are holly wreaths in some of the windows."

"You won't have to buy many Christmas presents, will you, Patty?" said
Elise. "I suppose you brought home enough Italian trinkets to supply all
your friends."

"Yes, we did," laughed Patty. "I daresay my friends will get tired of
busts of Dante, and models of the Forum."

"Don't give those to me. If you have a Roman scarf nobody else wants,
I'll thank you kindly."

"All right, Elise; I'll remember that. And if I haven't, I daresay I can
buy one in the New York shops."

"Wicked girl! Don't attempt any such deception on your tried and true
friend. Oh, Patty, do you remember the day we got lost in Paris?"

And then the two girls plunged into a flood of reminiscences that lasted
all the way home.

"Come in? of course we'll come in!" said Roger, as he assisted them from
the cab, and Patty graciously invited him. "That's what we're here for!
We're all coming in, and if we're heartily urged, we may stay to dinner."

In reality, Mrs. Allen, who was temporarily hostess in her daughter's
house, had invited Kenneth and the two Farringtons to dine, in order to
make a gay home-coming for Patty.

Very cosy and attractive the house looked, as, after more than a year's
absence, Patty once again stepped inside. It had been closed while Mr.
and Mrs. Fairfield were away, but a few days before their return, Mrs.
Allen, Nan's mother, had come over from Philadelphia and opened the house
and made it cheery and livable. A bright fire glowed in the library,
flowers were all about, and holly-wreaths hung in the windows.

"It's good to be home again," said Patty, as she sank into an easy-chair
and threw aside her furs.

"It's good to have you here," responded Elise. "I've missed you
terribly."

"Me, too," said Roger, while Kenneth added, "So say we all of us."

Always a favourite, wherever she went, Patty was specially beloved by her
young friends in New York, and so the reunion was a happy one to all
concerned.

Before dinner was announced, Patty flew up to her own room to change her
travelling costume for a pretty little house-dress.

"Come on, Elise," she said, and soon the two girls were cosily chatting
in Patty's dressing-room.

"You look so different with your hair done up," said Elise. "Weren't you
sorry to give up hair-ribbons?"

"Yes, I was; I hate to feel grown-up. Just think, I'll be nineteen next
May."

"Well, May's a long way off yet. It's only December now. What are