rs. Fairfield, that is to be, that I intend to lead you a dance!
You'll be responsible for my manners and behaviour, and I wish you joy of
your undertaking. I think I shall call you _Stepmamma_."

"Do," said Nan placidly, "and I'll call you Stepdaughter Patricia."

"Joking aside," said Patty, "honestly, Nan, I am perfectly delighted that
the time is coming so soon to have you with us. Ever since last fall I
have waited patiently, and it seemed as if Easter would never come. Won't
we have good times though after you get back from your trip and we get
settled in that lovely house in New York! If only I didn't have to go to
school, and study like fury out of school, too, we could have heaps of
fun."

"I'm afraid you're studying too hard, Patty," said Mrs. Allen, looking at
her young guest.

"She is, Mother," said Nan, "and I wish she wouldn't. Why do you do it,
Patty?"

"Well, you see, it's this way. I found out the first of the year that I
was ahead of my class in some studies, and that if I worked extra hard I
could get ahead on the other studies, and,--well, I can't exactly explain
it, but it's like putting two years' work into one; and then I could
graduate from the Oliphant school this June, instead of going there
another year, as I had expected. Then, if I do that, Papa says I may stay
home next year, and just have masters in music and French, and whatever
branches I want to keep up. So I'm trying, but I hardly think I can pass
the examinations after all."

"Well, you're not going to study while you're here," said Mrs. Allen,
"and after we get Nan packed off on Thursday, you and I are going to have
lovely times. You must stay with me as long as you can, for I shall be
dreadfully lonesome without my own girl."

"Thank you, dear Mrs. Allen, I am very happy here, and I love to stay
with you; but of course I can stay only as long as our Easter vacation
lasts. I must go back to New York the early part of next week."

"Well, we'll cram all the fun possible into the few days you are here
then," and Patty's gay little hostess bustled away to look after her
household appointments.

Mrs. Allen was of a social, pleasure-loving nature. Indeed, it was often
said that she cared more for parties and festive gatherings than did her
daughter Nan.

Nobody was surprised to learn that Nan Allen was to marry a man many
years older than herself. The surprise came when they met Mr. Fairfield
and discovered that that gentleman a