.

"I'll be very systematic," she thought. "I'll do all the side seams
first; then all the hems; then I'll stitch up all the little sleeves at
once."

The plan worked well. The simple little garments had but two seams, and
setting the machine stitch rather long, Patty whizzed the little white
slips through, one after the other, singing in time to her treadle.

"Oh, it's too easy!" she thought, as in a short time the twenty-four
seams were neatly stitched.

"Now, for the hems."

These were a little more troublesome, as they had to be folded and
basted; but still, it was an easy task, and Patty worked away like a busy
bee.

"Now for the babykins' sleeves," she said, but just then the luncheon
gong sounded.

"Not really!" cried Patty, aloud, as she glanced at her watch.

But in very truth it was one o'clock, and it was a thoughtful Patty who
walked slowly downstairs.

"Nan," she exclaimed, "the trouble with an occupation is, that there's
not time enough in a day, or a half-day, to do anything."

Nan nodded her head sagaciously.

"I've always noticed that," she said. "It's only when you're playing,
that there's any time. If you try to work, there's no time at all."

"Not a bit!" echoed Patty, "and what there is, glides through your
fingers before you know it."

She hurried through her luncheon, and returned to the sewing-room. She
was not tired, but there was a great deal yet to do.

The tiny sleeves she put through the machine, one after another, until
she had twenty-four in a long chain, linked by a single stitch.

"Oh, method and system accomplish wonders," she thought, as she snipped
the sleeves apart, and rapidly folded hems round the little wrists.

But even with method and system, twenty-four is a large number, and as
Patty turned the last hem, twilight fell, and she turned on the lights.

"Goodness, gracious!" she thought. "I've yet all these sleeves to set,
and stitch in, and the fronts to finish off; and a buttonhole to work in
each neckband."

But it was only half-past four, and by half-past six they were all
finished but the buttonholes.

And Patty was nearly finished, too!

She had not realised how physically tired she was. Running the
sewing-machine all day was an unusual exertion, and when she reached her
own room, with her arms full of the little white garments, she threw them
on the bed, and threw herself on the couch, weary in every bone and
muscle.

"Well, what luck?" said Nan,