ternoons, and evenings I have to study, and Saturday is crammed jam
full."

"But she will see you, Kenneth," said Nan, who had heard these remarks.
"We're not going to let her retire from the world in any such fashion as
she proposes; so you come to see us whenever you like, and my word for
it, Patty will be at home to you."

Nan passed on, laughing, and Patty turned to Kenneth with an appealing
glance.

"You know how it is, don't you, Ken? I just have to stick to my work like
everything, or I won't pass those fearful examinations, and now that I've
made up my mind to try for them, I _do_ want to succeed."

"Yes, I know, Patty, and I fully sympathise with your ambitions. Stick to
it, and you'll come out all right yet; and if I should call sometimes
when you're studying, just say you're too busy to see me, and it will be
all right."

"What an old trump you are, Ken. You always seem to understand."

* * * * *

But as the days passed on, Patty found that other people did not
understand. Her study hours were continually interrupted. There were
occasional callers in the afternoon, and when Nan presented herself at
the study door, and begged so prettily that Patty would come down just
this once, the girl hadn't the heart to refuse. Then there was often
company in the evenings, and again Patty would be forced to break through
her rules. Or there were temptations which she really couldn't
resist,--such as when her father came home to dinner, bringing tickets
for the opera, or for some especially fine play.

Then, Nan had a day each week on which she received her friends, and on
these Thursdays Patty was supposed also to act as hostess. Of course this
pleasant duty was imperative, and Patty always enjoyed the little
receptions, though she felt guilty at losing her Thursday afternoons.
Almost invariably, too, some of the guests accepted Nan's invitation to
remain to dinner, and that counted out Thursday evening as well.

Altogether, poor Patty was at her wits' end to find any time to herself.
She tried rising very early in the morning and studying before breakfast,
but she found it difficult to awaken early, and neither Nan nor her
father would allow her to be called.

So she was forced to resort to sitting up late, and studying after the
rest of the household had retired. As her room was on the third floor,
she had no difficulty in pursuing this plan without anyone being awa