Patty's Friends

was in the habit of dining with her elder

her, Mrs. Cromarty, her two sons, and Mabel. The sons, Sinclair an

cordial and hearty in their greetings,

here's a stunning garden-party on at Regent's Park next week. D

my son? A cha

y've all sorts of jolly shows, and the Stagefright Club

artley. "Perhaps, if we make up a pa

y. "I've never seen a re

To see that, you must be in the country. But this is a public London garden part

er, the name seemed really appropriate. The lady was of the class known as grande dame, and her white hair and delicate, sharply-cut featu

ome years ago. But it's a fine setting for you yo

and that's always the same as 'yes.' If it's go

r-tongue so well," said Patty, laughing; "no

said Sinclair, gravely. "Indeed, we have a l

atty, "but I'm not at a

t in one sentence. It consists in merely using th

h the same initial," said Pa

ou'd think. Now listen. Wouldn't you unde

please, and s

"Yes, yes, of course I understand. You mean 'Do you want to go to th

: 'Yes, I want to go, if it doesn'

entences," said Patty, as

eave, and said G b, you'd understand good-bye. Those are the simplest possible examples. Now, on the other hand, if I were to read you a long speech from the morning paper, you'd probably m

ood is it?"

way so fast that any one listening couldn't guess what you are saying. Sometimes when we're

aid Patty, her

fied at the rapid progress of the new pupil. "You mu

I was a little girl. I always solve all I can find

e puzzles and send them to the papers and they prin

on busy with paper and pencils. Patty found the Hartleys a match for her in quickness and i

e words and double acrostics, they

utch alphabet spells a

ed Patty, "because I don'

id Mabel, "you can guess

I don't know the names of all

clair, smiling; "it spells a title, no

d Patty, after a few moment's t

ob, and Patty agreed t

n pretty well, I suppose, and are familiar with the places

hard, and so

o?" asked Bob, thoughtfully, st

lly. "Yes," she said, "and

tty said, triumphantly, "Becaus

saw the point, and realised that it was the hist

ough for this. "Into his twelfth year," she answered promptly. "And now listen to this: A man walking out at night, me

eclared Bob, but Patty said

bel, "because the man wa

ty, "it was qu

merican coins, Patty explained the joke. They saw it, of course, but seemed to think it not very good, an

," said Bob to Mrs. Cromarty, who sat by

, but I will offer this one," and in her fine, clear voic

upon t

ful form

ctor of t

ector of

save a

doctor

is ver

l me, child

tty promptly guessed "Bark," Mrs. Cromarty wa

cakes were brought in, that the

er expected to feel among English people. She made allusion to this, and Bob said: "Oh, this place isn't ho

, smiling at Patty, "and I trust it may be arranged. We have this apartm

y Manor, but I want to stay in London a little longer. B

spend the summer in England. I have ever so many delightful invitations to country houses, and they seem to me

forward to travelling in future years. I think some experie

tty. "Then perhaps he'll let me have my o

Bob, enthusiastically. "It's so be

ed," said Mabel, and again the shadow crossed her face tha

belongs to London life. Other places may be larger or in be

go home, and Mrs. Hartley sent Patty away in her carriage, with a maid to accompany her. The woman was middle-aged, with a p

servant, and had earned a right to a little more f

that it is. And if the dear lady only 'ad the money as i

arah said no more concerning it, and Patty felt she had no rig

s Emmeline married Mr. 'Artley. Oh, he was the fine gentleman. Dead now, this ten year

e for her comfort almost startled Patty, but she was

d, "and anyway, we're hom

good Sarah attended Patty to her own apartment a

her a beribboned négligée, and Patty curled up in a big

d they do have most comfortable stuffed chairs over her

ence of the rocking-chairs so dear to her American heart. Soon

father kissed her li

ling gaily at the handsome man in eveni

he said, "but you won't get it. Too much flattery isn't good for a

th Patty," laughed Nan,

, girlie," said her father.

London, so far. And they do puzzles, and ask riddles, and they're just as clever and quick

ne daughter, and the mother and grandmother. Mabel's father has been dead for years

own family fo

ome other country places while you a

matters to be discussed. Skip to bed, chickabiddy, and drea

tty, striking a d

ish people m

s in my na

pangled Banner, she we