Patricia

g purple and white asters in an old blue and whit

hat because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did." Patricia paused to rearrange

fussing over flowers, when just beyond the gate a whole world waited

e bowl of flowers in her hands, he sprang up

rby, if you make me drop this punchbowl

d be made in safety; but it was accomplished at last, and her burden placed right

fine old-fashioned mahogany furniture shone from its recent polishing; on the broad hearth a light fire was laid ready for the lighting, and at one corner of the fireplace stood a big chintz-covered armchair. Of course there was a footstool beside it. Patricia had se

she'll love asters; they're such an old-ladyish flower. Mind, sir, you're not to go rushing at he

his ears appeared to him to belong

ry points of her knotted turban-"Miss P'tricia, ain't yo' never be

sight of something else. "Land sakes, Miss P'tricia! Ef yo' isn't gone an'

she could encompass. "Aunt Julia wasn't in-and I wanted the very nicest bow

e what the coming of her grandmother meant to the little motherless girl. And a grandmother she

s. "'Pears like it was time yo' was gettin' your dress changed, honey. Yo' b

the finishing touches Sarah insisted on giving her toi

ricia said to the dog, sniffing inquiringly at the tips o

ing photographed-and I haven't seen her since I was three years old. Custard, do you suppose she'll have an ear trumpet, like the Barkers' grandmother? It's very embarrassing talking into an ea

fused a share of the hammock; and those one or two preliminary nips he had taken at the toes of Patricia's shiny shoes had been promptly squelched. To be talked to and confided in was all

the gate, walking carefully on the edge of the grass, so as not to get her shoes

ricia demanded, the moment

r five minutes." She didn't look in the least exci

ing; besides, Patricia's gray eyes danced misc

wn by the gate-explanations

illage street she caught sight of a familiar

ricia's heart gave a great jump,

adn't

dy in the gig

up the driveway and through the garden to the meadow beyond; never s

y he poked his cold black nose in under the tossed thatch of Patricia's brown curls. For P

sat up, dabb

be just the same-when she does come. Custard, do you su

looked

, dear, I do hope that other p

erent from the Patricia whom Sarah had sent downstairs not an h

porch she me

his mean? Why did you run away whe

n, was that-I expected she'd have on a bonnet tied under her chin-and a shawl-a

ad been carrying in her mind for the past fortnight; a sort of

g her to freshen herself up again for supper, with t

ustled softly when she walked, and gave forth a faint scent of violets. There was very little gray in the dark wavy hair, that framed a face altogether di

rying and how tumbled her clean dress was. Though Mrs. Cory saw, she said nothing, she had the gift of knowing wh

would like them-they were," Patricia caught herself up, dou

d grandmother at once responded to his overtures with a friendliness th

e 'up-to-date grandmothers' one reads about; anyhow, she's a dear and I love her, and oh, Aunt Julia did behave beautifully abo

ps in town to shops and even to matinees. And how delightful to know that one was the object of both envy and interest to the other girls; to be able to show the tiniest of ename

defined feeling of something like re

ia's inward gaze would pass the picture of a little white-capped old lady, quietly knitting at one corner of the fireplace; an old lady whose big

se days were too full for Patric

ell Hardy, declared one morning on the way to school. "I think Mrs. Cory'

htfully. "Daddy says she has a beautifu

nce was hardly f

out her short skirts, if only she could have silk linings.

y," Nell said, "o

r never rea

e was going to school;

first," Patricia

h equal skill Nell's eager rush. What with picking up a baby here and stopping to speak to one there-Patricia never could get by ba

oked very grave as Patricia slipped into her place a

atricia into the office. "Patricia," he said, as she came

flew rapidly backward; had she b

ave been tardy very freq

s, Da

lly appear to sta

e starting early. It's-such a lot of thi

of things

mes I go for some of the girls and they've something to do and I wait to help; and sometimes I go an errand

ia; still, this being late for school has got to stop.

cia said; "most of

to that end, if it happens again this week it

night-twice four made eight-eight pitfalls to be avoided or else-Not once since h

she lifted them appealingly to her father. "

give up the figh

ions.' And besides, it isn't just me-grandmother'll be so disappoi

o the mark, Patricia," the doctor answered;

e later, when Mrs. Cory came in. Grandmother glanced a

n't make it," Patr

e wh

ricia e

must; I've got a very special reason for wanting you to-I'm not going

Grandmother, mayn't I hav

er shook

he felt the need of more regular exercise, and she

by said, "abo

ut half past eight,

eakfast is considered m

"There are a good many pretty

r her shoulder, and a get-there-early-or-die expression

randmother?" Patricia asked; and

rds, Mrs. Cory met the doctor.

and I quite lost count of the dogs, not to mention several old ladies, all waiting to pass the time of day with Patrici

n't

of Patricia's mother, more than eight years ago, having been abroad most of the time. Now she found herself regretting th

morning," Patricia announced p

this afternoon?"

oons," Patricia answered; "I supp

Patricia lingered. "Are you going

," Mrs. Co

smile in her father'

ped. "Grandmother, you're doing it o

see I didn't want to lo

e tardy mark for those four days; and on

n baby who caus

shaky two-year-old legs would allow. Of course he tumbled down and scratched his snubby little nose; and of course Patrici

neighbor's. Patricia tried to put her char

Patricia," Nell w

and I don't know where his moth

come on!" Nell advised.

for hanging on," Patricia said;

ool had opened Patrici

begun to hope that you were not goi

her place with

and it so happened that the doctor did not come home to supper; so there was no one but Sarah

anxiously, when Patricia refused

head. "I'm just d

; "and only this noon looked

rd's powers to comfort had proved inadequate. To-

ipped into place, after kissing him good-morning, the doctor g

d, almost at once, "after breakfast I want you to run over and ask Mr

breath-so that was t

t go!" she cried; and was halfway upsta

Miss Kirby. "What

head. "Do you know wh

afraid it means-that Patricia

stopped; as soon as she had finished her

ents after, she went

tricia herself has given me only the barest facts, with no thought of making out a case for herself, but

last, "it was a very Patricia-like action;

k I shall claim

r wh

morial it has been the right of the grandmoth

tricia

to prove to Patricia that even if I don't wear a cap and spectacles and all the paraphernalia of the good o

ut

randmother ever get you

it was going to be a perfect fall day. "Yes," he said, "she

er the world over," Mrs

me any harm!" the doctor went through to

ptly, bravely blin

or said; "it's all your grandmother's doing. She

his neck instantly; "Daddy, I will t

my young days it was after the circus that one appre

grandmothe

he of

s around her grandmother's neck this time, "you're th

heart that picture of a placid, wrinkled little old