PATTY'S FRIENDS

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BY THE SAME AUTHOR

 PATTY FAIRFIELD PATTY AT HOME PATTY IN THE CITY PATTY'S SUMMER DAYS PATTY IN PARIS PATTY'S FRIENDS

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[Illustration: "Patty was a comfort-loving creature" (p. 33)]

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PATTY'S FRIENDS

ByCAROLYN WELLS

Author of "Patty Fairfield, " "Patty in Paris, " etc. 

NEW YORKDODD, MEAD AND COMPANY1908

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Copyright, 1908By Dodd, Mead and Company

Published, September, 1908

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE I An Afternoon Tea 9 II Riddles and Games 23 III The White Lady 36 IV A Floral Offering 51 V Miss Yankee Doodle 65 VI Herenden Hall 79 VII For One Night Only 93 VIII The Earl of Ruthven 107 IX An Important Document 121 X A Momentous Interview 134 XI The Birthday Party 149 XII Summer Plans 162 XIII Cromarty Manor 175 XIV Uncle Marmaduke 190 XV Puzzling Rhymes 204 XVI The Croquet Party 218 XVII The Griffin and the Rose 231 XVIII The Old Chimney-Piece 245 XIX The Discovery 258 XX Good-Byes 272

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ILLUSTRATIONS

"Patty was a comfort-loving creature" Frontispiece

"Marie pinned it and sewed it" 95

"'How _much_ pleasanter this is than squabbling'" 145

"Often she would spend a morning lying in a hammockbeneath the old trees" 175

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PATTY'S FRIENDS

CHAPTER I

AN AFTERNOON TEA

"I wish I had a twin sister, " said Patty; "no, that wouldn't do, either. I wish I were twins, and could be both of them myself. "

"What a sensible wish!" commented Nan. "But why do you want to doubleyourself up in that way?"

"So I could go to two places at once. Here I have two lovely invitationsfor this afternoon, and I don't know which I want to accept most. One isa musicale at Mrs. Hastings', and the other is a picture exhibition atthe New Gallery. "

"They sound delightful. Can't you manage to go to both?"

"No, they're too far apart; and they're both at four o'clock, anyway. Ithink I'll choose the musicale, for I'll surely get another chance to seethe pictures. "

"Yes, of course you will, " agreed Nan, a little absently, for she wasreading some newly arrived letters. 

The Fairfields were in London, and were comfortably established in theSavoy Hotel. It was April, and though they intended to travel later inthe summer, their plans were as yet indefinite, and they were enjoyingthe many and varied delights of the London season. 

To be sure, Nan and Mr. Fairfield were invited to many dinners andelaborate entertainments which Patty was too young to attend, but hertime was pleasantly filled with afternoon garden parties or teas, whilemornings were often devoted to sight-seeing. 

Patty was almost eighteen, and though not allowed quite the untrammelledfreedom she would have had in America, she was not kept so utterlysecluded as English girls of her age. Sometimes she would go all alone toWestminster Abbey or to the National Gallery, and enjoy hugely a solitaryhour or two. At other times, Nan or her father, or some girl friend, would go with her. 

The Fairfields had begun their stay in London with only a few friends, but these had introduced others, until now their circle of acquaintanceswas large, and the immediate result of this was a sheaf of invitations inevery mail. For, during the season, Londoners are hospitable folk, andgive entertainments morning, noon, and night. At first, the Fairfieldshad thought they would take a house, and so have a home of their own. ButMr. Fairfield concluded that if Nan had the duties of a housekeeper, hertrip would not be a holiday, so he declared they would live at a largehotel, and thus have a chance to observe the gay life of London. 

And so cosy and comfortable were their apartments at the Savoy, that theysoon began to feel quite at home there. And Patty, as we all know, wasone who could adapt herself to any mode of living. 

Of a naturally happy and contented disposition, she accepted everythingas it came, and enjoyed everything with the enthusiasm so often seen inAmerican girls. 

It greatly amused her to note the differences between herself and theEnglish girls. 

To her mind, they seemed to have no enthusiasm, no enterprise, and littlecapacity for enjoyment, while Patty enjoyed every experience that came toher, whether a visit to Windsor Castle, a day at Stratford, or a simpleafternoon tea in their own rooms. 

"I seem to have been set back two or three years, " she said to Nan, oneday. "In New York I was almost a full-fledged young lady, but over here, I'm treated as a little girl. "

"It doesn't matter, " said Nan, sensibly. "You are what you are, and ifthe different countries choose to treat you differently, it doesn'tmatter, does it?"

"Not a bit. I'm Patty Fairfield, and I'm almost eighteen, whether I'm inCalifornia or the Fiji Islands. But it does amuse me, the way theLondoners think we live at home. They really believe American ladies goto market in the morning, loaded down with diamonds. You don't often seethat in New York, do you, Nan?"

"No, I don't think I ever saw a New York matron wearing elaborate jewelryto market. But then I never go to market myself, and I don't know manypeople who do. I think that bediamonded marketer story is an oldtradition, which is really pretty well worn out. "

"And the London ladies needn't talk, anyway. If we did wear jewels tomarket, it wouldn't be a bit more absurd than the way they dress to goshopping in the morning. Long, trailing, frilly gowns of pink and bluechiffon, with swishing lace-ruffled petticoats, that just drag throughthe dirt of the streets. "

"Now aren't you criticising them as unfairly as they describe us?"

"No, for what I say is true. I've seen them fluttering about. And, anyway, I don't mean to be mean. I like them lots. I just love the Londonladies, they're so kind to me, and invite me to such lovely things. Ofcourse I don't care if they choose to wear garden-party clothes alongBond Street. We all have some ridiculous ways. "

Pretty Patty was fond of pretty clothes, and the shops of Bond Streetheld great attractions for her, though she herself wore a realtailor-made costume when shopping. At first, Nan had exercised asupervision over her purchases, but Patty had shown such good taste, andsuch quick and unerring judgment as to fabrics and colors, that it hadcome about that Patty more often advised Nan in her choosing, than theother way. 

And so, many a pleasant morning was spent in the beautiful London shops, buying things they wanted, looking at things they did not want, or notingwith interest the ways and means peculiar to English shopkeepers. 

Thus the days went happily by, and they had already been more than afortnight in London, while as yet their plans for future travel wereunmade. Mr. And Mrs. Fairfield wanted to go to Germany, Switzerland, andother countries, but Patty didn't care so much for that as for Englishcountry, or small nearby towns. So the matter was left unsettled, thoughshort and desultory discussions were held now and then. 

But oftener their minds were taken up with the doings of the moment, andthey complacently left the future to itself. 

"Well, then I think I'll go to the musicale, " said Patty. "What would youwear?"

"That new light blue chiffon of yours, with the lace bolero, is just thething. "

"Yes, and my new broad-leafed chip hat, with the roses piled all overit. "

Patty ran away to her own room, and after a time returned in the prettysummer costume. 

"How do I look?" she asked, smilingly, of Nan. 

Nan smiled back at the lovely vision, for Patty's vanity was of a mildand innocent sort, and was rather a childish delight in dainty colors andfabrics, than any conceit over her own beauty. 

For beautiful Patty certainly was, in a sweet, wholesome, girlish way, and not the least of her charms was her naturalness of manner and herentire lack of self-consciousness. 

She looked especially winning in the light, filmy dress, and the big hat, weighed down with roses. 

"You look all right, Patty, " answered Nan. "That's a duck of a frock, andsuits you perfectly. Are you going alone?"

"Yes; father says I may go alone in our own carriage to any afternoonthing. The Hartleys will bring me home, so sha'n't I send the carriageback for you?"

"Yes, I wish you would. I'm going to a tea or two, and then we're diningout. You're to dine with the Hartleys, aren't you?"

"Yes, if it is dinner. It's more likely to be schoolroom tea. MabelHartley is sixteen, but I doubt if she's allowed at dinner yet. "

"Nonsense, of course she is. Well, then, if they're sending you home, Louise needn't go after you?"

"No; they'll send somebody. Good-bye, Nan. "

"Good-bye, Patty. Have a lovely time. "

"Oh, yes; I always do. "

Away went Patty and her frills, and when she reached Chesterton Mansions, she was soon established under the wing of her hostess, Mrs. Hastings. 

That lady was very glad to have the pretty American girl as her guest, and she introduced Patty to so many people that it was almostbewildering. But after a time, the music began, and Patty was glad to sitstill and listen. 

It was very fine music, for that is the sort that Londoners usually offerat their teas, and Patty thoroughly enjoyed the singing and theviolin-playing. She was a little afraid that Mrs. Hastings would ask herto sing, but as it was a programme of professionals this did not happen. 

When the Hartleys came, Mabel at once made her way to Patty's side andsat down by her. 

"I'm so glad to see you again, " she said, "and it's so lovely that you'regoing home with us. "

"I'm glad, too, " returned Patty, "it was lovely of you to ask me. "

Mabel Hartley was an English girl, and was about as different from Pattyas could well be imagined, and perhaps for this reason the two were verygood friends. Although they had met only a few times, they liked eachother from the beginning, and both were ready to continue the friendship. 

Mabel was large and stout, with the solidity which characterises theBritish young girls. She was large-boned and not very graceful, but shecarried herself with a patrician air that told of past generations ofgood-breeding. Her complexion was of that pure pink and white seen onlyon English faces, but her pale, sandy hair and light blue eyes failed toadd the deeper color that was needed. Her frock was an uninterestingshade of tan, and did not hang evenly, while her hat was one of thosetubby affairs little short of ridiculous. 

Patty fairly ached to re-clothe her, in some pretty clear color, and abecoming hat. 

The girls were politely silent while the music was going on, but in theintervals between the numbers they chattered glibly. 

"That's Grace Meredith and her brother Tom just coming in, " said Mabel. "I hope they'll come over here; you'll like them, I know. "

The Merediths did come over, and were promptly introduced to Patty. 

"Do you know, " said Tom Meredith, as he shook hands in cordial, boyishfashion, "you're the first American girl I've ever met. "

"Am I, really?" laughed Patty. "Now don't ask me if we always wear ourdiamonds to market, for truly the American women who go to market rarelyhave any diamonds. "

"I never believed that diamond story, anyway, " responded Tom, gravely, "but I'm glad to have you tell me it isn't true. I'm perfectlyunprejudiced about America, though. I'm ready to believe it's the bestcountry in the world, outside of our own little island. "

"Good for you!" cried Patty. "Then I'm ready to acknowledge that I likeEngland next best to America. "

"Have you been here long?" asked Grace. 

"No, only about two weeks, but I love London better every day, and I knowI shall love the English country. Just the glimpse I caught coming in thetrain from Dover was delightful. "

"You should see the Hartleys' country place, " declared Tom, withenthusiasm. "It's a ripping old house, two hundred years old, and allthat. And such parks and orchards! Well!"

"I hope you will come to see it, Patty, " said Mabel, a little wistfully, and Patty wondered why the girl's tone had in it a note of sadness. 

But just then, as the music was over, Mrs. Hastings asked them to go tothe tea-room, and the group of young people followed in her wake. 

"You girls sit here, " said Tom, selecting a jolly-looking alcove, withwindow-seats and red cushions, "while I stalk some food. "

He was back in a few moments, followed by a waiter, who brought a tray ofteacups and plates of sweet cakes. 

Tom, himself, bore triumphantly a covered silver dish. 

"Muffins!" he announced, in a jubilant voice. "Hot, buttered muffins!Crickets, what luck!"

The hot muffins, buttered and quartered, were indeed delicious, andEngland and America seemed at one in showing an appreciative appetite forthem. 

"We don't have these in America, " said Patty, surveying her bit of muffinwith admiration. "We have good sandwiches, though. "

"We almost never have sandwiches, " said Grace. 

"You don't need to, " said Patty, quickly. "Your wonderful bread andbutter is too good to be spoiled with a sandwich filling of any sort. "

"'Most all things are good eating at an afternoon tea, " observed Tom. "Somehow, at five o'clock I'm always so hungry I could eat a brickbat ifit were toasted and buttered. "

"Afternoon tea is really an acquired taste with us, " said Patty. "Youseem to have it naturally, even when you're alone, but we only have itwhen we have guests. "

"Really?" said Mabel, in astonishment. "Why, we'd as soon think ofomitting breakfast or dinner as tea. "

"It's a lovely meal, " said Patty, giving a little sigh of satisfaction, as her last crumb of muffin disappeared. "Such good things to eat, andthen it's so cosy and informal to sit around in easy chairs, instead ofat a big table. "

"But the ideal place for tea is on the lawn, " said Tom. "The open air andthe trees and birds and flowers are even a better setting for it, than aninterior like this. "

"I hope I shall have that kind this summer, " said Patty. "I'm invited toseveral country houses, and I know I shall enjoy it immensely. "

"Indeed you will, " said Mabel, and again Patty thought she detected ashade of sadness in her friend's eyes. 

But if Mabel was not exactly gay, Grace Meredith made up for it. She wasfull of fun and laughter, and both she and Tom made comical speechesuntil Patty feared she would disgrace herself laughing. 

"What's the joke?" asked Mrs. Hartley, coming to collect her young peopleand take them home. 

"Tom is making verses about the people here, " explained Grace. "Tell Mrs. Hartley the one about the violinist, Tom. "

"Don't think it's rude, Mrs. Hartley, " said young Meredith; "truly, itisn't meant to be. But for that classic-browed genius, with hischrysanthemum of tawny-colored hair, isn't this a pleasant token ofregard and esteem?

 "This is our latest social lion, So, to look modest, he's tryin' and tryin'. "

"It's very beautiful, " said Mrs. Hartley, smiling, "and I daresayProfessor Prendergast would enjoy it himself, were he to hear it. "

"He might, " said Tom, doubtfully, "but musicians rarely have a sense ofhumour, at least, about themselves. "

"That's true, " agreed Mrs. Hartley, "and now, Mabel and Miss Fairfield, we must be going on. "

Good-byes were soon said, and in the Hartleys' carriage Patty was takenaway to her first visit in an English home. 

CHAPTER II

RIDDLES AND GAMES

Much to Patty's satisfaction Mabel Hartley was in the habit of diningwith her elders and was not condemned to "schoolroom tea. "

The family was not large, consisting only of Mrs. Hartley, her mother, Mrs. Cromarty, her two sons, and Mabel. The sons, Sinclair and Robert, were big, stalwart fellows, a few years older than Mabel. 

Patty liked them at once, for they were cordial and hearty in theirgreetings, and quite at ease in their conversation. 

"I say, Mater, " began Bob, after they were seated at dinner, "there's astunning garden-party on at Regent's Park next week. Don't you think wecan all go? Tickets only two shillings each. "

"What is it, my son? A charity affair?"

"Yes. Rest cure for semi-orphans, or something. But they've all sorts ofjolly shows, and the Stagefright Club is going to give a little originalplay. Oh, say we go!"

"I'll see about it, " answered Mrs. Hartley. "Perhaps, if we make up aparty, Miss Fairfield will go with us. "

"I'd love to, " said Patty. "I've never seen a real English garden party. "

"Oh, this isn't a real English garden party in the true sense, " saidSinclair. "To see that, you must be in the country. But this is a publicLondon garden party and typical of its sort. You'll like it, I'm sure. Will you go with us, Grandy?"

At first it seemed incongruous to Patty to hear the dignified Mrs. Cromarty addressed by such a nickname, but as she came to know herbetter, the name seemed really appropriate. The lady was of the classknown as _grande dame_, and her white hair and delicate, sharply-cutfeatures betokened a high type of English aristocracy. Her voice was verysweet and gentle, and she smiled at her big grandson, as she replied:

"No, my boy; I lost my taste for garden parties some years ago. But it'sa fine setting for you young people, and I hope Emmeline will take youall. "

"Mother said she'd see about it, " said Mabel, "and that's always the sameas 'yes. ' If it's going to be 'no, ' she says, 'I'll think it over. '"

"It's a great thing to understand your mother-tongue so well, " saidPatty, laughing; "now I shouldn't have known those distinctions. "

"We have a wonderful talent for languages, " said Sinclair, gravely. "Indeed, we have a language of our own. Shall I teach it to you?"

"You might try, " said Patty, "but I'm not at all clever as a linguist. "

"You may not learn it easily, but it can be taught in one sentence. Itconsists in merely using the initial of the word instead of the worditself. "

"But so many words begin with the same initial, " said Patty, bewilderedat the idea. 

"Yes, but it's ever so much easier than you'd think. Now listen. Wouldn'tyou understand me if I said: 'D y w t g t t g p?'"

"Say it again, please, and say it slowly. "

Sinclair repeated the letters, and Patty clapped her hands, crying: "Yes, yes, of course I understand. You mean 'Do you want to go to the gardenparty?' Now, listen to me while I answer: Y I w t g i i d r. "

"Good!" exclaimed Mabel. "You said: 'Yes, I want to go, if it doesn'train. ' Oh, you are a quick pupil. "

"But those are such easy sentences, " said Patty, as she considered thematter. 

"That's the point, " said Bob, "most sentences, at least, the ones we usemost, _are_ easy. If I should meet you unexpectedly, and say H d y d?you'd know I meant How do you do? Or if I took leave, and said G b, you'dunderstand good-bye. Those are the simplest possible examples. Now, onthe other hand, if I were to read you a long speech from the morningpaper, you'd probably miss many of the long words, but that's the otherextreme. We've talked in initials for years, and rarely are we uncertainas to the sense, though we may sometimes skip a word here and there. "

"But what good is it?" asked Patty. 

"No good at all, " admitted Bob; "but it's fun. And after you're used toit, you can talk that way so fast that any one listening couldn't guesswhat you are saying. Sometimes when we're riding on an omnibus, oranything like that, it's fun to talk initials and mystify the people. "

"D y o d t?" said Patty, her eyes twinkling. 

"Yes, we often do that, " returned Bob, greatly gratified at the rapidprogress of the new pupil. "You must be fond of puzzles, to catch this upso quickly. "

"I am, " said Patty. "I've guessed puzzles ever since I was a little girl. I always solve all I can find in the papers, and sometimes I take prizesfor them. "

"We do that too, " said Mabel; "and sometimes we make puzzles and sendthem to the papers and they print them. Let's make some for each otherthis evening. "

After dinner the young people gathered round the table in the pleasantlibrary, and were soon busy with paper and pencils. Patty found theHartleys a match for her in quickness and ingenuity, but she was able toguess as great a proportion of their puzzles as they of hers. 

After amusing themselves with square words and double acrostics, theydrifted to conundrums, and Bob asked:

"Which letter of the Dutch alphabet spells an English lady of rank?"

"That's not fair, " objected Patty, "because I don't know the Dutchalphabet. "

"That doesn't matter, " said Mabel, "you can guess it just as wellwithout. "

"Indeed I can't, and besides I don't know the names of all the Englishladies of rank. "

"That doesn't matter either, " said Sinclair, smiling; "it spells a title, not a name; and one you know very well. "

"I can't guess it, anyway, " said Patty, after a few moment's thought. "Igive it up; tell me. "

"Why, Dutch S, " said Bob, and Patty agreed that it was a good catch. 

"Now, I'll catch you, " said Patty. "You all know your London pretty well, I suppose, and are familiar with the places of interest. Well, Mabel, whyis your nose like St. Paul's?"

Mabel thought hard, and so did the boys. 

"Is my nose like St. Paul's, too?" asked Bob, thoughtfully, stroking hiswell-shaped feature. 

Patty looked at it critically. "Yes, " she said, "and so is Sinclair's. But why?"

At last they gave it up, and Patty said, triumphantly, "Because it ismade of flesh and blood. "

They all screamed with laughter, for they quickly saw the point, andrealised that it was the historic character referred to, and not thecathedral. 

"Here's one, " said Sinclair: "Where did the Prince of Wales go on hiseleventh birthday?" But Patty was quite quick enough for this. "Into histwelfth year, " she answered promptly. "And now listen to this: A manwalking out at night, met a beggar asking alms. The man gave him tencents. He met another beggar and gave him fifteen cents. What time wasit?"

"Time for him to go home, " declared Bob, but Patty said that was not theright answer. 

"Springtime, " guessed Mabel, "because the man was in such a good humor. "

"No, " said Patty, "it was quarter to two. "

Her hearers looked utterly blank at this, and, suddenly realising thatthey were not very familiar with American coins, Patty explained thejoke. They saw it, of course, but seemed to think it not very good, andSinclair whimsically insisted on calling it, "a shilling to Bob, " whichhe said was equally nonsensical. 

"Give us one of your poetry ones, Grandy, " said Bob to Mrs. Cromarty, whosat by, quietly enjoying the young people's fun. 

"Miss Fairfield may not care for the old-fashioned enigma, but I willoffer this one, " and in her fine, clear voice the old lady recited herverse with elocutionary effect:

 "Afloat upon the ocean My graceful form you see;

 The protector of the people, The protector of a tree. 

 I often save a patient, Though a doctor I am not;

 My name is very easy, Can you tell me, children? What?"

The others had heard this before, and when Patty promptly guessed "Bark, "Mrs. Cromarty was distinctly pleased with her quick-wittedness. 

Then lemonade and wafery little cakes were brought in, that the puzzlersmight refresh themselves. 

The atmosphere of the Hartley household was very pleasant, and Patty feltmuch more at home than she had ever expected to feel among Englishpeople. She made allusion to this, and Bob said: "Oh, this place isn'thomey at all, compared with our real home. You must come to see us downin the country, mustn't she, mother?"

"I should be very glad to welcome you there, my dear, " said Mrs. Hartley, smiling at Patty, "and I trust it may be arranged. We have this apartmentfor only a few weeks longer, and then we shall go back to Leicester. "

"I'm in no haste to go, " declared Mabel. "I love Cromarty Manor, but Iwant to stay in London a little longer. But when we do go, Patty, yousurely must visit us there. "

"Indeed I will, if I can manage it. My parents want me to go with them toSwitzerland, but I'd much prefer to spend the summer in England. I haveever so many delightful invitations to country houses, and they seem tome a lot more attractive than travelling about. I suppose I ought to caremore about seeing places, but I don't. "

"You're quite young enough yet, " said Mrs. Hartley, "to look forward totravelling in future years. I think some experiences of English lifewould be quite as advantageous for you. "

"I'll tell father you said that, " said Patty. "Then perhaps he'll let mehave my own way. But he usually does that, anyway. "

"You'd love Cromarty Manor, " said Bob, enthusiastically. "It's sobeautiful in spring and early summer. "

"But not half as grand as other houses where Patty's invited, " saidMabel, and again the shadow crossed her face that seemed always to comewhen she spoke of her country home. 

"Grandeur doesn't count in the country, " declared Bob. "That belongs toLondon life. Other places may be larger or in better condition than ours, but they _can't_ be more beautiful. "

"That is true, " said Mrs. Cromarty, in her quiet way, which always seemedto decide a disputed point. And then it was time to go home, and Mrs. Hartley sent Patty away in her carriage, with a maid to accompany her. The woman was middle-aged, with a pleasant voice and a capable manner. She chatted affably with Patty, and dilated a little on the glories ofthe Cromarty family. 

Patty realised at once that she was an old family servant, and had earneda right to a little more freedom of speech than is usual to Englishdomestics. 

"Oh, yes, Miss, " she said; "it's a wonnerful old place, that it is. Andif the dear lady only 'ad the money as is 'ers by right, she'd keep it uplordly, that she would. "

Patty wondered what had become of the money in question, but Sarah saidno more concerning it, and Patty felt she had no right to ask. "You livewith them, then, in the country?" she said. 

"Yes, Miss, I've allus lived with them. My mother was housekeeper at theManor when Miss Emmeline married Mr. 'Artley. Oh, he was the finegentleman. Dead now, this ten year come Whitsuntide. Master Bob, he's theimage of his father. Are you warm enough, Miss?"

Sarah's quick transit from reminiscences to solicitude for her comfortalmost startled Patty, but she was getting used to that peculiarity ofthe British mind. 

"Yes, thank you, " she said, "and anyway, we're home now. Here's theSavoy. "

Mr. Fairfield and Nan had not yet arrived, so the good Sarah attendedPatty to her own apartment and gave her over to Louise, who awaited hercoming. 

Louise helped her off with her pretty frock, and brought her a beribbonednégligée, and Patty curled up in a big armchair in front of the fire tothink over the evening. 

"These wood-fires are lovely, " she said to herself, "and they do havemost comfortable stuffed chairs over here, if they only knew enough toput rockers under them. "

Patty was a comfort-loving creature, and often bewailed the absence ofthe rocking-chairs so dear to her American heart. Soon her parents camein and found her sound asleep in the big chair. 

She woke up, as her father kissed her lightly on the forehead. 

"Hello, Prince Charming, " she said, smiling gaily at the handsome man inevening clothes who stood looking down at her. 

"I suppose you want a return compliment about the Sleeping Beauty, " hesaid, "but you won't get it. Too much flattery isn't good for a baby likeyou, and I shall reserve my pretty speeches for my wife. "

"Oh, I'll share them with Patty, " laughed Nan, "but with no one else. "

"Tell us about your evening, girlie, " said her father. "Did you have agood time?"

"Fine, " said Patty. "The Hartleys are lovely people; I like them betterthan any I've met in London, so far. And they do puzzles, and askriddles, and they're just as clever and quick as Americans. I've heardthat English people were heavy and stupid, and they're not, a bit. "

"You mustn't believe all you hear. Are they a large family?" "Not very. Two sons, one daughter, and the mother and grandmother. Mabel's fatherhas been dead for years. And they want me to visit them at their home inLeicester this summer. Can't I go?"

"Desert your own family for foreigners!"

"Yes; I do want to go there and to some other country places while youand Nan go touristing about. Mayn't I?"

"We won't decide now. It's too near midnight for important matters to bediscussed. Skip to bed, chickabiddy, and dream of the Stars and Stripes, lest you forget them entirely. "

"Never!" cried Patty, striking a dramatic attitude. 

 "Though English people may be grand, My heart is in my native land!"

And humming the Star-spangled Banner, she went away to her own room. 

CHAPTER III

THE WHITE LADY

"I feel in a gay mood, " said Nan, as she clasped Patty round the waist, and always ready for a dance, Patty fell into step, and the two waltzedround the room, while Patty sang tum-te-tum to the air of a popular song. 

"As if you two ever felt any other way!" exclaimed Mr. Fairfield, smilingat them from the depths of his easy chair. "But what does this gay moodbetoken? I suppose you want to drag me out to the theatre or operato-night. "

Mr. Fairfield's pleasant smile belied his pretense at sharpness, and hewaited to hear a reply. 

"That would be lovely, " said Nan, "and we'll go if you invite us. Butwhat I had in mind is this: I'd like to dine in the Restaurant. "

"Good!" cried Mr. Fairfield. "I feel gay enough for that, myself, and wehaven't dined there for nearly a week. "

The Fairfields had a complete apartment of their own, and when notinvited out, usually dined quietly in their own dining-room. Butoccasionally, when the mood took them, they dined in the great SavoyRestaurant, which was a festive pageant indeed. 

Patty loved to sit at a table there, and watch the beautiful women intheir elaborate gowns, and their handsome, stalwart escorts, who weresometimes in brave uniforms. 

The splendid scene would have palled upon them, had they dined thereevery evening, but as a change from their small family dinner it wasdelightful. 

"We'll wear our dress-up frocks, " said Patty, "and perhaps my White Ladywill be there again. "

"Your White Lady?" asked Nan. "Who is she?"

"That's just what I can't find out, though I've asked several people. Butshe's the most beautiful lady, with a haughty, proud face, and sad eyes. She always wears white, and there's an elderly lady who is sometimes withher. A strange-looking old lady in black, she is; and her face is like ahawk's. "

"Oh, I remember those people; they always sit at the same table. " "Yes, Ithink they live here. But she is so sweet and lovely I'd like to knowher. I make up stories about her all to myself. She's like Ginevra or theLady of Shalott. "

"You're too fanciful, Patty. Probably she's the Duchess of Hardscrabble. "

"She looks like a Duchess, anyway. And also, she looks like a simple, sweet, lovely lady. I'm going to ask father to find out who she is. "

A little later the Fairfields went down to dinner. 

Nan wore an exquisite gown of embroidered yellow satin, and Patty wore afrilled white silk muslin. It was a little low at the throat, and wasvery becoming to her, and in and out of her piled-up curls was twisted abroad white ribbon, which ended in front in a saucy cluster of bows, after the prevailing fashion. 

"This is great fun, " said Patty, as she took her seat with a little sighof content. "I just love the lights and flowers and music and noise----"

"Can you distinguish the music from the noise?" asked her father, laughing. 

"I can if I try, but I don't care whether I do or not. I love the wholeconglomeration of sounds. People laughing and talking, and a sort ofundertone of glass and china and waiters. "

"That sounds graphic, " said Nan, "but the waiters here aren't supposed tomake any noise. "

"No, I know it, but they're just part of the whole scene, and it's allbeautiful together. Oh, there's my White Lady!"

It was indeed a charming young woman who was just entering the room. Shewas tall and very slender, with a face serene and sweet. Her large, darkeyes had a look of resignation, rather than sadness, but the firm set ofher scarlet lips did not betoken an easily-resigned nature. 

With her was the elder lady of whom Patty had spoken. She wassharp-featured and looked as if she were sharp-tempered. She wore arather severe evening gown of black net, and in her gray hair was aquivering black aigrette. 

In contrast to this dark figure, the younger lady looked specially fairand sweet. Her trailing gown was of heavy white lace, and round herbeautiful throat were two long strings of pearls. She wore no otherornament save for a white flower in her hair, and her shoulders and armswere almost as white as the soft tulle that billowed against them. 

It chanced that Mr. Fairfield's table was quite near the one usuallyoccupied by these two, and Patty watched the White Lady, without seemingto stare at her. 

"Isn't she exquisite?" she said, at last, for they were not withinearshot, and Nan agreed that she was. 

As the dinner proceeded, Patty glanced often at the lady of heradmiration, and after a time was surprised and a little embarrassed tofind that the White Lady was glancing at her. 

Fearing she had stared more frankly than she realised, Patty refrainedfrom looking at the lady again, and resolutely kept her eyes turned inother directions. 

But as if drawn by a magnet, she felt impelled to look at her once more, and giving a quick glance, she saw the White Lady distinctly smiling ather. There was no mistake, it was a kind, amused little smile of a mostfriendly nature. 

Patty was enchanted, and the warm blood rushed to her cheeks as if shehad been singled out for a great honour. But frankly, and withoutembarrassment, she smiled back at the lovely face, and returned thepleased little nod that was then given her. 

"Patty, what _are_ you doing?" said Nan; "do you see any one you know?"

"No, " said Patty, slowly, almost as one in a dream, "my White Lady smiledat me, --that's all, --so I smiled back at her, and then we bowed. "

"You mustn't do such things, " said Nan, half smiling herself, "she'llthink you're a forward American. "

"I am an American, " replied Patty, "and I'd be sorry to be calledbackward. "

"You never will be, " said her father. "Well, I suppose you may smile ather, if she smiles first, but don't begin sending her anonymous notes. "

"Nonsense, " said Patty, "but you two don't know how lovely she is whenshe smiles. "

Mr. And Mrs. Fairfield were seated with their backs to the lady inquestion, and could not see her without slightly turning their heads, while Patty, opposite them at the round table, faced her directly. 

"You're fortunate in your position, " observed her father, "for were youseated here and we there, of course she would have beamed upon us. "

"She isn't beaming, " cried Patty, almost indignantly; "I won't have thatangelic smile called a beam. Now, you're not to tease. She's a sweet, dear lady, with some awful tragedy gnawing at her heart. "

"Patty, you're growing up romantic! Stop it at once. I'll buy the ladyfor you, if you want her, but I won't have you indulging in rubbishyromance like that, with nothing to base it on. "

Patty looked at her father comically. 

"I don't believe you'd better buy her, Daddy, dear, " she said. "You knowyou often say that, with Nan and me on your hands, you have all you canmanage. So I'm sure you couldn't add those two to your collection; for Ifeel certain wherever the White Lady goes the Black Lady goes too. "

The subject was lost sight of then, by the greetings of some friends whowere passing by the Fairfields on their way out of the Restaurant. 

"Why, Mrs. Leigh, " exclaimed Nan, "how do you do? Won't you and Mr. Leighsit down and have coffee with us? Or, better yet, suppose we all go up toour drawing-room and have coffee there. "

After Patty had spoken to the newcomers and was sitting silent while herelders were talking, she looked up in surprise as a waiter approachedher. He laid a long-stemmed white rose beside her plate, and said, quietly, "From Lady Hamilton, Miss. "

Involuntarily, Patty glanced at the White Lady, and seeing her smile, knew at once that she had sent the rose. 

As Patty explained the presence of the flower to the others, Mrs. Leighglanced across, and said: "Oh, that's Lady Hamilton! Excuse me, I mustspeak to her just a moment. "

"Who is Lady Hamilton?" asked Nan of Mr. Leigh, unable longer to repressher interest. 

"One of the best and most beautiful women in London, " he replied. "One ofthe most indifferent, and the most sought after; one of the richest, andthe saddest; one of the most popular, and the loneliest. "

All this seemed enough to verify Patty's surmises of romance connectedwith the White Lady, but before she could ask a question, Mrs. Leighreturned, and Lady Hamilton came with her. After introductions and a fewwords of greeting, Lady Hamilton said to Mr. Fairfield: "I wonder if youcouldn't be induced to lend me your daughter for an hour or so. I will domy best to entertain her. "

"Indeed, yes, Lady Hamilton; and I think you will find her quite ready tobe borrowed. You seemed to cast a magic spell over her, even before sheknew your name. "

"I must confess that I have been wanting to meet her; I have searchedthis room in vain for some mutual friend who might introduce us, butuntil I saw Mrs. Leigh over here, I could find no one. Then, to attractMrs. Leigh's attention, in hope of her helping me, I sent over a signalof distress. "

"I took it as a flag of truce, " said Patty, holding up the white rose asit trembled on its stem. 

"I thought it was a cipher message, " said Nan, smiling. "Patty is so fondof puzzles and secret languages, I wasn't sure but it might mean 'All isdiscovered; fly at once!'"

"It means 'all is well', " said Lady Hamilton, in her gracious way; "andnow I must fly at once with my spoil. "

She took possession of Patty, and with a few words of adieu to theothers, led her from the room. The lady in black rose from the table andfollowed them, and Patty entered the lift, blissfully happy, but a littlebewildered. 

"We'll have our coffee right here, " said Lady Hamilton, as having reachedher drawing-room, she proceeded to adjust some dainty gilt cups thatstood on a small table. "That is, if you are allowed to have coffee atnight. From your roseleaf cheeks, I fancy you drink only honeydew orbuttercup tea. "

"No, indeed; I'm far too substantial for those things, " said Patty, asshe dropped into the cosy chair Lady Hamilton had indicated; "and forover a year now, I've been allowed to have after-dinner coffee. "

"Dear me! what a grown-up! Miss Fairfield, this is Mrs. Betham, my verygood friend, who looks after me when I get frisky and try to scrapeacquaintance across a public dining-room. "

If Lady Hamilton was lovely when she was silent, she was doublybewitching when she talked in this gay strain. Little dimples came andwent in her cheeks, so quickly that they had scarcely disappeared beforethey were back again. 

Mrs. Betham bowed and spoke politely to Patty, but her voice was quickand sharp, and her manner, though courteous, was not attractive. 

"I doubt the coffee's hot, " she said, as a waiter, who had just broughtit in, was filling the tiny cups. 

"It's steaming, " said Lady Hamilton, gaily, and Patty saw at once thatwhatever it was that made her new friend sorrowful, it was not thegrumbling tones of Mrs. Betham. 

"It's quite too hot, Julia, " she went on; "unless you're careful, you'llsteam your throat. "

"Not I, " growled Mrs. Betham. "I'm not such a stupid as that. But I mustsay I like my coffee at a table like a Christian, and not setting my cupin my lap, or holding it up in the air. "

"Dear me, Julia, " said Lady Hamilton, with great solicitude expressed onher face; "dear me, your gout must be very bad to-night. It makes youquite cross. Poor dear!"

Mrs. Betham sniffed at this, but a grim smile came into her eyes, andPatty concluded she was not quite so grumpy as she seemed. 

After the coffee was finished, and the tray taken away, Mrs. Bethamexcused herself and went off to her own room. 

"The way it began, " said Lady Hamilton, as if to explain her interest inPatty, "was one day when I went through the corridors and passed yourdrawing-room, and the door was a little mite ajar, and I heard yousinging. I am very fond of just that high, sweet kind of voice that youhave, and I paused a few moments to listen to you. Then afterward I sawyou in the dining-room two or three times at luncheon or dinner, and Itook a fancy to know you, for I felt sure I should like you. Do you mindcoming to see me once in a while, my dear? I am very lonely. "

"Mind! No, indeed!" cried Patty, impetuously throwing her arms around hernew friend. "I loved you the first time I ever saw you. But why do yousay you are lonely? You, a great lady. "

"I will tell you my story in a few words, " said Lady Hamilton. "For Isuppose you would hear it from others, and I would rather tell it youmyself. I am the daughter of Sir Otho Markleham. Of course, if you were aLondoner, you would know all this, but as you're not, I'll tell you. Well, I am Sir Otho's only daughter, and four years ago, when I was justeighteen, I ran away from home and married Lord Cecil Hamilton. He was agood man, but he had quarrelled with my father on a point of politics, and my father disapproved of the match. He disowned me as his daughter, though he said he would always continue the allowance I had had as agirl. I was glad of this, not only because Lord Hamilton, though a man ofgood fortune, was not a wealthy man, but also because it seemed to showmy father had not entirely cast me off. But he forbade us to go to hishouse, and we went to Paris and lived there for a year. After one year ofhappy married life Cecil died, and since then my only aim in life hasbeen to be reconciled to my father. But he will not have it, or at leasthe won't have it unless I make the first overtures toward peace. "

"And won't you?" cried Patty, in astonishment. 

"Not I! I am not to blame. The two men quarrelled, and now that Cecil isgone, why should my father hold the feud against me? It is not my placeto ask his pardon; I've done nothing wrong. "

"You ran away from home, " said Patty, thinking only of the justice of thecase, and quite forgetting that she was seeming to censure a titledEnglish lady. 

"Yes, but that was not wrong. Father knew that Cecil was a fine, honourable man, of an old family. He had no right to forbid my marriagebecause of a foolish personal disagreement. "

"Your mother?" said Patty. 

"My mother died when I was a child, " said Lady Hamilton, and at oncePatty felt a new bond of companionship. 

"I lived alone with my father, in our great house in London, and I had ahappy and uneventful life, until Cecil came. Since his death, I've longedso to go home to my father, and be at peace with him, but though manykind friends have tried to bring about a reconciliation, they haven'tbeen able to do so. "

"And so you live here alone at the Savoy?"

"Yes, with Mrs. Betham, who is really an old dear, though sometimes shegrumbles terribly. "

"And do you go into society?"

"I've begun to go a little, of late. Cecil made me promise I'd never wearblack dresses, so I've worn white only, ever since he died, and I supposeI always shall. That is, in the house. I have black street gowns. But Ican't seem to care for gay parties as I used to. I want father, and Iwant my home. "

"Is your father in London?"

"Oh, yes; he's a Member of Parliament. But he's of a stubborn andunyielding nature. "

"And so are you?"

"And so am I. Now, let's drop the subject of myself for the present, while you sing for me. Will you?"

"Yes, indeed, " said Patty, warmly; "with more pleasure than I ever sangfor any one else. "

CHAPTER IV

A FLORAL OFFERING

As the days went by, Patty and Lady Hamilton became close friends. Mr. And Mrs. Fairfield approved of the intimacy, for the elder woman'sinfluence was in every way good for Patty, and in return the girl broughtsunshine and happiness into Lady Hamilton's life. 

They went together to concerts and picture exhibitions, but Patty couldrarely persuade her friend to go to a social affair. 

"It's absurd, Lady Hamilton, " said Patty, one day, "to shut yourself upas you do! All London wants you, and yet you won't go 'round and playpretty with them. "

Ignoring this outburst, Lady Hamilton only smiled, and said: "Do youknow, Patty, I think it's time you dropped my formal title, and called meby my first name. I'd love to have you do so. "

"I've often wondered what your first name is, but I haven't the slightestidea. Tell me. "

"No, guess. What name do you think suits me?"

Patty considered. 

"Well, " she said, at last, "I think it must be either Ethelfrida orGwendolyn Gladys. "

Lady Hamilton laughed merrily. "Prepare yourself for a sudden shock, " shesaid. "I was named for my grandmother, Catharine. "

"Catharine! What an absurd name for you! You're not even a Kate. But youare Lady Kitty, and I'll call you that, if I may. "

"Indeed you may. Father used to call me Kitty, when I was a child, but asI grew older, I preferred my full name. "

"Lady Kitty is just right for you, and when you're in the mood you're asaucy puss. Now, listen, the reason for my invasion of your premises thismorning is that I want you to go with me this afternoon to a tea on theTerrace of Parliament House. "

Patty's tones were very persuasive, and she looked so daintily attractivein her fresh morning gown that few could have refused any request shemight make. 

Lady Hamilton in a soft, frilly white négligée, was sipping her coffeeand looking over her letters when Patty had interrupted the process. Shelooked at her eager young guest with a slow, provoking smile, and saidonly:

"Nixy. "

"But why not?" said Patty, smiling too, for she knew the Englishwoman hadlearned the slangy word from herself. "You'd have a lovely time. It's sobeautiful there, and the people are always so cordial and pleasant. "

"But I don't want to go. "

"But you _ought_ to want to. You're too young to give up the pomps andvanities of this world. How can I _make_ you go?"

"You can't. "

"I know it! That's just the trouble with you. I never saw such astubborn, self-willed, determined----"

"Pigheaded?"

"Yes! and stupidly obstinate thing as you are! So, there now!"

They both laughed, and then Lady Hamilton said more seriously, "Shall Itell you why I won't go?"

"Yes, do, if you know, yourself. "

"I know perfectly. I won't go to the Terrace because I'm afraid I'll meetmy father there. "

"For goodness' sake! Is that the real reason? But you _want_ to bereconciled to him!"

"Yes, but you don't understand. We couldn't have a 'Come home and allwill be forgiven' scene on the Terrace, in sight of hundreds of people, so if I did see him, I should have to bow slightly, or cut him dead; itwould depend on his attitude toward me which I did. _Then_ the episodewould merely serve to widen the breach, and it would break me up fordays. "

"I can't understand such conditions, " said Patty, earnestly. "Why, if Iwere at odds with my father, and I can't even imagine such a thing, I'drush at him and fling myself into his arms and stay there till everythingwas all right. "

"That's just because you're of a different temperament, and so is yourfather. My father is an austere, unbending man, and if I were on theTerrace and were to fling myself into his arms, he'd very likely fling meinto the Thames. "

"You'd probably be rescued, " said Patty, gravely; "there's always so muchtraffic. "

"Yes, but father wouldn't jump in to rescue me, so I'd only spoil my gownfor nothing. Give it up, dear, it's a case outside your experience. Father and I are both too proud to make the first advance, and yet Ireally believe he wants me as much as I want him. He must be very lonelyin the great house, with only the servants to look after him. "

"Perhaps he'll marry again, " said Patty, thoughtfully; "my father did. "

"I wish he would, but I've no hope of that. Now, never mind about mytroubles, tell me of your own. Who's taking you to the tea?"

"Mrs. Hastings. But she isn't giving it. We're to sit at some Member'stable; I don't know whose. The Merediths will be there, too. Tom andGrace, you know. I like them very much. "

"Yes, they're nice children. I know them slightly. Patty, some day I'llgive a party for you, here in my rooms. How would you like that?"

"Oh, Lady Kitty, I'd love it! You'd have to come to that, wouldn't you?"

"Yes, indeed, you couldn't drive me away. Let's have a children's party. All dress as children, I mean; little children, or babies. "

"Just the thing! I always wanted to see a party like that. I've onlyheard of them. Can we have it soon?"

"Next week, I think. I'll consult Mrs. Betham, and I think I can coax her'round to it; though she's bound to wet-blanket it at first. "

"Oh, yes, you can coax her, I know. How good you are to me! I do havebeautiful times. Really too many for one girl. Honestly, Lady Kitty, doyou think it's right for me to lead such a butterfly life? I just flyabout from one entertainment to another; and even if I'm at home, oralone, I always have a good time. Sometimes I think I'm a very uselessmember of this busy world. "

Lady Hamilton smiled kindly. "How old are you?" she said. 

"I'll be eighteen next month. "

"And you haven't set the Thames on fire, or won the Victoria Cross yet?But you're just at the age when your type of happy girlhood is oftenbeset with over-conscientious scruples. Don't give way to them, Patty. Itis not your lot to do definite, physical good to suffering humanity, likea Red Cross nurse, or the Salvation Army. Nor is it necessary that youshould work to earn your bread, like a teacher or a stenographer. But itis your duty, or rather your privilege, to shed sunshine wherever you go. I think I've never known any one with such a talent for spontaneous andunconscious giving-out of happiness. It is involuntary, which is itschiefest charm, but whoever is with you for a time is cheered andcomforted just by the influence of your own gladness. This is honesttalk, my child, and I want you to take it as I mean it. Don't _try_ to dothis thing, that would spoil it all; but just remember that you _do_ doit, and let that satisfy your desire to be a useful member of this busyworld. "

"You're such a dear, " said Patty, as she caressed her friend's handaffectionately; "if that's all true, and of course it is, since you sayso, I'm very glad. But can't I do something more definite, morevoluntary?"

"Of course there are always opportunities for doing good, --organisedcharities and those things that everybody takes part in. But if you wantto widen your own field of benefaction, simply know more people. Whetheryou know them socially or as casual acquaintances, you will almostinvariably add happiness to their lives, though it be in the meresttrifles. Now, I'm assuming that you have sense enough not to overdo thisthing, and thrust yourself upon people who don't want you. "

"Madam, " said Patty, in mock indignation, "you may trust me. I am anAmerican!"

"You are indeed; and you have what is known as Yankee good sense, if youare a mere infant. "

"Eighteen is pretty old, _I_ think; and you're not so very ancient, yourself, " retorted Patty; "but I'm willing to sit at your feet andacquire wisdom. "

When dressed to go out that afternoon, Patty stopped at Lady Hamilton'sdoor to say good-bye. 

"Come in, and let me see if you'll pass muster. Yes, that frilly, flowered muslin is just right for the Terrace; and that hat with longstreamers is truly pastoral. "

"What's pastoral about the Terrace, pray?"

"Nothing but the ladies' clothes, and the lamb-like demeanour of theM. P. 's. "

"I may see your father there. "

"You may. But he'll be an exception to the lamb-like ones. Here, let meput these valley lilies in your belt. They rather suit your costume. "

"Oh, thank you; they're beautiful. If I see your father, I'll give him aspray and say you sent it. "

"Very well; he'll then pitch you and the flowers all in the Thamestogether. " "Well, at least we'll cause a sensation among the lambs. Good-by, Kitty lady. "

"Good-bye, little one. Have a good time, and come in to tell me about itwhen you return. "

The tea on the Terrace was a new delight. Patty had been through theHouses of Parliament before, but this was her first experience of thatunique function known as the Terrace Tea. 

The broad, beautiful space was crowded with tables, and the tables werecrowded with people. Merry, chatting, laughing Londoners, Americans, andforeigners mingled in groups and drank tea together. 

Mrs. Hastings and Patty were met by their host, Mr. Pauncefote, andescorted to a table, already surrounded by several people. 

Patty felt greatly pleased when she found herself seated between Graceand Tom Meredith, and listened with interest as they designated variouscelebrated people who were strolling by. 

"But, after all, " she said, at last, "Dukes and Duchesses don't look verydifferent from ordinary people. "

"Of course they don't. Why should they? They aren't any different, " saidTom. "Indeed, Miss Fairfield, I've vanity enough to believe you'd find memore interesting than some of the Dukes. "

"I'm sure you are, " laughed Patty, "but if I were introduced to a realDuke, I'd be so scared I wouldn't know what to say. "

"Now I call that too bad, " declared Tom, with an aggrieved look. "And, pray, why aren't you scared when in my august society?"

"I am, " said Patty, dimpling, as she smiled at him, "only I'msuccessfully striving not to show my quaking fright. "

"That's better. I hope the longer you know me, the more awed you'll be ofmy, --of my----"

"Of your what?" calmly inquired his sister. 

"'Pon my word, I don't know, " confessed Tom, good-naturedly; "of myawesomeness, I suppose. "

"How do you like London?" said a loud voice, in the tones that aresometimes called stentorian, and Patty suddenly realised that her hostwas addressing her. 

A bit embarrassed at finding the eyes of all at the table upon her, sheanswered, shyly: "I love it; it is so--so kind to me. "

"Bravo! Pretty good for an American, " shouted Mr. Pauncefote, who seemedunable to moderate his voice. "And which do you like best, the people orthe show-places?"

"The people, " said Patty, her embarrassment lost sight of in a flash ofmischief. "I like the Members of Parliament better than ParliamentHouse. "

"Good! Good!" cried the portly M. P. , striking the table with his fistuntil the cups rattled; "that's true Yankee cleverness. You're a goodsort, my child. Are they all like you in America?"

"Yes, I think so, " said Patty, demurely; "are they all like you inEngland?"

Patty's innocent air of inquiry robbed the speech of all effect ofpertness, and the genial Mr. Pauncefote roared with delight. 

"Ha, ha!" he cried; "all like me in England? No, my child, no! Heaven bepraised, there are very few after my pattern. "

"That's too bad, " said Patty. "I think your pattern is a good one. "

"It is, " said Tom Meredith. "If we had more statesmen after Mr. Pauncefote's pattern, the House of Commons would be better off. "

This speech called forth applause from the other guests, and the hostsaid, loudly: "Pshaw, pshaw!" but he looked greatly pleased. 

When the tea was over and the party rose from the table, Mr. Pauncefotedetained Patty for a moment's chat, while the others broke up intosmaller groups or wandered away. 

"I want you to meet my daughter, " he was saying; "the young lady in grayover there, talking to Sir Otho. "

"Sir Otho who?" said Patty, quickly, forgetting to respond in regard toMiss Pauncefote. 

"Sir Otho Markleham; see the large gentleman with gold-rimmed glasses. She is my youngest daughter, and I know she'd be glad to meet you. "

"I'd be delighted, " said Patty, but her attention centred on Sir Otho. 

Could it be that was Lady Hamilton's severe father? He did not look soobstinate as she had imagined him, but as she drew nearer, she observedthe firm set of his square jaw and reversed her opinion. 

Sir Otho was very tall and big, and his smoothly brushed hair was lightbrown without a trace of gray. 

He wore closely-trimmed whiskers, of the style known as "mutton-chop, "and his cold gray eyes almost glittered as he looked through his glasses. The introduction to Miss Pauncefote implied also an introduction to SirOtho, and in a moment Patty found herself chatting in a group of whichLady Kitty's father was one. 

There was something about the big man that awed her, and she naturallyfell into conversation with Miss Pauncefote, while the two gentlementalked together. But as they were all about to separate, and even afterSir Otho had said good-afternoon, Patty hesitated irresolutely for asecond, and then turned back toward him again. 

"Sir Otho, " she said, timidly. 

"Well, ma'am, what is it?" was the response as he turned in surprise tolook at her. 

"I am very glad to meet you, " said Patty, and as soon as the words wereuttered, she realised how absurd they were. 

"Thank you, ma'am, " said the puzzled gentleman. He was very unresponsive, and showed in his face that he thought little of this exhibition ofAmerican forwardness. 

"Especially so, " Patty went on, "because I know your daughter, LadyHamilton. "

"Bless my soul!" ejaculated Sir Otho Markleham, the red blood dyeing hislarge face crimson, and his eyes fairly snapping with anger. 

"Yes, I do, " went on Patty, resolved now to plunge in desperately, "andshe sent you these flowers. "

Patty had previously detached two or three of the prettiest sprays of thelilies of the valley, and now held them out, with the air of onefulfilling a trust. 

For a moment Sir Otho Markleham looked as if he would really like topitch the American girl and her flowers into the river, and then, almostmechanically, he took the blossoms from Patty's hand. 

Then, with a straight, cold stare at her, he said, in a hard voice: "Ihave no daughter, " and after a stiff, formal bow, he walked away. 

CHAPTER V

MISS YANKEE DOODLE

"You didn't, really!" exclaimed Lady Hamilton, as Patty gleefullydescribed giving the flowers to Sir Otho Markleham. 

"But I did, Kitty, and truly, he _was_ mad enough to pitch me into thatyellow muddy old river. I greatly admire his self-control in not reallydoing it. But what eyes he has! So gray and steely, they cut rightthrough me! And he just said, tragically, 'I have no daughter, ' andstalked away. But--and this is the main thing--he kept the flowers!"

"How do you know?"

"I watched him. I fully expected he'd fling them straight over ParliamentHouse, but he didn't. He didn't even throw them on the stone floor of theTerrace, and gr-r-rind them 'neath his iron heel! I can't say that he putthem in his button-hole, for his back was toward me, but I _know_ he keptthem. "

"Oh, Patty, you are a silly! You think you've gone far toward healing thefamily feud of the Marklehams. But you haven't. My father gave the wholeepisode no thought at all, unless it was to think of you as animpertinent child. "

"Well, it was a wedge, " said Patty, doggedly, "and if I ever get anotherchance at him, I'll hammer it in. "

"No, don't, Patty dear; you mean well, I know, but you don't knowfather's disposition. If he thought you were an intermediary, he'd bemore stubborn than ever. "

"Huh!" said Patty, more expressively than politely; "I'm not going tomake any trouble. Trust your Aunt Patty for that!"

Lady Hamilton laughed, as she always did at Patty's funny Americanphrases, and the subject of Sir Otho was dropped. 

"Better not mix yourself up in other people's quarrels, " said Mr. Fairfield, when Patty told him about it. "Your motive is a good one, butan Englishman is not apt to brook interference from an outsider, especially an American. "

"Oh, pshaw, Fred; Patty won't do any harm, " said Nan. "Patty's tact is amatch for any English temper, and if she could bring about areconciliation, I'd be so glad for that sweet Lady Hamilton. "

"All right; I give in. When you two are against me, I hold up my hands. "

"We're not against you, Daddy, " said Patty, smiling fondly at her father. "You're on our side, only you don't quite realise it. "

"I told you she had tact, " laughed Nan, "and she grows cleverer everyday; don't you, Stepdaughter?"

"Yes, Stepmother, " replied Patty, gazing at Nan in mock adoration; "sinceI have you for a model, how could I do otherwise?"

"You're a pair of sillies, " said Mr. Fairfield, laughing at theirnonsense, "and in a vain endeavour to improve your minds, I think I'llread aloud to you. "

"Oh, goody!" cried Patty, for they both loved to hear Mr. Fairfield read. "And mayn't I ask Lady Kitty to come in? She'll sit still as a mouse, Iknow. "

"Certainly, my child; ask any one you like. If you see any people in thecorridors, bring them back with you. Perhaps the elevator man will come. "

"'Deed he won't be asked, " said Patty, indignantly. "I just want mysweet, lovely Lady Kitty. "

The sweet, lovely lady was pleased to come, and did indeed sit still as amouse, listening to Mr. Fairfield's fine reading. 

Then Patty sang one or two of her newest songs, and then Nan declaredthey must all go down to the Grill Room for a Welsh Rabbit. 

This plan enchanted Patty, and after a moment's hesitation, Lady Hamiltonagreed. So the evening proved a merry little festivity, and Patty went tobed healthily tired, but healthily happy. 

Bob Hartley did not forget his promise to ask Patty to the Garden Partyat Regent's Park, and Patty gladly accepted the invitation. 

"The only thing that bothers me, " she said to Nan, "is that the Hartleysdon't seem to have much money, and at a Charity Garden Party there are somany ways to spend, that I fear I'll be a burden to them. It makes meawfully uncomfortable, and yet I can't offer to pay for myself. And withthose young men present, I can't offer to pay for the whole party. "

"No, " agreed Nan. "But you might do something yourself. Invite them allto be your guests at some especial side-show, or booth. There are oftensuch opportunities. "

"I hope there will be. The Hartleys are a funny kind of poor. They have agood apartment in London, and their country place is fine. They have oldservants, and keep a carriage, and all that, and yet they never seem tohave spending money. "

"English people are often like that. The keeping up of an establishmentcomes first with them, and little personal comforts afterward. "

"That isn't my idea of economy, " said Patty, decidedly; "I'd rather spendall I want on flowers and books and pretty hats, and go without a butlerand a footman and even a team of horses. "

"You can't judge, because you've always had whatever you want. "

"Of course; because father is indulgent and has plenty of money. But ifhe hadn't, I'd be just as happy, living in a plainer way. "

"Yes, Patty, I believe you would, " and Nan looked at the girlaffectionately. "Well, do your best to help the Hartleys financially thisafternoon without offending them. "

"Ah, that's just the trouble. They're so dreadfully proud they won'taccept so much as a glass of lemonade from one who is their guest. "

"Try it, and see. It may not be so difficult as you think. "

So Patty went gaily off to the Garden Party. Mrs. Hartley called for herin her carriage. Mabel was with her, and they were to meet the boys atthe park. 

It was a beautiful drive, in the open victoria, along the busy streets ofthe city, and then on out to the green slopes of Regent's Park. 

The portion of the park devoted to the Garden Party was gay with boothsand flower-stands, tents and arbours, and catch-penny shows of all sorts. 

Sinclair and Robert were awaiting them, and also another youngEnglishman, whom Bob introduced as Mr. Lawton. The latter was a typicalBriton, with a slight drawl, and a queer-looking monocle in his righteye. 

"Awfully jolly to meet you, " he exclaimed, as he shook Mrs. Hartley'shand, and bowed formally to the girls. 

He fascinated Patty, he was so exactly like the young Englishmen picturedin _Punch_, and she waited to hear him say "Bah Jove!" But he didn't sayit, he contented himself with "My word!" by way of expletive, and thoughit didn't seem to mean anything, it was apparently useful to him. 

"You must jolly well let me be your guide, " he declared; "Mrs. Hartleyand I will lead and the rest of you will follow wherever we go. First, wemake the grand tour. "

This meant joining a long procession that were sauntering along a boardwalk, on either side of which were settees filled with people. 

Patty, with Sinclair, followed the leaders, and Mabel and Bob followedthem. 

But their progress was slow, for continually some of the party recognisedfriends seated alongside, and stopped to speak to them. Patty wasintroduced so often that she became bewildered, and soon stopped tryingto remember who was who. 

"You're getting jolly well fagged, " said Mr. Lawton, suddenly noticingher expression. "Now, we'll stop this merry-go-round and adjourn to thetea tent. "

This they did, and were soon comfortably seated round a tea table. 

"Great show, isn't it?" said Bob, enthusiastically. "And you haven't seenhalf of it yet. There's fortune-telling, and Punch and Judy, and thehat-trimming contest, and I don't know what beside. "

Sinclair adroitly paid the tea bill, before Mr. Lawton could do so, though the latter tried. 

"Never mind, old fellow, " he cried, "I'll get even with you! I herebyinvite you all to supper at six o'clock. "

"We're pleased to accept, " said Patty, promptly; "and I hereby invite youall to the play, or whatever it is, given by the Stagefright Club. Ithink that's such a lovely name for a dramatic club. Can't we go atonce?"

Mrs. Hartley looked a little disturbed at Patty's invitation, but did notdemur, and tea being over, they all went toward the tent where the playwas to be given. Patty managed to walk ahead with Mr. Lawton, this time, and when they reached the big tent, she offered him her little goldchain-purse, saying, quietly, "Won't you see to the tickets, please?"

"Trust me, " said Mr. Lawton, and taking Patty's purse, he bought seatsfor them all. It was gracefully done, and they all went in in gay spiritsand without a trace of embarrassment, thanks to Patty's tact. 

The play was very funny. Though only a trifling farce, it was written byprofessionals, for the benefit of the charity, and was played by theclever amateurs who had chosen such an odd name for their club. Thesituations in the play were screamingly funny, and Patty shook withlaughter as she listened to the jokes and the merry by-play. 

"Hist, she comes!" declared a weird figure in a sepulchral voice, as hewaited in the middle of the stage. 

"Hist, she comes!"

But nobody came. 

"That's her cue, " he muttered; "what can be the matter? I say, " hecleared his throat and spoke louder: "Hist, she comes!" As the expectedentrance was still delayed, he only said: "Well, she ought to be hissedwhen she does come!" And calmly sat down to wait for her, amid theapplause of the audience. 

The short playlet soon came to an end, and still shaking with laughter, the party went out again into the beautiful atmosphere which is found ona spring day in Regent's Park. 

"Now, my children, " said Mrs. Hartley, "I simply cannot walk about anymore. I'm going to sit in one of those chairs yonder, for I see somepeople I know over there. You can amuse yourselves with Punch and Judy, or Ring Toss or whatever you like, and come back to me in an hour or so. Sinclair, look after the little ones, won't you?"

It was a great joke that Sinclair, the oldest Hartley boy, should lookafter the others. He had reached the age of twenty, and was much moregrave and dignified than Bob and Grace. Mrs. Hartley often declared shecould even trust him to match samples for her, so careful was he. So theyoung people wandered away and spent a delightful hour looking at thebeautiful or grotesque sights that adorned the fair. 

Patty could not do much financially, but under cover of giving tocharity, she bought pretty souvenirs for Mabel and Mrs. Hartley, andlaughingly invited the group to be photographed by a Camera Fiend. 

This personage was clothed in red, and with black horns and Mephistopheleancountenance was made to look as much like a fiend as possible. Withoutlandish hoots and yells, he posed the group and took several snapshots, which they were to call for later. 

As they concluded it was nearly time to drift back to Mrs. Hartley, Pattynoticed a gentleman who stood at a little distance, looking at herintently. 

"Who's your friend, Patty?" asked Mabel. "Do you know him?"

"Yes, " said Patty, slowly. "He's Sir Otho Markleham. "

"So he is, " said Bob. "I've seen him often, but I don't know himpersonally. "

Sir Otho, still looking at Patty, took a few steps toward her, and thenpaused irresolutely. 

"Please excuse me, " said Patty to the others, "I think I'll go speak tohim for a minute. "

"Do, " said Mr. Lawton; "we'll wait for you right here. "

Following an impulse, Patty walked directly toward Sir Otho, who lookedas if he would like to run away. 

"How do you do?" she said, pleasantly, as they met. 

"Quite well, " he said, but there was no responsiveness in his manner. "Doyou wish to speak to me?"

Now after he had first advanced toward Patty, this was a strangequestion, but she bravely took up the burden of conversation. 

"Well, yes, " she said, smiling at him prettily; "I want to ask you howyou are enjoying the Garden Party. "

"I never enjoy anything, " he returned, but his face was sad now, ratherthan angry. 

"Oh, what a pity!" said Patty, involuntarily, "and you have such powersof enjoyment, too. "

"How do you know that, Miss Yankee Doodle?"

Patty didn't altogether like the name, or rather the tone in which it wassaid, but she was determined not to get piqued. So she said:

"Oh, because you're such a big, healthy, hearty-looking man; you ought tolaugh most of the time. "

"Ought I, indeed? But you see I never have anything to laugh at. "

At this Patty laughed outright. 

"Why, the world is full of things to laugh at, --and you're not blind. "

"No, but I don't feel like laughing. "

"Don't you ever even feel like smiling?"

"Not often. "

"Didn't you feel like smiling just a little bit of a happy smile, when Igave you those flowers the other day? Those flowers--from Kitty. "

Sir Otho's face grew dark. 

"How dare you mention her name to me?" he cried. "You are a saucy minx!Go away!"

"I won't be sent away like that, " declared Patty, looking haughty now. "I'm no child to be scolded for nothing. How dare you speak to me likethat? What do you think I am?"

Sir Otho turned red with rage. He choked and stammered and looked like acholeric old gentleman, as indeed he was. 

"I think you're an impertinent Yankee. What do you think I am?"

Patty looked him squarely in the eye. Her chance had come, and she didnot flinch. 

"I think, " she said, looking steadfastly at him, "I think you're anobstinate, stubborn, selfish, cruel old--Pighead!"

She confessed, afterward, that at that moment she fully expected theirate old man to strike her. But he did not. Instead, he looked at herjust a moment in amazement, and then burst into peals of laughter. 

Surprised beyond measure, but unable to resist the infectious merriment, Patty laughed too. 

"Oh, Miss Yankee Doodle, " said Sir Otho, wiping his eyes, "you are mostastonishing. The strange part is, you are quite right. I _am_ a stubbornold Pighead, but how did you know it? Do I wear my heart on my sleeve tothat extent?"

"Have you a heart?" asked Patty, so gravely that Sir Otho again roaredwith laughter. 

"And yet, " said Patty, thoughtfully, seeing that frankness pleased theold man, "and yet, no one with such a sense of humour as you seem to havecan be wholly bad. "

"Oh, thank you! So I'm not wholly bad? Well, that's a comfort; I alwaysthought I was. But your friends are looking this way. I think they wantyou to rejoin them. "

"In a moment, " said Patty. "Sir Otho, --won't you--please--send a flowerback to my friend, Lady Hamilton?"

"I would do much for any friend of yours, " said the strange old man, verygravely, and taking a few steps to a nearby flower stand, he bought abunch of sweet peas, and said, carelessly, "Give her those, if you like. "

Then formally escorting Patty back to her friends, he raised his hat, andwalked quickly away. 

CHAPTER VI

HERENDEN HALL

"There, Kitty lady, " said Patty, as she reached the Savoy on her returnfrom the Garden Party, "there's a nosegay from your affectionate father. "

Lady Hamilton stared at the bunch of sweet peas that Patty held out toher. 

"My word!" she exclaimed, "you are the most amazing child! I suppose hesent them to me just about as much as I sent him those valley lilies youtook to him the other day. "

Lady Kitty guessed so near the truth that Patty felt a littlecrestfallen. 

"It was more than that, " she said. "I asked him to send some flowers toyou, and he bought these purposely. "

"Did he select sweet peas, himself?"

"Yes. "

"That means something, then, Patty dear; for father well knows myfondness for these flowers. Well, you're a dear, good little girl to tryto heal the breach, but I can't feel much encouragement. Father is tooold and too obstinate ever to forgive me. "

"And you're too young and too obstinate to go and beg his forgiveness!"

"Indeed I am! Fancy my meekly returning, like a prodigal daughter, when Ihaven't done anything wrong!"

"You don't deserve a reconciliation, " cried Patty; "you're a hard-heartedlittle thing, --for all you look so soft and amiable. "

"Yes, " said Lady Kitty, demurely; "I inherited my father's disposition. "

"Indeed, you did; and you'll grow more like him every day you live, ifyou don't try to be more forgiving. "

"I believe you're right, Patty; and perhaps some day I will try. But nowlet me tell you what's been happening. While you were away, I had a callfrom that very charming stepmother of yours. And this was the burden ofher visit. It seems that she and your father are invited to spend theweek-end at a country house, and the question was, where to pack you awayfor safe-keeping while they're gone. "

"And they're going to let me stay with you!" exclaimed Patty, claspingher hands and assuming an ecstatically happy expression. 

"Well, Mrs. Nan seemed to think that I could keep you in order, thoughI'm not so sure of it myself. But the strange part is, I also am invitedfor this same week-end to a most delightful country house, and I havealready accepted. "

Patty's face fell. 

"What is to become of poor little me?" she said. "I don't want to staywith Mrs. Betham. "

"No; I've a plan for you. And it's this. I want to take you with me toHerenden Hall, where I'm going, and, --Mrs. Nan says I may. "

"Oh, Kitty! You duck! How perfectly lovely!" Patty flew at her friend, and nearly strangled her in a spasmodic embrace. 

"You see, " went on Lady Hamilton, when she had regained her breath, "I'mso well acquainted with the Herendens, that I can ask an invitation foryou; and though you're not really 'out' yet, it will give you a glimpseof the nicest kind of English country-house life. "

"It's great!" declared Patty. "I'm wild with excitement. But I care moreabout being with you than I do about the house-party. "

"You won't when you get there. They're really charming people, and theHall is one of the finest old estates in England. "

"Shall I have to have some new frocks?"

"We'll look over your wardrobe, and see. I fancy the ones you alreadyhave will do. You know you'll be looked upon as scarcely more than aschoolgirl, and you must wear simple, frilly muslins and broad-leafedhats. "

"I can even live through that! I don't care what I wear if I'm with you. Three whole days! Will it be three days, Kitty?"

"Three days or more. If they politely ask us to remain a day or twolonger we might do so. They're old friends of mine, do you see? And Ihaven't been there for years, so they'll be glad to see us. "

"To see you, you mean. They don't know me, so how can they be glad to seeme?"

"Oh, you must, --what is your idiotic American phrase? You must 'makegood'!"

"I will, " said Patty, laughing to hear the phrase from an Englishwoman, and then she ran away to her own apartment, to talk over affairs withNan. 

"It's a great piece of good fortune, " said Nan, "that you're such goodfriends with Lady Hamilton, for Fred and I couldn't take you with us, andwhat would have become of you?"

"Oh, I always land on my feet, " returned Patty, "I must have been bornunder a lucky star. "

"I believe you were, Pattykins. "

"And won't I have the time of my life at Herenden Hall----"

"Oh, Patty, Patty, you must stop using slang. They'll never ask you toHerenden Hall again if you behave like a wild Indian. "

"But you see, Stepmother, they look upon me as an infant anyhow, so I mayas well have some fun. "

"But don't be a hoyden, and do remember that American slang isn't admiredover here. "

"Yas'm; I'll be good. And I'll say 'Really?' and 'Only fancy!' tillthey'll think I'm the daughter of a hundred Earls. "

"I'm not at all worried about your manners, " said Nan, serenely. "Youusually behave pretty well, but you will talk American instead ofEnglish. "

"Well, I'll try to make myself understood, at all events. And you'regoing to have a lovely time, too, aren't you? Isn't it fun! I do like tohave all my friends as happy as I am. I suppose you and father will belike two young turtle-doves off on your honeymoon trip. "

"Oh, we're always that, even when there's a great, big girl like youaround to make us seem old. "

"Well, if you behave as well as you look, I won't be ashamed of you. "Patty gazed critically at Nan, and then added, "Though your nose doesseem to turn up more than it used to. "

Whereupon Nan threw a sofa-pillow at her, which Patty caught and stuffedbehind her own curly head. 

The Saturday of their departure was a beautiful, bright day, and it wasabout noon when Patty and Lady Hamilton, accompanied by the latter'smaid, took the train from Victoria Station. 

It was a long ride to their destination in Kent, and not an especiallyinteresting one, but Patty, in the companionship of her dear friend, wasentirely happy. They chatted gaily as the train rolled from one Englishtown to another. At Robertsbridge they had to change to a funny littlerailroad, which had the strangest cars Patty had ever seen. 

They were almost like freight cars, with benches along the sides. Therewere no tickets, and presently the guard came in to collect their fares, as if in a street-car. 

Moreover the luggage had been tumbled in without check or paster, andPatty wondered if anybody ever could pick out their own again. 

"Your regular first-class coaches are funny enough, " she said to LadyHamilton, "but they are comfortable. This box we're in is like a cattlepen. "

"Oh, no, " laughed Lady Hamilton; "this isn't bad at all. You see it'sonly a tiny branch road, running to some little hamlets, and it's notmuch used. There are only about two trains each way every day. "

This gave Patty a different idea of the little railroad, and she began tofeel a more personal interest in it. They rolled slowly through thehop-growing country, and though the scenery was not grand, it waspicturesque. Patty said it was like a panorama of "The Angelus. " Theyreached their station at about five o'clock, and found a fine openbarouche awaiting them, and a wagon for their trunks. 

The footman greeted them deferentially, and asked them to pick out theirluggage from the lot that had been dumped on the station platform. 

"I can't see either of my trunks, " said Patty. "So I suppose I'd bettertake the ones I like best of these others. "

"Nonsense, " said Lady Hamilton; "yours must be here somewhere. Lookaround, Marie; you know Miss Fairfield's boxes. "

"Yes, my Lady; but they are not here. "

Sure enough, they weren't there, and as Patty was certain they had beenput on the train, she concluded they had been carried on. 

"What can I do?" she cried. "Can we telephone to the next station andhave them sent back?"

But in that small station, merely a tiny box, there was no telephone. 

The impassive coachman and footman from Herenden Hall seemed to have noadvice to offer, so there was nothing to do but to proceed to the house. 

Patty was distressed at the outlook. 

"Oh, Kitty, " she said; "I can't go to dinner at all! Of course I couldn'tappear in this travelling costume, and I'll have to put on one of yournégligées, and eat dinner all alone in my room!"

The prospect was appalling, but neither of them could think of any helpfor it. 

"Has Lady Herenden any daughters about my age?" Patty asked, after a fewmoments' thought. 

"No, indeed. She and Lord Herenden have no children. But if there are anyyoung girls there as guests, you might borrow a frock for to-night. Surely they'll get your things by to-morrow. "

They drove into the park, through great gates, and past various lodges. The wonderful old trees waved above their heads; the marvellous lawnsstretched away in rolling slopes; and the well-kept road wound along, nowover a bridge, now under an arch until they paused at the noble oldentrance of Herenden Hall. 

Liveried servants seemed to appear, as if by magic, from all directionsat once. Dogs came, barking a noisy welcome, and, following Lady Hamiltonacross the terrace and into the great entrance hall, Patty found herselfbeing presented to a lovely young woman, almost as beautiful as LadyHamilton herself. 

"You must be the greatest chums, " Lady Hamilton was saying, "for MissFairfield is one of my dearest friends, and I want you to adore eachother. "

"We will!" said Lady Herenden and Patty, at the same moment, and thenthey all laughed, and the guests were at once shown to their rooms. 

After a bewildering route through several branching halls, Patty foundthat to her had been assigned a large and pleasant room, which looked outupon the rose-garden. On one side it communicated with Lady Hamilton'sroom, and on the other opened into a dainty dressing-room and bath. Itwas all enchanting, and Patty's gaze rested admiringly upon the chintzdraperies and Dresden ornaments, when she heard a tap at her door. Answering, she found a trim maid, who courtesied and said: "I'm Susan, Miss. Will you give me the keys of your boxes, and I'll unpack them. "

Patty almost laughed at this casual request, in the face of what seemedto her a tragedy. 

"Susan, " she said, "here are the keys, but you can't unpack my boxes forthey haven't come. "

"Lor', Miss; they must be downstairs. I'll have them sent up. "

"No--wait, Susan; they're not downstairs. They didn't come on the train. "

"Lor', Miss, whatever will you do?"

The girl's eyes grew big and troubled. Here was a dreadful situationindeed! Already Susan felt drawn toward the pretty young American girl, and she was aghast at the outlook of a dinner party with no party frock. 

"I can't go to dinner at all, Susan, " said Patty, dejectedly. "You mustbring me a tray up here--though I don't feel like eating. "

"Not go to dinner, Miss? Oh, what a pity! It's a grand dinner to-night. The Earl of Ruthven is here, and it's one of her ladyship's greatestdinners of the season. "

The good Susan looked so concerned, and her face was so anxious, that itwent straight to Patty's heart. To her mind there came a vivid andtantalising remembrance of her exquisite dinner frock, of whitechiffon, embroidered with tiny sprays of blossoms--a soft sash andshoulder-knots--one of the loveliest dresses she had ever had, and with asob she threw herself on to the couch and indulged in a few foolish butcomforting tears. 

"There, there, Miss, " said Susan, sympathisingly, "don't ee take on so. Maybe we can find summat for ee. "

When Susan was excited or troubled, she lapsed into her old dialect, which she was striving to outgrow. 

"You can't find anything, I know, " said Patty, sitting up, and lookingthe picture of woe. "There are no very young ladies in the house, arethere, Susan?"

"No, Miss, none so young as yourself, nor near it. "

"And I can't wear this, " went on Patty, looking at the silk blouse thatwas part of her travelling gown. 

"Lor' no, Miss; not to a dinner!"

"Then what?"

"Then what, indeed, Miss!"

Patty and Susan faced each other, at last in a full realisation of thehopelessness of the situation, when, after a light tap at the door, LadyHamilton came in. 

She laughed outright at the tragic attitude of the two, and knew at oncewhat they were troubled about. 

"Listen to me, Pattypet, " she said. "Am I your fairy godmother, or am Inot?"

"You are, " said Patty, with an air of conviction, and feeling sure thatLady Hamilton was about to help her out of her troubles, somehow. 

"Well, I've carefully considered the case. I've sent Marie to canvass thehouse for clothes suitable for a mademoiselle of seventeen. "

"Nearly eighteen, " murmured Patty. 

"It doesn't matter. There isn't what's known as a 'misses' costume'beneath this roof. Now, I simply refuse to let you be absent from thisdinner. It will be both a pleasure and an education to you to see thisespecial kind of a formal function, and probably you'll not often have achance. They've sent a man and a wagon over to the next station, severalmiles away for your boxes; that's the way they do things here. But hecan't get back until long after the dinner hour. So listen, to mycommand, dictum, fiat--call it what you please, but this is what you'reto do. "

"I'll do anything you say, Kitty Lady, if it's to go to bed at once, andsleep soundly till morning. "

"Nothing of the sort. You must and shall attend this dinner. And--you'regoing to wear one of my gowns!"

"Yours?"

"Yes. We're so nearly the same size that it will fit you quite wellenough. I've picked out the simplest one, a white Irish point. It's cutprincess, but all my gowns are. I'm sure Marie can make it fit youperfectly, with a few pins or a stitch here and there. "

"Oh, it will fit well enough, but, Kitty, won't I be the grown-up! I'venever worn a real train in my life!"

"Of course it's a lot too old for you, and truly, I hate to have youappear in a gown like that. But what else can we do? I won't let you missthe dinner--and after all, it doesn't matter so much. After this visit Idoubt if you'll ever see these people again, and let them think you'refive or six years older than you are. Who cares?"

"I don't, " said Patty, gleefully. "I think it will be fun. I'll have myhair piled high on my head. Can you do it for me, Sarah?"

"Oh, yes, Miss. I'm a hair-dresser and I'm that glad you're going todinner. "

CHAPTER VII

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY

Sarah was indeed an expert hair-dresser, and she piled up Patty's hair insoft coils, and twisted the curly tendrils into fluffy puffs, and thoughthe result was beautiful, it made Patty look like her own older sister. Ajewelled ornament of Lady Hamilton's crowned the coiffure, and this gavean added effect of dignity. The lace gown was easily made to fit its newwearer. Marie pinned it, and sewed it, and patted it into place, tillnobody would suspect it had not been made for Patty. But the long linesof the Princess pattern took away all of Patty's usual simple girlishappearance, and transformed her at once into a beautiful, queenly youngwoman. The décolletée corsage, and the sleeves, which were merelyfrills of lace, were very becoming; and the long train, which billowedinto a frou-frou of chiffon ruffles took away the last semblance of agirl of eighteen. Notwithstanding her softly-curved cheeks and throat, and her exquisite, fresh complexion, Patty looked quite the young womanof society and could easily have been adjudged about twenty-four yearsold. 

Her eyes danced, as she walked sedately through the open door and intoLady Hamilton's room. 

"My word, Patty!" exclaimed that lady, "you're simply stunning in thatgown! You look as if you'd been 'out' for two or three seasons. Yourpeople would never forgive me if they knew how I've dressed you up. "

"It was the only thing to do, " said Patty, airily, as she began to drawon her arms a pair of Lady Hamilton's long white gloves. "The wonder isthat you had plenty of all sorts of things to fit me out, and also thatthey do fit so well. These gloves are just right, though I confess theslippers pinch me just a speck. "

"'Pretty never hurts, ' you know, " said Lady Hamilton, laughing. "Marie, isn't Miss Fairfield a picture?"

"_Mais oui!_ She is _charmante_. It is amazing how the gown suits her. She is _très-belle!_"

With the grown-up clothes, Patty had quite unconsciously assumed agrown-up air. She nonchalantly flung aside her train with just the samegesture Lady Hamilton was wont to use, and she carried herself with adignity and graciousness of manner which would have been absurd whenwearing her own simple frocks. 

[Illustration: "Marie pinned it and sewed it"]

"Gracious, goodness, child!" cried Lady Hamilton. "Come down off thatpedestal! You walk like a Duchess. It won't do, you know, really. "

"I don't mean to, " said Patty; "you know I'm a sort of chameleon. Thisgown makes me feel as if I belonged in an opera-box, or had an audiencewith the Queen. "

"Oh, you goose! Stop your nonsense, and we'll go down to dinner. Mind, now, none of those airs, or I'll send you back to your room. "

Patty honestly tried to be her own simple-minded self, and would havesucceeded all right, if Herenden Hall had not been so lavishly providedwith mirrors. On the grand staircase she came face to face with a radiantcreature, and was about to step aside when she discovered it was herself!Involuntarily she gazed at the reflection of the white-gowned lady, andunconsciously an air of serenity, almost hauteur, replaced her usualmerry smile, and with a gracious mien she passed on down the stairs. 

Lady Herenden awaited them in the drawing-room. 

A brilliant assemblage was already there, for Patty's unusual costuminghad caused her some delay. After the first few introductions, LadyHamilton and Patty became separated, and the guests stood aboutconversing in small groups. 

Patty chanced to fall in with some very entertaining people, among whomwas the Earl of Ruthven. 

The Earl was a handsome man, tall, and of an imposing presence. 

When presented to Patty, he gazed at her with frank, though quitedeferential admiration. "So pleased to meet you, Miss Fairfield, " hesaid; "I adore American ladies. "

Patty really felt a little in awe of an Earl, as she had never met onebefore, and was about to make a shy response, when a slight movement ofher head showed her her own reflection in a nearby mirror. 

Realising afresh that she was masquerading as a society lady, a spirit ofmischief suddenly took possession of her, and she determined to throwherself into the rôle. So, with a pretty little toss of her head, and acharming smile, she said:

"Thank you, Lord Ruthven; I adore Englishmen, too, but I know so few ofthem. "

"You've not been here long, then?"

"No, only a few weeks. And there's so much I want to learn. "

"Let me teach you, " said his Lordship, eagerly. "I do not think you wouldprove a dull pupil. "

Patty's eyes smiled. "No Americans are dull, " she said. 

"That's true; my experience has already proved it. I've met six, I think, including yourself. But what sort of things do you want to learn?"

"The language, principally. I just want to learn to say 'only fancy'occasionally, and 'd'y' see?' in the middle of every sentence. "

"It's not easy, " said Lord Ruthven, thoughtfully, "but I think I canteach you in, say, about ten lessons. When shall we begin the course?"

Patty looked at him reproachfully. "If you knew the American nature atall, " she said, "you'd know that we always begin things the moment theplan occurs to us. "

"Good! there's no time like the present. "

But just then their conversation was interrupted by the announcement ofdinner. 

Patty hoped she would sit at table next the Earl, but it was not so. Thenobleman was accorded the seat of honour at the right of his hostess, while Patty, as a minor guest, was far away across the table. But shefound herself between two affable and pleasant-mannered young Englishmen, and instantly forgot all about her titled friend. 

Indeed, the bewildering beauty of the scene claimed her attention, andshe fairly held her breath as she looked about her. The great oval roomwas lighted only by wax candles in crystal chandeliers and candelabra. This made a soft, mellow radiance quite different from gas orelectricity. On one side of the room long French windows opened on to theterrace, through which came the scent of roses and the sound of plashingfountains. On the other side, only slender pillars and arches divided thedining-room from a conservatory, and a riotous tangle of blossoms andfoliage fairly spilled into the room, forming almost a cascade offlowers. 

The great round table was a bewildering array of gold plate, gildedglass, and exquisite china, while on the delicate lace of the tableclothlay rare blossoms that seemed to have drifted from the circular mound offlowers which formed the low centrepiece. 

Twenty-four guests sat round the board, in chairs of gilded wicker, andas the silent, black-garbed waiters served the viands, the scene becameas animated as it was beautiful. 

Patty forgot all else in her absolute enjoyment of the fairy-likespectacle, and was only brought back to a sense of reality by the soundof a voice at her side. Mr. Merivale was speaking--the young man who hadescorted her out to dinner, and who now sat at her right hand. 

"You love beauty of detail, " he was saying as he noted Patty'sabsorption. 

"Oh, isn't it great!" she exclaimed, and then suddenly realised that theexpression was not at all in keeping with the dignity of her Princessgown. 

But Mr. Merivale seemed amused rather than shocked. 

"That's American for 'ripping, ' isn't it?" he said, smiling. "Butwhatever the adjective, the fact is the same. Lady Herenden's dinners arealways the refinement of the spectacular. "

Patty realised the appropriateness of this phrase, and cudgelled herbrain for an appropriate reply. She began to think that playing grown-upwas a more difficult game than she had supposed. Had she had on her ownsimple little frock, Mr. Merivale would not have talked to her like that. 

"Don't you remember last season, " he went on, "when Lady Herenden had areal pond, with gold fish in the middle of the table, and ferns and waterlilies round the edge?"

"I wasn't here last season, " said Patty. "I have never been in Englanduntil this summer. "

"Indeed? I know you are an American, but you have really an Englishmanner. "

"It's acquired, " said Patty, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Ifind my American manner isn't admired over here, so I assume Londonairs. "

"Ah, you wish to be admired?"

"Of all things!" declared naughty Patty, with a roguish glance at thejesting young man. 

"You'll probably get your wish, " he replied. "I'm jolly well ready to domy share. "

This brought the colour to Patty's cheeks, and she turned slightly away, toward the man on her other side. 

He was a slightly older man than Mr. Merivale and was the squire of anadjoining estate. He was quite ready to talk to his American neighbour, and began the conversation by asking her if she had yet seen LadyHerenden's rose-orchard. 

"No, Mr. Snowden, " said Patty, "I only arrived a few hours ago, and I'venot been round the place at all. "

"Then let me show it to you, please. I'll come over to-morrow morning fora stroll. May I?"

"I don't know, " said Patty, hesitatingly, for she was uncertain what sheought to do in the matter. "You see, I'm with Lady Hamilton, and whatevershe says----"

"Oh, nonsense! She'll spare you from her side for an hour or two. There'sreally a lot to see. "

Again poor Patty realised her anomalous position. But for her piled-uphair and her trained gown, the man would never have dreamed of asking herto go for a walk unchaperoned. Patty had learned the ethics of Londonetiquette for girls of eighteen, but she was not versed in the ways ofolder young women. 

"We'll see about it, " she said, non-committally, and then she almostlaughed outright at the sudden thought of Mr. Snowden's surprise shouldhe see her next day in one of her own simple morning frocks of lightmuslin. Lady Hamilton's morning gowns were Paris affairs, with trailingfrills and long knotted ribbons. 

"It seems to amuse you, " said Mr. Snowden, a trifle piqued at hermerriment. 

"You'll be amused, too, " she said, "if you see me to-morrow. "

Then something in the man's pleasant face seemed to invite confidence, and she said, impulsively:

"I may as well tell you that I'm masquerading. I'm not a grown-up lady atall. I'm not much more than a schoolgirl--not quite eighteen years old. But--but my box didn't come, and--and I had to wear Lady Hamilton's gown. It makes me seem a lot older, I know, but I had to do it, or stay awayfrom dinner. "

Mr. Snowden looked first amazed, and then he burst into laughter. 

"I beg your pardon, I'm sure, " he said, "but I had no idea! And so LadyHamilton is your chaperon? I see. Of course. Well, we'll have the strolljust the same, if you will, and we'll ask her to go with us. "

"Isn't she the dearest thing?" exclaimed Patty, looking at Lady Kittyacross the table, and feeling much more at her ease now that she hadconfessed her position. 

"She is a beautiful and charming woman, " agreed Mr. Snowden. 

And then it was time for Patty to turn back to Mr. Merivale, for she hadlearned that one must divide the time fairly between dinner neighbors. 

"I didn't offend you, did I?" said young Merivale, eagerly. "You turnedso quickly--and--and you--er--blushed, you know, and so I wasafraid--er----"

But Patty was of no mind to confess the fewness of her years toeverybody, and her mischievous spirit returned as she determined to chaffthis amusing young man. 

"What!" she said, reproachfully, "an Englishman, and afraid!"

"Afraid of nothing but a fair lady's displeasure. All true Englishmensurrender to that. "

"I'm not displeased, " said Patty, dimpling and smiling; "in fact, I'veeven forgotten what you said. "

"That's good! Now we can start fresh. Will you save a lot of dances forme to-night?"

"Oh, will there be dancing?" exclaimed Patty, delighted at the prospect. 

"Yes, indeed; in the big ballroom. Will you give me all the waltzes?"

Patty looked at him in amazement. "You said you were going to 'startfresh, '" she said, "and now you've certainly done so!"

But the American phrase was lost on the Englishman, who only proceeded torepeat his request. 

Meantime, Mr. Snowden was asking Patty for a dance. 

"Certainly, " she said, "I shall be pleased to dance with you. "

"You'll give me more than one dance or you needn't give me any, " grumbledyoung Merivale. 

"All right, " said Patty, quickly. "Mr. Snowden, I've just had a dance'returned with thanks, ' so you can have that, if you wish it. "

"I do indeed, " he replied, enthusiastically, and Mr. Merivale relapsedinto a sulky silence. 

Then Lady Herenden rose from the table, and the ladies all rose andfollowed her up to one of the beautiful salons, where coffee was servedto them. Patty managed to secure a seat on a divan beside Lady Hamilton. 

"You quite take my breath away, little Patty, " said her friend, in a lowvoice. "You are already a favourite, and in a fair way to become thebelle of the ball. "

"I try not to act too old, Kitty, " said Patty, earnestly, "but trulyeverybody thinks I'm a society lady. They don't even look on me as adébutante. "

"Never mind, dearie; have all the fun you can. Enjoy the dancing, anddon't care what anybody thinks. "

Encouraged by Lady Hamilton's approval, Patty ceased to think about herdemeanour and proceeded to enjoy the conversation of those about her. 

Lady Herenden was especially kind to her, and singled out the youngAmerican for her special favour and attention. 

CHAPTER VIII

THE EARL OF RUTHVEN

After a time the men came from the dining-room and rejoined the ladies. 

Patty was chatting with a group of young women, and when she glancedaround, it was to see Lord Ruthven standing at her side. 

"I was miles away from you at dinner, " he said, "but now there is anopportunity, let us begin our lessons in English at once. "

"Do, " said Patty, smiling; "where shall be our classroom?"

"We'll pre-empt this sofa, " said Lord Ruthven, indicating, as he spoke, agold-framed Louis XIV. Tête-à-tête. "We'll pretend that it is a realschoolroom, with four walls hung with maps and charts--just such as youused to have when you were a little girl. "

Patty smiled at this reference to her far-away school-days, but fell inwith his mood. 

"Yes, " she said, "and you must be the stern schoolmaster, and I thestupid pupil who has been kept in after school. "

But their merry game was interrupted by Lady Herenden's invitation to theballroom. 

Escorted by Lord Ruthven, Patty followed the others to the great hallwhere they were to dance. 

It was a resplendent apartment, with balconies and boxes, from which thespectators could look down upon the dancers. A fine orchestra furnishedthe music, and Patty, who loved to dance, found her feet involuntarilykeeping time to the harmonious strains. 

"Shall we have a try?" said Lord Ruthven, and in a moment they weregliding over the smooth floor. 

Patty already knew that English dancing is not like the American steps, but she was so completely mistress of the art, that she could adaptherself instantly to any variation. 

"I won't compliment your dancing, " said the Earl, as the waltz wasfinished, "for you must have been told so often how wonderfully well youdance. But I must tell you what a pleasure it is to dance with you. "

Patty thought this a very pretty speech, and graciously gave his lordshipsome other dances for which he asked, and then, leaving her with LadyHerenden, he excused himself and went away. Then Patty was besieged withwould-be partners. Her dancing had called forth the admiration ofeverybody, and the young men crowded about, begging to see herdance-card. 

Only Mr. Merivale stood aloof. He was still sulky, and he looked so likea cross schoolboy that Patty took pity on him. 

She slightly nodded her head at him by way of invitation, and he cameslowly toward her. 

"Which two do you want?" she said, demurely. 

Merivale's face lighted up. "You are indeed kind, " he said, in a lowvoice. "I will take any you will give me. My card is blank as yet. "

So Patty arranged the dances, and the young man went away looking muchhappier. The evening was all too short. Patty whirled through dance afterdance, and between them was restored to Lady Herenden or Lady Hamilton, only to be claimed the next minute by another partner. 

"What a belle it is!" said Lady Herenden, patting the girl's shoulderaffectionately. "You have made a real sensation, Miss Fairfield. "

"But I'm Cinderella, to-night, " she said, gaily. 

"Wait till to-morrow, and see all my popularity vanish. "

Lady Herenden did not understand, but took it as merry chaff and paid noheed. 

Then Lord Ruthven came for the last dance. 

"This is an extra, Miss Fairfield, " he said; "will you give it to me?"

Patty agreed, but as they walked away, his Lordship said:

"You look really tired; would you not rather sit on the terrace thandance?"

"I am tired, " said Patty, honestly; "I think it's carrying this heavytrain around. I've never before danced in a long gown. "

"Then you shall rest. Let us sit on the terrace, and I'll send for an icefor you. "

Lord Ruthven was very kind and courteous. He found a delightful corner ofthe terrace unoccupied, and he arranged two wicker easy-chairs, wherethey might be just out of the way of the promenaders. He asked a footmanto bring the ices, and then seated himself beside Patty. 

"Is it not beautiful, " he said, "the rose garden in the moonlight? Onecan almost fancy the roses opening beneath the moon's light as in daytimeby the sun's warm rays. "

"Yes, " said Patty, falling in with his fanciful mood, "and I think, perhaps, at night, the white roses and the pale yellow ones bloom. Thenat daybreak, the pink or blush roses open, and at midday the deep redones. "

"You have the mind of a poet, Miss Fairfield. Where do you get thosegraceful conceits?"

"Oh, I don't know, " said Patty, carelessly; "I think they are the resultof this beautiful moonlight night, and these picturesque surroundings. "

"Yes, I am sure that is true. You have a soul that responds to all beautyin art or nature. Let us take a short turn in the rose garden, and get aview of this noble old house with the moonlight full upon it. "

"But I want my ice cream, " objected Patty, who still had her schoolgirlappetite. 

"We'll stay but a moment, and we'll return to find it awaiting us, "gently insisted Lord Ruthven, and Patty amiably went down the terracesteps and along the garden path with him. 

Near a clump of cedars, only a short distance away, they turned to lookat the beautiful old house. Herenden Hall was always a splendid picture, but especially at night, backgrounded by a gray sky full of racingclouds, and touched at every gable by the silver moonlight, it wasenchanting. 

"Oh, " said Patty, drawing a sigh, "it is the most wonderful effect I eversaw. See that great, quiet roof sloping darkly away, and beneath, the gaylights of the terrace, and the laughter of happy people. "

"It is a beautiful picture, " said Lord Ruthven, looking steadily atPatty, "but not so beautiful as another one I see. A lovely face framedin soft, shining curls, against a background of dark cedar trees. "

His tone, even more than his words, alarmed Patty. She was not used tosuch speeches as this, and she said, gravely: "Take me back to the house, please, Lord Ruthven. "

"Not just yet, " pleaded the nobleman. "Dear Miss Fairfield, listen to mea moment. Let me tell you something. Let me justify myself. I oughtn't totalk to you like this, I know--but the fact is--oh, the fact is you'vecompletely bowled me over. "

"What?" said Patty, not at all comprehending his meaning. 

"Yes; I'm done for--and at first sight! And by an American! But it's afact. I adore you, Miss Fairfield--I'm so desperately in love with youthat I can't down it. Oh, I know I oughtn't to be talking to you likethis. I ought to see your father, and all that. And I will, as soon as Ican, but--oh, I say, Patty, tell me you like me a little!"

It suddenly dawned on Patty that she was having a proposal! And from anEnglish Earl! And all on account of her grown-up gown! The absurdity ofit impressed her far more than the romantic side of it, and though alittle frightened, she couldn't help smiling at the Earl's tragic tones. 

"Nonsense, Lord Ruthven, " she said, though her cheeks were pink; "don'ttalk like that. Please cut me that lovely cluster of roses, and then takeme back to Lady Hamilton. "

The Earl drew a penknife from his pocket, and cut the flowers she askedfor. Then he stood, trimming off the thorns, and looking down at her. 

Patty had never looked so winsome. Her garb made her seem a grown woman, and yet the situation alarmed her, and her perplexed face was that of atroubled child. 

"Tell me, " he repeated, "that you like me a little. "

"Of course I like you a little, " returned Patty, in a matter-of-factvoice. "Why shouldn't I?"

"That's something, " said the Earl, in a tone of satisfaction, "and nowwill you accept these flowers as a gift from me? As, for the moment, I'venothing else to offer. "

Patty took the flowers in both hands, but Lord Ruthven still held them, too, saying: "And will you let them mean----?"

"No, " cried Patty, "they don't mean anything--not anything at all!"

Lord Ruthven clasped Patty's two hands, roses and all, in his own. 

"They do, " he said quietly; "they mean I love you. Do you understand?"

He looked straight into the troubled, beseeching eyes that met his own. 

"Please let me go, Lord Ruthven--_please!_" said Patty, her handstrembling in his own. 

"You may go, if you will first call me by some less formal name. Patty, dearest, say Sylvester--just once!"

This desperate request was too much for Patty's sense of humour. 

"Why can't I say it twice?" she said in a low tone, but her voice wasshaking with laughter. 

"You little witch!" exclaimed the Earl, and his clasp tightened on herhands. "Now you shan't go until you _have_ said it twice!"

"Sylvester--Sylvester--there!" said Patty, her eyes twinkling with fun, and her lips on the verge of laughter. Then, gently disengaging her handsfrom his, she gathered up her long white train, and prepared to run away. 

The Earl laid a detaining hand on her arm. "Miss Fairfield, " he said, "Patty, I won't keep you now, but to-morrow you'll give me anopportunity, won't you? to tell you----"

"Wait till to-morrow, my lord, " said Patty, really laughing now. "Youwill probably have changed your mind. "

"How little you know me!" he cried, reproachfully, and then they hadreached the terrace, and joined the others. 

Soon after the guests all retired to their own rooms, and the moonlighton Herenden Hall saw no more the gay scene on the terrace. 

Patty, passing through her own room, discovered that her two trunks hadarrived and had been unpacked. She went straight on and tapped at LadyHamilton's door. "Get me out of this gown, please, Marie; I've had quiteenough of being a grown-up young woman!"

"What's the matter, Patty?" said Lady Kitty, looking round. "Didn't youhave a good time this evening?"

"The time of my life!" declared Patty, dropping into her own graphicspeech, as she emerged from the heap of lace and silk. "I'll see youlater, Kitty, " and without further word she returned to her own room. 

And later, when Marie had been dismissed, Patty crept back to LadyHamilton, a very different Patty, indeed. Her hair fell in two longbraids, with curly tails; a dainty dressing-gown enveloped her slightfigure; and on her bare feet were heelless satin slippers. She found LadyKitty in an armchair before the wood fire, awaiting her. 

Patty threw a big, fat sofa pillow at her friend's feet, and settledherself cosily upon it. 

"Well, girlie, " said Lady Hamilton, "come to the story at once. Whathappened to you as a grown-up?"

"What usually happens to grown-ups, I suppose, " said Patty, demurely;"the Earl of Ruthven proposed to me. "

"What!" cried Lady Hamilton, starting up, and quite upsetting Patty fromher cushion. 

"Yes, he did, " went on Patty, placidly; "shall I accept him?"

"Patty, you naughty child, tell me all about it at once! Oh, what shall Isay to your father and mother?"

Patty grinned. "Yes, it was all your fault, Kitty. If I hadn't worn yourgown, he would never have dreamed of such a thing. "

"But, Patty, it _can't_ be true. You must have misunderstood him. "

"Not I. It's my first proposal, to be sure; but I know what a man meanswhen he says he loves me and begs me to call him by his first name. And Idid--twice. "

Patty went off in shrieks of laughter at the remembrance of it, and sherocked back and forth on her cushion in paroxysms of mirth. 

"Patty, behave yourself, and tell me the truth. I've a mind to shakeyou!"

"I _am_ shaking, " said Patty, trying to control her voice. "And I _am_telling you the truth. His first name is Sylvester. Lovely name!"

"Where did this occur?"

"In the rose garden. Oh, right near the terrace. Not a dozen yards awayfrom you all. I'm sure if you'd been listening, you could have heard mesay, 'Sylvester--_Sylvester!_'"

Again Patty went off in uncontrollable merriment at this recollection, and Lady Kitty had to laugh too. 

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him to wait till to-morrow, and he'd probably change his mind. And I see my trunks have come, so he surely will. You see he proposed tothat long-tailed gown and jewelled tiara I had on----"

"It wasn't a tiara. "

"Well, it looked something like one. I'm sure he thought it was. Hedoubtless wants a dignified, stately Lady Ruthven, and he thought I was_it_. Oh, Kitty! if you could have heard him. "

"I don't think it's nice of you, to take him that way. "

"All right, I won't. But I'm not going to take him at all. Why, Kitty, when he sees me to-morrow in my own little pink muslin, he won't know me, let alone remembering what he said to me. "

"Patty, you're incorrigible. I don't know what to say to you. But I hopeyour parents won't blame me for this. "

"Of course they won't, Kitsie. You see it was an accident. A sort of caseof mistaken identity. I don't mind it so much now that it's over, but Iwas scared stiff at the time. Only it was all so funny that it swallowedup my scare. Now I'll tell you the whole story. "

So Patty told every word that the Earl had said to her during theevening, in the ballroom and on the terrace. And Lady Hamilton listenedattentively. 

"You were not a bit to blame, dear, " she said, kindly, when the tale wasfinished. "I don't think you even flirted with him. But it's trulyextraordinary that he should speak so soon. "

"It was on the spur of the moment, " declared Patty, with conviction. "Youknow, moonlight and roses and a summer evening have a romantic influenceon some natures. "

"What do you know of a romantic influence, you baby. Hop along to bed, now, and get up in the morning your own sweet, natural self--without athought of Earls or moonlight. "

"I will so, " said Patty; "I didn't like it a bit, except that it was allso funny. Won't Nan howl?"

"She may, but I'm afraid your father will be annoyed. You know you're inmy care, Patty. "

"Don't you worry. I'll tell Daddy all about it. And I rather guess itwill make him laugh. "

CHAPTER IX

AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT

It was the custom at Herenden Hall to serve morning tea to the guests intheir rooms. 

When Patty's tray was brought, she asked to have it taken into LadyHamilton's room, and the two friends chatted cosily over their toast andteacups. 

Lady Kitty, with a dainty dressing-jacket round her shoulders, was stillnestled among her pillows, while Patty, in a blue kimono, curled up, Turk-fashion on the foot of the bed. 

"It's a gorgeous day, " observed Patty, stirring her tea, which she wastrying to sip, though she hated it. "I'll be glad to explore that lovelyrose garden without horrid old moonlit Earls. "

"It's a wonderfully fine place, Patty; you really must go over theestate. I'll show you round myself. "

"Thank you, " said Patty, airily, "but I believe I have an engagement. Mr. Snowden, or Snowed on, or Snowed under, or whatever his name is, kindlyoffered to do that same. "

"Yes, and he'll kindly withdraw his offer when he sees you in your ownrightful raiment. I've a notion to put you in a pinafore, and give you aTeddy Bear to carry. There's no keeping you down any other way. "

"Oh, don't be alarmed. I've no designs on the young men. I like the boysbetter, anyhow. That Jack Merivale is a chummy kind of a youth. That'sthe sort I like. Rest assured I won't trouble that wretched Earl. I won'teven speak to him, and I'll make over to you whatever interest he maydeign to show in me. "

"As one Humpty Dumpty said, 'I'd rather see that on paper. '"

"So you shall, " said Patty, and setting down her unfinished tea, she flewto the writing table. 

Perching herself on the corner of the desk chair, she laid out a sheet ofLady Herenden's crested note paper, and took up a pen. "Shall I write theagreement as I please?" she said, "or will you dictate it?"

"I'll dictate, " said Lady Kitty, smiling lazily at the foolery. But asshe paused between sentences, Patty put in parentheses of her own, andwhen finished the remarkable document read thus:

 "I, the undersigned, being of (fairly) sound mind, do hereby of my own free will (coerced by one Lady Hamilton) relinquish all interest or concern in the (illustrious) personage known as Sylvester, Earl of Ruthven (but I do think he has a lovely name), and should he show any interest in me, personally, I promise (gladly) to refer him to (the aforesaid) Lady Hamilton (though what she wants of him, I don't know!), and I hereby solemnly promise and agree, not to seek or accept any further acquaintance or friendship with the (Belted) gentleman above referred to. 

 "Furthermore, I (being still of sound mind, but it's tottering) promise not to talk or converse with the (Sylvester! _Sylvester!_) Earl of Ruthven, beyond the ordinary civilities of the day (whatever that may mean!), never to smile at him voluntarily (I can't help laughing at him), and _never_ to wave my eyelashes at him across the table. (_Why_ does she think I'd do that?)

 "Witness my hand and seal, "PATRICIA FAIRFIELD. "

("Lady Patricia would sound great! Wouldn't it?")

"There, Kitty Cat, " said Patty, tossing the paper to Lady Hamilton, "there's your agreement, and now, my dreams of glory over, I'll go and'bind my hair and lace my bodice blue. ' I always wondered how people bindtheir hair. Do you suppose they use skirt braid?"

But Lady Kitty was shaking with laughter over Patty's foolish "document"and offered no reply. 

An hour or so later, Patty presented herself for inspection. 

She wore a pale blue dimity, whose round, full blouse was belted with asoft ribbon. The skirt, with its three frills edged with tiny lace, camejust to her instep, and disclosed dainty, patent-leather oxfords. 

Her golden braids, crossed and recrossed low at the back of her head, were almost covered by a big butterfly bow of wide white ribbon. In fact, she was perfectly garbed for an American girl of eighteen, and thecostume was more becoming to her pretty, young face than the trained gownof the night before. 

Lady Hamilton was still at her dressing table. 

"I feel quite at ease about you now, " she said, looking up. "Nobody willpropose to you in that rig. They'll be more likely to buy you a doll. I'mnot nearly ready yet, but don't wait. Run along downstairs, you'll findplenty of people about. "

Slowly Patty descended the great staircase, looking at the pictures andhanging rugs as she passed them. 

"For mercy's sake, who is that?" was Lady Herenden's mental exclamationas the girl neared the lower floor. 

"Good-morning, Lady Herenden, " cried Patty, gaily, as she approached herhostess. "Don't look so surprised to see me, and I'll tell you all aboutit. "

"Why, it's Miss Fairfield!" exclaimed the elder lady, making room forPatty on the sofa beside her. 

"Yes, and I really owe you an explanation. You see, my boxes didn't comelast night, and I had to wear one of Lady Hamilton's gowns at dinner. Icouldn't tell you so, before all the guests, and so you didn't know methis morning in my own frock. "

"It's astonishing what a difference it makes! You look years younger. "

"I am. I'm not quite eighteen yet, and I wish you'd call me Patty, won'tyou?"

"I will, indeed, " said Lady Herenden, answering the pretty smile thataccompanied the request. "I knew Kitty Hamilton said you weren't out yet, and so, when I saw you last night, I just couldn't understand it. But Ido now. Have you breakfasted, dearie?"

"Yes, thank you. And now, I want to go out and see the flowers, and thedogs. May I?"

"Yes, indeed. Run around as you like. You'll find people on the terraceand lawn, though there are no girls here as young as yourself. "

"That doesn't matter. I like people of all ages. I've friends from fourto forty. "

"I'm not surprised. You're a friendly little thing. Be sure to go throughthe rose orchard; it's back of the rose garden, and you'll love it. "

Hatless, Patty ran out into the sunshine, and, strolling through the rosegarden, soon forgot all else in her delight at the marvellous array ofblossoms. 

As she turned a corner of a path, she came upon two men talking together. They were Lord Ruthven and Lord Herenden's head gardener. 

"Yes, " his lordship was saying, "you've done a good thing, Parker, ingetting that hybrid. And this next bush is a fine one, too. Is it aBaroness Rothschild?"

"No, " said Patty, carelessly joining in the conversation, "it's aCatherine Mermet. "

"So it is, Miss, " said the gardener, turning politely toward her, butLord Ruthven, after a slight glance, paid no attention to the girl. 

"Are you sure, Parker?" he said. "The Mermets are usually pinker. "

"He doesn't know me! What larks!" thought Patty, gleefully. "I'll tryagain. "

"Where is the rose orchard, Parker?" she asked, turning her full facetoward the gardener, and leaving only the big white bow to greet theEarl. 

Something in her voice startled Lord Ruthven, and he wheeled quicklyabout. "It is--it can't be--Miss Fairfield?"

"Good-morning, my lord, " said Patty, with cool politeness. "This, ofcourse, " she thought to herself, "is the civility of the day. "

"I will show you the rose orchard, " went on the Earl. "Come with me. "

"No, thank you, " said Patty, turning again to the gardener. She wasabsurdly placed, and she felt a little embarrassed. But, on the otherhand, she had pledged her word, and a silly performance it was! But shewould keep it, at least until Lady Hamilton released her from herpromise. Patty's ideas of honour were, perhaps, a little strained, butshe took the promise of that burlesque document as seriously as if it hadbeen of national importance. And now she was in a dilemma. To refuse towalk with the Earl was so rude, and yet to talk with him was to break herpledged word. 

The gardener went on about his work, and the other two stood silent. Forthe first time in her life, Patty had a really difficult situation tocope with. If she could have laughed and talked naturally, it would havebeen easy to explain matters. But that absurd paper sealed her lips. Oh, why had she been so foolish?

She did not look at the Earl, but he gazed fixedly at her. 

"I don't understand, " he said. "Why are you so changed from lastevening?"

Patty thought hard. She was allowed the "civilities of the day, " so shemust depend on those. 

"Isn't it a charming morning?" she said, without, however, turning towardthe man at her side. 

"It is indeed. But why are you such an enigma? Are all Americans sopuzzling?"

"And isn't the rose garden wonderful?" went on Patty, still looking offin the distance. 

"Wonderful, of course. Please look at me. I believe, after all, you'reMiss Fairfield's younger sister! Ah, I have guessed you at last!"

Patty still looked straight ahead, but an irrepressible smile dimpled thecorners of her mouth. 

"Do you think it will rain?" she said. 

"By Jove, I won't stand this!" cried the Earl, impetuously. "I know youare yourself--the Miss Fairfield I talked with last night--but why you'remasquerading as a schoolgirl, I don't know!"

At this Patty could restrain her mirth no longer, and her pretty laughterseemed to appease the Earl's irritation. 

"Am I not fit to be looked at, or spoken to?" he said, more gently; "andif not, you must at least tell me why. "

"I can't tell you why, " said Patty, stifling her laughter, but stillgazing at the far-away hills. 

"Why can't you? Have you promised not to?" The Earl meant this as a jest, little thinking it was the truth, but Patty, now nearly choking withmerriment, said demurely, "Yes, sir. "

"Nonsense! I'm not going to eat you! Look at me, child. "

"I can't, " repeated Patty, in a small voice, and holding her wilful, golden head very straight, as she stared firmly ahead. 

"Whom did you promise?"

"You have no right to ask. "--"That, " said Patty to herself, "is anordinary _incivility_, but I can't help it!"

"I have a right to ask! And I don't care whether I have or not. You're amischief, and I won't stand any more of your chaff. Who made you promisenot to speak to me, or look at me?"

The Earl, quietly, but with a decided air, moved around until he facedPatty, and the laughing blue eyes were so full of fun that he laughedtoo. 

"You ridiculous baby!" he cried; "what are you, anyway? One night, acharming young woman, the next day, a naughty child. "

"I'm _not_ naughty! Nobody made me promise. I did it of my own freewill. "

"But whom did you promise?"

"Lady Hamilton, " said Patty, remembering all at once that the matter wasto be referred to her. 

"Oho! Well, now, see here. You just break that promise, as quick as youcan, and I'll make it square with Lady Hamilton. "

"Will you?" said Patty, drawing a long sigh of relief. "And will you blotout last evening, and pretend it never was, and begin our acquaintancefrom now?"

"I will, " said the Earl, looking at her, curiously, "if you will tell mewhy you seem to have a dual personality. "

Then Patty explained her appearance at dinner in Lady Hamilton's gown, and to her pleased surprise, the Earl laughed long and loudly. 

"Best joke ever!" he declared; "a baby like you giving an imitation ofthe 'belle of the ball'!"

"I'm not so infantile, " said Patty, pouting a little, for the Earl nowtreated her as if she were about twelve. 

"You are!" he declared. "You ought to be in the schoolroom eating breadand jam. "

"I'd like the bread and jam well enough, for I'm getting hungrier everyminute. "

"Well, it's an hour yet to luncheon time; come along and I'll show youthe rose orchard. It may make you forget your gnawing pangs of hunger. "

On pleasant terms, then, they went through the gate in the high hedgethat surrounded the enclosure. The rose orchard was unique. It hadoriginally been a fruit orchard, and as most of the trees were dead, andmany of them fallen, roses had been trained over their trunks andbranches. The gorgeous masses of bloom covered the old gnarled wood, andthe climbing roses twined lovingly around branches and boughs. Here andthere were rustic seats and arbours; and there were many bird-houses, whose tiny occupants were exceedingly tame and sociable. Several otherguests were walking about, and Patty and the Earl joined a group whichincluded their host and hostess. 

"How do you like it?" said Lady Herenden, drawing Patty's arm through herown. 

"It's the most beautiful place since the Garden of Eden, " said Patty, soenthusiastically that everybody laughed. 

Then Mr. Snowden sauntered up, and reminded Patty of her promise to gowalking with him. 

"You haven't seen the deer park yet, " he said, "nor the carp pond; thoughI believe the carp are merely tradition. Still, the pond is there. "

"Run along, child!" said Lady Herenden. "You'll just about have time fora pleasant stroll before luncheon. "

Patty was greatly relieved when Mr. Snowden made no reference to her ageor her costume. He treated her politely and chatted gaily as he led heraround to see all the picturesque bits of woodland and meadow. Themagnificent old place showed its age, for it had not been undulyrenovated, though everything was in good order. 

They went into the old church, which was on the estate, they visited thefarmhouses and stables, and Patty found Mr. Snowden a kind andentertaining guide. 

CHAPTER X

A MOMENTOUS INTERVIEW

The rest of their stay at Herenden Hall passed off delightfully. Pattyfitted into her own niche, and everybody liked the natural, unaffectedyoung girl. 

She and Jack Merivale became good chums, and went fishing together, androwing on the pond like old cronies. 

It was Patty's nature to make friends quickly, and during her stay inKent, she had a royal good time. Lord Ruthven talked over the matter withLady Hamilton, and as he chose to consider it all a great joke onhimself, she also took his view of it. As for Patty, she was so engrossedwith other people that she nearly forgot all about the moonlight episode. 

Only sometimes, when she chanced to catch sight of Lord Ruthven, shewould say to herself, "Sylvester, _Sylvester!_" and then turn away tohide her laughter. 

They stayed over until Tuesday, and then took the noon train back toLondon, Lady Herenden expressing an earnest wish that Patty would visither again. Lady Kitty and Patty reached the Savoy duly, and Mr. Fairfieldinvited the returned travellers to dinner in the great Restaurant. Thiswas a treat in itself, and Patty gleefully ran up to her room to dressfor dinner. 

"Lend me one of your gowns to wear, Kitty?" she said, roguishly, lookingin at her friend's door. 

"Go away, you bad child. You're not in my care, now. I shall confess allto your father to-night at dinner, and then I've done with you. "

"You've chosen a wise time, " said Patty, sagely. "Father's alwaysespecially good-natured at dinner. "

"Let us hope he will be, " said Lady Hamilton, who was really a littleanxious about it all. But she need not have been, for when the story wastold, both Mr. And Mrs. Fairfield looked upon it as a huge joke. 

Nan, especially, was almost convulsed with laughter at the account Pattygave of the moonlight scene, and her tragic repetition in a stage whisperof "Sylvester, _Sylvester!_" was truly funny of itself. 

"It couldn't be helped, " said Mr. Fairfield, "and it was in no way yourfault, Lady Hamilton. It would have been a pity to shut Patty in her roomon such a gala occasion, and no one could foresee that she was going tothrow herself at the Earl's head!"

"Father!" exclaimed Patty, "I didn't do any such thing! He threw himselfat my feet, if you please. "

"Well, it's all right, chickabiddy, but don't let it happen again. Atleast, not for many years, yet. I suppose some time, in the far future, Ishall be asked to be a father-in-law to a Duke or a Count, but let's putit off as long as possible. "

"Then Nan will be Dowager Duchess, " cried irrepressible Patty, "won'tthat be fun!"

"I can do it, " said Nan, with an air of self-satisfaction that made themall laugh. 

"I'm glad you exonerate me, " said Lady Hamilton, with a sigh of relief. "And since I let Patty appear too old, I'm going to average matters inthis way. Next week is the child's birthday, and I want to give her achildren's party, if I may. You and your husband may come, Mrs. Fairfield, if you'll both dress as children of tender years. "

"We'll do it, " cried Mr. Fairfield. "This is an inspiration of yours, Lady Hamilton, and will, as you say, quite even things up. "

Then plans were speedily made for the children's party. It was only aweek to Patty's birthday, but Lady Kitty said that was long enough aheadto send invitations to an afternoon affair. 

For the party was to be held from three to six, and each guest was askedto dress as a small child. Patty put considerable thought on her owncostume, for she said her eighteenth birthday was an important occasion, and she must do it honour. 

She finally decided on a quaint little Kate Greenaway dress, andbig-brimmed hat of dark green velvet with white feathers tumbling overits brim. The frock was ankle length and short-waisted and she woreold-fashioned little slippers, with crossed ribbons, and black lacemitts. A shirred silk workbag hung at her side, and she carried a tinyparasol. 

A few days before the party, Patty had an inspiration. It came to hersuddenly, as most inspirations do, and it was so startling that it almosttook her breath away. 

"I _can't_ do it, " she said to herself, one minute; and "I _will_ do it, "she said to herself the next. 

Not daring to think long about it lest she lose her determination, shestarted that very afternoon on her surprising errand. 

She had the carriage to herself, for she had been to tea with a friend, and on her way home she asked the coachman to stop at a house in CarltonTerrace. 

Reaching the house, Patty sent her card in by the footman, and awaitedresults with a beating heart. 

The footman returned to the carriage door, saying, Sir Otho Marklehamwould be pleased to see Miss Fairfield, and resolutely crushing down hertimidity, Patty went in. 

She was ushered into a large and formal drawing-room, and waited there afew moments alone. 

She wished she had been asked into a library, or some more cosy room, forthe stiff hangings, and massive furniture were oppressive. But she had notime for further thought, for Sir Otho entered the room. 

He bowed with exceeding courtesy, but with a surprised air, which wasindeed only natural. 

Frightened almost out of her wits, Patty extended her hand, and thoughshe tried to conquer her embarrassment, her voice trembled, as she said:"How do you do, Sir Otho? I've come to see you. "

She tried to speak jauntily, but there was a queer little break in hervoice. 

"So I perceive, " said Sir Otho, coldly. "May I ask why I have thishonour?"

This was too much for Patty. Her nerves were strained almost to thebreaking point, and when Sir Otho spoke so repellently, she realised howfoolish her little plan had been, and how hopeless was her dream ofreconciling this dreadful old man and his daughter. Partly, then, becauseof her overwrought nerves, and partly because of the downfall of hercherished hopes, Patty burst into tears. 

She rarely cried, almost never, unless at some injustice or undeservedunkindness. But when she did cry, it was done as she did everything else, with a whole-souled enthusiasm. 

Utterly unable to control herself, for a few moments she sobbed, andshook in paroxysms of emotion. 

The old gentleman fairly danced around. 

"Bless my soul!" he exclaimed; "what is the matter? What does this mean?Did you come into my house for the purpose of having a fit of hysterics?"

Now Patty wasn't a bit hysterical; it was merely a sudden blow ofdisappointment, and she would have been over it in a moment, but that SirOtho made matters worse by storming at her. 

"Stop it, do you hear? I won't have such goings on in my house! You are amadwoman!"

As Patty's sobs grew quieter, and she sat softly weeping into an alreadysoaked handkerchief, her host's mood seemed to change also. 

"When I consented to see Miss Patricia Fairfield, " he said, quoting hername as it appeared on the card she had sent in, "I didn't know I was tobe subjected to this extraordinary treatment. "

"I d-didn't know it e-either, " said Patty, wiping her eyes, and trying tosmile. Then, as she saw Sir Otho's hard old face beginning to soften alittle, she smiled at him through her tears. 

"There, there, my dear, don't cry, " he said, with a clumsy imitation ofgentleness. "Shall I ring for a maid? Will you have some sal volatile?"

"No, " said Patty, trying hard to check her sobs; "no, I will go away. "

"But what's it all about?" said the bewildered old man. "What made youcry?"

"You did, " said Patty, with such suddenness that he nearly fell over. 

"I? Bless my soul! What did I do?"

"You were so c-cross, " said Patty, weeping afresh at the remembrance ofhis cold looks. 

"Well, never mind, child, I won't be cross again. Tell me all about it. "

Surely Sir Otho was melting! Patty sagaciously believed he was touched byher tears, so made no desperate effort to stop them. 

"I c-can't tell you now. You're not in a k-kind m-mood. "

"Yes, I am; try to tell me, my dear child. "

Patty thought she had never known any one who could turn from anger tokindness so suddenly, but she resolved to strike while the iron was hot. 

"It's about K-Kitty, " she said, still sobbing, but peeping out frombehind her handkerchief to see how he took this broadside. 

"I supposed so, " he said, with a sigh. "Well, what about her?"

"She's your daughter, you know, " went on Patty, growing more daring, asshe slyly watched the old gentleman's expression. 

"Is she, indeed? I'd forgotten the fact. "

This, though in a sarcastic tone, was better than his usual disavowal ofthe relationship. 

"And did you stop in here, and treat me to this absurd scene, just toinform me concerning my family tree?"

"N-no, " said Patty, resorting to tears again. "I stopped in, to--to askyou s-something. "

"Well, out with it! Are you afraid of me?"

This nettled Patty. 

"No, " she said, starting to her feet. Her tears had stopped now, and hereyes were blazing. "No! I am not afraid of you! I'm sorry I broke down. Iwas foolishly nervous. But I'm over it now. I came in here, Sir OthoMarkleham, to ask you to make peace with your daughter, and to propose toyou a pleasant way to do so. But you have been so cross and ugly, sosarcastic and cruel, that I see the utter hopelessness of trying toreconcile you two. I was foolish even to think of it! Lady Kitty isgentle and sweet in many ways, but she has inherited your obstinate, stubborn----"

"Pigheaded, " suggested Sir Otho, politely. 

"Yes! Pigheaded disposition, and though, as the older, you ought to makethe advance, you'll never do it--and she never will--and--so----"

Patty broke down again, this time from sheer sadness of heart at theirrevocable state of things. 

Her face buried in her handkerchief, to her great surprise she felt akindly touch on her shoulder. 

"Don't condemn me too soon, little one; and don't condemn me unheard. Suppose I tell you that some of my ideas have undergone a change sinceMiss Yankee Doodle has taken it upon herself to scold me. "

"Oh!" said Patty, rendered almost breathless with amazement at the kindtone and the gentle touch. 

"But suppose it's very hard for an old man like me to uproot somefeelings that have grown and strengthened with the passing years. "

"But if they're bad and unworthy feelings, you _want_ to uproot them!"cried Patty. 

"Yes, " said Sir Otho, "I do. And though my irascible and taciturn naturewon't let me admit this to any one else, I'll confess to you, Miss YankeeDoodle, I do want to pull them up, root and branch. "

Sir Otho looked so brave and manly as he made this confession, which wastruly difficult for him, that Patty grasped his hand in both hers, andcried: "Oh, what a _splendid_ man you are! I'll _never_ be afraid of youagain!"

"You _weren't_ afraid of me, child. That's why your words had weight withme. You fearlessly told me just what I was, and I had the grace to beashamed of myself. "

"Never mind that now, " said Patty, eagerly. "Do you want to be friendsagain with Kitty?"

"More than anything on earth. "

"Well, then, let me manage it; and do it the way I want you to, willyou?"

Patty's voice and smile were very wheedlesome, and Sir Otho smiled inresponse, as he said:

"You've surely earned the right to manage it. How shall it be done? WillKitty meet me halfway?"

"I think she will, " said Patty, slowly. "But she's not very tractable, you know. Indeed, Sir Otho, she's such a contrary-minded person, that ifshe knew you wanted to be kind to her, she'd likely run away. "

"Miss Patricia, " said Sir Otho, gravely, "you can't tell me anythingabout my daughter Catharine that I don't already know. And she is, indeed, contrary-minded, on occasion. As you so justly observed, sheinherits my obstinate and cross-grained disposition. "

"And yet she's so lovely to look at, " sighed Patty. 

"Ah, well, she didn't get her good looks from me, I'll admit. "

"I think she did, " said Patty, looking critically at the fine old face, with a thoughtful gaze that was very amusing. 

"Well, are you going to detail to me the plan of this rather difficultcampaign?"

"Yes, I am. And I hope you'll see it as I do. "

"If I don't, I have little doubt but you can change my views. Will youhave time to drink a cup of tea with me? We can plan so much more cosilyover the teacups. "

"Yes, I will, " said Patty, consulting her watch. 

"Then let us have it served in the library, and not in this depressingroom, which you must associate with stormy outbursts of woe. "

Patty laughed, and followed the stately old gentleman into the library, where tea was soon served. 

[Illustration: "'How _much_ pleasanter this is than squabbling'"]

"One lump?" said Patty, holding the sugar-tongs poised over a teacup, while she put her head on one side and smiled at her host. 

"Two, please. It's delightful to have some one make my tea for me, andyou do it very prettily. "

"But, alas!" said Patty, in mock despair, "I'll soon be supplanted here, by that 'obstinate, cross-grained' Lady Kitty. "

"Why are you so sure she'll come back here to live?"

"Just give her the chance, and see, " said Patty, wagging her headsagaciously, as she poured her own tea. 

"How _much_ pleasanter this is than squabbling, " she observed, glancinghappily at her host. 

"Yes, or crying, " said he, a bit teasingly, and Patty blushed. 

"That's past history, " she said; "and _now_ I'll tell you my plan. "

The details of the plan kept them both talking for some time, and thenPatty had to hurry away to reach home at her appointed hour. 

"Now, I won't see you again until then, " she said, as they parted at thedoor. "But I know you won't fail me. "

"Not I!" said Sir Otho, and with his hand on his heart, he made aprofound bow, and Patty drove homeward in the happiest mood she had knownfor many a day. 

CHAPTER XI

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

Patty's birthday party was a great success. 

As a rule, young people love a "dress-up" party, and the guests allentered into the spirit of the thing. 

Lady Hamilton was in her element. 

For the occasion, she had engaged a large salon, and aside from thepretty floral decorations, there were dolls and Teddy Bears and rockinghorses, and all sorts of children's toys and games. On the walls hungbright-colored prints, intended for nursery use, and little, low chairsand ottomans stood about. 

Of course, Lady Hamilton, as hostess, did not dress like a child, butwore one of her own lovely, trailing white house-gowns. 

When the guests arrived they were shown to dressing-rooms, wherewhite-capped nurses awaited them, and assisted them to lay aside theirwraps. 

Then led to the salon by these same nurses, the guests were presented toLady Hamilton and Patty. Such shouts of laughter as arose at thesepresentations! The young people, dressed as tiny children, came in with ashy air (not always entirely assumed), and made funny little, bobbingcurtseys. Some, finger in mouth, could find nothing to say; others ofmore fertile brain, babbled childishly, or lisped in baby-talk. 

Before many had arrived, Patty and Lady Kitty were in such roars oflaughter they could scarcely welcome the rest. 

Tom Meredith was a dear. Though a boy nearly six feet tall, he had around, cherubic face, and soft, curly hair. He wore a white dress ofsimple "Mother Hubbard" cut, the fulness hanging from a yoke, and endingjust below his knees, in lace-edged frills. White stockings, and whitekid pumps adorned his feet, and his short curls were tied at one sidewith an immense white bow. He was such a smiling, good-natured chap, andlooked so girlish and sweet in his white frock, that Patty at once calledhim Baby Belle, and the name exactly suited him. 

"Did you come all alone?" asked Lady Hamilton. 

"Yeth, ma'am, " replied Tom, rolling up his eyes in pretended diffidence. "My nurthie went to a ball game, tho I had to come all by mythelf. ButI'th a big dirl, now!"

"You are indeed, " said Patty, glancing at his stalwart proportions, "butyou're surely the belle of this ball. "

Grace Meredith was a little Dutch girl, and was charming in thepicturesque Holland headgear, and a tight-waisted, long-skirted bluegown, that just cleared the tops of her clattering wooden sabots. Shetalked a Dutch dialect, or rather, what she imagined was such, and if notreal Hollandese, it was at least, very amusing and funny. 

Mabel Hartley looked very sweet as Little Red Riding-Hood, and shecarried a little basket on her arm, which contained a real pat of butter. 

Sinclair and Bob Hartley were the Princes in the Tower, and the blackvelvet suits and white lace collars were exceedingly becoming to them. They wore wigs of long flaxen hair, and often fell into the pose of thecelebrated picture, to the delight of all who saw them. But when notposing as a tableau, they were so full of antics that Patty told themthey were more like Court Jesters than Princes. 

"Clowns, you mean, " said Bob, as with a flash of his black satin legs heleap-frogged over Sinclair's back. 

"Behave yourselves, Princes!" admonished Patty, and in a second, the twostood motionless, side by side, as in the great painting. 

"You certainly must be photographed like that, " exclaimed Lady Hamilton;and then a brilliant idea came to her and she sent a message at once to awell-known photographer to send one of his men and a camera at once. 

And so, the regular programme of the party was suspended whilephotographs of the guests were taken. Singly and in groups they weresnapped off as fast as the camera could be adjusted, and Lady Hamiltonpromised to send copies to their homes later. 

Some of the young people had hired very elaborate costumes andrepresented celebrated works of art. 

Gainsborough's "Blue Boy, " and Velasquez' "Maria Teresa, " were trulybeautiful, while Van Dyck's "Baby Stuart, " made a lovely picture. Butequally interesting were the less pretentious characters and costumes. 

Simple Simon was a favourite with all. A faded blue smock frock, and abattered old hat formed his characteristic garb, and long, straightyellow locks, and a stupid, open-mouthed expression of face made him looklike the traditional Simon. He was a boy of much original wit, and hisfunny repartee proved him, in reality, far from simple-minded. 

Little Miss Muffet was present, and Struwelpeter, and "Alice, " and amerry brother and sister had to cut up many roguish antics before theywere recognised as "The Heavenly Twins. "

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, wore a pretty Dolly Varden costume, andcarried a watering-pot, while Little Boy Blue shyly blew his horn at her. There were several Lord Fauntleroys, and Buster Browns and Rollos, andalso a great many who represented nobody in particular, but just a dearlittle child. 

Mr. Fairfield and Nan, though they had said they would come to the partydressed as children, had changed their minds, and arrived later than theothers, wearing the garb of elderly people. 

They said they were the grandparents, come to look at the children enjoythemselves. 

Nan made a very sweet old lady, with white wig, and gold glasses, whileMr. Fairfield pretended to be an old man, cross and gouty. But so funnywas his ferocious crustiness that nobody felt in awe of him. 

Led by Lady Hamilton, the boys and girls played all sorts of merrychildren's games. 

"Ring Around a Rosy, " "London Bridge is Falling Down, " "Hide theThimble, " and other such infantile entertainments proved exceedinglymirth-provoking. The big babies were continually crying over fanciedwoes, and sometimes even the historic characters grew humorouslyquarrelsome. 

At half-past four supper was served. The children were formed in pairsfor a grand march. To the strains of "The Baby's Opera" they marched toanother room, where a long table was set for them. 

At each place was a bread-and-milk set, and a mug which was lettered ingilt, "For a Good Child. "

The mugs were especially pretty ones, and were to be taken home assouvenirs. At each place was a bib with strings, and when these were tiedaround their necks, the big "children" looked absurd indeed. 

In keeping with their assumed rôles, their table manners were notimpeccable, and many fists pounded on the table, while babyish voicessaid: "Me wants me thupper, " or "Div me some beddy-butter!" But thoughthe bowls and mugs betokened infantile fare, the supper really servedincluded dainty salads and sandwiches, followed by ices, jellies andcakes, and was fully enjoyed by the healthy appetites which belong toyoung people of eighteen or thereabouts. 

After supper, they returned to the drawing-room for a dance. 

Delightful music was played, and it was a pretty sight to see the fancycostumes gracefully flit about in the dance. 

When it was nearly time to go home, one of the "nurses" came to LadyHamilton saying that a belated guest had arrived. 

"Who is it?" asked Lady Hamilton, surprised that any one should arrive solate. 

"He says he is Peter Pan, " answered the maid. 

"Show him in, at once, " said Lady Hamilton, "we surely want to see PeterPan--the boy who never _could_ grow up. "

And then through the doorway came a figure that unmistakably representedPeter Pan. 

The well-known costume of russet browns and autumn-leaf tints, the small, close cap with its single feather, and the fierce-looking dagger were allthere. To be sure, it was a much _larger_ Peter Pan than any of them hadseen in the play, but otherwise it was surely Peter. 

At first, Lady Hamilton looked completely bewildered, and then, as sherealised that it was really her own father, she turned pale and then verypink. 

Patty stood near her, and though she didn't know what might happen, shefelt sure Lady Hamilton would be quite able to cope with the situation. 

And so she was. After the first dazed moment, she stepped forward, andoffering her hand, said cordially:

"Welcome, Peter Pan! We are indeed glad to see you. We're sorry youcouldn't come earlier, but pray fall right into place with the rest ofour little guests. "

It was the nature of Sir Otho Markleham to do thoroughly whatever he didat all. 

So, now, throwing himself into the spirit of the moment, he made friendswith the young people at once. He entertained them with stories of histhrilling adventures with the pirates; he told them how he lost hisshadow, he explained all about Fairies, and soon the other guests wereall crowded about him, listening breathlessly to his talk. 

Lady Hamilton, standing a little to one side of the listening group, looked at her father. She realised at once what it all meant. She knewthat Patty had persuaded him to come, and that it meant completereconciliation between father and daughter. The whole matter could bediscussed later, if they chose, but the mere presence of her fatherbeneath her roof meant forgiveness and peace between them. 

Softly Patty came up beside her and clasped her hand. "You're a witch, "whispered Lady Hamilton, as she warmly returned the pressure. "How didyou ever accomplish this?"

"Never mind that, now, " said Patty, her eyes shining. "Are you glad?"

"Glad! Yes, only that's a short word to express my joy and my gratitudeto you. But you took a risk! Suppose I had fainted, or done somethingfoolish in my great surprise. "

"Oh, I knew you better than that, " returned Patty. "Isn't he a dear inthat Peter Pan suit? And, only think, he took off his beloved'sideboards, ' so he'd look the character better. "

"They'll soon grow again, " said Lady Hamilton, carelessly; "but what Ican't understand is why he came at all. "

"Because he loves you, " whispered Patty, "and you love him. And you'veboth been acting like silly geese, but now that's all over. "

"Yes, it is!" And Lady Hamilton gave a soft sigh of relief. Then, following her father's example, she devoted herself to her young guests, and the time passed pleasantly until their departure. 

Of course, these young people knew nothing of the state of affairsbetween "Peter Pan" and his hostess, though they soon discovered theidentity of Sir Otho. 

Soon after six, the "children" went away, declaring that it had been theevent of the season, and they had never enjoyed a party more. The threeFairfields took leave at the same time, and Lady Hamilton was left alonewith her father. 

Exactly what was said in the next half hour neither of them ever told, but when it was past, the two were entirely reconciled, and Lady Kittyhad consented to return to her father's house to live. Then she sent anote to the Fairfields, asking them all to dine with herself and herfather that evening. 

"And meantime, Kitty, " said Sir Otho, "I'll go and get out of thisfoolish toggery. "

"Yes, but save that suit to be photographed in. I must have your pictureto put with those of the other 'children. '"

Sir Otho went away, enveloped in a long raincoat, and promising to returnat the dinner hour. It was a merry dinner party that night. 

Patty had a new frock in honour of the occasion, and as she donned thepretty demi-toilette of pale green gauze, Nan said it was the mostbecoming costume she had ever worn. 

"Now that you're really eighteen, Patty, " she said, "I think you mightdiscard hair-ribbons. "

"No, thank you, " said Patty, as Louise tied her big, white bow for her. "I'll wear them a little longer. At least as long as I'm in this countrywhere Dukes and Earls run wild. When I get back to New York, I'll seeabout it. "

"Good-evening, Miss Yankee Doodle, " said Sir Otho, as he met her again atdinner. "Once more the American has conquered the English, and I would begreatly honoured by your kind acceptance of this tiny memento of theoccasion. "

As Sir Otho spoke, he handed Patty a small jeweller's box. She opened itand saw a dear little brooch in the form of an American flag. The Starsand Stripes were made of small sparkling brilliants of the three colours, and the twinkling effect was very beautiful. 

"It is lovely!" she exclaimed; "how can I ever thank you! This is one ofmy very choicest birthday gifts, and I have received a great many. "

"It is nothing, " said Sir Otho, "compared to what you have given me, " andhe glanced affectionately toward his daughter. 

And this was all he ever said by way of expressing his gratitude toPatty, but it was enough, for the deep tone of his voice, and thesuggestion of tears in his eyes, proved his inexpressible appreciation ofPatty's achievement. 

Then the matter was dropped entirely, and the conversation became generaland gay. Sir Otho proved to be as entertaining to older people as he hadbeen to the children at the party, and Lady Kitty was in her mostcharming mood. Mr. And Mrs. Fairfield quite did their share toward thegeneral entertainment, but Patty was queen of the feast. She enjoyed itall, for she dearly loved a festivity of any sort, but to-night she wasspecially happy to think that her plan had succeeded, and that she hadgiven to her dear friend Kitty what she most wanted in all the world. 

"And I trust it will not be long, " said Sir Otho, "before you will allaccept an invitation to dine with me in Carlton Terrace, with LadyHamilton presiding at my table. "

This invitation was delightedly accepted, and then they all went up tothe Fairfields' drawing-room, and Patty sang songs, and they all sangchoruses, and then, as a final surprise, came a great, beautiful birthdaycake, with eighteen lighted candles. 

Then Patty cut the cake, and there were more congratulations and goodwishes all round, and for pretty nearly the eighteenth time in her lifePatty declared it was the best birthday she had ever had. 

CHAPTER XII

SUMMER PLANS

"As usual, " said Mr. Fairfield, smiling, "the question is, what is to bedone with Patty?"

"Yes, " agreed Patty, complacently, "you and Nan are usually trying todispose of me in some way. It's lucky I'm good-natured and don't mindbeing left behind. "

"That's a pretty speech!" exclaimed Nan, "after we've begged and coaxedyou to go with us!"

"So you have, my pretty little Stepmother--so you have; and I'm justungrateful enough not to want to go. "

It was about a week after the birthday party, and the Fairfields weremaking their plans for the summer. The elders wanted to travel inSwitzerland and Germany. Patty did not want to go with them, but herdilemma was, which of several delightful invitations to accept. 

"You see, " she went on, "I'm invited to spend June in five separateplaces, each one lovelier than the other. Now I can't chop myself up intofive pieces. "

"You can chop June up into five pieces, " suggested Nan. 

"Yes, but if I go to a country house to make a good long visit, I want tostay about a month. A week here and then a week there is so unsatisfactory. However, after much thoughtful brooding over the question, I've cut outthree, and that brings my quandary down to only two places to decidebetween. "

"Lady Hamilton's being one, " observed her father. 

"Yes, Kitty's is one; and Mabel Hartley's is the other. Of course, if Ispend June with Kitty, we'll be right here in London all the time, andthough I love it, yet I love the country too. Now, if I go to Mabel's, I'll have a beautiful experience of real English country life. "

"You would enjoy it, I'm sure, " said Nan; "and I think you'd betterdecide to go to Cromarty Manor, and then, if for any reason, you don'tlike it, come back, and put in the rest of your time with Lady Kitty. "

"Nan, that's an inspiration!" cried Patty, running across the room, andclasping Nan in one of her rather strenuous embraces. 

"Look out! You'll break her!" cried Mr. Fairfield, in great pretence offear. 

"No, indeed!" said Patty, "she's too substantial. And anyway, such aclever suggestion deserves ample recognition. "

Patty sat on the arm of Nan's chair, and amused herself by twisting Nan'scurly hair into tight little spirals. 

"Stop that, Patty, " said her father; "you make Nan look like apickaninny. "

"No matter what she looks like, if it's becoming, " said Patty, serenely. "But truly, Nan, you ought to wear your hair like that; it's awfullyeffective!"

The spirals now stood out all round Nan's face, like a spiky frame, butthe good-natured victim only laughed, as she said, "Never mind me, let'sget these great questions settled. "

So, after some more talk and discussion, it was settled that Patty shouldaccept the Hartleys' urgent invitation to Cromarty Manor, for, at least, a part of June, and then, if she cared to, stay also a time with LadyHamilton. 

"It may sound silly, " said Patty, thoughtfully, "but I can't help feelingthat Mabel not only wants me to visit her this summer, but she needs me. Now, I don't mean to be conceited, but, don't you know, you can tell whenpeople seem to need you, if only in a trivial way. "

"I understand, " said Nan, quickly; "and you're not conceited a bit, Patty. Mabel does need you. She is a sweet girl, but sometimes she seemsto me the least bit morbid; no, not quite that, but verging that way. Sheadores you, and I'm perfectly sure that your companionship will do her aworld of good. "

"I hope so, " said Patty; "I love Mabel, but there is something about herI can't quite understand. "

"You'll probably find out what it is, when you're staying with her, " saidher father, "and I know, Patty, you'll do all in your power to brightenher up. The Merediths live near them, don't they?"

"Yes; only a mile or two away. And the Merediths are gay enough foranybody. If they're at home this summer, there'll be plenty of fun goingon, I'm sure. "

"Lady Hamilton will miss you a lot, " said Nan; "what does she say to yourgoing?"

"Oh, she says she'll miss me, " said Patty, "and so she will, some, butit's not like it was when she was here, alone. Now that she's settled inher father's house again, she has so much to occupy her time andattention she's never lonely. Of course, she's just as fond of me, and Iam of her, but since she's gone away from here, I don't see so much ofher. And, truly, she doesn't need me, and Mabel does. So I'll go toMabel's first, and I shouldn't be surprised if I stay there until youpeople come back from your trip. Mrs. Hartley asked me for the wholesummer, you know, but you won't be gone more than a month or six weeks, will you?"

"Not more than two months, " answered her father, "and you know, chickabiddy, if ever you want to join us, I'll send for you, or come foryou myself, whenever you say the word. Just telegraph me, and I'llrespond at once. "

"All right; I will if I want to. But there's too much fun for me incivilization to want to go wandering off to the ends of the earth. "

"And you may decide to go to Herenden Hall for a time. "

"Yes, I may. I'd love to visit Lady Herenden again, if I thought thatEarl gentleman wouldn't be there. "

"He probably won't be, " said Nan. "I daresay you scared him away fromthere forever. "

"Even so, I didn't scare him as much as he scared me, " returned Patty, "but I do hope there won't be any Earls at Cromarty. I like plain, bigboys better. "

"Those Hartley boys are fine fellows, " observed Mr. Fairfield. "YoungMeredith has more fun and jollity, but the Hartleys are of a sterlinggood sort. I like the whole family, and I'm glad, Patty girl, that you'vedecided to go there. I'll willingly leave you in Mrs. Hartley's care, andI'm sure you'll have a good time. "

"Of course I shall, Daddy, and I'll write you every day, if you want meto. "

"Not quite so often, my dear. Twice a week, will be all you'll find timefor, I'm certain. "

"Quite likely, " said Patty, who was not very fond of writing letters. 

Only a week later, Patty was to go away with the Hartleys. And a week wasnot a very long time for her preparations. There was shopping to do, andcalling, and, as Nan and Mr. Fairfield were leaving at the same time, they were to give up their hotel apartment for the present. 

But Lady Hamilton insisted that Patty must look upon Sir Otho's big housein Carlton Terrace as her own home. If she cared to run up to London fora few days at any time, she would be more than welcome at Lady Kitty's. Or she could leave there any trunks or other belongings that she wished. This greatly pleased Mr. Fairfield, for he felt more comfortable atleaving Patty, to know that she had a foothold in London, and somebody tolook after her, should she care to leave Cromarty before her parents'return. 

At last the day of departure came, and Mr. Fairfield accompanied Patty tothe station to meet the Hartleys for the journey. 

It was with a homesick heart that Patty bade her father good-bye. Somehow, she suddenly felt that she was leaving her own people to go awaywith strangers. But she knew she must not be foolish, so she bravely keptback the tears and said good-bye with a tender, if not a gay, smile. 

"It is the loveliest thing, " said Mabel, after they were settled in thetrain, "to think that you're really going with us. I wanted you to, sodreadfully, but I didn't urge it very much, for fear you wouldn't enjoyyourself with us. "

"I always enjoy myself, " said Patty, "but I know I shall be happy withyou. "

"We'll try to make you so, Miss Fairfield, " said Bob, earnestly, andPatty smiled at him, and said:

"Then the first thing you can do toward it, is to drop that formal name, and call me Patty. I'm not really grown-up enough for the other. "

"No, I don't think you are, " said Bob, as he looked at her critically. "So, as we're all to live under one roof for a time, we'll be firstnamers all round. "

"Good!" said Sinclair, "that suits me; and now, Mater, when you're ready, we'll go in to luncheon. "

Patty thought luncheon in the dining car was great fun. Only four couldsit at a table, but as Mrs. Hartley had a slight headache and did notcare to talk, she and Grandma Cromarty sat at another table, and left thefour young people to chatter by themselves. 

Everything interested Patty, from the unusual things she found on themenu to the strange sights she saw from the window. 

This was her first trip in this direction, for they were travellingtoward Leicester, and the scenes were all new to her. 

The boys were full of fun and nonsense, and Mabel was so gay and jollythat Patty began to think she had imagined the girl was of a sad nature. They all told funny stories, and made absurd jokes, and poked fun at eachother, and Patty concluded she was likely to have a very jolly summerwith the Hartleys. Back they went after luncheon to their funny parlourcar, which had double seats facing each other, with a small tablebetween. 

"Just the place for a game, " said Sinclair, as the four took their seats, two on either side of the table. 

"What sort of a game?" asked Patty. 

"Oh, I don't know; I'll make one up. " The boy took a bit of chalk fromhis pocket, and marked off the table into various sections, with a circlein each corner, and crosses here and there. 

"Now, " he explained, as he offered each player a coin, "this isn't money, you know. They're merely counters, for the time being. But when the gameis over you must all give them back to me, because they'll be money againthen. "

"But what do we do with them?" asked Patty, who was greatly interested inany game. 

"I'll show you. These places are homes, and these are wilderness. Ifyou're in the wilderness you may be captured, but if you're at home, youcan't be. "

The game was really a mix-up of parcheesi, halma, and some others; towhich were added some original rules out of Sinclair's own head. Pattyand Bob were partners against the other two, and soon the quartette weredeeply absorbed in the game. 

"You are the cleverest boy, to make this up!" cried Patty, as her sidewon, and they prepared to begin over again. 

"Oh, he often makes up games, " said Mabel. "We all do, only Sinclair'sare always the best. "

"Mine are very good, though, " observed Bob, modestly. 

"Good enough, yes, " said Sinclair; "only usually they're so difficultthat nobody can win but yourself. "

Bob made a profound bow at this compliment, and then the game went on. Itseemed impossible that they had been about five hours on the train, whenit was time to get out. They had reached Leicester, and from there wereto drive to Cromarty Manor. 

Two vehicles met them at the station. 

Into one of these, a comfortable victoria, Sinclair assisted the fourladies, and in the other, the boys rode up with the luggage. The drivewas beautiful, and Patty warmly expressed her gratitude to Mrs. Hartley, for inviting her to this delightful experience of English country life. 

"It is beautiful, " said Mrs. Hartley, looking about her. "I'm always gladto get back from London to the restful quiet of these great trees and thefar-away, peaceful hills. "

Mabel's mood had changed. She no longer laughed and jested, and thoughsweet and gentle as ever, the hint of sadness had again crept into herface, and her speech was slow and quiet. Patty adapted her mood to theother's, and it was almost in silence they drove along the country roads. 

It was a long ride, and it was nearly dusk when at last they arrived atCromarty Manor. 

An old servant came out from the Porter's Lodge to open the high irongates for them. 

He gave them a warm greeting, which seemed a heart-felt welcome, and notmerely the speech of a paid dependant, and then they drove on toward thehouse. 

The whole effect was so beautiful that it almost took Patty's breathaway. It was not a bit like Herenden Hall, it was more like an old feudalcastle. The picturesque house was of gray stone, with towers and turretsalmost entirely covered with ivy. From the ivy the birds flew in and out, and the darkness of the surrounding trees and tall shrubbery gave theplace a weird and fairly mysterious appearance. 

"You feel the charm of it, don't you?" said Mrs. Hartley, kindly, as shelooked at Patty's rapt face and serious eyes. 

"Yes, indeed, " said Patty, softly; "I can't explain it, but it casts aspell over me. Oh, I don't wonder you love it!"

But the darkness of the outer world was soon dispelled by a broad gleamof light, as the great front doors were thrown open. An old, gray-hairedbutler stood on the threshold, and greeted them with rather pompousrespect and punctilious deference. The interior was quite in keeping withthe outside view of the house. But though the old carved rafters andwainscoting were dark and heavy, cheerful lamps were in abundance, and inthe halls and drawing-rooms, wax candles were lighted also. 

At the first view on entering there seemed to be an interminable vista ofrooms, that opened one from another; this was partly the effect of theelaborate old architecture, and partly because of many long mirrors invarious positions. 

The furniture, tapestries and ornaments were all of an epoch twocenturies back, and the whole picture fascinated Patty beyond all words. 

"It's a wonderful place, " she said at last; "and after a week or two, I'mgoing to examine it in detail. But at first I shall be satisfied just tobask in its atmosphere. "

"You'll do!" cried Bob, who had just arrived. "If you hadn't appreciatedCromarty, we were going to pack you straight back to London; but you'veacquitted yourself nobly. Nobody could make a better speech than you did, and I'll wager you didn't learn it beforehand either. "

"I couldn't, " said Patty, "because I didn't know what the place was like. What few remarks you made about it seem like nothing, now that I've begunto see it for myself. "

"Yes, and you've only begun, " said Sinclair. "To-morrow, when you getfurther into the heart of it, you'll surrender to its charm as we alldo. "

"I'm sure I shall, " agreed Patty, "and, indeed, I think I have alreadydone so. "

CHAPTER XIII

CROMARTY MANOR

Life at Cromarty Manor was very pleasant indeed. 

Although Patty had not definitely realised it, she was thoroughly tiredout by her London gaieties, and the peaceful quiet of the country broughther a rest that she truly needed. 

Also, the Hartleys were a delightful family to visit. There is quite asmuch hospitality in knowing when to leave guests to themselves as thereis in continually entertaining them. 

And while the Hartleys planned many pleasures for Patty, yet there werealso hours in the morning or early afternoon, when she was free to followher own sweet will. 

Sometimes she would roam around the historic old house, pausing here andthere in some of the silent, unused rooms, to imagine romances of daysgone by. 

Sometimes she would stroll out-of-doors, through the orchards and woods, by ravines and brooks, always discovering some new and beautiful vista orbit of scenery. 

And often she would spend a morning, lying in a hammock beneath the oldtrees, reading a book, or merely day-dreaming, as she watched thesunlight play hide-and-seek among the leaves above her head. 

One morning, after she had been at Cromarty Manor for about a week, Pattybetook herself to her favourite hammock, carrying with her a book ofFairy Tales, for which she had never outgrown her childish fondness. 

But the book remained unopened, for Patty's mind was full of busythoughts. 

She looked around at the beautiful landscape which, as far as the eyecould reach included only the land belonging to the Cromarty estate. There were more than a thousand acres in all, much of which wascultivated ground, and the rest woodland or rolling meadows. Patty lookedat the dark woods in the distance; the orchards nearer by; and, in herimmediate vicinity, the beautiful gardens and terraces. 

The latter, of which there were two, known as the Upper and LowerTerrace, were two hundred feet long and were separated by a sloping bankof green lawn, dotted with round flower beds. 

[Illustration: "Often she would spend a morning lying in a hammockbeneath the old trees"]

Above the terraces rose the old house itself. The Manor was built of agrayish stone, and was of Elizabethan architecture. 

More than two hundred years old, it had been remodelled and added to byits various successive owners, but much of its fine old, original planwas left. 

Ivy clung to its walls, and birds fluttered in and out continually. 

There was a tower on either side the great entrance, and Patty loved tofancy that awful and mysterious deeds had been committed within thosefrowning walls. 

But there was no legend or tradition attached to the mansion, and all itshistory seemed to be peaceful and pleasant. 

Even the quaint old yew-tree walk, with its strangely misshapenshrubbery, was bright and cheerful in the morning sunlight, and the lakerippled like silver, and gave no hint of dark or gloomy depths. 

And yet, Patty couldn't help feeling that there was some shadow hangingover the Hartley family. They were never sad or low-spirited, butsometimes Mrs. Hartley would sigh, or Grandma Cromarty would lookanxious, as if at some unrelievable sorrow. 

The boys were always light-hearted and gay, but Mabel often had moods ofdespondency, which, while they never made her cross or irritable, were sopathetic that it worried Patty's loving heart. 

And so she lay in her hammock, gazing at the beauty all about her, andwondering what was the secret grief that harassed her dear friends. Itnever occurred to her that it was none of her affair, for Patty waspossessed of a healthy curiosity, and moreover she was innately of ahelpful nature, and longed to know what the trouble was, in a vague hopethat she might be of some assistance. 

"I know they're not rich, " she said to herself, "for the whole placeshows neglect and shabbiness; but there's something besides lack of moneythat makes Madam Cromarty sad. "

The place was indeed in a state of unrepair. Though there were manyservants, there were not enough to do all that should have been done. Thetwo gardeners did their best to keep the flowers in order, but theelaborate conventional gardens, laid out in geometric designs, andintricate paths, called for a complete staff of trained workers, and inthe absence of these, became overgrown at their borders and untidy inappearance. 

It was the same indoors. The handsome old furniture, covered with silkbrocades and tapestries, was worn and sometimes ragged in appearance. Some of the decorations showed need of regilding, and though themagnificent old carved woodwork, and tessellated floors could not bemarred by time, yet many of the lesser appointments called for renovationor renewal. The Great Hall, as it was called, had best withstood theravages of time, as it was wainscoted and ceiled in massive old oak. 

It was a noble apartment, with recessed windows and panelled walls, andacross one end was a raised platform from the back of which rose awonderfully carved chimney-piece. 

This apartment, in the palmier days of the Manor House, had been theBanqueting Hall, but as there was a smaller and more appropriatedining-room, the Hartleys used the Great Hall as a living room, and hadgathered in it their dearest treasures and belongings. Grandma Cromartyhad her own corner, with her knitting basket. In another corner was agrand piano, and many other musical instruments. In one north bay windowwas Mabel's painting outfit, and so large was the recess that it formed agood-sized studio. On the walls, hobnobbing with the ancient antlers anddeers' heads, trophies of the chase, were the boys' tennis rackets, andin the outstretched arm of a tall figure in armour, a lot of golfsticksrested against the quartered shield. 

"I suppose, " Mabel had said, when they first showed this room to Patty, "a great many people would consider it desecration to fill up this fineold place with all our modern stuff. But we're modern, and so we make thecarving and tapestries give way to us. "

"They like it, " Patty had replied. "They feel sorry for other houseswhere the carvings and tapestries have to stay back in their own oldtimes. Now hear these old rafters ring to modern music, " and seatingherself at the piano, Patty began some rollicking songs that were ofdecidedly later date than the old rafters. 

Opening from the old Banqueting Hall was the library. This had been leftjust as it was, and the shelves full of old books were a never-failingdelight to Patty's browsing nature. A gallery ran round all four sides, which was reached by spiral iron staircases, and the deep-seated windows, with their old leather cushions, made delightful nooks in which to poreover the old volumes. There were many unused rooms in the Manor House. Many unexpected alcoves and corridors, and in these the old furniture wasworn and decayed. The rooms that were lived in were kept in comfortableorder, but Patty knew, had there been more house-servants, these otherapartments would have been thrown open to light and air. 

Surely, Patty decided, the Hartleys were pinched for money, but just assurely, she thought, that could not have the effect of casting thatindefinite gloom over them which was now and then observable. And as sheidly swung in her hammock, she made up her mind to ask about it. 

"If they don't want to tell me, they needn't, " she said to herself, "butthey surely know me well enough now to know that I'm honestly interestedin their life, and not merely trying to pry into their secrets. "

But she could not quite decide which one of the family to ask about it. She would have preferred to ask Grandma Cromarty, but the old lady had acertain reserve, which, at times, was forbidding, and Patty stood alittle in awe of her. 

Mrs. Hartley was kindly and responsive, but Patty rarely saw her exceptwhen the whole family was present. In the morning Mrs. Hartley was busywith household duties, and afternoons Patty and Mabel were usuallytogether. Patty felt sure she could never ask Mabel, for though the twogirls were confidential friends, there was a sensitiveness in Mabel'sdisposition that made Patty shrink from touching on what she felt mightbe a painful subject. Then there were the boys. Bob, at home on hisvacation from college was Patty's chum and merry comrade, but sheimagined he would cleverly evade a serious question. He was alwayschaffing, and while Patty was always glad to meet him on this ground, shealmost knew he wouldn't talk seriously on family subjects. This left onlySinclair. Patty really liked Sinclair Hartley. A young man of abouttwenty, he was studying law in a nearby town, where he went everymorning, returning in mid-afternoon. 

He was kindly and courteous, and though often grave, was alwaysappreciative of a joke, and quite ready to join in any fun. But he had aserious side, and Patty had enjoyed many long talks with him on subjectsthat never would interest Mabel or Bob. 

And so she concluded that at the first opportunity, she would askSinclair what was the nature of the mystery that seemed to hang over theHouse of Hartley. 

"Ah, there, Pitty-Pat!" called a gay voice, and looking around, Patty sawBob strolling toward her across the lawn. "Want to go out on the lake andfish for pond-lilies?"

"Yes, indeed, " said Patty, twisting herself out of the hammock. "What areyou going to do with them?"

"Oh, just for the lunch table. Mabel's so everlastingly fond of them, youknow. "

Patty thought it was nice of Bob to remember his sister's tastes, and shewillingly went with him toward the lake. 

"How beautiful it all is!" she said as they went down the terrace stepsand along the lake path which led through a pergola and around a curvedcorner called "The Alcove. "

This delightful nook was a small open court of marble, adorned withpillars and statues, and partly surrounding a fountain. 

"Yes, isn't it?" exclaimed Bob, enthusiastically. "You know, Patty, thisold place is my joy and my despair. I love every stick and stone of it, but I wish we could keep it up in decent order. Heigh-ho! Just wait untilI'm out of college. I'll do something then to turn an honest shilling, and every penny of it shall go to fix up the dear old place. "

"What are you going to be, Bob?"

"An engineer. There's more chance for a fellow in that than in any otherprofession. Old Sinclair's for being a lawyer, and he'll be a good one, too, but it's slow work. "

"You ought to go to America, Bob, if you want to get rich. "

"I would, like a shot, if I could take the old house with me. But I'mafraid it's too big to uproot. "

"I'm afraid it is. I suppose you wouldn't like to live in a brown-stonefront on Fifth Avenue?"

"Never having seen your brown-stone Avenue, ma'am, I can't say; but Isuppose a deer park and lake and several thousand acres of meadow landare not included with each house. "

"No; not unless you take the whole of Manhattan Island. "

"Even that wouldn't do; unless I had taken it a few hundred years ago, and started the trees growing then. "

"No, America wouldn't suit you, " said Patty, thoughtfully, "any more thanEnglish country life would suit most of our American boys. "

"But you like this life of ours?"

"I love it; for a time. And just now I am enjoying it immensely. Oh, whatgorgeous lilies!"

They had reached the lake, and the quiet, well-behaved water was placidlyrippling against the stone coping. 

Bob untied the boat. 

"It's an old thing, " he said, regretfully; "but it's water-tight, sodon't be afraid. "

Patty went down the broad marble steps, and seated herself in the sternof the boat, while Bob took the rowing seat. 

A few of his strong pulls, and they were out among the lily pads. 

"Row around a bit before we gather them, " suggested Patty, and Bob withlong, slow strokes sent the boat softly and steadily along. 

"Isn't it perfect?" said Patty, dreamily. "It seems as if nothing couldstir me up on a day like this. "

"Is that so?" said Bob, and with mischief in his eyes, he began to rockthe boat from side to side. 

"You villain!" cried Patty, rudely stirred from her calm enjoyment; "takethat!"

She dashed light sprays of water at him from over the side of the boat, and he returned by cleverly sprinkling a few drops on her from the bladeof his oar. 

"Why did you want to kick up a bobbery, when everything was so nice andpeaceful?" she said, reproachfully. 

"I shall always kick up a bobbery, " he returned, calmly, "when you put onthat romantic, sentimental air. "

"I didn't put on any sentimental air! I was just enjoying the dreamyspirit of the lake. "

"Thank you! That's the same as saying my society makes you sleepy. "

"Nothing of the sort. And anyway, the dreamy mood has passed. "

"Yes, I intended it should. Now, let's sing. "

"All right; what?"

"The 'Little Kibosh, ' I think. That's a good song to row by. "

The young people at Cromarty Manor had already composed several songswhich seemed to them choicest gems of musical composition. 

As a rule Patty and Bob made up the words, while Mabel and Sinclairarranged the tunes. 

Sometimes the airs were adapted from well-known songs, and sometimes theywere entirely original. 

"The Little Kibosh" was one of their favourite nonsense songs, and nowPatty and Bob sang it in unison as they rowed slowly about on the lake. 

 "It was ever so many years ago, On a prairie by the sea; A little Kibosh I used to know By the name of Hoppity Lee. His hair was as green as the driven snow, And his cheeks were as blue as tea. 

 "'Twas just about night, or nearly noon When Hoppity Lee and I Decided to go for a sail to the moon, At least, as far as the sky. But instead of taking the Big Balloon, sailed in a pumpkin pie. 

 "Dear little Hoppity Lee and I Were happy and glad and gay; But the Dog Star came out as we passed by, And began to bark and bay. And the little Kibosh fell out of the pie, And into the Milky Way!

 "I fished and fished for a year and a week For dear little Hoppity Lee; And at last I heard a small faint squeak From the place where he used to be; And he said, 'Go home, and never more seek, Oh, never more seek for me!'"

CHAPTER XIV

UNCLE MARMADUKE

That very same evening Patty had a chance to speak to Sinclair alone. 

It was just after dinner, and the lovely English twilight was beginningto cast long, soft shadows of the tall cypresses across the lawn. Thevarious members of the family were standing about on the terrace, whenSinclair said, "You need some exercise, Patty; let's walk as far as thealcove. "

Patty assented, and the two strolled away, while Mabel called after them, "Don't be gone long, for we're all going to play games this evening. "

They all loved games, so Patty promised to return very soon. 

"I never saw anything like this alcove before in my life, " said Patty, asthey reached the picturesque spot and sat down upon the curving marbleseat. 

"They are often found in the gardens of old English homes. Any arched orcovered seat out of doors is called an alcove. But this is rather anelaborate one. The marble pillars are of fine design, and the whole thingis beautifully proportioned. "

"Is it very old?"

"Yes, older than the house. You know the Cromartys have lived on thisestate for several hundred years. But the original house was destroyed byfire, or nearly so, and the present house was built on the oldfoundations about the middle of the seventeenth century. If you'reinterested in these things, there are lots of books in the library, telling all about the history of the place. "

"Indeed I am interested, and I shall look up the books, if you'll tell mewhat they are. Is there any legend or tradition connected with theplace?"

"No. We have no ghosts at Cromarty Manor. We've always been a peacefulsort, except that my great uncle quarrelled with my grandfather. "

"Mrs. Cromarty's husband?"

"Yes. He was Roger Cromarty--grandfather was, I mean--and he had abrother Marmaduke. They were both high-tempered, and Marmaduke after anunusually fierce quarrel left home and went to India. But have you neverheard the story of the Cromarty Fortune?"

"No, I never have. Is it a sad story? Would you rather not tell me?"

"Why, no; it isn't a sad story, except that the conditions are rather sadfor us. But there's no reason in the world why you shouldn't hear it, ifyou care to. Indeed, I supposed Mabel had already told it you. "

"No, she never did. Will you?"

"Yes. But not here. Let us go in, and get the family all together, andwe'll give you a dramatic recital of the Great Cromarty Mystery. "

"Oh, is it a mystery story? How delightful. I love a mystery. "

"I'm glad you do, but I assure you I wish it wasn't a mystery. "

"Will it never be solved?"

"I fear not, now. But let us go back to the house, and tell the tale asit should be told. "

They found that the others had already gone into the house, and weregathered round the big table that stood in the middle of the living room. As they joined the group, Sinclair said:

"Before we play games this evening, we are going to tell Patty the storyof Uncle Marmaduke's money. "

Patty was surprised to note the different expressions on her friends'faces. Mabel seemed to shrink into herself, as if in embarrassment orsensitiveness. Mrs. Cromarty looked calmly proud, and Mrs. Hartley smileda little. 

But Bob laughed outright, and said:

"Good! I'll help; we'll all help, and we'll touch up the tale until ithas all the dramatic effect of a three-volume novel. "

"It won't need touching up, " said Sinclair. "Just the plain truth isstory enough of itself. "

"You begin it, Grandy, " said Bob, "and then, when your imagination givesout, I'll take a hand at it. "

The old lady smiled. 

"It needs no imagination, Robert, " she said; "if Patty cares to hear ofour family misfortune, I'm quite willing to relate the tale. "

"Oh, I didn't know it was a misfortune, " cried Patty. "I thought it was amystery story. "

"It's both, " said Mrs. Cromarty, "but if the mystery could be solved, itwould be no misfortune. "

"That sounds like an enigma, " observed Patty. 

"It's all an enigma, " said Bob. "Go ahead, Grandy. "

"The story begins, " said Mrs. Cromarty, "with my marriage to RogerCromarty. I was wed in the year 1855. My husband and I were happy duringthe first few years of our married life. He was the owner of thisbeautiful place, which had been in his family for many generations. Mydaughter, Emmeline, was born here, and when she was a child she filledthe old house with her happy laughter and chatter. My husband had abrother, Marmaduke, with whom he was not on good terms. Before mymarriage, this brother had left home, and gone to India. My husband heldno communication with him, but we sometimes heard indirectly from him, and reports always said that he was amassing great wealth in some Indiancommerce. "

"Is that his portrait?" asked Patty, indicating a painting of afine-looking man in the prime of life. 

"Yes, " said Mrs. Cromarty. "But the picture represents him as lookingamiable, whereas he was always cross, grumpy, and irritable. "

"Like me, " commented Bob. 

"No, " said his mother, "I'm thankful to say that none of you childrenshow the slightest signs of Uncle Marmaduke's disposition. I was onlyfifteen years old when he died, but I shall never forget his scowlingface and angry tones. "

"Was he always cross?" asked Patty, amazed that any one could beinvariably ill-tempered. 

"Always, " said Mrs. Cromarty. "At least, whenever he was here. I neversaw him elsewhere. "

"Go back, Grandy; you're getting ahead of your story. "

"Well, I tried my best to bring about a reconciliation between the twobrothers, but both were proud and a bit stubborn. I could not persuade myhusband to write to Marmaduke, and though I wrote to him myself, myletters were torn up, and the scraps returned to me. "

"Lovely old gentleman!" commented Bob. "I'm glad my manners are at leastbetter than that!"

"At last, my husband, Mr. Roger Cromarty, became very ill. I knew hecould not recover, and wrote Marmaduke to that effect. To my surprise, Ireceived a grim, but fairly polite letter, saying that he would leaveIndia at once, and hoped to reach his brother's bedside in time for areconciliation. "

"And did he?" asked Patty, breathlessly. 

"Yes, but that was all. My husband was dying when his brother came. Theymade peace, however, and arranged some business matters. "

"Oh, " cried Patty, "how glad you must have been that he did not come toolate. What a comfort all these years, to know that they did make up theirquarrel. "

"Yes, indeed, " assented Mrs. Cromarty. "But I have talked all I can. Emmeline, you may take up the narrative. "

"I'll tell a little, " said Mrs. Hartley, smiling; "but I shall soon letSinclair continue. We all know this tale by heart, but only Sinclair cando full justice to the mysterious part of it. I was only ten years oldwhen my father died, and Uncle Marmaduke came here to live. It changedthe whole world for me. Where before all had been happiness and love, nowall was unkindness and fear. None of us dared cross Uncle Marmaduke, forhis fiery anger was something not to be endured. And beside beingbad-tempered, he was erratic. He did most peculiar things, without anyreason in them whatever. Altogether, he was a most difficult man to livewith. But at my father's death he owned this estate, and we had to livewith him or go homeless. He had plenty of money, and he repaired andrestored much about the place. But even in this he was erratic. He wouldhave masons in to renew the crumbling plaster and brickwork in thecellars, while the drawing-room furniture could go ragged and forlorn. Hespent his money freely for anything he wanted himself, but was niggardlytoward mother and myself. However, he always told us that at his death weshould inherit his wealth. The estate, also, he willed to mother. Helived with us for about five years, and then was killed by a fall fromhis horse. I was a girl of fifteen then, and when he was brought in, mangled and almost dead, he called for me. I went to his bedside, trembling, for even then I feared he was going to scold me. But he couldonly speak in hesitating, disjointed sentences. It was with difficulty Igathered that he was trying to give me some information about hisfortune. I wish now I had tried to help him tell me; but at that time itseemed heartless to think of such things when the poor man was dying, andI soothed him, and begged him not to try to talk, when it was such anexertion. "

"Oh, Mother, " wailed Bob, "if you'd only listened, instead of talkingyourself!"

Mrs. Hartley smiled, as if she were used to such comments at this part ofthe story. 

"Well, " she said, "I think Sinclair may take up the recital here. Thatis, if you're interested, Patty?"

"If I'm interested! Indeed I am! It's very exciting, and I want it allnow; no 'continued in our next. '"

"We don't know the end, ourselves, " said Mabel, with such a wistful lookin her eyes that Patty went over and sat by her, and with her arm roundher listened to the rest of the story. 

"Well, then, " said Sinclair, in his grave, kindly voice, "Uncle Marmaduketried very hard to communicate to mother and Grandy something about hisfortune. But his accident had somehow paralysed his throat, and he couldscarcely articulate. But for an hour or more, as he lay dying, he wouldlook at them with piercing glances, and say what sounded like dickens!gold!"

"Did he mean gold money?" asked Patty, impulsively. 

"They didn't know, then. But they thought at the time that dickens! wasone of his angry expletives, as he was given to such language. The gold, they felt sure, referred to his fortune, which he had always declared hewould leave to Grandmother. Then he died, without being able to say anyother except those two words, gold and dickens. "

"He might have meant Charles Dickens, " suggested Patty, who dearly lovedto guess at a puzzle. 

"As it turned out, he did, " said Sinclair, serenely; "but that's ahead ofthe story. "

"And, too, " said Mrs. Hartley, "the way in which he finally articulatedthe word, by a great effort, and after many attempts, was so--soexplosive, that it sounded like an ejaculation far more than like a notedauthor. "

"Years went by, " continued Sinclair, "and Grandy and mother were leftwith the old Cromarty estate, and nothing to keep it up with. "

"We had a small income, my boy, " said his grandmother. 

"Yes, but not enough to keep the place as it should be kept. However, notrace could be found of Uncle Marmaduke's money. He was generallysupposed to have brought a large fortune home from India, but it seemedto have vanished into thin air. His private papers and belongings showedno records of stocks or bonds, no bank books, and save for a small amountof ready money he had by him, he seemed to be penniless. Of course, hewasn't; the way he had lived, and the money he had spent indicated thathe had a fortune somewhere; and, too, there was his promise to leave itto Grandy. Of course, the conclusion was that he had hidden thisfortune. "

"A hidden fortune!" exclaimed Patty, blissfully. "Oh, what a lovelymystery! Why, you couldn't have a better one!"

"I think a discovered fortune would be far better, " said Mabel, and Pattyclasped her friend's hand in sympathy. 

"At last, " said Sinclair, "a _very_ bright lawyer had a glimmering of anidea that Uncle Marmaduke's last words had some meaning to them. Heinquired of the ladies of the house, and learned that the late Mr. Marmaduke had been exceedingly fond of reading Dickens, and that he wasgreatly attached to his own well-worn set of the great author's works. 'Ah, ha!' said the very bright lawyer. 'Between those well-thumbed pages, we will find many Bank of England notes, or certificates of valuablestocks!' They flew to the library, and thoroughly searched all thevolumes of the set. And what do you think they found?"

"Nothing, " said Patty, wagging her head solemnly. 

"Exactly that! Save for a book-marker here and there, the volumes heldnothing but their own immortal stories. 'Foiled again!' hissed the _very_bright lawyer. But he kept right on being foiled, and still no hoard ofsecurities was found. "

"But what about the gold?" said Patty. "They didn't expect to find goldcoins in Dickens' books?"

"No, but they fondly hoped they'd find a mysterious paper in cryptogram, like the 'Gold Bug, ' you know, telling them to go out in the dark of themoon, and dig north by northwest under the old apple tree. "

"Don't try to be funny, Clair, " put in Bob; "go on with the yarn. You'retelling it well to-night. "

"And then, " said Sinclair, looking from one to another of his interestedhearers, "and then the years rolled by until the fair maiden, EmmelineCromarty, was of sufficient age to have suitors for her lily-white hand. As we can well believe, after a mere glance in her direction, she was thebelle of the whole countryside. Brave gallants from far and near camegalloping into the courtyard, and dismounting in feverish, haste, cried, 'What ho! is the radiant Emmeline within?' Then the old warden with hisclanking keys admitted them, and they stood in rows, that the coquettishdamsel might make a selection. "

"How ridiculous you are, Sinclair!" said his mother, smiling. "Can't youomit that part?"

"Nay, nay, fair lady. And so, it came to pass, that among the shoals ofsuitors was one who was far more brave and strong and noble than all therest. Edgar Hartley----"

Sinclair's voice broke a little as he spoke the name of his reveredfather. But hiding his emotion, he went on. 

"Edgar Hartley wooed and won Emmeline Cromarty, and in the beautiful Juneof 1880 they were wed and merrily rang the bells. Now while Edgar Hartleywas by no means wealthy, he had a fair income, and the fortunes ofCromarty Manor improved. The young couple took up their abode here, andthe Dowager Duchess of Cromarty lived with them. "

"I'm not a Duchess, " interposed Mrs. Cromarty, in her calm way. 

"You ought to have been, Grandy, " declared Bob. "You look the part, andI'm sure there's a missing title somewhere that belongs to you. PerhapsUncle Marmaduke concealed it with the rest of his fortune. "

"No, dear boy; we are not titled people. But the Cromartys are an oldfamily, and much beloved and respected by all the country round. "

"We are so!" declared Bob, with great enthusiasm. 

CHAPTER XV

PUZZLING RHYMES

"As I was saying, " continued Sinclair, "Mr. And Mrs. Hartley livedhappily at Cromarty Manor. Three beautiful children were born to them, who have since grown to be the superior specimens of humanity you seebefore you. I am the oldest, and, as I may modestly remark, the flower ofthe family. "

"Oh, I don't know, " commented Patty, looking affectionately at Mabel. 

"Well, anyway, as was only natural, the search for that hidden fortunewent on at times. Perhaps a visitor would stir up the interest afresh, and attempts would be made to discover new meaning in Uncle Marmaduke'slast words. And it was my father who succeeded in doing this. He sat inthe library one day, looking over the old set of Dickens' works, whichalways had a fascinating air of holding the secret. He had not lived herelong then, and was not very familiar with the books on the libraryshelves, but looking about he discovered another set of Dickens, a muchnewer set, and the volumes were bound in cloth, but almost entirelycovered by a gilded decoration. Wait, I'll show you one. "

Sinclair rose, and going into the library, returned in a moment with acopy of "Barnaby Rudge. " It was bound in green cloth, but so ornate wasthe gold tooling that little green could be seen. 

"Dickens--gold----" murmured Patty, her eyes shining as she realised thenew meaning in the words. 

"Yes; and, sure enough that was what Uncle Marmaduke meant. Just think!For fifteen years that set of books had stood untouched on the shelves, while people nearly wore out the older set, hunting for a clue to thefortune!"

"It's great!" declared Patty; "go on!"

"Well, this set of Dickens proved extremely interesting. Between theleaves of the books were papers of all sorts. Bills, deeds, banknotes, memoranda, and even a will. "

"Then you had the fortune, at last?"

"No such luck. The banknotes and the few securities in the books amountedto a fair sum, which was gratefully appreciated by my parents, but as tothe bulk of the fortune, it only made matters more tantalising thanever. "

"Why?" asked Patty. 

"One of the papers was a will, properly executed and witnessed, leavingall the fortune of which Uncle Marmaduke died possessed, to my mother. Then, instead of a definite statement of where this money was deposited, were some foolish jingles hinting where to find it. These rhymes would beinteresting as an old legend, or in a story book, but to find theminstead of a heap of money, was, to say the least, disappointing. "

"And did you never find the money?"

"Never. And, of course, now we never will. Remember all this happenedtwenty years ago. I mean the discovery of the papers. Of course, themoney was hidden more than thirty-five years ago. "

"And do you mean to say that you people are living here, in your ownhouse, and your own money is hidden here somewhere, and you can't findit?"

"Exactly as you state it. "

"Well! _I'd_ find it, if I had to tear the whole house down. "

"Wait a minute, Miss Impetuosity. We don't think it's in the house. "

"Oh, out of doors?"

"You're good at puzzles, I know, but just wait until you hear thedirections that came with the package, and I think you'll admit it's ahopeless problem. "

"May she see them, Mother?" said Mabel. "Will you get them out for us?"

"Not to-night, dear. I'll show the old papers to Patty, some other time;but now Sinclair can tell her the lines just as well. "

"Of all the papers in the books, " Sinclair went on, "only two seemed tobe directions for finding the money, although others vaguely hinted thatthe fortune was concealed. And still others gave the impression thatUncle Marmaduke meant to tell mother all about it; but as his death cameupon him so suddenly, of course he could not do this. On these two papersare rhymes, which we children have known by heart all our lives. One is:

 "'Great treasure lieth in the poke Between the fir trees and the oak. '

"You see uncle was a true poet. "

"What does the poke mean?" asked Patty. 

"Oh, a poke is a pocket; or a hiding-place of any sort. Of course, thisinformation sent father to digging around every fir tree and oak tree onthe place. As you know, there are hundreds of both kinds of trees, so thedirections can't be called explicit. "

"But, " said Patty, wrinkling her brow, "it says 'between the fir treesand the oak, ' as if it meant a clump of firs and only one big oak. "

"Yes; that's what has been surmised. And many a separate oak tree thatstands near a group of firs has been thoroughly investigated. But wait;there's another clue. On a separate paper these words are written:

 "'Above the stair, across the hall, Between the bedhead and the wall, A careful searching will reveal The noble fortune I conceal. '

"There, could anything be plainer than that?"

"Then the money is _in_ the house!" exclaimed Patty. 

"Take your choice. There are the two declarations. It may be he concealedthe money in one place, and then transferred it to another. Or it may behe put part in the ground, and part in the house. "

"But, 'between the bedhead and the wall, ' is so definite. There are notso very many bedrooms, you know. "

"True enough. And of course, when my father found that paper, he wentdirectly upstairs, crossed the hall, and so reached Uncle Marmaduke's ownbedroom. The furniture had been moved about, but Grandy remembered wherethe head of the bed stood in Uncle's time. They searched thoroughly, tookup flooring, took down wainscoting, and all that, to no avail. "

"Of course, they tried other 'bedheads'?"

"Yes, tell her about it, Grandy. "

"Yes, " said Mrs. Cromarty, placidly. "All the bedrooms in the house, eventhe servants' rooms, were subjected to most careful scrutiny. Although somany years had elapsed, I could remember where the various beds stoodwhen Marmaduke was with us. Behind each, we had the walls sounded, and insome cases, broken into. We even looked for pockets or receptacles ofsome sort on the backs of the headboards themselves, but never a trace ofanything could we find. "

"It's very exciting!" said Patty; "how can you all be so calm about it? Ishould think you'd be searching every minute!"

"You must remember, dear, " said Mrs. Hartley, "it's an old story to us. At first, we were indeed excited. For several years we searched almostcontinuously. Then hope began to fail, and our investigations becameintermittent. Every now and then we would make a fresh attempt, butinvariably repeated failures dampened our enthusiasm. "

"It's _so_ interesting, " sighed Patty. "Can't we get up a little of theold enthusiasm, and do some searching while I'm here?"

"Indeed, we can, " cried Bob. "Would you prefer an excavating party, withpicks and spades, or an indoor performance in the old bedrooms?"

"Both, " declared Patty. "Of course I know how absurd it is to go over theground that has already been worn threadbare, but--but, oh! if we _could_find it!"

Grandma Cromarty smiled. 

"Forgive me, dearie, " she said, "but I've heard those sentiments from allmy guests to whom we have told the story, for the past thirty-five years;and though I don't want to seem ungrateful for your interest, I feel itmy duty to warn you there is no hope. "

"Oh, yes there is _hope_, Grandy, " said Sinclair, "but there is nothingelse. There's no probability, scarcely a possibility, but we'll _never_give up hope. "

"Never!" agreed Bob; but Mabel's expression plainly showed that shehadn't the faintest glimmering of a hope. 

"It does seem so strange, " said Patty, thoughtfully, "to have the twodirections, and both so explicit. No, not explicit, they're not that, butboth so definite. "

"Hardly definite, either, " said Bob, "except that they seem to reveal thefact that there _is_ a fortune concealed about the place. Oh! it makes mefrantic! I feel so helpless. "

"There's no use storming about it, Bob, my boy, " said his mother. "And, Patty, you mustn't set us down as too mercenary in this matter. But Ithink you know that we, as a family, long for the means which wouldenable us to keep up this dear old place as it should be, and not let itsbeautiful parks and gardens go uncared for and neglected. "

"I do know!" cried Patty; "and it makes me furious to think that themoney--your own money--is perhaps within your reach, and yet--you can'tget it! Oh, why didn't Mr. Marmaduke say just where he put it!"

"He did, " said Bob, smiling. 

"Yes, so he did. Well, I'd tear up every square foot of ground on thewhole estate, then. "

"Remember, Patty, " said Sinclair, in his quiet way, "there are nearly tenthousand acres in all; and except for meadowlands and water, there areoaks and firs on nearly every acre. The fortune itself would scarcely payfor all that labour. "

"Well, then, I'd tear the house to pieces. "

"Oh, no you wouldn't, " said Mrs. Hartley; "and beside, that has almostbeen done. My husband had so much of the woodwork and plaster removed, that I almost feared he would bring the house down about our ears. And itis such a big, rambling old place, it is hopeless to think of examiningit really thoroughly. "

Patty glanced around at the great hall she was in. The groined ceiling, with its intricate carvings at the intersections; the cornice carved indeep relief, with heraldic bosses, and massive patterns; the tall columnsand pilasters; all seemed part of an old monument which it would bedesecration to break into. 

"I wonder where it is, " she said; "indoors or out. "

"I think it's out of doors, " said Sinclair. "I think uncle hid it in thehouse first, and then wrote his exquisite poem about the poke. Perhaps itwas merely a pocket of leather or canvas, that hung behind the headboardof his own bed. In that case all prying into the walls would meannothing. Then, I think, as that was only a temporary hiding-place, helater buried it in the ground between some special oak tree and fir tree, or trees. I think, too, he left, or meant to leave some more of hispoetry to tell which trees, but owing to his sudden taking off, he didn'tdo this. "

"Sinclair, " said Bob, "as our American friend, Mr. Dooley, says, 'Yeropinions is inthrestin', but not convincin'. ' As opinions, they're fine;but I wish I had some facts. If uncle had only left a cryptogram or acipher, I'd like it better than all that rhymed foolishness. "

"Perhaps it isn't foolishness, " said Patty; "I think, with Sinclair, it'slikely Mr. Marmaduke wrote the indoor one first, and then changed thehiding-place and wrote the other. But how could he do all this hiding andrehiding without being seen?"

"I went up to London every season, " said Mrs. Cromarty; "and, of course, took Emmeline with me. Marmaduke always stayed here, and thus had ampleopportunity to do what he would. Indeed, he usually had great goings-onwhile we were away. One year, he had the Italian garden laid out. Anotheryear, he had a new porter's lodge built. This was done the last year ofhis life, and as he had masons around so much at that time, repairing thecellars and all that, we thought later, that he might have had ahiding-place arranged in the wall behind the head of his bed. But, if so, we never could find it. "

"And have you dug under the trees much?" persisted Patty, who could notaccept the hopelessness of the others. 

"Dug!" exclaimed Bob, "I've blistered my hands by the hour. I've viewedfir trees and oaks, until I know every one on the place by heart. I'vetrudged a line from oaks to firs, and starting in the middle, I've dugboth ways. But I'm nearly ready to give up. Not quite, though. I'm makinga thorough search of all the books in the library, on the chance offinding some other message. But there are such a lot of books! I've beenat it for three years now, off and on, and I'm only three-quarters wayround. And not a paper yet, except a few old letters and bills. "

"I'll help you, Bob, " said Patty; "oh, I'd love to do something towardthe search, even if I don't find a thing. I'll begin to-morrow. You tellme what books you've done. "

"I will, indeed. I'll be jolly glad to have help. And you can do as muchas you like, before your young enthusiasm wears off. "

"I'll do it, gladly, " said Patty, and then they discovered that theevening had flown away, and it was bedtime. 

As they went upstairs, Mabel followed Patty to her room and sat down fora little good-night chat. 

Patty's eyes were shining with excitement, and as she took off her hairribbon, and folded it round her hand, she said:

"Even if we don't find anything, you'll be no worse off, and it's suchfun to hunt. "

"They didn't tell you all, Patty, " said Mabel, in a pathetic tone, andPatty turned quickly to her friend. 

"Why, what do you mean?"

"I mean this. Of course, we've never been rich, and we've never been ableto do for the place what ought to be done for it; but we have been ableto live here. And now--now, if we can't get any more money, we--we can'tstay here! Oh, Patty!"

Patty's arms went round Mabel, as the poor child burst into tears. 

"Yes, " she said, sobbing, "some of mother's business interests havefailed--it's all come on lately, I don't entirely understand it--but, anyway, we may soon have to leave Cromarty, and oh, Patty, how _could_ welive anywhere else? and what's worse, how _could_ we have any one elseliving here?"

"Leave Cromarty Manor! Where you've all lived so long--I mean yourancestors and all! Why, Mabel, you can't do that!"

"But we'll have to. We haven't money enough to pay the servants--or, atleast, we won't have, soon. "

"Are you sure of all this, dear? Does Mrs. Cromarty expect to go away?"

"It's all uncertain. We don't know. But mother's lawyer thinks we'dbetter sell or let the place. Of course we won't sell it, but it would bealmost as bad to let it. Think of strangers here!"

"I can't think of such a thing! It seems impossible. But perhaps mattersmay turn out better than you think. Perhaps you won't have to go. "

"That's what Sinclair says--and mother. But I'm sure the worst willhappen. "

"Now, Mabel, stop that! I won't let you look on the dark side. And, anyway, you're not to think any more about it to-night. You won't sleep awink if you get nervous and worried. Now put it out of your mind, andlet's talk about the croquet party to-morrow at Grace Meredith's. How arewe going over?"

"You and I are to drive in the pony cart, and the others will go in thecarriage. "

"That will be lovely. Now, what shall we wear?"

Thus, tactfully, Patty led Mabel's thoughts away from her troubles, forthe time, at least, and when the two friends parted for the night, theyboth went healthily and happily to sleep. 

CHAPTER XVI

THE CROQUET PARTY

The next afternoon the two girls started in the pony cart for theMerediths. 

Patty loved to play croquet, and though it greatly amused her to hear theEnglish people pronounce the word as if it were spelled _croky_, yet notto appear peculiar, she spoke it that way too. 

The party was a large one, and the games were arranged somewhat after thefashion of a tournament. 

Patty's partner was Tom Meredith, and as he played a fairly good gamethey easily beat their first opponents. 

But later on they found themselves matched against Mabel Hartley and ayoung man named Jack Stanton. Mr. Stanton was an expert, and Mabel playedthe best game Patty had ever seen a girl play. 

"It's no use, " said Patty, good-naturedly, as they began the game, "Tomand I never can win against you two. "

"Don't despair, " said Tom, encouragingly, "There's many a slip, youknow. "

The game progressed until, when Tom and Patty were about three-quartersof the way around, Mabel was passing through her last wicket and Mr. Stanton was a "rover. "

"Be careful, now, " said Mr. Stanton, as Mabel aimed to send her ballthrough the arch. "It's a straight shot, and a long shot, and you'reliable to touch the post. "

And that's just what happened. As Mabel's swift, clear stroke sent theball straight through the wicket, it went spinning on and hit squarelythe home stake. 

"Jupiter! that's bad luck!" exclaimed Jack Stanton. "They'll jolly wellbeat us now. But never mind, perhaps I can slip through yet. "

But he couldn't. The fact that they had two plays to his one, gave Pattyand Tom a great advantage. 

Tom was a clever manager, and Patty followed his directions implicitly. So they played a defensive game, and spent much time keeping Stanton'sball away from the positions he desired. The result was that Tom andPatty won, but their success was really owing to Mabel's mistake in goingout. 

The test was to win two games out of three, so with one game in favor ofPatty's side they began the next. 

Patty was considered a good croquet player in America, but in England therules of the game, as well as the implements, were so different that itseriously impeded her progress. 

The wickets were so narrow that the ball could barely squeeze through ifaimed straight, and a side shot through one was impossible. 

But all this added to the zest, and it was four very eager young peoplewho strove for the victory. 

The second game went easily to Mabel and Jack Stanton, and then thethird, the decisive one, was begun. According to the laws of thetournament, this was the final game. The opponents had already vanquishedall the other contestants, and now, pitted against each other, wereplaying for the prize. 

Patty knew in her heart she would be glad to have Mabel win it, and yet, so strong was her love of games, and so enthusiastic her natural desireto succeed, that she tried her best to beat the third game. 

All played conservatively. The partners kept together, and progressedevenly. Toward the last Jack and Mabel began to creep ahead. Tom sawthis, and said to Patty: "This is our last chance; if we plod on likethis, they'll calmly walk out and leave us. Unless we can make abrilliant dash of some sort, we are beaten. "

"I don't believe I can, " said Patty, looking doubtfully at her ball. "It's my turn, and unless I can hit Mabel's ball, clear across thegrounds, I can't do anything. "

"That's just it. You _must_ hit Mabel's ball. "

So Patty aimed carefully, and sent her ball spinning over the groundtoward Mabel's, and missed it by a hair's breadth!

"Goody!" cried Mabel, and hitting Patty's ball, she roqueted it backwhere it had come from. 

"Now here's our very lastest chance, " said Tom, with a groan of despair. "And I'm sure, Patty, I won't do any better than you did. "

Nor did he. Although not far from Jack's ball, at which he aimed, therewas a wicket in the way, which sent his own ball glancing off at anangle, and he did not hit his opponent. 

A minute more, and Jack skilfully sent Mabel's ball and then his ownagainst the home stake, and the game was over. 

The onlookers crowded up and congratulated the winners, and offeredcondolence to Patty and Tom. Patty smiled, and responded merrily. She didnot try to lay the blame on the unusual shaped wickets, or short, heavymallets. She declared that the best players had won, and that she wassatisfied. And indeed she was. 

When she saw the lovely prize that was given to Mabel, she was deeplythankful that she hadn't won it. It was a white parasol, of silk andchiffon, with a pearl handle. A really exquisite, dainty affair, and justthe very thing Mabel had wanted, but couldn't afford to buy. As for Pattyherself, she had several parasols, and so was delighted that Mabel hadwon. 

But though she truly preferred that Mabel should have the prize, she felta little chagrined at losing the contest, for like all people who arefond of games and sports, Patty loved to win. 

These feelings, though, she successfully concealed, and gave Mabel verysincere and loving congratulations. Mr. Stanton's prize was a prettyscarf pin, and Tom Meredith loudly bewailed his own misfortune in losingthis. Though, really, as the tournament was at his own home, he would nothave taken the prize had he won it, but would have passed it on to theone with the next highest record. 

The victors were cheered and applauded, and were then led in triumph tothe pretty tent where tea was being served. 

If Patty had had a shadow of regret that she had not been the honouredone, it was lost sight of in her gladness that it fell to Mabel's lot. 

"You're a plucky one, " said Tom Meredith, who was observing her closely. "You're a good loser, aren't you?"

"I don't know, " said Patty, thoughtfully. "I want to be, but do you know, I just love to win contests or games. And when I lose--I'm ashamed to sayit--but I do feel put out. "

"Of course you do! That's only natural. And that's why I say you're agood loser. If you didn't care tuppence whether you won or not, itwouldn't be much to your credit to look smiling and pleasant when youlose. But since you _do_ care, a whole lot, you're a jolly plucky girl totake it so well. Now, what can I get for you? An ice?"

"Yes, please, " said Patty, really gratified at Tom's appreciative words. 

"How long are you staying with the Hartleys?" Tom asked, as, returningwith ices, he found cosy seats at a small table for himself and Patty. 

"Two or three weeks longer, I think. But I shall hate to go away, forI've become so interested in their 'mystery, ' that I can't stop trying tosolve it. "

"Oh, you mean that old affair of the hidden fortune. I don't believethere's any at all. I think the old man who pretended to hide it wasmerely guying them. "

"Oh, no! That can't be. Why, it all sounds so real and natural. The storyof the hiding, I mean. "

"Yes, but why should he want to hide it? Why not bank it decently, likeother people?"

"Oh, because he was eccentric. People who are naturally queer or freakishare always hiding things. And I know it's silly of me, but I'm going totry to find that money. "

"I've lots of faith in your energy and perseverance, but I can't thinkyou'll succeed in that job. Better try something easier. "

"I don't think I can say I expect to succeed. But I'm going totry--and--who can tell what might happen?"

"Who, indeed? But you know, of course, that the Cromarty people have beenhunting it for nearly forty years. "

"Yes, " said Patty, and her eyes fairly blazed with determination, "yes--but I am an American!"

Tom Meredith shouted with laughter. 

"Good for you, little Stars and Stripes!" he cried. "I've always heard ofthe cleverness of the Yankees, but if you can trace the Cromarty fortune, I'll believe you a witch, for sure. Aren't there witches in that NewEngland of yours?"

"I believe there used to be. And my ancestors, some of them, were Salempeople. That may be where I get my taste for divination and solvingproblems. I just love puzzles of all sorts, and if the old Cromartygentleman had only left a cipher message, it would have been fun topuzzle it out. "

"He did leave messages of some sort, didn't he? Maybe they are moresubtle than you think. "

"I've been wondering about that. They might mean something entirelydifferent from what they sound like; but I can't see any light that way. 'The headboard of a bed against a wall, ' is pretty practical, and doesn'tseem to mean anything else. And the oak trees and fir trees are there inabundance. But that's the trouble with them, there are so many. "

"Go on, and do all you can, my child. You'll get over it the sooner, ifyou work hard on it at first. We've all been through it. Nearly everybodyin this part of the country has tried at one time or another to guess theCromarty riddle. "

"But I'm the first American to try, " insisted Patty, with a twinkle inher eye. 

"Quite so, Miss Yankee Doodle Doo; and I wish you success where my owncountrymen have failed. "

Tom said this with such a nice, kindly air that Patty felt a littleashamed of her own vaunting attitude. But sometimes Patty showed adecided tendency to over-assuredness in her own powers, and though shetried to correct it, it would spring up now and again. Then the Hartleyboys joined them, and all discussion of the missing fortune was dropped. 

It was soon time to take leave, and as it was already twilight, Sinclairproposed that he should drive Patty home in the pony cart, and Mabelshould return in the carriage. 

Mabel quite agreed to this, saying that after her croquet, she did notcare to drive. The road lay through a lovely bit of country, and Pattyenjoyed the drive home with Sinclair. She always liked to talk with him, he was so gentle and kindly. While not so merry as Bob or as TomMeredith, Sinclair was an interesting talker, and Patty always felt thatshe was benefited by his conversation. 

He told her much about the country as they drove along, described thelife and work of the villagers, and pointed out buildings or otherobjects of interest. 

They passed several fine estates, whose towering mansions could be seenhalf hidden by trees, or boldly placed on a summit. 

"But no place is as beautiful as Cromarty, " said Sinclair, and Pattyentirely agreed with them. 

"Is it true that you may have to leave it?" she asked, thinking it wiserto refer to it casually. 

Sinclair frowned. 

"Who's been talking to you?" he said; "Mabel, I suppose. Well, yes, thereis a chance that we'll have to let it for a term of years. I hope not, but I can't tell yet. But even if so, it will be only temporary. As soonas I get fairly established in my career, I hope to make money enough totake care of it all. A few years hence, when I'm on my feet, and Bob'sthrough college, it will be easier all round. But if some businesstroubles that are now impending don't blow over, there'll be no income tokeep things going, and we'll have to--to----But that _shan't_ happen!"

Sinclair spoke almost desperately, and Patty saw his fingers clencharound the reins he was holding. 

"I wonder, " said Patty slowly, for she was not quite sure how what shewas about to say would be received. "I wonder, Sinclair, if we're notgood friends enough, you and I, for me to speak plainly to you. "

The young man gave her a quick, earnest glance. 

"Go on, " he said, briefly. 

"It's only this, " said Patty, still hesitating, "my father has lots ofmoney--couldn't you--couldn't he lend you some?"

Sinclair looked at her squarely now, and spoke in low, stern tones. 

"Never suggest such a thing again. The Cromartys do not borrow. "

"Not even from a friend?" said Patty, softly. 

"Not even from a friend, " repeated Sinclair, but his voice was moregentle. "You don't understand, I suppose, " he went on, "but we wouldleave Cromarty for ever before we would stay on such terms. "

"No, " said Patty, "I don't understand. I should think you'd be as glad toaccept a friend's help as he would be to offer it. "

"If you'd do me a real kindness, Patty, you'll never even mention such anidea again. I know you mean well and I thank you, but it's absolutelyimpossible. "

"Then there's only one other way out of the difficulty, " said Patty, withan effort at lightness; "and that's to find your buried fortune. "

"Ah, that would be a help, " cried Sinclair, also assuming a gayer tone. "If you'll help us to do that, I'll set up a memorial tablet to yourcleverness. "

"Where will you set it? Between the fir trees and the oak?"

"Yes, if you find the fortune there. "

"But if I find it behind the headboard, that's no sort of a place for atablet!"

"You can choose your own spot for your Roll of Fame, and I'll see to itthat the memorial is a worthy one. "

"And will you put fresh flowers on it every day?"

"Yes, indeed; for if--I mean _when_, you find the fortune for us, thegardens will have immediate attention. "

"Then I must set to work at once, " said Patty, with pretended gravity, but in her heart she registered a mental vow to try in earnest to fulfilthe promise given in jest. 

CHAPTER XVII

THE GRIFFIN AND THE ROSE

Although the Hartleys had practically given up all hope of ever findingthe hidden money, they couldn't help being imbued with Patty'senthusiasm. 

Indeed, it took little to rouse the sleeping fires of interest that neverwere entirely extinguished. 

But though they talked it over by the hour there seemed to be nothing todo but talk. 

One day, Patty went out all by herself, determined to see if she couldn'tfind some combination of an oak tree and a group of firs that wouldsomehow seem especially prominent. 

But after looking at a score or more of such combinations, she realisedthat task was futile. 

She looked at the ground under some of them, but who could expect a markof any kind on the ground after nearly forty years? No. Unless Mr. Marmaduke Cromarty had marked his hiding-place with a stone or ironplate, it would probably never be found by his heirs. Search in the housewas equally unsatisfactory. What availed it to scan a wall or a bedsteadthat had been scrutinised for years by eager, anxious eyes? And thenPatty set her wits to work. She tried to think where an erratic oldgentleman would secrete his wealth. And she was forced to admit that themost natural place was in the ground on his estate, the location to bedesignated by some obscure message. And surely, the message was obscureenough!

She kept her promise to help Bob in his self-appointed task of goingthrough all the books in the library. This was no small piece of work, for it was not enough to shake each book, and let loose papers, if any, drop out. Some of the old papers had been found pinned to leaves, and soeach book must be run through in such a way that every page could beglanced at. 

Nor was this a particularly pleasant task. For Mrs. Hartley had made it arule that when her own children went over the old books, they were todust them as they went along. Thus, she said, at least some good would beaccomplished, though no hidden documents might be found. 

Of course, she did not request Patty to do this, but learning of thecustom, Patty insisted on doing it, and many an hour she spent in the oldlibrary, clad in apron and dust-cap. Her progress was rather slow, forbook-loving Patty often became absorbed in the old volumes, and droppingdown on the window-seat, or the old steps to the gallery, would readaway, oblivious to all else till some one came to hunt for her. 

At last, one day, her patient search met a reward. In an old book shefound several of what were beyond all doubt Mr. Marmaduke Comarty'spapers. 

Without looking at them closely, Patty took the book straight to Mrs. Cromarty. 

"Dear me!" said the old lady, putting on her glasses. "Have we reallyfound something? I declare I'm quite nervous over it. Emmeline, you readthem. "

Mrs. Hartley was a bit excited, too, and as for Patty and Mabel, theynearly went frantic at their elders' slowness in opening the old andyellow papers. 

There were several letters, a few bills, and some hastily-scribbledmemoranda. The letters and bills were of no special interest, but on oneof the small bits of paper was another rhymed couplet that seemed toindicate a direction. 

It read:

 "Where the angry griffin shows, Ruthless, tear away the rose. "

"Oh, " exclaimed Patty, "it's another direction how to get the fortune!Oh, Mabel, it will be all right yet! Oh, where is the angry griffin? Isit over a rosebush? You're only to pull up the rosebush, and there youare!"

Mabel looked bewildered. So did the older ladies. 

"Speak, somebody!" cried Patty, dancing about in excitement. "Isn't thereany angry griffin? There must be!"

"That's the trouble, " said Mrs. Hartley; "there are so many of them. Why, there are angry griffins on the gates, over the lodge doors, on themarbles in the gardens, and all over the house. "

"Of course there are, " said Mabel. "You must have noticed them, Patty. There's one now, " and she pointed to a bit of wood carving over the doorframe of the room they were in. 

"I don't care! It means something, I know it does, " declared Patty. "We'll work it out yet. I wish the boys were home. "

"They'll soon be here, " said Mrs. Cromarty. "I can't help thinking thatit does mean something--Marmaduke was very fond of roses, and it would bejust like him to plant a rosebush over his buried treasure. "

"That's it, " cried Patty. "Now, where is there a rosebush growing, andone of the angry griffins near it?"

"There probably are some in the rose garden, " said Mrs. Cromarty. "Idon't remember any, though. "

"Come on, Mabel, " said Patty, "let's go and look. I can't wait anotherminute!"

Away flew the two girls, and for the next hour they hovered about therosebushes with more energy than is often shown by the busiest of bees. 

"I wish old Uncle Marmaduke had been less of a poet, " said Mabel, as theysat down a moment to rest, "and more of a--a----"

"More straightforward, " suggested Patty. "If he'd only written a fewwords of plain prose, and left it with his lawyer, all this troubleneedn't have been. "

"Well, I suppose he did intend to make it plain before he died, but hewent off so suddenly. Oh, here are the boys. "

Sinclair and Bob came bounding down toward the rose garden, followed moresedately by their mother and grandmother. 

"Not a sign of a griffin a-sniffin' of a rose, " said Patty, disconsolately. 

"Oh, you haven't looked all round yet, " said Bob. "It's such fun to havesomething to look for besides fir trees and beds, I'm going to make aclose search. "

"Of course, " said Sinclair, "the same rose bush wouldn't be here now thatwas here thirty or forty years ago. "

"But it would have been renewed, " said Mrs. Cromarty. "We've always triedto keep the flowers as nearly as possible the same. "

"Then here goes to interview every griffin on the place, " declared Bob. "Jolly of old uncle to mark the spot with a rosebush and a griffin. That's what I call decent of him. And you're a wonder, Patty, to find theold paper. "

"Oh, that's nothing, " said Patty. "I just followed your orders about thebooks. If you'd kept at it yourself, you'd have found the same book. "

"I s'pose so. But I'm glad you helped the good work along. Oh, dear! norosebush seems to be near a griffin; and the griffins seem positivelyafraid of the rosebushes. " And try as they would, no angry griffin couldthey find, with a rosebush near it. Griffins there were in plenty; bothangry and grinning. Also were there plenty of roses, but they werearranged in well-laid-out beds, and in no case were guarded or menaced byangry griffins. 

"Never mind, " said Sinclair, as they returned to the house for dinner, "it's something to work on. I shall stay at home to-morrow and try tofind that particular rosebush, or the place where it used to be. "

"Maybe it's a stone rose, " said Patty, as she touched a rose carved instone that was part of an ornamental urn whose handles were the heads ofangry griffins. Sinclair stared at her. 

"You're right, " he said, slowly, as if grasping a great thought. "It'smuch more likely to be a rose of stone or marble, and when that'sruthlessly torn away the secret will be revealed. Oh, mother, there _is_hope!"

Patty had never seen the placid Sinclair so excited, and they all went totheir rooms to get ready for dinner, with a feeling that something wasgoing to happen. Conversation at dinner was all on the engrossingsubject. 

Everybody made suggestions, and everybody recalled various partly-forgottengriffins in odd nooks and corners, each being sure that was "just the placeuncle would choose!"

After dinner, the young people were anxious to go out and search more, but it had begun to rain, so they all went into the library and againscrutinised the old papers Patty had found. 

They looked through more books, too, but found nothing further ofinterest. 

At last, wearied with the hunt, Patty threw herself into a big armchairand declared she would do no more that night. 

"I should say not, " said Bob. "You've done quite enough in giving us thisnew start. "

Although, as Patty had said, the looking through all the old books wasBob's plan, he generously gave her the credit of this new find. Sinclairthrew himself on a long leather couch, and began to sing softly some oftheir nonsense songs, as he often did when tired out. The others joined, and for a time the fortune was left to take care of itself. 

Very pleasant were the four fresh young voices, and the elders listenedgladly to their music. 

In the middle of a song, Patty stopped, and sat bolt upright, her eyesstaring at a door opposite her as if she had never seen it before. 

"Gracious, goodness! Patty, " said Mabel, "what is the matter?"

"What is it, little one?" said Sinclair, still humming the refrain of theinterrupted song. 

Patty pointed to the door, or rather to the elaborately carved doorframe, and said slowly, "I've been reading a lot in the old architecturebooks--and they often used to have secret hiding places in the walls. Andlook at that door frame! There's an angry griffin on one jamb, and asmiling griffin on the other, and under each is a rose. That is it's afive-leafed blossom, a sort of conventional flower that they always calla rose in architecture. "

"Though I suppose, " said Sinclair, "by any other name it would look assweet. Patty, my child, you're dreaming. That old carving is as solid asGibraltar and that old griffin isn't very angry anyway. He just looksrather purse proud and haughty. "

"But it's the only griffin that's near a rose, " persisted Patty. "And heis angry, compared to the happy-looking griffin opposite to him. "

"I believe the girl is right, " said Bob, who was already examining thecarvings in question. "The rose doesn't look movable, exactly, but it isnot quite like this other rose. It's more deeply cut. "

By this time all had clustered about the door frame, and one afteranother poked and pushed at the wooden rose. 

"There's something in it, " persisted Bob. "In the idea, I mean. Ifthere's a secret hiding-place in that upright carved beam, that rose isthe key to it. See how deeply it's cut in, compared to the other; and Ican almost see a crack all round it, as if it could be removed. May I tryto get it out, Grandy?"

"Certainly, my boy. We mustn't leave a stone unturned. "

"A rose unturned, you mean. Clair, what shall we ruthlessly tear it awaywith? I hate to take a chisel to this beautiful old door. "

"Try a corkscrew, " said Mabel. 

"You mean a gimlet, " said Bob. "That's a good idea. "

Fetching a gimlet, he bored a hole right in the centre of the carvedblossom, but though it turned and creaked a little it wouldn't come out. 

"It must come, " said Sinclair. "It turns, so that proves it's meant to bemovable. It probably has some hinge or spring that is rusted, and so itdoesn't work as it ought to. We'll have to take hammer and chisel; shallwe, Grandy?"

The boys were deferential to Mrs. Cromarty, for they well knew that shewas tired of having the old house torn up to no avail. But surely thiswas an important development. 

"Yes, indeed, boys. If your uncle's words mean anything, they mean thatit must be ruthlessly torn away, if removed at all. "

For quite ten minutes the two boys worked away with their tools, endeavouring to mar the carving as little as might be, but resolved tosucceed in their undertaking. At last the wooden rose fell out in theirhands, leaving a round opening. 

Peering in, Sinclair saw a small iron knob, which seemed to be part of arusty spring. 

Greatly excited, he tried to push or turn it, but couldn't move it. 

"Anyway, we're getting warm, " he cried, and his glowing face corroboratedhis words. 

The boys took turns in working at the stubborn spring, trying withforceps and pincers to move it, until at last something seemed to giveway, and the whole front of the door jamb fell out as one panel. 

Behind it was a series of small pigeon holes one above the other, allfilled with neatly piled papers. 

Though yellow with age, the papers were carefully folded, labelled, anddated. 

"Patty!" cried Mabel, as she embraced her friend, "you've found ourfortune for us!"

"Don't be too sure, " said Patty, laughing, and almost crying at the sametime, so excited was she. "Your Uncle Marmaduke was of such uncertainways I shouldn't wonder if these were merely more files of his immortalverse. "

"They're bills, " declared Sinclair, as he ran over a packet he took froma shelf. 

"Let's look them all over systematically, " said Bob. "Let's all sit roundthe table, and one of us read out what the paper is about. Then if wecome to anything important, we'll all know it at once. "

This plan was adopted, and Sinclair, as the oldest, was chosen to read. He sat at the head of the long library table, and the others were ateither side. 

But the packets of bills, though interesting in a general way, had nobearing on the great question of the fortune. The papers were all bills. 

"Not even a bit of poetry, " sighed Patty, as Sinclair laid aside oneafter another of the receipted bills for merchandise, household goods, clothing, and labour. 

"These might interest a historian, " said Sinclair, "as they throw somelight on the prices of goods at that time. But we'll keep on, we may cometo something of interest yet. "

"I hope so, " said Bob. "I'm so anxious, that nothing less than a straightdirection to the fortune would satisfy me. "

"Well, here's something, " said Sinclair, "whatever it may mean. "

The paper he had just unfolded was a mason's bill, containing only oneitem. The bill was made out in due form, by one Martin Campbell, and wasproperly receipted as paid. And its single item read:

"To constructing one secret pocket.... Three Guineas. "

"Oh!" cried Patty, breathless with excitement. "Then there is a secretpocket, or poke as your exasperating uncle calls it. "

"There must be, " said Sinclair; "and now that we know that, we're goingto find it. Of course, we assumed there was one, but we had only thatfoolish doggerel to prove it. Now this regular bill establishes it as afact beyond all doubt. Do you know this Martin Campbell, Grandy?"

"I know there was a mason by that name, who worked here several times foryour uncle. He came down from Leicester, but of course I know nothingmore of him. "

"We'll find him!" declared Bob. "We'll make him give up the secret of thepocket. "

"Maybe he's dead by this time, " said Sinclair. "Was he an old man, Grandy?"

"I don't know, my dear. I never saw him. He worked here when I was awayin London. I fear, however, he is not alive now. "

"Oh, perhaps he is. It was only about thirty-five years ago, or forty, that he built this 'secret pocket. ' Thirty-eight, to be exact. The dateon the bill proves that. "

"Well, to-morrow you must go to see him, " said Mrs. Hartley, rising. "Butnow, my children, you must go to bed. You can't learn any more to-night, and to-morrow we will pick up the broken thread. Patty, my dear child, you are doing a great deal for us. "

"It isn't anything yet, " said Patty, "but oh, if it only leads tosomething, I shall be so glad!"

CHAPTER XVIII

THE OLD CHIMNEY-PIECE

But Sinclair's search for the old mason in Leicester was absolutelyunsuccessful. He learned that Martin Campbell had died many years ago, and had left no direct descendants. A cousin of the old mason toldSinclair all this, and said, too, that there were no books or papers oraccounts of the dead man left in existence. 

So Sinclair returned home, disappointed but not entirely discouraged. 

"We'll find it yet, " he said to Patty. "We have proof of a hiding-place, now we must discover it. "

"We will!" declared Patty. "But it's so exasperating not to know whetherthe old mason built that 'pocket' indoors or out. "

"Out, I think, " said Sinclair. "It's probably a sunken bin or vault ofbrick, made water-tight, and carefully concealed. "

"Yes, it's certainly carefully concealed, " Patty agreed. 

Sinclair was entitled to a fortnight's vacation from his law studies, andhe arranged to take it at this time. For now that the interest wasrevived, all were eager to make search all the time. 

"Let's be systematic about it, " said Bob, "and divide the estate up intosections. Then let's examine each section in turn. "

This sounded well, but it was weary work. In the wooded land, especially, it was hopeless to look for any indicatory mark beneath the undergrowthof forty years. But each morning the four young people started out withrenewed determination to keep at it, at any rate. 

On rainy days they searched about the house. Having found one secretpanel, they hoped for more, and the boys went about tapping the walls orcarved woodwork here and there, listening for a hollow sound. 

Bob and Patty went on searching the books. But though a number of oldpapers were found they were of no value. Incidentally, Patty wasacquiring a store of information of various sorts. Though too eager inher work to sit down and read any book through, she scanned many pageshere and there, and learned much that was interesting and useful. Especially did she like books that described the old castles and abbeysof England. There were many of these books, both architectural andhistorical, and Patty lingered over the illustrations, and let her eyesrun hastily over the pages of description. 

One afternoon she sat cross-legged, in Turk fashion, on the libraryfloor, absorbed in an account of the beautiful old mansion known as"Audley End. " The description so interested her that she read on and on, and in her perusal she came to this sentence:

"There are other curious relics, among them the chair of Alexander Pope, and the carved oak head of Cromwell's bed, converted into a chimney-piece. "

Anything in reference to the headboard of a bedstead caught Patty'sattention, and she read the paragraph over again. 

"Sinclair, " she called, but he had gone elsewhere, and did not hear her. 

Patty looked around at the mantel or chimney-piece in the library, but itwas so evidently a part of the plan of wall decoration, that it could notpossibly have been anything else. 

Patty sighed. "It would have been so lovely, " she thought to herself, "ifit only had been a bedhead, made into a mantel, for then that botheringold man could easily have tucked his money between it and the wall. "

And then, though Patty's thoughts came slowly, they came surely, and sheremembered that in the great hall, or living-room, the mantel was amassive affair of carved oak. 

Half bewildered, Patty dropped the book, jumped up, and went to the doorof the hall. No one was there, and the girl was glad of it, for if shereally was on the eve of a great discovery she wanted to be alone atfirst. 

As she entered the room, the lines came to her mind:

 "Above the stair, across the hall, Between the bedhead and the wall, "

and she noticed that the chimney-piece stood on a sort of wide platform, which extended across that whole end of the hall. Could it be that Mr. Marmaduke had meant above this platform, calling it a stair, which ranacross the great hall? For years they had taken the direction to mean "upthe staircase, " and "across the corridor, " or hall which led to thebedrooms. 

Slowly, almost as if afraid, Patty crossed the hall, stepped up on theplatform, and examined the old chimney-piece. She couldn't tell, positively, but surely, surely it looked as if it _might_ once have beenthe headboard of an ancient bed. It certainly was different in itsworkmanship from the wood carving that decorated the apartment. 

The top of it was well above her head, but might it not be that the oldrhyme meant between _this_ bedhead and the wall?

Here they had never looked. It must be that it was not generally knownthat this mantel was, or had been, a bedhead. 

Still, as if in a daze, Patty went and sat in a chair facing the oldchimney-piece, and wondered. She intended to call the others in a moment, but first she wanted to enjoy alone the marvel of her own discovery. 

As she sat there, scrutinising every detail of the room, the lines keptrepeating themselves in her brain:

_"Above the stair, across the hall, Between the bedhead and the wall. "_

If the secret pocket was between that bedhead and the wall, it wascertainly above the stair across the hall! Why had that stair or platformbeen built across the hall? It was a peculiar arrangement. 

This question Patty gave up, but she thought it might well have been donewhen the bedhead was set up there, in order to make the chimney-piecehigher and so more effective. 

Patty had learned something of architecture in her library browsings. 

Above the high mantel was a large painting. It was a landscape and showeda beautiful bit of scenery without buildings or people. In the foregroundwere several distinct trees of noble proportions. 

"They're firs, " said Patty to herself, for she had become thoroughlyfamiliar with fir trees. 

And then, like a flash, through her brain came the words:

_"Great treasure lieth in the poke Between the fir trees and the oak. "_

The secret was revealed! Patty knew it!

Beside the bedhead evidence, it was clear to her mind that "Between thefir trees and the oak, " meant between these painted fir trees and the oldcarved oak mantel. Grasping the arms of her chair, she sat still a minutetrying to take it all in, and then looked about for something to stand onthat she might examine the top of the old mantel-shelf. 

But her next quick thought was, that that was not her right. Those towhom the fortune belonged must make the investigation themselves. 

"Sinclair, " called Patty, again; "Mabel, Mrs. Hartley, where are youall?"

Bob responded first, and seeing by Patty's excited face that she haddiscovered something important, he went in search of the others. 

At last they were all gathered in the great hall, and Patty's sense ofthe dramatic proved too strong to allow her to make her announcementsimply. 

"People, " she said, "I have made a discovery. That is, I think I have. IfI am right, the Cromarty fortune is within your grasp. If I amwrong--well, in that case, we'll begin all over again. "

"Tell us about your new find, " said Sinclair, selecting a comfortablechair, and sitting down as if for a long session. "Is it another mason'sbill?"

Nobody minded being chaffed about searching or finding, for the subjectwas treated jocosely as well as seriously. 

Patty stood on the platform in front of the carved oak chimney-piece, andaddressed her audience, who listened, half laughing, half eager. 

"What is this on which I stand?" she demanded. 

"A rug, " replied Mabel, promptly. 

"I mean beneath the rug?"

"The floor. "

"No, it isn't! What is this--this construction across the room?"

"A platform, " put in Bob, willing to help her along. 

"Yes. But what else could it be called? I'm in earnest. "

"A step, " suggested Sinclair. 

"Yes, a step; but couldn't it be called a stair?"

"It _could_ be, " said Bob, "but I don't believe it is one. "

"But suppose your erratic uncle chose to call it that. "

"Oh, " laughed Bob, "you mean the stair in the poem. "

"I do. I mean the stair across the hall. "

"What! Oh, I say, Patty, now you're jumbling up the sense. "

"No, I'm not. I'm straightening out the sense. Suppose Mr. Marmadukemeant 'above the stair across the hall, ' and meant this stair and thishall. "

"Yes, but go on, " said Sinclair; "next comes the bedhead. "

"That's my discovery!" announced Patty, with what was truly forgivabletriumph. 

"This carved oak chimney-piece is, I have reason to believe, theheadboard of some magnificent, ancient bed. "

"Patty Fairfield!" cried Sinclair, jumping up, and reaching her side withtwo bounds. "You've struck it! What a girl you are!"

"Wait a minute, " said Patty, pushing him back; "I'm entitled to ahearing. Take your seat again, sir, until I unfold the rest of the tale. "

Patty was fairly quivering with excitement. Her cheeks glowed, and hereyes shone, and her voice trembled as she went on. 

Mabel, with clasped hands, just sat and looked at her. The elder ladieswere plainly bewildered, and Bob was trying hard to sit still. 

"I read in an old book, " Patty went on, "how somebody else used a carvedheadboard for a chimney-piece, and I wondered if this mightn't be one. And it surely looks like it. And then I wondered if 'above the stairacross the hall' mightn't mean this platform across this hall. And Ithink it does. But that's not all. My really important discovery isthis. "

Patty's voice had sunk to a thrilling whisper, and she addressed herselfto Mrs. Cromarty, as she continued. 

"I think the other rhyme, the one that says the fortune is concealed'between the fir trees and the oak, ' refers to this same place, and meansbetween the painting of fir trees, which hangs over the mantel, and--theoak mantel itself!"

With a smiling bow, Patty stepped down from the platform, and taking aseat by old Mrs. Cromarty, nestled in that lady's loving arms. The twoboys made a spring for the mantel, but paused simultaneously to graspboth Patty's hands in theirs and nearly shake her arms off. Then theyleft the heroine of the hour to Mabel and Mrs. Hartley and began toinvestigate the chimney piece. 

"'Between the fir trees and the oak'!" exclaimed Bob. "Great, isn't it!And here for thirty-five years we Cromarty dubs have thought that meantreal trees! To think it took a Yankee to tell us! Oh, Patty, Patty, we'lltake down that historic painting and put up a tablet to the honour ofSaint Patricia. For you surely deserve canonisation!"

"'Between the bedhead and the wall, '" ruminated Sinclair. "Well, heregoes for finding an opening. "

Clambering up on stools, both boys examined the place where the mantelshelf touched the wall. The ornate carvings of the mantel left manyinterstices where coins or notes might be dropped through, yet they wereby no means conspicuous enough to attract the attention of any one notlooking for them. 

"Crickets!" cried Bob. "There's a jolly place for the precious poke to belocated. I'm going down cellar to see if I can find traces of thatmason's work. Come on, Clair. "

The two boys flew off, and the ladies remained discussing the wonderfuldiscovery, and examining the old chimney-piece. 

"I can see it was a bedhead now, " said Mabel; "but I never suspected itbefore. What a splendid mantel it makes. Didn't you ever hear itshistory, Grandy?"

"No, dear. It must have been put there when the house was built, I think. Though, of course, it may have been added later. But it was all before mytime. I married your grandfather Cromarty and came here to live in 1855. The building and decorations then were all just as they are now, exceptfor such additions as Marmaduke made. He may have had that mantel set upin earlier years--I don't know. He was very fond of antique carvings. "

Back came the boys from the cellar. 

"The whole chimney is bricked up, " Sinclair explained. "We couldn't getinto it without tearing it all down. And do you know what I think, Grandy? I think it would be wiser to take away the chimney-piece up here, and do our investigating from this end. Then, if we find anything, itwill all be in this room, and not in the cellar, where the servants canpry about. "

"I quite agree with you, " said Mrs. Cromarty, "and I put the whole matterin your hands. You and Robert are the sons of the house, and it is yourright to manage its affairs. "

"Then I say, tear it down at once, " cried Bob. "We needn't damage thecarving itself, and all that we break away of plaster or inner woodworkcan easily be repaired, whatever our success may be. "

"Shall we begin now?" asked Sinclair, doubtfully. He was not so impetuousas Bob, and would have been quite willing to study over the matter first. 

"Yes, indeed!" cried his impatient brother. "I'm not going to waste aminute. I'm glad I'm a bit of a carpenter. Though not an expert, I cantear down if I can't build up. "

"But we must take it down carefully, " said Sinclair. "These screws mustcome out first. " But Bob had already gone for tools, and soon returnedwith screw-drivers, chisels, gimlets, and all the paraphernalia of acarpenter's well-appointed tool-chest. 

"Here goes!" he cried, as he put the big screw-driver in the first screw. "Good luck to the Cromartys and three cheers for Uncle Marmaduke andPatty Fairfield!"

CHAPTER XIX

THE DISCOVERY

The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task. If the Hartleyboys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely havesucceeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall. But they did do it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lostfortune!

Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the oldbedhead and the main wall. It was really built in the chimney itself, though not in the flue. But this chimney-place, with its wonderfullycarved mantel, was never used for fires, and the fortune had remainedundisturbed in its hiding-place. 

As the boys lifted away the portion of the heavy oak that covered thesecret pocket, a rough wall of plaster was seen, and by tapping on it, Sinclair learned that it was hollow. 

"Shall we break through?" he said. "I feel sure the money is there. "

"Break through, of course, " cried Bob; "but wait a moment till I lock thedoors. This is no time for intruders. "

Bob fastened the doors, and then with a hatchet they broke through theplaster. 

And even as the old mortar crumbled beneath their blows, out fell ashower of glittering gold coins and tightly folded banknotes!

The sight was too much for the strained nerves of the watchers. Mabelburst into tears, and Mrs. Cromarty trembled like a leaf. 

The boys broke into shouts of joy, and Patty scarcely knew whether tolaugh or cry. But in a moment they were all congratulating each other andshowering praises on Patty for her cleverness in the matter. 

"It's ours! It's ours!" cried Bob. "It's Grandy's, to be sure, but itbelongs to old Cromarty Manor, and we're all Cromartys. Patty, you'rehereby adopted and made one of us. "

"What shall we do with it?" asked the more practical Sinclair. "I mean, just at present. We must take care of it, at once, you know. We can'tleave it long like this. "

"There's the old Spanish chest, " said Mrs. Hartley, indicating agood-sized affair that stood nearby. "Put it in that. "

"Just the thing, " said Bob. "Lend a hand, Clair. "

It was a strange proceeding. The old coins, many of them still bright, though of far back dates; represented a great deal of money. How much, they could not guess as yet, but it was surely a large sum. Also therewere Bank of England notes, folded small that they might be pushedthrough the openings in the carved oak, and well-preserved, as the pockethad been carefully made damp-proof. 

The boys took the money out in double handfuls and deposited it in theold Spanish chest. 

"It will be quite safe there until to-morrow, " said Mrs. Hartley, "andthen we must get it to the bank. But as no one yet knows of ourdiscovery, there can be no danger of its being stolen to-night. "

"What ever made Uncle Marmaduke choose this way of concealing hisfortune?" asked Bob, as he kept on transferring the money from itshiding-place to the chest. 

"He had a fear of banks or investments, " said Mrs. Cromarty. "I've oftenheard him say he wouldn't trust any of them. He said he'd rather be sureof his principal, and go without his interest. "

"Crickets!" said Bob, "if all this _had_ been out at interest for fortyyears, think how it would have increased!"

"Yes, " said his mother, "but in that case it would not have been hidden, and before now, it might have all been spent. "

"Then I'm glad the old gentleman chose this way of banking. And I supposehe meant to leave full instructions where to find it. "

"Well, " said Sinclair, "we found it without his instructions, thanks toour Patty. "

And then they all began again to bless and praise Patty, until she wasreally embarrassed at their overwhelming gratitude. 

"We'd offer you a share, " said Bob, gaily, "but you already have morethan you know what to do with. "

"Perhaps not quite that, " said Patty, smiling, "but I have enough. And, oh! I am so glad that you have your own at last. "

"How much do you suppose there is?" asked Mabel, awestruck, as shewatched the boys still carrying their precious handfuls across the room. 

"Enough to buy you some new frocks, sister, " said Sinclair, "and enoughto fix up dear old Cromarty as it should be fixed up. "

"There must be thousands of pounds, " said Grandma Cromarty. "To think ofMarmaduke exchanging all his securities and bonds for gold and notes! Isuppose he did it while I was away in London. He was a most erratic man. "

"Well, you see, " said Sinclair, thoughtfully, "once he had the placebuilt, he could drop his money through whenever he received any. I canimagine the old chap, after every one else in the house was in bed, standing here and dropping in his coins one by one, and listening to themclink. Why, it's like a child's toy savings-bank, on a large scale. "

"It's a large scale!" said Bob. "Whew! I'm tired out. But it's nearly allin the chest now, and see, Grandy, the chest is nearly full! When shallwe count it? And how _shall_ we get this mess cleared away? If theservants come in here, they'll know it all, at once. And I think we oughtto keep the matter quiet until we can cart the gold away to the bank. "

"I think so too, " said his mother. "Suppose we leave this room exactly asit is, and lock it all up until to-morrow. Then we can talk it over thisevening, and decide what is best to do. I think we should consult withLawyer Ashton, and let him advise us. "

So, after carefully securing the windows, and locking all the doors ofthe room, it was a merry-hearted family who went away to dress fordinner. 

"Let's put on our prettiest frocks, and make the dinner a sort ofcelebration feast, " said Patty, who dearly loved an "occasion. "

"We will, " said Mabel, "and Grandy must wear her black velvet. "

Mrs. Cromarty was easily persuaded, and the happy old lady looked almostregal as, in her trailing gown, she led the way to the dining-room. Thedinner conversation was on the all-absorbing topic, and Patty realisedafresh how dearly these people loved their old home, and how anxious theywere to devote their newly-found fortune to restoring the glories of theplace. 

"And now we can have the garden party!" exclaimed Mabel. "You know, Patty, we've had one every summer for years and years, and this summer wethought we couldn't afford it. What fun to have you here to it!"

"Let's have it soon, " said Sinclair. "Can you get ready in a week, mother?"

"Give me a little longer than that, son. And we want to send out theinvitations about ten days before the party. "

"We'll make the lists to-night. Let's invite everybody. I suppose, afterwe put the money safely away, there's no necessity for secrecy about it. "

"No, I think not. All our friends will rejoice with us, that we've foundit at last. "

Later on, they all sat round the library table, and made plans for thegarden party. Patty discovered that it would be a much larger and moreimportant affair than she had imagined. The invitation list soon rose toabout four hundred, and seemed literally to include everybody in all thecountry round. 

"I really ought to have a new frock for the party, " said Mabel; "butwe've so much going on that I won't have time to get one made. "

This gave Patty an idea, and she determined to give Mabel a littlesurprise. While they were making the plans for the fête, she wasplanning to write to Lady Hamilton and ask her to send down from Londontwo new frocks for herself and Mabel to wear at the garden party. Shefelt sure she could secretly procure one of Mabel's old dresses to sendfor a pattern, and she meant that Mabel should not know of it until thenew frock arrived. 

The evening was a merry one, indeed. The boys were so exuberant that theylaughed and sang snatches of songs, and exclaimed over and over how muchthey appreciated the good turn Patty had done them. 

The two elder ladies were more quietly glad, and it did Patty's heartgood to see that the sad, anxious expression was gone from Mabel's face. 

The days before the garden party flew by quickly, for there was much tobe done. Extra servants had to be secured, some repairing done in houseand gardens, and the caterer's orders attended to. The day before theparty the dresses arrived from London. Lady Hamilton had chosen them, though Patty had given her a general idea of what she wanted. 

Though they were called white muslin frocks, they were made almostentirely of fine embroidery and lace. Mabel's was worn over a pink silkslip, and Patty's over blue. Frenchy knots of ribbon were placed here andthere, and when the boxes were opened and the tissue papers torn away, Mabel gave a shriek of delight at the beautiful things. 

Patty had wanted to give Mabel a pretty frock, but had hesitated to doso, lest she wound her pride. 

But this seemed different, and Patty offered the gift so prettily, as asouvenir of the garden party, that Mabel accepted it in the spirit it wasgiven. 

The day of the party was perfect. Just the right temperature, and not acloud in the blue sky, except some fleecy little white ones that were asinnocent as kittens. 

The party was from three till six, and promptly at three o'clock theguests began to arrive. There was a continuous stream of carriages andmotor cars, and soon Patty was almost bewildered by the crowds of people. Although introduced to them as they arrived, she couldn't remember themall. But many of them she had met before, and after a time she and Mabelwere excused from the receiving party, and were sent to mingle with theguests. 

The old place was looking its best. Though there had not been time formuch work on the gardens, yet a deal of tidying up had been done. Newflowers had been set out in the formal flower beds, the fountains hadbeen repaired and put in working order, and the shrubs and hedges hadbeen trimmed. Patty, looking very sweet in her lovely white dress, wandered around indoors and out, greeting old friends and making newones. 

The house was thrown open, and of course the old chimney-piece, which hadbeen replaced, was scrutinised with great interest. Patty was lioniseduntil she became almost embarrassed at being made so prominent. Buteverybody was thoroughly glad that the Cromartys had come into theirfortune at last. On the lawn was a band of musicians in gay scarlet andgold uniforms, who played popular music at intervals during theafternoon. The terraces and gardens were filled with groups of peoplepleasantly chatting, and the ladies' pretty summer costumes added to thebrilliancy of the scene. 

At four o'clock tea was served in a great round tent, which had been putup for the purpose. Although called tea, the repast was a substantialsupper of various and elaborate viands. Patty thought she had never seenso many sorts of salads and carefully constructed cold dishes. She sat ata small table with the Merediths and some other young people. 

"You're going to stay here all summer, aren't you?" asked Tom, whosincerely hoped she was. 

"I don't know, " replied Patty. "I'd love to stay, for I'm happy everyminute here. But my own people are writing me very urgently to join themin Switzerland. They're in such delightful quarters there, that theythink I'd like it too. "

"Oh, don't go. Stay here with us. We're going to get up a croquet club, and we want you to be a member. "

"I'll be glad to, if I stay. But where are the people going now?"

The guests had all risen, and were being led to a part of the groundswhere a platform had been erected. On this were a troupe of entertainerscalled The Pierrots. They all wore funny white suits, with little blackpompons bobbing all over them. They sang amusing songs, played on cymbalsand other instruments, did some clever acrobatic work, and for ahalf-hour entertained the guests who stood about on the grass, or sat oncamp chairs to watch them. 

At six o'clock the guests all took leave, and the great procession ofvehicles again appeared on the driveway. Mrs. Cromarty and Mrs. Hartleyreceived their good-byes, and Patty and Mabel invited a number of theyoung people to remain to dine and spend the evening. 

"Though I'm sure we can't eat any dinner, after that very satisfyingtea, " said Grace Meredith, as she accepted the invitation. 

In the evening they all went out on the lake for a moonlight row. Severalnew boats had been bought, and the young men rowed the girls about. Theboats were hung with Chinese lanterns, which gave the lake the appearanceof a regatta or a water festival. 

Then back to the house for a dance in the great hall. The musicians hadremained, and to their inspiriting strains the young people glided aboutin merry measures. 

"Do give me another waltz, " Tom Meredith begged of Patty. 

"I'd be glad to, Tom, " said Patty, frankly; "but I can't do it withoutoffending somebody else. I love to dance with you, but you've had threealready, and I've promised all the rest. "

But Tom wheedled Mrs. Hartley into allowing one more extra, after thelast dance, and he claimed Patty for that. 

"You're the best dancer I ever saw, " said Tom, as they floated away. 

"You're the best English dancer I ever saw, " laughed Patty, for she wellknew English people do not dance like Americans. Good-natured Tom didn'tmind her implication, and after the waltz was ended he led her out on theterrace to sit down for a bit and rest. There were several others there, the Hartley boys among them, and soon they began to sing songs. 

Others came and joined them, and the young voices rose in merry chorusesand glees. 

"You have splendid songs in England, " said Patty, after the men's voiceshad come out strong in "Hearts of Oak" and "Rule Britannia. "

"Yes, we have, " agreed Tom. "But, Patty, won't you sing something alone?"

"Do, " chorused the rest, and Mabel said: "Sing that newest song that youand Sinclair made. "

"'The Moon's Song?'" asked Patty. 

"Yes; this is just the night for it. "

The moon was nearing the western horizon, and its soft light fell acrossthe lake in silver ripples. Truly it was just the time and place to singthe pretty song of which Patty had composed the words, and Sinclair hadset them to music. It was a simple air, but full of soft, lingeringcadences, and without accompaniment Patty's really sweet voice soundedexquisite as it thrilled through the summer evening air. 

The song was called "The Minstrel Moon, " and the words were these:

 "I wonder if the moon could sing, On a marvellous, mystical night in spring, I wonder what the song would be That the minstrel moon would sing to me. And as I think, I seem to know How the music of the moon would go. It would be a mystic, murmuring strain Like the falling of far-away fairy rain. Just a soft and silvery song That would swing and swirl along; Not a word Could be heard But a lingering ding-a-dong. Just a melody low and sweet, Just a harmony faint and fleet, Just a croon Of a tune Is the Music of the Moon. "

CHAPTER XX

GOOD-BYES

One beautiful morning, about a week after the garden party, Patty lay inher favourite hammock out under the trees. She liked this hammockespecially, for from it she could see both terraces, the formal gardens, and the lake beyond. 

As she looked around this morning she could see the workmen busilyengaged in restoring the gardens to their original symmetry and beauty. The Hartleys were by no means purse proud or ostentatious, and theirsudden acquisition of a great fortune in no way changed their simple, pleasant attitude toward life. But they were now enabled to live in theirdear old home, without financial anxieties, and moreover, were able torepair and restore its appointments. 

But though Patty loved to let her idle gaze roam over the attractivelandscape, her thoughts just now were far away. She had in her hand aletter from her father, and its message was strongly in favour of herleaving Cromarty Manor and joining her parents in Switzerland. 

It was for Patty to make choice, but both Nan and Mr. Fairfield urged theplan they proposed. So Patty was thinking it over. She was very happy atCromarty, and the life was quiet and pleasant, and interspersed with manylittle gaieties. But she thought, herself, it was a pity not to travelabout and see sights and places when opportunity presented itself. 

As she lay, thinking, she saw a large motorcar coming along the drivethrough the park. She jumped out of the hammock and started toward thehouse, in order to greet the guests whoever they might be. As the carcame nearer, she saw a lady and gentleman in the tonneau, but soconcealed were they by their motor-clothes she could not recognise them. 

As they drew nearer, the lady waved her hand, and seeing the familiargesture, Patty at once realised that it was Lady Hamilton. 

Her father was with her, and Patty ran to meet them, and reached thesteps of the great entrance of Cromarty just as the car swung round thelast curve of the road. 

"Oh, Kitty!" cried Patty; "I'm _so_ glad to see you! Where did you comefrom? Why didn't you tell me you were coming? How do you do, Sir Otho. This is indeed a surprise. "

"How are you, my dear child?" said Sir Otho Markleham, after Patty hadreleased Lady Kitty from her enthusiastic embrace, and turned to shakehands with her father. 

"Come in, " said Patty, dancing about in her excited glee. "Come right in. You are welcome to Cromarty Manor, and in a moment the family will alsotell you so. "

"What a delightful house!" said Lady Hamilton, pausing to admire thestately old portal. 

"Yes, isn't it? You know the Hartleys, don't you?"

"Slightly. I'll be glad to see them again. But, of course, we came to seeyou. "

"And it's a lovely surprise. Are you staying near here?"

"Only for a day or two, " said Sir Otho. "We're taking a little jauntabout, and as Kitty wanted to see you especially, we came in thisdirection. "

The chauffeur and the big touring car were put in charge of the Cromartycoachman, and Patty ushered her guests into the house. 

The ladies soon appeared and with hospitable welcome insisted that SirOtho and his daughter should remain for a few days. This they were unableto do, but it was finally decided that they should stay the night, andresume their trip the next day. 

"And, " said Sir Otho, "it may seem a rather sudden proceeding, but wewant to take Patty with us. "

"Take Patty!" exclaimed Mabel, aghast; "for how long?"

"You tell her, " said Sir Otho, smiling at his daughter. "I haven't thecourage. "

"I'll explain later, " said Lady Hamilton. "But now, I want to enjoy thebeauties of this grand old place. Is this the celebrated apartment wherethe fortune was hidden?"

"Yes, " said Patty, who had written to Lady Kitty about the matter. "Andhere is the old chimney-piece. "

"You can imagine, Lady Hamilton, " said Mrs. Hartley, "the deep debt ofgratitude we are under to our dear Patty. "

"You must be, indeed. But I know Patty is quite as glad that she made thediscovery as you are yourselves. "

The rest of the morning was devoted to showing the visitors about theplace. Sir Otho was greatly interested in the plans for the restorationof the gardens, and both he and Lady Kitty were enraptured with thehistoric treasures of the old house. After luncheon, Lady Hamiltonunfolded her plans to Patty. 

"I have been in correspondence with Mr. And Mrs. Fairfield, " she said, "and we've concluded that we must have Patty back with us again. She hasbeen very happy here, I know, but she has made you a long visit, and I'vereally been sent down here to kidnap her. "

Patty smiled, but the others didn't. Mrs. Cromarty and Mrs. Hartleylooked truly sorry, and Mabel had to struggle to keep her tears back. 

"You are right, " said Mrs. Cromarty, at last. "We have enjoyed havingPatty here more than I can tell you. But we must not be selfish. I knowher parents have been writing for her to go to them, and it is wrong forus to urge her to stay here. "

"But I don't want Patty to go away, " said Mabel, and now she was reallycrying. 

"I know you don't, dearie, " said her mother. "But I see it as Grandmadoes, and I think we must let her go. Perhaps some time she'll comeagain. "

"Oh, I hope so, " said Patty, smiling through the tears that had gatheredin her own eyes. "You've all been so good to me, and I've had such lovelytimes. "

The question once settled, Lady Hamilton went on to say that she proposedto take Patty away the next day. Of course this redoubled Mabel's woe, but Lady Kitty was firm. 

"It would be just as hard to spare her a week hence, " she said. "Andthen, who would take her to London? If she goes with us to-morrow, wewill keep her with us for the rest of our motor tour--about a week--andthen reach London about the first of July. After that Patty and I willjoin Mr. And Mrs. Fairfield in Switzerland, and go on to do some furthertravelling. "

Although Patty was sorry to leave Cromarty, this plan did sounddelightful, and she was glad that it was all settled for her, and she hadno further responsibility in the matter. 

Lady Hamilton had a genius for despatch, and she superintended thepacking of Patty's clothes and belongings that same afternoon. Except forthe luggage needed on the motor-tour, everything was to be sent to LadyKitty's home in London, and Patty had to smile, as she realised that herpresent temporary home was the great house where she had so daringlybraved the irascible Sir Otho. 

There was a daintily furnished room in the Markleham house that had beenset aside for Patty's very own, and whenever she cared to she was invitedto occupy it. 

When the boys came home that afternoon and heard the news, they set up awail of woe that was both genuine and very noisy. 

No one could help admiring Lady Kitty, but Sinclair and Bob felt as ifshe were robbing their household, and it required all their good mannersto hide their feeling of resentment. 

But they rose nobly to the occasion, and Bob said: "Well, since Pattymust go, we'll have to send her off in a blaze of glory. Let's make aparty, mother, a few people to dinner, and some more for the evening. "

Mrs. Hartley quickly realised that this would be the best way to tideover a sad occasion, and she agreed. The Merediths and a few others weresent for to come to dinner, and a dozen or more young people asked for alittle dance in the evening. Notwithstanding her unwelcome errand, LadyKitty fitted right into the house party, and both she and her father wereso affable and pleasant that the Hartleys forgave them for stealing Pattyaway. 

The tourists had luggage with them, so were able to don attire suitableto the party. Lady Hamilton wore one of her beautiful trailing lacegowns, which had won for her Patty's name of "The White Lady. "

Patty, too, wore a white frock, of ruffled organdie, with touches of palegreen velvet. In her pretty hair was a single pink rose, and as shearranged it, she felt a pang as she thought that might be the last flowershe would ever wear from the dear old Cromarty rose garden. The dinnerwas a beautiful feast, indeed. The table sparkled with the old silver andglass that had belonged to the Cromarty ancestors. Flowers wereeverywhere, and the table and dining-room were lighted entirely by waxcandles, with the intent of abiding by the old traditions of the manor. 

At Patty's plate was a multitude of gifts. How they managed it on suchshort notice, she never knew, but every one of the family and most of theguests gave her a parting souvenir. 

Grandma Cromarty gave her a valuable old miniature that had long been inher historic collection. Mrs. Hartley gave her an exquisite fan, paintedby a celebrated artist. Mabel gave her a ring set with a beautiful pearl, and the boys together gave her a splendid set of Dickens' works inelaborately gilded binding. Grace Meredith brought her a bangle, and Toma quaint old-fashioned candlestick; and many other guests brought prettyor curious trifles. 

Patty was overwhelmed at this unexpected kindness, and opened parcelafter parcel in a bewilderment of delight. 

Everybody was gay and merry, yet there was an undercurrent of sadness, asone after another remembered this was the last time they would see prettyPatty. 

After dinner they all assembled on the terrace, and the other guests, arriving later, joined them there. 

But the soft beauty of the summer evening seemed to intensify the spiritof sadness, and all were glad to hear the strains of a violin coming fromthe great hall. 

Bob had sent for two or three musicians, and soon the young people werespinning around in the dance, and merriment once more reigned. 

Always a popular partner, Patty was fairly besieged that night. 

"I can't, " she said laughingly, as the young men gathered around to begher favours; "I've halved every dance already; I can't do more thanthat. "

"Don't halve this one, " said Tom Meredith, as he led her away for awaltz. "I must have all of it. Unless you'll sit it out with me on theterrace. "

"No, thank you, " said Patty. "I'd rather dance. I don't suppose I'll findanother dancer as good as you all summer. "

"I hate to think of your going away, " said Tom. "You almost promised meyou'd stay here all summer. "

"I know. But I'm not mistress of my own plans. They're made for me. "

"And you're glad of it, " said Tom, almost angrily. "You're glad you'regoing away from here--to go motoring in Switzerland, and all sorts ofthings. "

"Don't be so savage. It isn't surprising that I'm glad to go away fromany one as cross as you are. "

Tom had to smile in return for Patty's laughing tones, and he said moregently:

"I don't mean to be bearish, but I wish you weren't going. I--I like youan awful lot, Patty. Truly I do. "

"I'm glad of it, " said Patty, heartily, "and I like you too. AfterSinclair and Bob, you're the nicest boy in England. "

"There's luck in odd numbers, " said Tom, a little ruefully, "so I'm gladI'm number three. But I'd like to be number one. "

"Well, you're a number one dancer, " said Patty, as the music ceased, andwith that Tom had to be content. 

And now the hour was getting late and the young people began to go home. 

It was really an ordeal for Patty to say good-bye, for she had manyfriends among them, and they all seemed truly regretful to part with her. 

But after they had gone, and only those staying in the house remained, another surprise was in waiting for Patty. They were gathered in thegreat hall, talking over for the last time the mystery of the hiddenfortune, and Patty's clever solution of it. 

"And now, " said Sinclair, "I've a little speech to make. "

He went and stood on the "stair across the hall, " in front of the oldchimney-piece, and so, just beneath the picture of the fir trees. Thepainting was a fine one, and represented a landscape with firs in theforeground. It had hung there since the days of the earlier Cromartys, and was a valuable work of art. 

Patty had always loved the picture, even before the added interest oflearning the truth about the fir trees, and they all knew it was one ofher favourites among the many art treasures of the old house. 

"I was going to make this speech when the party was here, " proceededSinclair, "but I didn't, partly because I feared it might embarrassPatty, and partly because I like it better to have only our own peoplehere. But the speech itself is this: We, the Cromartys of Cromarty Manor, realising that we can never liquidate the great debt of gratitude we oweto our beautiful and beloved friend, Miss Patty Fairfield, wish, atleast, to give her a token of our affection and a memento of her nobledeed. We, therefore, one and all of the household of Cromarty, offer herthis picture of fir trees, this painting by Hobbema, and we trust thatshe will accept it in the spirit it is tendered. "

Sinclair bowed and sat down, and Patty sat for a moment in awestrucksilence. 

Then, "The Hobbema!" she cried, "I won't take it! The idea of giving methat painting! Why, it's one of the gems of the house!"

"That's why we want you to have it, Patty dear, " said Grandma Cromarty, gently. "It is one of our treasures, and for that very reason it isworthy to be presented as a souvenir to one who so gloriously deservesit. "

"Hear! Hear!" cried Bob. "Grandy makes a better speech than you, Clair. "

Patty's scruples were lovingly overcome, and she was made to realise thatshe was the owner of a real masterpiece of art, that would be to her alifelong delight. 

"But what will take its place?" she said. "It has hung there so manyyears. "

"It hung there, " said Mrs. Hartley, "until its mission was fulfilled. Nowthat there is nothing to be searched for 'between the fir trees and theoak, ' it need hang there no longer. It is fitting that we retain the'oak' and you possess the 'fir trees, ' thus assuring an everlasting bondof union between the fir trees and the oak. "

"Bravo, Mater!" cried Bob. "You're coming out strong on speechifying, too. Mabel, we must look out for our laurels. "

But Mabel was too near the verge of tears to trust her voice, so sheslipped her hand in Patty's, knowing that she would understand all thatcould not be said. 

"Well, " went on Bob, "I'm not much of an orator, but I'll take it for mypart to see that the Fir Trees are properly packed and sent to your home, Patty. Where shall I send the box?"

"I hate to have it go to New York now, " said Patty, "for I want it withme while I'm over here. "

So it was arranged to send the picture to Sir Otho's house in London, there to remain until the Fairfields returned to America. 

The departure from Cromarty was made next morning directly afterbreakfast. It was fortunate that the last details of luggagepreparations, and the packing of luncheon and so forth, made a bustle andhurry that left little time for actual farewells. And, too, they were alltoo sensible to mar Patty's last memory of Cromarty with futile regrets. 

So after good-byes were said, and the party stowed away in the big car, Sinclair started one of their favourite nonsense songs. 

The others joined in, and Patty sang too, and handkerchiefs were waved, and as the car slid out of sight among the trees, those who were leftcould still hear Patty's high, sweet soprano ringing back to them.