istmases in ten days."

"Wonderful girl!" commented Roger. "I thought ladies were always behind
time with their Christmas preparations. I thought they always said, 'It
doesn't seem _possible_ Christmas is so near!' and things like that."

"I haven't half my presents ready," said Kenneth, in an exaggerated
feminine voice. "I haven't finished that pink pincushion for Sadie, nor
the blue bedroom slippers for Bella."

Roger took the cue.

"Nor I," he said, also mimicking a fussy, womanish manner. "But I never
get into the spirit of the thing until near Christmas Day. Then I run
round and try to do everything at once."

"Do you tie up your presents in tissue paper and holly-ribbon?" asked
Kenneth, turning to Roger as if in earnest.

"Oh, yes; and I stick on those foolish little seals, and holly tags.
Anything to make it fussy and fluttery."

"Gracious," said Patty, "that reminds me. I suppose I must get that holly
ribbon and tissue paper flummery. I forgot all about it. What do they use
this year, Elise? White tissue paper?"

"No, red. It's so nice and cheery."

"Yes," said Roger. "Most Christmas presents need a cheery paper. It
counteracts the depressing effect of an unwelcome gift."

"Don't pay any attention to him," said Elise, "he's putting on airs. He
thinks it's funny to talk like that, but you just ought to see him on
Christmas! He simply adores his presents, and fairly gloats over every
one!"

"Sure I do!" said Roger, heartily. "But when you get a purple necktie, or
a hand-crocheted watch-chain, it's nice to have a cheery red paper round
it."

"Well, I have a lovely present for you," said Patty, "but I shall take
the precaution of wrapping it in red paper."

CHAPTER II

AN ADVANCE CHRISTMAS GIFT

The ten days before Christmas flew by like Bandersnatches. Patty had a
long list of friends to whom she wanted to give presents, and though she
had brought home a lot of what Kenneth called "foreign junk," she had no
notion of giving it all away.

Of course, the lovely fans, beads, and scarves she brought made lovely
gifts for the girls, and the little curios and souvenirs were all right
for the boys, but there were so many friends, and her relatives beside,
that she soon realised she would have little left for herself. And,
though unselfish, she did want to retain some mementos of her foreign
trip.

So shopping was necessary, and nearly every day she went with Nan or
Elise to buy the Christmas