onesty?" said Patty, haughtily.

"Don't doubt anybody's honesty," was the reply. "Some folks don't have
any to doubt. But it's the rule of the house. Six dollars a dozen is the
deposit price for that pattern."

"But eighteen dollars is more than you're going to pay me for the work,"
said Patty.

"Yes," said the woman, "but can't you understand? This is a deposit to
protect ourselves if you never return, or if you spoil the work. If you
bring it back in satisfactory condition, at the appointed time, we return
your deposit, and pay you the price agreed upon for the work."

"Oh, I see," said Patty, taking out her purse. "And it does seem fair.
But isn't it hard for poor girls to put up that deposit?"

"Yes, it is." The woman's face softened a little. "But they get it
back,--if they do the work right."

"And suppose I bring it back unfinished, or only part done?"

"If what you do is done right, you'll get paid. And if the pieces you
don't do are unsoiled and in good condition, we redeem them. But if you
care for steady work here, you'd better not take more'n you can
accomplish."

"Thank you," said Patty, slowly. "I'll keep the three dozen.
Good-morning."

"Good-day," said the woman, curtly, and turned away with a tired sigh.

Patty went out to the street, and found Miller looking exceedingly
anxious about the prolonged absence of his young mistress.

A look of relief overspread his face as she appeared, and when she got
into the car and said: "Home, Miller," he started with an air of decided
satisfaction.

CHAPTER VIII

EMBROIDERED BLOSSOMS

It was after twelve o'clock when Patty reached home, and she found Nan,
with her wraps on, rather anxiously awaiting her.

"Patty! Wherever have you been all this time?" she cried, as Patty came
in with her big bundle.

"Laying the foundations of my great career; and, oh, Nan, it was pretty
awful! I'm in for it, I can tell you!"

"What a goose you are!" But Nan smiled affectionately at the rosy,
excited face of her stepdaughter.

"Well, I'm going out on a short errand, Patty. I'll be home to luncheon
at one, and then you must tell me all about it."

Patty ran up to her own room, and, flinging off her hat and coat, sat
down to open her bundle of work.

It was appalling. The portion to be embroidered looked larger than it had
done in the shop, and the pattern was one of the most intricate and
elaborate she had ever seen.

"Thank goodness, they're all al