et.

"Good-night, dearie," she said; "go to sleep without a bother on your
mind, and remember that after this Nan will see to it that you shall have
other times to study than the middle of the night."

"Good-night," said Patty, "and I'm sorry I made such a baby of myself.
But truly, Nan, I'm bothered to death with those old lessons and the play
and everything."

"That's all right; just go to sleep and dream of Commencement Day, when
all the bothers will be over, and you'll get your diploma and your medal,
and a few dozen bouquets besides."

And with a final good-night kiss, Nan left the worn-out girl and returned
thoughtfully to her own room.

CHAPTER VI

BUSY DAYS

Nan was as good as her word. Instead of trying to persuade Patty not to
study so hard, she did all she could to keep the study hours free from
interruption.

Many a time when Nan wanted Patty's company or assistance, she refrained
from telling her so, and unselfishly left the girl to herself as much as
possible.

The result of this was that Patty gave herself up to her books and her
school work to such an extent that she allowed herself almost no social
recreation, and took little or no exercise beyond her walks to and from
school.

This went on for a time, but Patty was, after all, of a sensitive and
observing nature, and she soon discovered, by a certain wistful
expression on Nan's face, or a tone of regret in her voice, that she was
often sacrificing her own convenience to Patty's.

Patty's sense of proportion rebelled at this, and she felt that she must
be more obliging to Nan, who was so truly kind to her.

And so she endeavoured to cram more duties into her already full days,
and often after a hard day's work in school, when she would have been
glad to throw on a comfortable house gown and rest in her own room, she
dressed herself prettily and went out calling with her stepmother, or
assisted her to receive her own guests.

Gay-hearted Nan was not acutely observant, and it never occurred to her
that all this meant any self-sacrifice on Patty's part. She accepted with
pleasure each occasion when Patty's plans fell in with her own, and the
more this was the case, the more she expected it, so that poor Patty
again found herself bewildered by her multitude of conflicting duties.

"I have heard," she thought to herself one day, "that duties never clash,
but it seems to me they never do anything else. Now, this afternoon I'm
sure i