Patty's Friends

the Savoy on her return from the Garden Party, "

he bunch of sweet peas th

! I suppose he sent them to me just about as much as I se

ar the truth that Patty

I asked him to send some flowers to

ct sweet pea

es

flowers. Well, you're a dear, good little girl to try to heal the breach, but I can

nd too obstinate to go

rning, like a prodigal daughter, w

d Patty; "you're a hard-hearted little thi

demurely; "I inherited m

ore like him every day you live, if

I had a call from that very charming stepmother of yours. And this was the burden of her visit. It seems that she and your father are

!" exclaimed Patty, clasping her hands and

t so sure of it myself. But the strange part is, I also am invited for this s

s face

ttle me?" she said. "I don't

want to take you with me to Herenden Hall,

ely!" Patty flew at her friend, and nea

ed with the Herendens, that I can ask an invitation for you; and though you're not really

th excitement. But I care more about being

eally charming people, and the Hall is o

to have some

ave will do. You know you'll be looked upon as scarcely more than a sch

are what I wear if I'm with you. Three w

o longer we might do so. They're old friends of mine, do you see?

y don't know me, so how ca

ur idiotic American phras

e from an Englishwoman, and then she ran away to

re such good friends with Lady Hamilton, for Fred and I co

" returned Patty, "I must have

you were,

he time of my life

ang. They'll never ask you to Herenden Ha

ook upon me as an infant anyhow,

do remember that American sl

lly?' and 'Only fancy!' till they'll th

d Nan, serenely. "You usually behave pretty well

ly time, too, aren't you? Isn't it fun! I do like to have all my friends as happy as I am

n there's a great, big girl like

d of you." Patty gazed critically at Nan, and then added, "

at her, which Patty caught and s

and it was about noon when Patty and Lady Hamilton, accompani

ship of her dear friend, was entirely happy. They chatted gaily as the train rolled from one English town to anothe

the sides. There were no tickets, and presently the gua

hout check or paster, and Patty wondered if

h," she said to Lady Hamilton, "but they are comf

's only a tiny branch road, running to some little hamlets, and it'

rough the hop-growing country, and though the scenery was not grand, it was picturesque. Patty said it was like a panorama of "The A

ked them to pick out their luggage from the lo

d Patty. "So I suppose I'd better take

must be here somewhere. Look around,

y; but they

ty was certain they had been put on the tra

an we telephone to the next st

on, merely a tiny box,

Hall seemed to have no advice to offer, so ther

stressed at

couldn't appear in this travelling costume, and I'll have to pu

, but neither of them coul

rs about my age?" Patty asked,

ere are any young girls there as guests, you might borrow a fr

bove their heads; the marvellous lawns stretched away in rolling slopes; and the well-kept road wound a

noisy welcome, and, following Lady Hamilton across the terrace and into the great entrance hall, Pat

was saying, "for Miss Fairfield is one of my dea

he same moment, and then they all laughed, an

icated with Lady Hamilton's room, and on the other opened into a dainty dressing-room and bath. It was all enchanting, and Patty's gaze rested admiringly upon the chintz draperies and Dres

casual request, in the face o

he keys, but you can't unpack

st be downstairs. I'

not downstairs. They di

, whatever

deed! Already Susan felt drawn toward the pretty young American girl, a

Patty, dejectedly. "You must bring me a tra

dinner to-night. The Earl of Ruthven is here, and it'

alising remembrance of her exquisite dinner frock, of white chiffon, embroidered with tiny sprays of blossoms-a soft sash and shoulder-knots-one

ympathisingly, "don't ee take on so

, she lapsed into her old dialect,

ing up, and looking the picture of woe. "There are

o young as yourse

atty, looking at the silk blouse t

iss; not to

n wh

at, inde

ealisation of the hopelessness of the situation, when

attitude of the two, and knew at

she said. "Am I your fai

ion, and feeling sure that Lady Hamilton was

've sent Marie to canvass the house for clot

hteen," mur

to you to see this especial kind of a formal function, and probably you'll not often have a chance. They've sent a man and a wagon over to the next station, several miles away for your boxe

Lady, if it's to go to bed at onc

shall attend this dinner. And-you

ou

out the simplest one, a white Irish point. It's cut princess, but all my gowns are. I'

itty, won't I be the grown-up! I've

can we do? I won't let you miss the dinner-and after all, it doesn't matter so much. After this visit I doubt i

it will be fun. I'll have my hair piled hig

r-dresser and I'm that gl