er a gold penholder, which she had had made
expressly for him, and engraved with his name.

"Why, that's fine, Pattykins!" he exclaimed. "I can only write poems with
a pen like that. It's not made for business letters, I'm sure."

"Of course it isn't," said Patty, gaily; "it's to keep on your desk in
the library here at home. And you must use it just for social
correspondence or----"

"Or to sign checks for us," suggested Nan, smiling.

"That's just what I'll do with it," declared Mr. Fairfield. "It's a gem
of a pen; Patty, you know my weakness for fine desk appointments, don't
you?"

Nan gave her husband a watch fob, on which hung a locket containing a
miniature of her own sweet face. Neither Patty nor her father had seen
this before, as Nan had been careful to keep the matter secret in order
to surprise them.

It was a real work of art, and so winsome was the pictured face that
Patty cried out in admiration: "What a stunner you are, Nan! I didn't
realise you were so good-looking,--but it's exactly like you."

"That's a mixed-up compliment, Patty," laughed Nan, "but I'll surmise
that you mean well."

"I do so! I think it's a lovely picture of a lovely lady! There, how's
that?"

"Much better," said Nan, as Patty caught her round the shoulders and
kissed her affectionately.

"Give me the lady," said Mr. Fairfield, taking Nan into his own arms. "As
the portrait is a gift to me, I will kiss her for it, myself."

"Do," said Patty, "but if you give her more than three kisses, you'll
lose your train; it's getting pretty late."

"Is it?" cried Mr. Fairfield. "Then, Jane, bring in those two boxes I
left in your charge, will you?"

"Yes, sir," cried the waitress, and, leaving the room, she returned in a
moment with two large white boxes.

"These are Christmas gifts to the two loveliest ladies I know," said Mr.
Fairfield, gallantly tendering a box to each.

"But I've had my Christmas gift from you!" exclaimed Patty, and "So have
I!" cried Nan.

"Nevertheless these are laid at your feet," said Mr. Fairfield, calmly
depositing the boxes on the floor in front of them.

"Oh, well, we may as well see what they are," said Patty, untying the
white ribbons that fastened her box.

Nan did likewise, and in a moment they were both rapturously exclaiming
over two sets of white furs that nestled in billows of white tissue
paper.

Nan's furs were ermine, and Patty's were soft, fluffy, white fox, and so
beautiful were