big Mountain Houses.

And when at last, ready for bed, she stood in front of her long
cheval glass, the folds of her blue dressing gown trailing away
from her pretty, lace-frilled nightgown, she shook her forefinger
warningly at the smiling reflection.

"Now, mind you, Patricia, not a whimper out of you to-morrow! Not
a shadow of a shade of disappointment on your fair young brow?
Only happy smiles and pleasant words, and just MAKE yourself enjoy
the prospect of those poky, gloomy, horrid old mountains!"

It will be easily seen that Patty was amenable to discipline, for
next morning she went dancing downstairs, looking like amiability
personified. Even Nan came to the conclusion that Patty was
reconciled to the mountain trip, and had begun to see the
pleasanter side of it.

Mr. Fairfield regarded his daughter approvingly. Though Patty had
not been cross or glum the day before, she had been silent, and
now she treated her hearers to a flood of gay and merry chatter.

Only a fleeting shadow across her face, or a sudden, pained look
in her eyes when Spring Beach matters were mentioned, revealed to
her watchful father the fact that Patty's gaiety was the result of
brave and honest will-power. But such shadows passed as quickly as
they came, and the girl's pleasant and sweet demeanour was not
unappreciated by her elders.

She joined heartily in the plans for the mountain trip; discussed