n. But if there are any
young girls there as guests, you might borrow a frock for to-night.
Surely they'll get your things by to-morrow."

They drove into the park, through great gates, and past various lodges.
The wonderful old trees waved above their heads; the marvellous lawns
stretched away in rolling slopes; and the well-kept road wound along, now
over a bridge, now under an arch until they paused at the noble old
entrance of Herenden Hall.

Liveried servants seemed to appear, as if by magic, from all directions
at once. Dogs came, barking a noisy welcome, and, following Lady Hamilton
across the terrace and into the great entrance hall, Patty found herself
being presented to a lovely young woman, almost as beautiful as Lady
Hamilton herself.

"You must be the greatest chums," Lady Hamilton was saying, "for Miss
Fairfield is one of my dearest friends, and I want you to adore each
other."

"We will!" said Lady Herenden and Patty, at the same moment, and then
they all laughed, and the guests were at once shown to their rooms.

After a bewildering route through several branching halls, Patty found
that to her had been assigned a large and pleasant room, which looked out
upon the rose-garden. On one side it communicated with Lady Hamilton's
room, and on the other opened into a dainty dressing-room and bath. It
was all enchanting, and Patty's gaze rested admiringly upon the chintz
draperies and Dresden ornaments, when she heard a tap at her door.
Answering, she found a trim maid, who courtesied and said: "I'm Susan,
Miss. Will you give me the keys of your boxes, and I'll unpack them."

Patty almost laughed at this casual request, in the face of what seemed
to her a tragedy.

"Susan," she said, "here are the keys, but you can't unpack my boxes for
they haven't come."

"Lor', Miss; they must be downstairs. I'll have them sent up."

"No--wait, Susan; they're not downstairs. They didn't come on the train."

"Lor', Miss, whatever will you do?"

The girl's eyes grew big and troubled. Here was a dreadful situation
indeed! Already Susan felt drawn toward the pretty young American girl,
and she was aghast at the outlook of a dinner party with no party frock.

"I can't go to dinner at all, Susan," said Patty, dejectedly. "You must
bring me a tray up here--though I don't feel like eating."

"Not go to dinner, Miss? Oh, what a pity! It's a grand dinner to-night.
The Earl of Ruthven is here, and it's one of her ladyshi