s
she did so.

Mrs. Farrington placidly took in the situation, and remarked that she was
in no hurry, but if they cared to go on she was quite ready.

And so with laughter and gay chatter they started on again, and the car
ran as smoothly as it had before the halt.

But it was nearly sundown, and there were many miles yet to travel before
they reached the hotel where they had expected to dine and stay over
night.

"Shall we go on, Mother?" said Mr. Farrington. "Can you wait until nine
o'clock or thereabouts for your dinner? Or shall we stop at some
farmhouse, and so keep ourselves from starvation?"

"I would rather go on," said Mrs. Farrington, "if the girls don't mind."

The girls didn't mind, and so they plunged ahead while the sun set and
the darkness fell. There was no moon, and a slight cloudiness hid the
stars. Roger lighted the lamps, but they cast such weird shadows that
they seemed to make the darkness blacker than ever.

Patty was not exactly afraid, but the experience was so new to her that
she felt she would be glad when they reached the hotel. Perhaps Mr.
Farrington discerned this, for he took especial pains to entertain his
young guest, and divert her mind from thoughts of possible danger. So he
beguiled the way with jokes and funny stories, until Patty forgot her
anxiety, and the first thing she knew they were rolling up the driveway
to the hotel.

Floods of light streamed from the windows and the great doors, and
strains of music could be heard from within.

"Thank goodness we're here!" said Mrs. Farrington. "Jump out, girlies,
and let us seek shelter at once."

Roger remained in the car to take it away to the garage, and Mr.
Farrington accompanied the ladies into the hotel.

Much as she had enjoyed the ride, Patty felt glad to get into the warm,
lighted house, and very soon the party were shown to their rooms.

Patty and Elise shared a large room whose twin beds were covered with
spreads of gaily-flowered chintz. Curtains of the same material hung at
the windows, and draped the dressing-table.

"What a pleasant, homelike room," said Patty, as she looked about.

"Yes," said Elise, "this is a nice old country hotel. We've been here
before. Hurry, Patty, let's dress for dinner quickly."

But Patty was surveying herself in the long pierglass that hung between
two windows.

Nan had selected her motoring outfit, and she had donned it that morning
so hastily that she hadn't really had an op