t's my duty to write my theme, and yet I promised the girls I'd be
at rehearsal, and then, Nan is so anxious for me to go shopping with her,
that I honestly don't know which I ought to do; but I believe I'll write
my theme, because that does seem the most important."

"Patty," called Nan's voice from the hall, "you'll go with me this
afternoon, won't you? I have to decide between those two hats, you know,
and truly I can't take the responsibility alone."

"Oh, Nan," said Patty, "it really doesn't matter which hat you get,
they're both so lovely. I've seen them, you know, and truly I think one
is just as becoming as the other. And honest, I'm fearfully busy to-day."

"Oh, pshaw, Patty. I've let you alone afternoons for almost a week now,
or at least for two or three days, anyhow. I think you might go with me
to-day."

Good-natured Patty always found it hard to resist coaxing, so with a
little sigh she consented, and gave up her whole afternoon to Nan.

That meant sitting up late at night to study, but this was now getting to
be the rule with Patty, and not the exception.

So the weeks flew by, and as commencement day drew nearer, Patty worked
harder and her nerves grew more strained and tense, until a breakdown of
some sort seemed imminent.

Mr. Fairfield at last awoke to the situation, and told Patty that she was
growing thin and pale and hollow-eyed.

"Never mind," said Patty, looking at her father with an abstracted air,
"I haven't time now, Papa, even to discuss the subject. Commencement day
is next week, to-morrow my examinations begin, and I have full charge of
the costumes for the play, and they're not nearly ready yet."

"You mustn't work so hard, Patty," said Nan, in her futile way.

"Nan, if you say that to me again, I'll throw something at you! I give
you fair warning, people, that I'm so bothered and worried that my nerves
are all on edge, and my temper is pretty much the same way. Now, until
after commencement I've got to work hard, but if I just live through
that, I'll be sweet and amiable again, and will do anything you want me
to."

Patty was half laughing, but it was plain to be seen she was very much in
earnest.

Commencement was to occur the first week in June, and the examinations,
which took place the week before, were like a nightmare to poor Patty.

Had she been free to give her undivided attention, she might have taken
them more calmly. But her mind was so full of the troubles and
r