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diff --git a/old/52964-0.txt b/old/52964-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3e12d1c..0000000 --- a/old/52964-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7635 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Patty's Motor Car, by Carolyn Wells - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Patty's Motor Car - -Author: Carolyn Wells - -Release Date: September 2, 2016 [EBook #52964] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY'S MOTOR CAR *** - - - - -Produced by Mardi Desjardins & the online Distributed -Proofreaders Canada team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net from -page images generously made available by The HathiTrust -Digital Library (https://www.hathitrust.org/) - - - - - - Patty’s - Motor Car - - - - BY - - CAROLYN WELLS - - - AUTHOR OF - - TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES, - THE MARJORIE SERIES, ETC. - -[Illustration] - - GROSSET & DUNLAP - PUBLISHERS NEW YORK - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1911 - BY DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY - Published, September, 1911 - - - Printed in U.S.A. - - - - - DEDICATED - WITH LOVE - TO - KATHARINE CARLETON - - * * * * * - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I AFTERNOON TEA 9 - - II AN ABLE HELPER 24 - - III A LECTURE 40 - - IV THE HUNDREDTH QUESTION 52 - - V A SUMMER HOME 66 - - VI THE AWARD 81 - - VII A NEIGHBOUR 97 - - VIII SWIFT CAMILLA 110 - - IX MONA AT HOME 124 - - X THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD 137 - - XI THE FIRST ARRIVALS 152 - - XII A MOONLIGHT RIDE 165 - - XIII PATTY’S INGENUITY 177 - - XIV A BIRTHDAY BREAKFAST 190 - - XV A MORNING SWIM 203 - - XVI A CHANGE OF PARTNERS 216 - - XVII A DINNER AND A DANCE 229 - - XVIII MONA INTERFERES 242 - - XIX PHILIP’S PICNIC 254 - - XX A NARROW ESCAPE 267 - - Transcriber’s Notes can be found at the end of this eBook. - - * * * * * - - - - - CHAPTER I - - - AFTERNOON TEA - - -Patty was curled up in her favourite big easy-chair in her own study. - -Though called a study, because it had been used as such during her -schooldays, the pretty room was really more like a _boudoir_. Her desk -was still there, but was now filled with programmes, friendly letters, -and social correspondence instead of school themes or problems. The -general colouring of the room was green, but the sash curtains of thin -yellow silk, and the heap of yellow sofa cushions, did much to lighten -the effect, and gave the room a sunshiny air, even on a dull day. The -couch, and the two big, soft, cuddly chairs were upholstered in -yellow-flowered chintz, and on the pale green walls hung Patty’s -favourite pictures, and many curios or souvenirs of her year spent -abroad. - -It was the first of March, so the room was brightened both by a big -bowlful of yellow daffodils and a blazing wood fire. The two things -Patty liked best in life were warmth and colour, and so to-day she was -sitting near the fire, with the splendid yellow glory of the daffodils -in full view. - -But she was not looking at them, for she was poring over a book. When -Patty read she usually pored, for she was eager and enthusiastic over -any story in which she was interested. - -But to-day, she was not reading a story. She pored intently, and then, -throwing back her head, she would stare blankly at the ceiling, thinking -hard. - -Then, perhaps, she would fly to her bookcase, tumble out two or three -books, swiftly turn their pages, and then back to her big chair and the -original book. - -It was a very small book, with a paper cover, but it seemed to be most -engrossing. - -Two or three hours passed, and still Patty pored over the little book, -rarely turning a page. Absent-mindedly, she rubbed her head until the -hairpins fell out, and her golden hair fell around her shoulders, as -bright a glory as the daffodils. Vacantly she stared into the fire or -out of the window, and at last she flung her little book across the room -and exclaimed aloud: - -“It’s no use! I can’t do it!” - -And then Nan, her pretty stepmother, appeared at the open door. - -“Patty!” she cried; “in a kimono! And it’s nearly four o’clock! Don’t -you know it’s my day?” - -“Nan,” said Patty, with an anxious look in her eyes, “what is it, of -which the poor have two and the rich have none?” - -“Gracious, Patty! What a question! I don’t know, I’m sure. Are you going -in for more philanthropy? Because, if so, do wait for a more convenient -season.” - -“No; it isn’t philanthropy. It’s——I say, Nan, how could a headless man -write a letter?” - -“He couldn’t.” - -“And does a bookworm eat straight through a book, or zigzag?” - -“I don’t know. I’ve heard the Bookworm is only a fabled animal, like a -griffin. Or, no; I think it’s an extinct species, like the Dodo.” - -“Oh, Nan! You are so deliciously ignorant.” - -“No more so than you, or why do you ask me these things? Now, Patty, -stop this nonsense, and get dressed. What _are_ you doing, anyway?” - -“Oh, Nan, the loveliest scheme ever! Let me tell you about it.” - -“No, not now. I must go down to the drawing-room. And you must follow -just as soon as you can. Do you hear?” - -“Yes, I hear, you old Loveliness. But just tell me when London——” - -But Nan had run away from the fire of questions, and Patty drew herself -up out of her chair, stretched and yawned like a sleepy kitten, and then -proceeded to make her toilette with expedition and despatch. - -But as she sat in front of her dressing table, piling her gold hair into -a soft crown above her pretty face, she frowned at her own reflection. - -“You’re a stupid idiot,” she informed herself. “You don’t know anything! -And you haven’t an ounce of brains! Now, _what_ is it of which the poor -have two, the rich have none, schoolboys have several, and you have one. -Well, I can’t think of a thing but mumps or measles; and, of course, -they’re not the answer, and you couldn’t have one measle, anyhow.” - -As she dressed, Patty took hasty glances in the little book, and finally -she left her room and walked slowly downstairs, murmuring, “Divide nine -into two equal parts, which, added together, make ten.” - -But when she reached the drawing-room door, all the puzzling problems -flew out of her mind, and she went in gracefully to greet Nan’s guests. - -As Patty was not yet out in society, she did not have her name on the -card with her stepmother’s, but she always assisted Nan in receiving, -and informally asked a number of her own friends to call, too. - -This was Nan’s last reception day for the season, so it was a little -more elaborate than others had been. - -Patty wore an embroidered white _chiffon_, which delicate material -clouded bows and bands of pale-blue satin. It was a lovely frock, and -just suited Patty’s blonde fairness. She went around among her mother’s -friends, greeting them with pretty courtesy, and chatting easily with -them. But, after a time, her own young friends came, and, with the two -Farringtons and Kenneth Harper, Patty went to the library, where they -could be by themselves. - -Soon, Mr. Hepworth came, bringing Christine Farley. - -Christine had been in New York only a few weeks, but already she had -lost much of her painful shyness, and, though still easily embarrassed -by the presence of strangers, she usually managed to preserve her poise -and self-control. - -She greeted Patty with shining eyes, for the Southern girl was warmly -affectionate, and adored Patty. - -“And are you all settled, now, Christine, and ready to receive callers?” -Patty asked. - -“Yes, I am. I have a lovely room; not large, but sunny and pleasant, and -I will gladly welcome you there at any time. And Mr. and Mrs. Bosworth -are such kind people. Oh, I shall be very happy there.” - -“And the work?” asked Mr. Hepworth. “How does that come on?” - -“It’s all right,” said Christine, soberly, but nodding her head with -satisfaction. - -Though shy in society, she was most practical and unembarrassed about -her art study. Not over-conceited, but perfectly aware of the extent of -her own talent, and also of her own ignorance. And she had a calm -determination to improve the one and conquer the other. - -Christine was pretty, in her soft Southern way. She was small, and -dainty in all her effects. Her oval face was serious, almost sad in its -expression, but, if she were interested in a subject, it would light up -into sudden beauty. - -Her clothes betokened her artistic tastes, and she never wore dresses of -the fashionable type, but soft, clinging gowns in dull, pastel colours. -A bit of old embroidery or unusual jewelry added an effective touch, and -Christine always looked well dressed, though her clothes cost far less -than Patty’s. The two girls were absolutely unlike, and yet they were -fast becoming great friends. But Christine possessed almost no sense of -humour, and Patty feared she could never be really chummy with any one -who lacked that. - -Elise was not very fond of Christine, for she didn’t understand her at -all, and secretly thought her rather stupid. But the boys, Roger and -Kenneth, liked the Southern maiden, with her soft, pretty accent, and, -of course, Mr. Hepworth was her friend. - -So the whole group was fairly congenial, and they formed a pleasant -little circle in the library, to drink their tea. - -“Sorry I’m late,” said a cheery voice, and Philip Van Reypen joined -them. - -“Oh! how do you do?” cried Patty, jumping up to greet him. “Miss Farley, -may I present Mr. Van Reypen? I think the rest are all acquainted.” - -There were general greetings all round, and then Philip took his place -with the rest. - -“My aunt is here,” he said, to Patty. “A little later, perhaps, she -wants to meet Miss Farley.” - -“So she shall,” said Patty, remembering Miss Van Reypen’s offer to help -Christine in some way. “Will you have tea?” - -“Will I have tea?” echoed Philip. “That’s exactly what I’m here for. -Please, yes.” - -“Then here you are,” said Patty, handing him a cup; “and, incidentally, -do you know how a bookworm goes through a book?” - -“Ugh! what an unpleasant subject,” said Elise, with a shrug of her -shoulders. “Patty, do talk of something else.” - -“I can’t,” said Patty, solemnly; “I _must_ know about the manners and -customs of a well-conducted bookworm.” - -“Do you mean a real bookworm, or a studious person?” asked Mr. Hepworth, -who often took Patty’s questions very seriously. - -“I mean the—the entomological sort,” said Patty, “and I’m in dead -earnest. Who knows anything about the bookworms that really destroy -books?” - -“I do,” announced Kenneth, “but nothing would induce me to tell. Theirs -is a secret history, and not to be made known to a curious world.” - -“Pooh!” said Roger, “that’s all bluff. Patty, he doesn’t really know -anything about the beasts. Now, I do. A bookworm is a grub.” - -“No,” said Philip, “the book is the bookworm’s grub. And pretty dry -fodder he must often find it.” - -“I know what you’re going to do, Patty,” said Kenneth, in an aggrieved -voice; “you’re going to set up a pair of pet bookworms in place of Darby -and Juliet. Please understand that I am distinctly offended, and I -prophesy that your new pets won’t be half as interesting as the -goldfish.” - -“Wrong again, Ken,” returned Patty; “no new pets could ever be so dear -to my heart as those sweet, lovely goldfish. But, if you people don’t -tell me about bookworms, I’ll have to look in the Encyclopædia; and, if -there’s anything I do hate, it’s that. Christine, aren’t you up on -bookworms?” - -“No,” said Christine, in a shy whisper. She couldn’t yet become -accustomed to the quick repartee and merry nonsense of these Northern -young people. - -“I used to have a pet bookworm,” began Roger, “but he got into a -cook-book and died of dyspepsia.” - -“Tell us what it’s all about, Patty?” said Mr. Hepworth, seeing she was -really serious in her questioning. - -“Why, it’s a puzzle,—a sort of conundrum. This is it. Suppose a history -in three volumes is placed upon a bookshelf. Suppose each volume -contains just one hundred pages. And suppose a bookworm, starting at -page one of volume one, bores right straight through the books, covers -and all, to the last page of volume three. How many leaves does he go -through, not counting fly-leaves, or covers?” - -“Patty, I’m surprised at you,” said Roger. “That’s too easy. He goes -through the three hundred pages, of course.” - -“It does seem so,” said Patty, with a perplexed look, “but, as you say, -that’s too easy. There must be a catch or a quibble somewhere.” - -“Well,” said Elise, “I never could do a puzzle. I don’t know why a hen -goes across the road, or when is a door not a door. But you’re a born -puzzlist, Patty, and, if you can’t guess it, nobody can.” - -“Elise, you’re a sweet thing, and most complimentary. But I know you -have no talent for puzzles, so, my dear child, I’m not asking you. But, -you men of brains and intellect, can’t you help me out? I’m sure there’s -another answer, but I can’t think what it would be.” - -“Why, Patty,” said Mr. Hepworth, thoughtfully, “I think Roger is right. -If the bookworm goes through all three volumes, he must go through three -hundred pages, mustn’t he?” - -“No, indeed!” cried Christine, her shyness forgotten, and her eyes -shining as she constructed the picture of the books in her mind’s eye. -“Wait a minute; yes, I’m sure I’m right! He only goes through one -hundred pages. He goes only through the second volume, you see!” - -Elise looked at Christine a little disdainfully. - -“You don’t seem to have heard the conditions,” she said. “The bookworm -begins at the first page of the first volume and goes through to the end -of the last one.” - -“Yes, I heard that,” said Christine, flushing at Elise’s tone, which was -distinctly supercilious. “But, don’t you see, when the books are set up -on a shelf, in the usual manner, the first page of the first volume is -on the right, just up against the last page of the second volume.” - -“Nonsense!” cried Elise. - -“But it is so, Miss Farley!” exclaimed Philip Van Reypen. “You’ve struck -it! Look, people!” - -He turned to a bookcase, and indicated three volumes of a set of books. - -“Now, see, the first page of volume one is right against the last page -of volume two. So the first page of volume two is up against the last -page of volume three. Now, what does Mr. Bookworm do? He starts here, at -the first page of volume one. He doesn’t go backward, so he doesn’t go -through volume one at all! He goes through volume two, and, as soon as -he strikes volume three, he strikes it at the last page, and his task is -done, his journey is over. He has fulfilled the conditions of the -original question. See?” - -They did see, after awhile, but it was only the ocular demonstration -that proved it, for the facts were hard to describe in words. - -Elise flatly refused to see it, saying it made her head ache to try to -understand it. - -“But it was very clever of Miss Farley to reason it out so soon,” said -Philip. - -“Yes, wasn’t it?” agreed Patty. “I didn’t know you had a bent for -puzzles, Christine.” - -“I haven’t. But that doesn’t seem to me like a puzzle. I can’t do -arithmetical problems, or guess charades at all. But this seems to me a -picture of still life. I can see the insides of the books in my mind, -and they are wrong end to,—that is, compared to the way we read them. -You see, they really stand in the bookcase with the pages numbered -backward.” - -“Bravo, Christine; so they do!” said Mr. Hepworth. “Patty, that’s the -answer, but, I confess, I was ’way off myself.” - -“So say we all of us,” chimed in Roger. “I can only see through it, part -of the time, even now.” - -“I think it a most clever catch question,” said Philip Van Reypen. -“Where did you find it, Miss Fairfield?” - -“In a little book of puzzles; I’m trying to guess them all.” - -“Let me help you, won’t you? I’m a shark on puzzles. I slipped up on -this one, I admit; but I can do the ‘transposed, I am a fish’ kind, just -lovely.” - -“Ah, but my bookful isn’t that kind. They’re all of a catchy or -difficult sort.” - -“Well, let me try to help, mayn’t I?” Mr. Van Reypen’s voice was gay and -wheedlesome, and Patty responded by saying, “Perhaps; some time. But now -I must take Miss Farley in to see Mrs. Van Reypen.” - -These two were mutually pleased with each other, as Patty felt sure they -would be. - -Mrs. Van Reypen assumed her kindest demeanour, for she saw Christine was -excessively shy. She talked pleasantly to her, drawing her out -concerning her life work and her life plans, and ended by asking the -girl to call on her some afternoon, soon. - -Then she went away, and Patty drew Christine into a corner to -congratulate her. - -“It’s fine!” she declared. “If Mrs. Van Reypen takes you up, she’ll do -lovely things for you. She’ll have you at her house, and you’ll meet -lovely people, and she’ll take you to the opera! Oh, Christine, do be -nice to her.” - -“Of course I shall. I liked her at once. She isn’t a bit patronising. -But, Patty, your friend Elise is. I don’t know why, but she doesn’t like -me.” - -“Nonsense, Christine, don’t you go around with thinks like that under -your pompadour! Elise is all right. She isn’t such a sunny bunny as I -am, but she’s a lot wiser and better in many ways.” - -“No, she isn’t! She’s selfish and jealous. But I’m going to be nice to -her, and, perhaps, I can make her like me, after all.” - -“I should say you could! Everybody likes you, and anybody who doesn’t -soon will!” - - - - - CHAPTER II - - - AN ABLE HELPER - - -Nearly all the guests had left the Fairfield house, after Nan’s pleasant -afternoon tea. Philip Van Reypen had escorted his aunt out to her -carriage, and she had driven away, while the young man returned for a -few moments’ further chat with his hostess. - -Though he and Nan had met but a few times, they had become rather -chummy, which, however, was not unusual for him, if he liked anybody. - -Young Van Reypen was of a gay and social nature, and made friends easily -by his sheer good-humour. He admired Mrs. Fairfield very much, but, even -more, he admired Patty. Ever since he had met her unexpectedly on his -aunt’s staircase, he had thought her the prettiest and sweetest girl he -had ever seen. So he was making every endeavour to cultivate her -acquaintance, and, being of rather astute observation, he concluded it -wise to make friends with the whole Fairfield family. - -So the big, handsome chap went back to the drawing-room, and dropped on -a sofa beside Nan. - -“It’s awfully cold out,” he observed, plaintively. - -“Is it?” returned his hostess, innocently. - -“Yes; I hate to go out in the cold.” - -“But you have to go, sooner or later.” - -“Yes; but it may be warmer later.” - -“On the contrary, it will probably grow colder.” - -“Oh! do you think so? But, then again, it may not, and I’m quite willing -to take the chance.” - -“Mr. Van Reypen, I do believe you’re hinting for an invitation to stay -here to dinner!” - -“Oh, Mrs. Fairfield, how clever you are! How could you possibly guess -that, now?” - -Nan laughed and hesitated. She liked the young man, but she wasn’t sure -that Patty wanted him there. Patty was developing into a somewhat -decided young person, and liked to make her own plans. And Nan well knew -that Patty was the real magnet that drew Mr. Van Reypen so often to the -house. - -“What do you think?” she said, as the girl came into the room; “this -plain-spoken young man is giving me to understand that, if he were -urged, he would dine here to-night.” - -“Of course, it would require a great deal of most insistent urging,” put -in Philip. - -“Don’t let’s urge him,” said Patty, but the merry smile she flashed at -the young man belied her words. - -“If you smile like that, I’ll do the urging myself,” he cried. “Please, -Mrs. Fairfield, _do_ let me stay; I’ll be as good as gold.” - -“What say you, Patty?” asked Nan. - -“He may stay,” rejoined Patty, “if he’ll help me with my work on those -puzzles.” - -“Puzzles? Well, I just guess I will! I’ll do them all for you. Where’s -your slate and pencil?” - -“Oh, not yet!” laughed Patty. “We won’t do those until after dinner.” - -“Why do you do them at all?” asked Nan; “and what are they, anyway?” - -“I’ll tell you,” began Patty; “no, I won’t, either. At least, not now. -It’s a grand project,—a really great scheme. And I’ll unfold it at -dinner, then father can hear about it, too.” - -So, later, when the quartette were seated around the dinner table, Patty -announced that she would tell of her great project. - -“You see,” she began, “it’s a sort of advertisement for a big motor-car -company.” - -“Don’t try to float a motor-car company, Patty,” advised her father; -“it’s too big a project for a young girl.” - -“I’m not going to do that, Daddy Fairfield; but I begin to think that -what I am going to do is almost as hard. You see, this big company has -issued a book of a hundred puzzles. Now, whoever guesses all those -puzzles correctly will get the prize. And,—the prize is a lovely -electric runabout. And I want it!” - -“Hevings! hevings!” murmured Mr. Van Reypen. “She wants an Electric -Runabout! Why, Infant, you’ll break your blessed neck!” - -“Indeed, I won’t! I guess I’ve brains enough to run an electric car! If -I guess those puzzles, that’ll prove it. They’re fearfully hard! Listen -to this one. ‘When did London begin with an L and end with an E?’” - -“That is hard,” said Nan. “It must be some foreign name for London. But -_Londres_ won’t do.” - -“No,” said Patty, “I thought of that. I expect it’s some old Anglo-Saxon -or Hardicanute name.” - -“I expect it’s rubbish,” said her father. “Patty, don’t begin on these -things. You’ll wear yourself out. I know how you hammer at anything, -once you begin it, and you’ll be sitting up nights with these foolish -questions until you’re really ill.” - -“Oh, no, I won’t, father. And beside, Mr. Van Reypen is going to help -me, lots.” - -“Angel Child,” said Philip, looking at her with a patronising air, “if -all your questions are as easy as that one you just quoted, your task is -already accomplished.” - -“Why, do you know the answer?” cried Patty. “Oh, tell it to me! I’ve -puzzled so hard over it!” - -“It’s a quibble, of course,—a sort of catch, do you see? And the answer -is that London always began with an L, and _End_ always began with an -E.” - -“Oh,” said Patty, catching the point at once, “I should have known that! -I pride myself on guessing those catch questions.” - -“You were clever to guess it so quickly, Mr. Van Reypen,” said Mr. -Fairfield; “or have you heard it before?” - -“Not exactly in that form, no. But so many quibbles are built like -that.” - -“They are,” agreed Patty; “I ought to have known it. Well, I rather -think there are some others you won’t guess so easily.” - -“How many have you done?” asked Nan. - -“I’ve done about twenty-five out of the hundred. Some were dead easy, -and some I had to work on like the mischief.” - -“But, Patty,” began her father, “what could you do with a motor car of -your own? You don’t want it.” - -“Indeed, I do! Why, I’ll have perfectly elegant times scooting around by -myself.” - -“But you can’t go by yourself in the New York streets! I won’t allow -it.” - -“No, daddy dear, not here in the city, perhaps. But, if we go away for -the summer to some nice country place, where there’s nothing in the road -but cows, then I could run it alone. Or with some nice girl by my side.” - -“Or with some nice boy by your side,” put in Philip. “I’m an awfully -nice boy,—they all say.” - -“If you help me win it, I’ll give you a ride in it,” said Patty. “But I -haven’t won it yet.” - -“No, and you won’t,” said her father. “Those contests are just planned -for an advertisement. The prize goes to the daughter of the chief -director.” - -“Oh, Father Fairfield! What a mean thing to say! You don’t know that -that’s so at all. Now, I believe in their honesty.” - -“So do I,” said Nan. “That isn’t like you, Fred, to express such an -unfounded suspicion.” - -“Well, perhaps I spoke too hastily. But still, Patty, I don’t think you -want the thing. If you get it, I’ll sell it for you, and give you the -money.” - -“No, sir-ee! I want it for itself alone. Oh, father, think what fun I’d -have spinning around the country! Wouldn’t we, Nan?” - -“Yes, indeed! I think it would be great fun. And they say those -electrics are easy to manage.” - -“Pooh! as easy as pie,” declared Patty. “And, anyway, I ran a big -touring car once, in France. A big gasoline one. An electric is nothing -to that.” - -“What do you do to make it go?” asked her father, smiling. - -“Oh, you just release the pawl that engages the clutch that holds the -lever that sustains the spring that lets go the brake—and there you -are!” - -“Patty! where did you learn all that jargon?” - -“’Tisn’t jargon; it’s sense. And now, my dear ones, will you all help me -in my stupendous undertaking? For, when I engage in a contest, I want to -win.” - -“Is it winning, if you have so much help?” teased her father. - -“Yes, it is. The contest is to get the answers to those hundred -questions and send them in. It doesn’t matter where you get your -answers. You don’t want to enter the contest yourself, do you, Mr. Van -Reypen?” - -“No, no, fair lady. I would but be thy humble knight, and render such -poor assistance as I may.” - -“All right, then; right after dinner, we’ll tackle that book of posers.” - -And so, for a couple of hours that evening, Patty and Philip Van Reypen -exerted the full force of their intellects to unravel the knotty tangles -propounded by the little paper-covered book. - -Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield tried for a time, but soon grew weary of the -difficult game. - -“Now, take this one,” said Patty to her colleague; “‘How do you swallow -a door?’” - -“Bolt it,” he replied, promptly. “That’s an old one.” - -“I ought to have guessed that myself,” said Patty, “I’m so fond of -slang.” - -“‘Bolt it,’ isn’t exactly slang.” - -“No,—I s’pose not. It’s just rude diction. Now, answer this. ‘The poor -have two, the rich have none. Schoolboys have several, you have one.’” - -“Well, that’s one of a class of puzzles to which the answer is usually -some letter of the alphabet.” - -“Oh, of course!” cried Patty, quickly; “it is _O_. There, I guessed -that! Don’t you claim it!” - -“Of course, you did! Now, you know this one about the headless man, -don’t you? It’s a classic.” - -“No, I don’t. I can’t see any sense to it at all.” - -“Read it.” - -So Patty read aloud: - - “‘A headless man had a letter to write - It was read by one who had lost his sight, - The dumb repeated it, word for word, - And he who was deaf both listened and heard.’” - -“And you don’t know that?” asked Philip. - -“No; the conditions are impossible.” - -“Oh, no, they’re not. They only seem so. The answer is, ‘Nothing.’ You -see the headless man could write nothing, that’s naught, zero, or the -_letter O_. Then the blind man, of course, could read nothing; the dumb -man could repeat nothing; and the deaf man heard nothing.” - -“Pooh! I don’t think that’s very clever.” - -“Not modernly clever, but it’s a good example of the old-time enigmas.” - -“Gracious! What a lot you know about puzzles. Have you always studied -them.” - -“Yes; I loved them as a child, and I love them still. I think this whole -book is great fun. But we’ll strike some really difficult ones yet. -Here’s one I’ve never seen before. I’ll read it, and see if we, either -of us, get a clue. - - “‘What is it men and women all despise, - Yet one and all alike as highly prize? - What kings possess not; yet full sure am I - That for that luxury they often sigh. - What never was for sale; yet any day - The thrifty housewife will give some away - The farmer needs it for his growing corn. - The tired husbandman delights to own. - The very thing for any sick friend’s room. - It coming, silent as Spring’s early bloom. - A great, soft, yielding thing, that no one fears. - A tiny thing, oft wet with mother’s tears. - A thing so holy that we often wear - It carefully hidden from the world’s cold stare.’” - -“Well,” remarked Patty, complacently, as he finished reading, “I’ve -guessed that.” - -“You have! You bright little thing! I haven’t. Now, don’t tell me. Wait -a minute! No, I can’t catch it. Tell me the answer.” - -“Why, it’s An Old Shoe,” said Patty, laughing. “See how it all fits in.” - -“Yes; it’s rattling clever. I like that one. Did you guess it as I -read?” - -“Yes; it seemed to dawn on me as you went along. They often do that, if -I read them slowly. Now, here’s another old one. I’ll read, and you -guess. - - “‘If it be true, as Welshmen say, - Honour depends on pedigree, - Then stand by—clear the way— - And let me have fair play. - For, though you boast thro’ ages dark - Your pedigree from Noah’s ark, - I, too, was with him there. - For I was Adam, Adam I, - And I was Eve, and Eve was I, - In spite of wind and weather; - But mark me—Adam was not I, - Neither was Mrs. Adam I, - Unless they were together. - Suppose, then, Eve and Adam talking— - With all my heart, but if they’re walking - There ends all simile. - For, tho’ I’ve tongue and often talk, - And tho’ I’ve feet, yet when I walk - There is an end of me! - Not such an end but I have breath, - Therefore to such a kind of death - I have but small objection. - I may be Turk, I may be Jew, - And tho’ a Christian, yet ’tis true - I die by Resurrection!’” - -“Oh, I know that one! It’s a very old one and it’s capital. The answer -is A Bedfellow. See how clever it is; if I walk, it puts an end to me! -and I die by resurrection! Oh, that’s a good one. But you see this one?” - -The golden head and the close-cropped dark one bent over the book -together and read these lines: - - “I sit stern as a rock when I’m raising the wind, - But the storm once abated I’m gentle and kind; - I have kings at my feet who await but my nod - To kneel down in the dust, on the ground I have trod. - Though seen by the world, I am known but to few, - The Gentile deserts me, I am pork to the Jew. - I never have passed but one night in the dark, - And that was like Noah alone in the ark. - My weight is three pounds, my length is one mile, - And when you have guessed me you’ll say with a smile, - That my first and my last are the best of this isle.” - -“Now that’s an old favourite with all puzzle-lovers,” said Philip, as -they finished reading it. “And it has never been satisfactorily guessed. -The usual answer is The Crown of England. But that doesn’t seem right to -me. However, I know no other.” - -“But how does the Crown of England fit all the requirements?” said -Patty, looking over the text. - -“Well, ‘this isle’ is supposed to mean Great Britain. And I believe it -is a historic fact that the Crown spent one night in a big chest called -the Ark.” - -“What was it there for?” - -“Oh, between the two reigns of William IV. and Victoria, there was a -delay of some hours in the night before she really received the crown, -and it was then placed in the ‘Ark.’ The weight of the crown is about -three pounds, and they say, if drawn out into gold wire, it would -stretch a mile.” - -“It would depend on the thickness of the wire,” commented Patty, sagely. - -“So it would. I don’t like the answer, anyway. But I can’t think of a -better one. Let’s try some easy ones.” - -“Take this mathematical one, then. ‘Divide nine into two equal parts -that, added together, will make ten.’” - -For some time Philip worked over this. He tried arabic figures, printed -words, and Roman numerals. At last, he exclaimed, “Ah, now we have it!” - -“Have you really done it?” cried Patty. - -“Yes. Look. I write the Roman nine, IX, you know. Then I fold the paper -crosswise, right through the middle. Now, what do you read on this -side?” - -“IV,” said Patty; “that’s four.” - -“Yes. Now I turn the folded paper over, and what do you read?” - -“VI; that’s six.” - -“Yes, and six and four are ten. Though, as you know, we divided our nine -into exactly equal parts by that crossways fold through the middle.” - -“That’s a good one,” said Patty, with a little sigh; “but I don’t see -how you guessed it.” - -“But _I_ see that you’re not to guess any more to-night,” said Mr. -Fairfield, coming into the library, and looking at the absorbed -puzzlers. “I’m going to take you both to the dining-room, where Mrs. -Fairfield will give you a very small bit of very light supper, and then, -Mr. Van Reypen, I shall send my daughter to her much-needed and -well-earned rest.” - -“But I’m not a bit sleepy, father dear,” protested Patty. - -“No matter, my child; if you go into this ridiculous game, you must -promise me not to overdo it. I will not allow you to work late at night -on these problems.” - -“All right, Daddykins, I promise. Wow! but I’m hungry! Come on, Mr. Van -Reypen, let’s see what Nan will give us to support our famishing -frames.” - -To the dining-room they went, and Nan’s gay little supper soon brushed -the cobwebs out of Patty’s brain. But she was well satisfied with her -first evening of real work on her “Puzzle Contest.” - - - - - CHAPTER III - - - A LECTURE - - -“Patricia,” said Mr. Fairfield, one morning at the breakfast-table. - -Patty gave a great jump, clasped her hands to her breast dramatically, -and exclaimed: - -“Oh, my gracious goodness! _What_ do you call me that for?” - -“Because,” went on her father, “I’m going to lecture you, and I’m in a -very serious mood.” - -“Proceed, Mr. Frederick Fairfield, Esquire;” and Patty assumed an -expression of rapt attention and excessive meekness. - -“Well, to put it in a few words, I won’t have that young Van Reypen -hanging around here so much!” - -“Oh! is that all? Well, you’re barking up the wrong tree! You should -advise him of that fact, not me.” - -“Incidentally, as I go along, consider yourself reproved for that awful -bit of slang. But now I’m concerned with this other subject. It won’t be -necessary for me to speak to the young man, for I’m telling you that you -must discourage his attentions somewhat. He comes too often.” - -“I think so, too,” agreed Patty, calmly. “But it isn’t me—I, he comes -to see. It’s Nan.” - -“Oh, Patty, how silly!” exclaimed Nan, laughing and blushing a little. - -“Yes, it is, daddy. Nan encourages him something scan’lous! I don’t -wonder you kick!” - -“Object, Patty, not kick.” - -“Yes, sir; object is just what I mean.” Patty’s demure air made her -father laugh, but he returned to his theme. - -“As you know, child, I like to have you amused and happy, and I like to -have your young friends come to see you. But this chap has already been -here three evenings this week, and it’s only Thursday.” - -“That leaves him just three more to come, doesn’t it?” said Patty, -counting on her fingers. - -“Indeed, it does not! If he keeps this up, he’ll be forbidden the house -altogether.” - -“Oh, what a pity! And he such a nice young man, with rosy cheeks and -curly hair! Father, you’re cruel to your only child!” - -“Now, Patty, behave yourself. You’re too young to have a man calling on -you so often, and I really object to it.” - - “‘I will be good, dear mother, - I heard a sweet child say,’” - -hummed Patty, “and I’ll tell you frankly, my stern parent, that, if -you’ll only let the Van Reypen villain stay by me until I get these -puzzles done, I don’t care if I never see him again after that.” - -“Oh, Patty,” cried Nan, “how ungrateful!” - -“Ungrateful, perhaps, to that bold, bad young man, but obedient to my -dear, kind, old father.” - -When Patty was in this amiably foolish mood, she was incorrigible, so -Mr. Fairfield said: - -“All right, my lady. Let him come a few times to work out those -pestilential puzzles, and then I shall hold you to your promise, to cut -his acquaintance.” - -“Is he really as bad as all that, father?” asked Patty, in awestruck -tones. - -“He isn’t bad at all. He’s a most estimable and exemplary young man. But -I won’t have anybody calling on you three nights in one week, at your -age. It’s out of the question! Kenneth doesn’t.” - -“But Ken is so busy.” - -“No, it’s because he has some idea of the proprieties.” - -“And hasn’t Mr. Van Reypen _any_ idea of the proprieties?” Patty’s eyes -opened wide at this awful suggestion. - -“Yes, he has;” and Mr. Fairfield smiled in spite of himself. “Or, he -would have, if you’d let him! It’s all your fault, Patty; you drag him -here, to mull over those idiotic questions!” - -“I drag him here! Oh, father, what a rudeness! Well, I simply _must_ -have his help on the rest of those puzzles. How would it be if you -engaged him as my assistant, and paid him a salary? Would that help -matters?” - -“How many of your precious puzzles are done?” - -“Sixty-nine out of the hundred.” - -“How many have you solved yourself?” - -“About fifty.” - -“Then that man did nineteen for you?” - -“Yes; and, if he hadn’t, I _never_ could have guessed them! Oh, he _is_ -clever!” - -“And when do the answers have to be sent in?” - -“April first.” - -“H’m! an appropriate day! Well, Patty, as your heart is so set on this -thing, carry it through; but don’t ever begin on such a task again. Now, -Mr. Van Reypen may help you, if you wish, but I mean it when I say he -must not come here to call more than twice in one week.” - -“All right,” agreed Patty, cheerfully. “May I send him some puzzles to -guess, father?” - -“Well, I won’t have you writing to him. Not letters, I mean. But, if you -can’t guess a puzzle, you may send it to him, and I trust you not to let -this permission develop into a correspondence.” - -“No, sir; I won’t,” said Patty. - -But, after Mr. Fairfield had gone away, the girl turned to Nan, with a -perplexed look. - -“Whatever ails father,” she said, “to talk to me like that?” - -“He’s right, Patty. You don’t see the difference, but there is a great -difference between your friendship for Kenneth and Roger, which dates -from your schooldays, and your sudden acquaintance with Mr. Van Reypen, -who is older, and who is a far more experienced man of the world.” - -“But Mr. Hepworth is a lot older than Mr. Van Reypen, and nobody objects -to his coming here.” - -“Mr. Hepworth is an old friend of your father’s, and has always been in -the habit of coming here often.” - -“Well, these distinctions are too much for me,” declared Patty. “But I -don’t care a snip-jack about Philip Van Reypen, personally. If I can -just have his help on my thirty-one remaining problems, I’ll cheerfully -bid him farewell forevermore.” - -There was no mistaking Patty’s sincerity, and Nan felt decidedly -relieved, for she and her husband had feared that Patty was taking too -deep a personal interest in the attractive young millionaire. - -“All right, girlie. Suppose, then, you send him two or three of your -brain-rackers, and ask him to come around, say, on Monday next. That -will convey a gentle hint not to come sooner.” - -“That’s a long time,” said Patty, dubiously; “but, if I need to, I can -send him more puzzles before that.” - -Patty ran away to her study, and spent the morning working on her -puzzles. It was by no means drudgery, for she enjoyed it all. The -puzzles were of all sorts, from charades and square words, to the most -abstruse problems. She solved several, and four she gave up as -impossible for her ever to guess. These she concluded to send to Mr. Van -Reypen. - -But it was more difficult than she anticipated, to compose a note to go -with them. - -She had no wish to disobey her father’s commands, even in spirit, and -wanted to write an impersonal letter, such as he would approve. - -But, for some reason, she couldn’t accomplish it. Philip Van Reypen was -himself so straightforward, and so quick to see through any subterfuge, -that all the notes she wrote seemed to her artificial and insincere. She -tore them up one after another, and at last, seizing her pen again, she -wrote rapidly: - - “DEAR MR. VAN REYPEN: - - “It’s no use. I’ve written a dozen notes and torn them up, - trying to imply, or hint politely, what I prefer to say right - out. It seems my parents think you come here too often, and, I - daresay, you think so, too. So, at their command, you’re not to - come again till next Monday. Come at four o’clock, and _don’t_ - ask to stay to dinner. I enclose some puzzles that I hope you - can solve. I can’t. - - “Sincerely yours, - “PATRICIA FAIRFIELD.” - -“There!” said Patty, to herself, as she read it over, “I think that -would do credit to a ‘Young Lady’s Model Letter Writer.’ It tells the -truth without subterfuge, and it certainly does not invite the -correspondence father is so afraid of. Now, I’m not going to touch these -old puzzles again, to-day, or I’ll have brain failure. I think I’ll go -and practise some new songs. Music hath charms to sooth a puzzled -breast.” - -So Patty warbled away for an hour or so, in her clear, sweet voice, and -Nan came down to the music room to listen. - -“Oh, Patty,” she said, “if you’d put half the time and pains on your -music that you do on those foolish puzzles, you’d be a great singer!” - -“Think so, Nannikins? I doubt it.” - -“Yes, you would. You have a lovely voice, but it needs more training and -lots of practice.” - -“Well, it won’t get it. Life’s too short; and, too, nobody cares for -parlour tricks of a musical nature. I sing well enough to entertain the -Fairfield family, and that’s all I care for.” - -“Patty, have you no ambition?” - -“Yes; but my ambitions are sensible. If I practised four hours a day, -I’d still have only a small parlour voice,—not a concert voice. And -there’d be four hours a day wasted. And days are _so_ short, anyway. I’m -going to Christine’s this afternoon; do you want the motor?” - -“Why, yes; I did expect to make some calls.” - -“Oh, well, you can drop me on the way. But, won’t it be fun, Nan, when I -get my own little runabout? I’ll be quite independent of Miller and the -big car.” - -“You can’t use it alone in the city.” - -“Oh, yes, I could! Just to fly over to Christine’s in the afternoon, or -something like that. Father would kick at first, but he’d soon get used -to it.” - -“You do wind that poor man around your finger, Patty.” - -“Good thing, too. If I didn’t, he’d wind me around his finger. So, as it -is, I have the best of it. But I’m not at all sure I’ll catch that -runabout, after all. The first of April draweth near, and many of those -silly problems refuse to let themselves be solved.” - -“I hope you will get it, after you’ve worked so hard.” - -“I hope so, too. But hopes don’t solve anagrams and enigmas.” - -“Oh, well, if you don’t get it, there’s always room for you in the big -car. What time do you want to go to Christine’s?” - -“About four. She won’t be home till then. Does that suit your plans?” - -“Perfectly, my child.” - -So, at four o’clock, Nan left Patty at Christine’s new home. - -It was not a typical boarding-house, but an apartment occupied by two -elderly people, who had a room to spare, which seemed just right for the -young art student. - -Even in the short time she had been there, Christine had done much to -make the plain room more attractive. And Patty had helped, for many of -the comforts that had been added had been her gifts. A growing palm, and -a smaller bowl of ferns looked thrifty and well-kept; and a large jar of -exquisite pink roses gave the place a gala air. - -“What lovely roses!” exclaimed Patty, sniffing daintily at one of them. - -“Yes, aren’t they?” said Christine. “Mr. Hepworth sent them. He sends -them every week. Isn’t he kind?” - -“Yes, but no kinder than he ought to be. Everybody ought to be good to -you, Christine.” - -“Why?” - -“Oh, because you’re so sweet and good, yourself. And you work so hard, -and you never complain,—and you’re so pretty.” - -Patty added the last clause, because her former words brought a pink -glow to Christine’s cheeks, and a shining light to her dark eyes, and -she looked indeed beautiful. - -“I do work hard; but, Patty, I’m winning out! I’ve already had some -illustrations accepted by a good magazine; and I’ve orders for two -magazine covers.” - -“Fine! Why, Christine, you’ve arrived!” - -“Not quite that; but I’m steadily going ahead. I say that quite without -conceit. It’s simply that I’m learning how to use the talent I have.” - -“You dear!” cried Patty. “As if any one could imagine _you_ conceited! -And, of course, you’re going ahead,—fast!” - -“And, Patty, Mrs. Van Reypen is so good to me. I don’t understand it. -Why, she fairly showers me with kindnesses.” - -“I understand it. Mrs. Van Reypen is very eccentric. If she dislikes -people, she can’t be caustic enough to them or about them. But, if she -takes a fancy to any one, then she just adores her. And I’m so glad -she’s taken a fancy to you,—for she surely has.” - -“Yes, she has. But sometimes it embarrasses me, for she invites me to -see her so often, or to go to entertainments with her, and I _have_ to -refuse, for I mustn’t neglect my work.” - -“Oh, she understands that. You stand by your work, and I know her well -enough to know she’ll respect and admire you all the more for it.” - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - - THE HUNDREDTH QUESTION - - -It was the very last day of March. The next day Patty must send in her -answers to the hundred puzzles, and she still had four of them unsolved. -She had worked on these all day, and her brain was weary. Kenneth came -in late in the afternoon, but he couldn’t help, as he had no knack for -puzzles. - -“I don’t like them, Patty,” he declared. “You see acrostics have cross -words to them, and cross words always irritate me. I like kind words.” - -“All right, Ken,” said Patty, laughing; “I’ll invent a new kind of -acrostic that has only kind words in it, some day. But can’t you help me -with this one? A train of six cars is to be pulled up a steep incline. -The engine provided can pull only three cars. Another engine of equal -power is brought and put behind the train, to push it up the hill. The -two engines, working together, get the train uphill. Supposing the cars -coupled with chains, are the chains taut, or hanging loosely? I’ve -puzzled over that for hours. You see, half the weight of the train is -pulled and half is pushed, so how do those stupid chains know whether -they’re to hang loose, or pull taut?” - -“H’m,” said Kenneth, “there must be an answer to that. Where’s your Van -Reypen satellite? Can’t he do it?” - -“You needn’t speak of Mr. Van Reypen in that tone,” said Patty, annoyed; -“he’s helped me a lot more than you have!” - -“There, there, Patsy, don’t be an acrostic! Don’t give cross words to -your poor old chum, who lives but for to please you.” - -Patty laughed at Kenneth’s mock tragic tones, but she went on: - -“I do think you might do one for me, Ken. You haven’t even tried.” - -“All right, girlie; I’ll do this one about the cars and chains. Do you -mind if I go off by myself to think it out?” - -Kenneth went into another room, and Patty looked after him in -wonderment. She didn’t guess that he was longing to help her, and, -though he couldn’t guess conundrums, he hoped he might puzzle out this -question of mechanical power. - -And then Mr. Hepworth came, and also Philip Van Reypen. They knew it was -the last day, and they wanted to hear what Patty’s final report might -be. - -Philip Van Reypen had been greatly amused at the letter Patty wrote him, -and, being an exceedingly sensible young man, he had not answered or -referred to it definitely, but had accepted its dictum, and had called -at the Fairfield house far less often. Nor had he again hinted for an -invitation to dinner, but awaited one which should be freely given. - -“How many yet to do?” he asked, blithely. - -“Four,” answered Patty, disconsolately. - -“Out with ’em! What are they? Not charades, I hope; I simply _can’t_ do -charades.” - -“There’s one charade left, but here’s an enigma, which is about as bad. -Oh, Mr. Hepworth, can’t _you_ guess it?” - -Appealed to thus, Hepworth made up his mind to help, if he possibly -could, and both he and Van Reypen listened attentively as Patty read: - -“‘I am intangible, yet I may be felt, seen, and heard. I exist from two -to six feet above the ground. I have neither shape nor substance, and, -though a natural production, I am neither animal, vegetable, or mineral. -I am neither male nor female, but something between both. I am told of -in the Scriptures, in history, in song, and in story. I am sad or merry; -loving or treacherous. I am given or bought, and, because of my great -value, I am sometimes stolen. I am used by men who swear, and by -innocent children. Of late, there has been a prejudice against me, but I -shall probably be in vogue as long as the world shall stand.’” - -They all thought and pondered. Nan came in, and, as Patty read it slowly -over again, even she tried to guess it. But they could not. - -At last Philip Van Reypen gave a whoop of triumph, and exclaimed: - -“I have it! Miss Fairfield, I’ve guessed it! Will you give it to me, if -I tell you what it is?” - -“Your speech sounds like an enigma, too,” said Patty, a little -bewildered. - -“But I’ve guessed it, I tell you. And, if you’ll promise to give it to -me, I’ll tell you the answer.” - -“No, I won’t promise,” said Patty. “It might be the motor car itself!” - -“But it isn’t! It’s far more valuable than that! It’s a kiss!” - -“Oh!” said Patty, “so it is! How _did_ you guess it? It’s fearfully -hard!” - -Mr. Hepworth looked distinctly chagrined. Why, he thought, couldn’t he -have guessed the foolish thing! It was easy enough,—after one knew it! - -“Ken, come in here!” cried Patty; “we have guessed another! That is, Mr. -Van Reypen did. Now, there are only three left.” - -“Only two!” announced Kenneth, as with a beaming face he came in, -bringing a dozen sheets of paper, scrawled all over with sketches of -trains of cars going uphill. - -“Oh, have you done that one?” - -“Yes; I’m sure I’m right. The three first cars would have taut chains, -being pulled by the front engine; and the three last cars would be -pushed up close together, with their chains hanging limp, because they -are pushed by the back engine.” - -“Oh, Ken, of course that’s right! Thank you, heaps! Now I’ll get the -other two, if I have to sit up all night to do it!” - -“What are they?” asked Mr. Hepworth, conscious of a faint hope that he -might yet be of assistance. - -“One’s a charade,” answered Patty. “Here it is: - - “‘’Tis futile, Son, my first to use - To change to yours another’s views; - For one convinced against his will - Is of the same opinion still. - - “‘If e’er a letter you receive - From maiden fair; pray don’t believe - All that the note itself may say,— - But to my last attention pay. - - “‘My total may be well employed - To still a molar’s aching void, - When stopping has not stopped the pain; - That tooth will never ache again!’ - -“I’ve worked on that a solid week, but I can’t get it.” - -“Count me out, too,” said Philip Van Reypen; “charades are too many for -me.” - -“I’ll do that one for you, Patty,” said Mr. Hepworth, quietly. “Give me -a copy to take home with me, and I’ll send you the answer to-night, or -early in the morning.” - -“Bless you, my angel!” cried Patty. “Will you, really? Why, Mr. -Hepworth, I didn’t know you _could_ guess charades.” - -“I can’t!” said he, a little grimly; “but I’m going to, all the same. -Good-bye, for now.” - -And, with a do-or-die expression, Mr. Hepworth took leave of the group. - -“Poor man!” said Nan, “he can’t guess it. He just wants to help you out, -Patty.” - -But Patty smiled and shook her head. - -“Nay, nay, Nan,” she said; “if Mr. Hepworth says he’ll guess that thing, -he will! It’s as good as done!” - -“What faith!” murmured Van Reypen. - -“Yes, indeed!” declared Patty. “Why, if I lost faith in Mr. Hepworth, -I’d lose faith in the,—in the,—universe! I’ve known him for years, and -he _never_ fails me!” - -“I guessed one!” said Kenneth, proudly. - -“You did,” returned Patty, smiling on him; “and just for that I’m going -to take you a whole block in my motor car!” - -“Oh! how lovely. But, first, catch your car.” - -“Now, what’s the only one left?” asked Philip, who wanted to distinguish -himself again. - -“Oh, just a simple conundrum,” said Patty. “What is lower with a head on -it than without one?” - -“That sounds simple, but it isn’t easy,” said Philip, after a few -moments’ thoughts. “Nails,—pins,—cabbage heads,—nothing seems to be -the right idea.” - -And, try as they would, they couldn’t think of anything that led to the -right answer. - -The boys went home, declaring they’d think it up, and Patty mulled it -over in her mind all the evening, without result. - -Then she went to bed, declaring she’d dream of the answer. - -The next morning she overslept, and Nan, fearing she would be late with -her list of answers, went to waken her. - -“Wake up, you little April Fool,” she cried, gently pulling Patty’s gold -curls. - -“Oh, Nan! is it morning? I’m so sleepy!” - -“But you must wake up! It’s the First of April, and you must win that -motor car to-day or never!” - -Patty raised her head, and then dropped it back on the pillow. - -“I can’t get my head up,” she said; “it’s too heavy. I guess I’ll give -up the motor car. I’d rather keep my head on the pillow. Oh, Nan!” and -suddenly Patty sprang up, with a wild yell. - -“That’s it! I’ve got it! Hurrah!” - -“Mercy, Patty, do keep quiet. _What’s_ the matter?” - -“Why, that’s it! the last puzzle! What is lower with a head on it than -without one? Answer: a Pillow! See?” - -“Patty, you’re crazy! I suppose that is the answer, but _I_ think it’s -silly.” - -“No, it isn’t; not as puzzles go! Oh, Nan, now I have them all!” - -“Not the one Mr. Hepworth took away.” - -“He’ll get it back in time. You see if he doesn’t! Oh, Nan, Hooray with -me!” - -“I won’t. You’ve made noise enough to frighten the whole block now! Do -quiet down, Patty, and get dressed.” - -“All right, I will,” said Patty, in a whisper, and Nan went away, -laughing. - -Patty went down to breakfast in a very happy frame of mind, and -announced to her father that the motor car was as good as won. - -“Why do you feel so sure of Mr. Hepworth’s puzzle?” asked her father, a -little curiously. “He never solved a charade before.” - -“It doesn’t matter,” said Patty, with supreme confidence. “He said he’d -do it. If he hadn’t _known_ he could do it, he wouldn’t have said he -_would_ do it.” - -“Oh, stop, Patty!” cried Nan. “You talk like a puzzle, yourself. Don’t -get the habit, I beg.” - -“I won’t. But now I must go and copy my answers neatly, and by that time -Mr. Hepworth’s will be here, and I’ll send ’em off about noon.” - -Patty spent a happy morning copying her answers in her neat script, and -looking with pride at her complete list. - -At last it was all done, and she had left a vacant space to insert the -answer to the charade when Mr. Hepworth should send it. But at noon it -had not arrived, and she had had no word from him. - -“Telephone, and ask him about it,” suggested Nan, as they sat at -luncheon. - -“No,” said Patty, “he said he’d send it, and I’ll wait for him.” - -“How long can you wait?” - -“Why, the only stipulation is that the list of answers shall be -postmarked not later than April first; but I hate to wait till the last -mail.” - -“So should I; do telephone, Patty.” - -“No, not yet. He’ll send it.” - -The afternoon dragged by, with no word from Mr. Hepworth. At four -o’clock, Nan went to Patty’s room. - -“Dearie,” she said, “don’t lose your whole effort by a bit of -stubbornness. Mr. Hepworth must have forgotten to send his answer—or, -perhaps, he sent it by a messenger, and it went to the wrong place.” - -“He wouldn’t do that,” said Patty, shaking her head. “He’ll guess it, -and, as soon as he does, he’ll telephone me. I know him.” - -“I know him, too, and I know his faithfulness. But mistakes do happen -sometimes. If you’d only telephone,—or let me.” - -“No, Nannie,” said Patty, gently. “This is my picnic, and I shall -conduct it in my own way. And I won’t telephone Mr. Hepworth, if I have -to send the answers with one missing.” - -And then the telephone bell rang! - -And it was Mr. Hepworth calling. - -“I’ve guessed it!” he said, breathlessly, but triumphant. “But it’s -rather complicated, and I can’t explain it very well over the telephone. -I’ll come right over. Is there time?” - -“Yes,” returned Patty; “come on. Good-bye.” - -She hung up the receiver, and turned to Nan with an “I told you so” -expression on her face. - -“But it was a narrow escape,” said Nan. - -“Not at all,” said Patty. - -Then Mr. Hepworth came. - -He looked calm and smiling as ever, and showed no trace of his sleepless -night and anxious hard-working day. - -“It’s ‘Forceps,’” he said, as soon as he had greeted them; “but it isn’t -a fair charade at all. A charade should be divided into its two or more -legitimate syllables. But this one is divided ‘Force’ and ‘P.S.’ You -see, the P.S. is referred to as the principal part of a lady’s letter.” - -“Oh, that old joke!” cried Nan. - -“Yes. But, if it hadn’t been for that old joke, I never could have -guessed it. For that was what put me on the right track. But the whole -charade is distinctly unfair in its construction.” - -“I think so, too,” said Patty, who had been looking it over. “Oh! Mr. -Hepworth, how did you ever guess it?” - -“I told you I would,” he answered, simply. - -“Yes; and so I knew you would,” she returned, with a glance as -straightforward as his own. - -“Now, I’ll add it to my list,” she went on, “and then we’ll go out to -the box together, to mail it.” - -In a moment, Patty was ready, with the big, fat envelope, clearly -addressed and much bestamped. - -Throwing a light wrap round her, she went with Mr. Hepworth the -half-block to the lamp-post letter-box. But the large envelope would not -go in the box. - -“Never mind, Patty,” he said; “I’ll take it to the post-office for you. -That will be better, anyway, as it may be postmarked a little sooner. -And it’s my fault that it’s delayed so late, anyway.” - -“It is not!” exclaimed Patty. “If it hadn’t been for you, I couldn’t -have sent the list at all! I mean, not a complete list.” - -“Van Reypen helped you far more than I did,” said Mr. Hepworth, a little -bitterly. - -Patty noticed his tone, and, with her ready tact, she ignored it. - -“Mr. Van Reypen did help me,” she said; “but, with all his help, the -list would not have been perfect but for you. I thank you, very much.” - -Patty held out her hand, and Hepworth took it slowly, almost reverently. - -“Patty,” he said, “I wonder if you know how much I would do for you?” - -“How much?” said Patty, not really thinking of what she was saying, for -her mind was still on her puzzles. - -“Shall I tell you?” and the intense note in his voice brought her back -to a realising sense of the situation. - -“Not now,” she cried, gaily; “you promised to get those answers to the -post-office in double-quick time. That would be the nicest thing you -could do for me.” - -“Then I’ll do it, you little witch;” and, with a quick bow, Hepworth -turned and strode down the street. - - - - - CHAPTER V - - - A SUMMER HOME - - -“If I were sure Patty would get her motor car,” said Nan, “I’d vote for -the seashore. But, if she doesn’t, I’d rather go to the mountains.” - -“’Course I’ll get it,” declared Patty. “I’m sure, certain, positive, -convinced, satisfied beyond all shadow of doubt that I’ve cinched that -car! It only remains to get the formal notice.” - -“And to get the car,” added her father. - -They were discussing, in family conclave, their plans for the coming -summer. - -Patty liked the seashore, and Nan, the mountains, but each wanted the -other to be pleased, so there was a generous rivalry going on. - -“But I can use it in the mountains,” went on Patty; “mountain roads are -pretty much civilised nowadays. And, anyway, it’s sure to be a perfect -hill-climber.” - -“Oh, _sure_ to be!” said Mr. Fairfield, who never could bring himself to -believe seriously that Patty would get the car. - -“Well, let’s divide the time,” suggested Nan. “Let’s go to the seashore -first, and spend, say, May, June, and July. Then go to the mountains for -August and September.” - -“That would be lovely!” declared Patty, enthusiastically, “if I didn’t -know you were planning it that way for my benefit. And I can’t—no, I -can_not_ bring myself to accept such a sackerry-fice!” - -“You can’t help yourself, you mean,” said Nan. “And, now that part of -it’s settled, where shall we go?” - -“I like the New Jersey shore,” said Mr. Fairfield, “because I can run up -to New York so easily from there. But I was thinking of buying a house, -so we could go to it each summer, and so do away with this yearly -discussion of where to go. Even if we have a summer home, we can go on a -trip to the mountains as well, later in the season.” - -“That’s so,” agreed Nan. “No one wants to go to the mountains before -August.” - -“Oh, won’t it be gay!” cried Patty. “A home of our own, at the seashore! -With little white curtains blowing out of its windows, and box trees at -the entrance to the drive!” - -“That sounds attractive,” agreed Nan. “And wide verandas all round, and -the ocean dashing over them, sometimes.” - -“It wouldn’t be a bad investment,” said Mr. Fairfield. “We wouldn’t -build, you know, but buy a house, and then fix it up to suit ourselves. -And, whenever we tired of it, we could sell it.” - -“Good business, Mr. Fairfield,” said Patty, nodding her head at him -approvingly. “Now, I know the spot I’d like best. And that’s at Spring -Beach. It’s the prettiest part of the whole Jersey coast.” - -“I think so, too,” said Nan. “It’s not a large enough place to be -rackety and noisy, but it has beautiful homes and charming people. I’ve -been there several times, though not to stay long.” - -“Be sure to buy a house with a garage, father,” put in Patty. “For I -must have a place to keep my car.” - -“Well, as we’ll have our own car there, I fancy we’ll have a garage, -Puss. But we may have to add an ell, to accommodate your toy wagon. When -do you expect to get it, by the way?” - -“The winner will be announced on the twentieth of April, and the car -delivered about May first. So I’ll take you both for a May-day ride. Not -both at once, of course.” - -“You’ll take Miller on your first few rides, my girl; until you’ve -thoroughly learned how to manage the thing.” - -“All right, I will. For I don’t want to make any stupid mistakes through -ignorance. Accidents may happen, but, if so, I expect to be able to use -my skill and knowledge to repair them.” - -“Patty, you have a sublime self-confidence,” said her father, laughing; -“but I’m glad of it. For it will probably carry you through when your -vaunted skill and knowledge give out.” - -A few nights later, Mr. Fairfield came home with several photographs of -Spring Beach houses that were for sale. Each was accompanied with a -description, and the Fairfield trio looked them over with great -interest. Two seemed more desirable than the rest, and it was decided -that, next day, they should all go down to the shore to look at them. - -“Let’s take Christine,” suggested Patty; “a day at the seashore will do -her good.” - -So, next morning, the quartette started for Spring Beach. - -Christine had never seen the ocean before, and Patty greatly enjoyed -seeing the Southern girl’s delight. - -It was a fine April day, the air clear and cool, and the blue sky -cloudless, save for some cotton-wool masses near the horizon. The waves -were deep, translucent blue, with brilliantly white crests, and they -rolled and tumbled in to shore, as if anxious to greet Christine. - -“Is it like you thought it would be?” asked Patty, as Christine stood, -with clasped hands, gazing. - -“Yes; in its lines. For, of course, I’ve seen pictures of it. But I -didn’t know it was so _alive_.” - -“Yes,” said Patty, with a nod of comprehension, “that’s the way it seems -to me. Really alive, and always responsive to my moods and thoughts.” - -“I didn’t know you had moods and thoughts,” said Christine, smiling at -Patty a little quizzically. - -“’Deed I have! Perhaps not such subtle and temperamental ones as yours -or Mr. Hepworth’s, but perfectly good moods and thoughts, all the same.” - -“Why do you class mine with Mr. Hepworth’s?” - -“Because you’re both artists. Aren’t artists supposed to have most -impressive and unspeakable thoughts at sight of the ocean or the moon or -the purple shadows on the distant hills?” - -“Patty, I suppose you’re making fun of me, but I don’t mind a bit. And, -of one thing I’m sure, whatever your thoughts may be, they’re never -unspeakable!” - -“Right you are, Christine! I’m glad you appreciate my talent for -volubility! That’s why I like the sea. I can talk to it all day, and it -is most appreciative, but it never talks back.” - -“Oh, it talks back to me! It has told me lots of things already.” - -“That’s because you’re an artist. But this must be the new house! -Father’s turning in here. Oh, isn’t it lovely!” - -It was a most beautiful place, though its somewhat dense shrubbery -partly hid the view of the ocean. - -But the house was delightful. Large, roomy, and well-built, it seemed -all any one could desire for a summer home. - -They went through it, with many comments, and then went on a block -farther, to look at the other one they had in mind. - -This was equally desirable, in every way, as a dwelling, but the large -grounds had very few trees or tall shrubs, so that the sea-view was -unobstructed. - -“This is my choose!” declared Patty, sitting down on the steps of the -front veranda. “What’s the use of coming to the seashore and living in a -forest? Oh, my fond parents, do decide to take this one, for your little -Patty’s sake!” - -“Will there be shade enough?” asked Mr. Fairfield. - -“Yes, indeed!” declared Patty. “If not, we can go inside and draw the -curtains. But I do love a house where you can see out. And I think this -is the finest ocean view on the beach.” - -“It is,” corroborated the agent, who was showing them the house. “And -the sunrise view is grand.” - -“I don’t often see the sun rise,” admitted Patty, laughing; “but perhaps -I shall, down here, for I’m going to sleep out of doors.” - -“In your motor car?” enquired her father. - -“No, sir! I’m going to have a veranda bedroom. There, you see it, -between those two front towers. I’ve always wanted to try that sort of a -fresh-air fund scheme.” - -“Well, whatever you and Nan decide on, I’ll agree to,” said Mr. -Fairfield, who lived but to please his wife and daughter. - -So, after some further serious consideration of rooms and outlooks, Nan -and Patty agreed that the second house they had visited was the one for -them, and Christine commended their choice. - -“It’s rather large for just us three,” said Nan, but Patty replied: -“Never mind, we’ll have lots of company. I expect to have house parties -a great deal of the time; we’ve never had room for much company in New -York. What shall we name the place?” - -“‘Sea View,’” said her father, and Patty laughed. - -“Yes,” she said; “or ‘Ocean View,’ or ‘Fair View,’ or ‘Beach View’! No, -let’s get something descriptive and unhackneyed. Help us, Christine.” - -“I like a name like ‘The Breakers,’” said Nan. “It’s so dignified.” - -“How about ‘The Pebbles’?” asked Christine, looking at the pebbled walks -that led through the lawn. - -“That’s just right!” said Patty, “and it’s seashorey, too. We’ll call -the place ‘The Pebbles’; shall us, Nan?” - -“Yes; I like that. It’s simple and yet expressive.” - -“And now,” said Mr. Fairfield, “let us go over to the hotel for -luncheon, and then, while I have a little business talk with the agent, -you ladies can rave over the sea, the sea, the open sea.” - -“What good times you do have, don’t you, Patty?” said Christine, as they -strolled along the board walk to the hotel. - -“Yes, Christine, I do. And I often feel as if I didn’t deserve so much -happiness; and perhaps it’s wrong for me to have so much, when many -other girls have so little.” - -“No, Patty; that isn’t the way to look at it. You ought to be glad and -thankful, but never feel any doubt about its being all right. Myself, I -have so much to be thankful for, sometimes my heart almost bursts with -gratitude. But I know it’s all right, and that I _ought_ to have it. -Whatever is, is right, Patty.” - -“Yes; I s’pose so. But, Christine, what do you mean, about yourself? Are -you glad you have to earn your own living?” - -“Oh, that’s merely incidental. Since I have to earn my own living, I’m -glad I can, of course. Or, at least, I shall soon be able to. But I -mean, I’m so glad that I have such talent as I have, and such a love of -my life work, and such dear friends, and such a happy outlook -generally.” - -“Christine, you’re a darling. I don’t believe many people know how fine -and lovely you are. Do they?” - -“I don’t know many people,” said Christine, smiling; “but those I do -know don’t all share your views. Elise doesn’t.” - -“Bother Elise! Don’t let her bother you! Why think of her at all? -Christine, if your philosophy of happiness is any good, it ought to -teach you to cut out anything unpleasant. And, if Elise is unpleasant, -cut her out.” - -“No, girlie; not that. If Elise is unpleasant,—and it may be only my -imagination,—I shall try to make her become pleasant.” - -“I wish you joy of your task,” said Patty, grinning, for she knew Elise -better than Christine did, and, while she liked her herself, she felt -sure her two friends could never be very congenial. - -The well-selected and well-served luncheon proved most acceptable to -appetites sharpened by sea air, and, during its course, enthusiastic -plans were made for improving and furnishing “The Pebbles.” - -“Christine will help us with the ‘artistic values,’—I think that’s what -you call ’em,” said Patty. “Nan can look after chairs and tables and -such prosaic things; and I’ll sew the curtains and sofa-cushions. I love -to make soft, silky, frilly things,—and I’m just going to have fun with -this house.” - -“What’s my part in this universal plan?” asked Mr. Fairfield. - -“Oh, you can just pay the bills, and say ‘perfectly lovely, my dear,’ -whenever we ask you how you like anything!” - -As this was just the rôle Mr. Fairfield had laid out for himself, he -acquiesced graciously, and then, luncheon being over, they all went back -to the house again. - -“We’ll have to come down several times,” said Nan, “but we may as well -measure for some of the hangings and rugs now.” - -So Mr. Fairfield filled many pages of his memorandum book with notes and -measurements, and, after an hour or so, they all felt they had made -quite a beginning on the furnishing of the new house. - -One delightful room, with a full sea view, Patty declared was -Christine’s room, and she was to occupy it just whenever she chose, and -she was to select its furnishings herself. The girl’s eyes filled with -tears at this new proof of loving friendship, and, though she knew she -should take but few vacation days from her work that summer, yet she -willingly consented to select the fittings, on condition that it be used -as a guest room when she was not present. - -Patty’s own rooms were delightful. A bedroom and dressing-room, opening -on a half-enclosed balcony, gave her the opportunity for sleeping out of -doors that she so much desired. Her father insisted that she should have -what he called a “civilised bedchamber,” and then, if she chose to play -gipsy occasionally, she might do so. - -So she and Christine planned all her furniture and decorations, and made -notes and lists, and, before they knew it, it was time to return to New -York. - -“You know a lot about house decoration, Christine; don’t you?” said -Patty, as they sat in the homeward-bound train. - -“No, not a lot. But it comes natural to me to know what things harmonise -in a household. Of course, I’ve never studied it,—it’s a science; now, -you know. But, if I didn’t want to take up illustrating seriously, I -would try decorating.” - -“Oh, illustrating is lots nicer,—and it pays better, too.” - -“I don’t know about that. But Mr. Hepworth says I will make a name for -myself as an illustrator, and so I know I shall.” - -Patty laughed. “You have as much faith in that man as I have,” she said. - -“Yes; I’ve implicit faith in his judgment, and in his technical -knowledge.” - -“Well, I’ve faith in him in every way. I think he’s a fine character.” - -“You ought to think so, Patty. Why, he worships the ground you walk on.” - -“Oh, Christine, what nonsense!” Patty blushed rosy-red, but tried to -laugh it off. “Why, he’s old enough to be my father.” - -“No, he isn’t. He’s thirty-five,—that’s a lot older than you,—but, all -the same, he adores you.” - -“I wish you wouldn’t talk like that, Christine,” said Patty, with a new -note of hauteur in her voice. “Mr. Hepworth is my very good friend, and -I look up to him in every way, but there is no affection or any such -foolishness between us.” - -“Not on your side, perhaps; but there is on his.” - -“Well, if you think so, I don’t want to hear about it. When you talk -like that, it just goes to spoil the nice pleasant friendship that Mr. -Hepworth and I have had for years.” - -“It isn’t the same as you have for Roger Farrington and Kenneth Harper.” - -“It is! Just the same. Except that Mr. Hepworth is so much older that I -never call him by his first name. The others were my school chums. Look -here, Christine, we’re going to be very good friends, you and I,—but, -if you talk to me like that about Mr. Hepworth, you’ll queer our -friendship at its very beginning. Now, quit it,—will you?” - -“Yes, I will, Patty. And I didn’t mean any harm. I only wanted you to -know Mr. Hepworth’s attitude toward you.” - -“Well, when I want to know it, I’ll discover it for myself, or let him -tell me. You must know, Christine, that I’m not bothering about such -things. I don’t want affection, as you call it, from any man. I like my -boy friends, or my men friends, but there’s no sentiment or -sentimentality between me and any one of them? Are you on?” - -“On what?” asked Christine, a little bewildered at Patty’s emphatic -speech. - -“On deck,” said Patty, laughing at Christine’s blank expression and -changing the subject with promptness and dexterity. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - - THE AWARD - - -Patty was in high spirits. It was the twentieth of April, and it was -almost time for the postman to call on his afternoon round. The two -Farringtons and Kenneth were present, and all eagerly awaited the -expected letter, telling the result of the Prize Contest. - -“Just think,” said Patty, “how many anxious hearts all over this broad -land are even now waiting for the postman, and every one is to be -disappointed, except me!” - -“I believe you enjoy their disappointment,” said Elise. - -“You know better, my child. You know I _hate_ to have people -disappointed. But, in this case, only one can win. I’m glad I’m that -one, and I’m sorry for the others.” - -“S’pose you don’t win,” observed Roger; “what will you do?” - -“There’s no use s’posin’ that, for it can’t happen,” declared Patty, -turning from the window, where she had been flattening her nose against -the glass, in a frantic endeavour to catch a first glimpse of the -belated postman. - -“But, just for fun,” urged Kenneth, “just for argument’s sake, if you -didn’t get that prize, what would you do?” - -“I wouldn’t do anything. I’d know the company that offered it was a -fake, and had gone back on its own promise.” - -“Patty, you’re incorrigible!” said Ken. “I give you up. You’re the most -self-assured, self-reliant, cocksure young person I ever saw.” - -“Thank you, sir, for them kind words! Oh! sit still, my heart! _Do_ I -hear that familiar whistle at last?” - -“You do!” shouted Kenneth, making a spring for the front door. - -They all followed, but Kenneth first reached it, and fairly grabbed the -letters from the astonished letter-carrier. - -Returning to the library with his booty, he ran them over slowly and -tantalisingly. - -“One for Mrs. Fairfield,” he said. “From a fashionable tailor. Do you -suppose it’s a dun? Or, perhaps, merely an announcement of new spring -furbelows. Next, one for Mr. Fairfield. Unmistakably a circular! No -good! Ha! another for Mrs. Fairfield. Now, this——” - -“Oh, Ken, stop!” begged Patty. “Have pity on me! Is there one for me?” - -“Yes, yes, child. I didn’t know you wanted it. Yes, here’s one for you. -It is postmarked ‘Vernondale.’ Take it, dear one!” - -“Nonsense, Ken. Not that one! But isn’t there one from the Rhodes and -Geer Motor Company?” - -“Why, yes; since you mention it, I notice there is such a one! Do you -want it?” - -Kenneth held it high above Patty’s head, but she sprang and caught it, -and waved it triumphantly in the air. - -“I told you so!” she cried. - -“But you haven’t opened it yet,” said Elise. “Maybe it only tells you -you’ve failed.” - -“Hush, hush, little one!” said Patty. “I’ll show it to you in a minute.” - -Accepting the letter-opener Kenneth proffered, she cut open the -envelope, and read the few lines on the typewritten sheet enclosed. She -read them again, and then slowly refolded the sheet and returned it to -its envelope. - -“After all,” she said, calmly, “it is well to be of a philosophical -nature in a time of disappointment.” - -“Oh, Patty, you didn’t win!” cried Kenneth, springing to her side, and -grasping her hand. - -“No, I haven’t won,” said Patty, with a heart-rending sigh. - -“I thought you were terribly positive,” said Elise, not very kindly. - -“I was,” sighed Patty. “I was terribly positive. I am, still!” - -“What are you talking about, Patty?” said Roger, who began to think she -was fooling them. “Let me see that letter.” - -“Take it!” said Patty, holding it out with a despairing gesture. “Read -it aloud, and let them all know the worst!” - -So Roger read the few lines, which were to the effect that, owing to the -unexpected number of answers received, the decision must be delayed -until May first. - -“Oh, Patty!” exclaimed Kenneth, greatly relieved. “How you scared me! Of -course you’ll get it yet.” - -“Of course I shall,” said Patty, serenely, “but I hate to wait.” - -Since it was not failure, after all, the young people felt greatly -relieved, and congratulated Patty upon her narrow escape. - -“But the situation is too dramatic for my nerves,” declared Kenneth. -“When the real letter comes, I prefer not to be here. I can’t stand such -harrowing scenes.” - -“It won’t be harrowing when the real letter comes,” said Patty. “It will -be just one grand, triumphant jubilee.” - -“Well, jubilees are nerve-racking,” said Kenneth. “I think I’ll stay -away until the shouting is over.” - -“You can’t,” said Patty, saucily. “You’ll be the first one here, the day -the letter is due.” - -“Oh, I suppose so! Curiosity has always been my besetting sin. But -to-day’s entertainment seems to be over, so I may as well go home.” - -“Us, too,” said Roger. “Come on, Elise.” - -So good-byes were said, and Patty’s friends went laughing away. - -Then Patty took up the letter and read it again. - -“Ten days to wait,” she said, to herself. “And suppose I shouldn’t get -it, after all? But I will,—I know I will. Something inside my brain -makes me feel sure of it. And, when I have that sort of sureness, it -never goes back on me!” - -She went upstairs, singing merrily, and without a shadow of doubt in her -mind as to her success in the contest. - -The ten days passed quickly, for Patty was so absorbed in the -furnishings for the new summer home that she was occupied every moment -from morning till night. - -She went with Nan to all sorts of fascinating shops, where they selected -wall-papers, rugs, furniture, and curtains. Not much bric-a-brac, and -very few pictures, for they were keeping the house simple in tone, but -comfortable and cheerful of atmosphere. Christine gladly gave her advice -when needed, but she was very busy with her work, and they interrupted -her as seldom as possible. - -Patty bought lovely things for her own rooms,—chairs of blue and white -wicker; curtains of loose-meshed, blue silky stuff, over ruffled dimity -ones; a regulation brass bedstead for her bedroom, but a couch that -opened into a bed for her out-of-door dormitory. By day, this could be a -chintz-covered couch with chintz pillows; by night, a dainty, white nest -of downy comfort. Several times they went down to Spring Beach, to -inspect the work going on there, and always returned with satisfactory -reports. - -As the time of departure drew near, Elise began to realise how much she -would miss Patty, and lamented accordingly. - -“I think you might have arranged to go where we’re going,” she said. -“You know you could make your people go wherever you wanted to.” - -“But you go to the Adirondacks, Elise; I couldn’t run my motor car much -up there.” - -“Oh, that motor car! Even if you do get it, Patty, you won’t use it more -than a few times. Nobody does.” - -“P’raps not. But, somehow, it just seems to me I shall. It just _seems_ -to me so. But, Elise, you’ll come down to visit me?” - -“Yes; for a few days. But you’ll have Christine there most of the time, -I suppose.” - -“I’ll have Christine whenever she’ll come,” said Patty, a little -sharply; “and, Elise, if you care anything for my friendship, I wish -you’d show a little more friendliness toward her.” - -“Oh, yes; just because Mr. Hepworth thinks she’s a prodigy, and Mrs. Van -Reypen has taken her up socially, you think she’s something great!” - -Patty looked at Elise a moment in astonishment at this outburst, and -then she broke into a hearty laugh. - -“I think you’re something great, Elise! I think you’re a great goose! -What kind of talk are you talking? Christine is a dear, sweet, brave -girl,—and you know it. Now, drop it, and never, never, never talk like -that again.” - -Elise was a little ashamed of her unjust speech, and only too glad to -turn it off by joining in Patty’s laughter. So she only said, “Oh, -Christine’s all right!” and dropped the subject. - -By the first of May, everything was ready for occupancy at “The -Pebbles.” The lawn and grounds were in fine condition, and the house in -perfect order. - -But Patty begged that they shouldn’t start until she had received word -about her prize car. - -“Why, Puss, all the mail will be forwarded,” said her father. “You’ll -get your precious missive there just as well as here.” - -“I know that, daddy dear,—but, well,—I can’t seem to feel like going, -until I know that car is my very own. Just wait until the third of May, -can’t you?” - -She was so persuasive that Nan went over to her side, and then, of -course, Mr. Fairfield had to give his consent to wait. Not that he -cared, particularly, but he was a little afraid that Patty would not get -the prize, and thought she might bear her disappointment better if away -from her young friends. - -But they waited, and again the group of those most interested gathered -in the Fairfield library to await the letter. - -Christine and Mr. Hepworth were there, too, this time; also Philip Van -Reypen. - -Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield, though outwardly calm and even gay, were perhaps -the most anxious of all, for they knew how keenly a disappointment would -affect Patty. - -The whistle sounded. The postman’s step was heard. Instead of rushing to -the door, Patty felt a strange inertia, and sank back in her chair. - -“Go, Ken,” she said, faintly, and Kenneth went. - -Silently he took the mail from the carrier, silently he returned with it -to the library. There was none of the gay chaffing they had had before, -and all because Patty, the moving spirit, was grave and quiet, with a -scared, drawn look on her sweet face. - -Hastily running over the letters, Kenneth laid aside all but one, and -slowly extended that to Patty. - -She took it, opened it, and read it with a dazed expression. - -The eager ones circled round, with faces tense and waiting. - -Again Patty read her letter. Then, still with that dazed look on her -face, she glanced from one to another. As her eyes met Mr. Hepworth’s, -she suddenly held the paper out to him. - -“I’ve won,” she said, simply, and gave him the letter. - -Then she drew a short little sigh, almost a sob of relief, and then the -colour came back to her face, the light to her eyes, and she smiled -naturally. - -“I’ve won!” she cried again. “It’s all right!” - -Then there was jubilation, indeed! Everybody congratulated everybody -else. Everybody had to read the wonderful letter, and see for himself -that the prize, the Electric Runabout, had indeed been awarded to Miss -Patricia Fairfield, for the best and most complete list of answers to -the puzzles in the contest. - -Only the girls’ parents and Gilbert Hepworth knew how tightly the -tension of Patty’s nerves had been strained, but they had been alertly -watching for any sign of collapse, and were thankful and relieved that -the danger was over. - -Hepworth didn’t stop then to wonder why Patty had handed him the letter -first. And, indeed, she didn’t know herself. But she felt his sensitive -sympathy so keenly, and saw such deep anxiety in his eyes, that -involuntarily she turned to him in her moment of triumph. - -“I told you so!” Philip Van Reypen was shouting. “I knew we’d win! -Hepworth, old man, you did it, with that last charade! Bully for you!” - -“Yes, he did!” cried Patty, holding out her hand to Mr. Hepworth, with a -smile of gratitude; “but you all helped me. Oh, isn’t it splendid! I -didn’t so much care for the car, but I wanted to _win_!” - -“Oh, _listen_ to that!” exclaimed Kenneth. “She didn’t care for the car! -Oh, Patty, what _are_ you saying? Give me the car, then!” - -“Oh, of course I want the car, you goose! But I mean I really cared more -for the _game_,—the winning of it!” - -“Of course you did!” declared Van Reypen. “That’s the true sportsman -spirit: ‘not the quarry, but the chase!’ I’m proud of you, Miss -Fairfield! Your sentiments are the right sort.” - -Patty smiled and dimpled, quite her roguish self again, now that the -exciting crisis was past. - -“Nan,” she cried, “we must celebrate! Will you invite all this hilarious -populace to dinner, or give them an impromptu tea-fight right now?” - -“Dinner!” cried Philip Van Reypen; and “Dinner!” took up the other -voices, in gay insistence. - -“Very well,” said Nan; “but, if it’s to be dinner, you must all run away -now and come back later. I can’t order a celebration dinner at a -moment’s notice.” - -“All right, we will.” And obediently the guests went away, to return -later for a gala dinner. - -And a real celebration it was. Mr. Fairfield himself went out to the -florist’s and returned with a centrepiece for the table, consisting of a -wicker automobile filled with flowers. - -By dint of much telephoning, Nan provided place cards and favours of -little motor cars; and the ices were shaped like tiny automobiles; and -the cakes like tires. And all the viands were so delicious, and the -guests so gay and merry, that the feast was one long to be remembered by -all. - -“When will you get the car, Patty?” asked Elise. - -“I don’t know exactly. In a fortnight, perhaps. But we’ll be down at -Spring Beach then, so whoever wants a ride in it will have to come down -there.” - -“I want a ride in it,” said Philip Van Reypen, “and I will come down -there. May I ask you to set the date?” - -“You’ll get a notification in due season,” said Patty, smiling at the -eager youth. “I’m not sure it’s your turn first. No, Elise must be -first.” - -“Why, I didn’t help you at all,” said Elise, greatly pleased, however, -at Patty’s remark. - -“No, but you’re my lady friend, and so you come first. Perhaps your -brother will come with you.” - -“_Perhaps_ he _will_!” said Roger, with emphasis. - -“And who comes next?” asked Kenneth, with great interest. - -“Christine, of course,” said Patty, smiling at the Southern girl, who -was enjoying all the fun, though quiet herself. - -“Just as I guessed,” said Kenneth. “And, _then_, who next? Don’t keep me -in suspense!” - -“Owing to the unexpected number of applicants, decision is delayed for -ten days,” said Patty, laughing at Ken’s disappointed face. “We’ll let -you know when you’re due, Ken. Don’t you worry.” - -“Need _I_ worry?” asked Van Reypen, and then Hepworth said, “Need I?” - -“No, you needn’t any of you worry. But I’m not going to take anybody -riding until I learn how to manage the frisky steed myself.” - -“But I can show you,” said Philip, insinuatingly. - -“So can I,” said Roger. - -“No, you can’t,” said Patty. “Miller is going to teach me, and -then,—well, then, we’ll see about it.” - -And, with this somewhat unsatisfactory invitation to “The Pebbles,” they -were forced to be content. - -After dinner, Kenneth remarked that it looked like a shower. - -“What do you mean?” asked Patty. “It’s a still, clear night.” - -“You come here, and I’ll show you,” said Kenneth, mysteriously. Then, -taking Patty’s hand, he led her to a large davenport sofa, and seated -her in the centre of it. - -“Now,” he said, “let it shower!” - -As if by magic, a half a dozen or more parcels of all shapes and sizes -fell into Patty’s lap. - -“It’s a shower, for you!” explained Elise, dancing about in glee. “Open -them!” - -“Oh! I see,” said Patty. “How gorgeous!” - -The parcels were in tissue paper, ribbon-tied, and Patty was not long in -exposing their contents. One and all, they were gifts selected with -reference to her new motor car. - -Elise gave her a most fetching blue silk hood, with quaint shirring, and -draw-strings, and wide blue ribbon ties. - -Christine gave her a lovely motor-veil, of the newest style and -flimsiest material. - -Roger gave her gauntleted motor-gloves, of new and correct make. - -Kenneth gave a motor-clock, of the most approved sort; and Philip Van -Reypen presented a clever little “vanity case,” which shut up into small -compass, but held many dainty toilette accessories. - -Mr. Hepworth’s gift was an exquisite flower vase, of gold and glass, to -be attached to her new car. - -Patty was more than surprised; she was almost overcome by this “shower” -of gifts, and she exclaimed: - -“You are the _dearest_ people! And you needn’t wait for invitations. -Come down to ‘The Pebbles’ whenever you want to, and I’ll take you all -riding at once! I don’t see where you ever found such beautiful things! -Nor _why_ you gave them to me!” - -“Because we love you, Patty dear,” said Christine, so softly that she -thought no one heard. - -But Kenneth heard, and he smiled as he looked at Patty, and said, “Yes, -that’s why.” - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - - A NEIGHBOUR - - -Two days later the Fairfields went down to Spring Beach. - -The intervening day was a busy one. Mr. Fairfield went with Patty to -select her motor car, for some details of equipment and upholstery were -left to her choice. As the car had been built especially for the Prize -Contest, it was a beautiful specimen of the finisher’s art. It was a -Stanhope, of graceful design and fine lines. The body was Royal Blue, -with cushions of broadcloth of the same colour. - -Patty was informed she could have any other colour if she wished, but -she said the blue suited her best. - -There was a top which could be put up or down at will, wide -skirt-protecting mudguards, and a full equipment of all necessary -paraphernalia, such as storm-apron, odometer, and a complete set of -tools. - -Patty had carried with her her flower vase and clock, and the man in -charge agreed to have them fastened in place. The flower vase, he said, -was unusual on a Stanhope, but, when Patty said it _must_ be attached -somewhere, he promised to have it done. - -The steering gear was a bar, fitted with a hand grip, and both this and -the controller were exceedingly simple and easily operated. - -The demonstrator offered to give Patty a driving lesson then and there, -but Mr. Fairfield preferred that she should be taught by himself, or his -experienced chauffeur, the trusty Miller. - -Of course, the men in charge of the salesroom where the car was on -exhibition were greatly interested in seeing Patty, because she was the -winner of the contest. One young man stepped forward with a camera, and -asked the privilege of taking a picture of Patty seated in her own car. - -But this Mr. Fairfield would not allow, and, after making the necessary -arrangements about shipping the motor to Spring Beach, he took Patty -away. - -“Isn’t it fun, father?” she exclaimed, as she went off with him, her -hands full of descriptive catalogues and circulars, telling of the -marvellous superiority of the Rhodes and Geer cars over all competitors. - -“It’s lots more interesting than if you had just bought a car and given -it to me.” - -“And lots less expensive, too,” said Mr. Fairfield, smiling. “Why, -Patty, girl, that whole affair, as it stands, is worth nearly three -thousand dollars.” - -“Goodness gracious! Is it really? I had no idea they were so expensive! -Why, your big car didn’t cost much more than that, did it?” - -“But, you see, this Stanhope of yours is a special car, in every way, -and all its fittings and accessories are of the most up-to-date and -extravagant type. You must do all you can for the company, by praising -it to your friends. I don’t think you can do any more than that to -further their interests.” - -“Oh, I don’t feel under any obligation to the company. It was a business -enterprise on their part. They offered a prize and I won it. Now we’re -quits. Of course, I shall praise the car to my friends, but only because -it’s such a beauty, and not because I feel that I owe anything to the -company.” - -“You are rather a logical young woman, after all, Patty. Sometimes you -seem a feather-headed butterfly, and then again you appear to have sound -sense.” - -“A ‘feather-headed butterfly’ sounds pretty, I think. I guess I’ll be -that, mostly.” - -“You won’t have to try very hard,” remarked her father. - -“But sometimes I have spells of being very serious: for instance, wasn’t -I serious when I tried so hard to earn fifteen dollars in one week?” - -“Yes, serious enough; but it was largely your stubborn determination to -succeed.” - -“Well, that’s a good trait to have, then. It’s what Mr. Hepworth calls -steadfastness of purpose.” - -“Yes; they’re about the same thing. And I’m glad you have it; it’s what -won the car for you.” - -“That, and my helpful friends.” - -“Oh, the helpful friends were incidental, like text-books or -cyclopædias. I truly congratulate you, Patty, girl, on your real success -in this instance. But I also ask of you not to go into anything of such -a public nature again, without consulting me first.” - -“All right, Father Fairfield, I promise.” - -And then they were at home again, and the luncheon hour was enlivened by -Patty’s descriptions to Nan of her wonderful new toy. - -“Are you going to give it a name, Patty?” Nan asked, after hearing of -its glories. - -“Yes; but not until after I’ve used it. I can’t tell, you see, just what -sort of a name it needs until I try it. And, Nan, let’s do a little -shopping this afternoon. I want a new motor-coat, and a few other -trifles, to live up to the appearance of that thing of beauty.” - -The shopping was done, some marvellous motor-apparel was purchased, and -then, the next day, the departure from New York was made. - -They reached “The Pebbles” in mid-afternoon, and the ocean and sky were -a glowing mass of blue and white and gold. - -Nan’s well-trained servants had the house open and ready for them, and -Patty flew up the steps and into the great hall with a whoop of delight. - -“Isn’t it great, Nan! Isn’t it fine! More fun than travelling abroad or -touristing through Sunny It.! For, you see, this is our own home and we -own it!” - -“Patty, your enthusiasm will wear you out some day. Do take it more -quietly.” - -“Can’t do it! I’m of a nervous temperament and exuberant disposition, -and I have to express my thinks!” - -The big hall was in reality a living-room. It extended straight through -the house, with wide doors at either end. It had alcoves with cushioned -seats, a huge fireplace, deep-seated windows, and from one side a broad -staircase curved upward, with a landing and balcony halfway. - -The wicker furniture was well-chosen and picturesque, besides being very -comfortable and inviting. - -“Just as soon as I can get a few things flung around, it will be -perfect,” announced Patty. “At present, it’s too everlastingly -cleared-up-looking.” - -She tossed on a table the magazines she had bought on the train, and -flung her long veil over a chair back. - -“There, you see!” she said. “Watch that veil flutter in the -seabreeze,—our own seabreeze, coming in at our own front door, and then -tell me if ‘The Pebbles’ is a success!” - -“Yes; and, unless you shut that door, you’ll have a most successful cold -in your head,” observed her father. “It’s May, to be sure, but it -doesn’t seem to be very thoroughly May, as yet.” - -So Patty shut the door, and then, opening the piano, she sang “Home, -Sweet Home,” and then some gayer songs to express her enthusiasm. - -Her own rooms, Patty concluded, were the gem of the house. From her -balcony, on which she proposed to sleep, she had not only a wide view of -the sea, but an attractive panorama of the beautiful estates along the -shore. A hammock was slung between two of the pillars, and, throwing -herself into this, with an Indian blanket over her, Patty swayed gently -back and forth, and indulged in daydreams of the coming summer. An hour -later, Nan found her still there. - -“Come to tea, Patty,” she said; “we’re having it indoors, as the wind is -rising.” - -“Yes, it’s breezing up quite some;” and Patty looked out at the waves, -now so darkly blue as to be almost black. - -She followed Nan downstairs to the hall, and looked approvingly at the -tea-table, set out near the blazing wood-fire. - -“Lovely!” she cried. “I believe I am chilly, after all. But the air is -fine. Buttered muffins, oh, goody! Father, the table bills will be a lot -bigger down here than in the city.” - -“I daresay; but I won’t begrudge them, if you will put some more flesh -on that willowy frame of yours. You’re not strong, Patty, and I want you -to devote this summer to building yourself up physically. No study, not -much reading, no ‘Puzzle Contest’ work. Just rest, and exercise -moderately, and spend most of your time out-of-doors.” - -“Why, daddy dear, your plans and specifications exactly suit me! How -strange that our ideas should be the same on this subject! You see, with -my new Stanhope, I’ll be out-of-doors all day, and, as I propose to -sleep in the open, I’ll be out-of-doors all night. Can I do more?” - -“I’m not sure about this sleeping outside. You must never do it on damp -or foggy nights.” - -“Now, father, the sanitariums advise it for everybody—every night. -Well, I’ll agree not to sleep out in a thunderstorm, for I’m scared to -death of them.” - -“And you mustn’t begin it yet, anyway. It’s too cold. Wait until June, -and then we’ll see about it.” - -“All right, I’ll agree to that. Why, somebody’s coming up the front -walk! Nan, here comes our first caller. Wow! She’s a dasher!” - -In a few moments, Jane, the new parlour maid, admitted the visitor, and -she came in with a self-important flutter. - -“How do you do?” she said, cordially. “I’m Miss Galbraith,—Mona -Galbraith, your next-door neighbour. At least, we live in the house with -red chimneys, two blocks down, but there’s no house between us.” - -“How do you do, Miss Galbraith,” said Nan, rising to greet the guest, -and followed by the others. - -“You see,” went on the young woman, volubly, after she had accepted the -seat offered by Mr. Fairfield, “I thought I’d just run right in, -informally, for you might feel a bit lonesome or homesick this first -day. So many people do.” - -“No,” said Patty, smiling, “we’re not lonesome or homesick, but it was -nice of you to come to see us in this neighbourly fashion. Have a -muffin, won’t you?” - -“Indeed, I will; what delicious muffins! Did you bring your servants -with you?” - -“Some of them,” said Nan. “We’re simple people, and haven’t a large -retinue.” - -“Well, we have,” said Miss Galbraith. “And I’m at the head of the whole -bunch. Just father and I; we live alone, you know. Will you come to see -us? Come to dinner, soon, won’t you?” - -“We’ll see about it,” said Nan, who scarcely knew how to take this -self-possessed and somewhat forward young person. - -Miss Galbraith wore a costume of embroidered white linen, but the -embroidery was too elaborate, and the style of the gown rather extreme. -She wore a long gold chain, with what Patty afterward called half a peck -of “junk” dangling from it. There were a lorgnette, a purse, a cardcase, -a pencil, a vinaigrette, a well-filled key-ring, and several other -trifles, all attached to the chain, and Miss Galbraith played with the -trinkets incessantly. - -“I hope we’ll be real good friends,” she said, earnestly, to Patty. “I -want an intimate friend awfully, and I like your looks.” - -As Patty couldn’t honestly return the compliment, she said nothing in -reply. Miss Galbraith’s personal appearance was comely, and yet it was -not of the type with which Patty was accustomed to be friendly. Her -sandy hair was too much curled and puffed, piled too high on her head, -and held with too many jewelled pins; while her rather large hands -showed too many rings for a young girl. - -Her high-heeled, white shoes were too tight for her, and her easy -attitudes and frank speech were too informal for a first call on -strangers. - -“Of course, we shall be friends,” said Nan, with just enough absence of -enthusiasm in her tones to convey to a sensitive mind her reservations. - -But Miss Galbraith hadn’t a sensitive mind. - -“Dear Mrs. Fairfield,” she said, effusively, “how good you are! I see -you have the neighbourly instinct. Isn’t it nice that we’ll all be down -here together for the whole summer? Do you swim, Miss Fairfield? and do -you love to dance?” - -“Yes,” began Patty, “but——” - -As she hesitated, Mr. Fairfield came to his daughter’s rescue. - -“To be frank, Miss Galbraith,” he said, “I am trying to keep my daughter -rather quiet this summer. I want her to exercise only moderately, and I -must positively forbid much dancing, and late hours, and all that sort -of thing.” - -“Oh, that’s all right,” returned the visitor; “nobody keeps very late -hours at Spring Beach. Well, I must run away now,—and I give you fair -warning! If you don’t come and return my call soon, I’ll come straight -over here and return it myself!” - -She shook a playful finger at Patty, and, after voluble leave-takings, -she went away, tripping down the walk with the satisfied air of one who -has accomplished her object. - -“Well!” said Patty, with an air of utter exasperation. - -“_Well!_” exclaimed Nan. - -Mr. Fairfield smiled grimly. - -“It’s our own fault,” he said. “We should have enquired as to the -character of the neighbours before we bought the house.” - -“How soon can you sell it, father?” asked Patty. “One more visitation -like that would give me nervous prostration! Mona! Mona, indeed! I never -saw a Mona before, but I might have known they were like that.” - -“But can’t you really stay here?” asked Mr. Fairfield, in alarm. - -“Nonsense, daddy, of course we can! Do you think I’d let myself be -dispossessed by a mere Mona? No, sir; Nan and I can manage her.” - -“I don’t quite see how,” said Nan, thoughtfully. “She’s that impossible -sort. Oblivious to manner, impervious to hints. Patty, she’s dreadful!” - -“Of course she is, Sweet Nancy. She isn’t our sort. But I’ll attend to -her. I don’t know how, just yet, but I’ll find out. She’s a problem to -be coped with, a difficulty to be overcome. But did you ever see such a -gown? There was just enough embroidery on it for three self-respecting -frocks. And her hair! Looked like the wax ladies’ coiffures in the -hair-store windows!” - -“Don’t make rude personal remarks, Patty, girl.” - -“Oh, father, as if one could be rude to an object like that! Well, -people dear, let’s put her out of our minds and hearts for the rest of -to-day, anyway. I won’t have the birthday of ‘The Pebbles’ spoiled by a -slight incident like that. Forget it!” - -And so the impossible Miss Galbraith was voluntarily ignored. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - - SWIFT CAMILLA - - -At last the car came. Patty was in a flutter of joyous expectation, and, -as Miller came whirring up the drive in it, the whole family assembled -on the veranda to admire it. - -“Isn’t it a beauty, Nan! Oh, isn’t it?” Patty exclaimed, as the sunlight -flashed gold sparkles on the shining paint. - -“It is, indeed, Patty. I never saw such a pretty one. Are you sure you -can run it?” - -“Oh, yes! I know how already. You just stick in a key and turn it, and -grab the brake-handle, and take hold of the steering bar, and push and -pull whenever you think you ought to.” - -“Not very technical language,” said Mr. Fairfield, smiling, “but I think -you understand the operation. Jump in, Puss; I’m going with you for your -first spin.” - -But, though Mr. Fairfield was an interested spectator, Patty manipulated -the car all by herself, and seemed to know intuitively a great many of -the minor details. - -“There’s only one trouble, dad,” she said, as they went spinning along -the smooth, hard road, “I can’t take you and Nan with me both at once.” - -“Never mind, girlie; when we feel as sociable as that, we’ll go in the -big car. Now, Patty, let me see you change the speed.” - -Then followed a careful lesson, in speed changing, stopping suddenly, -turning, going backward, and all the various emergencies that occur in -driving. - -“You certainly are a born motorist, Patty,” said her father, at last. -“You are unusually clever and quick-witted about knowing what to do, and -doing it swiftly and cleanly. Hesitation in motoring often means -trouble.” - -“It’s because I love it, father. I’d rather motor than go driving or -boating or even flying. Aren’t you glad I don’t want an aëroplane, -daddy?” - -“You wouldn’t get it, if you did. Not even if you earned it yourself, as -you did this car. Now, Patty, turn around and let’s go home.” - -Skilfully, Patty turned around, and they sped on their homeward way. - -“Some things you must promise me, Patty,” said her father, seriously, as -they drew near the house. “Never start out without knowing pretty -definitely how long it will take you, and when you’ll return. Never go -without being sure you have enough current for the trip. Of course, -Miller will look after this for you, but I want you to understand it -thoroughly yourself.” - -“Yes, I want to learn all about the working parts, and how to repair -them, if necessary.” - -“That will come later. Learn to run it perfectly, first. And, too, I -want you to promise never to start anywhere so late that there’s even a -possibility of your being out after dark. I wouldn’t let you go out -alone, or with a girl friend, in the city, but down here you may do so, -if you never travel except by daylight. You understand, Patty?” - -“Yes, father, and I promise. As you know, I only want to go on little, -short drives, two or three hours, usually.” - -“Very well. I trust you not to do anything of which I would disapprove. -You’re a good girl, Patty; at least, you mean to be. But sometimes your -enthusiasms and inclinations run away with you, and you have no sense of -moderation.” - -“H’m,” said Patty, smiling; “now I’ve been lectured enough for one -lesson, father dear. Save the rest for another day, and watch me whiz up -this drive to the house like an expert.” - -She did so, and Nan, awaiting them, exclaimed with pride at Patty’s -skilful driving. - -“Your turn now, Nan,” the girl called out; then, mindful of her promise, -she looked at her watch. “It’s just three,” she said. “Let’s go over to -the Arbutus Inn Tea Room, have a cup of tea, and get back home before -six? How’s that, father?” - -“That’s all right, my good little girl. I don’t believe you’ll have any -trouble running it, do you?” - -“No, indeed! It’s as easy as pie! I just love to run it.” - -Soon Nan was ready, and the two started off in great glee. - -“I can hardly believe you really have the car, Patty; didn’t you learn -to run it very quickly?” - -“Well, you see, I have driven cars before. Big ones, I mean. And this is -different, but so much simpler, that it’s no trouble at all. Oh! Nan, -isn’t the scenery gorgeous?” - -Gorgeous wasn’t at all the right word, but a tamer one would not have -suited Patty’s mood. They were rolling along the coast: on one side the -ocean; on the other, an ever-changing panorama of seashore settlements -with their hotels and cottages, interspersed with stretches of fine -woods, or broad, level vistas with distant horizons. - -“It’s beautiful, Patty. We’ll have a lovely time this summer.” - -“Yes; don’t let’s have too much company. I’d like to have Christine down -for a few weeks, and of course Elise will make us a visit; but I don’t -want that horde of boys.” - -“Why not?” asked Nan, in amazement, for Patty greatly enjoyed the boys’ -calls in New York. - -“Oh, I don’t know! It’s so quiet and peaceful, just with us; and, if -they come, they’ll stir up picnics and dances and all sorts of things.” - -“I know what’s the matter with you, Patty,” said Nan, laughing; “you’ve -got automobile fever! You just want to ride and ride in this pretty car -of yours, along these good roads, and just give yourself up to indolent -enjoyment of it.” - -“That’s just it! How did you know, Nan?” - -“Oh, everybody feels that way when they first own a car. I’ve often -noticed it. Sometimes they want to ride entirely alone, and just revel -in automobility.” - -“Gracious, Nan! What a word! Well, I might want to go all alone once in -a while; but usually I want some one to rave about it all with me.” - -“Well, I’m ready to rave at any time. Isn’t that the Inn, off there to -the right?” - -“Yes, so it is. How quickly we’ve come! Nan, there’s a line of poetry in -my mind, and I can’t think of it.” - -“Oh, what a catastrophe! Is it the only line you know?” - -“Don’t be silly. But, truly, I do want to think of it, for it’s about -the name of this car.” - -“Perhaps a cup of tea will quicken your wits.” - -“Perhaps. Well, we’ll try. Jump out, Nan; here we are.” - -By a clever little contrivance, Patty could lock her car, and so feel -sure it would not be tampered with. In a country place, like this -somewhat primitive roadhouse where they now were, this was a decided -satisfaction. - -The Tea Room, though small, was dainty and attractive. It was kept by -two pleasant-faced spinsters, and, though their clientèle was not large, -they sometimes served guests at several tables. - -“Only a little after four,” said Patty, looking at her watch. “We can -stay till five, Nan, and then get home by six.” - -“All right,” returned Nan, who was walking along the narrow garden -paths, admiring the old-fashioned flowers and tiny box borders. - -Patty went into the little Inn, ordered tea and hot waffles and cakes, -and then returned to Nan. - -“It’s a dear little place,” she said. “I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never -been here before. Tea will be ready in twenty minutes.” - -When served, the little repast was delightful. Old-time silver and -old-fashioned china made it all seem quaint and interesting. - -They dawdled over their tea, sometimes chatting, sometimes sitting -silent. It was a bit of good fortune that these two were so congenial, -for, Fate having thrown them together, they were much in each other’s -company. As there was but six years’ difference in their ages, their -relation was far more like sisters than like mother and daughter. And, -though Nan never dictated to Patty, she taught her much by example, and, -at the same time, she herself learned some things from her stepdaughter. - -“S’pect we’d better move on, Nannie,” said Patty, at last, as it was -nearly five. “I’ll pay the reckoning for this feast, and then we’ll -start. Oh, it has just come to me!” - -“What has?” - -“That line of poetry that I couldn’t think of! This is it, ‘When swift -Camilla scours the plain.’” - -“Well, what of it?” - -“Why, it’s the name for my car! Swift Camilla! See?” - -“A pretty name enough. But is she swift?” - -“I’ll speed her going home, and just show you!” - -“Patty, don’t you dare! You know I’m only going to motor with you if you -go with great moderation.” - -“All right; I won’t scare you. But that’s her name, all the same.” - -Soon the Swift Camilla was once more skimming along the country roads. -Patty went only at moderate speed, for she had no wish to frighten Nan, -and, too, she had promised her father to be very careful. - -They were about halfway home, when Patty saw a cow in the road ahead. - -“I wish that old cow would get out of the way,” she said. “A cow has no -business to be in the middle of the road like that.” - -She slowed down, and the car crawled along behind the cow, but the -indifferent animal paid no heed to the motor or the horn, and ambled -along in mild indifference. - -“Oh, get out of the way!” cried Patty, exasperatedly. Then, more -coaxingly, “Please, cow, nice cow, do get out of the way.” - -This brought no response, and Patty grew angry again. - -“Shoo! Cow! Shoo! Get out of the road! If you don’t, I’ll—I’ll——” But -she could think of no direful deed that would affect the cow, so she -paused. Then she resorted to sarcasm: “A nice sort of cow you are, -anyway! Alone and unattended on a country road! Why, anybody might -kidnap you! Where’s your cow-herd, or whatever you call him?” - -“Patty, don’t be silly,” said Nan, choking with laughter. “Get out and -chase the cow away. Hit her with a stick, or something. Throw a little -stone at her,—just a very little one. Don’t hurt her!” - -Patty’s eyes grew round with horror. - -“Why, Nan Fairfield, I’m more afraid of that cow than of all the -automobiles in the world! I’m _terribly_ afraid of cows! I’m more afraid -of cows than of _anything_, except a mouse! But a mouse wouldn’t block -up the road so dreadfully. Nan, you get out and chase the cow.” - -“No,—no,” said Nan, shuddering. “I’m afraid of cows, too. Patty, I’ll -tell you what! Steer _around_ the cow!” - -“Just the thing! I believe there’s just about room enough. If she’ll -only stay in the middle, now. Which side do you think there’s more room, -Nan?” - -“On the right. Go round her on the right.” - -There was plenty of room, and Patty steered carefully out toward the -right, and passed the cow safely enough. - -“Hurrah!” she cried, but she hurrahed a trifle too soon. - -As she directed her car back to the hard road, she discovered that she -had sidetracked into a very sandy place. The front wheels of her car -were all right, but the hind wheels were stuck in the sand,—one but a -little, the other deeply. - -“Put on more speed!” cried Nan. “Hurry, before it sinks in deeper!” - -Patty put on more speed, which, contrary to her intent, made the hind -wheels sink lower and lower in the soft sand. The car had stopped, and -no effort of Patty’s could start it. - -She looked at Nan with a comical smile. - -“Adventure No. 1!” she said. “Oh, Nan, we can’t get home by six! Indeed, -I don’t see how we can ever get home.” - -“Are you frightened, Patty?” - -“No; there’s nothing to be frightened about. But I’m—well, hopping mad -just about expresses my feelings! You see, Nan, it’s like a quicksand; -the more we struggle to get out, the deeper we get in.” - -“H’m; what are you going to do?” - -“Just plain nothing, my lady; for the simple reason that there’s nothing -to do.” - -“And do you propose to sit here all night?” - -“That’s as Fate wills it! Do you suppose father will come to look for -us,—say, along toward midnight?” - -“Patty, don’t be a goose! Fred will be scared to death!” - -“Because I’m a goose? Oh, no! he knows I am, already. But, Nan, I’ve an -idea. If I were only strong enough,—or if you were,—we could lift out -one of those fence rails, and stick it in the sand in front of that -deepest wheel, and get her out.” - -“Patty, how clever you are! How do you know that?” - -“Oh, I know it well enough. My general gumption tells me it. But,—we’re -neither of us strong enough to boost it out of the fence and under the -wheel in the right way.” - -“But we might do it together.” - -“We might try. Come on, Nan, let’s make the effort. Bother that old cow, -anyway! But for her, we’d be almost home now.” - -They got out of the car, and, with plucky effort, tried to dislodge a -fence rail. But it was a fairly new and a well-made fence, and the rails -would not come out easily. They tried one after another, but with no -success. - -“Well, Nan, here’s my only solution to this perplexing situation. We -can’t sit here and let father lose his mind worrying about it, and -thinking we’re ground under our own chariot wheels. So one of us must -stay here with the car, and the other walk home and tell him about it.” - -“Walk home! Why, Patty, it must be five miles!” - -“I daresay it is, and I’d just as lieve walk it, but I hate to leave you -here alone. So you can take your choice, and I’ll take the other.” - -“But, Patty, that’s absurd! Why not let one of us walk to some nearby -house and ask for help?” - -“Capital idea, but where’s the nearby house? There’s none in sight.” - -“No, but there must be one nearer than home.” - -“Yes; and, when you go trailing off to look for it, you’ll get lost. -Better go straight home, Nan.” - -“And leave you here alone? I won’t do it!” - -“Then there seems to be a deadlock. Oh, hey! Hi! Mister!! I say! -Whoo-oo-ee!” - -Nan turned, frightened at Patty’s hullabaloo, to see a man just -disappearing round a fork in the road. He had not seen them, and, unless -Patty’s quick eyes had spied him, and her sudden call had reached his -ears, he would have been gone in a moment. As it was, he turned, stared -at them, and then came slowly over to them. He was a rough, but not -unkindly-looking fellow, probably a farm labourer, and apparently a -foreigner. He spoke no English, but Patty made him understand by -gestures what she wanted him to do. A look of admiration came into his -stolid eyes, at the idea of Patty knowing enough to use the fence rail, -and his powerful strength soon removed a rail, and placed it endwise -under the wheel of the captive car. Another was placed under the other -hind wheel, and, after much endeavour and slipping and coaxing, the car -was once again freed from the sand, and stood proudly on the hard road. - -Patty thanked the man prettily, and, though he couldn’t understand a -word, he understood her grateful smiles. More clearly, perhaps, he -understood a banknote, which she drew from her purse and gave him, and, -with a grateful, if uncouth bow of his awkward head, he trudged away. - -Patty started her car, and soon, at a good rate of speed, they were -flying along in the gathering dusk. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - - MONA AT HOME - - -When they reached home it was really after dark, and Patty was prepared -for an expected reproof. But Mr. Fairfield came out smilingly to meet -them. - -“Accident No. 1?” he asked. “What was it? Power gave out, punctured -tire, or misjudged distance?” - -“None of those,” cried Patty, gaily; “but it was a real accident, and a -real unavoidable and unforeseeable one!” - -“Oh, of course!” chaffed her father; “accidents are always unavoidable, -and never the fault of the person driving!” - -“I’m glad you’ve learned that,” said Patty, saucily, “for, if you have -that theory firmly fixed in your mind, you have learned the main -principle of motor adventures!” - -And then the three sat down on the veranda, and Patty and Nan detailed -the whole experience to Mr. Fairfield. - -“You were certainly in no way to blame, Patty,” he said, heartily, “for, -of course, you’ve had no experience with sand, and had no reason to -suspect that the wheels would sink. But you’ve learned the lesson, and -now that particular trouble is not likely to occur again, for you will -remember to stick to the hard roads.” - -“But, you see, the particular trouble was really the cow, and, of -course, she’s likely to occur again at any time.” - -“Then the only remedy that I can suggest is to have a cow-catcher built -on the front of your car.” - -“No; I’m not going to spoil the perfect lines of my beautiful Camilla by -any unsightly device. You see, father, the lines of that car are simply -perfect. I know this, because it says so in the booklet the company gave -me. And it speaks quite highly of the car’s various points, and -accessories, and really goes so far as to state that it is superior to -any other car in the market! And the longer I use it, the more fully I -agree with the booklet.” - -“I’m glad your long experience justifies the company’s claims. Have you -named the car Camilla?” - -“Yes, because she scours the plain; don’t you remember how swift Camilla -scoured the plain?” - -“Yes, I remember, but it seems a more appropriate name for some patent -cleaning powder.” - -“Nonsense, daddy! Have you no poetry or romance in your soul? Swift -Camilla is a lovely name for my car, and I mean to scour the plain for -miles around. Come on, Nan, let’s go and tidy up for dinner. It’s -getting late.” - -“It is so,” said her father, “and, though I sha’n’t be too severe with -you this time, I must mildly repeat that I want you hereafter to get -home from your scouring expeditions before dark.” - -“Sure!” cried Patty, gaily, blowing him a kiss from the tips of her -fingers as she ran away. - - * * * * * - -The days flew by, and, as the weather was almost always fine, Patty went -scouring with Camilla every day. Sometimes she took Nan, sometimes her -father, and sometimes she went all alone for short drives up and down -the coast. She had no trouble with the car’s mechanism, for it was -really of superior make, and its management was simple. But one -afternoon, when she asked Nan to go for a little spin, Nan replied: “I -will later, Patty, but first I think we ought to go and call on Miss -Galbraith. It is more than a week since she was here, and, in common -courtesy, we ought to return her call.” - -“But I don’t like her, and I don’t want to go to see her,” declared -Patty, a little petulantly. - -“Don’t act like an infant! Your not liking her has nothing to do with -the case. We’ve had other calls down here, and we’ve returned them -properly; now this is a social duty that must be attended to, so come -along.” - -“Oh, Nan, you go without me! Make excuses for me, can’t you?” - -“No, I can’t; and I won’t! So go and put on a pretty frock and come -right along. We needn’t stay long, and we can go for a short motor ride -after.” - -So Patty went away to dress, for she realised that she must go, however -unwillingly. She put on a pretty calling costume of white serge, with -black velvet collar and cuffs, and a large black hat. - -“You look lovely,” said Nan, as Patty joined her in the hall. - -“Yes, I like this frock,” said Patty, “but I’m sure Miss Galbraith -won’t; you know, her taste runs to more elaborate costumes.” - -“Oh, well, you can’t expect to suit everybody! Come along.” - -Nan herself was in pale-grey cloth, with hat to match, and the two -strolled along the short distance to “Red Chimneys,” which they had -learned was the name of the Galbraith home. - -They turned in at the entrance gate, and saw a large and massive stone -house, with many red chimneys. It was a handsome building, but -over-ornate in its architecture and decoration. - -“Looks exactly like Mona,” said Patty, as they drew near. “It’s just a -mass of heavy embroidery!” - -A footman answered their ring, and, taking their cards on his silver -tray, ushered them into a drawing-room, and departed. - -There was a rather long interval before Miss Galbraith appeared, and -Patty fidgeted. The golden hours of her afternoon were slipping away, -and she was impatient to go out with Camilla. - -But presently Mona Galbraith came downstairs, and greeted them -effusively. As she had been when they saw her before, she was -overdressed and over-jewelled. She wore a house dress of blue satin, but -so befrilled and bedecked with jabots of lace that it was not only -unbeautiful, but no way did it resemble the accepted fashion of the day. -An expensive and complicated necklace of turquoises surmounted the blue -satin, and large-headed pins of the same blue stone adorned the piled-up -masses of hair. - -Patty’s secret impulse was one of regret that a fairly pretty girl could -make such a dowdy of herself, and she resolved, if ever they became -sufficiently well acquainted, she would try to tone down Miss -Galbraith’s frantic wardrobe. - -“I’m so glad to see you,” their hostess said, “and, if you hadn’t come -to-day, I was going straight over to your house to tell you what I -thought of you! Oh, you naughty people, to keep me waiting so long! Why -didn’t you come sooner?” - -“Oh there’s been much to do,” said Nan, “fitting ourselves into our new -home; and, too, I think we’re fairly prompt returning your call.” - -“Oh, we mustn’t make calls and return calls; that’s too formal. We’re -neighbours, you know, and we must just run in and out without ceremony. -Don’t you think so, Miss Fairfield? Or, mayn’t I call you Patty? Please -let me.” - -Patty was good-natured and kind-hearted, but she began to think that -Miss Galbraith’s unwelcomed familiarity must be checked. - -“Isn’t it a little soon for first names, Miss Galbraith?” she asked, -with a merry smile that took the rudeness from her question. “I like to -win my friendships by degrees, and not jump into them suddenly.” - -But Miss Galbraith was not so easily baffled. “Oh, are you like that?” -she said. “Now I’m just the opposite! I know at once if I like anybody, -and I do like you, and so I’m going to call you Patty. Of course, if -you’re so cautious about making friends, you’ll have to adopt me more -slowly. But I’ll warrant it won’t be long before you’ll call me Mona in -spite of yourself. And you, too, Mrs. Fairfield,” she added, turning to -Nan. - -Patty gasped, for she almost thought the forward girl was going to call -Nan by her first name, but Mona did not go quite so far as that. - -“You have a beautiful home here,” said Nan, in order to change the -subject. “Have you lived here long?” - -“This is the fourth summer,” said Mona; “my father built it, and he said -he didn’t care what it cost, if only it was the most expensive house at -Spring Beach.” - -“I fancy he achieved his desire,” said Nan, politely. - -“Oh, yes, indeed! There’s no other house been put up yet that cost -nearly as much, and I don’t believe there will be.” - -“Probably not,” said Patty. “But it seems large for only two of you.” - -“Yes, but we have a great many servants; and, then, we like to have -company. We invite a great deal of company, though they don’t always -come. It’s strange how few people enjoy the seashore.” - -Patty privately thought that there might be other reasons for the -guests’ refusals than a dislike for the seashore, but she only said, -“Yes, I like to have company, too; but I’m never lonely, even if I’m -entirely alone.” - -“Yes, I can see that’s your disposition,—sunshiny and sweet always. Oh, -I’m so glad you’ve come to Spring Beach! I’ve wanted just such a -friend.” - -As Patty said afterward, she felt herself being drawn into a net, from -which there seemed to be no escape. But she determined to make one more -effort. - -“I don’t want to seem ungrateful,” she said, “but, to tell the truth, -I’m not very sociable.” Then, like a flash, she realised that this was -not true, and endeavoured to amend it. “I mean,” she went on, “in the -summer time, when I’m away from home. That is,—don’t you know,—I think -one likes a sort of vacation from society during the summer; don’t you?” - -“Oh, yes! But, of course, the social doings down here are not like those -in the city. I’m not much in society down here, myself; so we can have -real good times with each other, and give society the go-by.” - -Patty gave up in despair. She couldn’t make this girl understand that -she did not desire her intimate friendship, without being positively -rude; and, though of an independent nature, Patty was always unwilling -to hurt the feelings of others. - -But very soon Nan rose to take leave, and the call was over. - -“What can I do?” exclaimed Patty, as they were safely out of hearing -distance of “Red Chimneys.” “That girl is the limit! She’ll be over to -our house all the time, if I don’t do something to stop her!” - -“Oh, don’t take it too seriously!” advised Nan. “Sometimes these -troubles that loom up so darkly fade away of themselves.” - -“She won’t fade away,” declared Patty; “Mona is no fader! But some day I -shall take her out in my motor car, way, way out beyond civilisation, -and come back without her!” - -“That’s a splendid plan!” said Nan, approvingly; “practical, sensible, -and easily carried out!” - -“Yes, isn’t it,” said Patty, grinning. And then they were at “The -Pebbles” again, and were soon arrayed in their motor toggery, and -starting away in the Swift Camilla. - -“Which way?” asked Patty, as she grasped the steering bar. - -“Straight along the coast,” answered Nan; “the ocean is so beautiful -to-day, I don’t want to get out of sight of it.” - -“All right, here we go;” and Patty headed the car south along the line, -continuous shore drive. - -“Nan,” she observed, as they flew along, “do you happen to know of any -remarkable, important, and very-much-to-be-celebrated day that is going -to occur soon?” - -“Day?” repeated Nan, looking blank,—so exceedingly blank that it seemed -an assumed expression. - -“Yes, day! _A_ day,—_one_ day,—an _especial_ day! Do try to think. It -may occur next week!” - -“Let me see,” said Nan, in a deeply thoughtful tone, “this is May,—so -you can’t mean Washington’s Birthday or Lincoln’s Birthday.” - -“No! nor Christmas Day, nor St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning! But, all -the same, it’s one of the most important dates in the annals of Time, -and I’ll give you one more chance to save your reputation by guessing -what it is, before I tell you.” - -“Well, of course I have no idea when it occurs, but, if I’m merely -guessing, I’ll guess that you refer to Mona Galbraith’s birthday.” - -“Oh, Nan! you are too exasperating! Another speech like that and I’ll -put you out of this car and let you walk home! Now the occasion to which -I refer, and which you know well enough, only you think it’s roguish to -pretend you don’t, is the birthday of one Miss Patricia Fairfield! a -clever and charming young girl, who will on that day achieve the dignity -of being nineteen years old!” - -“Why, sure enough, it _will_ be your birthday soon, won’t it?” exclaimed -Nan, in affected surprise, which by no means deceived Patty. - -“Yes, and what are you going to do about it?” - -“Well, you ask me so suddenly, I scarce know what to say! What do you -want done?” - -“Well, you ask me suddenly, too, but I know exactly what to say! I want -a celebration of the event.” - -“Oh, you do! brass band, and torch-light parade?” - -“Not exactly that, but something just as good. I want a -house-party,—quite a large one,—to come the day before the birthday, -and stay several days after, and celebrate all the time.” - -“You’re so modest in your demands, Patty! Why don’t you have something -really worth while?” - -“Don’t be sarcastic, Nan; you’re too pretty to say such things! Now take -a deep interest in my plans, won’t you, and help me decide things?” - -“All right, Patty, I will, indeed. But I thought you didn’t want company -down here, especially the boys, because you wanted to enjoy your -scouring the plain, all alone.” - -“Well, I did feel that way for a time, but I’m getting over it. Anyway, -I want to try having company, and, if I don’t like it, I’ll try solitude -again. Now you see, Nan, my birthday is next week, Thursday. I’d like to -ask the people to come Wednesday, and then stay over the weekend.” - -“All right, Patty, I’ll do all I can to make it pleasant for you. But, -you know, we have only four guest rooms. How big did you mean your house -party to be?” - -“Well, of course the two Farringtons and Christine and Kenneth would be -about all we could accommodate. Then I thought, if Mr. Hepworth and Mr. -Van Reypen cared to come, they could stay at the hotel.” - -“It doesn’t seem very hospitable to invite them that way,” said Nan, -demurring. - -“Then they’ll have to stay home,” said Patty, cheerfully, “for, as you -say, we have only the four rooms to give them. I thought our house was -large, but it doesn’t seem so when you begin to invite guests.” - -“Well, we’ll see about it,” said Nan. - - - - - CHAPTER X - - - THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD - - -That evening they discussed the project with Mr. Fairfield. - -“I heartily approve of the plan,” he said. “It’s time we had some young -life down here to stir Patty up. She’s getting too sentimental from -gazing at the sea and sky. And I think it will be quite all right to -invite two of the men to lodge at the hotel. They can come over here for -all their meals, and so they will practically be part of the house -party. But, Patty, are you sure you want this house party for several -days? You may find it more of a burden than you think, to entertain -guests so long.” - -“Oh, they’re not formal guests; it’s just a young people’s frolic. We’ll -go motoring and swimming and picnicking just as we like. But, of course, -on my birthday I shall have a party,—a real party.” - -“You don’t know enough people down here to make an evening party,” said -Nan. - -“Oh, well, I know several,” said Patty; “and if we have eight or ten in -the house, and get eight or ten more from among the Spring Beach -cottagers, that will be enough for a small dance.” - -“And there’s Mona,” put in her father, mischievously. - -“Oh, _Mona_! I’m not going to ask _her_!” - -“Why, Patty,” said Nan, “you’ll have to ask her,—your very next -neighbour!” - -“No, I won’t have to, either! I’m not going to spoil my whole birthday -just because she happens to live next-door to me!” - -“Patty,” said her father, “I think you must be a little more generous in -your attitude toward that girl. You may not like her altogether, but you -must be kind and polite to her, because, in a country place like this, -we do owe a certain duty to our neighbours such as is never recognised -in New York. And I want you to grow up an unselfish, generous woman, who -would sacrifice her own feelings to those of her neighbour.” - -“Of course you’re right, father, and I will try to conquer my dislike -for that girl. But you know what she is.” - -“Yes, I know what she is; she is uncongenial, and her manner irritates -you. But there must be some good in her, Patty, and suppose you set -yourself to work to find it.” - -“All right, daddy, I’ll go you; but won’t you please let me wait until -after my birthday is over?” - -“No, child; I quite agree with Nan that you must invite Miss Mona to -your party: that is, if you invite other cottagers. If you have only -your own house party, of course you needn’t ask her.” - -“Well, then, I won’t ever ask her over here while the house party is on, -except the night of my birthday, when I have the dance.” - -“It may not be necessary to invite her,” said Nan, smiling; “she’ll very -likely invite herself.” - -“Well, we’ll hope she won’t,” said Patty, with a little sigh. “Now I’ll -write to the others to-night, and I hope they can all come. I think they -all will, unless maybe Christine will think she cannot leave her work. -But I’ll urge her to come for a few days, anyway.” - -Patty went off to the library to write her notes, and so interested did -she become in her party, and her plans for her birthday celebration, -that she quite forgot her unpleasant and unwelcome neighbour. Nor did -she think of her again until the next afternoon, when, as she swung in a -hammock on the front veranda, she saw Mona Galbraith come walking up the -drive. - -“Here you are, Patty,” called out the hearty and irrepressible voice of -her neighbour; “I hoped I’d find you at home. I felt sort of lonely, and -I said to myself I’ll just run over to Patty’s, and perhaps, if I ask -her very prettily, she’ll give me a ride in that little gem of a motor -car that she runs so well.” - -Patty arose from the hammock, politely hiding her annoyance at Mona’s -arrival, and said: “How do you do, Miss Galbraith? Sit down, won’t you? -I’m not sure that I’m going to have the car out this afternoon.” - -“Oh, that’s all right; never mind. Don’t get it out purposely for me. -I’ll sit here and chat this afternoon, and we can take the ride -to-morrow.” - -So Patty saw at once that she must either take her visitor motoring that -afternoon, or merely defer the occasion, in which case she would have -her on her hands for the rest of the afternoon, anyway. Of the two evils -she concluded to choose the less. And she also concluded that, as her -father had requested, she would be pleasant to this girl, and try to -find some likable qualities in her. - -So it was with a shade more cordiality that she said: “Oh, yes, we can -just as well go this afternoon as any other! It’s a good day, except -that there’s a pretty stiff breeze blowing. Are you dressed to go?” - -“Oh, yes, this gown is all right, and you can lend me a hood and cloak -or something. Haven’t you extra ones?” - -“Yes, of course,” said Patty, wondering if this girl had no idea of -social formalities. “But perhaps she never had anybody to teach her -things,” thought Patty, who, now that she was trying to be -generous-minded toward Mona, found it easier than she had thought. - -Patty rang for Miller, and ordered the car; then she asked Mona to come -into the house, that she might fit her out with proper wraps. It was a -warm, pleasant day, so a dust cloak of Nan’s, and a silk hood belonging -to that same amiable lady, were borrowed for Miss Galbraith’s use. - -“Of course I have all these things at home,” she said, as she tied the -ribbons under her chin; and Patty wanted to say, “Why don’t you go and -get them, then?” but she well knew it was because of Mona’s unwarranted -feeling of intimacy in the Fairfield household that she borrowed their -wraps instead of going for her own. - -This whole principle was foreign to Patty’s nature. Systematic and -methodical herself, she always used her own belongings, and never would -have dreamed of borrowing those of another, unless through sheer -necessity. - -“There’s one thing,” she thought to herself, “if I give her this ride -and get it over with, she may keep away while those other people are -here. I must be careful not to let her know they are coming.” - -The car was at the door and they were soon started. Patty determined to -be kind and pleasant to her guest, but to avoid personalities, and to -say nothing which could be construed as an invitation to further -acquaintance. - -One point she conceded, however, and concluded to call Miss Galbraith by -her first name. This she did, only because Mona persisted in calling her -Patty, and it sounded so purposely stilted and ungracious to persist in -saying Miss Galbraith. - -Patty asked her guest to choose the road they should take, and was -surprised to find that Mona knew of a great many lovely drives which -Patty had not yet discovered. Though, of course, it was not surprising, -as Mona had spent four summers at Spring Beach, and it was Patty’s first -one. - -Mona chose a route called the Blue Lake Drive, which took them through a -lovely stretch of pine woods, and out into an orchard-dotted country, -the goal being a small and very blue lake. On the shore was a tiny Tea -House, which proved a pleasant resting-place for a half-hour. - -The girls sat sipping tea and eating crumpets, and Patty began to think -that Mona was not nearly as unlikable as she had thought. Her -shortcomings were more those of an impulsive and untrained nature than -any more serious faults. She was well educated and well read, and Patty -found that they had many favourite books and authors in common. But she -was pushing, and she continually asserted her intention of being Patty’s -intimate friend, until Patty lost her patience and broke out, rather -sharply. - -“Look here, Mona,” she said, “I like you, or at least I think I’m going -to like you, but I won’t be pushed or pulled into a friendship so -suddenly. You don’t know me at all, but once in a while I have a way of -speaking my mind right straight out, and I tell you frankly that, if you -want to be friends with me, you’ll upset the whole kettle of fish by -rushing it too hard!” - -Mona looked utterly amazed. “What are you talking about?” she said. “Do -you call me pushing?” - -“I do that!” declared Patty; “just exactly that! and you know it as well -as I do! I shouldn’t talk to anybody like this on such short -acquaintance, but you brought it on yourself, and, if you want to get -angry, you may!” - -“Angry!” echoed Mona. “Why, I like you all the better for such -straightforward talk! I’m sorry I seem pushing, but,—well,—‘you -brought it on yourself’!” - -Patty had to laugh at this, for it was really a subtle compliment to her -own attractiveness. Also, she decided she could do little by scolding -Mona. So she began to talk of other things, leaving the question of -friendship to be settled some other time. - -Soon they started homeward again, for, as Patty explained to her guest, -she was under promise to get home before dark. - -“How beautifully your car runs,” said Mona, as they skimmed smoothly -along. “Do you never have an accident?” - -“Nothing of any account,” returned Patty, and then she told Mona of the -day when her wheels got stuck in the sand. “But I have never had -anything more serious than that,” she went on, “and I hope I never -shall. Have you never run a car yourself?” - -“No, it never occurred to me to do so. We have several cars, of course, -and lots of chauffeurs and grooms, but only since I’ve seen you in your -car have I thought of driving one myself. But I’m going to; I’ve already -asked father to get me one exactly like this.” - -“Will he do it?” - -“Of course; he gets me anything I want. And when I get it, Patty, we can -go out together in our two cars. Won’t that be fun?” - -“H’m, h’m!” murmured Patty, who wasn’t overjoyed at the proposition. -“Gracious! what’s the matter?” - -“Oh, my! what _is_ the matter? Did something burst?” - -“It did so,” said Patty, cheerfully; “the inner tube of this front wheel -has burst, and now, if you want to see a successful imitation of a young -lady mending her own motor car, just watch me while I get out my little -kit of tools, and put my reserve tube in place of this burst one.” - -“Can you do it yourself?” enquired Mona, with a look of surprised -admiration. “I didn’t know a girl could do things like that!” - -“This girl can,” returned Patty, opening her tool-box with a capable -air. But the next moment her capable air completely vanished, and she -turned to Mona with a comical expression of dismay. “What do you think?” -she said. “I’m always so careful to have my car and my tools and my -accessories all in perfect order, and now see what’s happened! I had -this same experience the other day. The inner tube burst, and I put in -my reserve tube and then I put the burst tube away in my kit, and here -it is yet. I utterly forgot to have it replaced by a new one!” - -“Oh, then the reserve tube that you want to put in is as burst as that -one you have just taken out!” - -“You’ve struck it right! that’s the situation. Now what’s the solution? -There isn’t any answer!” - -“Then, what do we do?” asked Mona, looking scared. - -“Oh, we just sit here,” said Patty, returning to her seat in the -runabout. “It isn’t a question of doing anything, because we can’t do -anything. We can sit here, or we can walk home. Or, rather, you can walk -home, if you want to. I sha’n’t leave my car, if I sit here all night.” - -“And I sha’n’t leave you, if we sit here all night! But if I can walk -anywhere, and get assistance for you, I’ll gladly do so.” - -“Mona, you’re a good deal of a trump,” said Patty, looking into the -girl’s earnest face; “but I don’t know of any place you could get -assistance nearer than home, and that’s ten miles away. You see, Mona, -when motor cars do break down, they invariably choose a place far away -from any garage or repair shop. The farther away it is, the better the -car likes it. Can’t you hear Camilla chuckling at our discomfiture?” - -“How can you joke, Patty? I think it’s awful! What can we do?” - -“We can’t do anything, but, if we’re patient, some one may come along -who can help us. You know, there’s a certain courtesy of the road among -motorists that makes them help each other whenever they can. At least, -this courtesy is said to exist, but I’ve never seen much of it, myself. -However, I’ve had very few occasions to desire it. Now we’ll sit and -wait for courtesy.” - -Nor did they wait long. Very soon a good-sized motor came by, and the -polite driver of it stopped and asked the girls if he could be of any -assistance. - -Patty liked his quiet, courteous manner, and she explained her -difficulty. - -But the man, though willing, was unable to help her, for his tires were -not the same size as those on Patty’s ear. He would have been glad, he -said, to tow her car, but he was going in the other direction. So Patty -thanked him for his interest in the matter, and he went on his way. - -“Now, you see,” observed Patty, “that there _is_ a courtesy of the road. -I’ve no doubt some more courtesy will come along soon, and we’ll get -fixed up somehow.” - -But courtesy seemed to be scant that afternoon, for half a dozen cars, -both large and small, whizzed past them apparently without noticing -their plight. - -At last, however, a man came by alone in a small electric runabout, not -unlike Patty’s own. - -“Hi! there!” he called out, “you in trouble?” - -Patty did not like his mode of address, nor did she like the looks of -the man himself. And even though she greatly desired his help, and felt -sure that he might have a reserve inner tube which would fit her tire, -she hesitated to ask him for it, as she so distrusted and disliked his -general appearance. He looked good-natured, but he did not look to be a -man of refinement. But while she hesitated, Mona, greatly to Patty’s -surprise, took the situation in hand, and called back to the man: “Yes, -we’re in a dreadful fix! Can’t you help us out?” - -“You bet I can!” cried the man, and, springing from his own car, he came -over to Patty’s side. - -“What’s wrong, little one?” he said, looking boldly into Patty’s face. - -Patty was thoroughly annoyed at his manner, but now that things had gone -so far, of course she must carry it through. Sitting up very straight, -and assuming an air of severe dignity, she said: “The inner tube of a -front wheel has burst, and I have no good one with which to replace it. -If you have one you could spare, I should be glad to have it, and I will -send you a duplicate one, if you will give me your address, or my father -will send you a cheque for the price of it.” - -The man looked at Patty and smiled. “You needn’t be so crusty about it,” -he said; “the other young miss ain’t so crusty.” - -Patty was becoming a little frightened. The man was so easy-mannered, -and, though she felt sure she could manage all right by herself, she had -a fear that Mona might say something foolish at any moment. - -“I don’t mean to be crusty,” said Patty, smiling pleasantly, but without -friendliness. “I’m simply asking the courtesy of the road from a -fellow-motorist, and I feel sure, if you can, you will give it to me.” - -The man backed away a little and looked at Patty with unmistakable -admiration. “Well, I just guess I will!” he replied, and went straight -to his own tool-box for implements. - -Patty took this opportunity to whisper to Mona, “Don’t you say another -word to him! You mustn’t speak to strangers so familiarly. You came near -making serious trouble for us!” - -Now Mona was of such a peculiar disposition that, instead of realising -the truth of Patty’s words, she became incensed at the idea of being -scolded, and made no reply, save to pout her lips and assume a very -angry expression of countenance. - -The man returned from his own car, and in a short time had inserted a -new inner tube, and Camilla was in perfect order for a fresh start. - -“I thank you very much,” said Patty, with a calm, gracious politeness; -“and, if you’ll give me your card, or your address, my father will send -you a cheque for the tire, and a note of thanks for your kindness to his -daughter.” - -“’Taint worth mentioning,” said the man, looking a little sheepish -before Patty’s courteous dignity; “and I haven’t a card, but here’s my -name, and I’ll be glad to hear from your father, miss.” - -He scribbled on a bit of paper and gave the address to Patty, who put it -in her cardcase, and, bowing civilly to the man, she started her car and -drove swiftly away. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - - THE FIRST ARRIVALS - - -“Mona,” said Patty, severely, as they drove along, “you ought to know -better than to talk to a strange man in that familiar way! He wasn’t a -nice man at all.” - -“Well, he helped us out of our difficulty.” - -“Yes, and he’ll be paid for it. But there was no occasion to talk to him -as you would to an acquaintance.” - -“Oh, I’m not so awful stuck-up as all that!” - -“It isn’t a question of stuck-upness! Or, if you do call it that, it was -just the time to be stuck-up. Proper civility is all very well, but you -needn’t be chummy with a stranger. And I give you fair warning, Mona, -that, if you want to be friends with me, you must never do that sort of -thing again.” - -“I do want to be friends with you, Patty, and I think I see what you -mean now, but I didn’t think I was doing any harm. I’m glad to have you -scold me, Patty, for I do want to do what’s right. You see, I never had -much bringing-up. My mother died when I was a little girl, and since -then father has indulged me in everything I wanted, but I’ve really had -none of what you may call social training.” - -Patty was amazed at the sudden humility of the girl whom she had -considered arrogant and self-satisfied. She began to think that she -might do a good work in teaching Mona some things of which she seemed to -have no idea, but which came to Patty by instinct. - -“My mother died when I was very little, too,” she said; “but I think my -father brought me up as well as any woman could have done. And, then, I -have the dearest stepmother. She’s just the perfection of all that’s -sweet and gentle and refined.” - -“You’re a lucky girl, Patty, and I envy you.” - -“Now, that’s silly! You’re a lucky girl to have such an indulgent -father, and oceans of money, and freedom to do exactly as you choose. -Why, you have all sorts of possibilities, Mona. You could make yourself -anything you want to.” - -“Will you help me, Patty?” - -“Why, yes, as far as I can.” Though Patty felt kindly disposed toward -the girl, and wanted to help her, she didn’t care to take the entire -responsibility of shaping her future, and she knew Mona’s pushing spirit -would demand this, if given a chance. So she dropped the subject for the -present, and they chatted gaily of all sorts of things. And, when at -last Patty set Mona down at her own door, she had not mentioned the -subject of her birthday, or said that she was expecting a house party of -young people to visit her. - -On reaching her own home, Patty related to her father and Nan the -experience she had had. - -“You did exactly right, Patty, girl,” said her father, “and I will send -the man a cheque for the tube, and a letter of thanks for his kindness -to my daughter, just as you told him I would do. I’m surprised that Mona -should have acted as she did, for I supposed any young girl of the -present day would know better than to speak familiarly to a stranger.” - -“It wasn’t so much what she said, father, as her gay and easy manner, -and the way she smiled at him. She showed no reserve or dignity.” - -“Yes, I understand, and I am glad you reproved her. You may do her some -good, Patty, by your influence and example.” - -Patty sighed a little. “I’m willing to help her, but I don’t want to -take the whole burden of her social education on my shoulders.” - -“Patty,” laughed Nan, “don’t take it so seriously. You’re not employed -as nursery governess at ‘Red Chimneys’ yet, and the few occasions when -you have opportunity to drop a good seed on Mona Galbraith’s thorny -soil, it won’t hurt you a bit to do it.” - -“Hurray for Nan!” cried Patty; “she always hits the nail on the head and -rings the bull’s-eye! Well, anyway, I didn’t tell Mona about my -birthday, or that I expect company.” - -“It wasn’t really necessary,” said Nan, drily; “she’ll probably be over -here a good deal of the time, anyway.” - -“Not if I see her first!” retorted Patty, though she knew in her heart, -if Mona chose to come, she couldn’t help herself. - -“Well,” said her father, “now that we’ve all denounced Mona -sufficiently, I’ll express my opinion of Miss Patricia Fairfield. Any -little girl who pretends to keep her motor accessories in order, and -then blithely rides away with an old burst tube in her repair kit, is, -to my mind, as I’ve had occasion to tell her before, a feather-headed -butterfly!” - -“Oh, don’t call me such dreadful names!” pleaded Patty, wringing her -hands in mock despair. “Do let me down more easily than that! I’ve never -done such a thing before, and I’m perfectly certain I never shall -again!” - -“I don’t believe you ever will,” returned her father, kindly, and he -said no more about what was really somewhat culpable carelessness. - - * * * * * - -The next day the guests arrived. It was Wednesday, and the birthday was -on Thursday. - -Elise and Roger were due at three o’clock. Mr. Hepworth was to bring -Christine down a little later, and they were expected at five; while -Kenneth and Mr. Van Reypen could not reach Spring Beach until seven. - -So, a little before three, Patty started in her car to go to the station -to meet the Farringtons. As Elise and Roger stepped off the train, they -saw her sitting smiling at them, and they made a rush for the Stanhope. - -“What a ducky little motor!” cried Elise. “Oh, Patty, it’s the prettiest -one I ever saw! and it’s so becoming to you! Shall I get in?” - -“Yes,” answered Patty, as she gaily greeted them both. “I’ll take you -over to the house, Elise, but I can’t take you both. Roger, if you don’t -mind, will you go in that stage vehicle, and I’ll give you a ride in my -car some other time.” - -“Yes, of course, Patty; and I’ll look after the luggage. You two girls -go on, and I’ll see you later. Where do I go to, Patty?” - -“Oh, just tell the driver to take you to Mr. Fairfield’s house. He knows -where it is. We call it ‘The Pebbles,’ but he may not know it by that -name. But you’ll get there, somehow.” - -“Oh, I’ll get there!” declared Roger, and, with laughing good-byes, the -two girls drove away. - -“Don’t you love your car, Patty?” asked Elise, as they went swiftly -along. - -“Yes, I do, Elise. I love it almost as I would a human being. I’ve never -told any one this, because it seems sort of silly. But sometimes, when -I’m out alone in it, I talk to it just as I would to a person, and she -seems to understand. I’ve named her the Swift Camilla, and somehow -Camilla seems to understand everything I say to her, and she almost -talks back. Then, when I take other people with me, Camilla likes or -dislikes them. If she dislikes them, she shows it by not running quite -so smoothly. She jumps and balks and shies, for no reason at all, except -petulance. Isn’t that so, Camilla?” and Patty patted the side of the car -with a caressing gesture. - -“Does she like me?” asked Elise, anxiously. - -“Yes, indeed! Don’t you see she’s flying along like a bird! She knows -you understand her, Elise, and you don’t think she’s merely an inanimate -object.” - -“Inanimate object! No, indeed! With her pulses thrilling and her -sensitive nature alive to every passing incident, she’s far from -inanimate!” - -Patty looked at Elise in surprise. “Why, girlie,” she said, “I didn’t -know you had so much imagination in your make-up.” - -“I’ve always felt that way about motor cars, Patty. Our great big car is -lumberly and fat, and a little bit stolid of disposition; but father has -a little runabout that’s the nervousest thing you ever saw. But this -Stanhope! Well, I’ve simply got to have one like it, that’s all! -Father’ll give it to me in a minute, if I only could persuade mother to -let me run it alone. But I’m ’most sure she never will.” - -“This car of mine seems to sell others for the company,” said Patty, -laughing. “There’s a girl down here, next door to me, who says she’s -going to get one, too. And I know the boys will all fall in love with -this little beauty!” - -“Meaning the car or the girl next door?” asked Elise, smiling. - -“Oh, the car! The girl next door isn’t a little beauty! Well, that is, I -suppose she is good-looking in her own way, but——” - -“But you don’t like her, isn’t that it?” and Elise smiled at her own -intuition. - -“No, I don’t like her,” declared Patty, honestly; “but I’m trying to. -I’ll tell you all about it some other time, and, anyway, you’ll probably -see her for yourself while you’re here. This is her home we’re passing -now.” - -“Gorgeous place,” said Elise, as she looked at the imposing “Red -Chimneys.” “But I like this next place better. This big white house is -lovely.” - -“Good for you, Elise! This is ‘The Pebbles,’ and your own destination.” - -Patty turned into the drive, and stopped at the broad steps of the front -veranda. Nan was there to welcome them, and the two girls sprang out as -Miller appeared to take the car away. - -“Roger will be here soon!” exclaimed Patty, while Nan greeted Elise -warmly. “He’s coming over in the stage, and he’ll bring the luggage. -Come on, Elise, I’ll show you your room.” - -The two girls went off, and Patty took Elise to one of the pretty guest -rooms. They stayed there chatting until Elise’s trunk came, and then -Patty declared she must run down and entertain Roger, while Elise -unpacked her things. - -She found the boy still on the front veranda talking to Nan, with whom -he was a great favourite. Indeed, all Patty’s boy friends were -favourites with Nan, and she was so charming and attractive herself that -they all liked to chat with her. - -Kenneth Harper she looked upon as her especial protégé, for he was alone -in the city; and Mr. Hepworth, of course, was one of her old friends. - -As for Philip Van Reypen, Nan had liked him from the first, and they had -established a very chummy acquaintance. So, on the whole, the house -party bade fair to be a great success, and Nan expected to enjoy its fun -almost as much as Patty herself. - -“You’re getting brown, Patty,” said Roger, looking admiringly at the -tanned face. - -“Yes, it’s outdoorsiness as does it! I swim and walk, and play tennis -and go motoring all day long, and I sleep on a veranda at night.” - -“So you get tanned by the moon as well as by the sun,” said Roger. -“Well, it’s very becoming, and you look a whole lot healthier than you -did in the city.” - -“Yes, I am. Come on out and see my car, Roger, and I’ll give you a -little spin, if you like. Elise is unpacking her finery and won’t miss -us.” - -Like every one else, Roger was enthusiastic in his praise of the -wonderful car, and gladly accepted Patty’s invitation to go for a short -ride. He complimented Patty on her skilful driving, and they went for -some distance along the coast road. - -“Let me drive back,” said Roger, as they turned homeward, and so they -changed seats for the return trip. - -“Beautiful car!” he repeated; “and perfect mechanism. Patty, I -congratulate you on winning the thing, and it’s wonderful to think you -did win it all yourself!” - -“Oh, I had a lot of help, you know!” - -“Well, it was your own enterprise, and you worked pretty hard yourself.” - -“Yes, I did;” and Patty smiled at the recollection. “I sat up nights -with those hundred questions, and lots of times I thought I should -fail.” - -“But still you persevered. That’s where you’re such a brick, Patty. If -you set your heart on anything, you never give up.” - -“Well, I’m glad I persevered this time, anyway, for this car is a -perfect joy to me. I suppose father would have given me one, if I had -asked for it, but somehow it never occurred to me that I wanted one. I -had no idea I’d love it as I do.” - -“Oh, they’re great things, and I’m jolly glad you’ve got this one. -You’ll enjoy it more every day you own it. Now here we are at ‘The -Pebbles.’ Do you want to turn in?” - -“Yes; and I’m going to turn you out. Then I’m going to take the car and -go back to the station to meet Christine. She’s coming down with Mr. -Hepworth.” - -“Let me go over with you, then I can give Christine my place, and I’ll -tote old Hepworth over here.” - -“All right; but I must see Elise before I go, and tell her where I’m -going.” - -To Patty’s surprise, Elise seemed a little annoyed to learn that she was -going to the train for Christine. Patty had almost forgotten the foolish -jealousy that Elise had of her own friendship with Christine. But, as -always, she thought the best way to treat it was to ignore it; she -simply repeated her statement. “Yes, Elise,” she said, “I’m going over -to the station to bring Christine home with me. Mr. Hepworth will come -over in the stage. He’s going to stay at the hotel, anyway; we haven’t -room for him here. But, of course, he’ll be over here most of the time. -Roger is going over with me, and then he’ll get out, and give Christine -his place, and he’ll come back with Mr. Hepworth. What will you do while -I’m gone? Will you dress for dinner, or will you take a little rest?” - -They were in Elise’s room, and her pretty gowns and other finery were -lying about, as she had unpacked them. - -“Oh, it doesn’t matter about me,” she said, ungraciously; “you go on and -meet your friend Christine, and I’ll look after myself.” - -“Elise, stop being a goose!” cried Patty, grasping her by the shoulders -and kissing her on both cheeks. “If you talk like that, you’ll spoil my -whole house party and my birthday and everything! Now, you’re my friend, -and Christine is my friend, and you two girls have simply got to be -friends with each other; so make your mind up to that! If you say -another snippy word on the subject, I’ll go and lock myself in my own -room, and stay there until you go home!” - -Elise laughed, for she was always a little ashamed of herself after an -exhibition of her petty jealousy, and Patty knew that she wouldn’t -repeat the offence, for the present at least. - -“You ring for Louise,” Patty went on, “to help you put away these pretty -frocks and things, and then you make yourself at home, and do just what -you want to until I come back with Christine. And then, milady, you will -be just as sweet and charming to Christine as you can possibly be! Catch -on?” - -“Yes,” said Elise, smiling, and Patty kissed her again and ran away. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - - A MOONLIGHT RIDE - - -Patty seemed a little quiet as she and Roger drove to the station, for -she was thinking how foolish Elise was, and what a lot of trouble she -could stir up, if she chose to indulge in that stupid jealousy of -Christine. If Christine had been more able to resent it, and take her -own part, it would not have been so bad, but she was so sensitive to the -slightest coldness, and so afraid of seeming to impose on Patty’s -friendship, that it made the situation a little difficult. - -But Roger’s gay banter revived Patty’s drooping spirits, and, when they -reached the station, they were in a gale of laughter over some joking -nonsense. - -The train soon arrived, and they saw Christine and Mr. Hepworth step -down on to the station platform. - -Roger met them, and conducted them to Patty. Then there were more -compliments and congratulations on the new car, and soon Christine was -tucked in beside Patty, and the two men waved them farewell. - -“How are you, Christine?” asked Patty, looking anxiously at the girl’s -pale cheeks. - -“Oh, I’m all right. A little tired, but a day or two down here will set -me up wonderfully, I know.” - -“A day or two! You must stay a week, at least.” - -“No, I can’t possibly, Patty. My work is very important just now, and I -must go back day after to-morrow.” - -“We’ll see about that;” and Patty wagged her head, positively. “And look -here, Christine, while I have you by yourself, I want to tell you -something. Elise Farrington is here, you know, and she has a silly -notion of some sort that makes her resent my friendship for you. Now I -want to ask you, as a special favour to me, not to pay any attention to -her foolishness. If she snubs you right out, I’ll attend to her case -myself; but, if she just flings little bits of hateful allusions at you, -don’t mind them, will you, dear?” - -“I can’t help it, Patty. Unkind speeches shrivel me all up somehow; I -just can’t stand them!” - -“Well, stand them for my sake, please. You know _I_ can’t help it, and, -if I had thought you wouldn’t have a good time, I wouldn’t have asked -you here when Elise is here. But, you see, it’s my birthday house party, -and I want all of my dearest friends with me.” - -“And you count me among them? Oh, Patty, how good you are to me! Truly, -I will try not to be foolishly sensitive, and I promise not to notice -anything Elise may do or say, if I can possibly help it.” - -“That’s a good girl,” said Patty, giving Christine’s arm a little -squeeze. “But isn’t it funny, Christine, that I have these little petty -troubles among my girl friends, and never among my boy friends. The boys -are all so nice to me, and they never get jealous of each other or -anything silly like that. But you see this place we’re just passing? -It’s called ‘Red Chimneys,’ and I have a girl friend in there,—at -least, she’s an acquaintance,—who makes me a lot of trouble, too.” - -“I don’t make you trouble, Patty, do I?” - -“Well, of course, it’s mostly Elise’s fault, but, if you’ll just ignore -it, and stand up for your own rights, you can help me a whole lot.” - -“I will, Patty; indeed, I will!” said Christine, earnestly, and then -they arrived at “The Pebbles.” - -Dinner that night was a gay and jolly feast. It was the eve of the -birthday, and the house party had already assumed an air of festivity. - -Mr. Van Reypen and Kenneth Harper had come down later than the others, -and Philip Van Reypen had established himself at the hotel where Mr. -Hepworth was, while Kenneth was a house guest at “The Pebbles.” - -But the men from the hotel came over to dinner, and announced their -intention of staying as late as they would be allowed. - -Also, to Patty’s dismay, Mona Galbraith had come over just before -dinner, and, as she was still there when dinner was announced, Nan felt -herself really obliged to ask the girl to dine with them. - -Patty didn’t like it at all, but there was no help for it, and so Mona -stayed. She looked very pretty that night, and was not quite so -overdressed as usual. Moreover, she made herself bright and -entertaining, without showing any of her less desirable traits of -character. - -Seated between Roger and Mr. Van Reypen, she ingratiated herself with -both, and, when Patty saw that the boys seemed to like Mona, she felt -rather glad she was there. - -After dinner they all drifted out to the verandas, and, as it was a -moonlight night and high breakers were dashing in on the beach, there -was the usual chorus of admiration for the glories of the seashore. - -There was much gay chatter and laughter, there was some desultory -singing of songs, and at last Elise jumped up, saying: “I just can’t -stand it any longer! I simply _must_ go down to the beach! Will anybody -go with me?” - -“I will,” said Kenneth, gallantly. “I was just thinking about that -myself. Anybody else want to go?” - -“I want to go,” said Christine, a little timidly, and Patty looked up in -surprise, at the idea of Christine wanting to go with Elise anywhere. - -But Christine was longing to get down to the water, and see the ocean -nearer by, for it was about two blocks from “The Pebbles,” though no -buildings intervened. - -“Mayn’t I go with you, Christine?” said Mr. Hepworth; and, with a glance -of gratitude, Christine said, “Yes, indeed.” - -“Come on, then,” sung out Kenneth. “All ashore that’s going! Let’s all -go.” - -But Roger said that the ocean must wait for him until next day, for he -was going over to “Red Chimneys” with Miss Galbraith, just then. - -“What for?” asked Patty, in amazement. - -“He wants to see father’s birds,” explained Mona. “You know, my father -has a really wonderful collection of stuffed birds,—and he’ll be -delighted to show them to Mr. Farrington, who says he is interested in -them.” - -“All right,” said Patty; “run along, you two. But don’t stay late, -Roger; we keep early hours down here.” - -“All right, Patty, I won’t;” and Roger walked away with Miss Galbraith, -while Patty looked after them with a puzzled glance. - -The four who wanted to walk to the beach had already started, leaving -the two senior Fairfields and Patty and Mr. Van Reypen on the veranda. - -“It’s perfectly heavenly to get away from the city, and down to this -beautiful, quiet, peaceful spot,” said Philip Van Reypen, as he seated -himself on the veranda railing, and leaned against a pillar. - -“Is your life in the city so full of strife that you welcome peace?” -asked Patty, smiling. - -“Oh, the city itself is full of strife,” returned Van Reypen; “isn’t it, -Mr. Fairfield?” - -“Yes; compared to the seashore, it certainly is. This expanse of blue -ocean is much more peaceful and calm than a scene in Wall Street, for -instance.” - -“Yes, that’s what I mean; and to get down here and just bask in the -calmness and peace is a great delight to me. It was awfully good of you -people to ask me.” - -“We like to have you here,” said Nan, smiling at the young man’s frank -and heartfelt gratitude. - -“And I think it’s good of you to come,” said Patty; “for you must have -lots of invitations to grander houses than this.” - -“My child,” said Philip Van Reypen, looking at her, gravely, “it is not -the grandeur of a house that attracts me; it’s the grandeur of the -people. And I think you people are just grand! But, tell me, how do you -like the motor car which you won by such strenuous exertion?” - -“Which you helped me to win,” said Patty. “I never could have won it -without your help. And to think you haven’t seen it! Come out to the -garage now, and take a look at it. I’ve never seen it by moonlight -myself; and I know it must look lovely.” - -Catching up a light wrap, Patty flung it around her, and, with Mr. Van -Reypen, walked around the house to the garage. The full moon was so very -bright that, when the young man opened the big doors, Patty’s car showed -as clearly and plainly as if it had been daylight. - -“Isn’t she a beauty!” said Patty, in a voice almost awestruck, for the -moonlight touched up the car with a sort of magic lustre never seen by -day. - -“She sure is!” declared young Van Reypen, with emphasis. “Wow! what -perfection of detail, and what beautiful finish! Can you run it?” - -“Can I run it? Well, rather! Why, I’ve run it hundreds of miles since -I’ve had it!” - -“Let’s get her out now, and just circle the drive once.” - -“Oh, it’s too late now! I’ll take you out in it to-morrow.” - -“Nonsense! it’s only about ten o’clock, and it’s as light as noonday. -Come on, let’s do it.” - -“All right, I don’t mind. But just around the drive; we won’t go out of -the gate.” - -“All right, then; hop in. Let me drive.” - -“But I want to show off my driving.” - -“Oh, wait until to-morrow for that, Miss Vanity. I know you drive -beautifully, but I want to see how this thing works, myself. You know I -guessed some few of those puzzles.” - -“Yes, I know you did. All right, then, you drive.” - -Philip assisted Patty in, and then took his own place and grasped the -steering-bar and the controller. - -“My, but she is a daisy! All the modern kinks in the way of mechanism!” - -They circled the driveway twice, and, when passing the veranda, Patty -turned to wave her hand to her father and Nan, she discovered they were -not there. “Why, they must have gone in!” she said, in surprise. - -“Perhaps they went down to the beach,” suggested Van Reypen. “Let’s go -and see.” - -They were near the gateway then, and, before Patty knew it, Philip had -swung the car through, and they were spinning along the shore road. - -The top of the car was down, and they had an unobstructed view of sea -and shore. The night was still, save for the pounding of the surf, and -the crested billows frothed and dashed on the white sand. The moon -touched everything with its magic, and the sea, the beach, and the -inland were alike shining with a silver glory. The smooth, hard road -stretched ahead of them like a white ribbon, and it was small wonder -that Philip Van Reypen did not stifle the impulse to send the car -spinning ahead. - -“Oh!” breathed Patty, entranced by the wonderful beauty of the night, -and the exhilaration of that swift, soundless, gliding motion through -it. - -“Isn’t it great!” whispered Philip. “Did you _ever_ know anything like -it?” - -“No, I _never_ did! It’s like being in some enchanted place! I’ve never -before been out at night.” - -“And there never was such a night as this! Are you afraid?” - -“Oh, no, not a bit! I know my car too well, and I know you are not -driving recklessly, though we are going pretty fast.” - -Philip slowed down his speed a little, and they went steadily on. - -“We oughtn’t to be doing this,” said Patty, laughing like a gleeful -child. - -“Why not?” asked her companion, in an aggrieved tone. - -“Oh, lots of reasons! For one thing, I’m a hostess.” - -“Yes, but you haven’t any guests. They’ve all scooted off by themselves -in different directions; even your father and mother deserted the -veranda, so I’m the only guest you have for the moment, and, I assure -you, I’m being very pleasantly entertained.” - -“So am I,” said Patty, demurely. “But somehow I have an uneasy feeling -that I’ll catch a scolding for this! I’m not accustomed to going out -with a young man late at night.” - -“Oh, well, I’m not very young, and it isn’t very late, so don’t bother -about that. And anyway, if you’re going to catch a scolding, you may as -well have the fun first. And it _is_ fun, isn’t it?” - -“Oh, it’s gorgeous fun! I never enjoyed anything more! But we mustn’t go -any further. We’re about three miles beyond Spring Beach now.” - -Sure enough, they had gone beyond all signs of habitation, and were on a -long, straight stretch of road, with the ocean on one side and pine -woods on the other. It was weirdly beautiful,—the dark shadows of the -pines, darker than ever by contrast with the moonlighted spaces. There -was no boardwalk here, and the sea dashed almost up to the road they -were on. - -“All right,” said Philip, in answer to Patty’s suggestion, “we will turn -around in a minute. We’ll just go to that next clump of pines, and then -we’ll turn back.” - -He lowered the speed, and they crawled slowly along toward the trees he -had indicated. - -“It’s perfect,” sighed Patty, drinking in the beauty all around her. -“I’m glad you helped me guess those questions, or I never should have -had this experience. Except for one moonlight night in Venice, I’ve -never seen anything so lovely.” - -“Then you’re glad I brought you, if it _was_ a case of kidnapping?” - -“Yes,” said Patty, while a demure smile dimpled at the corners of her -mouth. “I think I like being kidnapped. Are you going to hold me for -ransom?” - -“I’d like to, but nobody could offer a ransom big enough to get you -back!” - -“Now _that’s_ a pretty speech;” and Patty nodded her head approvingly. -“So, as there’s no ransom to be considered, please take me back to my -fond parents, for I have no doubt they’re scared to death wondering -where I am.” - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - - PATTY’S INGENUITY - - -Philip turned the car around, and, in a few moments, they were swiftly -speeding toward home. - -“It’s awfully good of you,” he said, “to give me this little bit of your -time all to myself.” - -“I don’t think I gave it,” observed Patty, smiling; “I think you took it -when I wasn’t looking.” - -“Yes, and when no one else was looking, or I mightn’t have succeeded so -well. But it’s been a gorgeous ride, and now I’m going to take you right -back to home and mother. Do you suppose those people who went to see the -ocean are still looking at it? If so, it will be fun to drive right down -to them.” - -“Oh, don’t try it! Camilla cuts up dreadfully if she gets stuck in the -sand. It’s the one thing she won’t stand!” - -“All right, we’ll go right, straight, bang home, then. Whew! We have -come farther than I thought! We can’t see the lights of Spring Beach -yet.” - -“No; but I know where we are. It’s about three miles to Spring Beach. -Put on a good speed, and we’ll soon do it. There’s not a thing in the -road, and I’ll trust your fast driving.” - -“All right, my lady; here goes!” Van Reypen flung in the highest speed -and they fairly flew. And then, quite suddenly and without any jar or -jolt, or warning of any kind, they found themselves sitting quite still. -Camilla had stopped of her own accord, and seemed absolutely disinclined -to proceed. There was no noise and no fuss, the car simply stood -motionless. - -“What did you stop for?” asked Patty, turning an enquiring face toward -Van Reypen. - -“I didn’t stop; she stopped herself. Your friend Camilla is not in such -haste to get home as you are, and she wants to see the moonlight on the -sea once again.” - -“Nonsense! Didn’t you truly stop the car?” - -“No, truly I didn’t, and, what’s more, I can’t make it go on.” - -“Then something has happened!” - -“Right-o! How clever of you to guess that! But it’s your car, and you -know its tricks and its manners. What does it mean when she stops like -this, gently but firmly?” - -“I don’t know;” and Patty looked blankly bewildered. “She’s never done -such a thing before. Of course something must be out of order,—but I -can’t think what. The tires are all right.” - -“Yes, of course; it isn’t a puncture. But I can’t think myself what it -can be. Well, I’ll have to overhaul the engine and see what I can see.” - -Van Reypen got out and began to investigate, but he could find nothing -wrong in any part. “Has the charge given out?” he asked. - -“No, the batteries are all right. It was fully charged this morning, and -I used it very little to-day. She’s good for eighty or ninety miles -easily, and I haven’t run twenty to-day.” - -“Then, I give it up. I do know something about cars, but I’m much more -experienced with the gasoline motors. However, this is so beautifully -made, and yet so really simple of construction, that I feel I ought to -understand it. You get out, and take a look.” - -Philip held the lamp while Patty peered anxiously into the motor. - -She didn’t understand fully all the complicated parts, but she had a -fair working knowledge of its main principles, and she, too, was unable -to discover anything wrong or out of order. - -“We’re in a lovely mess,” she observed, cheerfully, as she stood looking -at Philip. - -“Yes, we’re up against it,” he rejoined, but his tone was as cheerful as -her own, and they both laughed as they looked at each other. For, given -a moonlight night, and two merry young people, it is not difficult to -look on the bright side of a motor misfortune. - -“Now,” said Patty, philosophically, “what do we do next?” - -“I’m not very familiar with this locality, but, if there were any chance -of a big car coming along, we’d ask them to tow us. The running gear of -this car is all right.” - -“Yes, and so is the steering gear. And the batteries seem to be in -perfect order. I can’t imagine what’s the matter. However, I can inform -you there’s precious little chance of any car coming along this way now. -Seashore people always go to bed early, and they never ride at night, -anyhow. No, we’ll have to walk home.” - -“And leave the car here?” - -“Yes; I hate to do it. But nobody can steal her, for she won’t go.” - -“But somebody might steal her and tow her away. That is, if a car -_should_ come along, and we weren’t here.” - -“Oh, I can’t bear to think of that! I don’t want to lose my beautiful -car! What can we do?” - -“I don’t see anything to do but to sit here in the car all night, and of -course we can’t do that. Nor can one of us go and one stay, for I -wouldn’t let you go alone, and I’m sure I wouldn’t let you stay here -alone.” - -“I think I’ll go,” said Patty, slowly. “You stay with the car, and I’ll -walk home alone. It’s only three miles, and I’m sure it’s perfectly -safe; there’s no one abroad at this time of night.” - -“Patty, I can’t let you do it;” and Philip Van Reypen looked deeply -troubled. “I can’t let you walk those three miles, alone, late at -night.” - -“But you don’t want to go and leave me here, sitting alone in a -broken-down motor car?” - -“No; I can’t do that, either.” - -“And we can’t both go,—and we can’t both stay! So it’s a dead—what do -you call those things?” - -“A deadlock?” - -“Yes, that’s what I mean. If neither of us can go, and neither of us can -stay, and we can’t both go, and we can’t both stay, isn’t that a pretty -good imitation of a deadlock?” - -“It certainly is! Now, in those lovely motor car novels that people -write, somebody would come along just in the nick of time, and fix -everything all right, and we’d all live happy ever after.” - -“Yes; but we’re not in a novel, and I’m positive nobody will come along -so late. What time is it?” - -“A little after eleven,” said Philip, looking at his watch. “Patty, I -can’t tell you how sorry I am that I got you into this scrape, and I -must figure some way to get you out! But it hasn’t come to me yet.” - -Philip’s face was a picture of despair. He suddenly realised his -responsibility in bringing Patty out here at night. It was done on a -sudden impulse, a mere frolicsome whim, and, if the car hadn’t broken -down, all would have been well. - -“Don’t take it too seriously, Philip,” said Patty, in a pleading voice, -for, now that she saw how he felt, she was sorry for him. “We’ll get out -of this somehow! But, truly, I think the only way is for me to walk home -and send father’s big car back for you and Camilla. I sha’n’t mind the -walk half as much as I should mind sitting here, and waiting while you -go.” - -“But, Patty, you can’t walk three miles in those little, high-heeled -slippers.” - -Patty looked down at her little evening shoes, with their French heels. -They were not suitable for a three-mile walk, but that was a secondary -consideration. “I _must_ go,” she said; “there is no other way.” - -“Then I’m going with you,” declared Philip, stoutly. “And, if anybody -steals that car, I’ll give you another one exactly like it! I’ll have it -built to order, with the same specifications! This whole affair is my -fault, and I’m going to get you out of it the best way I can.” - -“It isn’t your fault! I won’t have you say so, just because that stupid -old car chose the worst possible moment to break down! But, all the -same, I don’t know how I can walk three miles in these high-heeled -slippers with you any better than I could without you.” - -Philip grinned. “When you get tired, I’ll carry you,” he declared. “I -tell you I’m going to get you out of this scrape, if it takes all -summer!” - -“Well, it will, unless we start pretty soon. Come on, then.” - -“Wait a minute. Suppose I take those heels off your shoes. Couldn’t you -walk better then?” - -“Oh, fiddlesticks! I’m accustomed to high heels. I can walk in them all -right.” - -“Yes; and, first thing you know, they’ll throw you, and you’ll twist -your foot, and sprain your ankle——” - -“Well, then you _will_ have to carry me,” said Patty, laughing. “But, -before we start, do let’s try once more to make the car go. Maybe it’s -nothing but perverseness.” - -But their efforts were unavailing, and Camilla stood stock-still in the -middle of the road, as if she never intended to move again. - -“It would be like the One-Hoss-Shay,” said Patty, “only in that, you -know, every part dropped to pieces; and here nothing’s the matter with -any part.” - -“But there _must_ be something the matter,” declared Philip, who was -once again examining the batteries; “and, by jingo, Patty,—I’ve found -it!” - -“You have! What is it?” - -“Why, the battery strap has separated, that’s all!” - -“What is the battery strap? I don’t see any strap.” - -“Oh, it isn’t a leather strap; it’s this band of lead that goes around -the battery, but they call it a strap. See this crack across it?” - -“Oh, that little crack! Does that do any harm?” - -“Why, yes, of course; it completely stops the current. You see, the two -ends of the strap almost touch; if they did touch, we’d be all right. -Now, if I had a little piece of lead to connect those two parts where -they are separated, I could fix it in a jiffy! Got any lead?” - -“I don’t know. Look in the tool-box.” - -“Just a little piece of lead wire, or anything that’s lead.” - -“Try a lead pencil,” said Patty, but Philip was poking in the tool-box -and paid little attention to her mild joke. - -“There isn’t a lead thing here!” he exclaimed. “Your tool-box is too -everlastingly cleared up! Every tool in a little pocket by itself! Why -don’t you have a whole lot of old rubbishy junk; then we might find -something for an emergency?” - -“Can’t you find anything that will do?” - -“Not a thing! To think that, now we’ve found out what the trouble is, we -can’t mend it! and such an easy break to mend, if I just had a scrap of -lead. Well, we may as well make up our minds to walk.” - -“Oh, dear!” sighed Patty; “I didn’t mind walking so much when I thought -the car had really broken down. But just that little bit of a crevice in -the battery strap! Oh, can’t we mend it, somehow? Can’t you pull the -strap out longer or something?” - -“No, angel child, there’s nothing doing without some lead. After this, -always bring some lead in your pocket.” - -“But I haven’t any pocket.” - -“Ah, that explains the absence of the lead! If you had had a pocket, of -course you would have brought some lead. You’re excused.” - -“Well, next time I’ll bring lead with me, you may be sure of that.” - -“I hope you will, fair lady, and may I be here to use it! Now, shall we -start for our moonlight stroll?” - -“Wait a minute; I have a idea!” - -“Something tells me your idea is a good one!” - -“I don’t know whether it is or not. I’m afraid it isn’t. And I’m afraid -to tell you what it is, for fear you’ll laugh at me.” - -“I laugh? I, a man in charge of a broken-down motor, and a fair young -girl with French heels, and midnight drawing nearer and nearer! _I_ -laugh! Nay, nay, I’m in no laughing mood!” - -“Well, if you’ll promise not to laugh, I’ll tell you,—or, rather, I’ll -show you.” - -From a little utility case, which was tucked away under the seat of the -motor, Patty drew out a good-sized package of sweet chocolate. “I always -carry chocolate with me,” she said, “because it tastes so good when it’s -dusty.” - -“When the chocolate’s dusty?” - -“No, of course not; when the road’s dusty, and your throat’s -dusty,—chocolate’s awful good then.” - -As she talked, Patty had torn off the outer wrapper, and showed the -chocolate neatly wrapped in tinfoil. She took this off carefully, and, -tossing the chocolate aside, folded the tinfoil into a long strip, while -Philip gazed at her with dawning admiration in his eyes. - -“There’s your lead,” she said, simply, as she handed him the strip. - -“Patty, you’re a genius!” he exclaimed; “a perfect genius! How did you -_ever_ think of that?” - -“Will it do?” - -“Do? Of course it will do! It’s just the very thing. I’ll wrap it around -that separated battery strap, and we’ll be off in two minutes!” - -In really less than two minutes, Van Reypen had wound the strip of -tinfoil in its place, had jumped into the car beside Patty, who was -already in, and they were flying along at top speed. - -“How _did_ you think of it?” he asked again, as they skimmed along. “It -was terribly clever of you!” - -“Why, I knew you wanted lead, and I knew tinfoil was lead. I was stupid -not to think of it sooner.” - -“You’re a marvel to think of it at all! It was wonderful!” - -“Oh, not at all; that’s nothing to what I can do when I really try! Have -some chocolate?” - -Patty was in gay spirits now, for they were flying homeward through the -moonlight, and she was spared the three-mile walk and her beloved car -was safe in her own possession. - -“Yes, I will have some chocolate, thank you. We may as well take all the -goods the gods provide, while we can. I’m glad to get you home safely, -but I can’t honestly say that I haven’t enjoyed this whole escapade. Can -you?” - -“No,” said Patty, looking at him with a demure smile, “not _honestly_, I -can’t. But, all the same, I’m glad we could manage to ride home instead -of walk.” - -“Yes, so am I; and it’s astonishing how hungry I am! Can you spare a -little more of that chocolate?” - -“Yes, indeed;” and Patty broke off a generous bit; “but we’ll give you -some supper at ‘The Pebbles.’ I fancy they’ll be rather glad to see us!” - -“Yes,” said Philip, grinning; “and I rather fancy we’ll get a warm -reception,—and I’m not sure but we deserve it!” - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - - A BIRTHDAY BREAKFAST - - -It was not quite twelve o’clock when the Swift Camilla swung through the -gateway of “The Pebbles,” and around the long drive to the house. As -might have been expected, the waiting group on the veranda greeted the -returned runaways with various but vociferous exclamations. - -Several of them said, “Why, Patty Fairfield!” Several others said, -“Where have you been?” - -Roger called out, cheerily: “You must have had a ripping good time! Wish -I’d been along!” - -Mr. Fairfield said only, “Patty!” and Mr. Hepworth said nothing at all, -but looked at Patty with an unmistakable expression of reproof. - -Philip Van Reypen took the brunt of the situation upon himself. He -jumped out of the car, assisted Patty out, and led her straight to her -father. - -“Mr. Fairfield,” he said, “here’s your daughter, safe and sound, I’m -happy to say. But I want you to decorate her with the Victoria Cross, or -something just as good, for to-night she has proved herself a genius,—a -wonderful genius! But for her ingenuity we should still be sitting in -her little motor car, high and dry on a moonlit beach, listening to the -wild waves. To her all the honour and glory, and, if there is any blame -attached to our little excursion, it is mine. I kidnapped your daughter, -but I fully meant to return her in ten or fifteen minutes, without -ransom. I am no villain! But, owing to an accident, we were delayed.” - -“I should think you were!” broke in Mr. Fairfield. “It is nearly -midnight, and I am——” - -“Papa,” interrupted Patty, “I know exactly what you are! You are -surprised, astounded, amazed, astonished, dumfounded, taken aback, -struck all of a heap, and completely flabbergasted! If you are anything -else, you can let me know to-morrow. Meantime, we are two heroes, who -returned with our shield, and on it, both! Incidentally we are starving, -and, if we had some supper, we could relate our experiences in fine -shape.” - -Patty’s arms were round her father’s neck, and, with a wheedlesome -expression, her eyes looked up into his, and somehow Mr. Fairfield’s -indignation melted away. - -“Patty’s quite right,” declared Nan, taking sides with the culprits. -“Let’s all go to the dining-room, and then later we’ll hear about -Patty’s heroism.” - -“Mr. Van Reypen was just as much of a hero as I,” declared Patty, as, -with her arm tucked through her father’s, she led the way to the -dining-room, where a dainty little supper had been waiting for the -return of the missing ones. - -“It really wasn’t a matter of heroics,” said Philip Van Reypen; “it was -only a simple, plain, everyday breakdown, caused by a separated battery -strap. But the glorious part of it all was Miss Fairfield’s cleverness -in finding a remedy for the trouble, when it seemed at first there was -absolutely none.” - -And then, while they ate salad and sandwiches, the interested audience -listened to a full description of the breakdown, told in Philip Van -Reypen’s most graphic style. In no way did he try to evade the blame for -the escapade; he frankly admitted that he ought not to have taken Patty -off without permission, but so winning was his frank manner, and so -gleeful his enjoyment of the whole recital, that he won the sympathy of -all present. - -“It’s all right, Philip, my boy,” declared Mr. Fairfield, heartily. “I -don’t blame you a bit for yielding to the temptation to slip out of the -gate, and of course you could not foresee that peculiar accident. And I -am proud of my girl for thinking of a way to fix the thing up! Tinfoil! -Well, well! I doubt if I should have thought of that myself!” - -Patty smiled and dimpled at the praises showered upon her from all -sides, and she caught an approving smile from Mr. Hepworth, which showed -his appreciation of what she had done. - -“But I’m very sorry to have failed in my duty as hostess,” she said, -demurely. “Did you manage to get along without me?” - -“Oh, I was here,” said Nan, gaily, “and I kept the young people in -order.” - -“We did have a lovely time, Patty,” said Elise; “the walk along the -beach was delightful; wasn’t it, Christine?” - -“Yes,” replied Christine, slowly; “I never saw anything like it. I -didn’t know there was so much beauty in the world.” - -Mr. Hepworth smiled at the rapturous expression on the face of the -Southern girl; and then he declared that it was quite time he and Mr. -Van Reypen should depart for their own domicile. - -“But you’re to come back here to-morrow morning for breakfast,” said -Nan, hospitably. “We’ll breakfast at nine, and inaugurate Patty’s -birthday, which I can assure you is going to be a pretty busy day for -all concerned.” - -“It’s lovely to have a birthday,” sighed Patty as, a few moments later, -she went up the broad staircase with her arms around Elise and -Christine, who were on either side of her. - -“And this is such a lovely continuous performance,” said Elise. “We’ve -had a lot of fun already, and the birthday isn’t really begun yet.” - -“Well, it has really begun,” said Patty, “because it’s after midnight, -and so it’s already to-morrow; but we won’t have any more celebration -until breakfast is ready. So good-night, girls, and be sure to be up on -time for my birthday breakfast.” - - * * * * * - -The girls obeyed this parting injunction, but Patty herself overslept, -and it was half-past eight in the morning when she opened her eyes to -find her two girl friends hovering over her. - -“Wake up, sleepy-head!” said Elise, pulling Patty’s curls. “I say, -Patty, how jolly it is for you to sleep out here! But don’t you almost -freeze?” - -“Oh, no, indeed! I have so much bed-covering that I sleep warm as toast; -but I love to feel the sea air blow on my face.” - -Patty’s sleeping veranda was almost like a room. Partially enclosed on -three sides, the front was open to the sea. There were broad wicker -blinds to be drawn at will, but, unless in case of a very strong sea -breeze, they were seldom drawn. - -The girls were in their kimonos, and Patty sent them flying as she -sprang up herself. - -“Go on, you two, and finish dressing; I’ll be ready before you are, -now!” - -Elise and Christine scampered away, and Patty began to dress with all -speed. And by nine o’clock she went downstairs, fresh and dainty, in a -white, embroidered muslin frock, with knots of light-blue ribbon. - -Elise and Christine also wore white _lingerie_ dresses; Elise’s being -much befrilled and adorned, while Christine’s was far more simple. But -each was suited to the type of girl who wore it, and when Nan appeared, -also in a white gown, it was a picturesque quartette that stood on the -veranda looking at the sunlit sea. - -“Here they come!” cried Elise, as Mr. Hepworth and Mr. Van Reypen -appeared round the corner. “And, Patty, see! They’re bringing presents -to you! Just look at their arms full of tissue paper!” - -Sure enough, both the men carried large parcels elaborately done up in -tissue paper and bright ribbons. They came up laughing, and with merry -birthday greetings to the queen of the occasion. - -“Breakfast is ready,” said Nan. “We were just waiting for you. Bring -those impressive-looking paper affairs with you, to the table; there’s -quite a collection there already.” - -And, indeed, there was! The whole party took their seats at the large -round table, and at Patty’s place was a veritable mountain of -white-wrapped parcels. - -“I’m overcame!” she exclaimed. “It’s quite enough to have all you lovely -people come to visit me, without having gifts besides!” - -“Do open them, Patty!” cried Elise. “I’m crazy to see what they are!” - -“Just for that I’ll open yours first, Elise,” said Patty, laughing. -“Which is it?” - -“This one,” replied Elise, touching a large parcel; “and it’s perfectly -heavenly, Patty! I did it, every stitch, myself!” - -“I did every stitch of mine, too,” murmured Roger, “if that makes a -present more acceptable.” - -Patty untied Elise’s gift, and it proved to be an embroidered muslin -hat, very frilly as to brim, and ornamented with tiny, pink-satin -rose-buds. - -“How lovely!” cried Patty. “Thank you, a thousand times, Elise. The idea -of your making those billions of stitches for poor, wuthless me!” - -“Wouldn’t you make one for me?” asked Kenneth, “if it’s a mark of such -devoted friendship?” - -“I’ll make you two,” declared Elise, with a smiling glance at him. “Put -it on, Patty; let’s see how it looks.” - -So Patty put on the pretty frilled hat, and it formed a most appropriate -frame around her golden halo of hair, and her flushed rose-leaf face. -She had never looked prettier, and everybody present gave back an -answering smile to the dancing eyes and dimpled mouth that challenged -it. - -Philip Van Reypen said, “By Jove!” under his breath, and Roger, who -overheard, murmured, “Yes, and then some!” - -Then Patty unwrapped her other gifts. Christine’s came next, and it was -a beautiful water colour of her own, in a simple, appropriate frame. - -“It’s exquisite, Christine dear,” said Patty, “and I just love it! How -you are getting on! This is a real work of art, isn’t it, Mr. Hepworth?” - -“It is truly good work,” replied Gilbert Hepworth, and the approving -glance he gave Christine brought the colour to her cheeks, and made her -drop her eyes. - -“Don’t tell her how lovely it is,” said Patty, laughing; “Christine -can’t stand praise in public. Wait till I get you alone, girlie, and -then you’ll see if I have a grateful nature!” - -“Oh, open mine next!” cried Roger. “If you’re going to take us apart and -tell us of your gratitude alone, I want to go right now!” - -“You can’t,” said Patty. “You have to be thanked right before all the -rest of the people! But this is great! You know I love these crazy -things.” - -Patty had opened Roger’s gift, and it was a grotesque bronze figure, -representing some strange Japanese god. It was fascinating in its very -ugliness, and was a really beautiful specimen of Japanese craft. - -“You’re not eating any breakfast, Patty,” said Mr. Hepworth, suddenly. -“Let me undo the next parcel, while you try some of this delicious -omelette. I can vouch for its quality.” - -“All right,” said Patty, “I _am_ starving. And as a reward of merit, Mr. -Hepworth, I’ll let you untie your own gift.” - -“Good! I love to be in the limelight! Now this is mine, and may you -enjoy it many times when I am far away.” - -Then Mr. Hepworth displayed a very beautiful and complete automobile -lunch basket, with fittings for two. It was of the finest design and -workmanship, and the appointments were of the newest and best. - -“Just what I want!” cried Patty. “Now I can go out for a whole-day -picnic. And it’s such a lovely picnic basket! Mr. Hepworth, you do think -of the loveliest things!” - -The grateful glance that Patty gave him was met by one equally friendly, -and, in order to escape drawing further attention to himself, Mr. -Hepworth quickly opened the next parcel. - -This proved to be Philip Van Reypen’s gift, and, as it was being opened, -he said: “I, too, should have liked to bring you a really worthwhile -gift; but I felt, Miss Fairfield, that I’m too much of a stranger to -indulge in anything but the conventional ‘books, candy, or flowers.’ So -I have brought you only a box of candy, but I hope you will have many -happy returns of to-day, when I shall be an old friend, and can give you -anything I choose.” - -He looked enviously at the other men present, who had known Patty so -much longer than he had; but, when his box of candy was finally released -from its wrappings, everybody exclaimed in admiration. For it was by no -means a simple box, but was really a French jewel case, whose various -compartments were lined with tufted blue satin, and, though now filled -with bonbons, were intended to hold trinkets. The outside was of French -brocade, decorated with gold filigree and tiny French flowers. -Altogether it was an exquisite piece of handicraft, and yet Mr. Van -Reypen had, after all, only presented the conventional “box of candy.” - -Nan was greatly pleased at his cleverness. She had liked Philip Van -Reypen from the first, and he had proved himself a cultured and -intelligent gentleman in every respect. - -Kenneth’s gift was a fan; a point-lace mount, with pearl sticks. He had -showed taste in the selection, and Patty was greatly pleased with it. -Indeed, she was enraptured with all her lovely gifts, and fairly bubbled -over with enthusiastic thanks. - -“This is my present, Patty,” said Nan, producing a very long box. “It -was too big to put on the table with the others, so please accept it, -with the wish that it may prove useful some day.” - -The long box contained a white-lace parasol, which was just the thing to -be carried with Patty’s pretty summer costumes. - -“Oh, Nan, what a duck you are!” she cried. “I suppose this is from you -and father both, as I don’t see anything else from him.” - -“Not so, not so, my child,” said Mr. Fairfield, taking a small box from -his pocket. “On your nineteenth birthday I want to give you a gift all -by myself.” - -He handed Patty the box, and in it was a pearl ring. It was a beautiful -pearl, and not too large for a young girl to wear. Everybody admired it, -and Patty slipped it on her finger, and then, holding her lace parasol -open above her head, she fanned herself with Kenneth’s fan. As she still -wore Elise’s embroidered hat, she made a pretty picture of a typical -summer girl. - -“You look like a girl on a calendar,” said Roger; “rather fussily gotten -up, but picturesque in a way!” - -They all laughed at Roger’s speech, which really fitted the case, and -then, breakfast being over, they gathered up Patty’s treasures and -adjourned to the hall. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - - A MORNING SWIM - - -“Now,” said Nan, “we must lay our plans. We’re going to celebrate -Patty’s birthday, all day long; but there isn’t very much time in a day, -after all, so you must all choose what you think would be the most fun -to do. We’re going to the Country Club for luncheon, which is a motor -trip of about twenty miles. Then we’ll come back, and this evening there -will be a little dinner dance, which is, of course, the real birthday -party. Now you’ve about two hours before we start this morning. What do -you want to do?” - -“I’m for a dip in the ocean,” declared Philip Van Reypen. “Does that hit -anybody else?” - -“Me!” exclaimed Roger, and, “Me, too,” declared Elise. - -“I’d love to bathe,” said Christine, “if it isn’t too cold. Is the water -chilly, now, Patty?” - -“It is a little,” admitted Patty; “at least, it was day before -yesterday. I haven’t been in since. But to-day is a whole lot warmer. I -don’t believe it will be too cold, Christine.” - -“Let’s all go in,” proposed Elise, “and then, if it is too chilly, we -can turn around and come right out again.” - -This plan suited, and the girls ran away for their bathing suits. - -Patty’s was white, trimmed with light blue, and was exceedingly -becoming. Her gold curls were tied up in a light-blue silk handkerchief, -from which a few ringlets persisted in escaping, though she kept tucking -them back. - -“Let them hang down, Patty,” said Roger; “the salt water won’t take the -curl out!” - -“No,” said Patty, laughing, “it makes it curl tighter than ever!” - -“I envy you that,” said Christine. “I always wanted curly hair.” - -“You needn’t,” said Patty. “Your soft, sleek bands are much better -suited to your face than my corkscrews would be.” - -Mr. Hepworth laughed at this, for Patty’s curls when wet turned into -veritable corkscrews, which hung from her temples like those of an -old-fashioned belle. - -Christine’s rather plain bathing suit was of navy blue, trimmed with -white braid, but Elise was gorgeous in a suit of scarlet and black, with -her hair tied up in a red bandanna. - -Nan’s suit was entirely of black, and was both pretty and becoming; and, -as Mr. Van Reypen surveyed the group, he said: “Well, you _are_ a bunch -of naiads! You look like one of Sorolla’s pictures, except that we -haven’t any of his pumpkin-coloured light and purply-green shadows.” - -“H’m!” commented Hepworth; “much you know about Sorolla’s work, if you -express it in those terms.” - -“Well, you see I’m not an artist,” said Van Reypen, for Mr. Hepworth’s -tone was so good-natured he couldn’t feel annoyed. - -“Who can swim?” Philip went on. “I’m for a long dash out to that -farthest buoy.” - -“I can swim,” returned Patty, “but I won’t go as far out as that buoy. -I’ll swim part way.” - -“Come on, then;” and the two splashed into the breakers. Patty was a -good swimmer, and there was not much surf that morning, so she had no -trouble in keeping up with Philip for a fairly good distance. Then she -said: “Now I’m going to turn back, Mr. Van Reypen. I’ve learned by -experience that it is better to turn back while we can.” - -Van Reypen looked at her reproachfully as they swam slowly side by side. -“You called me Philip, last night,” he said. - -“I know it;” and Patty smiled roguishly; “but, you see, that was under -stress of a great emergency. I scarcely realised what I was doing,—and -I hope you’ll forgive me.” - -“I’ll forgive you only on condition that you never call me Mr. Van -Reypen again, and that you give me permission to call you Patty.” - -“Aren’t you demanding a great deal?” - -“Yes, I am, indeed; but you are so generous-minded that I have a hope of -your consent.” - -“I’ll race you to shore for it,” said Patty. “If you win, first names -go; if I win, we shall continue with the more formal names.” - -“All right; it’s an unfair advantage, but I’m going to take it. Of -course, I can beat you swimming to shore, but I’ll lag behind a little, -and let you think you’re winning, and then pass you with a grand -finish.” - -“Oh, I don’t know!” said Patty, teasingly, and then they both headed -toward shore and swam rapidly. - -As he had proposed, Philip kept a few lengths behind her, meanwhile -gasping and shouting that he was almost exhausted, and that he feared he -could never reach land. - -Patty knew this was merely joking, and that soon, with a few strong -strokes, he would pass her and come in a long distance ahead. But she -had no intention of being beaten so easily. When nearly halfway to land, -she saw Kenneth swimming toward her. As they met, she said, “Turn round -and swim with me, Ken; quick!” - -He did so, and Patty went on, talking rapidly: “I want you to do -something for me, Ken. Let me go on, and you turn and delay Mr. Van -Reypen. I don’t care what you do,—talk to him, duck him, or tease him -in any way,—but somehow or other keep him back until I reach shore, and -don’t let him know you’re doing it purposely.” - -“All right, count on me;” and Kenneth turned, and circled leisurely -around, until he came face to face with Philip Van Reypen. “Hello!” he -said. “You’re a ripping good swimmer! I want to show you a new stunt I -learned lately. Mighty few could appreciate it, as I know you can.” - -“Some other time, Harper,” hastily spoke Mr. Van Reypen. “I want to -speak to Miss Fairfield just now.” - -“Oh, she won’t mind,” said Kenneth, taking care to keep directly in Van -Reypen’s way. “You see, you start sideways and then——” - -“Oh, I say, Harper, wait till some other time! Let me pass, please. I’ll -be back in ten minutes, and glad to learn your new trick.” - -“Well, you needn’t be stuffy about it!” - -“Oh, I’m not stuffy, my boy, only——” - -“Then I’ll show you now. You see, you swim on one side;” and, before Van -Reypen realised what was happening to him, Kenneth had grasped his arm -and gently but steadily pushed him around until he was headed out to sea -again. - -At this moment Patty reached the beach, as Kenneth saw out of the corner -of his eye, and, suddenly changing his tone, he said: “By George! Van -Reypen, I believe you were in earnest! In that case, I’m sorry I -insisted. Of course, I’ll teach you the trick some other time! Go ahead, -if you want to speak to Miss Fairfield. She’s right over there.” - -Thus disarmed, Philip couldn’t answer Kenneth angrily, and, suppressing -his chagrin, he said: “All right, old chap, and thank you. We’ll go for -a swim together, to-morrow morning, and then I’ll be glad to learn your -new stunt.” - -Kenneth felt a little ashamed of his subterfuge, for he was of a frank, -honest nature. But he had done it for Patty, and he felt sure that the -whole thing was some merry jest. - -Freed from his tormentor, Van Reypen struck out swiftly for the shore, -and the next moment, throwing himself on to a big breaker, he was washed -up on the beach at Patty’s side. - -“How do you do, Mr. Van Reypen?” said that mischievous damsel, smiling -at him under her corkscrew curls. - -“It wasn’t fair!” growled Philip; “I was delayed. Harper stopped me, and -I couldn’t get away from him!” - -“Oh, that’s a pretty excuse,” chaffed Patty. “I heard you say that you -were almost exhausted and out of breath, and you _were_ puffing like a -whale!” - -“Oh, that was mere foolery! I didn’t mean a word of it! I’m not a bit -blown. I could swim for miles!” - -“That all sounds very well, but I think you’ll have to admit that I won -the race.” - -“The race is not always to the swift,—but I admit gracefully that you -did reach the beach first, and I herewith relinquish all hope of ever -being allowed the privilege I had requested.” - -“Oh, don’t give up too easily!” said Patty, though she well knew that -his speech was not made in earnest. - -“Come along, Patty!” cried Nan. “Unless you want to go motoring in a wet -bathing suit, you must scamper into some dry clothes. Come along with -us, we’re all going now.” - -The crowd of bathers dispersed, and, as there was need for expedition, -in less than a half an hour they reassembled, clad in civilian’s garb -and all ready for the picnic. - -The girls’ light frocks were covered with voluminous motor-coats, and -they all wore pretty motor-hoods or bonnets of soft-coloured silks. - -Three cars were necessary to accommodate the luncheon party, and it was -quite a gala procession that started from “The Pebbles.” - -First was Mr. Fairfield’s own big car, driven by Miller, and containing -Mr. Fairfield and Nan, Christine and Mr. Hepworth. - -This was followed by a runabout, which Mr. Fairfield had engaged for the -occasion, and which was driven by Roger. - -This car held two in front, with a small rear seat for another. Philip -Van Reypen sat next to Roger, and Elise sat alone in the small back -seat, saying she had always wanted to try such a position, but had never -before had opportunity. - -“Hang on, then, Sis,” warned Roger, as they started, “for I don’t want -to stop and run back to pick you up all the time.” - -“No danger,” said Elise, merrily; “but it is fun! I feel like an -enthroned princess.” - -“You look like one, too,” said Van Reypen, getting in beside Roger; “and -we are your two Gold-sticks in Waiting.” - -The Swift Camilla brought up the rear of the procession, and in it were -Patty and Kenneth. Kenneth had begged for this arrangement, as he said -he had not yet had a ride in Patty’s new car. - -“Neither have I,” declared Mr. Hepworth, and, after a moment’s -consideration, Patty said that she would take Kenneth half the way and -then exchange him for Mr. Hepworth. - -“And nothing could be fairer nor that,” declared Kenneth, as he accepted -his fate. - -It was a perfect day for motoring—bright, clear, and not too cool. -Spring flowers were in bloom in the gardens, and palms and shrubbery, -carefully kept, made the lawns picturesque. - -“Ideal place to spend a summer,” said Kenneth to Patty, as they flew -along, “and great roads for motoring.” - -“Yes, it is,” agreed Patty. “The others want to go to the mountains in -August, but I’m just crazy to stay here all summer. Perhaps I can -persuade them to go off by themselves, and leave me here. I could have -some one to chaperon me.” - -“Of course you could; that would be gay. I expect Aunt Rachel would -come, if you wanted her.” - -“She’s a dear old thing,—nobody I’d like better! But I haven’t dared -broach the subject yet. Don’t say anything about it.” - -“All right, I won’t. But I say, Patty, what was that deal you had on -with Van Reypen? He was awful mad when I held him up out in the water.” - -“Oh, it was nothing but foolishness!” said Patty, laughing at the -recollection. “I promised him that, if he beat me to the shore, we’d -call each other by our first names,—otherwise not.” - -“That was a _nice_ wager!” exclaimed Kenneth, in disgruntled tones. -“Why, Patty, you don’t know that chap well enough to call him by his -first name!” - -“Nonsense, Ken; I’m not grown-up and formal.” - -“Well, he is!” - -Patty laughed mischievously. “He is grown-up, but he isn’t a bit -formal.” - -“I should say not! I can tell you I didn’t like the way he carted you -off last night!” - -“Oh, Kenneth, what a goose you are! You know the whole story of that -performance. He couldn’t help the strap breaking, and, if my father -didn’t bother about it, I don’t think you need to!” - -“That’s the same as telling me it’s none of my business.” - -“Well, I didn’t mean it exactly that way, but, all the same, it isn’t! -Don’t you like Mr. Van Reypen?” - -“Yes, I do; he’s a rattling good chap. But I don’t want him coming down -here and monopolising you for motoring and swimming and everything else. -I s’pose you’ll give him every other dance, to-night.” - -Patty drew down the corners of her lips and made a sobbing sound in her -throat, as if she were on the verge of bursting into tears. - -“D-don’t sco-o-ld me, K-kenneth!” she pleaded, in a voice which she -meant to sound tearful, but which was choking with laughter, and didn’t -fool Kenneth a bit. - -“You’re a little coquette, that’s what you are, Patty; and I won’t stand -it! I knew you long before Van Reypen did, and he’s not going to cut me -out, I can tell you!” - -“Good gracious, Kenneth! I should say he wasn’t! Why, he’s only an -acquaintance, and you’re one of my oldest friends!” - -“Of course I am;” and Patty’s hearty tone made Kenneth feel a little -ashamed of his flash of jealousy. - -“Well, then, don’t let me hear any more such foolish talk! Here I am -taking you ridy-by in my dear little car, and, instead of appreciating -it, you scold me all to pieces!” - -“Forgive me, Patty; I am a brute. But somehow Van Reypen has such a way -with him. He acts as if he owned you and this car——” - -“And ‘The Pebbles’ and father and Nan,” supplemented Patty, going off -into a peal of laughter. “Well, Ken, I can’t see any way for you to get -even with him but to act as if you owned us all yourself.” - -“I can’t do it,” said Kenneth; “I haven’t that arrogance of nature.” - -“What a pity!” said Patty, looking at him, with laughing eyes. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - - A CHANGE OF PARTNERS - - -Their foolish little squabble over, Patty and Kenneth were as good chums -as ever, and they skimmed along in the same satisfied friendliness they -always felt when together. - -All too soon, in Kenneth’s opinion, they had traversed half their -journey, and reached the place where it had been arranged that Patty was -to change her companion and give Mr. Hepworth his ride. - -The big car was waiting for them as they came along, and, though Kenneth -said “Confound it!” to Patty, under his breath, no one else heard it, -and he exchanged places with Hepworth with a smiling, agreeable -countenance. - -The transfer being effected, the two cars started on again. - -Patty drove, and Mr. Hepworth watched her with admiration and interest. - -“You’re a wonderful child,” he said; “you can do almost anything you -turn your hand to.” - -“Indeed, I can’t,” returned Patty; “I can’t paint like Christine.” - -“Oh, well, that’s a special talent of hers. Your special talent is your -singing. But I mean you can do all sorts of other things, like guessing -puzzles and running motor cars.” - -“Yes, so I can; but don’t forget that, if you hadn’t guessed that last -charade for me, and an unfair one at that, I never should have had this -car. So you see the car is partly yours.” - -“Well, I’ll take out my share in going riding with you.” - -“Wouldn’t you like to drive it yourself, some day, Mr. Hepworth? You -could take Christine out.” - -“Christine! I’d rather take you.” - -“Rather take _me_ than Christine Farley?” Patty’s blue eyes opened wide, -and it was plain to be seen that her surprise at this statement was -unfeigned, and by no means a bit of coquetry. But it piqued Gilbert -Hepworth, and he answered, a little shortly: - -“You know I would! Why do you pretend otherwise?” - -“I don’t know any such thing! Christine is your special friend.” - -“And aren’t you my special friend?” - -“Why, not exactly;” and Patty’s cheeks dimpled as she smiled. “I’m your -special friend’s daughter. Isn’t daddy your special friend?” - -“Yes, of course;” and Mr. Hepworth looked decidedly cross, as he always -did when reminded of the difference of age between himself and Patty,—a -thing which Patty never seemed to forget. - -“But just now,” he went on, “you’re so absorbed in your special friend, -Van Reypen, that you have no thought of anybody else.” - -“For the land’s sake!” exclaimed Patty; “and that’s an expression I use -only on the strongest provocation! But I’ll tell you something, Mr. -Hepworth,”—and she looked at him squarely,—“when Kenneth Harper was -with me just now, he held me up on account of what he called my -friendship for Mr. Van Reypen! Now, if you’re going to do the same -thing, I give you fair warning, I’ll put you out and I’ll take Philip -Van Reypen in this car! So there, now!” - -Mr. Hepworth laughed at the flashing eyes, and the rose-flushed cheeks -that faced him, very much like an angry kitten. - -“Forgive us both, Patty,” he said, smiling in spite of himself at the -ridiculous situation. “You see, the truth is Kenneth and I are both -jealous of your new friend. And you’ll probably find that Roger is in -the same unenviable frame of mind.” - -“Fiddle-de-dee, and fiddlesticks, and fiddle-strings!” exclaimed Patty; -“you people all make me tired, you do. As you know, I adore all my -friends, and I want them all to adore me, and, when I make new friends, -they’ve all got to adore each other, too, and that’s all there is about -that! But don’t you worry over old Roger. He’s fallen a victim to the -charms of Mona Galbraith. I never was so surprised in my life! You know, -I don’t like that girl very much, and last night, as soon as Roger met -her, they immediately fell into a deep friendship!” - -“Why don’t you like her?” - -“Oh, she isn’t exactly our sort. She’s a little forward, a little -pushing, and a little lacking in certain varieties of good taste. But -she’s warm-hearted and generous, and, if she had had proper training, -would have been an awfully nice girl.” - -“Can’t you help her, Patty?” - -“Yes, Mr. Hepworth, I can; but I don’t want to.” - -“Why don’t you want to?” - -“Only because I’m a horrid thing! I know that, if I begin to help her, -she’ll want to be helped every minute in the day, and I’ll have my hands -full. I suppose I’m lazy and selfish, but I do hate to take that girl’s -bringing-up on my shoulders.” - -“I don’t blame you altogether, Patty;” and Gilbert Hepworth smiled at -her gravely, yet kindly. “But don’t you exaggerate a little bit? I know -what you mean. I saw last night what insistent ways Miss Galbraith has, -and I know her demands on your time and attention would be incessant. -But, Patty, think how much you have!—not only worldly goods, but love -and care and protection and interested sympathy. Isn’t it your duty to -do what you can for this strange girl, thrown so definitely in your -way?” - -“She _is_ in my way,” said Patty, pouting; “very much so!” - -“And do you realise,” went on Mr. Hepworth, very seriously now, “that, -just because of all this love and praise and appreciation you receive, -you run a pretty strong chance of becoming selfish and self-centred?” - -“Mr. Hepworth! I do believe you are lecturing me!” - -“That’s exactly what I’m doing. I’ve done it before, and never has it -failed to produce a good effect. I’m very fond of you, Patty, as you -know perfectly well; and I cannot bear to see your sunny and generous -nature spoiled by indolence or thoughtlessness on your part. Now I’m -going to drop this lecture right straight now. I’ve said all that is -necessary, and I know it has sunk in your heart deeply, as I intended it -to. And I know that you will overcome your dislike and disinclination -for the work, but that you will honestly and definitely try to do all -you can for that girl, and be all you can to her.” - -For a moment Patty was silent, and then she said, in a low voice: “You -are right, Mr. Hepworth, as you always are. I understand all you have -said, and all you have meant, and I make you no promises; but I promise -myself to do all I can for Mona Galbraith, to help her in the way she -needs help.” - -“That’s my little trump!” exclaimed Mr. Hepworth, in a voice which -betrayed a thrill of real emotion, and then he quickly changed the -subject and called Patty’s attention to a picturesque bit of landscape -in the middle distance. - -The rest of their ride they chatted in a lighter key, with no reference -to duty, and, when they reached the Country Club, they were both -laughing merrily as they joined the rest of the party. - -“I’m as hungry as a hunter!” cried Patty, springing from her car. “I -wish I’d brought Mr. Hepworth’s luncheon basket, well filled, along with -me.” - -“You’ll have luncheon enough, Puss,” said her father, “and, as we’re a -little later than I expected, we’ll have it served right away.” - -The Country Club House was an elaborate one, with broad verandas and -large, high-ceilinged halls and rooms. The walls bore the usual -decorations of antlers and other trophies of the chase, and the -appointments were luxurious and comfortable. - -Patty had never been to just such a place before, and was interested in -it all. - -“Can’t we become members, father?” she asked, as its plan and scope were -explained to her. - -“Next year, perhaps, my dear. But this summer we’ll content ourselves -with coming over here occasionally, by the courtesy of my friends.” - -Luncheon was served in a small dining-room, which they had quite to -themselves. The viands were most attractive and proved more than -acceptable to the hungry motorists. - -After luncheon, they wandered about the beautiful grounds, and some of -them went for a row on the lake, while some others had a short game of -tennis. - -Patty had such a good time that she was sorry when her father called -them to go home. - -“We just fly from one kind of fun to another!” exclaimed Elise, as they -made ready to start. “Mayn’t I ride home with you, Patty?” - -“No, no, Miss Farrington,” said Philip Van Reypen, overhearing her; -“it’s my turn to ride with Miss Fairfield. We’re going to put you and -Mr. Harper in the roadster, with Mr. Hepworth behind to see that you -don’t fall out.” - -As usual, Mr. Van Reypen’s audacity carried the day; and, too, Elise had -no objections to driving home with Kenneth. This left Roger and -Christine to go in the big car with the two elder Fairfields, and the -arrangement was fairly satisfactory all around. - -But, as Patty and Mr. Van Reypen were about to start, Roger came up to -speak to them. - -“You must play fair and square, Patty,” he said. “You divvied up the -ride, coming over, and you must do the same, going back. You take Mr. -Van Reypen as far as that halfway place, and then you’ve got to exchange -him for me.” - -“All right, Roger, I will; it’s only fair that all you boys should have -a spin with Camilla in turn.” - -“Oh, I don’t know,” said Philip Van Reypen, as they sped away. “I don’t -think you need to change partners on this short trip.” - -“’Deed I will!” declared Patty. “I’ve had enough of being scolded -because I don’t play fair. Now when we get to that halfway place, you -know where I mean, that tumble-down house with the vines all over it, -I’m going to put you out and take Roger in.” - -“All right,” said Philip, humbly. “But you won’t do it until we do reach -the tumble-down old house, will you?” - -“No, I won’t,” agreed Patty. - -After a while, Philip asked that he be allowed to drive, and, as Patty -was quite willing to be an idle passenger, they changed seats. - -“I’m sorry that I have to call you Miss Fairfield,” said Philip, -resignedly, as they were once more spinning along. “It’s so formal it -takes away all the pleasure of our conversation.” - -“Too bad,” said Patty, demurely; “but do you know I rather like -formality, Mr. Van Reypen.” - -“I’m glad you do, Miss Fairfield. It’s a charming day, isn’t it?” - -“Yes, Mr. Van Reypen; delightful,” returned Patty, and then the -conversation lagged. - -“I want to tell you something,” said Patty, suddenly. “I don’t feel -quite honest, and I want to ’fess up.” - -“What is it, Miss Fairfield?” - -“Why, it’s just this. You know this morning, when Kenneth delayed you, -and you lost our race?” - -“Yes.” - -“Well, I asked him to delay you, on purpose.” - -“You did? You little rascal! Why, that was downright dishonesty! Aren’t -you ashamed of yourself?” - -“Yes, I am,” said Patty, hanging her head, and looking like a lovely -penitent. “Can you ever forgive me?” - -“No, I never can!” Van Reypen’s tone was very stern, and Patty was -amazed at the serious way he took what she thought was a joke. - -“Oh, truly! can’t you forgive me?” - -“No! I _never_ shall!” and he glared into Patty’s upturned face with an -expression so savage that it suddenly dawned on Patty that he was -fooling, after all! - -With a beseeching glance and a drooping curve to her lips, Patty then -murmured, in low tones, “Can’t you ever forgive me,—Philip?” - -“Patty! Of course I can! And there’s nothing to forgive, you little -rogue! But now you’re going to call me Philip, all the time, aren’t -you?” - -“I thpothe I am,” said Patty, foolishly, and in an idiotic tone, and -then they both giggled. - -“And now can you be entertaining?” asked Patty, briskly; “and not just -sit up and remark that it is a charming day?” - -“But the day is more charming than ever!” declared Philip. “And I must -emphasise the fact.” - -“But, goodness gracious me! wherever is that halfway place? Have we -passed the tumble-down old house with vines clambering all over it?” - -“No, we haven’t passed it yet,” said Philip, innocently. - -“We ought to reach it soon,—I’m sure it’s time.” - -“How complimentary you are! Does the way seem so long?” - -“It doesn’t seem so long, but it seems strange. I don’t remember these -houses. Did we pass them on the way over?” - -“You must have been so busy driving the car you didn’t see them.” - -“Nonsense! I’ve never been this way before in my life! You’ve taken the -wrong road, and you’ve done it on purpose,—Philip!” - -“So I have, Patty! At least it’s a different road, but it isn’t a wrong -road. It’s just as direct to ‘The Pebbles’ as the other road, but it has -the advantage of not passing by the clambering house with the -tumble-down vines!” - -“Oh, you’ve done it, so we’d slip Roger!” - -“Of course I did! Clever of me, wasn’t it? Oh, you haven’t the entire -monopoly of clever ideas, if you _did_ mend your motor car with -chocolate!” - -Philip was gleefully chuckling at his successful ruse, and, when Patty -realised that she couldn’t help herself, she laughed, too. - -“Roger won’t mind, anyway,” she said; “he’s such a good-natured old -duck. And I’ll make it up to him by taking him out for the whole day -to-morrow, on a picnic with my new lunch basket. I’ve been wanting to -try that lovely basket, and see if it will carry a picnic for two.” - -Philip’s face suddenly lost its jovial smile. “There’ll _be_ a ‘picnic -for two,’ if you cut up any such trick as that! And you and young -Farrington will see what kind of a picnic I mean! Why, Patty, you’re -hostess of this house party of yours. You can’t desert all your other -guests,—and go skylarking off with only one of them.” - -“Unless it’s you,” said Patty, with a demure glance at him. - -“Yes, unless it’s me,” said Philip, smiling broadly. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - - - A DINNER AND A DANCE - - -When Patty and Philip reached home, a little later than the others, -Roger was nowhere to be seen. - -“Where’s Roger?” asked Patty, as she jumped out of the car, for she -wanted to make peace with him at once. - -“He’s gone over to ‘Red Chimneys,’” said Elise, laughing. “He’s taken a -terrible fancy to that Galbraith girl.” - -“I told you we needn’t mind about Roger,” said Patty to Philip. “I’m -glad he does like Mona, though I confess I was a little surprised at -first.” - -Very soon Roger came back to “The Pebbles,” bringing Mona with him. - -“Hello, people!” the girl called out, as she neared the veranda. “You -kept terribly sly about your birthday, didn’t you, Patty? But Mr. -Farrington told me last night, and father telegraphed to New York for a -present for me to give you, and it’s just arrived by special messenger. -How do you like it?” and Mona tossed a small box into Patty’s lap. - -The others crowded round to see, and Patty opened the box, to find a -beautiful jewel pendant hung on a slender thread of a platinum -neck-chain. The pendant was a fair-sized sapphire, surrounded by tiny -diamonds, and was of fine design and workmanship. - -“Mona! How lovely!” cried Patty. “But I can’t accept such a valuable -present from you.” - -“Nonsense! It’s a mere trinket. I’m delighted to give it to you, and -father was delighted to get it for me, so you’ll simply have to take it. -I was only afraid you wouldn’t think it pretty!” - -“Pretty? Why, it’s perfectly beautiful!” and Patty clasped the chain -around her neck at once. She was a little uncertain how to take the -gift, but she could not so hurt Mona’s feelings as to refuse it, and, if -she accepted it, she might as well do it gracefully. She cast an -enquiring glance at Nan, who, as usual, came to her aid. - -“It’s a lovely present, Patty; and Mona is most kind and generous to -give it to you. I’m sure we all appreciate it.” - -Thus tacitly advised, Patty thanked Mona prettily, and then Nan declared -it was time to think about dressing for dinner. - -“You’re coming, Mona, aren’t you?” said Patty, for she knew Nan had -invited her. - -“Oh, yes, indeed; I’ll be the first one here and the last one to leave. -Trust me for that!” and, with a merry laugh, Mona ran away across the -two lawns to her own house. - -“She’s all right!” said Roger, looking after her. - -“Yes, she is,” said Patty, generously; and, indeed, Mona had risen in -her estimation since Roger showed such approval of her. - -And then the group separated, to meet again at the birthday dinner. - -The three girls gathered in Patty’s room for a short chat first. - -“What are you going to wear, Patty?” asked Elise. - -“Oh, I have a new blue affair that’s perfectly dear. What’s yours, -Christine?” - -“White,” said Christine, simply. “I can’t wear many colours.” - -“You don’t need to, you angel person,” said Patty, kissing her. “You’ll -look heavenly in white. I’ve never seen you in evening dress. It is -evening dress, isn’t it, Christine?” - -“Yes; that is, it’s a round neck, but it’s very simple.” - -“You’re simple yourself,” said Patty; “simply sweet! Isn’t she, Elise?” - -It was Patty’s delight to make Elise admire Christine, and of course it -wasn’t possible, when thus appealed to, for Elise to do anything but -acquiesce in Patty’s opinion. - -“And now, honey, what’s your gorgeous creation that’s to dazzle the eyes -of the country people down here?” said Patty. - -“Mine is green,” returned Elise; “and it’s a good enough frock, but I -know it won’t be in it with yours, Patsy.” - -“Nonsense! It’s probably far handsomer. Aren’t we all getting grown-up, -to have dinner parties and low-neck gowns! Though mine isn’t exactly low -neck, it’s just cut out sort of round.” - -“Yes, a Dutch neck,” said Elise; “that’s what mine is.” - -“But still it does seem grown-up,” went on Patty, musingly, “to have a -birthday dinner and dance, instead of just an ordinary party.” - -“Well, you are grown-up when you’re nineteen,” said Christine. “I’m -twenty, and I think I’m grown-up.” - -“That’s because you’re Southern,” said Patty. “We stay little girls a -lot longer up here. And I’m glad of it, for I hate being grown-up. I -wish I could wear pig-tails and hair ribbons! Anyway, I’m not going to -act grown-up to-night; my party’s going to be a frolic, not a formal -affair.” - -“How many are coming?” asked Christine, who had not entirely overcome -her shyness with strangers. - -“Well, there’s about ten of our own crowd, and Nan has invited about ten -more of the Spring Beach people. The two Sayre girls are awfully jolly; -you’ll like them. And Jack Pennington is a dear boy, and so is Guy -Martin. And then there’s Dorothy Dennison and her brother,—and Phyllis -Norton,—oh, quite a bunch of them! And, Christine, don’t you go cutting -up any of your shrinking violet tricks! I want you to be the belle of -the ball!” - -Elise looked up in surprise, but, seeing the determined expression on -Patty’s face, she said nothing; and, if she had her own opinion as to -who should be belle of the ball, she expressed it only to herself. - -An hour later, the three girls went downstairs together. Patty in the -middle, with her sky-blue chiffon frock, was looking her best. The pale -blue suited her golden hair and pink cheeks, and the semi-low-cut neck -was exceedingly becoming to her rounded throat and chin. - -Elise’s green dress was far more elaborate, but her brilliant beauty -seemed to call for an ornate setting. - -Christine’s gown was perhaps the prettiest of all. Of white -crêpe-de-chine, it hung in soft, straight folds, and around the throat -was a delicate pearl embroidery. A girdle of pearl-work, with long ends, -gave a finishing touch; and on Christine’s willowy figure, and with her -Madonna face, the gown was appropriate and effective. - -The boys, who were waiting in the hall, exclaimed in vociferous -compliment as the girls came slowly down the staircase, and declared -that such a trio of beauty had never before been seen. - -“Nonsense!” cried Patty. “Don’t you talk to us as if we were grown-up -young ladies! We’re only a little bit more than schoolgirls. Just -because I’m nineteen, I’m not going to be treated with dignity! Roger, -will you dance the first dance with me?” - -Roger looked embarrassed, and, though he tried to speak, he hesitated -and stammered. - -“Why, Patty,—that is,—I’d be only too delighted,—but——” - -“But you’ve already asked Mona!” cried Patty, with a teasing laugh. “I -knew it perfectly well, Roger, and I only asked you to tease you. And -I’ll be perfectly content with the second, so save that for me.” - -“Indeed I will, and thank you kindly,” said Roger, and then Philip Van -Reypen and Kenneth both said at once, “May I have the first dance, -Patty?” - -“No, indeed,” she returned, laughing gaily at them; “I’m not going to -give my first dance to any of my house party. There are several Spring -Beach boys coming, and I shall dance with whichever one of those asks me -first.” - -Patty’s own particular decided wag of the head accompanied this speech, -and the men knew it would be of no use to coax her. - -And then the other guests began to arrive, and the great entrance hall -of “The Pebbles” was a scene of merry laughter and chatter, and -greetings and introductions on all sides. - -Under Nan’s orders, the whole place had been beautifully decorated. In -the hall and rooms were garlands and banks of flowers, and tall palms -shading alcoved nooks. The verandas were hung with Japanese lanterns, -and a few of these were scattered among the shrubbery, to light the way -for any who might be inclined to stroll on the lawn. - -At eight o’clock, Patty, taking her father’s arm, led the way to the -dining-room. Nan and Mr. Hepworth followed, and then the others in merry -procession. - -Dinner was served at small tables, as the number of guests was too large -to be accommodated at one. Each table was beautifully decorated with -flowers and candles, and pretty place-cards as souvenirs of the -occasion. - -Of course there was a birthday cake, and when at last Patty cut it, and -each guest had partaken of it, the dinner was over, and the dance about -to begin. - -Several musicians were on the broad landing, halfway upstairs, and -played just the right kind of music for young people’s merry dancing. - -Jack Pennington asked Patty for the first dance, and, a little to his -surprise, she graciously granted it. He had hardly hoped for this -honour, but he didn’t know that Patty had planned it thus in order to -avoid selecting one of her house party in preference to the others. So -she danced with Jack Pennington, and afterward, as they sauntered out on -the veranda, all the other men clustered around Patty, begging for -dances, until her programme was full, and many of the dances had been -divided. Of course, as Patty was hostess, she would naturally receive -much attention, but her own merry and charming personality made her -easily the most popular girl present, though the others were almost -equally so. Handsome Elise was a general favourite, and Christine’s -delicate Southern beauty attracted many admirers. - -Mona was resplendent in bright pink silk, elaborately ornamented. She -wore too many jewels, as always, but her whole-souled, good-tempered -gaiety, and her hearty enjoyment of the occasion, made her attractive to -many. - -After a dance with Philip, Patty and he wandered out on to the veranda, -and sat for a moment on the railing. - -“Beautiful show, Patty,” he said; “one of the prettiest parties I ever -saw. These lanterns are gorgeous. Why don’t you keep them here all the -time? Sets off the house wonderfully. Come down on the lawn for a little -stroll.” - -“I’m afraid you’ll kidnap me,” said Patty, mischievously. - -“No; honest I won’t. Though I’d like to. Say, let’s get Camilla out, and -go for a little spin. Will you?” - -“Indeed, I won’t! We got out of that other scrape pretty well. But I’m -not going to take any chances again! Beside, the next dance is -Kenneth’s. I’d better get back where he can find me.” - -“Oh, he’ll hunt you up, all right! Hello! Who’s this?” - -Some one came running toward them through the semi-darkness. It was -Mona, out of breath and laughing. “Hide me!” she cried. “Hide me! I’m -running away from Roger!” - -“How extraordinary,” laughed Patty. “You _are_ a coquettish young thing, -aren’t you, Mona?” - -“Hide me, Patty,” urged Mona. “That’s a dear. Let me get behind you -two.” - -Mona slipped around behind Patty and Philip, but, anxious to help her, -Patty said: “Back into the arbour, Mona; we’ll keep in front of you. -Hurry! here comes Roger.” - -“Have you seen Miss Galbraith?” asked Roger, coming up to them, entirely -unsuspicious of Mona’s whereabouts. - -“We’ve just strolled out here,” said Patty, innocently. “Why don’t you -look on the veranda, Roger? Does she know you’re looking for her?” - -“Of course she does! On the veranda, you say?” and Roger was off like a -shot. - -Patty and Philip, stifling with laughter, turned back to Mona, who stood -with her finger on her lips, cautioning silence. - -And as, in obedience to her gesture, they were still, they all -distinctly heard a voice speaking on the other side of the arbour. The -speaker could not be seen, and the hearers had no intention of -eavesdropping, but it was Kenneth’s voice, and his tone was tense and -angry. - -“I tell you, Elise,” he said, “I don’t believe Patty ever said that!” - -“She did,” said Elise, with the accent of one who reiterates. - -It was Philip Van Reypen’s impulse to walk round the arbour at once, and -make their presence known, but Patty silently put her hand on his arm -and led him toward the house. - -Mona followed, also silently, for she realised at once that Patty was -disturbed at what she had heard. The words in themselves might mean a -mere trifle or nothing at all; but the seriousness of Kenneth’s voice, -and the petulant insistence of Elise, seemed to forebode trouble. - -“What does it mean?” whispered Philip, as they neared the house. - -“Nothing,—nothing at all,” said Patty, but she spoke in a low voice and -her lip was quivering. She had divined intuitively that Elise had told -Kenneth something to make him angry, and she felt sure that Elise had -done it purposely, and that she had misrepresented the facts. - -“Shall I take you into the house?” asked Philip, gently. “I think you -said your next dance is Harper’s.” - -“Not just yet,” said Patty, who was so hurt by Elise’s treachery that -she could not fully control her quivering lip and the tears that came to -her eyes. - -Mona had disappeared, and so Philip said, “Let us stroll once more round -the drive, and then it will be all right.” - -His voice was so pleasant, and his manner so quiet, that it acted as a -balm to Patty’s shattered nerves, and she looked up gratefully, and -smiled at him through two teardrops that trembled in her blue eyes. - -“You’re awfully good,” she said, “and I’m not going to be silly. Never -mind it. But aren’t you engaged for this dance?” - -“Yes, to Miss Galbraith,” he replied, smiling; “but I feel quite sure -she has forgotten it in her game of hide-and-seek with young -Farrington.” - -“But you must go and find her, all the same,” said Patty, suddenly -mindful of etiquette. “Come! let us hurry to the house. I’m all right -now.” - -They quickened their pace, and Philip talked with a cheery banter, so -that, when they reached the veranda, Patty was her own smiling, merry -self, and she felt profoundly grateful to Philip because he had not -again referred to the bit of conversation they had overheard. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - - - MONA INTERFERES - - -Patty found Kenneth in the doorway, awaiting her. - -“Here you are,” he called out, cheerily enough, and Patty hoped it was -only her imagination that made her think his manner a little -constrained. He was gentle and kindly as ever, but he was not in merry -mood, and Patty felt this at once. - -They began to dance. Their steps suited perfectly, and, though Patty -herself was such an accomplished dancer that she could adapt her step to -any one, yet she always specially enjoyed a turn with Kenneth. But now -he seemed different, and, though he danced as perfectly as usual, and so -did Patty, there was a certain constraint in his manner and he spoke -only occasionally, and then the merest commonplaces. Patty realised -fully that there was something wrong, but she also knew she could do -nothing then and there to set it right. She couldn’t ask Kenneth what -Elise had said to him, and she couldn’t think of any other way to open -the subject. - -So, after a few turns round the room, she was really glad that another -partner claimed her, for this was one of the dances that she had -divided. - -Kenneth left her, with a simple “Thank you, Patty,” and, turning on his -heel, went out of the dancing-room. In the hall he met Mona, who said, -abruptly and impulsively: “Oh, Mr. Harper! I haven’t any partner for -this dance. Come for a walk round the lawn, won’t you?” - -“Wouldn’t you rather dance?” asked Kenneth, who was in no mood for -conversation. - -“No,” said Mona, smiling wilfully, “I want to walk out under the -lanterns on the lawn. They’re so lovely and Japanesy.” - -Mona had a wheedling way with her, and Kenneth smiled a little as he -escorted her down the steps and along a side path through the grounds. - -“You think I’m a queer girl, don’t you, Mr. Harper?” she began, as they -strolled along under the trees. - -“If I did, you couldn’t expect me to tell you so, Miss Galbraith,” he -parried. - -“Well, even if you haven’t thought so before, you will now;” and Mona -gave a determined shake of her head. “But I don’t care if you do. I want -you to answer me a question. What did Miss Farrington tell you that -Patty Fairfield had said, and you returned that you didn’t believe Patty -said it?” - -Now Kenneth was an exceedingly well-mannered young man, but he was -certainly taken aback by this question flung at him so suddenly by a -comparative stranger, and he was tempted to reply so plainly that she -must think him rude. But, after a moment’s hesitation, he modified his -intentions, and only said: - -“I’m sorry to have you think _me_ queer, Miss Galbraith, but, even at -that risk, I must decline to answer such a very personal question. And, -too——” - -“And, too,” repeated Mona, stopping and turning to look squarely at him, -“you were going to say, that I’m an eavesdropper, and, except for your -inability to be so rude, you would tell me so.” - -Kenneth was amazed at the girl’s intuition, but he said honestly, “You -are very nearly right, Miss Galbraith.” - -“Very nearly right? I’m exactly right, and you know it! Now let me tell -you, Mr. Kenneth Harper, I don’t care one snip-jack for your opinion of -me, and you may think just exactly what you choose! But I have another’s -interest at heart, and I’m perfectly justified in asking you the -question I did ask. Please tell me.” - -At the last words Mona’s voice sank to a pleading whisper, and there was -such heartfelt urgency in her voice that he was moved against his will. - -“Why do you want to know, Miss Galbraith?” he asked, more gently. - -They were walking on again now, and Mona looked straight before her as -she replied: “I cannot tell you that, but I beg of you to tell me what I -ask. Was it anything about me?” Mona had no idea that it was, and this -was a purely strategic enquiry. - -“No, it was not about you,—and now I hope you’re satisfied.” - -“No, I’m not satisfied. Was it about you?” - -“Yes, it was.” - -“And was it something mean Patty had said about you?” - -“Yes, it was.” - -“Mr. Harper, you are not a true friend. You know Patty Fairfield -couldn’t say a mean thing to save her life! And especially about you, -one of her best friends!” - -“Oh, I don’t think I’m that,” said Kenneth, in a cynical tone. - -“You are, too! Now, are you sure Patty said this thing?” - -“Elise said so,” muttered Kenneth, who had forgotten he was talking to a -stranger, because Mona had assumed such compelling intimacy. - -“And are you sure it was mean?” - -“Well, rather! You can judge for yourself!” Kenneth’s indignation got -the better of his self-restraint, and he told Mona frankly the truth. - -“Once, when Patty went away, I gave her a little locket as a parting -gift, and she thanked me and said she liked it. Now, Elise tells me that -Patty told her she didn’t care a snap about that locket, and she only -wore it once or twice.” - -“And you told Miss Farrington that you didn’t believe Patty said that?” - -“Yes; but Elise insisted that she did say it, and somehow I believe -Elise. Her words had the ring of truth.” - -“Thank you, Mr. Harper, for your confidence;” Mona spoke very earnestly. -“Believe me, you have done no harm in telling me this. You think it is -none of my business, but it is. You think me a queer girl, and I am. But -let me tell you one thing, Patty Fairfield is a true, sweet, loyal -nature, sound to the core; and Elise Farrington is not above a trifling -deception, now and then, if she wishes to gain a point. Please take me -back to the house.” - -They walked the short distance in silence, Kenneth secretly thinking -that Miss Galbraith was certainly queer; and at the same time wondering -if Elise could have made up that story. But, as he had said, there was -something in the tone of Elise’s voice, as she repeated Patty’s words, -that convinced him they were true. With a sigh, he went up the steps by -Miss Galbraith’s side, and then they separated, to join other partners. - -The dance went on, with its merriment and gaiety, and of course no one -would have known that either Patty or Kenneth had a troubled mind. Elise -was in specially gay spirits, and Mona seemed to be enjoying herself -thoroughly. - - * * * * * - -“It was a lovely party!” declared Elise, after it was over and the last -guest gone. “It was just perfect. There wasn’t a flaw! Isn’t that so, -Patty?” - -“I had a good time,” said Patty, a little wearily; “but I’m awfully -tired, and I’m going right straight to bed. Good-night, everybody; -good-night, Roger,—good-night, Ken.” - -She nodded pleasantly to the young men, and started up the stairs at -once. Elise and Christine followed, and, when they reached the upper -hall, Patty bade them a brief but pleasant good-night and went straight -to her own room. - -“I don’t know what to do,” she thought to herself, as she took off her -pretty blue frock. “I can’t let the matter go without saying a -word,—and I can’t say anything, because that would put Elise in the -wrong, and she is my guest! I’ll just have to live it down, I suppose.” - -But it wasn’t so easily lived down. The next morning, though Patty tried -to be especially cordial to Kenneth, he avoided her whenever possible. -Not noticeably to the others,—but Patty realised that he did not seek -her company, or sit by her on the veranda, or ask to ride with her in -the motor. - -The morning dragged along, nobody seeming to have energy enough to -propose any sort of fun. - -“Patty’s birthday seems to have been too much for this crowd,” said Nan, -laughingly. “I propose that you men all go for a swim, and let these -exhausted girlies take a little nap. I think they danced too late, and I -sha’n’t allow such dissipation again.” - -“I feel fine, Mrs. Fairfield,” declared Elise. “I never get tired -dancing. Do you, Christine?” - -“No, I didn’t get tired,—I thought it was a lovely party. I very seldom -have an opportunity to be in such gaieties.” - -“But you’re tired, aren’t you, Patty?” asked Elise, as Patty sat on the -veranda rail, leaning listlessly against a pillar. Before she had time -to answer, however, a servant came walking along the drive, whom Patty -recognised as one of the “Red Chimneys” footmen. He brought a note, -which he handed to Patty, and then, with a deferential bow, he went -away. - -Patty asked permission to read the note, glanced it over, and then -tossed it to Roger, saying, “We seem to be especially favoured!” - -The note was an invitation for Patty and Roger to come over to “Red -Chimneys” at once, but no one else was asked. - -“Come on, Patty,” said Roger; “the others will excuse us for a little -while, I’m sure.” - -So Patty and Roger walked away by the shortcut across the two lawns, and -found Mona in the doorway awaiting them. - -She smiled as she put her arm around Patty, and said, “You’re the one I -want,—I asked Mr. Farrington for a blind.” - -“Well, I like that!” exclaimed Roger, looking incredulous. - -“Well, I’ll tell you,” went on Mona, smiling at him; “the truth is, I -want to see Patty privately on a _very_ important matter. I didn’t want -to send for her alone, because it looked so conspicuous. But our private -conference won’t last more than ten minutes, and, if you can entertain -yourself that long, I’ll take care of you afterward. Here’s the morning -paper, and do try to be patient.” - -Mona didn’t wait for Roger’s response, but, with her arm still around -Patty, led her to the library, took her in, and closed the door. - -“Patty,” she began, “I’m a queer girl, and you know it,—and I know it. -You don’t like me very much, but I like you, and I’d do anything for -you.” - -“Good gracious, Mona! What _are_ you getting at?” - -“I’ll tell you exactly what I’m getting at,—and I’ll tell you right -now. I may be queer, but I can see a hole through a millstone when -anybody I love is concerned. Now, you know when you and Mr. Van Reypen -and I were in the little arbour last night, we overheard somebody -talking on the other side of the thick vines.” - -“Really, Mona, I must beg of you not to go too far, or I may lose my -temper!” - -“Oh, no, you won’t, Patty Fairfield! You just sit still and listen. Now -you know, as well as I do, we weren’t eavesdropping,—any of us,—but we -all heard what Mr. Harper said to Miss Farrington.” - -“Well, what of it?” Patty’s face was pale and her lips were set hard -together. She was thoroughly angry at what she considered Mona’s -unwarrantable interference, and she felt she could stand but little -more. - -“Just this of it! I asked Mr. Harper what it was that Miss Farrington -told him about you.” - -“Mona Galbraith! You didn’t!” - -“I certainly did; and, what’s more, he told me.” - -“Kenneth told you?” said Patty, incredulously. - -“Yes, he did. And this was it. But perhaps you don’t want to know what -it was.” - -“Of course I do! Mona, tell me, quick!” - -“Well, he said that Miss Farrington told him that you didn’t care a snap -about the locket he gave you and that you only wore it once or twice.” - -“What?” exclaimed Patty. “I don’t quite understand. The locket Kenneth -gave me?” - -“That’s what she said.” - -“Oh, for goodness’ sake! I understand now! That locket! Why, the idea! -Say, Mona, you’re a trump to find this all out!” - -“You didn’t think so at first.” - -“No, I didn’t; and I’m sorry! You have played the part of a real friend, -and you’ve done more for me than you realise! But, oh, Mona! how _could_ -Elise do a thing like that?” - -“She’s that sort, that’s all. You know as well as I do she likes Kenneth -Harper an awful lot, and she knows that he likes you better than he does -her, so she’s trying to set him against you.” - -“Set Kenneth against me? She couldn’t do it! Dear old Ken, we’re too -good friends for that! But, Mona, how did you find out all this? You -scarcely know these people.” - -“Oh, I sized up that Farrington girl the minute I saw her! She isn’t a -bit like her brother. He’s an all-round, good sort. And the poor chappie -is still out there reading the paper! He must be devouring the -advertisements by this time. Now, Patty, forget _my_ part in this -affair, skip over home, make it up with Mr. Harper, and do whatever you -think best with that Farrington girl.” - -“I can’t do anything with her, because she’s my guest; but I can make it -up with Ken in just about two minutes! And, as for you, Mona, I don’t -know how to thank you!” - -“Oh, cut it out! I’d do heaps more than that for you, if I only had the -chance! Fly now, for you must know how impatient I am to go and talk to -my new beau, Mr. Farrington.” - -So, after an embrace that was hearty enough at least to indicate her -gratitude, Patty flew. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - - - PHILIP’S PICNIC - - -On Patty’s return she found the veranda almost deserted. Christine and -Mr. Hepworth, Elise and Mr. Van Reypen had gone down to the beach. Mr. -Fairfield had gone to the city, and Nan was chatting with Kenneth. - -“Ducky stepmother of mine,” said Patty, as she wound her arm around -Nan’s neck, “if you don’t want to monopolise this young man, I’d like to -borrow him for a short time.” - -“You may take him, Patty,” said Nan, with a resigned sigh. “But I -suppose you know you will leave me alone in a cold world! Your father -has gone to New York.” - -“But, Nan, you ought to have some time to yourself. Solitude is an -awfully good thing once in a while. Don’t you sort of feel the need of -it now?” - -“Yes, I think I do,” said Nan, laughing; “so you may have Kenneth for a -while. What are you going to do with him?” - -“Take him for a spin,” said Patty, “Come on, Ken.” - -Kenneth hesitated for a moment. “Don’t you want to go spinning with -Patty, Mrs. Fairfield?” he said. - -“No, thank you; I have some household matters to attend to. One can’t -have a house party without occasionally having an eye on domestic -affairs. So, good-bye. Be home in time for luncheon.” - -Soon Patty and Kenneth were flying along the beach road, and the Swift -Camilla was living up to her highest reputation. Patty was driving, and -Kenneth was polite and amiable, but not merry. - -After a time, Patty slowed down speed a little. - -“Kenneth,” she said, abruptly, “I’ve something to say to you, and I’m -going to say it right straight out. You know what Elise told you that I -said about you, or rather about the locket you gave me?” - -“Yes, I know; and, by the way, it seems that just about everybody else -knows, too.” - -“Never mind that,” said Patty, knowing that the boy was annoyed because -Mona had interfered in the matter. “The point is, Ken, that what Elise -told you I said wasn’t entirely true.” - -“Not entirely true? How much of it was true? Since you seem to know all -about her conversation with me, I suppose she told you.” - -“No, she didn’t. Now listen, Ken; I hate, awfully, to talk against -Elise, but I’ve simply got to stand up for my own rights in this thing. -I did tell her that I only wore that locket once or twice, but I -_didn’t_ tell her that I didn’t care anything about it. For I do. I care -a great deal about it.” - -“Then, why don’t you wear it oftener?” - -“I’ll be perfectly frank with you, Ken. It’s just because that locket -with your picture in it was too,—well, too personal a sort of present -for you to give me, or for me to wear.” - -“You took it!” - -“Yes; after I’d asked father, and he told me I might, but you know I -went away with Elise then, to Paris, and every time she saw it she -pretended that it meant a great deal more than it did. Of course, it was -only a token of our boy and girl friendship, but she chose to pretend it -meant romance and sentiment and all those things.” - -“But since it meant and still means our boy and girl friendship, I think -you might wear it sometimes.” - -“I see I’ll have to tell you the whole story,” said Patty, with a little -sigh. “Well, last Christmas Elise bought a seal ring for Roger, and -then, at the last minute, she decided she’d like to give it to you, and -she asked my advice about it. I told her it was too personal a present -for a girl to give a young man, and I didn’t think she ought to do it. -It wasn’t that I didn’t want her to give you a nice present, but I -didn’t think it looked right for her to give you that kind of a one. I -told her to get you books, or something like that.” - -“What’s all this got to do with the locket?” - -“Why, Elise said that I needn’t talk about personal presents, after I -had accepted from you a locket with your picture in it. And so I told -her that that was very different, as we were old friends, and, anyhow, I -had only worn it once or twice. But I didn’t say I didn’t care anything -for it.” - -Kenneth’s face cleared, and he turned toward Patty with an honest, -beaming smile. - -“It’s all right, Patty; I see through it now. Elise did try to make me -think you had said something mean, but you didn’t, and I felt sure you -hadn’t.” - -“You didn’t feel _quite_ sure, Ken.” - -“No, I’m ashamed to say I didn’t, at first, but that was because I was -so hurt at what I was told you had said. But it’s all right now, and I -know you’ll forgive me, like the trump you are. I’d grasp your strong -right hand, if I weren’t afraid that would make you steer us both into -the ocean.” - -“I’ll consider it grasped. And I’m downright glad that we’re good chums -again, for I hate to have squabbles with anybody, and I almost never -do.” - -“I know it, Patty; you’re a sweet-tempered little thing, and I was a -mean-spirited coward to believe for a minute that you’d say anything -unkind about any of your friends.” - -“Especially you, Ken;” and Patty flashed him a glance of comradeship. -“But it was Mona who fixed this thing up for us.” - -“Isn’t she a queer girl? She’s so blunt, and yet very few girls could -have done what she did for you, Patty.” - -“I know it; and I do appreciate it, and I shall always love her for it. -But, Ken, what can I say to Elise?” - -“Don’t say anything, Patty; that’s the best way.” - -“And, if she ever tries again to lower me in your esteem, what then?” - -“She won’t succeed! I’ve had my little lesson.” - -“Good for you, Ken! If you ever have reason to think that I said -anything mean about you, you come and ask me about it,—because Mona may -not be around next time.” - -“I will, indeed, Patty.” - -And then, peace being thoroughly established, the trouble passed out of -their minds forever, and the old chummy relations were resumed. They had -a beautiful drive along the coast, and, when they got back to “The -Pebbles,” it was nearly lunch time. They found the whole crowd assembled -on the veranda, and Mr. Van Reypen seemed to be spokesman at a very -important conference. - -“It’ll be the most fun of anything you ever saw!” he declared. “A real -old-fashioned picnic! None of your modern country-club affairs. But a -tablecloth spread on the ground, and sandwiches and devilled eggs, and a -campfire to boil the coffee, and lemonade, and hopper-grasses hopping in -the pie, and everything just as it should be! Oh, gorgeous!” - -“Why sit on the ground?” asked Christine. “Aren’t there any benches in -the picnic place?” - -“We’re not going to a picnic grounds, little girl,” Mr. Van Reypen -informed her; “we’re going to a real, live woods; to the darksome depths -of a dingley dell.” - -“Tell us all about it!” cried Patty, as she and Kenneth joined the -group. - -“Entirely my own invention!” cried Philip; “it’s a picnic I’m arranging -for to-morrow, and I’d be honoured if you two would deign to attend.” - -“We will that!” exclaimed Patty; “but I heard something about -grasshoppers. Do we have to have those?” - -“No; if you prefer, you can have ants or spiders. But you can’t have a -real picnic without some such attachments. Now listen to what I’ve -planned! It’s just too lovely! I’ve engaged three runabouts from the -amiable garage man over forninst. Camilla will make four, and, if Mr. -and Mrs. Fairfield will lead the parade in their own car, we’ll have an -imposing procession.” - -“Not I!” cried Nan, gaily. “If you young people want to go on this -entomological picnic, I’ve not the slightest objection. And I’ll see -that you have enough sandwiches and devilled eggs to feed both -yourselves and the grasshoppers, but I’ll have to ask you to excuse my -husband and myself from attending.” - -“The only regrets I’ve had so far,” said Philip; “anybody else who don’t -want to go?” - -But the others all declared that the plan was perfect, and they wouldn’t -miss the picnic for anything. - -“Now, I’ll run the whole show,” went on Philip. “You understand it’s my -picnic entirely, and I’m host, and master of ceremonies, and chief -engineer. I shall provide the entire luncheon, and, with due respects -and thanks to Mrs. Fairfield for her offer of hard-boiled eggs, I must -decline it, as I shall get all those things from the pleasant-faced and -generously proportioned lady who is queen of the kitchen over at my -hotel.” - -They all professed themselves satisfied to let Mr. Van Reypen take full -charge of his own picnic, and all expressed perfect willingness to be -merely passengers. Mona was present, as usual, and was of course -included in the invitation. She was enthusiastic in her delight at the -prospect, and, quite forgetting to go home to luncheon, she accepted -Nan’s invitation to lunch at “The Pebbles.” - - * * * * * - -The next day proved an ideal one for Philip’s picnic. They were to start -about ten o’clock, for he informed them the particular dingley dell he -had in mind was a fairly long distance off. - -So, promptly at ten o’clock, he came over to “The Pebbles” in a -runabout, accompanied by a chauffeur. He was followed by two other -runabouts, each in charge of a chauffeur. - -The picnic party stood on the veranda, not quite sure what the -arrangements were to be, but laughingly declaring they were ready to -follow orders. - -“First,” said Mr. Van Reypen, “I’ll load up this car;” and into the -first runabout he assisted Miss Galbraith, and bade Roger Farrington get -in beside her. Needless to say, these two were well satisfied, and went -spinning off down the road. - -Next, turning to Mr. Hepworth, he asked him if he could drive a car. - -“An electric? Yes,” said Mr. Hepworth. - -“Because, if you don’t want to drive it, this car will hold three, and -you can take a chauffeur,” said Philip, who had provided for every -emergency. - -“No, I prefer to drive,” said Mr. Hepworth, quietly, and then Philip -said: “All right; and I give you Miss Farley for a companion. Don’t -quarrel on the way.” - -And so, with Christine, Mr. Hepworth drove away, and Philip turned to -the others. - -“I hardly know how to divide up the rest of us,” he said, stroking his -chin, thoughtfully, “but I’ll try it this way. Harper, will you take -Miss Farrington in this very pretty-looking new runabout?” - -It was an awkward situation, though Philip didn’t know it. Elise was -delighted with the plan, and beamed all over her face as she took the -seat indicated. Kenneth was not at all pleased, and it was really with -difficulty that he refrained from showing it. But Patty gave him a -pleading look, as if begging him to make the best of the situation, and -so, with what was apparently hearty good-will, he took his seat beside -Elise, saying, “All right, here goes for a fine ride!” - -Kenneth was fond of driving a car, and, not owning one himself, he -rarely had the opportunity; so Patty felt sure he would enjoy the trip -quite irrespective of who might be beside him. And, as Patty realised, -there was no other way to arrange the couples from Mr. Van Reypen’s -viewpoint, for she knew from the beginning that he intended to ride with -her. - -“I declare, I’m a car short!” exclaimed Philip, as Kenneth and Elise -drove away. “I should have ordered four cars, and I only engaged three! -We’ll have to stay at home! Shall you mind?” - -“No,” said Patty, mischievously, “I don’t mind. I’ll read aloud to you, -if you like.” - -“It seems too bad for me not to go when it’s my own picnic,” said -Philip, musingly. “You don’t happen to know of any little motor car we -could use, do you?” - -“We might take Camilla,” suggested Patty, in a dubious tone. - -“Just the thing! Say we do? How clever of you to think of that!” and, as -Patty broke into peals of laughter at his foolishness, Philip flew down -the steps and around to the garage, returning in a moment with Camilla, -which Miller was impatiently holding in readiness. - -“I’m going to drive,” Philip announced, calmly. - -“All right, I don’t care; but, then, you must let me drive coming home. -I declare, with a house party, I almost never get a chance to drive my -own car!” - -“Never mind! Your horrid old house party will soon be going, and then -you can drive all you like.” - -“It isn’t a horrid old house party! It’s a lovely, sweet, delicious -house party, and I wish it would stay forever!” - -“This part of it will, if you give him the slightest encouragement.” - -“Oh, I don’t want part of it unless I have it all! I had no idea house -parties were such fun. I think we’re having beautiful times, don’t you?” - -“Yes; since you’ve made up with young Harper;” and Philip’s eyes -twinkled. - -“Why, what do you mean?” exclaimed Patty, blushing pink. “How did you -know anything about it?” - -“I didn’t, and I don’t, and I don’t want to! But when I see my little -hostess going around with a sad and forlorn expression on her face, and -one of her guests looking as if he’d lost his last friend, and then they -both go for a motor ride and come back jubilantly chummy,—why, then,—I -Sherlock it out that they’ve had a squabble and a make-up! Am I -altogether wrong?” - -“Not altogether,” said Patty, demurely. - - - - - CHAPTER XX - - - A NARROW ESCAPE - - -The picnic was the real thing. That is, it was the real old-fashioned -sort of a picnic, and it was therefore a novelty to most of its -participants. - -Patty had been on many motor picnics, where elaborate luncheons were -served by white-garbed waiters, with the same appointments of silver, -glass, and china that she would use at home. But not since her -Vernondale days had she attended this sort of picnic. There were no -servants. The simple but appetising luncheon was spread on a tablecloth -laid on the grass, and, true to tradition, a grasshopper now and then -leaped in among the viands, or an audacious spider attempted to approach -the feast. But these were few and easily vanquished by the brave and -valiant men of the party. - -The men, too, proved themselves capable in the arts of fire-building and -coffee-making, so that Patty, who was a born cook and loved it, found no -use for her talent. So she and the other girls set the table as daintily -as they could with the primitive means at their command, and decorated -it prettily with wild flowers. - -“As a rule,” said Elise, as she sat with a sandwich in one hand and a -glass of lemonade in the other, “I like silver forks and china plates at -a picnic, but, for once, I do think these wooden butter plates and paper -napkins are rather fun. What do you think, Patty?” - -“Far be it from me to cast reflections on the goods my host provides, -but, generally speaking, I confess I like my table a few feet above the -over-attentive population of Mother Earth.” - -“Oh, pshaw, Patty!” exclaimed Philip. “You’re no kind of a sport! You’re -a pampered darling of luxurious modernity.” - -“Gracious! What an awful thing to be!” cried Patty, in mock dismay. - -“And, anyway, Patty,” said the blunt Mona, “if you hadn’t put all those -old weedy flowers on the tablecloth, there wouldn’t be any ants and -things. They’ve mostly come out of your decorations.” - -“I believe you’re right,” said Patty, laughing. “So the picnic is a -success after all, and it’s only our decorations that made any trouble.” - -Then they all ate heartily of the feast, and there was much laughter and -merriment, and afterward they sat round the fire and told stories and -sang songs, and they all declared it was the very nicest picnic ever -was, and they were sorry when it was time to go home. - -“But we must be going,” Patty said, “for I promised Nan we’d be home in -ample time to dress for dinner, and it’s a fairly long ride.” - -“Do we go back the same way we came?” asked Elise, looking at Philip -with an arch air of enquiry. - -“Go back any way you please, fair lady,” he replied. “The way we came is -the shortest, but there is a longer way round, if you prefer it.” - -“I don’t mean that,” said Elise. “I mean do we go with the same -partners?” - -“I do,” declared Philip, “and Miss Fairfield does. The rest of you may -do just as you choose.” - -“Then I think we’ll go as we came,” said Elise, with an air of -satisfaction. - -The simplicity of Philip’s picnic made it an easy matter to pack up to -go home, as there was little beside the tablecloth to take with them, -and so they were soon ready for the homeward trip. - -As host, Philip sent off the other cars first, and, after they were all -started, he stepped into the Swift Camilla, beside Patty, who was -already in the driving seat. - -“I’m going to drive home, you know,” she said. “I’m simply dying to get -hold of this steering bar once more.” - -“All right; you may drive, but let’s go round the other route; it’s only -a little bit longer.” - -“How much longer?” - -“Not more than a mile or two,—two at the most.” - -“Are you sure of that?” - -“Positive!” - -“All right; then we’ve time enough. Where do we turn off?” - -“At this next turn to the left. That takes us around past Berry Hill, -and so on around by Blue Lake.” - -“Oh, yes, I know the way after we reach Blue Lake. Here we go, then!” - -Patty took the turn Philip had indicated, and, as she did so, she caught -the last glimpse of the other three cars disappearing in the distance as -they went home by the same road they came. - -The road she had turned into was far more picturesque and beautiful, -and, as this portion of it was new to her, she was delighted to see it. - -“What high hills!” she exclaimed. “Why, they’re almost mountains!” - -“Hardly that; but they are fairly high hills, to be so near the -seashore. Don’t you want me to drive, Patty? This road has sharp -corners, and around these hills it’s hard to see anybody coming.” - -“No, I’ll drive and you keep a watch out. We haven’t met a car yet.” - -“No, and I wonder at it. Usually there are lots of racers and touring -cars along here. But, of course, it’s early in the season for them.” - -“How is that you are so familiar with this locality? You seem to know -all about it.” - -“I spent a summer down here some years ago. That’s how I knew where that -picnic ground is. Look out, there’s a bad place in the road!” - -But Patty had already seen it, and was skilfully steering so as to avoid -it. - -“You see everything,” said Philip, admiringly; “you’re a wonderful -little motorist! I never saw anybody drive better than you do; and so -easily, too. Merciful Heavens!” - -Patty gave a jump at Philip’s excited exclamation, and saw, straight in -front of her, an immense red car at full speed. It had swung around a -sharp angle, and could not possibly have been seen by them until it -burst on their vision not twenty yards away. They had heard no signal, -which was culpable carelessness on the part of the driver of the big -car, and perhaps Patty was equally culpable in not having sounded her -own horn. - -But this was no time to think of such matters, for they were really in -perilous danger. The driver of the big car did nothing to avert -disaster. It could not be he was indifferent to the awful situation; he -looked more as if he were stunned by the sudden realisation of it. - -Patty was absolutely paralysed with fear. She realised fully their -plight, she knew that nothing could save them from instant and terrible -collision, and her muscles were absolutely powerless to move. - -The short distance between the two cars diminished like lightning, and -neither car had swerved from a straight line leading to the other. - -Patty tried to shriek, but her stiffened tongue gave forth no sound. - -At sight of the big car, Philip Van Reypen was stunned also. But, in an -instant, he recovered his senses, and, in another instant, he had shot -out his right hand and, seizing the controller handle, pushed it -backward with a force that nearly crushed Patty’s hand that held it. -Then, grasping the steering bar with his other hand, he swerved the car -over to the right, blindly trying to find the reverse lever with his -foot. - -Then happened what Philip knew would happen. The Camilla banged into a -sheer cliff of rock, but took it sideways. He grasped Patty as the car -stopped, and they were both jolted backward. - -By presence of mind and quick action, he had run the car into the cliff, -causing thereby a minor smash-up, instead of meeting the big red car in -a head-on collision, which would surely have meant fatality. - -Patty was very white, but she did not faint. The shock restored her -numbed senses, and she turned to Philip with a glance of perfect -understanding of what he had done. - -“Oh, Patty,” he whispered, in a tense voice, “thank Heaven you’re safe!” - -“It was a miracle, Philip; but you did it yourself! I knew it at the -time, my brain worked perfectly, but my muscles were paralysed by fear. -Oh, suppose yours had been, too!” - -“I could have done better if I could have sensed the thing an instant -sooner. For a second my brain wouldn’t work, and then I saw my way -clear, like a flash, but it was too late! I hadn’t time to back or to -get across in front of the car. It was either to run into this cliff, or -have that immense machine run into us.” - -“It was splendid!” said Patty, the tears coming to her eyes; and then -the reaction from the shock came, and she burst into violent sobbing. - -“Don’t, Patty; don’t do that,” said Philip, in a pained voice, and Patty -looked up, smiling through her tears. - -“I’m not really crying,” she said; “it’s just a foolish reaction, and I -can’t help it. I’m sorry to be so silly, but I’m just a little -hysterical from,—from joy, you know.” - -“You behaved splendidly, Patty! If you had moved hand or foot, we would -have been dashed to pieces. It was only because I could get full command -of the controller and the steering bar that I could manage at all. If -you had given a convulsive push the other way,—well, never mind that! -But I expect I crushed your hand when I grasped the controller. I had -to, to make sure that you didn’t jerk it the other way unintentionally.” - -“I guess you did hurt my hand;” and Patty held it up to see. Sure -enough, black and blue bruises already appeared on fingers and palm. - -“Poor little hand,” said Philip, taking it in his own. “I’m so sorry, -Patty.” - -“Don’t talk to me like that!” exclaimed Patty, “as if I were a -molly-coddle! I’m glad you smashed my hand, as that was the only way to -save us from——” - -“From certain death,” said Philip, gravely. - -And then they heard a motor coming behind them, and, looking up, found a -good-sized touring car, which was about to pass them, but had stopped at -their side. - -“Want help?” called out a cheery voice, and Philip answered, “Indeed, we -do!” - -The stranger jumped out of his car, and came over to inspect the -Camilla. - -“I ought to get out,” whispered Philip. “Are you brave enough to sit -here alone, Patty?” - -“Of course; Camilla can’t run away now!” - -Philip and the other man looked about to see what had really happened to -Patty’s car. There was not so much damage as it seemed at first, for, -with the exception of a smashed mudguard, and some dents and bruises, -nothing was broken, except the shaft drive axle. But this, of course, -rendered the car helpless as to her motor, though her running gear was -all right. - -“I’ll give you a tow,” said the stranger heartily. “Where do you want to -go?” - -“To Spring Beach,” answered Philip. “Are you going that way?” - -“I can go that way as well as not, and, when people come as near death -and destruction as you people did, I think it’s only human to take you -home. Perfect marvel, though, how you escaped with so little injury to -the car!” - -“Perfect marvel how we escaped at all!” said Philip. “I did what I -could, but, when I see the narrow margin we had on either side, I wonder -we weren’t smashed to bits, anyway.” - -“It is a wonder!” said the stranger. “Most marvellous thing I ever -saw,—and I’ve seen lots of motor accidents. My name’s Hampton,—Henry -Hampton,—and now, if you’ll help me rig up the tow, I’ll pull you -home.” - -And so, after a short time, Philip and Patty, still seated in the -damaged Camilla, went swiftly along, towed by kind-hearted Henry -Hampton’s powerful car. - -Of course, when they reached “The Pebbles,” an anxious crowd awaited -them. - -“It’s getting to be sort of a habit, our getting home late, with an -accident to report,” said Philip, as they turned in the gate, and Patty -couldn’t help smiling, though her nerves were still tingling from the -recent shock, and from the realisation of their wonderful escape. - -The laughing crowd on the veranda grew suddenly still as they saw a -strange motor enter the gate with the Camilla in tow. - -“What has happened?” cried Nan, as they came within hearing distance. - -“We’re all right, father!” called out Patty, anxious to allay the look -of fear and consternation on her father’s face. - -“Patty, dear child, what is it?” exclaimed Mr. Fairfield, as he lifted -Patty, still white and trembling, out of the car. - -“An accident, father,—an awful accident! And Philip was the hero this -time; he saved my life, and he did it in a most wonderful way! I’ll tell -you about it sometime, but I can’t now;” and Patty fell limply into her -father’s arms. - -“Never mind, darling, it’s all right,” said Mr. Fairfield, soothingly, -as he kissed the pale brow, and carried Patty up the steps and into the -house. He laid her on a couch, and, under Nan’s gentle ministrations, -she soon revived. - -Meantime, Henry Hampton was telling the tale as he had understood it. - -“Mighty slick piece of work!” he said. “Never saw anything like it in my -life! That young fellow ought to have medals pinned all over him.” - -“There, there, Mr. Hampton, that’ll be about all,” said Philip, trying -to shut off the tide of compliments from the stranger. - -“No, ’taint about all!” declared Mr. Hampton, wagging his head, “but I -guess the little lady can tell you the story, once she feels like -herself again. I must be gettin’ along now, but I just want to remark, -edgewise, that I’ve seen lots of pluck and bravery in my day, but for -hair-trigger intellect, coolheadedness, pluck, and plumb bravery, I -never saw such an exhibition as this here chap put up to-day! -Good-afternoon, all;” and, with a wave of his hand, Mr. Hampton went -away. - -Philip was the hero of the hour, but he would not admit that he had done -anything praiseworthy or unusual. - -“There was only one thing to do,” he said; “only one possible chance to -take, and of course I took it; and almost by a miracle it went through -all right, and we smashed the car, but saved our lives.” - -“Don’t you listen to him!” called out Patty. “You people come in here, -and I’ll tell you all about it! I was driving, and it was next to -impossible for Philip to get hold of the bars, across _me_. But he did -it! and he did it in time! and he did it exactly right! And I just sat -there paralysed with fear, and unable to move. But I suppose you don’t -expect a girl to be very brave,—and I sort of collapsed, I know. But -Philip is a hero, and I want him appreciated as such.” - -“He is, Patty dear,” said her father; “and, though he’s awfully modest -himself about his brave deed, he has the honour and respect and -gratitude of all of us for his wonderful quickness of brain and hand -that saved his own life,—and that of my little girl.” - -Mr. Fairfield’s voice broke as he folded Patty in his arms, and he -kissed her with all of a father’s love for the treasure he had so nearly -lost. - - * * * * * - - Melody Lane Mystery Stories - - By LILIAN GARIS - -Thrills, secrets, ghosts—adventures that will fascinate you seem to -surround pretty Carol Duncan. A vivid, plucky girl, her cleverness at -solving mysteries will captivate and thrill every mystery fan. - -The author has written many popular mystery stories for girls and in -this new series Mrs. Garis is at her best. - - THE GHOST OF MELODY LANE - - Mystery surrounds the great organ in the home of the “Cameo - Lady”—beloved friend of Carol and sponsor of the girls’ Choral - Club. Three people see the “ghost” that wanders in the grove - carrying a waxy white rose. And Carol finds the rose! In the end - she finds the ghost too! - - THE FORBIDDEN TRAIL - - There was a tradition at “Splatter Castle” on Melody Lane, and - Marah Splartier, eccentric aunt of Veronica Flint determined to - protect Vera from following the long line of family tragedies - that had had their beginning on the “forbidden trail.” Carol has - several bad frights before she clears up the mystery that keeps - the little family at Splatter Castle unhappy and afraid. - - THE TOWER SECRET - - The winking lights flashing from the old tower on the grounds of - the Bonds’ new home defy explanation. There is no one in the - tower—and no electric power or connections! Had the engaging - circus family that Carol befriended anything to do with the - mystery? And what interest had Parsnips, the queer old farmer, - in the “ghost” tower? - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK - - * * * * * - - DANA GIRLS MYSTERY STORIES - - By CAROLYN KEENE - -Impetuous, delightful Jean Dana and her charming, serious minded sister -Louise find themselves in the midst of several mysteries, when they -attempt to aid people who are in trouble. Thrilling moments come to the -girls as they follow up clue after clue in an endeavor to untangle the -knotty problems in which they become enmeshed. - - BY THE LIGHT OF THE STUDY LAMP - - A stolen study lamp, a fortune teller, and a distressed - schoolmate provide plenty of excitement for the Dana girls - before they locate the persons responsible for many mysterious - happenings. - - THE SECRET AT LONE TREE COTTAGE - - While the girls are at Starhurst School, they learn that their - beloved English teacher has vanished in a strange manner. In - tracing her, Jean and Louise are able to aid the frantic - relatives of a dear little curly-haired tot, but not before they - themselves are in danger of disappearing. - - IN THE SHADOW OF THE TOWER - - The mingling of unusual characters, who have life interests very - different from one another, lends excitement and intrigue to a - Christmas vacation of the Dana girls. Their ability to fit - together the pieces of a strange puzzle brings happiness to - several persons. - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK - - * * * * * - - THE JUDY BOLTON - MYSTERY STORIES - - By MARGARET SUTTON - -Here is a new series of mystery stories for girls by an author who knows -the kind of stories every girl wants to read—mystery of the “shivery” -sort, adventure that makes the nerves tingle, clever “detecting” and a -new lovable heroine, Judy Bolton, whom all girls will take to their -hearts at once. - - THE VANISHING SHADOW - - Judy’s safety is threatened by a gang of crooks who think she - knows too much about their latest “deal.” She is constantly - pursued by a mysterious shadow which vanishes before she can get - a glimpse of its owner. - - THE HAUNTED ATTIC - - The Boltons move into a large rambling house reputed to be - haunted. Even the brave Judy who has looked forward to “spooky” - goings on is thoroughly frightened at the strange scrapings and - rappings and the eery “crying ghost.” - - THE INVISIBLE CHIMES - - Through an automobile accident a strange girl is taken into the - Bolton household—the whole family becomes attached to her and - interested in her story. Judy tracks down many clues before she - finally uncovers the real identity of “Honey.” - - SEVEN STRANGE CLUES - - Judy gets to the bottom of a mystery that centers around a prize - poster contest and a fire in the school building—through seven - baffling clues that hold the key to the answer. - - THE GHOST PARADE - - Seven monster heads—Indian totems—provide mystery and humor - and adventure in this thrilling story. - - THE YELLOW PHANTOM - - With her quick thinking and courage Judy rescues a lost friend - and solves the mystery of “Golden Girl.” - - THE MYSTIC BALL - - Irene, the “engaged girl,” is frightened by a crystal-gazer but - Judy exposes the trickery and saves her friend’s romance. - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK - - * * * * * - - THE NANCY DREW MYSTERY - STORIES - - By CAROLYN KEENE - - Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself. - -Here is a thrilling series of mystery stories for girls. Nancy Drew, -ingenious, alert, is the daughter of a famous criminal lawyer and she -herself is deeply interested in his mystery cases. Her interest involves -her often in some very dangerous and exciting situations. - - THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK - - Nancy, unaided, seeks to locate a missing will and finds herself - in the midst of adventure. - - THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE - - Mysterious happenings in an old stone mansion lead to an - investigation by Nancy. - - THE BUNGALOW MYSTERY - - Nancy has some perilous experiences around a deserted bungalow. - - THE MYSTERY AT LILAC INN - - Quick thinking and quick action were needed for Nancy to - extricate herself from a dangerous situation. - - THE SECRET AT SHADOW RANCH - - On a vacation in Arizona Nancy uncovers an old mystery and - solves it. - - THE SECRET OF RED GATE FARM - - Nancy exposes the doings of a secret society on an isolated - farm. - - THE CLUE IN THE DIARY - - A fascinating and exciting story of a search for a clue to a - surprising mystery. - - NANCY’S MYSTERIOUS LETTER - - Nancy receives a letter informing her that she is heir to a - fortune. This story tells of her search for another Nancy Drew. - - THE SIGN OF THE TWISTED CANDLES - - Nancy, as mediator in a generation-old feud, divulges an unknown - birthright. - - THE PASSWORD TO LARKSPUR LANE - - A carrier pigeon furnishes Nancy with a clue to a mysterious - retreat. - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK - - * * * * * - - THE BLYTHE GIRLS BOOKS - By LAURA LEE HOPE - - Author of The Outdoor Girls Series - - Illustrated by Thelma Gooch - -The Blythe Girls, three in number, were left alone in New York City. -Helen, who went in for art and music, kept the little flat uptown, while -Margy, just out of business school, obtained a position as secretary and -Rose, plain-spoken and business like, took what she called a “job” in a -department store. The experiences of these girls make fascinating -reading—life in the great metropolis is thrilling and full of strange -adventures and surprises. - -THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN, MARGY AND ROSE -THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY’S QUEER INHERITANCE -THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE’S GREAT PROBLEM -THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN’S STRANGE BOARDER -THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THREE ON A VACATION -THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY’S SECRET MISSION -THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE’S ODD DISCOVERY -THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HELEN -THE BLYTHE GIRLS: SNOWBOUND IN CAMP -THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY’S MYSTERIOUS VISITOR -THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE’S HIDDEN TALENT -THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN’S WONDERFUL MISTAKE - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK - - * * * * * - - THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES - By LAURA LEE HOPE - - Author of “The Blythe Girls Books.” - - Every Volume Complete in Itself. - -These are the adventures of a group of bright, fun-loving, up-to-date -girls who have a common bond in their fondness for outdoor life, -camping, travel and adventure. There is excitement and humor in these -stories and girls will find in them the kind of pleasant associations -that they seek to create among their own friends and chums. - -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSE -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT WILD ROSE LODGE -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AROUND THE CAMPFIRE -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON CAPE COD -THE OUTDOOR GULLS AT FOAMING FALLS -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ALONG THE COAST -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT SPRING HILL FARM -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT NEW MOON RANCH -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON A HIKE -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON A CANOE TRIP -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT CEDAR RIDGE -THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE AIR - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK - - * * * * * - - THE LILIAN GARIS BOOKS - Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself. - -Among her “fan” letters Lilian Garis receives some flattering -testimonials of her girl readers’ interest in her stories. From a class -of thirty comes a vote of twenty-five naming her as their favorite -author. Perhaps it is the element of live mystery that Mrs. Garis always -builds her stories upon, or perhaps it is because the girls easily can -translate her own sincere interest in themselves from the stories. At -any rate her books prosper through the changing conditions of these -times, giving pleasure, satisfaction, and, incidentally, that tactful -word of inspiration, so important in literature for young girls. Mrs. -Garis prefers to call her books “juvenile novels” and in them romance is -never lacking. - -JUDY JORDAN -JUDY JORDAN’S DISCOVERY -SALLY FOR SHORT -SALLY FOUND OUT -A GIRL CALLED TED -TED AND TONY, TWO GIRLS OF TODAY -CLEO’S MISTY RAINBOW -CLEO’S CONQUEST -BARBARA HALE -BARBARA HALE’S MYSTERY FRIEND -NANCY BRANDON -NANCY BRANDON’S MYSTERY -CONNIE LORING -CONNIE LORING’S GYPSY FRIEND -JOAN: JUST GIRL -JOAN’S GARDEN OF ADVENTURE -GLORIA: A GIRL AND HER DAD -GLORIA AT BOARDING SCHOOL - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK - - * * * * * - - The Children’s Favorite Series - FOR BOYS AND GIRLS OF EVERY AGE - - These books belong in every home where there are children - -Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The _Mark Twain_ -Alice in Wonderland _Lewis Carroll_ -America _Robert W. Chambers_ -Black Beauty _Anna Sewell_ -Eight Cousins _Louisa May Alcott_ -Hans Brinker _Mary Mapes Dodge_ -Heidi _Johanna Spyri_ -Helen’s Babies _John Habberton_ -Last of the Mohicans, The _James F. Cooper_ -Light House at the End of the World, The _Jules Verne_ -Little Lame Prince, The _Miss Mullock_ -Little Men _Louisa M. Alcott_ -Little Minister _Sir James Barrie_ -Little Women _Louisa May Alcott_ -Mr. Midshipman Easy _Captain Marryat_ -Mysterious Island, The _Jules Verne_ -Old Fashioned Girl, An _Louisa May Alcott_ -Oliver Twist _Charles Dickens_ -Oregon Trail, The _Francis Parkman_ -Pilgrim’s Progress, The _John Bunyan_ -Pinocchio _C. Collodi_ -Robinson Crusoe _Daniel Defoe_ -Rose in Bloom _Louisa May Alcott_ -Scarlet Letter _Nathaniel Hawthorne_ -Spy, The _James F. Cooper_ -Story of a Bad Boy, The _Thomas Bailey Aldrich_ -Swiss Family Robinson _Johann R. Wyss_ -Tales from Shakespeare _Charles and Mary Lamb_ -Tom Brown’s School Days _Thomas Hughes_ -Treasure Island _Robert Louis Stevenson_ -Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea _Jules Verne_ -Two Years Before the Mast _Richard Henry Dana_ -Uncle Tom’s Cabin _Harriet Beecher Stowe_ -Under the Lilacs _Louisa May Alcott_ -The White Company _Arthur Conan Doyle_ - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -Transcriber’s Notes: - -Hyphenation has been retained as in the original. Punctuation has been -corrected without note. Other errors have been corrected as noted below: - -page 106, many jewelled pines; ==> many jewelled pins; -page 138, you’re right, fathery ==> you’re right, father -page 267, spider attemped to ==> spider attempted to - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Patty's Motor Car, by Carolyn Wells - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY'S MOTOR CAR *** - -***** This file should be named 52964-0.txt or 52964-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/9/6/52964/ - -Produced by Mardi Desjardins & the online Distributed -Proofreaders Canada team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net from -page images generously made available by The HathiTrust -Digital Library (https://www.hathitrust.org/) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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