ok no interest in the race of uncles,
either real or fictitious. But Patty, being in a reminiscent mood,
continued the conversation with Harriet, who had no mail to deflect her.

"Then he went away and commenced practising for himself. It's been ages
since I've seen him; but he was really awfully nice. He used to spend
his entire time--when he wasn't writing Father's speeches--in getting me
out of scrapes. I had a goat named Billy-Boy--"

"Is he married?" asked Harriet.

"N-no, I don't think so. I believe he had a disappointment in his youth,
that broke his heart."

"What fun!" cried Kid, reemerging. "Is it still broken?"

"I suppose so," said Patty.

"How old is he?"

"I don't know, I'm sure. He must be _quite_ old by now." (Her tone
suggested that he was tottering on the brink of the grave.) "It has been
seven years since I've seen him, and he was through college then."

Kid dismissed the subject. Old men, even with broken hearts, contained
no interest for her.

That afternoon, as the three girls were gathered in Patty's room
enjoying an indigestible four o'clock tea of milk and bread and butter
(furnished by the school) and fruit cake and candy and olives and
stuffed prunes, the expressman arrived with a belated consignment of
Christmas gifts, among them a long narrow parcel addressed to Patty. She
tore off the wrapping, to find a note and a white pasteboard box. She
read the note aloud while the others looked over her shoulder. Patty
always generously shared experiences with anyone who might be near.

"_My Dear Patty,--_

"Have you forgotten 'Uncle Bobby' who used to
stand between you and many well-deserved
spankings? I trust that you have grown into a VERY
GOOD GIRL now that you are old enough to go away
to school!

"I am coming to see for myself on Thursday
afternoon. In the meantime, please accept the
accompanying Christmas remembrance, with the hope
that you are having a happy holiday, in spite of
having to spend it away from home.

"Your old playfellow,
"ROBERT PENDLETON."

"What do you s'pose it is?" asked Patty, as she addressed herself to
unknotting the gold cord on the box.

"I hope it's either flowers or candy," Harriet returned. "Miss Sallie
says it isn't proper to--"

"Looks to me like American Beauty roses," suggested Kid McCoy.

Pa