o leave my possession forever."

"Why don't you keep it, Mona? Why wouldn't you and Roger like it for a
summer home?"

"We talked it over, and I'm rather tired of the place. And Roger
prefers going to different places each year. Father told me I could
have the house, and do what I liked with it, sell it or keep it. But
if they want it for this Home arrangement, I think I'll be rather glad
to let it go."

The quartet started off in high spirits at the prospect of a jolly day.
The big limousine was most comfortable and well equipped. An ample
luncheon was stowed away in hampers, and a skilful and careful
chauffeur drove them at a speedy gait. It was a glorious, clear, cold,
sunshiny day, and the open windows gave them plenty of fresh air.

Patty, enveloped in furs, nestled in one corner of the wide back seat,
and Mona was in the other. The two men faced them. Not a word had
passed between Patty and Philip about the night before, and Patty
wondered if he intended to let the matter go by without further
reference.

"You see it's this way," Philip began, addressing Patty; "I haven't
really had an opportunity of telling you about it yet. We don't want
to do anything much in the matter of the Home before Spring. But as
Mona's house is in the market, and as it seems like an ideal place to
have for the children, I thought we'd better look into it, and, if
advisable, buy it and then wait a few months before doing anything
further."

"I think so, too, Phil," Patty agreed. "I counted up the rooms and it
will easily accommodate twenty or twenty-five kiddies, and that's as
many as we can take care of, isn't it?"

"I think so; for the present, anyway. And you know, Patty, all you
have to do is to approve or disapprove of the purchase, and what you
say, goes."

"What an important personage you are, Patty," said Roger. "Your
lightest word is law."

"It won't be a light word," and Patty looked serious. "I shall
consider the matter carefully, and with all the wisdom and forethought
I can find in my brain. This matter was left to me as a trust, and I'm
not taking it lightly, I can tell you. This purchase of a house is a
permanent move, not a trifling, temporary question. And unless the
place is the very right place,--righter than any other place,--why, we
don't want it, that's all."

"Bravo, Patty!" and Philip looked at her, admiringly. "You've got a
lot of good sense and judgment under that fur headpiece of