e on, now," said Patty, a little later, "we must get to work. Get
your places and begin your lines, while I finish these."

Patty had refused to go to luncheon, and the maid had brought a tray into
the library for her. So, with a sandwich in one hand and a glass of milk
in the other, she directed the rehearsal, taking her own part therein
when the time came.

So the days went on, each one becoming more and more busy as the fateful
time drew near.

Also Patty became more and more nervous. She had far more to do than any
of the other girls, for they depended on her in every emergency, referred
every decision to her, and seemed to expect her to do all the hardest of
the work.

Moreover, the long strain of overstudy she had been through had left its
effects on her system, and Patty, though she would not admit it, and no
one else realised it, was in imminent danger of an attack of nervous
prostration.

The last few days Nan had begun to suspect this, but as nothing could be
done to check Patty's mad career, or even to assist her in the many
things she had to do, Nan devoted her efforts to keeping Patty
strengthened and stimulated, and was constantly appearing to her with a
cup of hot beef tea, or of strong coffee, or a dose of some highly
recommended nerve tonic.

Although these produced good temporary effects, the continued use of
these remedies really aggravated Patty's condition, and when Thursday
came she was almost a wreck, both physically and mentally, and Nan was at
her wits' end to know how to get the girl through the day.

At the summons of her alarm clock Patty rose early in the morning, for
there was much to do by way of final preparation. Before breakfast she
had attended to many left-over odds and ends, and when she appeared at
the table she said only an absent-minded "good-morning," and then knit
her brows as if in deep and anxious thought.

Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield looked at each other. They knew that to say a word
to Patty by way of warning would be likely to precipitate the breakdown
that they feared, so they were careful to speak very casually and gently.

"Anything I can do for you to-day, Puss?" said her father, kindly.

"No," said Patty, still frowning; "but I wish the flowers would come. I
have to make twenty-four garlands before I go over to the schoolroom, and
I must be there by ten o'clock to look after the building of the
platform."

"Can't I make the garlands for you?" asked Nan.

"No,