hurly-Burly, and she could not see that their city residence was any
+less deserving of the name. Her Aunt Grace and Uncle Ted were jolly,
+good-natured people, who cared little about system or method in their
+home. The result was that things often went wrong, but nobody cared
+especially if they did.
+
+"I meant to have a nicer luncheon for you, Patty," said her aunt, as they
+sat down at the table, "but the cook forgot to order lobsters, and when I
+telephoned for fresh peas the grocer said I was too late, for they were
+all sold. I'm so sorry, for I do love hothouse peas, don't you?"
+
+"I don't care what I have to eat, Aunt Grace. I just came to visit you
+people, you know, and the luncheon doesn't matter a bit."
+
+"That's nice of you to say so, child. I remember what an adaptable little
+thing you were when you were with us down in the country, and really, you
+did us quite a lot of good that summer. You taught Bumble how to keep her
+bureau drawers in order. She's forgotten it now, but it was nice while it
+lasted."
+
+"_Helen_, Mother, I do wish you would call me Helen. Bumble is such a
+silly name."
+
+"I know it, my dear," said Mrs. Barlow, placidly, "and I do mean to, but
+you see I forget."
+
+"I forget it, too," said Patty. "But I'll try to call you Helen if you
+want me to. What time does Uncle Ted come home, Aunt Grace?"
+
+"Oh, about five o'clock, or perhaps six; and sometimes he gets here at
+four. I never know what time he's coming home."
+
+"It isn't only that," said Bob; "in fact, father usually comes home about
+the same time. But our clocks are all so different that it depends on
+which room mother is in, as to what time she thinks it is."
+
+"That's so," said Helen. "We have eleven clocks in this house, Patty, and
+every one of them is always wrong. Still, it's convenient in a way; if
+you want to go anywhere at a certain time, no matter what time you start,
+you can always find at least one clock that's about where you want it to
+be."
+
+"I'm sure I don't see why the clocks don't keep the right time," said
+Mrs. Barlow. "A man comes every Saturday on purpose to wind and set them
+all."
+
+"We fool with them," confessed Bob. "You see, Patty, we all like to get
+up late, and we set our clocks back every night, so that we can do it
+with a good grace."
+
+"Yes," said Helen, "and then if we want each other to go anywhere through
+the day,--on time, you know,--we go around the house, and set all the
+clocks forward. That's the only possible way to make anybody hurry up."
+
+Patty laughed. The whole conversation was so characteristic of the
+Barlows as she remembered them, and she wondered how they could enjoy
+living in such a careless way.
+
+But they were an especially happy family, and most hospitable and
+entertaining. Patty thoroughly enjoyed her afternoon, although they did
+nothing in particular for her entertainment. But Aunt Grace was very fond
+of her motherless niece, and the twins just adored Patty.
+
+At five o'clock tea was served, and though the appointments were not at
+all like Mrs. Allen's carefully equipped service, yet it was an hour of
+comfortable enjoyment. Uncle Ted came home, and he was so merry and full
+of jokes, that he made them all laugh. Two or three casual callers
+dropped in, and Patty thought again, as she sometimes did, that perhaps
+she liked her Barlow cousins best of all.
+
+Dinner, not entirely to Patty's surprise, showed some of the same
+characteristics as luncheon had done. The salad course was lacking,
+because the mayonnaise dressing had been upset in the refrigerator; the
+ice cream was spoiled, because by mistake the freezer had been set in the
+sun until the ice melted, and the pretty pink pyramid was in a state of
+soft collapse.
+
+But, as Aunt Grace cheerfully remarked, if it hadn't been that, it would
+have been something else, and it didn't matter much, anyway.
+
+It was this happy philosophy of the Barlow family that charmed Patty so,
+and it left no room for embarrassment at these minor accidents, either on
+the part of the family or their guest.
+
+"Now," said Patty, after dinner, "if necessary, I'm going to set all the
+clocks forward, for, Helen, I do want you to be ready when Mrs. Allen
+sends for us. She doesn't like to be kept waiting, one bit."
+
+"Never mind the clocks, Patty," said Helen good-naturedly. "I'll be
+ready." She scampered off to dress, and sure enough was entirely ready
+before the carriage came.
+
+"You see, Patty," she said, "we _can_ do things on time, only we've
+fallen into the habit of not doing so, unless there's somebody like you
+here to spur us up."
+
+Patty admitted this, but told Bumble that she was sorry her influence was
+not more lasting.
+
+                    *       *       *       *       *
+
+On Saturday they started with the Banks's on the automobile trip. Mrs.
+Allen provided Patty with a long coat for the journey, and a veil to tie
+over her hat. Not being accustomed to motoring, Patty did not have
+appropriate garments, and Mrs. Allen took delight in fitting her out with
+some of Nan's.
+
+Mr. Banks's motor-car was of the largest and finest type. It was what is
+called a palace touring car, and represented the highest degree of
+comfort and luxury.
+
+Patty had never been in such a beautiful machine, and when she was snugly
+tucked in the tonneau between Mrs. Allen and Ethel, Mr. Banks and Mr.
+Allen climbed into the front seat, and they started off.
+
+The ride to Atlantic City was most exhilarating, and Patty enjoyed every
+minute of it. There was a top to the machine, for which reason the force
+of the wind was not so uncomfortable, and the tourists were able to
+converse with each other.
+
+"I thought," said Patty, "that when people went in these big cars, at
+this fearful rate of speed, you could hardly hear yourself think, much
+less talk to each other. What's the name of your car, Mr. Banks?"
+
+"The Flying Dutchman," was the reply.
+
+"It's a flyer, all right," said Patty, "but I don't see anything Dutch
+about it."
+
+"That's in honour of one of my ancestors, who, they tell me, came over
+from Holland some hundreds of years ago."
+
+"Then it's a most appropriate name," said Patty, "and it's the most
+beautiful and comfortable car I ever saw."
+
+They went spinning on mile after mile at what Patty thought was terrific
+speed, but which Mr. Banks seemed to consider merely moderate. After a
+while, seeing how interested Patty was in the mechanism of the car, Mr.
+Allen offered to change seats with her, and let her sit with Mr. Banks,
+while that gentleman explained to her the working of it.
+
+Patty gladly made the change, and eagerly listened while Mr. Banks
+explained the steering gear, and as much of the motor apparatus as he
+could make clear to her.
+
+Patty liked Mr. Banks. He was a kind and courteous gentleman, and treated
+her with a deference that gave Patty a sudden sense of importance. It
+seemed strange to think that she, little Patty Fairfield, was the
+honoured guest of the well-known Mr. Banks of Philadelphia. She did her
+best to be polite and entertaining in return, and the result was very
+pleasant, and also very instructive in the art of motoring.
+
+They reached Atlantic City late in the afternoon, and went at once to a
+large hotel, where Mr. Banks had telegraphed ahead for rooms.
+
+Patty and Ethel had adjoining rooms, and the Allens and Mr. Banks had
+rooms across the hall from them.
+
+Patty had begun to like Ethel before this trip had been planned, and as
+she knew her better she liked her more. Ethel Banks, though the only
+daughter of a millionaire, was not in the least proud or ostentatious.
+She was a sweet, simple-minded girl, with friendly ways, and a good
+comradeship soon developed between her and Patty.
+
+She was a little older than Patty, and had just come out in society
+during the past winter.
+
+As Patty was still a schoolgirl, she could not be considered as "out,"
+but of course on occasions like the present, such formalities made little
+or no difference.
+
+"Now, my dear," said Mr. Banks to Ethel, "if you and Miss Fairfield will
+hasten your toilettes a little, we will have time for a ride on the board
+walk before dinner." This pleased the girls, and in a short time they had
+changed their travelling clothes for pretty light-coloured frocks, and
+went downstairs to find Mr. Banks waiting for them on the verandah. He
+explained that the Allens would not go with them on this expedition, so
+the three started off. As their hotel faced the ocean, it was just a step
+to the wide and beautiful board walk that runs for miles along the beach
+at Atlantic City.
+
+In all her life Patty had never seen such a sight as this before, and the
+beauty and wonder of it all nearly took her breath away.
+
+The board walk was forty feet wide, and was like a moving picture of
+gaily-dressed and happy-faced people.
+
+Although early in April, it seemed like summer time, so balmy was the
+air, so bright the sunshine. Patty gazed with delight at the blue ocean,
+dotted with whitecaps, and then back to the wonderful panorama of the gay
+crowd, the music of the bands, and the laughter of the children.
+
+"The best way to get an idea of the extent of this thing," said Mr.
+Banks, "is to take a ride in the wheeled chairs. You two girls hop into
+that double one, and I will take this single one, and we'll go along the
+walk for a mile or so."
+
+The chairs were propelled by strong young coloured men, who were affable
+and polite, and who explained the sights as they passed them, and pointed
+out places of interest. Patty said to Ethel that she felt as if she were
+in a perambulator, except that she wasn't strapped in. But she soon
+became accustomed to the slow, gentle motion of the chairs, and declared
+that it was indeed an ideal way to see the beautiful place. On one side
+was an endless row of small shops or bazaars, where wares of all sorts
+were offered for sale. At one of these, a booth of oriental trinkets, Mr.
+Banks stopped and bought each of the girls a necklace of gay-coloured
+beads. They were not valuable ornaments, but had a quaint, foreign air,
+and were very pretty in their own way. Patty was greatly pleased, and
+when they passed another booth which contained exquisite Armenian
+embroideries, she begged Ethel to accept the little gift from her, and
+picking out some filmy needle-worked handkerchiefs, she gave them to her
+friend.
+
+On they went, past the several long piers, until Mr. Banks said it was
+time to turn around if they would reach the hotel in time for dinner.
+
+So back they went to the hotel, and, after finding the Allens, they all
+went to the dining-room.
+
+Privately, Patty wondered how these people could spend so much time
+eating dinner, when they might be out on the beach. At last, to her great
+satisfaction, dinner was over, and Mr. Allen proposed that they all go
+out for a short stroll on the board walk.
+
+Although it had been a gay scene in the afternoon, that was as nothing to
+the evening effect. Thousands,--millions, it seemed to Patty,--of
+electric lights in various wonderful devices, and in every possible
+colour, made the place as light as day, and the varied gorgeousness of
+the whole scene made it seem, as Patty said, like a big kaleidoscope.
+
+They walked gaily along, mingling with the good-natured crowd, noticing
+various sights or incidents here and there, until they reached the great
+steel pier, where Mr. Allen invited them to go with him to the concert.
+So in they went to listen to a band concert. This pleased Patty, for she
+was especially fond of a brass band, but Mrs. Allen said it was nothing
+short of pandemonium.
+
+"Your tastes are barbaric, Patty," she said, laughing. "You love light
+and colour and noise, and I don't believe you could have too much of any
+of the three."
+
+"I don't believe I could," said Patty, laughing herself, as the music
+banged and crashed.
+
+"And that gewgaw you've got hanging around your neck," went on Mrs.
+Allen; "your fancy for that proves you a true barbarian."
+
+"I think it's lovely," said Patty, looking at her gay-coloured beads. "I
+don't care if I do like crazy things. Ethel likes these beads, too."
+
+"That's all right," said Mrs. Allen. "Of course you like them,
+chickadees, and they look very pretty with your light frocks. It's no
+crime, Patty, to be barbaric. It only means you have youth and enthusiasm
+and a capacity for enjoyment."
+
+"Indeed I have," said Patty. "I'm enjoying all this so much that I feel
+as if I should just burst, or fly away, or something."
+
+"Don't fly away yet," said Ethel. "We can't spare you. There are lots
+more things to see."
+
+And so there were. After the concert they walked on, and on, continually
+seeing new and interesting scenes of one sort or another. Indeed, they
+walked so far that Mr. Allen said they must take chairs back. So again
+they got into the rolling chairs, and rolled slowly back to the hotel.
+
+Patty was thoroughly tired out, but very happy, and went to sleep with
+the music of the dashing surf sounding in her ears.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+LESSONS AGAIN
+
+
+But all this fun and frolic soon came to an end, and Patty returned to
+New York to take up her studies again.
+
+Grandma Elliott was waiting for her in the pretty apartment home, and
+welcomed her warmly.
+
+Mrs. Elliott and Patty were to stay at The Wilberforce only about a
+fortnight longer. Then Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield were to return and take
+Patty away with them to the new home on Seventy-second Street. Then the
+apartment in The Wilberforce was to be given up, and Grandma Elliott
+would return to Vernondale, where her son's family eagerly awaited her.
+
+"I've had a perfectly beautiful time, Grandma," said Patty, as she took
+off her wraps, "but I haven't time to tell you about it now. Just think,
+school begins again to-morrow, and I haven't even looked at my lessons. I
+thought I would study some in Philadelphia, but goodness me, there wasn't
+a minute's time to do anything but frivol. The wedding was just gorgeous!
+Nan was a dream, and papa looked like an Adonis. I'll tell you more at
+dinner time, but now I really must get to work."
+
+It was already late in the afternoon, but Patty brought out her books,
+and studied away zealously until dinner time. Then making a hasty
+toilette, she went down to the dining-room with grandma, and during
+dinner gave the old lady a more detailed account of her visit.
+
+After dinner, Lorraine Hamilton and the Hart girls joined them in the
+parlour. But after chatting for a few moments with them, Patty declared
+she must go back to her studies.
+
+"It's awfully hard," she said to Lorraine, as they walked to school next
+morning, "to settle down to work after having such a gay vacation. I do
+believe, Lorraine, that I never was intended for a student."
+
+"You're doing too much," said Lorraine. "It's perfectly silly of you,
+Patty, to try to cram two years' work into one, the way you're doing."
+
+"No, it isn't," said Patty, "because then I won't have to go to school
+next year, and that will be worth all this hard work now."
+
+"I'm awfully sorry you're going away from The Wilberforce," said
+Lorraine. "I shall miss you terribly."
+
+"I know it, and I'll miss you, too; but Seventy-second Street isn't very
+far away, and you must come to see me often."
+
+The schoolgirls all welcomed Patty back, for she was a general favourite,
+and foremost in all the recreations and pleasures, as well as the classes
+of the Oliphant school.
+
+"Oh, Patty," cried Elise Farrington, as she met her in the cloakroom,
+"what do you think? We're going to get up a play for commencement. An
+original play, and act it ourselves, and we want you to write it, and act
+in it, and stage-manage it, and all. Will you, Patty?"
+
+"Of course I will," said Patty. "That is, I'll help. I won't write it all
+alone, nor act it all by myself, either. I don't suppose it's to be a
+monologue, is it?"
+
+"No," said Elise, laughing. "We're all to be in it, and of course we'll
+all help write it, but you must be at the head of it, and see that it all
+goes on properly."
+
+"All right," said Patty, good-naturedly, "I'll do all I can, but you know
+I'm pretty busy this year, Elise."
+
+"I know it, Patty, and you needn't do much on this thing. Just
+superintend, and help us out here and there."
+
+Then the girls went into the class room and the day's work began.
+
+Patty had grown very fond of Elise, and though some of the other girls
+looked upon her as rather haughty, and what they called stuck-up, Patty
+failed to discern any such traits in her friend; and though Elise was a
+daughter of a millionaire, and lived a petted and luxurious life, yet, to
+Patty's way of thinking, she was more sincere and simple in her
+friendship than many of the other girls.
+
+After school that day Elise begged Patty to go home with her and begin
+the play.
+
+"Can't do it," said Patty. "I must go home and study."
+
+"Oh, just come for a little while; the other girls are coming, and if you
+help us get the thing started, we can work at it ourselves, you know."
+
+"Well, I'll go," said Patty, "but I can only stay a few minutes."
+
+So they all went home with Elise, and settled themselves in her
+attractive casino to compose their great work.
+
+But as might be expected from a group of chattering schoolgirls, they did
+not progress very rapidly.
+
+"Tell us all about your fun in Philadelphia, Patty," said Adelaide Hart.
+
+And as Patty enthusiastically recounted the gaieties of her visit, the
+time slipped away until it was five o'clock, and not a word had been
+written.
+
+"Girls, I must go," cried Patty, looking at her watch. "I have an awful
+lot of studying to do, and I really oughtn't to have come here at all."
+
+"Oh, wait a little longer," pleaded Elise. "We must get the outline of
+this thing."
+
+"No, I can't," said Patty, "I really can't; but I'll come Saturday
+morning, and will work on it then, if you like."
+
+Patty hurried away, and when she reached home she found Kenneth Harper
+waiting for her.
+
+"I thought you'd never come," he said, as she arrived. "Your school keeps
+very late, doesn't it?"
+
+"Oh, I've been visiting since school," said Patty. "I oughtn't to have
+gone, but I haven't seen the girls for so long, and they had a plan on
+hand that they wanted to discuss with me."
+
+"I have a plan on hand, too," said Kenneth. "I've been talking it over
+with Mrs. Elliott, and she has been kind enough to agree to it. A crowd
+of us are going to the matinee on Saturday, and we want you to go. Mrs.
+Morse has kindly consented to act as chaperon, and there'll be about
+twelve in the party. Will you go, Patty?"
+
+"Will I go!" cried Patty. "Indeed I will, Ken. Nothing could keep me at
+home. Won't it be lots of fun?"
+
+"Yes, it will," said Kenneth, "and I'm so glad you will go. I was afraid
+you'd say those old lessons of yours were in the way."
+
+Patty's face fell.
+
+"I oughtn't to go," she said, "for I've promised the girls to spend
+Saturday morning with them, and now this plan of yours means that I shall
+lose the whole day, and I have so much to do on Saturday; an extra theme
+to write, and a lot of back work to make up. Oh, Ken, I oughtn't to go."
+
+"Oh, come ahead. You can do those things Saturday evening."
+
+Patty sighed. She knew she wouldn't feel much like work Saturday evening,
+but she couldn't resist the temptation of the gay party Saturday
+afternoon. So she agreed to go, and Kenneth went away much pleased.
+
+"What do you think, grandma?" said she. "Do you think I ought to have
+given up the matinee, and stayed at home to study?"
+
+"No, indeed," said Grandma Elliott, who was an easy-going old lady.
+"You'll enjoy the afternoon with your young friends, and, as Kenneth
+says, you can study in the evening."
+
+So when Saturday came Patty spent the morning with Elise. The other girls
+were there, and they really got to work on their play, and planned the
+scenes and the characters.
+
+"It will be perfectly lovely!" exclaimed Adelaide Hart. "I'm so glad for
+our class to do something worth while. It will be a great deal nicer than
+the tableaux of last year."
+
+"But it will be an awful lot of work," said Hilda Henderson. "All those
+costumes, though they seem so simple, will be quite troublesome to get
+up, and the scenery will be no joke."
+
+"Perhaps Mr. Hepworth will help us with the scenery," said Patty. "He did
+once when we had a kind of a little play in Vernondale, where I used to
+live. He's an artist, you know, and he can sketch in scenes in a minute,
+and make them look as if they had taken days to do. He's awfully clever
+at it, and so kind that I think he'll consent to do it."
+
+"That will be regularly splendid!" said Elise, "and you'd better ask him
+at once, Patty, so as to give him as much time as possible."
+
+"No, I won't ask him quite yet," said Patty, laughing. "I think I'll wait
+until the play is written, first. I don't believe it's customary to
+engage a scene painter before a play is scarcely begun."
+
+"Well, then, let's get at it," said Hilda, who was practical.
+
+So to work they went, and really wrote the actual lines of a good part of
+the first act.
+
+"Now, that's something like," said Patty, as, when the clock struck noon,
+she looked with satisfaction on a dozen or more pages, neatly written in
+Hilda's pretty penmanship. "If we keep on like that, we can get this
+thing done in five or six Saturday mornings, and then I'll ask Mr.
+Hepworth about the scenery. Then we can begin to rehearse, and we'll just
+about be ready for commencement day."
+
+While Patty was with the girls, her interest and enthusiasm were so great
+that the play seemed the only thing to be thought of. But when she
+reached home and saw the pile of untouched schoolbooks and remembered
+that she would be away all the afternoon, she felt many misgivings.
+
+However, she had promised to go, so off she went to the matinee, and had
+a thoroughly pleasant and enjoyable time. Mrs. Morse invited her to go
+home to dinner with Clementine, saying that she would send her home
+safely afterward.
+
+Clementine added her plea that this invitation might be accepted, but
+Patty said no. Although she wanted very much to go with the Morses, yet
+she knew that duty called her home. So she regretfully declined, giving
+her reason, and went home, determined to work hard at her themes and her
+lessons. But after her merry day with her young friends, she was not only
+tired physically, but found great difficulty in concentrating her
+thoughts on more prosaic subjects. But Patty had pretty strong
+will-power, and she forced herself to go at her work in earnest. Grandma
+Elliott watched her, as she pored over one book after another, or hastily
+scribbled her themes. A little pucker formed itself between her brows,
+and a crimson flush appeared on her cheeks.
+
+At ten o'clock Mrs. Elliott asserted her authority.
+
+"Patty," she said, "you must go to bed. You'll make yourself ill if you
+work so hard."
+
+Patty pushed back her books. "I believe I'll have to, grandma," she said.
+"My head's all in a whirl, and the letters are dancing jigs before my
+eyes."
+
+Exhausted, Patty crept into bed, and though she slept late next morning,
+Grandma Elliott imagined that her face still bore traces of worry and
+hard work.
+
+"Nonsense, grandma," said Patty, laughing. "I guess my robust
+constitution can stand a little extra exertion once in a while. I'll try
+to take it easier this week, and I believe I'll give up my gymnasium
+work. That will give me more time, and won't interfere with getting my
+diploma."
+
+But though Patty gained a few extra half hours by omitting the gymnasium
+class, she missed the daily exercise more than she would admit even to
+herself.
+
+"You're getting round-shouldered, Patty," said Lorraine, one day; "and I
+believe it's because you work so hard over those old lessons."
+
+"It isn't the work, Lorraine," said Patty, laughing. "It's the play. I
+had to rewrite the whole of that garden scene last night, after I
+finished my lessons."
+
+"Why, what was the matter with it?"
+
+"It was all wrong. We didn't think of it at the time, but in one place
+Elise has to go off at one side of the stage, and, immediately after,
+come on at the other side, in different dress. Now, of course, that won't
+do; it has to be arranged so that she will have time to change her
+costume. So I had to write in some lines for the others. And there were
+several little things like that to be looked after, so I had to do over
+pretty nearly the whole scene."
+
+"It's a shame, Patty! We make you do all the hardest of the work."
+
+"Not a bit of it. I love to do it; and when we all work together and
+chatter so, of course we don't think it out carefully enough, and so
+these mistakes creep in. Don't say anything about it, Lorraine. The girls
+will never notice my little changes and corrections, and I don't want to
+pose as a poor, pale martyr, growing round-shouldered in her efforts to
+help her fellow-sisters!"
+
+"You're a brick, Patty, but I will tell them, all the same. If we're all
+going to write this play together, we're going to do it all, and not have
+you doing our work for us."
+
+Lorraine's loyalty to Patty was unbounded, and as she had, moreover, a
+trace of stubbornness in her character, Patty knew that no amount of
+argument would move her from her determination to straighten matters out.
+So she gave up the discussion, only saying, "You won't do a bit of good,
+Lorraine; and anyway, somebody ought to revise the thing, and if I don't
+do it, who will?"
+
+Patty said this without a trace of egotism, for she and Lorraine both
+knew that none of the other girls had enough constructive talent or
+dramatic capability to put the finishing touches on the lines of the
+play. That was Patty's special forte, just as Clementine Morse was the
+one best fitted to plan the scenic effects, and Elise Farrington to
+design the costumes.
+
+"That's so," said Lorraine, with a little sigh, "and I suppose, Patty,
+you'll just go on in your mad career, and do exactly as you please."
+
+"I suppose I shall," said Patty, laughing at Lorraine's hopeless
+expression; "but I do want this play to be a success, and I mean to help
+all I can, in any way I can."
+
+"It's bound to be a success," said Lorraine with enthusiasm, "because the
+girls are all so interested, and I think we're all working hard in our
+different ways. Of course I don't have anything to do except to look
+after the incidental music, but I do hope that will turn out all right."
+
+"Of course it will, Lorraine," said Patty. "Your selections are perfect
+so far; and you do look after more than that. Those two little songs you
+wrote are gems, and they fit into the second act just exactly right. I
+think you're a real poet, Lorraine, and after the play is over I wish
+you'd get those little songs published. I'm sure they're worth it."
+
+"I wish I could," said Lorraine, "and I do mean to try."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+A NEW HOME
+
+
+Great was the rejoicing and celebration when Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield
+returned from their wedding trip. They came to the apartment to remain
+there for a few days before moving to the new house.
+
+Patty welcomed Nan with open arms, and it was harder than ever for her to
+attend to her studies when there was so much going on in the family.
+
+The furnishing of the new house was almost completed, but there remained
+several finishing touches to be attended to. As Patty's time was so much
+occupied, she was not allowed to have any hand in this work. Mrs. Allen
+had come on from Philadelphia to help her daughter, and Grandma Elliott
+assisted in dismantling the apartment, preparatory to giving it up.
+
+So when Patty started to school one Friday morning, and was told that
+when the session was over she was to go to her new home to stay, she felt
+as if she were going to an unexplored country.
+
+It was with joyful anticipations that she put on her hat and coat, after
+school, and started home.
+
+Her father had given her a latch-key, and as she stepped in at the front
+door, Nan, in a pretty house dress, stood ready to welcome her.
+
+"My dear child," she said, "welcome home. How do you like the prospect?"
+
+"It's lovely," said Patty, gazing around at as much as she could see of
+the beautiful house and its well-furnished rooms. "What a lot of new
+things there are, and I recognise a good many of the old ones, too. Oh,
+Nan, won't we be happy all here together?"
+
+"Indeed we will," said Nan. "I think it's the loveliest house in the
+world, and mother and Fred have fixed it up so prettily. Come up and see
+your room, Patty."
+
+A large, pleasant front room on the third floor had been assigned to
+Patty's use, and all her own special and favourite belongings had been
+placed there.
+
+"How dear of you, Nan, to arrange this all for me, and put it all to
+rights. I really couldn't have taken the time to do it myself, but it's
+just the way I want it."
+
+"And this," said Nan, opening a door into a small room adjoining, "is
+your own little study, where you can be quiet and undisturbed, while
+you're studying those terrific lessons of yours."
+
+Patty gave a little squeal of delight at the dainty library, furnished in
+green, and with her own desk and bookcases already in place.
+
+"But don't think," Nan went on, "that we shall let you stay here and grub
+away at those books much of the time. An hour a day is all we intend to
+allow you to be absent from our family circle while you're in the house."
+
+"An hour a day to study!" exclaimed Patty. "It's more likely that an hour
+a day is all I can give you of my valuable society."
+
+"We'll see about that," said Nan, wagging her head wisely. "You see I
+have some authority now, and I intend to exercise it."
+
+"Ha," said Patty, dramatically, "I see it will be war to the knife!"
+
+"To the knife!" declared Nan, as she ran away laughing.
+
+Patty looked about her two lovely rooms with genuine pleasure. She was
+like a cat in her love of comfortable chairs and luxurious cushions, and
+she fully appreciated the special and individual care with which Nan and
+her father had considered her tastes. Had she not been so busy she would
+have preferred to have a hand in the arranging of her rooms herself, but
+as it was, she was thankful that someone else had done it for her.
+
+Hastily throwing off her hat and coat, she flung herself into a
+comfortable easy chair by her library table, and was soon deep in her
+French lesson.
+
+A couple of hours later Nan came up and found her there.
+
+"Patty Fairfield!" she exclaimed. "You are the worst I ever saw! Get
+right up and dress for dinner! Your father will be home in a few minutes,
+and I want you to help me receive properly the master of the house."
+
+Patty rubbed her eyes and blinked, as Nan pulled the book away from her,
+and said, "Why, what time is it?"
+
+"Time for you to stop studying, and come out of your shell and mingle
+with the world. Wake up!" and Nan gave Patty a little shake.
+
+Patty came to herself and jumped up, saying, "Indeed, I'm glad enough to
+leave my horrid books, and I'm hungry enough to eat any dinner you may
+set before me. What shall I wear, Nan?"
+
+"Put on that pretty light blue thing of yours, with the lace yoke. This
+is rather a festival night, and we're going to celebrate the first dinner
+in our new home."
+
+So Patty brushed her curly hair and tied on a white ribbon bow of such
+exceeding size and freshness that she looked almost as if wings were
+sprouting from her shoulders. Then she donned her light blue frock, and
+went dancing downstairs, to find that her father had already arrived.
+
+"Well, Pattikins," he said, "can you feel at home in this big house,
+after living so long in our apartment?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Patty, "any place is home where you and Nan are."
+
+The dinner passed off gaily enough. Only the three were present, as Nan
+did not want any guests the first night.
+
+Although the dining-room appointments were those that had furnished the
+Fairfields'Vernondale home, yet they were so augmented by numerous
+wedding gifts of Nan's that Patty felt as if she were at a dinner party
+of unusual splendour.
+
+"It's lovely to live in a house with a bride," she said, "because there
+are such beautiful silver and glass things on the table, and on the
+sideboard."
+
+"Yes," said Nan, glancing around her with satisfaction. "I intend to use
+all my things. I think it's perfectly silly to pack them away in a safe,
+and never have any good of them."
+
+"But suppose burglars break in and steal them," said Patty.
+
+"Well, even so," said Nan, placidly, "they would be gone, but it wouldn't
+be much different from having them stored away in a safe deposit
+company."
+
+"Nan's principle is right," said Mr. Fairfield. "Now, here's the way I
+look at it: what you can't afford to lose, you can't afford to buy.
+Remember that, Patty, and if ever you are tempted to invest a large sum
+of money in a diamond or silver or any portable property, look upon that
+money as gone forever. True, you might realise on your possession in case
+of need, but more likely you could not, and, too, there is always the
+chance of losing it by carelessness or theft. So remember that you can't
+afford to buy what you can't afford to lose."
+
+"That's a new idea to me, papa," said Patty, "but I see what you mean and
+I know you are right. However, there's little chance of my investing in
+silver at present, for I can just as well use Nan's."
+
+"Of course you can," said Nan, heartily; "and whenever you want to have
+company, or a party of any kind, you've only to mention it, and not only
+my silver, but my servants and my own best efforts are at your disposal."
+
+"That's lovely," said Patty, "and I would love to have parties and invite
+the schoolgirls and some of the boys, but I can't take the time now. Why,
+I couldn't spare an evening from my studies to entertain the crowned
+heads of Europe."
+
+"Nonsense," said Mr. Fairfield, "you mustn't work so hard, Puss; and
+anyway you'll have to spare this evening, for I asked Hepworth to drop
+in, and I think two or three others may come, and we'll have a little
+informal housewarming."
+
+"Yes," said Patty, dubiously, "and Kenneth said he would call this
+evening, and Elise and Roger may come in. So, as it's Friday evening,
+I'll see them, of course; but after this I must study every evening
+except Fridays."
+
+A little later on, when a number of guests had assembled in the
+Fairfields' drawing-room, Patty looked like anything but a bookworm, or a
+pale-faced student. Her eyes danced, and the colour glowed in her pretty
+face, for she was very fond of merry society, and always looked her
+prettiest when thus animated.
+
+She and Elise entertained the others by quoting some bits from the school
+play, Nan sang for them, and Kenneth gave some of his clever and funny
+impersonations.
+
+Mr. Hepworth declared that he had no parlour tricks, but Patty asserted
+that he had, and she ran laughing from the room, to return with several
+large sheets of paper and a stick of drawing charcoal. Then she decreed
+that Mr. Hepworth should draw caricature portraits of all those present.
+After a little demurring, the artist consented, and shrieks of laughter
+arose as his clever pencil swiftly sketched a humorous portrait of each
+one.
+
+"It's right down jolly," said Kenneth to Patty, "your having a big house
+of your own like this. Mayn't I come often to see you? Mrs. Nan is so
+kind, she always has a welcome for me."
+
+"You may come and accept her welcome whenever you like," said Patty, "but
+I can't promise to see you, Ken, except Friday evenings. Honestly, I
+don't have one minute to myself. You see, we rehearse the play
+afternoons, and evenings I have to study, and Saturday is crammed jam
+full."
+
+"But she will see you, Kenneth," said Nan, who had heard these remarks.
+"We're not going to let her retire from the world in any such fashion as
+she proposes; so you come to see us whenever you like, and my word for
+it, Patty will be at home to you."
+
+Nan passed on, laughing, and Patty turned to Kenneth with an appealing
+glance.
+
+"You know how it is, don't you, Ken? I just have to stick to my work like
+everything, or I won't pass those fearful examinations, and now that I've
+made up my mind to try for them, I _do_ want to succeed."
+
+"Yes, I know, Patty, and I fully sympathise with your ambitions. Stick to
+it, and you'll come out all right yet; and if I should call sometimes
+when you're studying, just say you're too busy to see me, and it will be
+all right."
+
+"What an old trump you are, Ken. You always seem to understand."
+
+                    *       *       *       *       *
+
+But as the days passed on, Patty found that other people did not
+understand. Her study hours were continually interrupted. There were
+occasional callers in the afternoon, and when Nan presented herself at
+the study door, and begged so prettily that Patty would come down just
+this once, the girl hadn't the heart to refuse. Then there was often
+company in the evenings, and again Patty would be forced to break through
+her rules. Or there were temptations which she really couldn't
+resist,--such as when her father came home to dinner, bringing tickets
+for the opera, or for some especially fine play.
+
+Then, Nan had a day each week on which she received her friends, and on
+these Thursdays Patty was supposed also to act as hostess. Of course this
+pleasant duty was imperative, and Patty always enjoyed the little
+receptions, though she felt guilty at losing her Thursday afternoons.
+Almost invariably, too, some of the guests accepted Nan's invitation to
+remain to dinner, and that counted out Thursday evening as well.
+
+Altogether, poor Patty was at her wits' end to find any time to herself.
+She tried rising very early in the morning and studying before breakfast,
+but she found it difficult to awaken early, and neither Nan nor her
+father would allow her to be called.
+
+So she was forced to resort to sitting up late, and studying after the
+rest of the household had retired. As her room was on the third floor,
+she had no difficulty in pursuing this plan without anyone being aware of
+it, but burning the midnight oil soon began to tell on her appearance.
+
+One morning at breakfast, her father said, "Patty, child, what is the
+matter with you? Your eyes look like two holes burnt in a blanket! You
+weren't up late last night?"
+
+"Not very," said Patty, dropping her eyes before her father's searching
+gaze.
+
+Nothing more was said on the subject, but though Patty hated to do
+anything secretly, yet she felt she must continue her night work, as it
+was really her only chance.
+
+So that night as she sat studying until nearly midnight, her door slowly
+opened, and Nan peeped in. She wore a kimono, and her hair was in a long
+braid down her back.
+
+"Patty Fairfield," she said, "go to bed at once! You ought to be ashamed
+of yourself, to sit up so late when you know your father doesn't want you
+to."
+
+"Now, look here, Nan," said Patty, talking very seriously, "I _have_ to
+sit up late like this, because I can't get a minute's time through the
+day. You know how it is. There's always company, or something going on,
+and I can't wake up early in the morning, and I have to sit up late at
+night, even if it does make me tired and sleepy and good for nothing the
+next day. Oh, Nan, instead of hindering and making fun of me, and
+bothering me all you can, I think you might try to help me!"
+
+Patty threw herself on her knees, and burying her face in Nan's lap,
+burst into a convulsive flood of tears.
+
+Nan was thoroughly frightened. She had never before seen Patty cry, and
+this was more than crying. It was almost hysterical.
+
+Then, like a flash, Nan saw it all. Overwork and worry had so wrought on
+Patty's nerves that the girl was half sick and wholly irresponsible for
+her actions.
+
+With a ready tact, Nan patted the golden head, and gently soothed the
+excited child.
+
+"Never mind, Patty, darling," she said, "and try to forgive me, won't
+you? I fear I have been rather blind to the true state of the case, but I
+see more plainly now, and I will help you, indeed I will. I will see to
+it that you shall have your hours for study just as you want them, and
+you shall not be interrupted. Dear little girl, you're all tired out, and
+your nerves are all on edge, and no wonder. Now, hop along to bed, and
+you'll see that things will go better after this."
+
+As she talked, Nan had gently soothed the excited girl, and in a quiet,
+matter-of-fact way, she helped her prepare for bed, and finally tucked
+her up snugly under her down coverlet.
+
+"Good-night, dearie," she said; "go to sleep without a bother on your
+mind, and remember that after this Nan will see to it that you shall have
+other times to study than the middle of the night."
+
+"Good-night," said Patty, "and I'm sorry I made such a baby of myself.
+But truly, Nan, I'm bothered to death with those old lessons and the play
+and everything."
+
+"That's all right; just go to sleep and dream of Commencement Day, when
+all the bothers will be over, and you'll get your diploma and your medal,
+and a few dozen bouquets besides."
+
+And with a final good-night kiss, Nan left the worn-out girl and returned
+thoughtfully to her own room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+BUSY DAYS
+
+
+Nan was as good as her word. Instead of trying to persuade Patty not to
+study so hard, she did all she could to keep the study hours free from
+interruption.
+
+Many a time when Nan wanted Patty's company or assistance, she refrained
+from telling her so, and unselfishly left the girl to herself as much as
+possible.
+
+The result of this was that Patty gave herself up to her books and her
+school work to such an extent that she allowed herself almost no social
+recreation, and took little or no exercise beyond her walks to and from
+school.
+
+This went on for a time, but Patty was, after all, of a sensitive and
+observing nature, and she soon discovered, by a certain wistful
+expression on Nan's face, or a tone of regret in her voice, that she was
+often sacrificing her own convenience to Patty's.
+
+Patty's sense of proportion rebelled at this, and she felt that she must
+be more obliging to Nan, who was so truly kind to her.
+
+And so she endeavoured to cram more duties into her already full days,
+and often after a hard day's work in school, when she would have been
+glad to throw on a comfortable house gown and rest in her own room, she
+dressed herself prettily and went out calling with her stepmother, or
+assisted her to receive her own guests.
+
+Gay-hearted Nan was not acutely observant, and it never occurred to her
+that all this meant any self-sacrifice on Patty's part. She accepted with
+pleasure each occasion when Patty's plans fell in with her own, and the
+more this was the case, the more she expected it, so that poor Patty
+again found herself bewildered by her multitude of conflicting duties.
+
+"I have heard," she thought to herself one day, "that duties never clash,
+but it seems to me they never do anything else. Now, this afternoon I'm
+sure it's my duty to write my theme, and yet I promised the girls I'd be
+at rehearsal, and then, Nan is so anxious for me to go shopping with her,
+that I honestly don't know which I ought to do; but I believe I'll write
+my theme, because that does seem the most important."
+
+"Patty," called Nan's voice from the hall, "you'll go with me this
+afternoon, won't you? I have to decide between those two hats, you know,
+and truly I can't take the responsibility alone."
+
+"Oh, Nan," said Patty, "it really doesn't matter which hat you get,
+they're both so lovely. I've seen them, you know, and truly I think one
+is just as becoming as the other. And honest, I'm fearfully busy to-day."
+
+"Oh, pshaw, Patty. I've let you alone afternoons for almost a week now,
+or at least for two or three days, anyhow. I think you might go with me
+to-day."
+
+Good-natured Patty always found it hard to resist coaxing, so with a
+little sigh she consented, and gave up her whole afternoon to Nan.
+
+That meant sitting up late at night to study, but this was now getting to
+be the rule with Patty, and not the exception.
+
+So the weeks flew by, and as commencement day drew nearer, Patty worked
+harder and her nerves grew more strained and tense, until a breakdown of
+some sort seemed imminent.
+
+Mr. Fairfield at last awoke to the situation, and told Patty that she was
+growing thin and pale and hollow-eyed.
+
+"Never mind," said Patty, looking at her father with an abstracted air,
+"I haven't time now, Papa, even to discuss the subject. Commencement day
+is next week, to-morrow my examinations begin, and I have full charge of
+the costumes for the play, and they're not nearly ready yet."
+
+"You mustn't work so hard, Patty," said Nan, in her futile way.
+
+"Nan, if you say that to me again, I'll throw something at you! I give
+you fair warning, people, that I'm so bothered and worried that my nerves
+are all on edge, and my temper is pretty much the same way. Now, until
+after commencement I've got to work hard, but if I just live through
+that, I'll be sweet and amiable again, and will do anything you want me
+to."
+
+Patty was half laughing, but it was plain to be seen she was very much in
+earnest.
+
+Commencement was to occur the first week in June, and the examinations,
+which took place the week before, were like a nightmare to poor Patty.
+
+Had she been free to give her undivided attention, she might have taken
+them more calmly. But her mind was so full of the troubles and
+responsibilities consequent on the play, that it was almost impossible to
+concentrate her thoughts on the examination work. And yet the
+examinations were of far more importance than the play, for Patty was
+most anxious to graduate with honours, and she felt sure that she knew
+thoroughly the ground she had been over in her studies.
+
+At last examinations were finished, and though not yet informed of her
+markings, Patty felt that on the whole she had been fairly successful,
+and Friday night she went home from school with a heart lighter than it
+had been for many weeks.
+
+"Thank goodness, it's over!" she cried as she entered the house, and
+clasping Nan around the waist, she waltzed her down the hall in a mad joy
+of celebration.
+
+"Well, I am glad," said Nan, after she had recovered her breath; "now you
+can rest and get back your rosy cheeks once more."
+
+"Not yet," said Patty gaily; "there is commencement day and the play yet.
+They're fun compared to examinations, but still they mean a tremendous
+lot of work. To-morrow will be my busiest day yet, and I've bought me an
+alarm clock, because I have to get up at five o'clock in order to get
+through the day at all."
+
+"What nonsense," said Nan, but Patty only laughed, and scurried away to
+dress for dinner.
+
+When the new alarm clock went off at five the next morning, Patty awoke
+with a start, wondering what in the world had happened.
+
+Then, as she slowly came to her senses, she rubbed her sleepy eyes,
+jumped up quickly, and began to dress.
+
+By breakfast time she had accomplished wonders.
+
+"I've rewritten two songs," she announced at the breakfast table, "and
+sewed for an hour on Hilda's fairy costume, and cut out a thousand gilt
+stars for the scenery, and made two hundred paper violets besides!"
+
+"You are a wonder, Patty," said Nan, but Mr. Fairfield looked at his
+daughter anxiously. Her eyes were shining with excitement, and there was
+a little red spot on either cheek.
+
+"Be careful, dear," he said. "It would be pretty bad if, after getting
+through your examinations, you should break down because of this foolish
+play."
+
+"It isn't a foolish play, Papa," said Patty gaily; "it's most wise and
+sensible. I ought to know, for I wrote most of it myself, and I've
+planned all the costumes and helped to make many of them. One or two,
+though, we have to get from a regular costumer, and I have to go and see
+about them to-day. Want to go with me, Nan?"
+
+"I'd love to go," said Nan, "but I haven't a minute to spare all day
+long. I'm going to the photographer's, and then to Mrs. Stuart's
+luncheon, and after that to a musicale."
+
+"Never mind," said Patty, "it won't be much fun. I just have to pick out
+the costumes for Joan of Arc and Queen Elizabeth."
+
+"Your play seems to include a variety of characters," said Mr. Fairfield.
+
+"Yes, it does," said Patty, "and most of the dresses we've contrived
+ourselves; but these two are beyond us, so we're going to hire them.
+Good-bye, now, people; I must fly over to see Elise before I go down
+town."
+
+"Who's going with you, Patty, to the costumer's?" asked her father.
+
+"Miss Sinclair, Papa; one of the teachers in our school. I am to meet her
+at the school at eleven o'clock. We are going to the costume place, and
+then to the shops to buy a few things for the play. I'll be home to
+luncheon, Nan, at one o'clock."
+
+Patty flew away on her numerous errands, going first to Elise
+Farrington's to consult on some important matters. Hilda and Clementine
+were there, and there was so much to be decided that the time passed by
+unnoticed, until Patty exclaimed, "Why, girls, it's half-past eleven now,
+and I was to meet Miss Sinclair at eleven! Oh, I'm so sorry! I make it a
+point never to keep anybody waiting. I don't know when I ever missed an
+engagement before. Now, you must finish up about the programmes and
+things, and I'll scurry right along. She must be there waiting for me."
+
+The school was only two blocks away, and Patty covered the ground as
+rapidly as possible. But when she reached there Miss Sinclair had gone.
+Another teacher who was there told Patty that Miss Sinclair had waited
+until twenty minutes after eleven, and then she had concluded that she
+must have mistaken the appointment, and that probably Patty had meant she
+would meet her at the costumer's. So she had gone on, leaving word for
+Patty to follow her there, if by any chance she should come to the school
+looking for her.
+
+Patty didn't know what to do. The costumer's shop was a considerable
+distance away, and Patty was not in the habit of going around the city
+alone. But this seemed to her a special occasion, and, too, there was no
+time to hesitate.
+
+She thought of telephoning to Nan, but of course she had already gone
+out. She couldn't call her father up from down town, and it wouldn't help
+matters any to ask Elise or any of the other girls to go with her. So,
+having to make a hasty decision, Patty determined to go alone.
+
+She knew the address, and though she didn't know exactly how to reach it,
+she felt sure she could learn by a few enquiries. But, after leaving the
+Broadway car, she discovered that she had to travel quite a distance
+east, and there was no cross-town line in that locality. Regretting the
+necessity of keeping Miss Sinclair waiting, Patty hurried on, and after
+some difficulty reached the place, only to find that the costumer had
+recently moved, and that his new address was some distance farther up
+town.
+
+Patty did not at all like the situation. She was unfamiliar with this
+part of the town, she felt awkward and embarrassed at being there alone,
+and she was extremely sorry not to have kept her engagement with Miss
+Sinclair.
+
+All of this, added to the fact that she was nervous and overwrought, as
+well as physically tired out, rendered her unable to use her really good
+judgment and common sense.
+
+She stood on a street corner, uncertain what to do next; and her
+uncertainty was distinctly manifest on her countenance.
+
+The driver of a passing hansom called out, "Cab, Miss?" And this seemed
+to Patty a providential solution of her difficulty.
+
+Recklessly unheeding the fact that she had never before been in a public
+cab alone, she jumped in, after giving the costumer's number to the
+driver. As she rode up town she thought it over, and concluded that,
+after all, she had acted wisely, and that she could explain to her father
+how the emergency had really necessitated this unusual proceeding.
+
+It was a long ride, and when Patty jumped out of the cab and asked the
+driver his price, she was a little surprised at the large sum he
+mentioned.
+
+However, she thought it was wiser to pay it without protest than to make
+herself further conspicuous by discussing the matter.
+
+She opened the little wrist-bag which she carried, only to make the
+startling discovery that her purse was missing.
+
+Even as she realised this, there flashed across her memory the fact that
+her father had often told her that it was a careless way to carry money,
+and that she would sooner or later be relieved of her purse by some
+clever pickpocket.
+
+Patty could not be sure whether this was what had happened in the present
+instance, or whether she had left her purse at home. As she had carried
+change for carfare in her coat pocket, she had not expected to need a
+large sum of money, and her confused brain refused to remember whether
+she had put her purse in her bag or not.
+
+She found herself staring at the cabman, who was looking distrustfully at
+her.
+
+"I think I have had my pocket picked," she said slowly, "or else I left
+my purse at home. I don't know which."
+
+"No, no, Miss, that won't go down," said the cabman, not rudely, but with
+an uncomfortable effect of being determined to have his fare. "Pay up,
+now, pay up," he went on, "and you'll save yourself trouble in the end."
+
+"But I can't pay you," said Patty. "I haven't any money."
+
+"Then you didn't ought to ride. It ain't the first time I've knowed a
+swell young lady to try to beat her way. Come, Miss, if you don't pay me
+I'll have to drive you to the station house."
+
+"What!" cried Patty, her face turning white with anger and mortification.
+
+"Yes, Miss, that's the way we do. I s'pose you know you've stole a ride."
+
+"Oh, wait a minute," said Patty; "let me think."
+
+"Think away, Miss; perhaps you can remember where you've hid your money."
+
+"But I tell you I haven't any," said Patty, her indignation rising above
+her fear. "Now, look here, I have a friend right in here at this address;
+let me speak to her, and she'll come out and pay you."
+
+"No, no, Miss; you can't ketch me that way. I've heard of them friends
+before. But I'll tell you what," he added, as Patty stood looking at him
+blankly, "I'll go in there with you, and if so be's your friend's there
+and pays up the cash, I've nothing more to say."
+
+The hansom-driver climbed down from his seat and went with Patty into the
+costumer's shop.
+
+A stolid-looking woman of Italian type met them and enquired what was
+wanted.
+
+"Is Miss Sinclair here?" asked Patty eagerly.
+
+"No, Miss, there's nobody here by way of a customer."
+
+"But hasn't a lady been here in the last hour, to look at costumes for a
+play?"
+
+"No, Miss, nobody's been here this whole morning."
+
+"You see you can't work that game," said the cabman. "I'm sorry, Miss,
+but I guess you'll have to come along with me."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+A RESCUE
+
+
+Perhaps it was partly owing to Patty's natural sense of humour, or
+perhaps her overwrought nerves made her feel a little hysterically
+inclined, but somehow the situation suddenly struck her as being very
+funny. To think that she, Patty Fairfield, was about to be arrested
+because she couldn't pay her cab fare, truly seemed like a joke.
+
+But though it seemed like a joke, it wasn't one. As Patty hesitated, the
+cabman grew more impatient and less respectful.
+
+Patty's feeling of amusement passed as quickly as it came, and she
+realised that she must do something at once. Nan was not at home, her
+father was too far away, and, curiously, the next person she thought of
+as one who could help her in her trouble was Mr. Hepworth.
+
+This thought seemed like an inspiration. Instantly assuming an air of
+authority and dignity, she turned to the angry cabman and said, "You will
+be the one to be arrested unless you behave yourself more properly. Come
+with me to the nearest public telephone station. I have sufficient money
+with me to pay for a telephone message, and I will then prove to your
+satisfaction that your fare will be immediately paid."
+
+Patty afterward wondered how she had the courage to make this speech, but
+the fear of what might happen had been such a shock to her that it had
+reacted upon her timidity.
+
+And with good results, for the cabman at once became meek and even
+cringing.
+
+"There's a telephone across the street, Miss," he said.
+
+"Very well," said Patty; "come with me."
+
+"There's a telephone here, Miss," said the Italian woman, "if you would
+like to use it."
+
+"That's better yet," said Patty; "where's the book?"
+
+Taking the telephone book, Patty quickly turned the leaves until she
+found Mr. Hepworth's studio number.
+
+She had an aversion to speaking her own name before her present hearers,
+so when Mr. Hepworth responded she merely said, "Do you know who I am?"
+
+Of course the others listening could not hear when Mr. Hepworth responded
+that he did know her voice, and then called her by name.
+
+"Very well," said Patty, still speaking with dignity, "I have had the
+misfortune to lose my purse, and I am unable to pay my cab fare. Will you
+be kind enough to answer the cabman over this telephone right now, and
+inform him that it will be paid if he will drive me to your address,
+which you will give him?"
+
+"Certainly," replied Mr. Hepworth politely, though he was really very
+much amazed at this message.
+
+Patty turned to the cabman and said, somewhat sternly, "Take this
+receiver and speak to the gentleman at the other end of the wire."
+
+Sheepishly the man took the receiver and timidly remarked, "Hello."
+
+"What is your number?" asked Mr. Hepworth, and the cabman told him.
+
+"Where are you?" was the next question, and the cabman gave the address
+of the costumer, which Patty had not remembered to do.
+
+Mr. Hepworth's studio was not very many blocks away, and he gave the
+cabman his name and address, saying, "Bring the young lady around here at
+once, as quickly as you can. I will settle with you on your arrival."
+
+Mr. Hepworth hung up his own receiver, much puzzled. His first impulse
+was to go to the address where Patty was, but as it would take some time
+for him to get around there by any means, he deemed it better that she
+should come to him.
+
+As Patty felt safe, now that she was so soon to meet Mr. Hepworth, she
+gave her remaining change to the Italian woman, who had been kind, though
+stolidly disinterested, during the whole interview.
+
+The cabman, having given his number to Mr. Hepworth, felt a responsibility
+for the safety of his passenger, and assisted her into the cab with humble
+politeness.
+
+A few moments' ride brought them to the large building in which was Mr.
+Hepworth's studio, and that gentleman himself, hatted and gloved, stood
+on the curb awaiting them.
+
+"What's it all about?" he asked Patty, making no motion, however, to
+assist her from the cab.
+
+But the reaction after her fright and embarrassment had made Patty so
+weak and nervous that she was on the verge of tears.
+
+"I didn't have any money," she said; "I don't know whether I lost it or
+not, and if you'll please pay him, papa will pay you afterward."
+
+"Of course, child; that's all right," said Mr. Hepworth. "Don't get out,"
+he added, as Patty started to do so. "Stay right where you are, and I'll
+take you home." He gave Patty's address to the driver, swung himself into
+the cab beside Patty, and off they started.
+
+"I wasn't frightened," said Patty, though her quivering lip and trembling
+hands belied her words; "but when he said he'd arrest me, I--I didn't
+know what to do, and so I telephoned to you."
+
+"Quite right," said Hepworth, in a casual tone, which gave no hint of the
+joy he felt in being Patty's protector in such an emergency. "But I say,
+child, you look regularly done up. What have you been doing? Have you had
+your luncheon?"
+
+"No," said Patty, faintly.
+
+"And it's after two o'clock," said Hepworth, sympathetically. "You poor
+infant, I'd like to take you somewhere for a bite, but I suppose that
+wouldn't do. Well, here's the only thing we can do, and it will at least
+keep you from fainting away."
+
+He signalled the cabman to stop at a drug shop, where there was a large
+soda fountain. Here he ordered for Patty a cup of hot bouillon. He made
+her drink it slowly, and was rejoiced to see that it did her good. She
+felt better at once, and when they returned to the cab she begged Mr.
+Hepworth to let her go on home alone, and not take any more of his
+valuable time.
+
+"No, indeed," said that gentleman; "it may not be according to the
+strictest rules of etiquette for me to be going around with you in a
+hansom cab, but it's infinitely better than for you to be going around
+alone. So I'll just take charge of you until I can put you safely inside
+your father's house."
+
+"And the girls are coming at two o'clock for a rehearsal!" said Patty.
+"Oh, I shall be late."
+
+"The girls will wait," said Mr. Hepworth, easily, and then during the
+rest of the ride he entertained Patty with light, merry conversation.
+
+He watched her closely, however, and came to the conclusion that the girl
+was very nervous, and excitable to a degree that made him fear she was on
+the verge of a mental illness.
+
+"When is this play of yours to come off?" he enquired.
+
+"Next Thursday night," said Patty, "if we can get ready for it, and we
+must; but oh, there is so much to do, and now I've wasted this whole
+morning and haven't accomplished a thing, and I don't know where Miss
+Sinclair is, and I didn't see about the costumes, after all, and now I'll
+be late for rehearsal. Oh, what shall I do?"
+
+Mr. Hepworth had sufficient intuition to know that if he sympathised with
+Patty in her troubles she was ready to break down in a fit of nervous
+crying.
+
+So he said, as if the matter were of no moment, "Oh, pshaw, those
+costumes will get themselves attended to some way or another. Why, I'll
+go down there this afternoon and hunt them up, if you like. Just tell me
+what ones you want."
+
+This was help, indeed. Patty well knew that Mr. Hepworth's artistic taste
+could select the costumes even better than her own, and she eagerly told
+him the necessary details.
+
+Mr. Hepworth also promised to look after some other errands that were
+troubling Patty's mind, so that when she finally reached home she was
+calm and self-possessed once more.
+
+Mr. Hepworth quickly settled matters with the cabman, and then escorted
+Patty up the steps to her own front door, where, with a bow and a few
+last kindly words, he left her and walked rapidly away.
+
+The girls who had gathered for rehearsal greeted her with a chorus of
+reproaches for being so late, but when Patty began to tell her exciting
+experiences, the rehearsal was forgotten in listening to the thrilling
+tale.
+
+"Come on, now," said Patty, a little later, "we must get to work. Get
+your places and begin your lines, while I finish these."
+
+Patty had refused to go to luncheon, and the maid had brought a tray into
+the library for her. So, with a sandwich in one hand and a glass of milk
+in the other, she directed the rehearsal, taking her own part therein
+when the time came.
+
+So the days went on, each one becoming more and more busy as the fateful
+time drew near.
+
+Also Patty became more and more nervous. She had far more to do than any
+of the other girls, for they depended on her in every emergency, referred
+every decision to her, and seemed to expect her to do all the hardest of
+the work.
+
+Moreover, the long strain of overstudy she had been through had left its
+effects on her system, and Patty, though she would not admit it, and no
+one else realised it, was in imminent danger of an attack of nervous
+prostration.
+
+The last few days Nan had begun to suspect this, but as nothing could be
+done to check Patty's mad career, or even to assist her in the many
+things she had to do, Nan devoted her efforts to keeping Patty
+strengthened and stimulated, and was constantly appearing to her with a
+cup of hot beef tea, or of strong coffee, or a dose of some highly
+recommended nerve tonic.
+
+Although these produced good temporary effects, the continued use of
+these remedies really aggravated Patty's condition, and when Thursday
+came she was almost a wreck, both physically and mentally, and Nan was at
+her wits' end to know how to get the girl through the day.
+
+At the summons of her alarm clock Patty rose early in the morning, for
+there was much to do by way of final preparation. Before breakfast she
+had attended to many left-over odds and ends, and when she appeared at
+the table she said only an absent-minded "good-morning," and then knit
+her brows as if in deep and anxious thought.
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield looked at each other. They knew that to say a word
+to Patty by way of warning would be likely to precipitate the breakdown
+that they feared, so they were careful to speak very casually and gently.
+
+"Anything I can do for you to-day, Puss?" said her father, kindly.
+
+"No," said Patty, still frowning; "but I wish the flowers would come. I
+have to make twenty-four garlands before I go over to the schoolroom, and
+I must be there by ten o'clock to look after the building of the
+platform."
+
+"Can't I make the garlands for you?" asked Nan.
+
+"No," said Patty, "they have to be made a special way, and you'd only
+spoil them."
+
+"But if you showed me," urged Nan, patiently. "If you did two or three,
+perhaps I could copy them exactly; at any rate, let me try."
+
+"Very well," said Patty, dully, "I wish you could do them, I'm sure."
+
+The flowers were delayed, as is not unusual in such cases, and it was
+nearly ten when they arrived.
+
+Patty was almost frantic by that time, and Nan, as she afterward told her
+husband, had to "handle her with gloves on."
+
+But by dint of tact and patience, Nan succeeded in persuading Patty,
+after making two or three garlands, to leave the rest for her to do.
+Although they were of complicated design, Nan was clever at such things,
+and could easily copy Patty's work. And had she been herself, Patty would
+have known this. But so upset was she that even her common sense seemed
+warped.
+
+When she reached the schoolroom there were a thousand and one things to
+see to, and nearly all of them were going wrong.
+
+Patty flew from one thing to another, straightening them out and bringing
+order from confusion, and though she held herself well in hand, the
+tension was growing tighter, and there was danger of her losing control
+of herself at any minute.
+
+Hilda Henderson was the only one who realised this, and, taking Patty
+aside, she said to her, quietly, "Look here, girl, I'll attend to
+everything else; there's not much left that needs special attention. And
+I want you to go right straight home, take a hot bath, and then lie down
+and rest until time to dress for the afternoon programme. Will you?"
+
+Patty looked at Hilda with a queer, uncomprehending gaze. She seemed
+scarcely to understand what was being said to her.
+
+"Yes," she said, but as she turned she half stumbled, and would have
+fallen to the floor if Hilda had not caught her strongly by the arm.
+
+"Brace up," she said, and her voice was stern because she was thoroughly
+frightened. "Patty Fairfield, don't you dare to collapse now! If you do,
+I'll--I don't know _what_ I'll do to you! Come on, now, I'll go home with
+you."
+
+Hilda was really afraid to let Patty go alone, so hastily donning her hat
+and coat she went with her to her very door.
+
+"Take this girl," she said to Nan, "and put her to bed, and don't let her
+see anybody or say anything until the programme begins this afternoon.
+I'll look after everything that isn't finished, if you'll just keep her
+quiet."
+
+Nan was thoroughly alarmed, but she only said, "All right, Hilda, I'll
+take care of her, and thank you very much for bringing her home."
+
+Patty sank down on a couch in a limp heap, but her eyes were big and
+bright as she looked at Hilda, saying, "See that the stars are put on the
+gilt wands, and the green bay leaves on the white ones. Lorraine's
+spangled skirt is in Miss Oliphant's room, and please be sure,--" Patty
+didn't finish this sentence, but lay back among the cushions, exhausted.
+
+"Run along, Hilda," said Nan; "do the best you can with the stars and
+things, and I'll see to it that Patty's all right by afternoon."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+COMMENCEMENT DAY
+
+
+Nan was a born nurse, and, moreover, she had sufficient common sense and
+tact to know how to deal with nervous exhaustion. Instead of discussing
+the situation she said, cheerily, "Now everything will be all right.
+Hilda will look after the stars and wands, and you can have quite a
+little time to rest before you go back to the schoolroom. Don't try to go
+up to your room now, just stay right where you are, and I'll bring you a
+cup of hot milk, which is just what you need."
+
+Patty nestled among the cushions which Nan patted and tucked around her,
+and after taking the hot milk felt much better.
+
+"I must get up now, Nan," she pleaded, from the couch where she lay, "I
+have so many things to attend to."
+
+"Patty," said Nan, looking at her steadily, "do you want to go through
+with the commencement exercises this afternoon and the play to-night
+successfully, or do you want to collapse on the stage and faint right
+before all the audience?"
+
+"I won't do any such foolish thing," said Patty, indignantly.
+
+"You will," said Nan, "unless you obey me implicitly, and do exactly as I
+tell you."
+
+Nan's manner more than her words compelled Patty's obedience, and with a
+sigh, the tired girl closed her eyes, saying, "All right, Nan, have your
+own way, I'll be good."
+
+"That's a good child," said Nan, soothingly, "and now first we'll go
+right up to your own room."
+
+Then Nan helped Patty into a soft dressing gown, made her lie down upon
+her bed, and threw a light afghan over her.
+
+Then sitting beside her, Nan talked a little on unimportant matters and
+then began to sing softly. In less than half an hour Patty was sound
+asleep, and Nan breathed a sigh of relief at finding her efforts had been
+successful.
+
+But there was not much time to spare, for the commencement exercises
+began at three o'clock.
+
+So at two o'clock Patty found herself gently awakened, to see Nan at her
+bedside, arranging a dainty tray of luncheon which a maid had brought in.
+
+"Here you are, girlie," said the cheery voice, "sit up now, and see what
+we have for you here."
+
+Patty awoke a little bewildered, but soon gathered her scattered senses,
+and viewed with pleasure the broiled chicken and crisp salad before her.
+
+Exhaustion had made her hungry, and while she ate, Nan busied herself in
+getting out the pretty costume that Patty was to wear at commencement.
+
+But the sight of the white organdie frock with its fluffy ruffles and
+soft laces brought back Patty's apprehensions.
+
+"Oh, Nan," she cried in dismay, "I'm not nearly ready for commencement! I
+haven't copied my poem yet, and I haven't had a minute to practice
+reading it for the last two weeks. What shall I do?"
+
+"That's all attended to," said Nan,--"the copying, I mean. You've been so
+busy doing other people's work, that of course you haven't had time to
+attend to your own, so I gave your poem to your father, and he had it
+typewritten for you, and here it is all ready. Now, while you dress, I'll
+read it to you, and that will bring it back to your memory."
+
+"Nan, you are a dear," cried Patty, jumping up and flying across the room
+to give her stepmother a hearty caress. "Whatever would I do without you?
+I'm all right now, and if you'll just elocute that thing, while I array
+myself in purple and fine linen, I'm sure it will all come back to me."
+
+So Nan read Patty's jolly little class poem line by line, and Patty
+repeated it after her as she proceeded with her toilette.
+
+She was ready before the appointed time, and the carriage was at the
+door, but Nan would not let her go.
+
+"No, my lady," she said, "you don't stir out of this house until the very
+last minute. If you get over there ahead of time, you'll begin to make
+somebody a new costume, or build a throne for the fairy queen, or some
+foolish trick like that. Now you sit right straight down in that chair
+and read your poem over slowly, while I whip into my own clothes, and
+then we'll go along together. Fred can't come until a little later
+anyway. Sit still now, and don't wriggle around and spoil that pretty
+frock."
+
+Patty obeyed like a docile child, and Nan flew away to don her own pretty
+gown for the occasion.
+
+When she returned in a soft grey crepe de chine, with a big grey hat and
+feathers, she was such a pretty picture that Patty involuntarily
+exclaimed in admiration.
+
+"I'm glad you like it," said Nan, "I want to look my best so as to do you
+credit, and in return I want you to do your best so as to do me credit."
+
+"I will," said Patty, earnestly, "I truly will. You've been awfully good
+to me, Nan, and but for you I don't know what I should have done."
+
+Away they went, and when they reached the schoolroom, and Patty went to
+join her classmates, while Nan took her place in the audience, she said
+as a parting injunction, "Now mind, Patty, this afternoon you're to
+attend strictly to your own part in the programme. Don't go around
+helping other people with their parts, because this isn't the time for
+that. You'll have all you can do to manage Patty Fairfield."
+
+Patty laughed and promised, and ran away to the schoolroom.
+
+The moment she entered, half a dozen girls ran to her with questions
+about various details, and Nan's warning was entirely forgotten. Indeed
+had it not been for Hilda's intervention, Patty would have gone to work
+at a piece of unfinished scenery.
+
+"Drop that hammer!" cried Hilda, as Patty was about to nail some branches
+of paper roses on to a wobbly green arbour. "Patty Fairfield, are you
+crazy? The idea of attempting carpenter work with that delicate frock on!
+Do for pity's sake keep yourself decent until after you've read your poem
+at least!"
+
+Patty looked at Hilda with that same peculiar vacantness in her glance
+which she had shown in the morning, and though Hilda said nothing, she
+was exceedingly anxious and kept a sharp watch on Patty's movements.
+
+But it was then time for the girls to march onto the platform, and as
+Patty seemed almost like herself, though unusually quiet, Hilda hoped it
+was all right.
+
+The exercises were such as are found on most commencement programmes, and
+included class history, class prophecy, class song and all of the usual
+contributions to a commencement programme.
+
+Patty's class poem was near the end of the list, and Nan was glad, for
+she felt it would give the girl more time to regain her poise. Mr.
+Fairfield had arrived, and both he and Nan waited anxiously for Patty's
+turn to come.
+
+When it did come, Patty proved herself quite equal to the occasion.
+
+Her poem was merry and clever, and she read it with an entire absence of
+self-consciousness, and an apparent enjoyment of its fun. She looked very
+sweet and pretty in her dainty white dress, and she stood so gracefully
+and seemed so calm and composed, that only those who knew her best
+noticed the feverish brightness of her eyes and a certain tenseness of
+the muscles of her hands.
+
+But this was not unobserved by one in the audience. Mr. Hepworth, though
+seated far back, noted every symptom of Patty's nervousness, however
+little it might be apparent to others.
+
+Although she went through her ordeal successfully, he knew how much
+greater would be the excitement and responsibility of the evening's
+performance and he wished he could help her in some way.
+
+But there seemed to be nothing he could do, and though he had sent her a
+beautiful basket of roses, it was but one floral gift among so many that
+he doubted whether Patty even knew that he sent it; and he also doubted
+if she would have cared especially if she had known it.
+
+Like most of the graduates, Patty received quantities of floral tributes.
+As the ushers came again and again with clusters or baskets of flowers,
+the audience heartily applauded, and Patty, though embarrassed a little,
+preserved a pretty dignity, and showed a happy enjoyment of it all.
+
+As soon as the diplomas were awarded, and Patty had her cherished roll
+tied with its blue ribbon, Nan told Mr. Fairfield that it was imperative
+that Patty should be made to go straight home.
+
+"If she stays there," said Nan, "she'll get excited and exhausted, and be
+good for nothing to-night. I gave her some stimulants this noon, although
+she didn't know it, but the effects are wearing off and a reaction will
+soon set in. She must come home with us at once."
+
+"You are right, Mrs. Fairfield," said Mr. Hepworth, who had crossed the
+room and joined them just in time to hear Nan's last words. "Patty is
+holding herself together by sheer nervous force, and she needs care if
+she is to keep up through the evening."
+
+"That is certainly true," said Nan. "Kenneth," she added, turning to
+young Harper, who stood near by, "you have a good deal of influence with
+Patty. Go and get her, won't you? Make her come at once."
+
+"All right," said Kenneth, and he was off in a moment, while Mr. Hepworth
+looked after him, secretly wishing that the errand might have been
+entrusted to him.
+
+But Kenneth found his task no easy one. Although Patty willingly
+consented to his request, and even started toward the dressing-room to
+get her wraps, she paused so many times to speak to different ones, or
+her progress was stopped by anxious-looking girls who wanted her help or
+advice, that Kenneth almost despaired of getting her away.
+
+"Can't you make her come, Hilda?" he said.
+
+"I'll try," said Hilda, but when she tried, Patty only said, "Yes, Hilda,
+in just a minute. I want to coach Mary a little in her part, and I want
+to show Hester where to stand in the third act."
+
+"Never mind," said Hilda, impatiently. "Let her stand on the roof, if she
+wants to, but for goodness' sake go on home. Your people are waiting for
+you."
+
+Again Patty looked at her with that queer vacant gaze, and then Lorraine
+Hart stepped forward and took matters in her own hands.
+
+"March!" she said, as she grasped Patty's arm, and steered her toward the
+dressing-room. "Halt!" she said after they reached it, and then while
+Patty stood still, seemingly dazed, Lorraine put her cloak about her,
+threw her scarf over her head, wheeled her about, and marched her back to
+where Kenneth stood waiting.
+
+"Take her quick," she said. "Take her right to the carriage; don't let
+her stop to speak to anybody."
+
+So Kenneth grasped Patty's arm firmly and led her through the crowd of
+girls, out of the door, and down the walk to the carriage. Ordinarily,
+Patty would have resented this summary treatment, but still in a
+half-dazed way she meekly went where she was led.
+
+Once in the carriage, Nan sat beside her and Mr. Fairfield opposite, and
+they started for home. No reference was made to Patty herself, but the
+others talked lightly and pleasantly of the afternoon performance.
+
+On reaching home, Nan put Patty to bed at once, and telephoned for the
+Doctor.
+
+But when Dr. Martin came, Nan met him downstairs, and told him all about
+the case. They then decided that the Doctor should not see Patty, as to
+realise the fact that she was in need of medical attendance might prove a
+serious shock.
+
+"And really, Doctor," said Nan, "if the girl shouldn't be allowed at
+least to try to go through with the play this evening, I wouldn't like to
+answer for the consequences."
+
+"I understand," said Dr. Martin, "and though I think that with the aid of
+certain prescriptions I shall give you, she can probably get through the
+evening, it would be far better if she did not attempt it."
+
+"I know it Doctor," said Nan, "and with some girls it might be possible
+to persuade them to give it up, but I can't help feeling that if we even
+advised Patty not to go to-night, she would fly into violent hysterics."
+
+"Very likely," said Dr. Martin, "and I think, Mrs. Fairfield, you are
+right in your diagnosis. If you will give her these drops exactly as I
+have directed, I think she will brace up sufficiently to go through her
+part all right."
+
+Nan thanked the Doctor, and hurried back to Patty's room to look after
+her charge. She found Patty lying quietly, but in a state of mental
+excitement. When Nan came in, she began to talk rapidly.
+
+"It's all right, Nan, dear," she said. "I'm not ill a bit. Please let me
+get up now, and dress so I can go around to the schoolroom a little bit
+early. There are two or three things I must look after, and then the play
+will go off all right."
+
+"Very well," said Nan, humouring her, "if you will just take this
+medicine it will brace you up for the evening, and you can go through
+with the play as successfully as you did your part this afternoon."
+
+Patty agreed, and took the drops the Doctor had left, without a murmur.
+
+Soon their soothing effect became apparent, and Patty's nervous
+enthusiasm quieted down to such an extent that she seemed in no haste to
+go.
+
+She ate her dinner slowly, and dawdled over her dressing, until Nan again
+became alarmed lest the medicine had been too powerful.
+
+Poor Nan really had a hard time of it. Patty was not a tractable patient,
+and Nan was frequently at her wits' end to know just how to manage her.
+
+But at last she was ready, and they all started for the school again.
+Although Patty's own people, and a few of her intimate girl friends knew
+of her overwrought state, most of the class and even the teachers had no
+idea how near to a nervous breakdown she was. For her demeanour was much
+as usual, and though she would have moments of dazed bewilderment, much
+of the time she was unusually alert and she flew about attending to
+certain last details in an efficient and clear-headed manner.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE PLAY
+
+
+The play went through beautifully. Every girl did her part wonderfully
+well, but Patty surpassed them all. Buoyed up by excitement, she played
+her part with a dash and sprightliness that surprised even the girls who
+had seen her at rehearsal. She was roguish, merry and tragic by turns,
+and she sang her solos with a dramatic effect that brought down the
+house. She looked unusually pretty, which was partly the effect of her
+intense excitement, and though Nan and Mr. Fairfield could not help
+admiring and applauding with the rest, they were very anxious and really
+alarmed, lest she might not be able to keep up to these emotional heights
+until the end of the play.
+
+Without speaking his thoughts to anyone else, Mr. Hepworth, too, was very
+much concerned for Patty's welfare. He realised the danger she was in,
+and noted every evidence of her artificial strength and merriment. Seeing
+Dr. Martin in a seat near the back of the room, he quietly rose and went
+and sat beside the old gentleman.
+
+"Doctor," he said, "I can't help fearing that a collapse of some sort
+will follow Miss Fairfield's performance."
+
+"I am sure of it," said the Doctor, looking gravely at Mr. Hepworth.
+
+"Then don't you think perhaps it would be wise for you to go around
+behind the scenes, presently, and be there in case of emergency."
+
+"I will gladly do so," said Dr. Martin, "if Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield
+authorise it."
+
+Mr. Hepworth looked at his programme, and then he looked at Patty. He
+knew the play pretty thoroughly, and he knew that she was making one of
+the final speeches. He saw too, that she had nearly reached the limit of
+her endurance, and he said, "Dr. Martin, I wish you would go on my
+authority. The Fairfields are sitting in the front part of the house, and
+it would be difficult to speak to them about it without creating a
+commotion. And besides, I think there is no time to be lost; this is
+almost the end of the play, and in my judgment, Miss Fairfield is pretty
+nearly at the end of her self-composure."
+
+Dr. Martin gave the younger man a searching glance, and then said, "You
+are right, Mr. Hepworth. It may be advisable that I should be there when
+Miss Fairfield comes off the stage. I will go at once. Will you come with
+me?"
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Hepworth, and the two men quietly left the room, and
+hastened around the building to the side entrance.
+
+As Mr. Hepworth had assisted with the scenery for the play, and had been
+present at one or two rehearsals, he knew his way about, and guided Dr.
+Martin through the corridors to the room where the girls were gathered,
+waiting their cue to go on the stage for the final tableau and chorus.
+
+Lorraine and Hilda looked at each other comprehendingly, as the two men
+appeared, but the other girls wondered at this apparent intrusion.
+
+Then as the time came, they all went on the stage, and Dr. Martin and Mr.
+Hepworth, watching from the side, saw them form the pretty final tableau.
+
+Patty in a spangled dress and tinsel crown, waving a gilt wand, stood on
+a high pedestal. Around her, on lower pedestals, and on the floor, were
+the rest of the fairy maidens in their glittering costumes.
+
+The last notes of the chorus rang out, and amidst a burst of applause the
+curtain fell. The applause continued so strongly that the curtain was
+immediately raised again, and the delighted audience viewed once more the
+pretty scene.
+
+Mr. Hepworth was nearer the stage than Dr. Martin, in fact, in his
+anxiety, he was almost edging on to it, and while the curtain was up, and
+the audience was applauding, and the orchestra was playing, and the
+calcium lights were flashing their vari-coloured rays, his intense
+watchfulness noticed a slight shudder pass over Patty's form, then she
+swayed slightly, and her eyes closed.
+
+In a flash Mr. Hepworth had himself rung the bell that meant the drop of
+the curtain, and as the curtain came down, he sprang forward among the
+bewildered girls, and reached the tall pedestal just in time to catch
+Patty as she tottered and fell.
+
+"She has only fainted," he said, as he carried her off the stage, "please
+don't crowd around, she will be all right in a moment."
+
+He carried her to the dressing-room and gently laid her on a couch. Dr.
+Martin followed closely, and Mr. Hepworth left Patty in his charge.
+
+"You, Miss Hamilton, go in there," he said to Lorraine, at the door, "and
+see if you can help Dr. Martin. I will speak to the Fairfields and see
+that the carriage is ready. I don't think the audience knows anything
+about it, and there need be no fuss or commotion."
+
+Quick-witted Hilda grasped the situation, and kept the crowd of anxious
+girls out of the dressing-room, while Dr. Martin administered
+restoratives to Patty.
+
+But it was not so easy to overcome the faintness that had seized upon
+her. When at last she did open her eyes, it was only to close them again
+in another period of exhaustion.
+
+However, this seemed to encourage Dr. Martin.
+
+"It's better than I feared," he said. "She isn't delirious. There is no
+threat of brain fever. She will soon revive now, and we can safely take
+her home."
+
+And so when the Doctor declared that she might now be moved, Mr.
+Fairfield supported her on one side, and Kenneth on the other as they
+took her to the carriage.
+
+"Get in, Mrs. Fairfield," said Kenneth, after Patty was safely seated by
+her father, "and you too, Dr. Martin. I'll jump up on the box with the
+driver. Perhaps I can help you at the house."
+
+So away they went, without a word or a thought for poor Mr. Hepworth, to
+whose watchfulness was really due the fact of Dr. Martin's opportune
+assistance. And too, if Mr. Hepworth had not seen the first signs of
+Patty's loss of consciousness, her fall from the high pedestal might have
+proved a serious accident.
+
+Although Dr. Martin told the family afterward of Mr. Hepworth's kind
+thoughtfulness, it went unnoted at the time. But of this, Mr. Hepworth
+himself was rather glad than otherwise. His affection for Patty was such
+that he did not wish the girl to feel that she owed him gratitude, and he
+preferred to have no claim of the sort upon her.
+
+When the party reached the Fairfield house, Patty had revived enough to
+talk rationally, but she was very weak, and seemed to have lost all
+enthusiasm and even interest in the occasion.
+
+"It's all over, isn't it?" she asked of her father in a helpless,
+pathetic little voice.
+
+"Yes, Puss," said Mr. Fairfield, cheerily, "it's all over, and it was a
+perfect success. Now don't bother your head about it any more, but just
+get rested, and get a good sleep, and then we'll talk it over."
+
+Patty was quite willing not to discuss the subject, and with Nan's
+assistance she was soon in bed and sound asleep.
+
+Dr. Martin stood watching her. "I don't know," he said to Nan, "whether
+this sleep will last or not. If it does all will be well, but she may
+wake up soon, and become nervous and hysterical. In that case give her
+these drops, which will have a speedy effect. I will be around again
+early to-morrow morning."
+
+But the doctor's fears were not realised. Patty slept deeply all through
+the night, and had not waked when the doctor came in the morning.
+
+"Don't waken her," he said, as he looked at the sleeping girl. "She's all
+right. There's no fear of nervous prostration now. The stress is over,
+and her good constitution and healthy nature are reasserting themselves
+and will conquer. She isn't of a nervous temperament, and she is simply
+exhausted from overwork. Don't waken her, let her sleep it out."
+
+And so Patty slept until afternoon, and then awoke, feeling more like her
+old self than she had for many days.
+
+"Nan," she called, and Nan came flying in from the next room.
+
+"I'm awful hungry," said Patty, "and I am pretty tired, but the play is
+over, isn't it, Nan? I can't seem to remember about last night."
+
+"Yes, it's over, Patsy, and everything is all right, and you haven't a
+thing to do but get rested. Will you have your breakfast now, or your
+luncheon?--because you've really skipped both."
+
+"Then I'll have them both," said Patty with decision. "I'm hungry enough
+to eat a house."
+
+Later, Patty insisted on dressing and going downstairs for dinner,
+declaring she felt perfectly well, but the exertion tired her more than
+she cared to admit, and when Dr. Martin came in the evening, she
+questioned him directly.
+
+"I'm not really ill, am I, Dr. Martin? I'll be all right in a day or two,
+won't I? It's so silly to get tired just walking downstairs."
+
+"Don't be alarmed," said the old doctor, "you will be all right in a day
+or two. By day after to-morrow you can walk downstairs, or run down, if
+you like, without feeling tired at all."
+
+"Then that's all right," said Patty. "I suppose I did do too much with my
+school work, and the play, and everything, but I couldn't seem to help
+it, and if I get over it in a week I'll be satisfied. In fact, I shan't
+mind a bit, lounging around and resting for a few days."
+
+"That's just the thing for you to do," agreed Dr. Martin, "and I'll give
+you another prescription. After a week or two of rest, you need
+recreation. You must get out of the city, and go somewhere in the
+country. Not seashore or the mountains just yet, but away into the
+country, where you'll have plenty of fresh air and nothing to do. You
+mustn't look at a book of any sort or description for a month or two at
+least. Will you promise me that?"
+
+"With great pleasure," said Patty, gaily, "I don't think I shall care to
+see a book all summer long; not a schoolbook anyway. I suppose I may read
+storybooks."
+
+"Not at present," said the doctor. "Let alone books of all sorts for a
+couple of months, and after that I'll see about it. What you want is
+plenty of fresh air and outdoor exercise. Then you'll get back the roses
+in your cheeks, and add a few pounds of flesh to your attenuated frame."
+
+"Your prescription sounds attractive," said Patty, "but where shall I
+go?"
+
+"We'll arrange all that," said Mr. Fairfield. "I think myself that all
+you need is recreation and rest, with a fair proportion of each."
+
+"So do I," said Patty; "I don't want to go to an old farmhouse, where
+there isn't a thing to do but walk in the orchard; I want to go where
+I'll have some fun."
+
+"Go ahead," said the doctor, "fun won't hurt you any as long as it's
+outdoor sports or merry society. But don't get up any plays, or any such
+foolishness, where fun is only a mistaken name for hard work."
+
+Patty promised this, and Dr. Martin went away without any doubts as to
+the speedy and entire recovery of his patient.
+
+Mr. Fairfield and Nan quite agreed with the doctor's opinion that Patty
+ought to go away for a rest and a pleasant vacation. The next thing was
+to decide where she should go. It was out of the question, of course, to
+consider any strange place for her to go alone, and as Mr. Fairfield
+could not begin his vacation until July, and Nan was not willing to leave
+him, there seemed to be no one to accompany Patty.
+
+The only places, therefore, that Mr. Fairfield could think of, were for
+her to go to Vernondale and visit the Elliotts, or down to the
+Hurly-Burly where the Barlows had already gone for their summer season.
+
+But neither of these plans suited Patty at all, for she said that
+Vernondale would be no rest and not much fun. She was fond of her Elliott
+cousins, but she felt sure that they would treat her as a semi-invalid
+and coddle her until she went frantic.
+
+The Hurly-Burly, she said, would be just the opposite. They would have no
+consideration down there for the fact that she wanted a rest, but would
+make her jog about hither and thither, taking long tramps and going on
+tiresome picnics whether she wanted to or not.
+
+So neither of these plans seemed just the thing, and Nan's proposal that
+Patty go to Philadelphia and spend June with Mrs. Allen wasn't quite what
+Patty wanted. Indeed, Patty did not know herself exactly what she wanted,
+which was pretty good proof that she was not so far from the borders of
+Nervous Land as they had believed.
+
+And so when Elise came over one afternoon, and brought with her an
+invitation for Patty, that young woman showed no hesitation in announcing
+at once that it was exactly what she wanted. The invitation was nothing
+more nor less than to go on a long motor-car trip with the Farringtons.
+
+"It will be perfectly splendid," said Elise, "if you'll only go, Patty."
+
+"Go!" said Patty, "I should think I would go! It's perfectly splendid of
+you to invite me. Who are going?"
+
+"Just father and mother, and Roger and myself," said Elise, "and you will
+make five. Roger can run the car, or father can, either, for that matter,
+so we won't take a man, and father has had a new top put on his big
+touring-car and we can pile any amount of luggage up on it, so you can
+take all the frocks you want to. We'll stop at places here and there, you
+know, to visit, and of course, we'll always stop for meals and to stay
+over night."
+
+"But perhaps they wouldn't want me," said Patty, "where you go to visit."
+
+"Nonsense, of course they will. Why, I wrote to Bertha Warner that I
+wanted to bring you, and she said she'd love to have you come."
+
+"How could she say so? she doesn't know me."
+
+"Well, I told her all about you, and she's fully prepared to love you as
+I do. Oh, do you suppose your people will let you go?"
+
+"Of course they will. They'll be perfectly delighted to have me go."
+
+Patty was right. When she told her father and Nan about the delightful
+invitation, they were almost as pleased as she was herself, and Mr.
+Fairfield gave ready permission.
+
+The projected trip entirely fulfilled Dr. Martin's requisites of fresh
+air, out-of-door exercise, and a good time, and when he was told of the
+plan he also expressed his entire approval.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+A MOTOR TRIP
+
+
+Preparations began at once. It was now the first of June and they were to
+start on the sixth.
+
+There were delightful shopping excursions for the replenishing of Patty's
+wardrobe, and Nan gladly assisted Patty to get everything in order for
+her trip.
+
+At last the day of starting came, and a more beautiful day could not be
+imagined. It was typical June weather, and the sun shone pleasantly, but
+not too warmly, from a clear blue sky.
+
+Patty's only experience in motoring had been her trip to Atlantic City,
+but that was only a short ride compared to the contemplated tour of the
+Farringtons.
+
+Mr. Farrington's huge car seemed to be furnished with everything
+necessary for a long journey. Although they would usually take their
+meals at hotels in the towns through which they passed, Mrs. Farrington
+explained they might occasionally wish to have tea or even luncheon on
+the road, so the car was provided with both tea-basket and luncheon-kit.
+The novelty of this paraphernalia was fascinating to Patty, and she
+peeped into the well-appointed baskets with chuckles of delight at the
+anticipated pleasure of making use of them.
+
+Patty's trunk was put up on top among the others, her hand-luggage was
+stowed away in its place, and with affectionate good-byes to Nan and her
+father, she took her seat in the tonneau between Mrs. Farrington and
+Elise, and away they started.
+
+Mr. Farrington and Roger, who sat in front, were in the gayest of spirits
+and everything was promising for a happy journey.
+
+As they threaded their way through the crowded city streets, Patty
+rejoiced to think that they would soon be out in the open country where
+they would have wide roads with comparatively few travellers.
+
+"What is the name of your machine, Mr. Farrington?" she asked, as they
+whizzed along.
+
+"I may as well own up," that gentleman answered, laughing. "I have named
+it 'The Fact.'"
+
+"'The Fact,'" repeated Patty, "what a funny name. Why do you call it
+that? You must have some reason."
+
+"I have," said Mr. Farrington, in a tone of mock despair. "I call it The
+Fact because it is a stubborn thing."
+
+Patty laughed merrily at this. "I'm afraid it's a libel," she said, "I'm
+sure I don't see anything stubborn about the way it acts. It's going
+beautifully."
+
+"Yes, it is," said Mr. Farrington, "and I hope it will continue to do so,
+but I may as well warn you that it has a most reprehensible habit of
+stopping now and then, and utterly refusing to proceed. And this, without
+any apparent reason, except sheer stubbornness."
+
+"How do you finally induce it to move?" asked Patty, interested by this
+trait.
+
+"We don't induce it," said Elise, "we just sit and wait, and when the old
+thing gets ready to move, it just draws a long breath and humps itself up
+and down a few times, and turns a couple of somersaults, and moves on."
+
+"What an exciting experience," said Patty. "When do you think it will
+begin any such performance as that?"
+
+"You can't tell," said Mr. Farrington. "It's as uncertain as the
+weather."
+
+"More so," said Roger. "The weather sometimes gives you warning of its
+intentions, but The Fact just selects a moment when you're the farthest
+possible distance from civilisation or help of any kind, and then it just
+sits down and refuses to get up."
+
+"Well, we won't cross that bridge until we come to it," said Mr.
+Farrington. "Sometimes we run a week without any such mishap."
+
+And truly there seemed no danger at present, for the big car drove ahead
+as smoothly and easily as a railroad train, and Patty lay back in the
+luxurious tonneau, feeling that at last she could get rested and have a
+good time both at once.
+
+The wonderful exhilaration of the swift motion through the soft June air,
+the delightful sensation of the breeze which was caused by the motion of
+the car, and the ever-changing natural panorama on either side of her,
+gave Patty the sensation of having suddenly been transported to some
+other country than that in which she had been living the past few weeks.
+
+And so pleasantly friendly were her relations with Mrs. Farrington and
+Elise that it did not seem necessary to make remarks for the sake of
+keeping up the conversation. There was much pleasant chat and discussion
+as they passed points of interest or diverting scenes, but then again
+there were occasional pauses when they all gave themselves up to the
+enjoyment of the delightful motion of the car.
+
+Patty began to realise what was meant by the phrase, "automobile
+elation." She seemed to feel an uplifting of her spirit, and a strange
+thrill of exquisite happiness, while all trace of nervousness or petty
+worry was brushed away like a cobweb.
+
+Her lungs seemed filled with pure air, and further, she had a whimsical
+sense that she was breathing the very blue of the sky.
+
+She said this to Mrs. Farrington, and that lady smiled as she answered,
+"That's right, Patty; if you feel that way, you are a true motorist. Not
+everyone does. There are some who only look upon a motor-car as a machine
+to transport them from one place to another, but to me it is the very
+fairyland of motion."
+
+Patty's eyes shone in sympathy with this idea, but Roger turned around
+laughingly, and said, "You'd better be careful how you breathe the blue
+sky, Patty, for there's a little cloud over there that may stick in your
+throat."
+
+Patty looked at the tiny white cloud, and responded, "If you go much
+faster, Roger, I'm afraid we'll fly right up there, and run over that
+poor little cloud."
+
+"Let's do it," said Roger. "There's no fine for running over a cloud, is
+there, Dad?"
+
+As he spoke, Roger put on a higher speed, and then they flew so fast that
+Patty began to be almost frightened. But her fear did not last long, for
+in a moment the great car gave a kind of a groan, and then a snort, and
+then a wheeze, and stopped; not suddenly, but with a provokingly
+determined slowness, that seemed to imply no intention of moving on
+again. After a moment the great wheels ceased to revolve, and the car
+stood stubbornly still, while Mr. Farrington and Roger looked at each
+other, with faces of comical dismay.
+
+"We're in for it!" said Mr. Farrington, in a resigned tone.
+
+"Then we must get out for it!" said Roger, as he jumped down from his
+seat, and opened the tool-chest.
+
+Mrs. Farrington groaned. "Now, you see, Patty," she said, "how the car
+lives up to its name. I hoped this wouldn't happen so soon."
+
+"What is the matter?" asked Patty. "Why doesn't it go?"
+
+"Patty," said Elise, looking at her solemnly, "I see you have yet to
+learn the first lesson of automobile etiquette. Never, my child, whatever
+happens, _never_ inquire why a car doesn't go! That is something that
+nobody ever knows, and they wouldn't tell if they did know, and, besides,
+if they did know, they'd know wrong."
+
+Mrs. Farrington laughed at Elise's coherent explanation, but she admitted
+that it was pretty nearly right, after all. Meanwhile, Mr. Farrington and
+Roger, with various queer-looking tools, were tinkering at the car here
+and there, and though they did not seem to be doing any good, yet they
+were evidently not discouraged, for they were whistling gaily, and now
+and then made jesting remarks about the hopelessness of ever moving on
+again.
+
+"I think there's water in the tubes," said Roger, "but Dad thinks it's a
+choked carburetter. So we're going to doctor for both."
+
+"Very well," said Mrs. Farrington, calmly; "as there's no special scenery
+to look at about here, I think I shall take a little nap. You girls can
+get out and stroll around, if you like."
+
+Mrs. Farrington settled herself comfortably in her corner, and closed her
+eyes. Elise and Patty did get out, and walked up and down the road a
+little, and then sat down on the bank by the roadside to chat. For the
+twentieth time or more they talked over all the details of commencement
+day, and congratulated themselves anew on the success of their
+entertainment.
+
+At last, after they had waited nearly two hours, Roger declared that
+there was no earthly reason why they shouldn't start if they cared to.
+
+It was part of Roger's fun, always to pretend that he could go on at any
+moment if he desired to, and when kept waiting by the misconduct of the
+car, he always made believe that he delayed the trip solely for his own
+pleasure.
+
+Likewise, if under such trying circumstances as they had just passed
+through, he heard other automobiles or wagons coming, he would drop his
+tools, lean idly against the car, with his hands in his pockets,
+whistling, and apparently waiting there at his own pleasure.
+
+All this amused Patty very much, and she began, as Elise said, to learn
+the rules of automobile etiquette. It was not difficult with the
+Farringtons, for they all had a good sense of humour, and were always
+more inclined to laugh than cry over spilled milk.
+
+When Roger made this announcement, Elise jumped up, and crying, "Come on,
+Patty," ran back to the car and jumped in, purposely waking her mother as
+she did so.
+
+Mrs. Farrington placidly took in the situation, and remarked that she was
+in no hurry, but if they cared to go on she was quite ready.
+
+And so with laughter and gay chatter they started on again, and the car
+ran as smoothly as it had before the halt.
+
+But it was nearly sundown, and there were many miles yet to travel before
+they reached the hotel where they had expected to dine and stay over
+night.
+
+"Shall we go on, Mother?" said Mr. Farrington. "Can you wait until nine
+o'clock or thereabouts for your dinner? Or shall we stop at some
+farmhouse, and so keep ourselves from starvation?"
+
+"I would rather go on," said Mrs. Farrington, "if the girls don't mind."
+
+The girls didn't mind, and so they plunged ahead while the sun set and
+the darkness fell. There was no moon, and a slight cloudiness hid the
+stars. Roger lighted the lamps, but they cast such weird shadows that
+they seemed to make the darkness blacker than ever.
+
+Patty was not exactly afraid, but the experience was so new to her that
+she felt she would be glad when they reached the hotel. Perhaps Mr.
+Farrington discerned this, for he took especial pains to entertain his
+young guest, and divert her mind from thoughts of possible danger. So he
+beguiled the way with jokes and funny stories, until Patty forgot her
+anxiety, and the first thing she knew they were rolling up the driveway
+to the hotel.
+
+Floods of light streamed from the windows and the great doors, and
+strains of music could be heard from within.
+
+"Thank goodness we're here!" said Mrs. Farrington. "Jump out, girlies,
+and let us seek shelter at once."
+
+Roger remained in the car to take it away to the garage, and Mr.
+Farrington accompanied the ladies into the hotel.
+
+Much as she had enjoyed the ride, Patty felt glad to get into the warm,
+lighted house, and very soon the party were shown to their rooms.
+
+Patty and Elise shared a large room whose twin beds were covered with
+spreads of gaily-flowered chintz. Curtains of the same material hung at
+the windows, and draped the dressing-table.
+
+"What a pleasant, homelike room," said Patty, as she looked about.
+
+"Yes," said Elise, "this is a nice old country hotel. We've been here
+before. Hurry, Patty, let's dress for dinner quickly."
+
+But Patty was surveying herself in the long pierglass that hung between
+two windows.
+
+Nan had selected her motoring outfit, and she had donned it that morning
+so hastily that she hadn't really had an opportunity to observe herself.
+But now, as she looked at the rather shapeless figure in the long pongee
+coat, and the queer shirred hood of the same material, and as she noted
+the voluminous chiffon veil with its funny little front window of mica,
+she concluded that she looked more like a goblin in a fairy play than a
+human being.
+
+"Do stop admiring your new clothes, Patty, and get dressed," said Elise,
+who was on her knees before an open suitcase, shaking out Patty's skirt
+and bodice. "Get off those togs, and get ready to put these on. This is a
+sweet little Dresden silk; I didn't know you had it. Is it new?"
+
+"Yes," said Patty, "Nan bought it for me. She said it wouldn't take much
+room in the suitcase, and would be useful for a dinner dress."
+
+"It's lovely," said Elise. "Now get into it, and I'll hook you up."
+
+So Patty got out of what she called her goblin clothes, but was still
+giggling at them as she hung them away in the wardrobe.
+
+Less than half an hour later the two girls, spick and span in their
+dainty dresses, and with fresh white bows on their hair, went together
+down the staircase. They found Mr. and Mrs. Farrington awaiting them, and
+soon Roger appeared, and they went to the dining-room for a late dinner.
+
+Then Patty discovered what automobile hunger was.
+
+"I'm simply ravenous," she declared, "but I didn't know it until this
+minute."
+
+"That's part of the experience," said Mrs. Farrington, "the appetite
+caused by motoring is the largest known variety, and that's why I wanted
+to push on here, where we could get a good dinner, instead of taking our
+chances at some farmhouse."
+
+They were the only guests in the dining-room at that late hour, and so
+they made a merry meal of it, and after dinner went back to the large
+parlours, to sit for a while listening to the music. But they did not
+tarry long, for as Patty discovered, another consequence of a motor ride
+was a strong inclination to go to bed early.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+DICK PHELPS
+
+
+The travellers did not rise early the next morning, and ten o'clock found
+them still seated at the breakfast table.
+
+"I do hate to hurry," said Mrs. Farrington, comfortably sipping her
+coffee. "So many people think that an automobile tour means getting up
+early, and hustling off at daybreak."
+
+"I'm glad those are your sentiments," said Patty, "for I quite agree with
+you. I've done enough hustling the last month or two, and I'm delighted
+to take things more slowly for a change."
+
+"I think," said Mr. Farrington, "that as it is such a pleasant day, it
+would be a good plan to take some luncheon with us and picnic by the
+roadside. We could then get to the Warners'in time for dinner, though
+perhaps a little late."
+
+"Lovely!" cried Elise, "I'm perfectly crazy to use that new luncheon-kit.
+It's great, Patty! It has the cunningest alcohol stove, and every little
+contraption you could possibly think of."
+
+"I know it," said Patty. "I peeped inside yesterday, and the array of
+forks and spoons and plates and bottles was perfectly fascinating."
+
+"Very well," said Mrs. Farrington to her husband, "ask them to fill the
+kit properly, and I think myself we will enjoy a little picnic."
+
+So Mr. Farrington went to see about the provisions, and Roger to get the
+car ready, while the ladies sauntered about the piazza.
+
+The route of their journey lay along the shore of Long Island Sound, and
+the hotel where they had stayed over night was not far from New Haven,
+and quite near the water's edge.
+
+Patty was very fond of the water, and gazed with delight at the sparkling
+Sound, dotted with white steamers and various sorts of fishing-craft. For
+her part she would have been glad to stay longer at this hotel, but the
+Warners, whom they were going to visit, were expecting them to dinner that
+evening. These people, Patty knew, lived in a beautiful country place
+called "Pine Branches," which was near Springfield in Massachusetts. Patty
+did not know the Warners, but Elise had assured her that they were
+delightful people and were prepared to give her a warm welcome.
+
+When the car came to the door the ladies were all ready to continue the
+journey. They had again donned their queer-looking motor-clothes, and
+though Patty was beginning to get used to their appearance, they still
+seemed to her like a trio of brownies or other queer beings as they took
+their seats in the car.
+
+Roger climbed to his place, touched a lever by his side, and swung the
+car down the drive with an air of what seemed to Patty justifiable pride.
+The freshly cleaned car was so daintily spick and span, the day was so
+perfect, and the merry-hearted passengers in such a gay and festive mood,
+that there was indeed reason for a feeling of general satisfaction.
+
+Away they went at a rapid speed, which Patty thought must be beyond the
+allowed limit, but Roger assured her to the contrary.
+
+For many miles their course lay along a fine road which followed the
+shore of the Sound. This delighted Patty, as she was still able to gaze
+out over the blue water, and at the same time enjoy the wonderful motion
+of the car.
+
+But soon their course changed and they turned inland, on the road to
+Hartford. Patty was surprised at Roger's knowledge of the way, but the
+young man was well provided with road maps and guidebooks, of which he
+had made careful study.
+
+"How beautifully the car goes," said Patty. "It doesn't make the least
+fuss, even on the upgrades."
+
+"You must learn the vocabulary, Patty," said Roger. "When a machine goes
+smoothly as The Fact is doing now, the proper expression is that it runs
+sweetly."
+
+"Sweetly!" exclaimed Patty. "How silly. It sounds like a gushing girl."
+
+"That doesn't matter," said Roger, serenely. "If you go on motor trips,
+you must learn to talk motor-jargon."
+
+"All right," said Patty, "I'm willing to learn, and I do think the way
+this car goes it is just too sweet for anything!"
+
+They all laughed at this, but their gaiety was short-lived, for just then
+there was a peculiar crunching sound that seemed to mean disaster,
+judging from the expressions of dismay on the faces of the Farrington
+family.
+
+"What is it?" asked Patty, forgetting that she had been told never to ask
+questions on such occasions.
+
+"Patty," said Roger, making a comical face at her, "my countenance now
+presents an expression typical of disgust, irritation, and impatience. I
+now wave my right hand thus, which is a Delsarte gesture expressing
+exasperation with a trace of anger. I next give voice to my sentiments,
+merely to remark in my usual calm and disinterested way, that a belt has
+broken and the mending thereof will consume a portion of time, the length
+of which may be estimated only after it has elapsed."
+
+Patty laughed heartily at this harangue, but gathered from Roger's
+nonsense the interesting fact that an accident had occurred, and that a
+delay was inevitable. Nobody seemed especially surprised. Indeed, they
+took it quite as a matter of course, and Mrs. Farrington opened a new
+magazine which she had brought with her, and calmly settled herself to
+read.
+
+But Elise said, "Well, I'm already starving with hunger, and I think we
+may as well open that kit of provisions, and have our picnic right here,
+while Roger is mending the belt."
+
+"Elise," said her father jestingly, "you sometimes show signs of almost
+human intelligence! Your plan is a positive inspiration, for I confess
+that I myself feel the gnawings of hunger. Let us eat the hard-boiled
+eggs and ham sandwiches that we have with us, and then if we like, we can
+stop at Hartford this afternoon for a more satisfying lunch, as I begin
+to think we will not reach Pine Branches until sometime later than their
+usual dinner hour."
+
+They all agreed to this plan, and Roger, with his peculiar sensitiveness
+toward being discovered with his car at a disadvantage, said seriously:
+"I see a racing machine coming, and when it passes us I hope you people
+will act as if we had stopped here only to lunch, and not because this
+ridiculous belt chose to break itself just now."
+
+This trait of Roger's amused Patty very much, but she was quite ready to
+humour her friend, and agreed to do her part.
+
+She looked where Roger had indicated, and though she could see what
+looked like a black speck on a distant road, she wondered how Roger could
+know it was a racing machine that was approaching. However, she realised
+that there were many details of motoring of which she had as yet no idea,
+and she turned her attention to helping the others spread out the
+luncheon. The beautifully furnished basket was a delight to Patty. She
+was amazed to see how cleverly a large amount of paraphernalia could be
+stowed in a small amount of space. The kit was arranged for six persons,
+and contained half-dozens of knives, forks, spoons, and even egg-spoons;
+also plates, cups, napkins, and everything with which to serve a
+comfortable meal. There were sandwich-boxes, salad-boxes, butter-jars,
+tea and coffee cans, salt, pepper, and all necessary condiments. Then
+there was the alcohol stove, with its water-kettle and chafing dish. At
+the sight of all these things, which seemed to come out of the kit as out
+of a magician's hat, Patty's eyes danced.
+
+"Let me cook," she begged, and Mrs. Farrington and Elise were only too
+glad to be relieved of this duty.
+
+There wasn't much cooking to do, as sandwiches, cold meats, salad, and
+sweets were lavishly provided, but Patty made tea, and then boiled a few
+eggs just for the fun of doing it.
+
+Preparations for the picnic were scarcely under way when the racing-car
+that Roger had seen in the distance came near them. There was a whirring
+sound as it approached, and Patty glanced up from her alcohol stove to
+see that it was occupied by only one man. He was slowing speed, and
+evidently intended to stop. Long before he had reached them, Roger had
+hidden his tools, and though his work on the broken belt was not
+completed, he busied himself with the luncheon preparations, as if that
+was his sole thought.
+
+The racing-car stopped and the man who was driving it got out.
+
+At sight of him Patty with difficulty restrained her laughter, for though
+their own garb was queer, it was rational compared to the appearance of
+this newcomer.
+
+A racing suit is, with perhaps the exception of a diver's costume, the
+most absurd-looking dress a man can get into. The stranger's suit was of
+black rubber, tightly strapped at the wrists and ankles, but it was his
+head-gear which gave the man his weird and uncanny effect. It was a
+combination of mask, goggles, hood, earflaps, and neckshield which was so
+arranged with hinges that the noseguard and mouthpiece worked
+independently of each other.
+
+At any rate, it seemed to Patty the funniest show she had ever seen, and
+she couldn't help laughing. The man didn't seem to mind, however, and
+after he had bowed silently for a moment or two with great enjoyment of
+their mystification, he pulled off his astonishing head-gear and
+disclosed his features.
+
+"Dick Phelps!" exclaimed Mr. Farrington, "why, how are you, old man? I'm
+right down glad to see you!"
+
+Mr. Phelps was a friend of the Farrington family, and quite naturally
+they invited him to lunch with them.
+
+"Indeed I will," said the visitor, "for I started at daybreak, and I've
+had nothing to eat since. I can't tarry long though, as I must make New
+York City to-night."
+
+Mr. Phelps was a good-looking young man of about thirty years, and so
+pleased was he with Patty's efforts in the cooking line, that he ate all
+the eggs she had boiled, and drank nearly all the tea, besides making
+serious inroads on the viands they had brought with them.
+
+"It doesn't matter if I do eat up all your food," said the young man,
+pleasantly, "for you can stop anywhere and get more, but I mustn't stop
+again until I reach the city, and I probably won't have a chance to eat
+then, as I must push on to Long Island."
+
+The Farringtons were quite willing to refresh the stranger within their
+gates, and they all enjoyed the merry little picnic.
+
+"Where are you bound?" asked Mr. Phelps as he prepared to continue his
+way.
+
+"To Pine Branches first," said Mrs. Farrington, "the country house of a
+friend. It's near Springfield, and from there we shall make short trips,
+and later on, continue our way in some other direction,--which way we
+haven't yet decided."
+
+"Good enough," said Mr. Phelps, "then I'll probably see you again. I am
+often a guest at Pine Branches myself, and shall hope to run across you."
+
+As every motorist is necessarily interested in his friend's car, Mr.
+Phelps naturally turned to inspect the Farrington machine before getting
+into his own.
+
+And so, to Roger's chagrin, he was obliged to admit that he was even then
+under the necessity of mending a broken belt.
+
+But to Roger's relief, Mr. Phelps took almost no notice of it, merely
+saying that a detail defect was liable to happen to anybody. He looked
+over the vital parts of the motor, and complimented Roger on its fine
+condition. This pleased the boy greatly, and resuming his work after Mr.
+Phelps' departure, he patched up the belt, while the others repacked the
+kit, and soon they started off again.
+
+Swiftly and smoothly they ran along over the beautiful roads,
+occasionally meeting other touring-parties apparently as happy as they
+were themselves. Sometimes they exchanged merry greetings as they passed,
+for all motorists belong to one great, though unorganised, fraternity.
+
+"I've already discovered that trifling accidents are a part of the
+performance, and I've also discovered that they're easily remedied and
+soon over, and that when they are over they are quickly forgotten and it
+seems impossible that they should ever occur again."
+
+"You've sized it up pretty fairly, Patty," said Roger, "and though I
+never before thought it out for myself, I agree with you that that is the
+true way to look at it."
+
+On they went, leaving the miles behind them, and as Roger was anxious to
+make up for lost time he went at a slightly higher speed than he would
+have otherwise done. He slowed down, however, when they passed horses or
+when they went through towns or villages.
+
+Patty was greatly interested in the many small villages through which
+they rode, as nearly every one showed quaint or humorous scenes. Dogs
+would come out and bark at them, children would scream after them, and
+even the grown-up citizens of the hamlets would stare at them as if they
+had never seen a motor-car before, though Patty reasoned that surely many
+of them must have travelled that same road.
+
+"When you meet another village, Roger," she said, "do go through it more
+slowly, for I like to see the funny people."
+
+"Very well," said Roger, "you may stop and get a drink at the town pump,
+if you like."
+
+"No, thank you," said Patty, "I don't want to get out, but I would like
+to stop a minute or two in one of them."
+
+Roger would willingly have granted Patty's wish, but he was deprived of
+this privilege by the car itself. Just as they neared a small settlement
+known as Huntley's Corners, another ominous sound from the machine gave
+warning.
+
+"That belt again!" exclaimed Roger. "Patty, the probabilities are that
+you'll have all the time you want to study up this village, and even
+learn the life history of the oldest inhabitant."
+
+"What an annoying belt it is," said Mrs. Farrington in her pleasant way.
+"Don't you think, Roger dear, that you had better get a new belt and be
+done with it?"
+
+"That's just what I do think, Mother, but somehow I can't persuade myself
+that they keep them for sale at this corner grocery."
+
+The car had reached the only store in the settlement, and stopped almost
+in front of it.
+
+Patty was beginning to learn the different kinds of stops that a
+motor-car can make, and she felt pretty sure that this was not a
+momentary pause, but a stop that threatened a considerable delay.
+
+She said as much to Roger, and he replied, "Patty, you're an apt pupil.
+The Fact has paused here not for a day, but for all time, unless
+something pretty marvellous can be done in the way of belt mending!"
+
+Patty began to think that accidents were of somewhat frequent occurrence,
+but Elise said, cheerfully, "This seems to be an off day. Why, sometimes
+we run sweetly for a week, without a word from the belt. Don't we,
+Roger?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Roger, "but Patty may as well get used to the seamy
+side of motoring, and learn to like it."
+
+"I do like it," declared Patty, "and if we are going to take up our abode
+here for the present, I'm going out to explore the town."
+
+She jumped lightly from the car, and, accompanied by Elise, strolled down
+the main, and, indeed, the only street of the village.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+OLD CHINA
+
+
+A few doors away from the country store in front of which the automobile
+stood, the girls saw a quaint old house, with a few toys and candies
+displayed for sale in a front window.
+
+"Isn't it funny?" said Elise, looking in at the unattractive collection.
+"See that old-fashioned doll, and just look at that funny jumping-jack!"
+
+"Yes," said Patty, whose quick eye had caught sight of something more
+interesting, "but just look at that plate of peppermint candies. The
+plate, I mean. Why, Elise, it's a Millennium plate!"
+
+"What's that?" said Elise, looking blank.
+
+"A Millennium plate? Why, Elise, it's about the most valuable bit of old
+china there is in this country! Why, Nan would go raving crazy over that.
+I'd rather take it home to her than any present I could buy in the city
+shop. Elise, do you suppose whoever keeps this little store would sell
+that plate?"
+
+"No harm in trying," said Elise, "there's plenty of time, for it will
+take Roger half an hour to fix that belt. Let's go in and ask her."
+
+"No, no," said Patty, "that isn't the way. Wait a minute. I've been china
+hunting before, with Nan, and with other people, and you mustn't go about
+it like that. We must go in as if we were going to buy some of her other
+goods, and then we'll work around to the plate by degrees. You buy
+something else, Elise, and leave the plate part to me."
+
+"Very well, I think I'll buy that rag doll, though I'm sure I don't know
+what I'll ever do with it. No self-respecting child would accept it as a
+gift."
+
+"Well, buy something," said Patty, as they went in.
+
+The opening of the door caused a big bell to jingle, and this apparently
+called an old woman in from the back room. She was not very tidy, but she
+was a good-natured body, and smiled pleasantly at the two girls.
+
+"What is it, young ladies?" she asked, "can I sell you anything to-day?"
+
+"Yes," said Elise, gravely, "I was passing your window, and I noticed a
+doll there,--that one with the blue gingham dress. How much is it,
+please?"
+
+"That one," said the old lady, "is fifty cents. Seems sorter high, I
+know, but that 'ere doll was made by a blind girl, that lives a piece up
+the road; and though the sewin' ain't very good, it's a nine-days' wonder
+that she can do it at all. And them dolls is her only support, and land
+knows she don't sell hardly any!"
+
+"I'll give you a dollar for it," said Elise, impulsively, for her
+generous heart was touched. "Have you any more of them?"
+
+"No," said the woman, in some amazement. "Malviny, she don't make many,
+'cause they don't sell very rapid. But be you goin' her way? She might
+have one to home, purty nigh finished."
+
+"I don't know," said Elise, "where does she live?"
+
+"Straight along, on the main road. You can't miss it, an old yaller
+house, with the back burnt off."
+
+It was Patty's turn now, and she said she would buy the peppermint
+candies that were in the window.
+
+"All of 'em?" asked the storekeeper, in surprise.
+
+"Yes," said Patty, "all of them," and as the old woman lifted the plate
+in from the window, Patty added, "And if you care to part with it, I'll
+buy the plate too."
+
+"Land, Miss, that 'ere old plate ain't no good; it's got a crack in it,
+but if so be's you admire that pattern, I've got another in the
+keeping-room that's just like it, only 'tain't cracked. 'Tain't even
+chipped."
+
+"Would you care to part with them both?" asked Patty, remembering that
+this phrase was the preferred formula of all china hunters.
+
+"Laws, yes, Miss, if you care to pay for 'em. Of course, I can't sell 'em
+for nothin', for there's sometimes ladies as comes here, as has a fancy
+to them old things. But these two plates is so humbly, that I didn't have
+the face to show 'em to anybody as was lookin' for anteeks."
+
+Patty's sense of honesty would not allow her to ignore the old woman's
+mistake.
+
+"They may seem homely to you," she said, "but I think it only right to
+tell you that these plates are probably the most valuable of any you have
+ever owned."
+
+"Well, for the land o' goodness, ef you ain't honest! 'Tain't many as
+would speak up like that! Jest come in the back room, and look at the
+other plate."
+
+The girls followed the old woman as she raised a calico curtain of a
+flowered pattern, and let them through into the "keeping-room."
+
+"There," she said with some pride as she took down a plate from the high
+mantel. "There, you can see for yourself, there ain't no chip or crack
+into it."
+
+Sure enough, Patty held in her hand a perfect specimen of the Millennium
+plate, so highly prized by collectors, and there was also the one she had
+seen in the window, which though slightly cracked, was still in fair
+condition.
+
+"How much do you want for them?" asked Patty.
+
+The old woman hesitated. It was not difficult to see that, although she
+wanted to get as high a price as possible for her plates, yet she did not
+want to ask so much that Patty would refuse to take them.
+
+"You tell me," she said, insinuatingly, "'bout what you think them plates
+is worth."
+
+"No," said Patty, firmly, "I never buy things that way. You tell me your
+price, and then I will buy them or not as I choose."
+
+"Well," said the old woman, slowly, "the last lady that I sold plates to,
+she give me fifty cents apiece for three of 'em, and though I think they
+was purtier than these here, yet you tell me these is more vallyble, and
+so," here the old woman made a great show of firmness, "and so my price
+for these plates is a dollar apiece."
+
+As soon as she had said it, she looked at Patty in alarm, greatly fearing
+that she would not pay so much.
+
+But Patty replied, "I will give you five dollars for the two,--because I
+know that is nearer their value than the price you set."
+
+"Bless your good heart, and your purty face, Miss," said the old woman,
+as the tears came into her eyes. "I'm that obliged to you! I'll send the
+money straight to my son John. He's in the hospital, poor chap, and he
+needs it sore."
+
+Elise had rarely been brought in contact with poverty and want, and her
+generous heart was touched at once. She emptied her little purse out upon
+the table, and was rejoiced to discover that it contained something over
+ten dollars.
+
+"Please accept that," she cried, "to buy things for your son, or for
+yourself, as you choose."
+
+[Illustration: "'There, you can see for yourself, there ain't no chip or
+crack into it'"]
+
+The old woman was quite overcome at this kindness, and was endeavouring
+brokenly to express her thanks, when the bell on the shop door jangled
+loudly.
+
+Patty being nearest to the calico curtain drew it aside, to find Roger in
+the little shop, looking very breathless and worried.
+
+"Well, of all things," he exclaimed. "You girls have given us a scare.
+We've hunted high and low through the whole of this metropolis. And if it
+hadn't been that a little girl said she saw you come in here, I suppose
+we'd now be dragging the brook. Come along, quick, we're all ready to
+start."
+
+"How could you get that belt mended so quickly?" asked Elise.
+
+"Never mind that," said Roger, "just come along."
+
+"Wait a minute," said Patty, hastily gathering up her precious plates,
+while the old woman provided some newspaper wrapping.
+
+Roger hurried the two girls back to the motor-car, saying as they went,
+"We're not in any hurry to start, but Mother thinks you're drowned, and I
+want to prove to her that she is mistaken."
+
+The sight of the car caused Patty to go off into peals of laughter.
+
+In front of the beautiful machine was an old farm wagon, and in front of
+that were four horses. On the seat of the wagon sat a nonchalant-looking
+farmer who seemed to take little interest in the proceedings.
+
+"I wouldn't ask what's the matter for anything," said Patty, looking at
+Roger, demurely, "but I suppose I am safe in assuming that you have those
+horses there merely because you think they look well."
+
+"That's it," said Roger. "Nothing adds to the good effect of a motor-car
+like having a few fine horses attached to it. Jump in, girls."
+
+The girls jumped in, and the caravan started. It was at a decidedly
+different rate of speed from the way they had travelled before. But Patty
+soon learned that Roger had found it impossible to fix the belt without
+going to a repair shop, and there was none nearer than Hartford. With
+some difficulty, and at considerable expense, he had persuaded the gruff
+old farmer to tow them over the intervening ten miles.
+
+Patty would have supposed that this would greatly humiliate the proud and
+sensitive boy, but, to her surprise, Roger treated the affair as a good
+joke. He leaned back in his seat, apparently pleased with his enforced
+idleness, and chatted merrily as they slowly crawled along. Occasionally
+he would plead with the old farmer to urge his horses a trifle faster,
+and even hint at certain rewards if they should reach Hartford in a given
+time. But the grumpy old man was proof against coaxing or even bribing,
+and they jogged along, almost at a snail's pace.
+
+Perceiving that there was no way of improving the situation, Roger gave
+up trying, and turning partly around in his seat, proceeded to entertain
+the girls to the best of his ability.
+
+Patty hadn't known before what a jolly, good-natured boy Elise's brother
+was, and she came to the conclusion that he had a good sense of
+proportion, to be able to take things so easily, and to keep his temper
+under such trying circumstances.
+
+Only once did the surly old farmer address himself to his employers.
+Turning around to face the occupants of the motor-car he bawled out:
+
+"Whar do ye wanter go in Hartford?"
+
+"To the largest repair shop for automobiles," answered Roger.
+
+"Thought ye wanted ter go ter the State Insane Asylum," was the response
+to this, and a suppressed chuckle could be heard, as the old man again
+turned his attention to his not over-speedy steeds.
+
+Though not a very subtle jest, this greatly amused the motor party, and
+soon they entered the outskirts of the beautiful city of Hartford.
+
+Mr. Farrington looked at his watch. "I suppose," he said, "it will take
+the best part of an hour to have the machine attended to, for there are
+two or three little matters which I want to have put in order, besides
+the belt. I will stay and look after it, and the rest of you can take
+your choice of two proceedings. One is, to go to a hotel, rest and
+freshen yourselves up a bit, and have some luncheon. The other is, to
+take a carriage and drive around the city. Hartford is a beautiful place,
+and if Patty has never seen it, I am sure she will enjoy it."
+
+"It doesn't matter to me," said Mrs. Farrington, "which we do; but I'm
+quite sure I don't care to eat anything more just at present. We had our
+picnic not so very long ago, you know."
+
+"I know," said Mr. Farrington, "but consider this. When we start from
+here with the car in good order, I hope to run straight through to
+Warner's. But at best we cannot reach there before ten o'clock to-night.
+So it's really advisable that you should fortify yourselves against the
+long ride, for I should hate to delay matters further by stopping again
+for dinner."
+
+"Ten o'clock!" exclaimed Mrs. Farrington, "why, they expect us by seven,
+at latest. It is too bad to keep them waiting like that. Can't we
+telephone to them?"
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Farrington, "and I will attend to that while I am waiting
+for the car to be fixed. Now what would you people rather do?"
+
+Both the girls declared they could not eat another luncheon at present,
+and they thought it would be delightful to drive around and see the town.
+
+So Mrs. Farrington settled the matter by deciding to take the drive. And
+then she said, "We can leave the luncheon-kit at some hotel to be filled,
+then we can pick it up again, and take it along with us, and when we get
+hungry we can eat a light supper in the car."
+
+"Great head, Mother!" cried Roger, "you are truly a genius!"
+
+An open landau was engaged, and Roger and the three ladies started for
+the drive. They spent a delightful hour viewing the points of interest in
+the city, which the obliging driver pointed out to them.
+
+They smiled when they came to the Insane Asylum, and though the grounds
+looked attractive, they concluded not to go there to stay, even though
+their old farmer friend had seemed to think it an appropriate place for
+them.
+
+"It's a strange thing," said Roger, "that people who do not ride in
+automobiles always think that people who do are crazy. I'm sure I don't
+know why."
+
+"I wouldn't blame anybody for thinking Mr. Phelps crazy, if they had seen
+him this morning," said Patty.
+
+"That's only because you're not accustomed to seeing men in racing
+costume," said Roger. "After you've seen a few more rigs like that, you
+won't think anything of them."
+
+"That's so," said Patty thoughtfully, "and if I had never before seen a
+farmer in the queer overalls, and big straw hat, that our old country
+gentleman wore, I daresay I should have thought his appearance quite as
+crazy as that of Mr. Phelps."
+
+"You have a logical mind, Patty," said Mrs. Farrington, "and on the whole
+I think you are right."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A STORMY RIDE
+
+
+The time passed quickly and soon the drive was over, and after calling
+for their well-filled luncheon-basket, the quartet returned to the repair
+shop to find Mr. Farrington all ready to start.
+
+So into the car they all bundled, and Patty learned that each fresh start
+during a motor journey revives the same feeling of delight that is felt
+at the beginning of the trip.
+
+She settled herself in her place with a little sigh of contentment, and
+remarked that she had already begun to feel at home in The Fact, and she
+only wished it was early morning, and they were starting for the day,
+instead of but for a few hours.
+
+"Don't you worry, my lady," said Roger, as he laid his hands lightly on
+the steering-wheel, "you've a good many solid hours of travel ahead of
+you right now. It's four o'clock, and if we reach Pine Branches by ten, I
+will pat this old car fondly on the head, before I put her to bed."
+
+The next few hours were perhaps the pleasantest they had yet spent. In
+June, from four to seven is a delightful time, and as the roads were
+perfect, and the car went along without the slightest jar or jolt, and
+without even a hint of an accident of any sort, there was really not a
+flaw to mar their pleasure.
+
+As the sun set, and the twilight began to close around them, Patty
+thought she had never seen anything more beautiful than the landscape
+spread out before them. A broad white road stretched ahead like a ribbon.
+On either side were sometimes green fields, darkening in the fading
+light, and sometimes small groves of trees, which stood black against the
+sky.
+
+Then the sunset's colours faded, the trees grew blacker and denser, and
+their shadows ceased to fall across the darkening road.
+
+Roger lighted the lamps, and drew out extra fur robes, for the evening
+air was growing chill.
+
+"Isn't it wonderful!" said Patty, almost in a whisper. "Motoring by
+daylight is gay and festive, but now, to glide along so swiftly and
+silently through the darkness, is so strange that it's almost solemn. As
+it grows darker and blacker, it seems as if we were gliding away,--away
+into eternity."
+
+"For gracious' sake, child," said Mrs. Farrington, "don't talk like that!
+You give me the shivers; say something more lively, quick!"
+
+Patty laughed merrily.
+
+"That was only a passing mood," she said. "Really, I think it's awfully
+jolly for us to be scooting along like this, with our lamps shining.
+We're just like a great big fire-fly or a dancing will-o'-the-wisp."
+
+"You have a well-trained imagination, Patty," said Mrs. Farrington,
+laughing at the girl's quick change from grave to gay. "You can make it
+obey your will, can't you?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am," said Patty demurely, "what's the use of having an
+imagination, if you can't make it work for you?"
+
+The car was comfortably lighted inside as well as out, with electric
+lamps, and the occupants were, as Mr. Farrington said, as cozy and
+homelike as if they were in a gipsy waggon.
+
+Patty laughed at the comparison and said she thought that very few gipsy
+waggons had the luxuries and modern appliances of The Fact.
+
+"That may be," said Mr. Farrington, "but you must admit the gipsy waggon
+is the more picturesque vehicle. The way they shirr that calico
+arrangement around their back door, has long been my admiration."
+
+"It is beautiful," said Patty, "and the way the stove-pipe comes out of
+the roof,----"
+
+"And the children's heads out 'most anywhere," added Elise; "yes, it's
+certainly picturesque."
+
+"Speaking of gipsy waggons makes me hungry," said Mrs. Farrington. "What
+time is it, and how soon shall we reach the Warners'?"
+
+"It's after eight o'clock, my dear," said her husband, "and I'm sure we
+can't get there before ten, and then, of course, we won't have dinner at
+once, so do let us partake of a little light refreshment."
+
+"Seems to me we are always eating," said Patty, "but I'm free to confess
+that I'm about as hungry as a full grown anaconda."
+
+Without reducing their speed, and they were going fairly fast, the
+tourists indulged in a picnic luncheon. There was no tea making, but
+sandwiches and little cakes and glasses of milk were gratefully accepted.
+
+"This is all very well," said Mrs. Farrington, after supper was over,
+"and I wouldn't for a moment have you think that I'm tired or frightened,
+or the least mite timid. But if I may have my way, hereafter we'll make
+no definite promises to be at any particular place at any particular
+time. I wish when you had telephoned, John, you had told the Warners that
+we wouldn't arrive until to-morrow. Then we could have stopped somewhere,
+and spent the night like civilised beings, instead of doing this gipsy
+act."
+
+"It would have been a good idea," said Mr. Farrington thoughtfully, "but
+it's a bit too late now, so there's no use worrying about it. But cheer
+up, my friend, I think we'll arrive shortly."
+
+"I think we won't," said Roger. "I don't want to be discouraging, but we
+haven't passed the old stone quarry yet, and that's a mighty long way
+this side of Pine Branches."
+
+"You're sure you know the way, aren't you, Roger?" asked his mother, her
+tone betraying the first trace of anxiety she had yet shown.
+
+"Oh, yes," said Roger, and Patty wasn't sure whether she imagined it, or
+whether the boy's answer was not quite as positive as it was meant to
+sound.
+
+"Well, I'm glad you do," said Mr. Farrington, "for I confess I don't.
+We're doubtless on the right road, but I haven't as yet seen any familiar
+landmarks."
+
+"We're on the right road, all right," said Roger. "You know there's a
+long stretch this side of Pine Branches, without any villages at all."
+
+"I know it," said Mrs. Farrington, "but it is dotted with large country
+places, and farms. Are you passing those, Roger? I can't seem to see
+any?"
+
+"I haven't noticed very many, Mother, but I think we haven't come to them
+yet. Chirk up, it's quite some distance yet, but we'll keep going till we
+get there."
+
+"Oh," said Mrs. Farrington, "what if the belt should break, or something
+give way!"
+
+"Don't think of such things, Mother; nothing is going to give way. But if
+it should, why, we'll just sit here till morning, and then we can see to
+fix it."
+
+Mrs. Farrington couldn't help laughing at Roger's good nature, but she
+said, "Of course, I know everything's all right, and truly, I'm not a bit
+frightened. But somehow, John, I'd feel more comfortable if you'd come
+back here with me, and let one of the girls sit in front in your place."
+
+"Certainly," said her husband, "hop over here, Elise."
+
+"Let me go," cried Patty, who somehow felt, intuitively, that Elise would
+prefer to stay behind with her parents. As for Patty herself, she had no
+fear, and really wanted the exciting experience of sitting up in front
+during this wild night ride.
+
+Roger stopped the car, and the change was soon effected. As Patty
+insisted upon it, she was allowed to go instead of Elise, and in a moment
+they were off again.
+
+"Do you know," said Patty to Roger, after they had started, "when I got
+out then, I felt two or three drops of rain!"
+
+"I do know it," said Roger, in a low tone, "and I may as well tell you,
+Patty, that there's going to be a hard storm before long. Certainly
+before we reach Pine Branches."
+
+"How dreadful," said Patty, who was awed more by the anxious note in
+Roger's voice, than by the thought of the rain storm. "Don't you think it
+would be better," she went on, hoping to make a helpful suggestion, "if
+we should put in to some house until the storm is over? Surely anybody
+would give us shelter."
+
+"I don't see any houses," said Roger, "and, Patty, I may as well own up,
+we're off the road somehow. I think I must have taken the wrong turning
+at that fork a few miles back. And though I'm not quite sure, yet I feel
+a growing conviction that we're lost."
+
+Although the situation was appalling, for some unexplainable reason Patty
+couldn't help giggling.
+
+"Lost!" she exclaimed in a tragic whisper, "in the middle of the night!
+in a desolate country region! and a storm coming on!"
+
+Patty's dramatic summary of the situation made Roger laugh too. And their
+peals of gaiety reassured the three who sat behind.
+
+"What are you laughing at?" said Elise; "I wish you'd tell me, for I'm
+'most scared to death, and Roger, it's beginning to rain."
+
+"You don't say so!" said Roger, in a tone of polite surprise, "why then
+we must put on the curtains." He stopped the car, and jumping down from
+his place, began to arrange the curtains which were always carried in
+case of rain.
+
+Mr. Farrington helped him, and as he did so, remarked, "Looks like
+something of a storm, my boy."
+
+"Father," said Roger, in a low voice, "it's going to rain cats and dogs,
+and there may be a few thunders and lightnings. I hope mother won't have
+hysterics, and I don't believe she will, if you sit by her and hold her
+hand. I don't think we'd better stop. I think we'd better drive straight
+ahead, but, Dad, I believe we're on the wrong road. We're not lost; I
+know the way all right, but to go around the way we are going, is about
+forty miles farther than the way I meant to go; and yet I don't dare turn
+back and try to get on the other road again, for fear I'll really get
+lost."
+
+"Roger," said Mr. Farrington, "you're a first-class chauffeur, and I'll
+give you a reference whenever you want one, but I must admit that
+to-night you have succeeded in getting us into a pretty mess."
+
+Roger was grateful enough for the light way in which his father treated
+the rather serious situation, but the boy keenly felt his responsibility.
+
+"Good old Dad," he said, "you're a brick! Get in back now, and look after
+mother and Elise. Don't let them shoot me or anything, when I'm not
+looking. Patty is a little trump; she is plucky clear through, and I am
+glad to have her up in front with me. Now I'll do the best I can, and
+drive straight through the storm. If I see any sort of a place where we
+can turn in for shelter, I think we'd better do it, don't you?"
+
+"I do, indeed," said his father. "Meantime, my boy, go ahead. I trust the
+whole matter to you, for you're a more expert driver than I am."
+
+It was already raining fast as the two men again climbed into the car.
+But the curtains all around kept the travellers dry, and with its cheery
+lights the interior of the car was cozy and pleasant.
+
+In front was a curtain with a large window of mica which gave ample view
+of the road ahead.
+
+With his strong and well-arranged lights, Roger had no fear of collision,
+and as they were well protected from the rain, his chief worriment was
+because they were on the wrong road.
+
+"It's miles and miles longer to go around this way," he confided to
+Patty. "I don't know what time we'll ever get there."
+
+"Never mind," said Patty, who wanted to cheer him up. "I think this is a
+great experience. I suppose there's danger, but somehow I can't help
+enjoying the wild excitement of it."
+
+"I'm glad you like it," said Roger a little grimly. "I'm always pleased
+to entertain my guests."
+
+The storm was increasing, and now amounted to a gale. The rain dashed
+against the curtains in great wet sheets, and finally forced its way in
+at a few of the crevices.
+
+Mrs. Farrington, sitting between her husband and daughter, was thoroughly
+frightened and extremely uncomfortable, but she pluckily refrained from
+giving way to her nervousness, and succeeded in behaving herself with
+real bravery and courage.
+
+Still the tempest grew. So wildly did it dash against the front curtain
+that Patty and Roger could see scarcely a foot before the machine.
+
+"There's one comfort," said Roger, through his clenched teeth, "we're not
+in danger of running into anything, for no other fools would be abroad
+such a night as this. Patty, I'm going to speed her! I'm going to race
+the storm!"
+
+"Do!" said Patty, who was wrought up to a tense pitch of excitement by
+the war of the elements without, and the novelty of the situation within.
+
+Roger increased the speed, and they flew through the black night and
+dashed into the pouring rain, while Patty held her breath, and wondered
+what would happen next.
+
+On they went and on. Patty's imagination kept pace with her experiences
+and through her mind flitted visions of Tam O'Shanter's ride, John
+Gilpin's ride and the ride of Collins Graves. But all of these seemed
+tame affairs beside their own break-neck speed through the wild night!
+
+"Roger," said his mother, "Roger, won't you please----"
+
+"Ask her not to speak to me just now, Patty, please," said the boy, in
+such a tense, strained voice that Patty was frightened at last, but she
+knew that if Roger were frightened, that was a special reason for her own
+calmness and bravery. Turning slightly, she said, "Please don't speak to
+him just now, Mrs. Farrington; he wants to put all his attention on his
+steering."
+
+"Very well," said Mrs. Farrington, who had not the slightest idea that
+there was any cause for alarm, aside from the discomfort of the storm. "I
+only wanted to tell him to watch out for railroad trains."
+
+And then Patty realised that that was just what Roger was looking out
+for! She could not see ahead into the blinding rain, but she knew they
+were going down hill. She heard what seemed like the distant whistle of a
+locomotive, and suddenly realising that Roger could not stop the car and
+must cross the track before the train came, she thought at the same
+moment that if Mrs. Farrington should impulsively reach over and grasp
+the boy's arm, or anything like that, it might mean terrible disaster.
+
+Acting upon a quick impulse to prevent this, she turned round herself,
+and with a voice whose calmness surprised her, she said, "Please, Mrs.
+Farrington, could you get me a sandwich out of the basket?"
+
+"Bless you, no, child!" said that lady, her attention instantly diverted
+by Patty's ruse. "That is, I don't believe I can, but I'll try."
+
+Patty was far from wanting a sandwich, but she felt that she had at least
+averted the possible danger of Mrs. Farrington's suddenly clutching
+Roger, and as she turned back to face the front, the great car whizzed
+across the slippery railroad track, just as Patty saw the headlight of a
+locomotive not two hundred feet away from them.
+
+"Oh, Roger," she breathed, clasping her hands tightly, lest she herself
+should touch the boy, and so interfere with his steering.
+
+"It's all right, Patty," said Roger in a breathless voice, and as she
+looked at his white face, she realised the danger they had so narrowly
+escaped.
+
+Those in the back seat could not see the train, and the roar of the storm
+drowned its noise.
+
+"Patty," said Roger, very softly, "you saved us! I understood just what
+you did. I felt _sure_ Mother was going to grab at me, when she heard
+that whistle. It's a way she has, when she's nervous or frightened, and I
+can't seem to make her stop it. But you saved the day with your sandwich
+trick, and if ever we get in out of the rain, I'll tell you what I think
+of you!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+PINE BRANCHES
+
+
+There were still many miles to cover before they reached their
+destination, but there were no more railroad tracks to cross, and as
+there was little danger of meeting anyone, Roger let the car fly along at
+a high rate of speed. The storm continued and though the party
+endeavoured to keep cheerful, yet the situation was depressing, and each
+found it difficult not to show it.
+
+Roger, of course, devoted his exclusive attention to driving the car, and
+Patty scarcely dared to breathe, lest she should disturb him in some way.
+
+The three on the back seat became rather silent also, and at last
+everybody was rejoiced when Roger said, "Those lights ahead are at the
+entrance gate of Pine Branches."
+
+Then the whole party waxed cheerful again.
+
+Mr. Farrington looked at his watch. "It's quarter of two," he said, "do
+you suppose we can get in at this hour?"
+
+"Indeed we will get in," declared Roger, "if I have to drive this car
+smash through the gates, and _bang_ in at the front door!"
+
+The strain was beginning to tell on the boy, who had really had a fearful
+night of it, and he went dashing up to the large gates with a feeling of
+great relief that the end of the journey was at hand.
+
+When they reached the entrance, the rain was coming down in torrents.
+Great lanterns hung either side of the portal, and disclosed the fact
+that the gates were shut and locked.
+
+Roger had expected this, for he felt sure the Warners had long ago given
+up all thought of seeing their guests that night.
+
+Repeated soundings of the horn failed to bring any response from the
+lodge-keeper, and Roger was just about to get out of the car, and ring
+the bell at the large door, when Patty's quick eye discerned a faint
+light at one of the windows.
+
+"Sure enough," said Roger, as she called his attention to this, and after
+a few moments the large door was opened, and the porter gazed out into
+the storm.
+
+"All right, sir, all right," he called, seeing the car; and donning a
+great raincoat, he came out to open the gates.
+
+"Well, well, sir," he said, as Mr. Farrington leaned out to speak with
+him, "this is a night, sure enough! Mr. Warner, sir, he gave up looking
+for you at midnight."
+
+"I don't wonder," said Mr. Farrington, "and now, my man, can you ring
+your people up, and is there anybody to take care of the car?"
+
+"Yes, sir, yes, sir," said the porter, "just you drive on up to the
+house, and I'll go back to the lodge and ring up the chauffeur, and as
+soon as he can get around he'll take care of your car. I'll ring up the
+housekeeper too, but she's a slow old body, and you'd best sound your
+horn all the way up the drive."
+
+Roger acted on this advice and The Fact went tooting up the driveway, and
+finally came to a standstill at the front entrance of Pine Branches.
+
+They were under a _porte-cochere_, and as soon as they stopped, Elise
+jumped out, and began a vigorous onslaught on the doorbell. Roger kept
+the horn sounding, and after a few moments the door was opened by a
+somewhat sleepy-looking butler. As they entered, Mr. Warner, whose
+appearance gave evidence of a hasty toilet, came flying down the
+staircase, three steps at a time.
+
+"Well, well, my friends," he exclaimed, "I'm glad to see you, I am
+overjoyed to see you! We were expecting you just at this particular
+minute, and I am so glad that you arrived on time. How do you do, Mrs.
+Farrington? And Elise, my dear child, how you've grown since I saw you
+last! This is Patty Fairfield, is it? How do you do, Patty? I am very
+glad to see you. Roger, my boy, you look exhausted. Has your car been
+cutting up jinks?"
+
+As Mr. Warner talked, he bustled around shaking hands with his guests,
+assisting them out of their wraps, and disposing of them in comfortable
+chairs.
+
+Meantime the rest of the family appeared.
+
+Bertha Warner, a merry-looking girl of about Patty's age, came flying
+downstairs, pinning her collar as she ran.
+
+"How jolly of you," she cried, "to come in the middle of the night! Such
+fun! I'm so glad to see you, Elise; and this is Patty Fairfield? Patty, I
+think you're lovely."
+
+The impulsive Bertha kissed Patty on both cheeks, and then turned to make
+way for her mother.
+
+Mrs. Warner was as merry and as hearty in her welcome as the others. She
+acted as if it were an ordinary occurrence to be wakened from sleep at
+two o'clock in the morning, to greet newly arrived guests, and she
+greeted Patty quite as warmly as the others.
+
+Suddenly a wild whoop was heard, and Winthrop Warner, the son of the
+house, came running downstairs.
+
+"Jolly old crowd!" he cried, "you wouldn't let a little thing like a
+tornado stop your progress, would you? I'm glad you persevered and
+reached here, even though a trifle late."
+
+Winthrop was a broad-shouldered, athletic young man, of perhaps
+twenty-four, and though he chaffed Roger merrily, he greeted the ladies
+with hospitable courtesy, and looked about to see what he could do for
+their further comfort. They were still in the great square entrance hall,
+which was one of the most attractive rooms at Pine Branches. A huge
+corner fireplace showed the charred logs of a fire which had only
+recently gone out, and Winthrop rapidly twisted up some paper, which he
+lighted, and procuring a few small sticks, soon had a crackling blaze.
+
+"You must be damp and chilly," he said, "and a little fire will thaw you
+out. Mother, will you get something ready for a feast?"
+
+"We should have waited dinner," began Mrs. Warner, "and we did wait until
+after ten, and then we gave you up."
+
+"It's nearer time for breakfast than for dinner," said Elise.
+
+"I don't want breakfast," declared Roger, "I don't like that meal anyway.
+No shredded whisk brooms for me."
+
+"We'll have a nondescript meal," said Mrs. Warner, gaily, "and each one
+may call it by whatever name he chooses."
+
+In a short time they were all invited to the dining-room, and found the
+table filled with a variety of delicious viands.
+
+Such a merry tableful of people as partook of the feast! The Warners
+seemed to enjoy the fact that their guests arrived at such an
+unconventional hour, and the Farrington party were so glad to have
+reached their destination safely that they were in the highest of
+spirits.
+
+Of course the details of the trip had to be explained, and Roger was
+unmercifully chaffed by Winthrop and his father for having taken the
+wrong road. But so good-naturedly did the boy take the teasing, and so
+successfully did he pretend that he came around that way merely for the
+purpose of extending a pleasant tour, that he got the best of them after
+all.
+
+At last Mrs. Warner declared that people who had been through such
+thrilling experiences must be in immediate need of rest, and she gave
+orders that they must all start for bed forthwith.
+
+It is needless to say that breakfast was not early next morning. Nor did
+it consist as Roger had intimated, of "shredded whisk brooms," but was a
+delightful meal, at which Patty became better acquainted with the Warner
+family, and confirmed the pleasant impressions she had received the night
+before.
+
+After breakfast Mrs. Warner announced that everybody was to do exactly as
+he or she pleased until the luncheon hour, but she had plans herself for
+their entertainment in the afternoon.
+
+So Winthrop and Roger went off on some affairs of their own, and Bertha
+devoted herself to the amusement of the two girls.
+
+First, she suggested they should all walk around the place, and this
+proved a delightful occupation.
+
+Pine Branches was an immense estate, covering hundreds of acres, and
+there was a brook, a grove, golf grounds, tennis court and everything
+that could by any possibility add to the interest or pleasure of its
+occupants.
+
+"But my chief and dearest possession," said Bertha, smiling, "is Abiram."
+
+"A dog?" asked Patty.
+
+"No," said Bertha, "but come, and I will show him to you. He lives down
+here, in this little house."
+
+The little house was very like a large-sized dog-kennel, but when they
+reached it, its occupant proved to be a woolly black bear cub.
+
+"He's a perfect dear, Abiram is," said Bertha, as she opened the door,
+and the fat little bear came waddling out. He was fastened to a long
+chain, and his antics were funny beyond description.
+
+"He's a real picture-bear," said Bertha; "see, his poses are just like
+those of the bears in the funny papers."
+
+And so they were. Patty and Elise laughed heartily to see Abiram sit up
+and cross his paws over his fat little body.
+
+"How old is he?" asked Patty.
+
+"Oh, very young, he's just a cub. And of course, we can't keep him long.
+Nobody wants a big bear around. At the end of the summer, Papa says,
+he'll have to be sent to the Zoo. But we have lots of fun looking at him
+now, and I take pictures of him with my camera. He's a dear old thing."
+Bertha was sitting down by the bear, playing with him as with a puppy,
+and indeed the soft little creature showed no trace of wild animal
+habits, or even of mischievous intent.
+
+"He's just like a big baby," said Patty. "Wouldn't it be fun to dress him
+up as one?"
+
+"Let's do it," cried Bertha, gleefully. "Come on, girls, let's fly up to
+the house, and get the things."
+
+Leaving Abiram sitting in the sun, the three girls scampered back to the
+house. Bertha procured two large white aprons and declared they would
+make a lovely baby dress.
+
+And so they did. By sewing the sides together nearly to the top, and
+tying the strings in great bows to answer as shoulder straps, the dress
+was declared perfect. A dainty sunbonnet, with a wide fluffy ruffle,
+which was a part of Bertha's own wardrobe, was taken also, and with a
+string of large blue beads, and an enormous baby's rattle which Bertha
+unearthed from her treasure-chest, the costume was complete.
+
+Bertha got her camera, and giving Elise a small, light chair to carry,
+they all ran back to Abiram's kennel.
+
+They found the little bear peacefully sleeping in the sun, and when
+Bertha shook him awake he showed no resentment, and graciously allowed
+himself to be put into the clothes they had brought. His forepaws were
+thrust through the openings left for the purpose, and the stiff white
+bows sticking up from his black shoulders, made the girls scream with
+laughter. The ruffled sunbonnet was put on his head, and coquettishly
+tied on one side, and the string of blue beads was clasped around his fat
+neck.
+
+Although Abiram seemed willing to submit to the greatness that was being
+thrust upon him, he experienced some difficulty in sitting up in the
+chair in the position which Bertha insisted upon.
+
+However, by dint of Patty's holding his head up from behind, she herself
+being screened from view by a tree trunk, they induced Abiram to hold the
+rattle long enough for Bertha to get a picture.
+
+[Illustration: "Although a successful snapshot was only achieved after
+many attempts"]
+
+Although a successful snapshot was only achieved after many attempts, yet
+the girls had great fun, and so silly and ridiculous did the little bear
+behave that Patty afterward declared she had never laughed so much in all
+her life.
+
+After luncheon Mrs. Warner took her guests for a drive, declaring that
+after their automobile tour she felt sure that a carriage drive would be
+a pleasant change.
+
+After the drive there was afternoon tea in the library, when the men
+appeared, and everybody chatted gaily over the events of the day.
+
+Then they all dispersed to dress for dinner, and Patty suddenly realised
+that she was living in a very grown-up atmosphere, greatly in contrast to
+her schoolgirl life.
+
+Bertha was a year or two older than Patty, and though as merry and full
+of fun as a child, she seemed to have the ways and effects of a grown-up
+young lady.
+
+Elise also had lived a life which had accustomed her to formality and
+ceremony, and though only a year older than Patty in reality, she was far
+more advanced in worldly wisdom and ceremonious observances.
+
+But Patty was adaptable by nature, and when in Rome she was quite ready
+to do as the Romans did.
+
+So she put on one of her prettiest frocks for dinner, and allowed Bertha
+to do her hair in a new way which seemed to add a year or so to her
+appearance.
+
+There were a few other guests at dinner, and as Patty always enjoyed
+meeting strangers, she took great interest in all the details of
+entertainment at Pine Branches.
+
+At the table she found herself seated between Bertha and Winthrop. This
+pleased her, for she was glad of an opportunity to get better acquainted
+with the young man, of whom she had seen little during the day.
+
+Although frank and boyish in some ways, Winthrop Warner gave her the
+impression of being very wise and scholarly.
+
+She said as much to him, whereupon he explained that he was a student,
+and was making a specialty of certain branches of scientific lore. These
+included ethnology and anthropology, which names caused Patty to feel a
+sudden awe of the young man beside her.
+
+But Winthrop only laughed, and said, "Don't let those long words frighten
+you. I assure you that they stand for most interesting subjects, and some
+day if you will come to my study, I will promise to prove that to you.
+Meantime we will ignore my scientific side, and just consider that we are
+two gay young people enjoying a summer holiday."
+
+The young man's affable manner and kind smile put Patty quite at her
+ease, and she chatted so merrily that when the dinner hour was over she
+and Winthrop had become good friends and comrades.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+MISS AURORA BENDER
+
+
+After a visit of a few days, it was decided that Mr. and Mrs. Farrington
+and Roger should continue the motor-trip on to Boston, and to certain
+places along the New England coast, while Patty and Elise should stay at
+Pine Branches for a longer visit.
+
+The girls had expected to continue the trip with the others, but Bertha
+had coaxed them to stay longer with her, and had held out such attractive
+inducements that they decided to remain.
+
+Patty, herself, was pleased with the plan, because she still felt the
+effects of her recent mental strain, and realised that the luxurious ease
+of Pine Branches would be far more of a rest than the more exciting
+experiences of a motor trip.
+
+So the girls were installed for a fortnight or more in the beautiful home
+of the Warners, and with so many means of pleasure at her disposal, Patty
+looked forward to a delightful period of both rest and recreation.
+
+One morning, Bertha declared her intention of taking the girls to call on
+Miss Aurora Bender.
+
+"Who is she?" inquired Patty, as the three started off in Bertha's
+pony-cart.
+
+"She's a character," said Bertha, "but I won't tell you anything about
+her; you can see her, and judge for yourself."
+
+A drive of several miles brought them to a quaint old-fashioned
+farmhouse.
+
+The house, which had the appearance of being very old, was built of stone
+and painted a light yellow, with white trimmings. Everything about the
+place was in perfect repair and exquisite order, and as they drove in
+around the gravel circle that surrounded a carefully kept bit of green
+lawn, Bertha stopped the cart at an old-fashioned carriage-block, and the
+girls got out. Running up the steps, Bertha clanged the old brass knocker
+at what seemed to Patty to be the kitchen door. It was opened by a tall,
+gaunt woman, with sharp features and angular figure.
+
+"Well, I declare to goodness, Bertha Warner, if you aren't here again!
+Who's that you've got with you this time? City folks, I s'pose. Well come
+in, all of you, but wipe your feet first. As you've been riding, I s'pose
+they ain't muddy much, but it's well to be on the safe side. So wipe 'em
+good and then troop in."
+
+Miss Aurora Bender had pushed her heavy gold-bowed glasses up on the top
+of her head, and her whole-souled smile of welcome belied the gruffness
+of her tone, and the seeming inhospitality of her words.
+
+The girls took pains to wipe their dainty boots on the gaily-coloured
+braided rug which lay just outside the door.
+
+Then they entered a spacious low-ceiled room, which seemed to partake of
+the qualities of both kitchen and dining-room. At one end was an immense
+fireplace, with an old-fashioned swinging crane, from which depended many
+skillets and kettles of highly polished brass or copper.
+
+On either side of the room was a large dresser, with glass doors, through
+which showed quantities of rare old china that made Patty's eyes shine
+with delight. A quaint old settle and various old chairs of Windsor
+pattern stood round the walls. The floor was painted yellow, and here and
+there were braided mats of various designs.
+
+"Sit down, girls, sit down," said Miss Bender, cordially, "and now
+Bertha, tell me these young ladies' names,--unless, that is to say, you'd
+rather sit in the parlour?"
+
+"We would rather sit in the parlour, Miss Bender," said Bertha, quickly,
+and as if fearing her hostess might not follow up her suggestion, Bertha
+opened a door leading to the front hall, and started toward the parlour,
+herself.
+
+"Well," said Miss Bender, with a note of regret in her voice, "I s'pose
+if you must, you must; though for my part, I'm free to confess that this
+room's a heap more cozy and livable."
+
+"That may be," said Bertha, who had beckoned to the girls to follow
+quickly, "but my friends are from the city, as you suspected, and they
+don't often have a chance in New York to see a parlour like yours, Miss
+Bender."
+
+As Bertha had intended, this bit of flattery mollified the old lady, and
+she followed her guests along the dark hall.
+
+"Well, if you're bound to have it so," she said, "do wait a minute, and
+let me get in there and pull up the blinds. It's darker than Japhet's
+coat pocket. I haven't had this room opened since Mis' Perkins across the
+road had her last tea fight. And I only did it then, 'cause I wanted to
+set some vases of my early primroses in the windows, so's the guests
+might see 'em as they came by. Seems to me it's a little musty in here,
+but land! a room will get musty if it's shut up, and what earthly good is
+a parlour except to keep shut up?"
+
+As Miss Bender talked, she had bustled about, and thrown open the six
+windows of the large room, into which Bertha had taken the girls.
+
+The sunlight streamed in, and disclosed a scene which seemed to Patty
+like a wonderful vision of a century ago.
+
+And indeed for more than a hundred years the furniture of the great
+parlour had stood precisely as they now saw it.
+
+The furniture was entirely of antique mahogany, and included sofas and
+chairs, various kinds of tables, bookcases, a highboy, a lowboy and other
+pieces of furniture of which Patty knew neither the name nor the use.
+
+The pictures on the wall, the ornaments, the books and the old-fashioned
+brass candlesticks were all of the same ancient period, and Patty felt as
+if she had been transported back into the life of her great-grandmother.
+
+As she had herself a pretty good knowledge of the styles and varieties of
+antique furniture, she won Miss Bender's heart at once by her
+appreciation of her Heppelwhite chairs and her Chippendale card-tables.
+
+"You don't say," said Miss Bender, looking at Patty in admiration, "that
+you really know one style from another! Lots of people pretend they do,
+but they soon get confused when I try to pin 'em down."
+
+Patty smiled, as she disclaimed any great knowledge of the subject, but
+she soon found that she knew enough to satisfy her hostess, who, after
+all, enjoyed describing her treasures even more than listening to their
+praises.
+
+Miss Aurora Bender was a lady of sudden and rapid physical motion. While
+the girls were examining the wonderful old relics, she darted from the
+room, and returned in a moment, carrying two large baskets. They were of
+the old-fashioned type of closely-woven reed, with a handle over the top,
+and a cover to lift up on either side.
+
+Miss Bender plumped herself down in the middle of a long sofa, and began
+rapidly to extract the contents of the baskets, which proved to be
+numerous fat rolls of gayly-coloured cotton material.
+
+"It's patchwork," she announced, "and I make it my habit to get all the
+help I can. I'm piecing a quilt, goose-chase pattern, and while I don't
+know as it's the prettiest there is, yet I don't know as 'tisn't. If you
+girls expect to sit the morning, and I must say you look like it, you
+might lend a helping hand. I made the geese smaller'n I otherwise would,
+'cause I had so many little pieces left from my rising-sun quilt. Looks
+just as well, of course, but takes a powerful sight of time to sew. And I
+must say I'm sorter particular about sewing. However, I don't s'pose you
+young things of this day and generation know much about sewing, but if
+you go slow you can't help doing it pretty well."
+
+As she talked, Miss Bender had hastily presented each of the girls with a
+basted block of patchwork, and had passed around a needle-cushion and a
+small box containing a number of old-fashioned silver thimbles.
+
+"Lucky I had a big family," she commented, "else I don't know what I'd
+done for thimbles to go around. I can't abide brass things, that make
+your finger look like it had been dipped in ink, but thanks to my seven
+sisters who are all restin' comfortably in their graves, I have enough
+thimbles to provide quite a parcel of company. Here's your thread. Now
+sew away while we talk, and we'll have a real nice little bee."
+
+Although not especially fond of sewing, the girls looked upon this
+episode as a good joke, and fell to work at their bits of cloth.
+
+Elise was a dainty little needlewoman, and overhanded rapidly and neatly;
+Patty did fairly well, though her stitches were not quite even, but poor
+Bertha found her work a difficult task. She never did fancywork, and knew
+nothing of sewing, so her thread knotted and broke, and her patch
+presented a sorry sight.
+
+"Land o' Goshen!" exclaimed Miss Aurora, "is that the best you can do,
+Bertha Warner? The town ought to take up a subscription to put you in a
+sewin' school. Here child, let me show you."
+
+Miss Bender took Bertha's block and tried to straighten it out, while
+Bertha herself made funny faces at the other girls over Miss Aurora's
+shoulder.
+
+"I can see you," said that lady calmly, "I guess you forget that big
+mirror opposite. But them faces you're makin' ain't half so bad as this
+sewin' of yours."
+
+The girls all laughed outright at Miss Bender's calm acceptance of
+Bertha's sauciness, and Bertha herself was in nowise embarrassed by the
+implied rebuke.
+
+"There, child," said Miss Aurora, smoothing out the seams with her thumb
+nail, "now try again, and see if you can't do it some better."
+
+"Is your quilt nearly done, Miss Bender?" asked Patty.
+
+"Yes, it is. I've got three hundred and eighty-seven geese finished, and
+four hundred's enough. I work on it myself quite a spell every day, and I
+think in two or three days I'll have it all pieced."
+
+"Oh, Miss Bender," cried Bertha, "then won't you quilt it? Won't you have
+a quilting party while my friends are here?"
+
+"Humph," said Miss Aurora, scornfully, "you children can't quilt fit to
+be seen."
+
+"Elise can," said Bertha, looking at Elise's dainty block, "and Patty can
+do pretty well, and as I would spoil your quilt if I touched it, Miss
+Aurora, I'll promise to let it alone; but I can do other things to help
+you. Oh, do have the party, will you?"
+
+"Why, I don't know but I will. I kinder calculated to have it soon,
+anyhow, and if so be's you young people would like to come to it, I don't
+see anything to hinder. S'pose we say a week from to-day?"
+
+The date was decided on, and the girls went home in high glee over the
+quilting party, for Bertha told them it would be great fun of a sort they
+had probably never seen before.
+
+                    *       *       *       *       *
+
+The days flew by rapidly at Pine Branches. Patty rapidly recovered her
+usual perfect health and rosy cheeks. She played golf and tennis, she
+went for long rides in the Warners' motor-car or carriages, and also on
+horseback. There were many guests at the house, coming and going, and
+among these one day came Mr. Phelps, whom they had met on their journey
+out from New York.
+
+This gentleman proved to be of a merry disposition, and added greatly to
+the gaiety of the party. While he was there, Roger also came back for a
+few days, having left Mr. and Mrs. Farrington for a short stay at
+Nantucket.
+
+One morning, as Patty and Roger stood in the hall, waiting for the other
+young people to join them, they were startled to hear angry voices in the
+music-room.
+
+This room was separated from them by the length of the library, and
+though not quite distinct, the voices were unmistakably those of Bertha
+and Winthrop.
+
+"You did!" said Winthrop's voice, "don't deny it! You're a horrid hateful
+old thing!"
+
+"I didn't! any such thing," replied Bertha's voice, which sounded on the
+verge of tears.
+
+"You did! and if you don't give it back to me, I'll tell mother. Mother
+said if she caught you at such a thing again, she'd punish you as you
+deserved, and I'm going to tell her!"
+
+Patty felt most uncomfortable at overhearing this quarrel. She had never
+before heard a word of disagreement between Bertha and her brother, and
+she was surprised as well as sorry to hear this exhibition of temper.
+
+Roger looked horrified, and glanced at Patty, not knowing exactly what to
+do.
+
+The voices waxed more angry, and they heard Bertha declare, "You're a
+horrid old telltale! Go on and tell, if you want to, and I'll tell what
+you stole out of father's desk last week!"
+
+"How did you know that?" and Winthrop's voice rang out in rage.
+
+"Oh, I know all about it. You think nobody knows anything but yourself,
+Smarty-cat! Just wait till I tell father and see what he'll do to you."
+
+"You won't tell him! Promise me you won't, or I'll,--I'll hit you! There,
+take that!"
+
+"That" seemed to be a resounding blow, and immediately Bertha's cries
+broke forth in angry profusion.
+
+"Stop crying," yelled her brother, "and stop punching me. Stop it, I
+say!"
+
+At this point the conversation broke off suddenly, and Patty and Roger
+stared in stupefied amazement as they saw Bertha and Winthrop walk in
+smiling, and hand in hand, from exactly the opposite direction from which
+their quarrelsome voices had sounded.
+
+"What's the matter?" said Bertha. "Why do you look so shocked and scared
+to death?"
+
+"N-nothing," stammered Patty; while Roger blurted out, "We thought we
+heard you talking over that way, and then you came in from this way. Who
+could it have been? The voices were just like yours."
+
+Bertha and Winthrop broke into a merry laugh.
+
+"It's the phonograph," said Bertha. "Winthrop and I fixed up that quarrel
+record, just for fun; isn't it a good one?"
+
+Roger understood at once, and went off into peals of laughter, but Patty
+had to have it explained to her.
+
+"You see," said Winthrop, "we have a big phonograph, and we make records
+for it ourselves. Bertha and I fixed up that one just for fun, and Elise
+is in there now looking after it. Come on in, and see it."
+
+They all went into the music-room, and Winthrop entertained them by
+putting in various cylinders, which they had made themselves.
+
+Almost as funny as the quarrel was Bertha's account of the occasion when
+she fell into the creek, and many funny recitations by Mr. Warner also
+made amusing records.
+
+Patty could hardly believe that she had not heard her friends' voices
+really raised in anger, until Winthrop put the same record in and let her
+hear it again.
+
+He also promised her that some day she should make a record for herself,
+and leave it at Pine Branches as a memento of her visit.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+A QUILTING PARTY
+
+
+Miss Aurora Bender's quilting party was to begin at three o'clock in the
+afternoon, and the girls started early in order to see all the fun. They
+were to stay to supper, and the young men were to come over and escort
+them home in the evening.
+
+When they reached Miss Bender's, they found that many and wonderful
+preparations had been made.
+
+Miss Aurora had two house servants, Emmeline and Nancy, but on this
+occasion she had called in two more to help. And indeed there was plenty
+to be done, for a quilting bee was to Miss Bender's mind a function of
+great importance.
+
+The last of a large family, Miss Bender was a woman of great wealth but
+of plain and old-fashioned tastes. Though amply able to gratify any
+extravagant wish, she preferred to live as her parents had lived before
+her, and she had in no sense kept pace with the progress of the age.
+
+When the three girls reached the old country house, they were met at the
+front door by the elderly Nancy. She courtesied with old-time grace, and
+invited them to step into the bedroom, and lay off their things.
+
+This bedroom, which was on the ground floor, was a large apartment,
+containing a marvellously carved four-post bedstead, hung with
+old-fashioned chintz curtains and draperies.
+
+The room also contained two massive bureaus, a dressing-table and various
+chairs of carved mahogany, and in the open fireplace was an enormous
+bunch of feathery asparagus, flecked with red berries.
+
+"Oh," cried Patty in delight, "if Nan could see this room she'd go
+perfectly crazy. Isn't this house great? Why, it's quite as full of
+beautiful old things as Washington's house at Mt. Vernon."
+
+"I haven't seen that," said Bertha, "but it doesn't seem as if anything
+could be more complete or perfect in its way than this house is. Come on,
+girls, are you ready?"
+
+The girls went to the parlour, and there found the quilt all prepared for
+working on. Patty had never before seen a quilt stretched on a
+quilting-frame, and was extremely interested.
+
+It was a very large quilt, and its innumerable small triangles, which
+made up the goose-chase pattern, were found to present a methodical
+harmony of colouring, which had not been observable before the strips
+were put together.
+
+The large pieced portion was uppermost, and beneath it was the lining,
+with layers of cotton in between. Each edge was pinned at intervals to a
+long strip of material which was wound round and round the frame. The
+four corners of the frame were held up by being tied to the backs of four
+chairs, and on each of the four sides of the quilt were three more chairs
+for the expected guests to occupy.
+
+Almost on the stroke of three the visitors arrived, and though some of
+them were of a more modern type than Miss Bender, yet three or four were
+quite as old-fashioned and quaint-mannered as their hostess.
+
+"They are native up here," Bertha explained to Patty. "There are only a
+few of the old New England settlers left. Most of the population here is
+composed of city people who have large country places. You won't often
+get an opportunity to see a gathering like this."
+
+Patty realised the truth of this, and was both surprised and pleased to
+find that these country ladies showed no trace of embarrassment or
+self-consciousness before the city girls.
+
+It seemed not to occur to them that there was any difference in their
+effects, and indeed Patty was greatly amused because one of the old
+ladies seemed to take it for granted that Patty was a country girl, and
+brought up according to old-time customs.
+
+This old lady, whose name was Mrs. Quimby, sat next to Patty at the
+quilt, and after she had peered through her glasses at the somewhat
+uneven stitches which poor Patty was trying her best to do as well as
+possible, she remarked:
+
+"You ain't got much knack, have you? You'll have to practise quite a
+spell longer before you can quilt your own house goods. How old be you?"
+
+"Seventeen," said Patty, feeling that her work did not look very well,
+considering her age.
+
+"Seventeen!" exclaimed Mrs. Quimby. "Laws' sake, I was married when I was
+sixteen, and I quilted as good then as I do now. I'm over eighty now, and
+I'd ruther quilt than do anything, 'most. You don't look to be
+seventeen."
+
+"And you don't look to be eighty, either," said Patty, smiling, glad to
+be able to turn the subject by complimenting the old lady.
+
+The quilting lasted all the afternoon. Patty grew very tired of the
+unaccustomed work, and was glad when Miss Bender noticed it, and told her
+to run out into the garden with Bertha. Bertha was not allowed to touch
+the quilt with her incompetent fingers, but Elise sewed away, thoroughly
+enjoying it all, and with no desire to avail herself of Miss Bender's
+permission to stop and rest. Patty and Bertha wandered through the
+old-fashioned garden, in great delight. The paths were bordered with tiny
+box hedges, which, though many years old, were kept clean and free from
+deadwood or blemish of any sort, and were perfectly trimmed in shape.
+
+The garden included quaint old flowers such as marigolds, sweet Williams,
+bleeding hearts, bachelors' buttons, Jacob's ladder and many others of
+which Patty did not even know the names. Tall hollyhocks, both single and
+double, grew against the wall, and a hop vine hung in green profusion.
+
+Every flower bed was of exact shape, and looked as if not a leaf or a
+stem would dare to grow otherwise than straight and true.
+
+"What a lovely old garden," said Patty, sniffing at a sprig of lemon
+verbena which she had picked.
+
+"Yes, it's wonderful," said Bertha. "I mean to ask Miss Bender if I
+mayn't bring my camera over, and get a picture of it, and if they're
+good, I'll give you one."
+
+"Do," said Patty, "and take some pictures inside the house too. I'd like
+to show them to Nan."
+
+"Tell me about Nan," said Bertha. "She's your stepmother, isn't she?"
+
+"Yes," said Patty, "but she's only six years older than I am, so that the
+stepmother part of it seems ridiculous. We're more like sisters, and
+she's perfectly crazy over old china and old furniture. She'd love Miss
+Bender's things."
+
+"Perhaps she'll come up while you're here," said Bertha. "I'll ask mother
+to write for her."
+
+"Thank you," said Patty, "but I'm afraid she won't. My father can't leave
+for his vacation until July, and then we're all going away together, but
+I don't know where."
+
+Just then Elise came flying out to them, with the announcement that
+supper was ready, and they were to come right in, quick.
+
+The table was spread in the large room which Patty had thought was the
+kitchen.
+
+It probably had been built for that purpose, but other kitchens had been
+added beyond it, and for the last half century it had been used as a
+dining-room.
+
+The table was drawn out to its full length, which made it very long
+indeed, and it was filled with what seemed to Patty viands enough to feed
+an army. At one end was a young pig roasted whole, with a lemon in his
+mouth, and a design in cloves stuck into his fat little side. At the
+other end was a baked ham whose crisp golden-brown crust could only be
+attained by the old cook who had been in the Bender family for many
+years.
+
+Up and down the length of the table on either side was a succession of
+various cold meats, alternating with pickles, jellies and savories of
+various sorts.
+
+After the guests were seated, Nancy brought in platters of smoking-hot
+biscuits from the kitchen, and Miss Aurora herself made the tea.
+
+The furnishings of the table were of old blue and white china of great
+age and priceless value. The old family silver too was a marvel in
+itself, and the tea service which Miss Bender manipulated with some pride
+was over a hundred years old.
+
+Patty was greatly impressed at this unusual scene, but when the plates
+were removed after the first course, and the busy maid-servants prepared
+to serve the dessert, she was highly entertained.
+
+For the next course, though consisting only of preserves and cake, was
+served in an unusual manner. The preserves included every variety known
+to housewives and a few more. In addition to this, Miss Aurora announced
+in a voice which was calm with repressed satisfaction, that she had
+fourteen kinds of cake to put at the disposal of her guests. None of
+these sorts could be mixed with any other sort, and the result was
+fourteen separate baskets and platters of cake.
+
+The table became crowded before they had all been brought in from the
+kitchen, and quite as a matter of course, the serving maids placed the
+later supplies on chairs, which they stood behind the guests, and the
+ladies amiably turned round in their seats, inspected the cake, partook
+of it if they desired, and gracefully pushed the chair along to the next
+neighbour.
+
+This seemed to the city girls a most amusing performance, but Patty
+immediately adapted herself to what was apparently the custom of the
+house, and gravely looked at the cake each time, selected such as pleased
+her fancy and pushed the chair along.
+
+Noticing Patty's gravity as she accomplished this performance, Elise very
+nearly lost her own, but Patty nudged her under the table, and she
+managed to behave with propriety.
+
+The conversation at the table was without a trace of hilarity, and
+included only the most dignified subjects. The ladies ate mincingly, with
+their little fingers sticking out straight, or curved in what they
+considered a most elegant fashion.
+
+Miss Aurora was in her element. She was truly proud of her home and its
+appointments, and she dearly loved to entertain company at tea. To her
+mind, and indeed to the minds of most of those present, the success of a
+tea depended entirely upon the number of kinds of cake that were served,
+and Miss Bender felt that with fourteen she had broken any hitherto known
+record.
+
+It was an unwritten law that each kind of cake must be really a separate
+recipe. To take a portion of ordinary cup-cake batter, and stir in some
+chopped nuts, and another portion and mix in some raisins, by no means
+met the requirements of the case. This Patty learned from remarks made by
+the visitors, and also from Miss Aurora's own delicately veiled
+intimations that each of her fourteen kinds was a totally different and
+distinct recipe.
+
+Patty couldn't help wondering what would become of all this cake, for
+after all, the guests could eat but a small portion of it.
+
+And it occurred to her also that the ways of the people in previous
+generations, as exemplified in Miss Bender's customs, seemed to show
+quite as great a lack of a sense of proportion as many of our so-called
+modern absurdities.
+
+After supper the guests immediately departed for their homes. Carriages
+arrived for the different ones, and they went away, after volubly
+expressing to their hostess their thanks for her delightful entertainment.
+
+The girls expected Winthrop and Roger to come for them in the motor-car,
+but they had not told them to come quite so early as now seemed
+necessary. In some embarrassment, they told Miss Bender that they would
+have to trespass on her hospitality for perhaps an hour longer.
+
+"My land o' goodness!" she exclaimed, looking at them in dismay, "why
+I've got to set this house to rights, and I can't wait an hour to begin!"
+
+"Don't mind us, Miss Bender," said Bertha. "Just shut us up in some room
+by ourselves, and we'll stay there, and not bother you a bit; unless
+perhaps we can help you?"
+
+"Help me! No, indeed. There can't anybody help me when I'm clearin' up
+after a quiltin', unless it's somebody that knows my ways. But I'd like
+to amuse you children, somehow. I'll tell you what, you can go up in the
+front bedroom, if you like, and there's a chest of old-fashioned clothes
+there. Can't you play at dressin' up?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," cried Bertha. "Just the thing! Give us some candles."
+
+Provided with two candles apiece, the girls followed Miss Aurora to a
+large bedroom on the second floor, which also boasted its carved
+four-poster and chintz draperies.
+
+"There," said Miss Aurora, throwing open a great chest, "you ought to get
+some fun out of trying on those fol-de-rols, and peacocking around; but
+don't come downstairs to show off to me, for you'll only bother me out of
+my wits. I'll let you know when your folks come for you."
+
+Miss Bender trotted away, and the girls, quite ready for a lark, tossed
+over the quaint old gowns.
+
+Beautiful costumes were there, of the period of about a hundred years
+ago. Lustrous silks and dainty dimities; embroidered muslins and heavy
+velvets; Patty had never seen such a sight. After looking them over, the
+girls picked out the ones they preferred, and taking off their own frocks
+proceeded to try them on.
+
+Bertha had chosen a blue and white silk of a bayadere stripe, with lace
+ruffles at the neck and wrists and a skirt of voluminous fulness. Elise
+wore a white Empire gown that made her look exactly like the Empress
+Josephine, while Patty arrayed herself in a flowered silk of Dresden
+effect with a pointed bodice, square neck, and elbow sleeves with lace
+frills.
+
+In great glee, the girls pranced around, regretting there was no one to
+whom they might exhibit their masquerade costumes. But Miss Bender had
+been so positive in her orders that they dared not go downstairs.
+
+Suddenly they heard the toot of an automobile.
+
+[Illustration: "Patty arrayed herself in a flowered silk of Dresden
+effect"]
+
+"That's our car," cried Bertha. "I know the horn. Let's go down just as
+we are, for the benefit of Winthrop and Roger."
+
+In answer to Miss Bender's call from below, the girls trooped downstairs,
+and merrily presented themselves for inspection.
+
+Mr. Phelps had come with the others, and if the young men were pleased at
+the picture the three girls presented, Miss Aurora herself was no less
+so.
+
+"My," she said, "you do look fine, I declare! Now, I'll tell you what
+I'll do; I'll make each of you young ladies a present of the gown you
+have on, if you care to keep it. I'll never miss them, for I have trunks
+and chests full, besides those you saw, and I'm right down glad to give
+them to you. You can wear them sometimes at your fancy dress parties."
+
+The girls were overjoyed at Miss Bender's gift, and Bertha declared they
+would wear them home, and she would send over for their other dresses the
+next day.
+
+So, donning their wraps, the merry modern maids in their antique garb
+made their adieus to Miss Aurora, and were soon in the big motor-car
+speeding for home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+A SUMMER CHRISTMAS
+
+
+Although they had intended to stay but a fortnight, Patty and Elise
+remained with the Warners all through the month of June, and even then
+Bertha begged them to stay longer.
+
+But the day for their departure was set in the first week of July, and
+Bertha declared that they must have a big party of some kind as their
+last entertainment for the girls.
+
+So Mrs. Warner invited a number of young people for a house party during
+the last few days of Patty's stay.
+
+"I wish," said Bertha, a few days before the Fourth, "that we could have
+some kind of a party on the Fourth of July that would be different from
+just an ordinary party."
+
+"Have an automobile party," suggested Roger, who was present.
+
+"I don't mean that kind," said Bertha, "I mean a party in the house, but
+something that would be fun. There isn't anything to do on Fourth of July
+except have fireworks, and that isn't much fun."
+
+"I'll tell you what," said Mr. Phelps, who was at Pine Branches on one of
+his flying visits, "have a Christmas party."
+
+"A Christmas party on Fourth of July!" exclaimed Bertha, "that's just the
+thing! Mr. Phelps, you're a real genius. That's just what we'll do, and
+we'll have a Christmas tree, and give each other gifts and everything."
+
+"Great!" said Roger, "and we'll have a Yule log blazing, and we'll all
+wear our fur coats."
+
+"No, not that," said Bertha, laughing, "we'd melt. But we'll have all the
+Christmas effects that we can think of, and each one must help."
+
+The crowd of merry young people who were gathered at Pine Branches
+eagerly fell in with Bertha's plan, and each began to make preparations
+for the festival.
+
+The girls made gifts which they carefully kept secret from the ones for
+whom they were intended, and many trips were made to the village for
+materials.
+
+The boys also had many mysterious errands, and Mr. and Mrs. Warner, who
+entered heartily into the spirit of the fun, were frequently consulted
+under strict bonds of confidence.
+
+Fourth of July came and proved to be a warm, though not a sultry summer
+day.
+
+Invitations had been sent out, and a large party of young people were
+expected in the evening; and during the day those who were staying at
+Pine Branches found plenty to do by way of preparation.
+
+A large Christmas tree had been cut down, and was brought into the
+library. As soon as it was set up, the work of decoration began, and it
+was hung with strings of popcorn, and tinsel filigree which Mrs. Warner
+had saved from previous Christmas trees. Dozens of candles too, were put
+on the branches, to be lighted at night.
+
+The boys brought in great boughs of evergreen, and cut them up, while the
+girls made ropes and wreaths and stars, with which to adorn the room.
+
+Mr. Phelps had sent to New York for a large boxful of artificial holly,
+and this added greatly to the Christmas effect.
+
+Patty was in her element helping with these arrangements, for she dearly
+loved to make believe, and the idea of a Christmas party in midsummer
+appealed very strongly to her sense of humour.
+
+Her energy and enthusiasm were untiring, and her original ideas called
+forth the hearty applause of the others. She was consulted about
+everything, and her decisions were always accepted.
+
+Mr. Phelps too, proved a clever and willing worker. He was an athletic
+young man, and he seemed to be capable of doing half a dozen different
+things at once. He cut greens, and hung wreaths, and ran up and down
+stepladders, and even managed to fasten a large gilt star to the very top
+branch of the Christmas tree.
+
+After the decorations were all completed, everybody brought their gifts
+neatly tied up and labelled, and either hung them on the tree or piled
+them up around the platform on which it stood.
+
+"Well, you children have done wonders," said Mrs. Warner, looking in at
+the library door. "You have transformed this room until I hardly can
+recognise it, and it looks for all the world exactly like Christmas. It
+is hard to believe that it is really Fourth of July."
+
+"It seems too bad not to have any of the Fourth of July spirit mixed in
+with it," said Winthrop, "but I suppose it would spoil the harmony. But
+we really ought to use a little gunpowder in honour of the day. Come on,
+Patty, your work is about finished, let's go out and put off a few
+firecrackers."
+
+"All right," said Patty, "just wait till I tack up this 'Merry Christmas'
+motto, and I'll be ready."
+
+"I'll do that," said Roger, "you infants run along and show off your
+patriotism, and I'll join you in a few minutes."
+
+"You must be tired," said Winthrop to Patty, as they sauntered out on the
+lawn. "You worked awfully hard with those evergreen things. Let's go out
+on the lake and take our firecrackers with us; that will rest you, and it
+will be fun besides."
+
+The lake, so called by courtesy, was really an artificial pond, and
+though not large, it provided a great deal of amusement.
+
+There were several boats, and selecting a small cedar one, Winthrop
+assisted Patty in, sprang in himself, and pushed off.
+
+"If it's Christmas, we ought to be going skating on the lake, instead of
+rowing," said Patty.
+
+"It isn't Christmas now," said Winthrop, "You get your holidays mixed up.
+We've come out here to celebrate Independence Day. See what I've
+brought."
+
+From his pockets the young man produced several packs of firecrackers.
+
+"What fun!" cried Patty, "I feel as if I were a child again. Let me set
+some off. Have you any punk?"
+
+"Yes," said Winthrop, gravely producing some short sticks of punk from
+another pocket; and lighting one, he gave it to Patty.
+
+"But how can I set them off?" said Patty, "I'm afraid to have them in the
+boat, and we can't throw them out on the water."
+
+"We'll manage this way," said Winthrop, and drawing one of the oars into
+the boat, he laid a lighted firecracker on the blade and pushed it out
+again. The firecracker went off with a bang, and in great glee Patty
+pulled in the other oar and tried the same plan.
+
+Then they set off a whole pack at once, and as the length of the oar was
+not quite sufficient for safety Winthrop let it slip from the row-lock
+and float away on the water. As he had previously tied a string to the
+handle so that he could pull the oar back at will, this was a great game,
+and the floating oar with its freight of snapping firecrackers provided
+much amusement. The noise of the explosions brought the others running to
+the scene, and three or four more boats were soon out on the lake.
+Firecrackers went snapping in every direction, and torpedoes were thrown
+from one boat to another until the ammunition was exhausted.
+
+Then the merry crowd trooped back to the house for luncheon.
+
+"I never had such a lovely Fourth of July," said Patty to her kind
+hostess. "Everything is different from anything I ever did before. This
+house is just like Fairyland. You never know what is going to happen
+next."
+
+After luncheon the party broke up in various small groups. Some of the
+more energetic ones played golf or tennis, but Patty declared it was too
+warm for any unnecessary exertion.
+
+"Come for a little walk with me," said Roger, "we'll walk down in the
+grove; it's cool and shady there, and we can play mumblety-peg if you
+like."
+
+"I'll go to the grove," said Patty, "but I don't want to play anything.
+This is a day just to be idle and enjoy living, without doing anything
+else."
+
+They strolled down toward the grove, and were joined on the way by Bertha
+and Mr. Phelps, who were just returning from a call on Abiram.
+
+"I think Abiram ought to come to the Christmas party to-night," said
+Bertha, "I know he'd enjoy seeing the tree lighted up."
+
+"He shall come," said Dick Phelps, "I'll bring him myself."
+
+"Do," said Patty, "and we'll tie a red ribbon round his neck with a sprig
+of holly, and I'll see to it that there's a present on the tree for him."
+
+The quartet walked on to the grove, and sat down on the ground under the
+pine trees.
+
+"I feel very patriotic," said Patty, who was decorated with several small
+flags which she had stuck in her hair, and in her belt, "and I think we
+ought to sing some national anthems."
+
+So they sang "The Star-Spangled Banner," and other patriotic airs, until
+they were interrupted by Winthrop and Elise who came toward them singing
+a Christmas carol.
+
+"I asked you to come here," said Roger aside, to Patty, "because I wanted
+to see you alone for a minute, and now all these other people have come
+and spoiled my plan. Come on over to the orchard, will you?"
+
+"Of course I will," said Patty jumping up, "what is the secret you have
+to tell me? Some plan for to-night?"
+
+"No," said Roger, hesitating a little, "that is, yes,--not exactly."
+
+They had walked away from the others, and Roger took from his pocket a
+tiny box which he offered to Patty.
+
+"I wanted to give you a little Christmas present," he said, "as a sort of
+memento of this jolly day; and I thought maybe you'd wear it to-night."
+
+"How lovely!" cried Patty, as she opened the box and saw a little pin
+shaped like a spray of holly. "It's perfectly sweet. Thank you ever so
+much, Roger, but why didn't you put it on the tree for me?"
+
+"Oh, they are only having foolish presents on the tree, jokes, you know,
+and all that."
+
+"Oh, is this a real present then? I don't know as I ought to accept it.
+I've never had a present from a young man before."
+
+Roger looked a little embarrassed, but Patty's gay delight was entirely
+free from any trace of self-consciousness.
+
+"Anyway, I am going to keep it," she said, "because it's so pretty, and I
+like to think that you gave it to me."
+
+Roger looked greatly gratified and seemed to take the matter with more
+seriousness than Patty did. She pinned the pretty little trinket on her
+collar and thought no more about it.
+
+Dinner was early that night, for there was much to be done in the way of
+final preparations before the guests came to the Christmas party.
+
+The Christmas pretence was intended as a surprise to those not staying in
+the house, and after all had arrived, the doors of the library were
+thrown open with shouts of "Merry Christmas!"
+
+And indeed it did seem like a sudden transition back into the winter. The
+Christmas tree with its gay decorations and lighted candles was a
+beautiful sight, and the green-trimmed room with its spicy odours of
+spruce and pine intensified the illusion.
+
+Shouts of delight went up on all sides, and falling quickly into the
+spirit of it all, the guests at once began to pretend it was really
+Christmas, and greeted each other with appropriate good wishes.
+
+Mischievous Patty had slyly tied a sprig of mistletoe to the chandelier,
+and Dick Phelps by a clever manoeuvre had succeeded in getting Mrs.
+Warner to stand under it. The good lady was quite unaware of their plans,
+and when Mr. Phelps kissed her soundly on her plump cheek she was
+decidedly surprised.
+
+But the explanation amply justified his audacity, and Mrs. Warner
+laughingly declared that she would resign her place to some of the
+younger ladies.
+
+The greatest fun came when Winthrop distributed the presents from the
+tree. None of them was expensive or valuable, but most of them were
+clever, merry little jokes which good-naturedly teased the recipients.
+
+True to his word Mr. Phelps brought Abiram in, leading him by his long
+chain. Patty had tied a red ribbon round his neck with a huge bow, and
+had further dressed him up in a paper cap which she had taken from a
+German cracker motto.
+
+Abiram received a stick of candy as his gift, and was as much pleased,
+apparently, as the rest of the party.
+
+Many of the presents were accompanied by little verses or lines of
+doggerel, and the reading of these caused much merriment and laughter.
+
+After the presentations, supper was served, and here Mrs. Warner had
+provided her part of the surprise.
+
+Not even those staying in the house knew of their hostess' plans, and
+when they all trooped out to the dining-room, a real Christmas feast
+awaited them.
+
+The long table was decorated with red ribbons and holly, and red candles
+with red paper shades. Christmas bells hung above the table, and at each
+plate were appropriate souvenirs. In the centre of the table was a tiny
+Christmas tree with lighted candles, a miniature copy of the one they had
+just left.
+
+Even the viands partook of the Christmas character, and from roast turkey
+to plum pudding no detail was spared to make it a true Christmas feast.
+
+The young people did full justice to Mrs. Warner's hospitality, and
+warmly appreciated the kind thoughtfulness which had made the supper so
+attractive in every way.
+
+Then they adjourned to the parlour for informal dancing, and wound up the
+party with an old-fashioned Virginia reel, which was led by Mr. and Mrs.
+Warner.
+
+Mr. Warner was a most genial host and his merry quips and repartee kept
+the young people laughing gaily.
+
+When at last the guests departed, it was with assurances that they had
+never had such a delightful Christmas party, even in midwinter, and had
+never had such a delightful Fourth of July party, even in midsummer.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+AT SANDY COVE
+
+
+When the day came for Patty and Elise to leave Pine Branches, everyone
+concerned was truly sorry. Elise had long been a favourite with the
+Warners, and they had grown to love Patty quite as well.
+
+Roger was still there, and Mr. and Mrs. Farrington came for the young
+people in their motor-car. They were returning from a most interesting
+trip, which had extended as far as Portland. After hearing some accounts
+of it, Patty felt sure that she would have enjoyed it; but then she had
+also greatly enjoyed her visit at Pine Branches, and she felt sure that
+it had been better for her physically than the exertion and excitement of
+the motor-trip.
+
+Besides this, the Farringtons assured her that there would be many other
+opportunities for her to go touring with them, and they would always be
+glad to have her.
+
+So one bright morning, soon after the Fourth of July, The Fact started
+off again with its original party. They made the trip to New York
+entirely without accident or mishap of any kind, which greatly pleased
+Roger, as it demonstrated that The Fact was not always a stubborn thing.
+
+Patty was to spend the months of July and August with her father and Nan,
+who had rented a house on Long Island. The house was near the Barlows'
+summer home at Sandy Cove, for Nan had thought it would be pleasant to be
+near her friends, who were also Patty's relatives.
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield had already gone to Long Island, and the
+Farringtons were to take Patty over there in the motor-car.
+
+So, after staying a day or two with Elise in New York, Patty again took
+her place in the car for the journey to her new home. Mr. Farrington and
+Elise went with her, and after seeing her safely in her father's care,
+returned to the city that same day.
+
+Patty was glad to see her father and Nan again, and was delighted with
+the beautiful house which they had taken for the summer.
+
+"How large it is!" she exclaimed, as she looked about her. "We three
+people will be lost in it!"
+
+"We're going to have a lot of company," said Nan, "I've invited nearly
+everyone I know, and I shall expect you to help me entertain them."
+
+"Gladly," said Patty; "there are no horrid lessons in the way now, and
+you may command my full time and attention."
+
+The day after Patty's return to her family, she proposed that they go
+over to see the Barlows.
+
+"It's an awful hot afternoon," said Nan, "but I suppose we can't be any
+warmer there than here."
+
+So arraying themselves in fresh, cool white dresses, Nan and Patty
+started to make their call.
+
+The Barlows' summer place was called the Hurly-Burly, and as Nan and
+Patty both knew, the name described the house extremely well.
+
+As Bob Barlow sometimes said, the motto of their home seemed to be, "No
+place for nothin', and nothin' in its place."
+
+But as the family had lived up to this principle for many years, it was
+not probable things would ever be any different with them, and it did not
+prevent their being a delightful family, while their vagaries often
+proved extremely entertaining.
+
+But when Nan and Patty neared the house they saw no sign of anybody
+about.
+
+The doors and windows were all open and the visitors walked in, looked in
+the various rooms, and even went upstairs, but found nobody anywhere.
+
+"I'll look in the kitchen," said Patty; "surely old Hopalong, the cook,
+will be there. They can't all be away, and the house all open like this."
+
+But the kitchen too, was deserted, and Nan said, "Well, let us sit on the
+front verandah a while; it must be that somebody will come home soon, and
+anyway I'm too warm and tired to walk right back in the broiling sun."
+
+So they sat on the verandah for half an hour, and then Patty said, "Let's
+give one more look inside the house, and if we can't find anybody let's
+go home."
+
+"All right," said Nan, and in they went, through the vacant rooms, and
+again to the kitchen.
+
+"Why, there's Hopalong," said Patty, as she saw the old coloured woman
+busy about her work, though indeed Hopalong's slow movements could not be
+accurately described by the word busy.
+
+"Hello, Hopalong," said Patty, "where are all the people?"
+
+"Bless yo' heart Miss Patty, chile, how yo'done skeered me! And howdy,
+Miss Nan,--'scuse me, I should say Missus Fairfield. De ladies is at
+home, and I 'spects dey'll be mighty glad to see you folks."
+
+"Where are they, then?" said Nan, looking puzzled, "we can't find them."
+
+"Well yo' see it's a mighty hot day, and dem Barlows is mighty fond of
+bein' as comf'able as possible. I'm makin' dis yere lemonade for 'em,
+kase dey likes a coolin' drink. I'll jest squeeze in another lemon or
+two, and there'll be plenty for you, too."
+
+"But where are they, Hopalong?" asked Patty, "are they outdoors, down by
+the brook?"
+
+"Laws no, Miss Patty, I done forgot to tell yo' whar dey am, but dey's
+down in de cellah."
+
+"In the cellar!" said Patty, "what for?"
+
+"So's dey kin be cool, chile. Jes' you trot along down, and see for
+yourselfs."
+
+Hopalong threw open the door that led from the kitchen to the cellar
+stairs, and holding up their dainty white skirts, Patty and Nan started
+down the rather dark staircase.
+
+"Look at those white shoes coming downstairs," they heard Bumble's voice
+cry; "I do believe it's Nan and Patty!"
+
+"It certainly is," said Patty, and as she reached the last step, she
+looked around in astonishment, and then burst into laughter.
+
+"Well, you do beat all!" she said, "We've been sitting on the front
+verandah half an hour, wondering where you could be."
+
+"Isn't it nice?" said Mrs. Barlow, after she had greeted her guests.
+
+"It is indeed," said Patty, "it's the greatest scheme I ever heard of."
+
+The cellar, which had been recently white-washed, had been converted into
+a funny sort of a sitting-room. On the floor was spread a large white
+floor-cloth, whose original use had been for a dancing crash.
+
+The chairs and sofas were all of wicker, and though in various stages of
+dilapidation, were cool and comfortable. A table in the center was
+covered with a white cloth, and the sofa pillows were in white ruffled
+cases.
+
+Bumble explained that the intent was to have everything white, but they
+hadn't been able to carry out that idea fully, as they had so few white
+things.
+
+"The cat is all right," said Patty, looking at a large white cat that lay
+curled up on a white fur rug.
+
+"Yes, isn't she a beautiful cat? Her name is The Countess, and when she's
+awake, she's exceedingly aristocratic and dignified looking, but she's
+almost never awake. Oh, here comes Hopalong, with our lemonade."
+
+The old negro lumbered down the steps, and Bumble took the tray from her,
+and setting it on the table, served the guests to iced lemonade and tiny
+thin cakes of Hopalong's concoction.
+
+"Now isn't this nice?" said Mrs. Barlow, as they sat chatting and
+feasting; "you see how cool and comfortable it is, although it's so warm
+out of doors. I dare say I shall get rheumatism, as it seems a little
+damp here, but when I feel it coming on, I'm going to move my chair over
+onto that fur rug, and then I think there will be no danger."
+
+"It is delightfully cool," said Patty, "and I think it a most ingenious
+idea. If we had only known sooner that you were here, though, we could
+have had a much longer visit."
+
+"It's so fortunate," said Bumble, whom Patty couldn't remember to call
+Helen, "that you chanced to be dressed in white. You fit right in to the
+colour scheme. Mother and I meant to wear white down here, but all our
+white frocks have gone to the laundry. But if you'll come over again
+after a day or two, we'll have this place all fixed up fine. You see we
+only thought of it this morning. It was so unbearably hot, we really had
+to do something."
+
+Soon Uncle Ted and Bob came in, and after a while Mr. Fairfield arrived.
+
+The merry party still stayed in the cellar room, and one and all
+pronounced it a most clever idea for a hot day.
+
+The Barlows were delighted that the Fairfields were to be near them for
+the summer, and many good times were planned for.
+
+Patty was very fond of her Barlow cousins, but after returning to her own
+home, which Nan with the special pride of a young housekeeper, kept in
+the daintiest possible order, Patty declared that she was glad her father
+had chosen a wife who had the proper ideas of managing a house.
+
+Nan and Patty were congenial in their tastes and though Patty had had
+some experience in housekeeping, she was quite willing to accept any
+innovations that Nan might suggest.
+
+"Indeed," she said, "I am only too glad not to have any of the care and
+responsibility of keeping house, and I propose to enjoy an idle summer
+after my hard year in school."
+
+So the days passed rapidly and happily. There were many guests at the
+house, and as the Fairfields were rather well acquainted with the summer
+people at Sandy Cove, they received many invitations to entertainments of
+various kinds.
+
+The Farringtons often came down in their motor-car and made a flying
+visit, or took the Fairfields for a ride, and Patty hoped that the
+Warners would visit them before the summer was over.
+
+One day Mr. Phelps appeared unexpectedly, and from nowhere in particular.
+He came in his big racing-car, and that day Patty chanced to be the only
+one of the family at home. He invited her to go for a short ride with
+him, saying they could easily be back by dinner time, when the others
+were expected home.
+
+Glad of the opportunity, Patty ran for her automobile coat and hood, and
+soon they were flying along the country roads.
+
+Part of the time they went at a mad rate of speed, and part of the time
+they went slower, that they might converse more easily.
+
+As they went somewhat slowly past a piece of woods, Patty gave a sudden
+exclamation, and declared that she saw what looked like a baby or a young
+child wrapped in a blanket and lying on the ground.
+
+Her face expressed such horror-stricken anxiety, as she thought that
+possibly the child had been abandoned and left there purposely, that Mr.
+Phelps consented to go back and investigate the matter, although he
+really thought she was mistaken in thinking it was a child at all.
+
+He turned his machine, and in a moment they were back at the place.
+
+Mr. Phelps jumped from the car, and ran into the wood where Patty
+pointed.
+
+Sure enough, under a tree lay a baby, perhaps a year old, fairly well
+dressed and with a pretty smiling face.
+
+He called to Patty and she joined him where he stood looking at the
+child.
+
+"Why, bless your heart!" cried Patty, picking the little one up, "what
+are you doing here all alone?"
+
+The baby cooed and smiled, dimpling its little face and caressing Patty's
+cheeks with its fat little hands. A heavy blanket had been spread on the
+ground for the child to lie on, and around its little form was pinned a
+lighter blanket with the name Rosabel embroidered on one corner.
+
+"So that's your name, is it?" said Patty. "Well, Rosabel, I'd like to
+know where you belong and what you're doing here. Do you suppose," she
+said, turning an indignant face to Mr. Phelps, "that anybody deliberately
+put this child here and deserted it?"
+
+"I'm afraid that's what has happened," said Mr. Phelps, who really
+couldn't think of any other explanation.
+
+They looked all around, but nobody was in sight to whom the child might
+possibly belong.
+
+"I can't go away and leave her here," said Patty, "the dear little thing,
+what shall we do with her?"
+
+"It is a mighty hard case," said Mr. Phelps, who was nonplussed himself.
+He was a most gentle-hearted man, and could not bear the thought of
+leaving the child there alone in the woods, and it was already nearing
+sundown.
+
+"We might take it along with us," he said, "and enquire at the nearest
+house."
+
+"There's no house in sight," said Patty, looking about. "Well, there are
+only two things to choose from; to stay here in hope that somebody will
+come along, who knows something about this baby, or else assume that she
+really has been deserted and take her home with us, for the night at
+least. I simply won't go off and leave her here, and if there was anybody
+here in charge of her they must have shown up by this time."
+
+Mr. Phelps could see no use in waiting there any longer, and though it
+seemed absurd to carry the child off with them, there really seemed
+nothing else to do.
+
+So with a last look around, hoping to see somebody, but seeing no one,
+Patty climbed into the car and sitting in the front seat beside Mr.
+Phelps, held the baby in her lap.
+
+"She's awfully cunning," she declared, "and such a pretty baby! Whoever
+abandoned this child ought to be fearfully punished in some way."
+
+"I can't think she was abandoned," said Mr. Phelps, but as he couldn't
+think of any other reason for the baby being there alone, he was forced
+to accept the desertion theory.
+
+Having decided to take the baby with them, they sped along home, and drew
+up in front of the house to find Nan and Mr. Fairfield on the verandah.
+
+"Why, how do you do, Mr. Phelps?" cried Nan. "We're very glad to see you.
+Come in. For gracious goodness' sake, Patty, what have you got there?"
+
+"This is Rosabel," said Patty, gravely, as she held the baby up to view.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+ROSABEL
+
+
+"Rosabel who?" exclaimed Nan, as Patty came up on the verandah with the
+baby in her arms.
+
+"I don't know, I'm sure. You may call her Rosabel anything you like. We
+picked her up by the wayside."
+
+"Yes," said Dick Phelps, who had followed Patty up the steps. "Miss
+Rosabel seemed lonely without anyone to talk to, so we brought her back
+here to visit you."
+
+"You must be crazy!" cried Nan, "but what a cunning baby it is! Let me
+take her."
+
+Nan took the good-natured little midget and sat down in a verandah
+rocker, with the baby in her arms.
+
+"Tell a straight story, Patty," said her father, "is it one of the
+neighbour's children, or did you kidnap it?"
+
+"Neither," said Patty, turning to her father; "we found the baby lying
+right near the edge of a wood, in plain sight from the road. And there
+was nobody around, and Papa, I just know that the child's wretch of a
+mother deserted it, and left it there to die!"
+
+"Nonsense," said her father. "Mothers don't leave their little ones
+around as carelessly as that."
+
+"Well, what else could it be?" said Patty. "There was the baby all alone,
+smiling and talking to herself, and no one anywhere near, although we
+waited for some time."
+
+"It does seem strange," said Mr. Fairfield, "perhaps the mother did mean
+to desert the child, but if so, she was probably peeping from some
+hiding-place, to make sure that she approved of the people who took it."
+
+"Well," said Mr. Phelps, "she evidently thought we were all right; at any
+rate she made no objection."
+
+"But isn't it awful," said Nan, "to think of anybody deserting a dear
+little thing like this. Why, the wild animals might have eaten her up."
+
+"Of course they might," said Mr. Phelps, gravely, "the tigers and wolves
+that abound on Long Island are of the most ferocious type."
+
+"Well, anyway," said Patty, "something dreadful might have happened to
+her."
+
+"It may yet," said Mr. Phelps cheerfully, "when we take her back
+to-morrow and put her in the place we found her. For I don't suppose you
+intend to keep Miss Rosabel, do you?"
+
+"I don't know," said Patty, "but I know one thing, we certainly won't put
+her back where we found her. What shall we do with her, Papa?"
+
+"I don't know, my child, she's your find, and I suppose it's a case of
+'findings is keepings.'"
+
+"Of course we can't keep her," said Patty, "how ridiculous! We'll have to
+put her in an orphan asylum or something like that."
+
+"It's a shame," said Nan, "to put this dear little mite in a horrid old
+asylum. I think I shall adopt her myself."
+
+Little Rosabel had begun to grow restless, and suddenly without a word of
+warning she began to cry lustily, and not a quiet well-conducted cry
+either, but with ear-splitting shrieks and yells, indicative of great
+discomfort of some sort.
+
+"I've changed my mind," said Nan, abruptly. "I don't want to adopt any
+such noisy young person as that. Here, take her, Patty, she's your
+property."
+
+Patty took the baby, and carried her into the house, fearing that
+passers-by would think they must be torturing the child to make her
+scream like that.
+
+Into the dining-room went Patty, and on to the kitchen, where she
+announced to the astonished cook that she wanted some milk for the baby
+and she wanted it quick.
+
+"Is there company for dinner, Miss Patty?" asked the cook, not
+understanding how a baby could have arrived as an only guest.
+
+"Only this one," said Patty, laughing, "what do you think she ought to
+eat?"
+
+"Bread and milk," said the cook, looking at the child with a judicial
+air.
+
+"All right, Kate, fix her some, won't you?"
+
+In a few moments Patty was feeding Rosabel bread and milk, which the
+child ate eagerly.
+
+Impelled by curiosity, Nan came tip-toeing to the kitchen, followed by
+the two men.
+
+"I thought she must be asleep," said Nan, "as the concert seems to have
+stopped."
+
+"Not at all," said Patty, calmly, "she was only hungry, and the fact
+seemed to occur to her somewhat suddenly."
+
+Little Rosabel, all smiles again, looked up from her supper with such
+bewitching glances that Nan cried out, "Oh, she is a darling! Let me help
+you feed her, Patty."
+
+In fact they all succumbed to the charm of their uninvited guest. During
+dinner Rosabel sat at the table, in a chair filled with pillows, and was
+made happy by being given many dainty bits of various delicacies, until
+Nan declared the child would certainly be ill.
+
+"I don't believe she is more than a year old," said Nan, "and she's
+probably unaccustomed to those rich cakes and bonbons."
+
+"I think she's more than a year," said Patty, sagely, "and anyway, I want
+her to have a good time for once."
+
+"She seems to be having the time of her life," said Dick Phelps, as he
+watched the baby, who with a macaroon in one hand, and some candied
+cherries in the other, was smiling impartially on them all.
+
+"She's not much of a conversationalist," remarked Mr. Fairfield.
+
+"Give her time," said Patty, "she feels a little strange at first."
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Phelps, "I think after two or three years she'll be much
+more talkative."
+
+"Well, there's one thing certain," said Patty, "she'll have to stay here
+to-night, whatever we do with her to-morrow."
+
+[Illustration: "In a few minutes Patty was feeding Rosabel bread
+and milk"]
+
+After dinner they took their new toy with them to the parlour, and Miss
+Rosabel treated them all to a few more winning smiles, and then quietly,
+but very decidedly fell asleep in Patty's arms.
+
+"I can't help admiring her decision of character," said Patty, as she
+shook the baby to make her awaken, but without success.
+
+"Don't wake her up," said Nan. "Come, Patty, we'll take her upstairs, and
+put her to bed somewhere."
+
+This feat being accomplished, Nan and Patty rejoined the men, who sat
+smoking on the front verandah.
+
+"Now," said Patty, "we really must decide what we're going to do with
+that infant; for I warn you, Papa Fairfield, that if we keep that dear
+baby around much longer, I shall become so attached to her that I can't
+give her up."
+
+"Of course," said Mr. Fairfield, "she must be turned over to the
+authorities. I'll attend to it the first thing in the morning."
+
+A little later Mr. Fairfield and Nan strolled down the road to make a
+call on a neighbour, and Patty and Dick Phelps remained at home.
+
+Patty had declared she wouldn't leave the house lest Rosabel should waken
+and cry out, so promising to make but a short call, Mr. Fairfield and Nan
+went away.
+
+Soon after they had gone, a strange young man came walking toward the
+house. He turned in at the gate and approached the front steps.
+
+"Is this Mr. Richard Phelps?" he asked, addressing himself to Dick.
+
+"It is; what can I do for you?"
+
+"Do you own a large black racing automobile?"
+
+"Yes," replied Mr. Phelps.
+
+"And were you out in it this afternoon," continued the stranger, "driving
+rapidly between here and North Point?"
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Phelps again, wondering what was the intent of this
+peculiar interview.
+
+"Then you're the man I'm after," declared the stranger, "and I'm obliged
+to tell you, sir, that you are under arrest."
+
+"For what offence?" enquired Mr. Phelps, rather amused at what he
+considered a good joke, and thinking that it must be a case of mistaken
+identity somehow.
+
+"For kidnapping little Mary Brown," was the astonishing reply.
+
+"Why, we didn't kidnap her at all!" exclaimed Patty, breaking into the
+conversation. "The idea, to think we would kidnap a baby! and anyway her
+name isn't Mary, it's Rosabel."
+
+"Then you know where the child is, Miss," said the man, turning to Patty.
+
+"Of course I do," said Patty, "she's upstairs asleep. But it isn't Mary
+Brown at all. It's Rosabel,--I don't know what her last name is."
+
+Mr. Phelps began to be interested.
+
+"What makes you think we kidnapped a baby, my friend?" he said to their
+visitor.
+
+The man looked as if he had begun to think there must be a mistake
+somewhere. "Why, you see, sir," he said, "Mrs. Brown, she's just about
+crazy. Her little girl, Sarah, went out into the woods this afternoon,
+and took the baby, Mary, with her. The baby went to sleep, and Sarah left
+it lying on a blanket under a tree, while she roamed around the wood
+picking blueberries. Somehow she strayed away farther than she intended
+and lost her way. When she finally managed to get back to the place where
+she left the baby, the child was gone, and she says she could see a large
+automobile going swiftly away, and the lady who sat in the front seat was
+holding little Mary. Sarah screamed, and called after you, but the car
+only went on more and more rapidly, and was soon lost to sight. I'm a
+detective, sir, and I looked carefully at the wheel tracks in the dust,
+and I asked a few questions here and there, and I hit upon some several
+clues, and here I am. Now I'd like you to explain, sir, if you didn't
+kidnap that child, what you do call it?"
+
+"Why, it was a rescue," cried Patty, indignantly, without giving Mr.
+Phelps time to reply. "The dear little baby was all alone in the wood,
+and anything might have happened to her. Her mother had no business to
+let her be taken care of by a sister that couldn't take care of her any
+better than that! We waited for some time, and nobody appeared, so we
+picked up the child and brought her home, rather than leave her there
+alone. But I don't believe it's the child you're after anyway, for the
+name Rosabel is embroidered on the blanket."
+
+"It is the same child, Miss," said the man, who somehow seemed a little
+crestfallen because his kidnapping case proved to be only in his own
+imagination. "Mrs. Brown described to me the clothes the baby wore, and
+she said that blanket was given to her by a rich lady who had a little
+girl named Rosabel. The Browns are poor people, ma'am, and the mother is
+a hard-working woman, and she's nearly crazed with grief about the baby."
+
+"I should think she would be," said Patty, whose quick sympathies had
+already flown to the sorrowing mother. "She oughtn't to have left an
+irresponsible child in charge of the little thing. But it's dreadful to
+think how anxious she must be! Now I'll tell you what we'll do; Mr.
+Phelps, if you'll get out your car, I'll just bundle that child up and
+we'll take her right straight back home to her mother. We'll stop at the
+Ripleys' for Papa and Nan, and we'll all go over together. It's a lovely
+moonlight night for a drive, anyway, and even if it were pitch dark, or
+pouring in torrents, I should want to get that baby back to her mother
+just as quickly as possible. I don't wonder the poor woman is
+distracted."
+
+"Very well," said Mr. Phelps, who would have driven his car to Kamschatka
+if Patty had asked him to, "and we'll take this gentleman along with us,
+to direct us to Mrs. Brown's."
+
+Mr. Phelps went for his car, and Patty flew to bundle up the baby. She
+did not dress the child, but wrapped her in a warm blanket, and then in a
+fur-lined cape of her own. Then making a bundle of the baby's clothes,
+she presented herself at the door, just as Mr. Phelps drove up with his
+splendid great car shining in the moonlight.
+
+A few moments' pause was sufficient to gather in Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield,
+and away they all flew through the night, to Mrs. Brown's humble cottage.
+
+They found the poor woman not only grieving about the loss of her child,
+but angry and revengeful against the lady and gentleman in the motor-car,
+who, she thought, had stolen it.
+
+And so when the car stopped in front of her door, she came running out
+followed by her husband and several children.
+
+Little Sarah recognised the car, which was unusual in size and shape, and
+cried out, "That's the one, that's the one, mother! and those are the
+people who stole Mary!"
+
+But the young detective, whose name was Mr. Faulks, sprang out of the car
+and began to explain matters to the astonished family. Then Patty handed
+out the baby, and the grief of the Browns was quickly turned to
+rejoicing, mingled with apologies.
+
+Mr. Fairfield explained further to the somewhat bewildered mother, and
+leaving with her a substantial present of money as an evidence of good
+faith in the matter, he returned to his place in the car, and in a moment
+they were whizzing back toward home.
+
+"I'm glad it all turned out right," said Patty with a sigh, "but I do
+wish that pretty baby had been named Rosabel instead of Mary. It really
+would have suited her a great deal better."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE ROLANDS
+
+
+"There's a new family in that house across the road," said Mr. Fairfield
+one evening at dinner.
+
+"The Fenwick house?" asked Nan.
+
+"Yes; a man named Roland has taken it for August. I know a man who knows
+them, and he says they're charming people. So, if you ladies want to be
+neighbourly, you might call on them."
+
+Nan and Patty went to call and found the Roland family very pleasant
+people, indeed. Mrs. Roland seemed to be an easy-going sort of lady who
+never took any trouble herself, and never expected anyone else to do so.
+
+Miss Roland, Patty decided, was a rather inanimate young person, and
+showed a lack of energy so at variance with Patty's tastes that she
+confided to Nan on the way home she certainly did not expect to cultivate
+any such lackadaisical girl as that.
+
+As for young Mr. Roland, the son of the house, Patty had great ado to
+keep from laughing outright at him. He was of the foppish sort, and
+though young and rather callow, he assumed airs of great importance, and
+addressed Patty with a formal deference, as if she were a young lady in
+society, instead of a schoolgirl.
+
+Patty was accustomed to frank, pleasant comradeship with the boys of her
+acquaintance; and the young men, such as Mr. Hepworth and Mr. Phelps,
+treated Patty as a little girl, and never seemed to imply anything like
+grown-up attentions.
+
+But young Mr. Roland, with an affected drawl, and what were meant to be
+killing glances of admiration, so conducted himself that Patty's sense of
+humour was stirred, and she mischievously led him on for the fun of
+seeing what he would do next.
+
+The result was that young Mr. Roland was much pleased with pretty Patty,
+and fully believed that his own charms had made a decided impression on
+her.
+
+He asked permission to call, whereupon Patty told him that she was only a
+schoolgirl, and did not receive calls from young men, but referred him to
+Mrs. Fairfield, and Nan being in an amiable mood, kindly gave him the
+desired permission.
+
+"Well," said Patty, as they discussed the matter afterward, "if that
+young puff-ball rolls himself over here, you can have the pleasure of
+entertaining him. I'm quite ready to admit that another season of his
+conversation would affect my mind."
+
+"Nonsense," said Nan, carelessly, "you can't expect every young man to be
+as interesting as Mr. Hepworth, or as companionable as Kenneth Harper."
+
+"I don't," said Patty, "but I don't have to bore myself to death talking
+to them, if I don't like them."
+
+"No," said Nan, "but you must be polite and amiable to everybody. That's
+part of the penalty of being an attractive young woman."
+
+"All right," said Patty, "since that's the way you look at it, you surely
+can't have any objection to receiving Mr. Roland if he calls, for I warn
+you that I shan't appear."
+
+But it so happened that when a caller came one afternoon, Nan was not at
+home, and Patty was.
+
+The maid brought the card to Patty, who was reading in her own room, and
+when she looked at it and saw the name of Mr. Charles Roland upon it, she
+exclaimed in dismay.
+
+"I don't want to go down," she said, "I wish he hadn't come."
+
+"It's a lady, Miss Patty," said the girl.
+
+"A lady?" said Patty, wonderingly, "why this is a gentleman's card."
+
+"Yes, ma'am, I know it, but it's a lady that called. She's down in the
+parlour, waiting, and that's the card she gave me. She's a large lady,
+Miss Patty, with greyish hair, and she seems in a terrible fluster."
+
+"Very mysterious," said Patty, "but I'll go down and see what it's all
+about."
+
+Patty went down to the parlour, and found Mrs. Roland there. She did
+indeed look bewildered, and as soon as Patty entered the room she began
+to talk volubly.
+
+"Excuse my rushing over like this, my dear," she said, "but I am in such
+trouble, and I wonder if you won't help me out. We're neighbours, you
+know, and I'm sure I'd do as much for you. I asked for Mrs. Fairfield,
+but she isn't at home, so I asked for you."
+
+"But the card you sent up had Mr. Charles Roland's name on it," said
+Patty, smiling.
+
+"Oh, my dear, is that so? What a mistake to make! You see I carry
+Charlie's cards around with my own, and I must have sent the wrong one.
+I'm so nearsighted I can't see anything without my glasses, anyway, and
+my glasses are always lost."
+
+Patty felt sorry for the old lady, who seemed in such a bewildered state,
+and she said, "No matter about the card, Mrs. Roland, what can I do for
+you?"
+
+"Why it's just this," said her visitor. "I want to borrow your house.
+Just for the night, I'll return it to-morrow in perfect order."
+
+"Borrow this house?" repeated Patty, wondering if her guest were really
+sane.
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Roland; "now wait, and I'll tell you all about it. I'm
+expecting some friends to dinner and to stay over night, and would you
+believe it, just now of all days in the year, the tank has burst and the
+water is dripping down all through the house. We can't seem to do
+anything to stop it. The ceilings had fallen in three rooms when I came
+away, and I dare say the rest of them are down by this time. And my
+friends are very particular people, and awfully exclusive. I wouldn't
+like to take them to the hotel; and I don't think it's a very nice hotel
+anyway, and so I thought if you'd just lend me this house over night, I
+could bring my friends right here, and as they leave to-morrow morning,
+it wouldn't be long, you know. And truly I don't see what else I can do."
+
+"But what would become of our family?" said Patty, who was greatly amused
+at the unconventional request.
+
+"Why, you could go to our house," said Mrs. Roland dubiously; "that is,
+if any of the ceilings will stay up over night; or," she added, her face
+brightening, "couldn't you go to the hotel yourselves? Of course, it
+isn't a nice place to entertain guests, but it does very well for one's
+own family. Oh, Miss Fairfield, please help me out! Truly I'd do as much
+for you if the case were reversed."
+
+Although the request was unusual, Mrs. Roland did not seem to think so,
+and the poor lady seemed to be in such distress, that Patty's sympathies
+were aroused, and after all it was a mere neighbourly act of kindness to
+borrow and lend, even though the article in question was somewhat larger
+than the lemon or the egg usually borrowed by neighbourly housekeepers.
+
+So Patty said, "What about the servants, Mrs. Roland? Do you want to
+borrow them too?"
+
+"I don't care," was the reply, "just as it suits you best. You may leave
+them here; or take them with you, and I'll bring my own. Oh, please, Miss
+Fairfield, do help me somehow."
+
+Patty thought a minute. It was a responsibility to decide the question
+herself, but if she waited until Nan or her father came home, it would be
+too late for Mrs. Roland's purpose.
+
+Then she said, "I'll do it, Mrs. Roland. You shall have the house and
+servants at your disposal until noon to-morrow. You may bring your own
+servants also, or not, just as you choose. We won't go to your house,
+thank you, nor to the hotel. But Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield and myself will
+go over to my aunt, Mrs. Barlow's, to dine and spend the night. They can
+put us up, and they won't mind a bit our coming so unexpectedly."
+
+"Oh, my dear, how good you are!" said Mrs. Roland in a burst of
+gratitude. "I cannot tell you how I appreciate your kindness! Are you
+sure your parents won't mind?"
+
+"I'm not at all sure of that," said Patty, smiling, "but I don't see as
+they can help themselves; when they come home, you will probably be in
+possession, and your guests will be here, so there'll be nothing for my
+people to do but to fall in with my plans."
+
+"Oh, how good you are," said Mrs. Roland. "I will surely make this up to
+you in some way, and now, will you just show me about the house a bit, as
+I've never been here before?"
+
+So Patty piloted Mrs. Roland about the house, showed her the various
+rooms, and told the servants that they were at Mrs. Roland's orders for
+that night and the next morning.
+
+After Mrs. Roland had gone back home, made happy by Patty's kindness,
+Patty began to think that she had done a very extraordinary thing, and
+wondered what her father and Nan would say.
+
+"But," she thought to herself, "I'm in for it now, and they'll have to
+abide by my decision, whatever they think. Now I must pack some things
+for our visit. But first I must telephone to Aunt Grace."
+
+"Hello, Auntie," said Patty, at the telephone, a few moments later. "Papa
+and Nan and I want to come over to the Hurly-Burly to dinner, and to stay
+all night. Will you have us?"
+
+"Why, of course, Patty, child, we're glad to have you. Come right along
+and stay as long as you like. But what's the matter? Has your cook left,
+or is the house on fire?"
+
+"Neither, Aunt Grace, but I'll explain when I get there. Can you send
+somebody after me in a carriage? Papa and Nan have gone off in the cart,
+and I have two suit cases to bring."
+
+"Certainly, Patty, I'll send old Dill after you right away, and I'll make
+him hurry, too, as you seem to be anxious to start."
+
+"I am," said Patty, laughing. "Good-bye."
+
+Then she gathered together such clothing and belongings as were necessary
+for their visit, and had two suit cases ready packed when her aunt's
+carriage came for her.
+
+Patty looked a little dubious as she left the house, but she didn't feel
+that she could have acted otherwise than as she had done, and, too, since
+their own trusty servants were to stay there, certainly no harm could
+come to the place.
+
+So, giggling at the whole performance, Patty jumped into the Barlow
+carriage and went to the Hurly-Burly.
+
+"Well, of all things!" said her Aunt Grace, after Patty had told her
+story. "I've had a suspicion, sometimes, that we Barlows were an
+unconventional crowd, but we never borrowed anybody's house yet! It's
+ridiculous, Patty, and you ought not to have let that woman have it!"
+
+"I just couldn't help it, Aunt Grace, she was in such a twitter, and
+threw herself on my mercy in such a way that I felt I had to help her
+out."
+
+"You're too soft-hearted, Patty; you'd do anything for anybody who asked
+you."
+
+"You needn't talk, Aunt Grace, you're just the same yourself, and you
+know that if somebody came along this minute and wanted to borrow your
+house you'd let her have it if she coaxed hard enough."
+
+"I think very likely," said Aunt Grace, placidly. "Now, how are you going
+to catch your father and Nan?"
+
+"Why, they'll have to drive past here on their way home," said Patty,
+"and I mean to stop them and tell them about it. We can put the horse in
+your barn, I suppose."
+
+"Yes, of course. And now we'll go out on the verandah, and then we can
+see the Fairfield turn-out when it comes along."
+
+The Fairfields were waylaid and stopped as they drove by the house, which
+was not astonishing, as Patty and Bumble and Mrs. Barlow watched from the
+piazza, while Bob was perched on the front gate post, and Uncle Ted was
+pacing up and down the walk.
+
+"What's the matter?" cried Mr. Fairfield, as he reined up his horse in
+response to their various salutations.
+
+"The matter is," said Patty, "that we haven't any home of our own
+to-night, and so we're visiting Aunt Grace."
+
+"Earthquake swallowed our house?" inquired Mr. Fairfield, as he turned to
+drive in.
+
+"Not quite," said Patty, "but one of the neighbours wanted to borrow it,
+so I lent it to her."
+
+"That Mrs. Roland, I suppose," said Nan; "she probably mislaid her own
+house, she's so careless and rattle-pated."
+
+"It was Mrs. Roland," said Patty, laughing, "and she's having a
+dinner-party, and their tank burst, and most of the ceilings fell, and
+really, Nan, you know yourself such things do upset a house, if they
+occur on the day of a dinner-party."
+
+Fuller explanations ensued, and though the Fairfields thought it a crazy
+piece of business, they agreed with Patty, that it would have been
+difficult to refuse Mrs. Roland's request.
+
+And it really didn't interfere with the Fairfields'comfort at all, and
+the Barlows protested that it was a great pleasure to them to entertain
+their friends so unexpectedly, so, as Mr. Fairfield declared, Mrs. Roland
+was, after all, a public benefactor.
+
+"You'd better wait," said Nan, "until you see the house to-morrow. I know
+a little about the Rolands, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find
+things pretty much upside down."
+
+It was nearly noon the next day when Mrs. Roland telephoned to the
+Hurly-Burly and asked for Mrs. Fairfield.
+
+Nan responded, and was told that the Rolands were now leaving, and that
+the Fairfields might again come into their home.
+
+Mrs. Roland also expressed voluble thanks for the great service the
+Fairfields had done her, and said that she would call the next day to
+thank them in person.
+
+So the Fairfields went back home, and happily Nan's fears were not
+realised. Nothing seemed to be spoiled or out of order, and the servants
+said that Mrs. Roland and her family and friends had been most kind, and
+had made no trouble at all.
+
+"Now, you see," said Patty, triumphantly, "that it does no harm to do a
+kind deed to a neighbour once in a while, even though it isn't the
+particular kind deed that you've done a hundred times before."
+
+"That's true enough, Patty," said her father, "but all the same when you
+lend our home again, let it be our own house, and furnished with our own
+things. I don't mind owning up, now that it's all over, that I did feel a
+certain anxiety arising from the fact that this is a rented house, and
+almost none of the household appointments are our own."
+
+"Goodness, gracious me!" said Patty. "I never once thought of that! Well,
+I'm glad they didn't smash all the china and bric-a-brac, for they're
+mortal homely, and I should certainly begrudge the money it would take to
+replace them."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE CRUSOES
+
+
+Plans were on foot for a huge fair and bazaar to be held in aid of the
+Associated Charities. Everybody in and around Sandy Cove was interested,
+and the fair, which would be held the last week in August, was expected
+to eclipse all previous efforts of its kind.
+
+All three of the Fairfields were energetically assisting in the work, and
+each was a member of several important committees.
+
+The Barlows, too, were working hard, and the Rolands thought they were
+doing so, though somehow they accomplished very little. As the time drew
+near for the bazaar to open, Patty grew so excited over the work and had
+such a multitude of responsibilities, that she flew around as madly as
+when she was preparing for the play at school.
+
+"But I'm perfectly well, now," she said to her father when he
+remonstrated with her, "and I don't mind how hard I work as long as I
+haven't lessons to study at the same time."
+
+Aside from assisting with various booths and tables, Patty had charge of
+a gypsy encampment, which she spared no pains to make as gay and
+interesting as possible.
+
+The "Romany Rest" she called the little enclosure which was to represent
+the gypsies'home, and Patty not only superintended the furnishing and
+arranging of the place, but also directed the details of the costumes
+which were to be worn by the young people who were to represent gypsies.
+
+The Fairfields' house was filled with guests who had come down for the
+fair.
+
+Patty had invited Elise and Roger Farrington, and Bertha and Winthrop
+Warner. Mr. Hepworth and Kenneth Harper were there, too, and the merry
+crowd of young people worked zealously in their endeavours to assist
+Patty and Nan.
+
+Mr. Hepworth, of course, was especially helpful in arranging the gypsy
+encampment, and designing the picturesque costumes for the girls and
+young men who were to act as gypsies. The white blouses with gay-coloured
+scarfs and broad sombreros were beautiful to look at, even if, as Patty
+said, they were more like Spanish fandangoes than like any gypsy garments
+she had ever seen.
+
+"Don't expose your ignorance, my child," said Mr. Hepworth, smiling at
+her. "A Romany is not an ordinary gypsy and is always clothed in this
+particular kind of garb."
+
+"Then that's all that's necessary," said Patty. "I bow to your superior
+judgment, and I feel sure that all the patrons of the fair will spend
+most of their time at the 'Romany Rest.'"
+
+The day on which the fair was to open was a busy one, and everybody was
+up betimes, getting ready for the grand event.
+
+A fancy dress parade was to be one of the features of the first evening,
+and as a prize was offered for the cleverest costume, all of the
+contestants were carefully guarding the secret of the characters their
+costumes would represent. Although Roger had given no hint of what his
+costume was to be, he calmly announced that he knew it would take the
+prize. The others laughed, thinking this a jest, and Patty was of a
+private opinion that probably Mr. Hepworth's costume would be cleverer
+than Roger's, as the artist had most original and ingenious ideas.
+
+The fair was to open at three in the afternoon, and soon after twelve
+o'clock Patty rushed into the house looking for somebody to send on an
+errand. She found no one about but Bertha Warner, who was hastily putting
+some finishing touches to her own gypsy dress.
+
+"That's almost finished, isn't it, Bertha?" began Patty breathlessly.
+
+"Yes; why? Can I help you in any way?"
+
+"Indeed you can, if you will. I have to go over to Black Island for some
+goldenrod. It doesn't grow anywhere else as early, at least I can't find
+any. I've hunted all over for somebody to send, but the boys are all so
+busy, and so I'm just going myself. I wish you'd come along and help me
+row. It's ever so much quicker to go across in a boat and get it there,
+than to drive out into the country for it."
+
+"Of course I will," said Bertha, "but will there be time?"
+
+"Yes, if we scoot right along."
+
+The girls flew down to the dock, jumped into a small rowboat and began to
+row briskly over to Black Island. It was not very far, and they soon
+reached it. They scrambled out, pulled the boat well up onto the beach,
+and went after the flowers.
+
+Sure enough, as Patty had said, there was a luxuriant growth of goldenrod
+in many parts of the island. Patty had brought a pair of garden shears,
+and by setting to work vigorously, they soon had as much as they could
+carry.
+
+"There," said Patty, triumphantly, as she tied up two great sheaves, "I
+believe we gathered that quicker than if we had brought some boys along
+to help. Now let's skip for home."
+
+The island was not very large, but in their search for the flowers they
+had wandered farther than they thought.
+
+"It's nearly one o'clock," said Patty, looking at her watch, and carrying
+their heavy cargo of golden flowers, they hastened back to where they had
+left their boat.
+
+But no boat was there.
+
+"Oh, Bertha," cried Patty, "the boat has drifted away!"
+
+"Oh, pshaw," said Bertha, "I don't believe it. We pulled it ever so far
+up on the sand."
+
+"Well, then, where is it?"
+
+"Why, I believe Winthrop or Kenneth or somebody came over and pulled it
+away, just to tease us. I believe they're around the corner waiting for
+us now."
+
+Patty tried to take this view of it, but she felt a strange sinking of
+her heart, for it wasn't like Kenneth to play a practical joke, and she
+didn't think Winthrop would, either.
+
+Laying down her bundle of flowers, Bertha ran around the end of the
+island, fully expecting to see her brother's laughing face.
+
+But there was no one to be seen, and no sign of the boat.
+
+Then Bertha became alarmed, and the two girls looked at each other in
+dismay.
+
+"Look off there," cried Patty, suddenly, pointing out on the water.
+
+Far away they saw an empty boat dancing along in the sunlight!
+
+Bertha began to cry, and though Patty felt like it, it seemed really too
+babyish, and she said, "Don't be a goose, Bertha, we're not lost on a
+desert island, and of course somebody will come after us, anyway."
+
+But Patty was worried more than she would admit. For no one knew where
+they had gone, and the empty boat was drifting away from Sandy Cove
+instead of toward it.
+
+At first, the girls were buoyed up by the excitement of the situation,
+and felt that somebody must find them shortly. But no other boat was in
+sight, and as Patty said, everybody was getting ready for the fair and no
+one was likely to go out rowing that day.
+
+One o'clock came, and then half-past one, and though the girls had tried
+to invent some way out of their difficulty they couldn't think of a thing
+to do, but sit still and wait. They had tied their handkerchiefs on the
+highest bushes of the island, there being no trees, but they well knew
+that these tiny white signals were not likely to attract anybody's
+attention.
+
+They had shouted until they were hoarse, and they had talked over all the
+possibilities of the case.
+
+"Of course they have missed us by this time," said Patty, "and of course
+they are looking for us."
+
+"I don't believe they are," said Bertha disconsolately, "because all the
+people at the house will think we're down at the fair grounds, and all
+the people there will think we're up at the house."
+
+"That's so," Patty admitted, for she well knew how everybody was
+concerned with his or her own work for the fair, and how little thought
+they would be giving to one another at this particular time.
+
+And yet, though Patty would not mention it, and would scarcely admit the
+thought to herself, she couldn't help feeling sure that Mr. Hepworth
+would be wondering where she was.
+
+"The only hope is," she said to Bertha, "if somebody should want to see
+me especially, about some of the work, and should try to hunt me up."
+
+"Well," said Bertha, "even if they did, it never would occur to them that
+we are over here."
+
+"No, they'd never think of that; even if they do miss us, and try to hunt
+for us. They'll only telephone to different houses, or something like
+that. It will never occur to them that we're over here, and why should
+it?"
+
+"I'm glad I came with you," said Bertha, affectionately. "I should hate
+to think of you over here all alone."
+
+"If I were here alone," said Patty, laughing, "you wouldn't be thinking
+of me as here alone. You'd just be wondering where I was."
+
+"So I would," said Bertha, laughing, too; "but oh, Patty, do let's do
+_something!_ It's fearful to sit here helpless like this."
+
+"I know it," said Patty, "but what can we do? We're just like Robinson
+Crusoe and his man Friday, except that we haven't any goat."
+
+"No, and we haven't any raft, from which to select that array of useful
+articles that he had at his disposal. Do you remember the little bag,
+that always held everything that could possibly be required?"
+
+"Oh, that was in 'Swiss Family Robinson,'" said Patty; "your early
+education is getting mixed up. I hope being cast on a desert island
+hasn't affected your brain. I don't want to be over here with a lunatic."
+
+"You will be, if this keeps up much longer," said poor Bertha, who was of
+an emotional nature, and was bravely trying hard not to cry.
+
+"We might make a fire," said Patty, "if we only had some paper and
+matches."
+
+"I don't know what good a fire would do. Nobody would think that meant
+anything especial. I wish we could put up a bigger signal of some sort."
+
+"We haven't any bigger signal, and if we had, we haven't any way of
+raising it any higher than these silly low bushes. I never saw an island
+so poorly furnished for the accommodation of two young lady Crusoes."
+
+"I never did, either. I'm going to shout again."
+
+"Do, if it amuses you, but truly they can't hear you. It's too far."
+
+"What do you think will happen, Patty? Do you suppose we'll have to stay
+here all night?"
+
+"I don't know," said Patty, slowly. "Of course when it's time for the
+fair to open, and we're not there, they'll miss us; and of course papa
+will begin a search at once. But the trouble is, Bertha, they'll never
+think of searching over here. They'll look in every other direction, but
+they'll never dream that we came out in the boat."
+
+So the girls sat and waited, growing more and more down-hearted, with
+that peculiar despondency which accompanies enforced idleness in a
+desperate situation.
+
+"Look!" cried Patty, suddenly, and startled, Bertha looked where Patty
+pointed.
+
+Yes, surely, a boat had put out from the shore, and was coming toward
+them. At least it was headed for the island, though not directly toward
+where they sat.
+
+"They're going to land farther down," cried Patty, excitedly, "come on,
+Bertha."
+
+The two girls rushed along the narrow rough beach, wildly waving their
+handkerchiefs at the occupants of the boat.
+
+"It's Mr. Hepworth," cried Patty, though the knowledge seemed to come to
+her intuitively, even before she recognised the man who held the stroke
+oar.
+
+"And Winthrop is rowing, too," said Bertha, recognising her brother, "and
+I think that's Kenneth Harper, steering."
+
+By this time the boat was near enough to prove that these surmises were
+correct.
+
+Relieved of her anxiety, mischievous Patty, in the reaction of the
+moment, assumed a saucy and indifferent air, and as the boat crunched its
+keel along the pebbly beach she called out, gaily, "How do you do, are
+you coming to call on us? We're camping here for the summer."
+
+"You little rascals!" cried Winthrop Warner. "What do you mean by running
+away in this fashion, and upsetting the whole bazaar, and driving all
+your friends crazy with anxiety about you?"
+
+"Our boat drifted away," said Bertha, "and we couldn't catch it, and we
+thought we'd have to stay here all night."
+
+"I didn't think we would," said Patty. "I felt sure somebody would come
+after us."
+
+"I don't know why you thought so," said Winthrop, "for nobody knew where
+you were."
+
+"I know that," said Patty, smiling, "and yet I can't tell you why, but I
+just felt sure that somebody would come in a boat, and carry us safely
+home."
+
+"Whom did you expect?" asked Kenneth, "me?"
+
+Patty looked at Kenneth, and then at Mr. Hepworth, and then dropping her
+eyes demurely, she said:
+
+"I didn't know _who_ would come, only I just knew _somebody_ would."
+
+"Well, somebody did," said Kenneth, as he stowed the great bunches of
+goldenrod in the bow of the boat.
+
+"Yes, somebody did," said Patty, softly, flashing a tiny smile at Mr.
+Hepworth, who said nothing, but he smiled a little, too, as he bent to
+his oars.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+THE BAZAAR OF ALL NATIONS
+
+
+"How did you know where we were?" said Bertha to her brother.
+
+"We didn't know," said Winthrop, "but after we had hunted everywhere, and
+put a squad of policemen on your track, and got out the fire department,
+and sent for an ambulance, Hepworth, here, did a little detective work on
+his own account."
+
+"What did you do?" asked Patty.
+
+"Why, nothing much," said Mr. Hepworth, "I just tried to account for the
+various boats, and when I found one was missing, I thought you must have
+gone on the water somewhere. And so I got a field glass and looked all
+around, and though I thought I saw your white flags fluttering. I wasn't
+sure, but I put over here on the chance."
+
+"Seems to me," said Kenneth, "Hepworth is a good deal like that man in
+the story. A horse had strayed away and several people had tried to find
+it, without success. Presently, a stupid old countryman came up leading
+the horse. When asked how he found it he only drawled out, 'Wal, I jest
+considered a spell. I thought ef I was a horse whar would I go? And I
+went there,--and he had!' That's a good deal the way Hepworth did."
+
+They all laughed at Kenneth's funny story, but Patty said, "It was a sort
+of intuition, but all the same I object to having Mr. Hepworth compared
+to a stupid old countryman."
+
+"I don't care what I'm compared to," said Mr. Hepworth, gaily, "as long
+as we've found you two runaways, and if we can get you back in time for
+the opening of the fair."
+
+The time was very short indeed, and as soon as they landed at the dock,
+Patty and Bertha started for the house to don their costumes as quickly
+as possible.
+
+The Fair, or "Bazaar of all Nations," as it was called, was really
+arranged on an elaborate scale. It was held on the spacious grounds of
+Mr. Ashton, one of the wealthiest of the summer residents of Sandy Cove.
+
+So many people had interested themselves in the charity, and so much
+enthusiasm had they put into their work, that when it was time to throw
+the gates open to the public, it was a festive and gorgeous scene indeed.
+
+The idea of representing various nations had been picturesquely, if not
+always logically, carried out.
+
+A Japanese tea-booth had been built with some regard to Japanese fashion,
+but with even more effort at comfort and attractive colour effects. The
+young ladies who attended it wore most becoming Japanese costumes, and
+with slanting pencilled eyebrows, and Japanese headdresses, they served
+tea in Oriental splendour.
+
+In competition with them was an English dairy, where the rosy-cheeked
+maids in their neat cotton dresses and white aprons dispensed cheese
+cakes and Devonshire cream to admiring customers.
+
+The representatives of other countries had even more elaborate results to
+show for their labours.
+
+Italy's booth was a beautiful pergola, which had been built for the
+occasion, but which Mr. Ashton intended to keep as a permanent
+decoration. Over the structure were beautiful vines and climbing plants,
+and inside was a gorgeous collection of blossoms of every sort. Italian
+girls in rich-coloured costumes and a profuse array of jewelry sold
+bouquets or growing plants, and were assisted in their enterprise by
+swarthy young men who wore the dress of Venetian gondoliers, or Italian
+nobles, with a fine disregard of rank or caste.
+
+Spain boasted a vineyard. Mr. Hepworth had charge of this, and it truly
+did credit to his artistic ability. Built on the side of a hill, it was a
+clever imitation of a Spanish vineyard, and large grape vines had been
+uprooted and transplanted to complete the effect. To be sure, the bunches
+of grapes were of the hothouse variety, and were tied on the vines, but
+they sold well, as did also the other luscious fruits that were offered
+for sale in arbours at either end of the grapery. The young Spaniards of
+both sexes who attended to the wants of their customers were garbed
+exactly in accordance with Mr. Hepworth's directions, and he himself had
+artistically heightened the colouring of their features and complexions.
+
+Germany offered a restaurant where _delicatessen_ foods and tempting
+savories were served by _Fraeuleins_. Helen Barlow was one of the
+jolliest of these, and her plump prettiness and long flaxen braids of
+hair suited well the white kerchief and laced bodice of her adopted
+country.
+
+The French girls, with true Parisian instinct, had a millinery booth.
+Here were sold lovely feminine bits of apparel, including collars, belts,
+laces and handkerchiefs, but principally hats. The hats were truly
+beautiful creations, and though made of simple materials, light straw,
+muslin, and even of paper, they were all dainty confections that any
+summer girl might be glad to wear. The little French ladies who exhibited
+these goods were voluble and dramatic, and in true French fashion, and
+with more or less true French language, they extolled the beauty of their
+wares.
+
+In a Swiss chalet the peasants sold dolls and toys; in a Cuban
+construction, of which no one knew the exact title, some fierce-looking
+native men sold cigars, and in a strange kind of a hut which purported to
+be an Eskimo dwelling, ice cream could be bought.
+
+The Stars and Stripes waved over a handsome up-to-date soda-water
+fountain, as the authorities had decided that ice-cream soda was the most
+typical American refreshment they could offer to their patrons. But an
+Indian encampment also claimed American protection, and a group of
+Western cowboys took pride in their ranch, and even more pride in their
+swaggering costumes.
+
+Altogether the Bazaar was a great show, and as it was to last for three
+days, nobody expected to exhaust all its entertainments in one visit.
+
+The Romany Rest was one of the prettiest conceits, and though an
+idealised gypsy encampment, it proved a very popular attraction.
+
+Half a dozen girls and as many young men wore what they fondly hoped
+looked enough like gypsy costumes to justify the name, but at any rate,
+they were most becoming and beautiful to look upon.
+
+Patty was the gypsy queen, and looked like that personage as represented
+in comic opera. Seated on a queerly constructed, and somewhat wobbly
+throne, she told fortunes to those who desired to know what the future
+held for them.
+
+Apparently there was great curiosity in this respect, for Patty was kept
+steadily busy from the time she arrived at her place.
+
+Other gypsies sold gaily coloured beads, amulets and charms, and others
+stirred a queer-looking brew in a gypsy kettle over a real fire, and sold
+cupfuls of it to those who wished in this way to tempt fate still
+further.
+
+It was a perfect day, and the afternoon was progressing most
+satisfactorily.
+
+Bertha was one of the Swiss peasants, and by dint of much hurrying, she
+and Patty had been able to get ready in time to join the parade of
+costumed attendants as they marched to their various stations.
+
+Though had it not been for Mr. Phelps and his swift motor-car, they could
+scarcely have reached the fair grounds in time.
+
+Elise was one of the Italian flower girls, and Kenneth also wore the garb
+of Italy.
+
+Mr. Hepworth and Roger Farrington were ferocious-looking Indians, and
+brandished their tomahawks and tossed their feathered heads in fearsome
+fashion.
+
+Dick Phelps was a cowboy, and his Herculean frame well suited the
+picturesque Western dress. And Charlie Roland flattered himself that
+arrayed as a Chinaman he was too funny for anything.
+
+Although Patty had become better acquainted with young Mr. Roland, she
+had not learned to like him. His conceited ways and pompous manner seemed
+to her silly and artificial beside the frank comradeship of her other
+friends.
+
+He came early to have his fortune told by the gypsy queen, and though, of
+course, Patty was in no way responsible for the way in which the cards
+fell, and though she told the fortunes strictly according to the
+instructions in a printed book, which she had learned by heart, she was
+not especially sorry when Mr. Roland's fortune proved to be not
+altogether a desirable one.
+
+But the young man was in nowise disconcerted.
+
+"It doesn't matter," he said, cheerfully, "I've had my fortune told lots
+of times, and things always happen just contrary to what is predicted.
+But I say, Miss Romany, can't you leave your post for a few minutes and
+go with me to the Japanese tea place, for a cup of their refreshing
+beverage?"
+
+"Thank you ever so much," said Patty, "but I really can't leave here.
+There's a whole string of people waiting for their fortunes, and I must
+stand by my post. Perhaps I can go later," she added, for though she did
+not care for Charlie Roland's attentions, she was too good-natured to
+wish to hurt his feelings.
+
+"I consider that a promise," said Mr. Roland, as he moved away to make
+place for the next seeker after knowledge.
+
+Patty turned to her work, and thought no more of Charlie Roland and his
+undesirable invitation.
+
+Soon Kenneth came to have his fortune told, for it had been arranged that
+each booth should have plenty of attendants, in order that they might
+take turns in leaving their posts and promenading about the grounds. This
+was supposed to advertise their own particular nation, besides giving all
+a chance to see the sights.
+
+Kenneth's fortune proved to be a bright and happy one, but he was not
+unduly elated over it, for his faith in such things was not implicit.
+
+"Thank you," he said gravely, as Patty finished telling of the glories
+which would attend his future career. "I don't think there's anything
+omitted from that string of good luck, unless it's being President, and
+I'm not quite sure I want to be that."
+
+"Yes, you do," said Patty, "every good American ought to want that, if
+only as a matter of patriotism."
+
+"Well, I'm patriotic enough," said Kenneth, "and I'll want it if you want
+me to want it. And now, Patty, you've worked here long enough for the
+present. Let somebody else take your place, and you come with me for a
+walk about the grounds. I'll take you to the pergola, and we'll buy some
+flowers from Elise."
+
+"I'd love to go, Ken, but truly I ought to stay here a while longer. Lots
+of people want their fortune told, and nobody can do it but me, because I
+learnt all that lingo out of a book. No, I can't go now. Run along,--I'm
+busy."
+
+Patty spoke more shortly than she meant to, for the very reason that she
+wanted to go with Kenneth, but she felt it her duty to remain at her
+post.
+
+Kenneth appreciated the principle of the thing, but he thought that Patty
+might have been a little kinder about it. His own temper was a little
+stirred by the incident, and rising quickly, he said, "All right, stay
+here, then!" And turning on his heel, he sauntered carelessly away.
+
+Patty looked after him, thinking what a handsome boy he was, and how well
+his Italian suit became him. Kenneth's skin was naturally rather dark,
+and his black eyes and hair and heavy eyebrows were somewhat of the
+Italian type. His white linen blouse was slightly turned in at the throat
+and he wore a crimson silk tie, and sash to match, knotted at one side. A
+broad-brimmed hat of soft grey felt sat jauntily on his head, and as he
+swung himself down the path, Patty thought she had never seen him look so
+well.
+
+Soon after this, Charlie Roland came back again.
+
+"I've brought someone to help you out," he said, as he introduced a young
+girl who accompanied him. "This is Miss Leslie and she knows fortune
+telling from the ground up. Give her a red sash, and a bandana
+handkerchief to tie around her head, and let her take your place, if only
+for a short time; and you come with me to buy some flowers. Do you know,
+your costume really calls for some scarlet blossoms in your hair, and
+over in the pergola they have some red geraniums that are simply great.
+Come on, let's get some."
+
+Patty did want some red flowers, and had meant to have some, but she
+dressed in such a hurry that there was no time to find any. Moreover, she
+had never known Charlie Roland to appear to such good advantage. He
+seemed to have dropped his pompous manner with his civilised dress, and
+in his comical Chinaman's costume, he seemed far more attractive than in
+his own everyday dress. And since he had provided her with a substitute,
+Patty saw no reason for refusing his invitation.
+
+So together they left the Romany Rest, and walked about the Fair,
+chatting with people here and there, until they reached the pergola.
+
+Elise was delighted to see them, and while the Italian girls besought Mr.
+Roland to buy their flowers, the Italian young men clustered around
+Patty, and with merry laugh and jest, presented her with sundry floral
+offerings.
+
+There was one exception, however; Kenneth stood aloof. For the first time
+in his life, he felt that Patty had intentionally slighted him. He had
+asked her to come to the pergola for flowers, and she had refused. Then a
+few minutes later she had accepted a similar invitation from that stupid
+young Roland. Kenneth was obliged to admit to himself that young Roland
+did not look stupid just at present, for he had some talent as a
+comedian, and was acting the part of a funny Chinaman with success. But
+that didn't make any difference to Kenneth, and he looked reproachfully
+at Patty, as she accepted the flowers and gay compliments from her
+attendant cavalier.
+
+Patty had intended to explain to Kenneth why it had been possible for her
+to leave the gypsy camp in charge of another fortune teller, but when she
+saw the boy's moody expression and sulky attitude her sense of humour was
+touched, and she giggled to herself at the idea of Kenneth being angry at
+such a trifle.
+
+She thought it distinctly silly of him, and being in a mischievous mood,
+she concluded he ought to be punished for such foolishness. So instead of
+smiling at him, she gave him only a careless glance, and then devoted her
+attention to the others.
+
+Patty was a general favourite, and her happy, sunny ways made friends for
+her wherever she went. She was therefore surrounded by a crowd of merry
+young people, some of whom had just been introduced to her, and others
+whom she had known longer; and as she laughed and chatted with them,
+Kenneth began to think that he was acting rather foolishly, and longed to
+join the group around the gypsy queen.
+
+But the boy was both sensitive and proud, and he could not quite bring
+himself to overlook what he considered an intentional unkindness on the
+part of Patty.
+
+So, wandering away from the pergola, he visited other booths, and chatted
+with other groups, determined to ignore Patty and her perversities.
+
+Patty, not being an obtuse young person, saw through all this, and chose
+to be amused by it.
+
+"Dear old Ken," she thought to herself, "what a goose he is! I'll get Nan
+to ask him to have supper with us all in the English Dairy, and then I
+expect he'll thaw out that frozen manner of his."
+
+Feeling that she ought to return to her own post, Patty told her Chinaman
+so, and together they went back to the Romany Rest; but as Patty was
+about to take her place again at the fortune teller's table, Mr. Phelps
+came along and desired her to go with him, and have her photograph taken.
+At first Patty demurred, though she greatly wanted to go, but Miss Leslie
+said she was not at all tired of fortune telling, and would gladly
+continue to substitute for Patty a while longer.
+
+"Come on, then," said Dick Phelps, "there's no reason why you shouldn't,
+since Miss Leslie is kind enough to fill your place."
+
+Patty still hesitated, for she thought that Kenneth would be still more
+offended if he saw her walking around with Mr. Phelps, after having told
+him that she could not leave the gypsy camp.
+
+But Dick Phelps was of an imperious nature. He was accustomed to having
+his own way, and was impatient at Patty's hesitation.
+
+"Come on," he said. "March!" And taking her by the arm, he led her
+swiftly down the path toward the photograph booth.
+
+As he strode along, cowboy fashion, Patty said, meekly, "Let go of my
+arm, please, Mr. Phelps. I think you've broken two bones already! And
+_don't_ walk so fast. I'm all out of breath!"
+
+"Forgive me," said Dick Phelps, suddenly checking his speed, and smiling
+down at the girl beside him, "you see this cowboy rig makes me feel as if
+I were back on the plains again, and I can't seem to adjust myself to
+civilised conditions."
+
+Mr. Phelps looked very splendid as a cowboy, and Patty listened with
+interest, as he told her of an exciting episode which had occurred during
+his ranch life, in a distant western territory.
+
+So engrossed did they become in this conversation that the photographs
+were forgotten for the moment, and they strolled along past the various
+booths, unheeding the numerous invitations to enter.
+
+Of course Kenneth saw them, and from a trifling offence, Patty's conduct
+seemed to him to have grown into a purposed rudeness.
+
+As they passed him, Patty smiled pleasantly, and paused, saying, "We're
+all going to have supper in the Dairy, and of course you'll be with us,
+Ken?"
+
+"Of course I won't!" said Kenneth, and deliberately turning on his heel,
+he walked the other way.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+THE END OF THE SUMMER
+
+
+"Whew!" said Dick Phelps, in his straightforward way, "he's mad at you,
+isn't he?"
+
+"Yes," said Patty, "and it's so silly! All about nothing at all. I wish
+you'd take me back to him, Mr. Phelps, and leave us alone, and I think I
+can straighten matters out in two minutes."
+
+"Indeed, I'll do nothing of the sort," returned Mr. Phelps, in his
+masterful way; "you promised to go to the photograph place, and that's
+where we're going. I don't propose to give you up to any young man we
+chance to meet!"
+
+Patty laughed, and they went on. At the photograph booth they found many
+of the gaily dressed young people, anxious to have pictures of themselves
+in their pretty costumes. Patty and Mr. Phelps had to wait their turn,
+but finally succeeded in getting a number of pictures. Patty had some
+taken alone, and some in which she was one of a gay group. Some were
+successful portraits, and others were not, but all were provocative of
+much laughter and fun. By a rapid process of development, the
+photographers were enabled to furnish the completed pictures in less than
+a half hour after the cameras did their work, and as a consequence, this
+booth was exceedingly popular and promised handsome returns for the
+benefit of charity.
+
+Mr. Phelps and Patty loitered about, waiting for their pictures, when
+Patty caught sight of Nan, and running to her she said, "For goodness'
+sake, Nan, do help me out! Kenneth's as mad as hops, and all about
+nothing! Now I want you to ask him to come to supper with our crowd, and
+you must _make_ him come!"
+
+"I can't make him come, if he doesn't want to. You've been teasing him,
+Patty, and you must get out of your own scrapes."
+
+"Ah, Nan, dear," coaxed Patty, "do be good, and truly, if you'll just
+persuade him to come to supper with us, I'll do the rest."
+
+"I'll try," said Nan as she walked away, "but I won't promise that I'll
+succeed."
+
+She did succeed, however, and some time later Mr. Fairfield gathered the
+large party whom he had invited to supper, in the English Dairy.
+
+The supper was to be a fine one, far exceeding the bounds of Dairy fare,
+and Mr. Fairfield had reserved a long table for his guests.
+
+As they trooped in, laughing and talking, and seated themselves for the
+feast, Patty was relieved to see that Kenneth was among them, after all.
+
+He took a seat between Elise and Helen Barlow, and knowing Bumble's good
+nature, Patty went directly to her, and asked her if she wouldn't move,
+as she wanted to sit there herself.
+
+"Of course I will," said Bumble, and jumping up, she ran around to the
+other side of the table.
+
+Then Patty deliberately sat down by Kenneth, who couldn't very well get
+up and walk away, himself, though he looked at her with no expression of
+welcome in his glance.
+
+Without a word, Patty leaned over and selected from a dish of olives on
+the table one which had a stem to it.
+
+With a tiny bit of ribbon she tied the olive to a little green branch she
+had brought in with her, and then demurely held the token toward Kenneth.
+
+For a moment the boy looked rather blank, and then realising that Patty
+was offering him the olive branch of peace, and that she had gone to some
+trouble to do this, and that moreover she had done it rather cleverly,
+the boy's face broke into a smile, and he turned toward Patty.
+
+"Thank you," he said, as he took the little spray, and attached it to the
+rolling collar of his blouse. "I accept it, with its full meaning."
+
+"You're such a goose, Kenneth!" said Patty, her eyes dancing with
+laughter. "There was nothing to get huffy about."
+
+"Well," said Kenneth, feeling his grounds for complaint slipping away
+from him, "you pranced off with that Roland chap, after you had just told
+me you couldn't leave your gypsy queen business."
+
+"I know it," said Patty, "but Ken, he brought a nice lady to fill my
+place, and besides, he asked me to go to get red flowers and I really
+wanted red flowers."
+
+"I asked you to go for flowers too," said Kenneth, not yet entirely
+mollified.
+
+"Yes," said Patty, "but you didn't say _red_ flowers. How did I know but
+that you'd buy pink or blue ones, and so spoil my whole gypsy costume?"
+
+Kenneth had to laugh in spite of himself, at this bit of audacity. "And
+then right afterwards you went off again with Dick Phelps," he continued.
+
+"Kenneth," said Patty, looking at him with an expression of mock terror,
+"I couldn't help myself that time! Honest, I couldn't. Mr. Phelps is a
+fearful tyrant. He's an ogre, and when he commanded me to go, I just had
+to go! He's a man that makes you do a thing, whether you want to or not.
+Why, Kenneth, he just marched me off!"
+
+"All right," said Kenneth, "I'll take a leaf out of his book. After this,
+when I want you to go anywhere, _I'll_ just march you off."
+
+"You can try," said Patty, saucily, "but I'm not sure you can do it. It
+takes a certain type of man to do that sort of thing successfully, and I
+don't know anybody but Dick Phelps who's just that kind."
+
+But peace was restored, for Kenneth realised that Patty's explanation was
+a fair one, and that he had been foolishly quick to take offence.
+
+After supper they all went to the grand stand to see the parade of fancy
+costumes.
+
+These were quite separate from the booth attendants, and a prize had been
+offered for the cleverest conceit, most successfully carried out.
+
+When at last the grand march took place, it showed a wonderful array of
+thoroughly ingenious costumes.
+
+Of course there were many clowns, historical characters, fairies, and
+queer nondescript creatures, but there were also many characters which
+were unique and noteworthy.
+
+Mr. Hepworth, who was in the parade, had chosen to represent the full
+moon.
+
+How he did it, no one quite knew; but all that was visible was an
+enormous sphere, of translucent brightness and a luminous yellow color.
+
+Mr. Fairfield declared that the medium must be phosphorus, but all agreed
+that it was a wonderful achievement, and many thought it would surely
+take the prize.
+
+The sphere was hollow, and made of a light framework, and Mr. Hepworth
+walked inside of it, really carrying it along with him. It so nearly
+touched the ground that his feet were scarcely observable, and the great
+six foot globe made a decided sensation, as it moved slowly along.
+
+Patty remembered that Roger had declared he was going to take the prize,
+and as she had knowledge of the boy's ability along these lines, she felt
+by no means sure that it wouldn't eclipse Mr. Hepworth's shining orb.
+
+And sure enough, when Roger appeared, it was in the character of a
+Christmas tree!
+
+The clever youth had selected just the right kind of a tree, and cutting
+away enough twigs and branches near the trunk on one side, he had made a
+space in which he could thrust the whole of his tall slender self.
+
+To protect his face and hands from the scratchy foliage, and also to
+render himself inconspicuous, he wore a tight-fitting robe of dark brown
+muslin, which concealed even his face and arms, though eyeholes allowed
+him to see where he was going.
+
+In a word, the boy himself almost constituted the trunk of the tree, and
+by walking slowly, it looked as if the tree itself was moving along
+without assistance.
+
+The tree was gaily hung with real Christmas trinkets and decorations, and
+lighted with candles.
+
+The idea was wonderfully clever, and though it had been hard work to
+arrange the boughs to conceal him entirely, Roger had accomplished it,
+and the gay decorations hid all defects.
+
+The judges awarded the prize to Roger, who calmly remarked to Patty,
+afterward, "I told you I'd get it, didn't I?"
+
+"Yes," said Patty, "and so then of course I knew you would."
+
+It was a rather tired party that went back to the Fairfields' house at
+the close of the evening.
+
+Nan and Mr. Fairfield issued strict orders that everybody must go to bed
+at once, as there were two more strenuous days ahead, and they needed all
+the rest they could get.
+
+But next morning they reappeared, quite ready for fresh exertions, and
+Patty declared that for her part she'd like to be a gypsy all the year
+round.
+
+"Well I never want to be a Christmas tree again," said Roger, "in spite
+of my precautions, I'm all scratched up!"
+
+"Never mind," said his sister consolingly, "you took the prize, and
+that's glory enough to make up for lots of scratches."
+
+The second and third days of the Fair were much like the first, except
+that the crowds of visitors continually increased.
+
+The fame of the entertainment spread rapidly, and people came, even from
+distant parts of Long Island, to attend the festivities.
+
+But at last it was all over, and the Fairfield verandah was crowded with
+young people, apparently of all nations, who were congratulating each
+other on the wonderful success.
+
+"Of course," said Patty, "the greatest thing was that we had such perfect
+weather. If it had rained, the whole thing would have been spoiled."
+
+"But it didn't rain," said Nan, "and everything went off all right, and
+they must have made bushels of money."
+
+"Well, it was lovely," said Patty with a little sigh, "and I enjoyed
+every minute of it, but I don't want to engage in another one right away.
+I think I shall go to bed and sleep for a week!"
+
+"I wish I were a bear," said Kenneth, "they can go to sleep and sleep all
+winter."
+
+"You'd make a good bear," said Patty, in an aside to him, "because you
+can be so cross."
+
+But the merry smile that accompanied her words robbed them of any
+unpleasant intent, and Kenneth smiled back in sympathy.
+
+"Just to think," said Nan, "a week from to-day we'll all be back in the
+city, and our lovely summer vacation a thing of the past."
+
+"It has been a beautiful summer," said Patty, her thoughts flying
+backward over the past season. "I've never had such a happy summer in my
+life. It's been just one round of pleasure after another. Everybody has
+been so good to me and the whole world seems to have connived to help me
+have a good time."
+
+"In so far as I'm part of the whole world, allow me to express my
+willingness to keep right on conniving," said big Dick Phelps, in his
+funny way.
+
+"Me, too," said Kenneth, in his hearty, boyish voice.
+
+Mr. Hepworth said nothing, but he smiled at Patty from where he sat at
+the other end of the long verandah.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY'S SUMMER DAYS***
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