, but she only said, "All right, Hilda, I'll
take care of her, and thank you very much for bringing her home."

Patty sank down on a couch in a limp heap, but her eyes were big and
bright as she looked at Hilda, saying, "See that the stars are put on the
gilt wands, and the green bay leaves on the white ones. Lorraine's
spangled skirt is in Miss Oliphant's room, and please be sure,--" Patty
didn't finish this sentence, but lay back among the cushions, exhausted.

"Run along, Hilda," said Nan; "do the best you can with the stars and
things, and I'll see to it that Patty's all right by afternoon."

CHAPTER VIII

COMMENCEMENT DAY

Nan was a born nurse, and, moreover, she had sufficient common sense and
tact to know how to deal with nervous exhaustion. Instead of discussing
the situation she said, cheerily, "Now everything will be all right.
Hilda will look after the stars and wands, and you can have quite a
little time to rest before you go back to the schoolroom. Don't try to go
up to your room now, just stay right where you are, and I'll bring you a
cup of hot milk, which is just what you need."

Patty nestled among the cushions which Nan patted and tucked around her,
and after taking the hot milk felt much better.

"I must get up now, Nan," she pleaded, from the couch where she lay, "I
have so many things to attend to."

"Patty," said Nan, looking at her steadily, "do you want to go through
with the commencement exercises this afternoon and the play to-night
successfully, or do you want to collapse on the stage and faint right
before all the audience?"

"I won't do any such foolish thing," said Patty, indignantly.

"You will," said Nan, "unless you obey me implicitly, and do exactly as I
tell you."

Nan's manner more than her words compelled Patty's obedience, and with a
sigh, the tired girl closed her eyes, saying, "All right, Nan, have your
own way, I'll be good."

"That's a good child," said Nan, soothingly, "and now first we'll go
right up to your own room."

Then Nan helped Patty into a soft dressing gown, made her lie down upon
her bed, and threw a light afghan over her.

Then sitting beside her, Nan talked a little on unimportant matters and
then began to sing softly. In less than half an hour Patty was sound
asleep, and Nan breathed a sigh of relief at finding her efforts had been
successful.

But there was not much time to spare, for the commencement exercises
began at three o'clock.