arried a basket,
in which was a collection of gloves, ties, handkerchiefs, scarfs, and
various odds and ends of sport apparel.

"What are you doing up here, anyway?" demanded Patty. "Who's looking
after your room?"

"All sold out! Not a mite of anything left to sell. I came near
disposing of your own pictures that still hang on the wall, and your
tables and chairs. Are you really looking for somebody to buy that
for, Bill? Well, it might as well be me!"

Daisy laughed gaily, and held out her hands for the kimono.

But Patty drew the blue folds around her and shook her yellow curls.
"Possession is nine points of the law," she laughingly said. "I'm
going to buy this thing myself."

"You can't," said Farnsworth, looking amused at the situation. "First
come, first served. I asked for it before you thought of buying it.
Now, I claim my purchase, and I shall give it to one or other of you
two girls. I offered it to Patty first, so it is for her to say. If
she refuses, I offer it to Daisy."

So gay was his manner, so light his tone, that Patty couldn't resent
his words, but a twinkle in his eye made her realise that he knew he
was cornering her. He knew how she admired the kimono. It would be
difficult if not impossible to duplicate it. She must accept it from
him or see Daisy triumphantly walk off with it.

The latter alternative was surely unthinkable! So Patty said, with
exaggerated meekness, "Thank you, Little Billee, I accept it with
pleasure. You are very kind."

Farnsworth burst out laughing at the mild tone and the shy, downcast
eyes, whereupon Patty favoured him with an innocent stare, saying,
"What is the matter?"

"A whole lot is the matter!" Daisy answered for him. "I wanted that
robe, and now you've gone and got it, Patty Fairfield! You're the girl
who gets everything! All right, Bill, just for that, you've got to
give me the set of books you bought from Elise, and had saved for you.
Will you?"

"If you say I've got to,--why ask me will I?" he returned,
good-naturedly. "I am as wax in the hands of you two. Certainly,
Daisy, I'll be honoured if you'll accept the books."

"What are they?" asked Patty, carelessly, as she still bent her
attention to the embroideries of her new acquisition.

"Oh, it's a set of Riley. A wonderful set,--bound in Russia leather."

Patty looked up, quickly. She felt a conviction that Farnsworth had
bought these books for her. To be sure she wouldn't