nd I'll tell you all about it. I'm
expecting some friends to dinner and to stay over night, and would you
believe it, just now of all days in the year, the tank has burst and the
water is dripping down all through the house. We can't seem to do
anything to stop it. The ceilings had fallen in three rooms when I came
away, and I dare say the rest of them are down by this time. And my
friends are very particular people, and awfully exclusive. I wouldn't
like to take them to the hotel; and I don't think it's a very nice hotel
anyway, and so I thought if you'd just lend me this house over night, I
could bring my friends right here, and as they leave to-morrow morning,
it wouldn't be long, you know. And truly I don't see what else I can do."

"But what would become of our family?" said Patty, who was greatly amused
at the unconventional request.

"Why, you could go to our house," said Mrs. Roland dubiously; "that is,
if any of the ceilings will stay up over night; or," she added, her face
brightening, "couldn't you go to the hotel yourselves? Of course, it
isn't a nice place to entertain guests, but it does very well for one's
own family. Oh, Miss Fairfield, please help me out! Truly I'd do as much
for you if the case were reversed."

Although the request was unusual, Mrs. Roland did not seem to think so,
and the poor lady seemed to be in such distress, that Patty's sympathies
were aroused, and after all it was a mere neighbourly act of kindness to
borrow and lend, even though the article in question was somewhat larger
than the lemon or the egg usually borrowed by neighbourly housekeepers.

So Patty said, "What about the servants, Mrs. Roland? Do you want to
borrow them too?"

"I don't care," was the reply, "just as it suits you best. You may leave
them here; or take them with you, and I'll bring my own. Oh, please, Miss
Fairfield, do help me somehow."

Patty thought a minute. It was a responsibility to decide the question
herself, but if she waited until Nan or her father came home, it would be
too late for Mrs. Roland's purpose.

Then she said, "I'll do it, Mrs. Roland. You shall have the house and
servants at your disposal until noon to-morrow. You may bring your own
servants also, or not, just as you choose. We won't go to your house,
thank you, nor to the hotel. But Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield and myself will
go over to my aunt, Mrs. Barlow's, to dine and spend the night. They can
put us up, and they won't mind a bit