and its well-furnished rooms. "What a lot of new
things there are, and I recognise a good many of the old ones, too. Oh,
Nan, won't we be happy all here together?"

"Indeed we will," said Nan. "I think it's the loveliest house in the
world, and mother and Fred have fixed it up so prettily. Come up and see
your room, Patty."

A large, pleasant front room on the third floor had been assigned to
Patty's use, and all her own special and favourite belongings had been
placed there.

"How dear of you, Nan, to arrange this all for me, and put it all to
rights. I really couldn't have taken the time to do it myself, but it's
just the way I want it."

"And this," said Nan, opening a door into a small room adjoining, "is
your own little study, where you can be quiet and undisturbed, while
you're studying those terrific lessons of yours."

Patty gave a little squeal of delight at the dainty library, furnished in
green, and with her own desk and bookcases already in place.

"But don't think," Nan went on, "that we shall let you stay here and grub
away at those books much of the time. An hour a day is all we intend to
allow you to be absent from our family circle while you're in the house."

"An hour a day to study!" exclaimed Patty. "It's more likely that an hour
a day is all I can give you of my valuable society."

"We'll see about that," said Nan, wagging her head wisely. "You see I
have some authority now, and I intend to exercise it."

"Ha," said Patty, dramatically, "I see it will be war to the knife!"

"To the knife!" declared Nan, as she ran away laughing.

Patty looked about her two lovely rooms with genuine pleasure. She was
like a cat in her love of comfortable chairs and luxurious cushions, and
she fully appreciated the special and individual care with which Nan and
her father had considered her tastes. Had she not been so busy she would
have preferred to have a hand in the arranging of her rooms herself, but
as it was, she was thankful that someone else had done it for her.

Hastily throwing off her hat and coat, she flung herself into a
comfortable easy chair by her library table, and was soon deep in her
French lesson.

A couple of hours later Nan came up and found her there.

"Patty Fairfield!" she exclaimed. "You are the worst I ever saw! Get
right up and dress for dinner! Your father will be home in a few minutes,
and I want you to help me receive properly the master of the house."

Patty rubbed her