The Project Gutenberg EBook of Patty at Home, by Carolyn Wells

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Title: Patty at Home

Author: Carolyn Wells

Release Date: November 25, 2003 [EBook #10268]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY AT HOME ***

Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan, and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team.

Patty At Home

BY CAROLYN WELLS

AUTHOR OF TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES, THE MARJORIE SERIES, ETC.

1904

_To My very good friend, Ruth Pilling_

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. THE DEBATE

II. THE DECISION

III. THE TEA CLUB

IV. BOXLEY HALL

V. SHOPPING

VI. SERVANTS

VII. DIFFERING TASTES

VIII. AN UNATTAINED AMBITION

IX. A CALLER

X. A PLEASANT EVENING

XI. PREPARATIONS

XII. A TEA CLUB TEA

XIII. A NEW FRIEND

XIV. THE NEIGHBOUR AGAIN

XV. BILLS

XVI. A SUCCESSFUL PLAY

XVII. ENTERTAINING RELATIVES

XVIII. A SAILING PARTY

XIX. MORE COUSINS

XX. A FAIR EXCHANGE

XXI. A GOOD SUGGESTION

XXII. AT THE SEASHORE

XXIII. AMBITIONS

XXIV. AN AFTERNOON DRIVE

CHAPTER I

THE DEBATE

In Mrs. Elliott's library at Vernondale a great discussion was going on.
It was an evening in early December, and the room was bright with
firelight and electric light, and merry with the laughter and talk of
people who were trying to decide a great and momentous question.

For the benefit of those who are not acquainted with Patty Fairfield and
her relatives, it may be well to say that Mrs. Elliott was Patty's Aunt
Alice, at whose home Patty and her father were now visiting. Of the other
members of the Elliott family, Uncle Charley, grandma, Marian, and Frank
were present, and these with Mr. Fairfield and Patty were debating a no
less important subject than the location of Patty's future home.

"You know, papa," said Patty, "you said that if I wanted to live in
Vernondale you'd buy a house here, and I do want to live here,--at least,
I am almost sure I do."

"Oh