"Well, it wouldn't do any good. He'd just come back after me, and
we'd take the next train. But, oh, girls, I do wish I could stay
here! I never had such a disappointment before. I've grown to love
this place; and all you people; and my dear Camilla!" Patty's blue
eyes filled with real tears, as she dropped her light and
bantering manner, and spoke earnestly.

"It's a shame!" declared Jack, as he noted the drops trembling on
the long, curled lashes. "Come on, girls, I'm going home before I
express myself too strongly."

So Jack and the Sayre girls went away, and Patty went up to her
own room.




CHAPTER II

MONA'S PLAN


That night, when Patty was alone in her own room, she threw
herself into a rocking chair, and rocked violently, as was her
habit, when she had anything to bother her. She looked about at
the pretty room, furnished with all her dear and cherished
belongings.

"To go away from all this," she thought, "and be mewed up in a
little bare room, with a few sticks of horrid old furniture, and