m sure I
shall! I don't mean on purpose, but I'm so--so _sudden_, you know."

"Yes, you are," agreed Mr. Hepworth, as he joined in the general
laughter. "But that 'suddenness' of yours is a quality that I wish Miss
Farley possessed. It is really a sort of brave impulse and quick
determination that makes you dash into danger or enterprise of any kind."

"And win!" added Patty saucily.

"Yes, and win--after a time."

"Oh well," she replied, tossing her head, "Mr. Bruce's spider made seven
attempts before he succeeded. So I think my record's pretty fair."

"I think so, too," said Mr. Hepworth, heartily. "And I congratulate you
on your plucky perseverance and your indomitable will. You put up a brave
fight, and you won. I know how you suffered under that petty tyranny, and
your success in such circumstances was a triumph!"

"Thank you," said Patty, greatly pleased at this sincere praise from one
whom she so greatly respected. "It would have been harder still if I
hadn't had a good sense of humour. Lots of times when I wanted to cry I
laughed instead."

"Hurrah for you, Patty girl!" cried her father. "I'd rather you'd have a
good sense of humour than a talent for spatter-work!"

"Oh, you back number!" exclaimed Patty. "They don't do spatter-work now,
daddy."

"Well, china painting--or whatever the present fad is."

But Mr. Hepworth seemed not to place so high a value on a sense of
humour, for he said, gravely:

"I congratulate you on your steadfastness of purpose, which is one of the
finest traits of your character."

"Thank you," said Patty, with dancing eyes. "You give it a nice name. But
it is a family trait with us Fairfields, and has usually been called
'stubbornness.'"

"Well," supplemented her father, "I'm sure that's just as good a name."

CHAPTER XIX

CHRISTINE COMES

With her usual tact and cleverness, Nan managed the whole matter
successfully. She wrote to the friends of Mr. Hepworth in the South who
were interested in Miss Farley, and they persuaded the girl to go North
for a week and see if she could see her way clear to staying there.

As it turned out, Miss Farley had some acquaintances in New York, and
when their invitation was added to that of Mrs. Fairfield, she decided to
make the trip.

Patty and Nan made ready for her with great care and kindness. A guest
room was specially prepared for her use, and Patty adorned it with some
of her own pet pictures, a few good casts, and c