'll go now, if you say so."

"Oh, don't be silly. I wouldn't have sent for you if I'd wanted you to go
right away again. Sit down, turn your toes out, and answer my questions."

"What are your questions?" said Patty, not wishing to make any
rash promises.

"Well, first, are you really keeping that big house over there all alone
by yourself?"

"I'm keeping house there, yes, but I'm not all alone by myself. My
father's there, and two servants."

"Don't you keep a man?"

"No; a man comes every day to do the hard work, but he doesn't
live with us."

"Humph, I suppose you think you're pretty smart, don't you?"

"I don't know," said Patty slowly, as if considering; "yes, I think I'm
pretty smart in some ways, and in other ways I'm as stupid as an owl."

"Well, you must be pretty smart, because you haven't had to borrow
anything over here yet."

"But I wouldn't borrow anything here, anyway, Miss Daggett; you
specially asked me not to."

Miss Daggett's old wrinkled face broke into a smile.

"And so you remember that. Well, well, you are a nice little girl; you
must have had a good mother, and a good bringing-up."

"My mother died when I was three, and my father brought me up."

"He did, hey? Well, he made a fairly good job of it. Now, I guess you can
go; I'm about tired of talking to you."

"Then I will go. But, first, Miss Daggett, let me tell you that I met
your nephew the other day."

"Kenneth! For the land's sake! Well, well, sit down again. I don't want
you to go yet; tell me all about him. Isn't he a nice boy? Hasn't he fine
eyes? And gentlemanly manners? And oh, the lovely ways with him!"

"Yes, Miss Daggett, he is indeed a nice boy; my father and I both think
so. His eyes and his manners are fine. He says he wants to come out to
see you soon."

"Bless his heart, I hope he'll come! I do hope he'll come."

"Then you like to have him come to see you?" said Patty, a little
roguishly.

"Yes, and I like to have you, too. Land, child! you mustn't mind my
quick ways."

"I don't mind how quick you are," said Patty; "but when you tell me to be
sure and not come to see you, of course I don't come."

"Oh, that's all right," said Miss Daggett, "that's all right; I'll always
send for you when I want you.

"But perhaps I can't always come," said Patty. "I may be busy with my
housekeeping."

"Now, wouldn't that be annoying!" said Miss Daggett. "I declare that
would be just my luck. I always do have bad l