Patty at Home

istmas dinner there, but it doesn't look a bit like it. I was over there this afternoon, and such a hopeless-l

Marian; "those men work

aking place at the Ell

oked up from his

urtles are, the longer we shall have our guests with us. For my pa

er uncle, for they were

it me very often in my new home

ear to a Christmas dinn

think I can promise yo

le and his family to di

's d

delight at this from all except Pat

her uncle. "Don't you want to en

me to death to think of it! How can I have a dinne

out something," said her father; "and

a says the house will be ready, I know it will be, and if he says we'll have a dinner party on New Year's day, I

re," said Marian, "so as to

aid Mr. Fairfield, laughing. "I've guaranteed the house for the

t Patty entertain her first company there,

Patty; "but I'd like to

and sta

n. The wall-papers seemed to get themselves into place, and the floors took on a beautiful polish; bustling men came out from the

ehold organised themselves int

loths and napkins with great diligence, and even lit

Club made the tea-cloth that they had proposed, and they also brought offerings of pin-cushions

d at work, little Gilbert came in carrying a paper

"I brought it for you, to help k

s cousin's lap, little G

it," he cried; "it

f the bag untwisted, and a li

tten. Why, that's just the very thing I wa

ays get kitties from him, and I telled him to pic

ch of grey fur; "and Pudgy is just the right nam

ravely; "don't let it

'll feed it on strawberries

t on a cook-hunting expedition. A Cook's Tour, Fran

she will be not only a cook, but, in part, housekeeper, and overseer of the whole place. And while you must, of course, exercise your

f papa's home, and yet there are a great many things that my servants will know more about than I do. I shall h

ce, but she smiled a little at th

degrees of unintelligence were shown in the candidates offered for the position of cook at Boxley Hal

capable, but when she discovered that Patty was to be her mistr

hild like that? No, mum, I ain't no nurse; I'm a cook,

Patty politely; "and I'm afra

y face and frizzled blonde hair, was

r such a pretty little lady; and, sure, we'd have the

ge, and there's a great deal of work to be done by somebody. I thi

uld not come unless Patty kept five. Most of them showed such a decided lack of respect to so young a mistress that Aunt Alice began to despair of findi

uldn't expect to engage a whole cook in one

e'd be all settled and

uar

ut I didn't say

e ran away with a light heart, feeling su

red for inspection. The whole Elliott family was present,

d, seeming to realise that her fate lay in the hands of Mrs. El

ul deference, and her expressive black eyes s

self, "but she knows next to nothing. I wonder if it woul

at table, Pansy?" he a

encouragement r

learn, and I would do

Mr. Fairfield "I think perhaps

ything of a housemaid'

dubious in the face of

door-bell should rin

beforehand, ma'am, and I would

ink you'll do, Pansy; at any rate, you'll hav

not long after this that a cook "dropped

s house, with a note from Mrs. Stevens recommending her as a cook for Patty. As so

re to work for me? I'm a very

housekeepin' and you can do de bossin'.

'm sure," said Patty, laug

n Jackson," announced the

d Patty; "I couldn't cal

me, and dat's good enough for me; but I likes my nam

ht," said Aunt Alice.

cook, and I can make things besides. Oh, they won

laundress?" as

ht to see de clothes I sends up! Dey's jes' like druvven

ou sweep?"

s'pose I want to hire out for, ef I can't do all dem

the trouble be,

ly; "but if dey is, it'll be 'count o' my bein' spoke cross to. I

that score," said Patty, laughing. "My father

ssy; an' dat's why

girl who will be a waitress. She is ignorant and inexperienced, bu

d-natured?"

id Patty; "but I think she is. I

look after you two chilluns, I 'spect, and

," said Patty; "but I hope to go

of Mancy's help a few

t A

n, Mancy was engaged. And now Patty's whole esta