Patty's Friends

n Hall to serve morning tea

it taken into Lady Hamilton's room, and the two f

rs, was still nestled among her pillows, while Patty, in a

she was trying to sip, though she hated it. "I'll be glad to ex

tty; you really must go over the e

engagement. Mr. Snowden, or Snowed on, or Snowed under,

n rightful raiment. I've a notion to put you in a pinafore, and give

vale is a chummy kind of a youth. That's the sort I like. Rest assured I won't trouble that wretched Ea

y said, 'I'd rather

setting down her unfinished te

t of Lady Herenden's crested note paper, and took up a pen. "Shall I

But as she paused between sentences, Patty put in parentheses

ylvester, Earl of Ruthven (but I do think he has a lovely name), and should he show any interest in me, personally, I promise (gladly) to refer him to (the aforesaid) Lady Hamilton (though

ter!) Earl of Ruthven, beyond the ordinary civilities of the day (whatever that may mean!), never to smile at him voluntari

my hand

IA FAIR

would sound grea

ment, and now, my dreams of glory over, I'll go and 'bind my hair and lace my bodice bl

laughter over Patty's foolish

Patty presented her

a soft ribbon. The skirt, with its three frills edged with tiny lace,

tterfly bow of wide white ribbon. In fact, she was perfectly garbed for an American girl of eighteen,

as still at her

to you in that rig. They'll be more likely to buy you a doll. I'm not nearly read

taircase, looking at the pictures

s Lady Herenden's mental exclamatio

as she approached her hostess. "Don't look so sur

imed the elder lady, making room

t, and I had to wear one of Lady Hamilton's gowns at dinner. I couldn't tell you s

a difference it makes!

een yet, and I wish you'd

e request. "I knew Kitty Hamilton said you weren't out yet, and so, when I saw you l

want to go out and see the f

find people on the terrace and lawn, though t

e people of all ages. I've

ing. Be sure to go through the rose orchard; it

lling through the rose garden, soon forgot all else

upon two men talking together. They were Lo

hing, Parker, in getting that hybrid. And this next b

joining in the conversation

politely toward her, but Lord Ruthven, after

" he said. "The Mermet

larks!" thought Patty, g

turning her full face toward the gardener, and l

Ruthven, and he wheeled quickly about

ool politeness. "This, of course," she thou

se orchard," went on th

it was! But she would keep it, at least until Lady Hamilton released her from her promise. Patty's ideas of honour were, perhaps, a little strained, but she took the promise of that burlesque

y had a really difficult situation to cope with. If she could have laughed and talked naturally, it would

the Earl, but he g

said. "Why are you so c

owed the "civilities of the day

she said, without, however, tur

you such an enigma? Are a

nderful?" went on Patty, stil

elieve, after all, you're Miss Fairfield's yo

ad, but an irrepressible smile

k it will ra

know you are yourself-the Miss Fairfield I talked with last n

no longer, and her pretty laughter se

ken to?" he said, more gently; "and i

ty, stifling her laughter, but s

is as a jest, little thinking it was the truth, but Patty, n

going to eat you!

ce, and holding her wilful, golden head v

id you

said Patty to herself, "is an ordina

ot. You're a mischief, and I won't stand any more of your ch

around until he faced Patty, and the laughing b

re you, anyway? One night, a charming yo

made me promise. I did

did you

membering all at once that the

k that promise, as quick as you can, and

ef. "And will you blot out last evening, and preten

r, curiously, "if you will tell me why

r in Lady Hamilton's gown, and to her please

a baby like you giving an imitat

outing a little, for the Earl now tre

u ought to be in the school

m well enough, for I'm get

along and I'll show you the rose orchard. It ma

m fallen, roses had been trained over their trunks and branches. The gorgeous masses of bloom covered the old gnarled wood, and the climbing roses twined lovingly around branches and boughs. Here and there were rustic sea

Lady Herenden, drawing Pa

the Garden of Eden," said Patty, so e

, and reminded Patty of her p

"nor the carp pond; though I believe the carp a

en. "You'll just about have time for

tely and chatted gaily as he led her around to see all the picturesque bits of woodland and meadow. The magn

ate, they visited the farmhouses and stables, and P