Mr. Fairfield sighed a little. "Well, Puss," he said, "I really
wanted you with us on our trip, but as you'd rather stay here, and
as this way seems providentially opened for you, I can only say
you may accept Mona's invitation if you choose."

"Then I DO choose, you dear old Daddy!" cried Patty, making a rush
for her father, and, seating herself on the arm of his chair, she
patted his head, while she told him how glad she was of his
consent. "For," she said, "I made up my mind not to coax. If you
didn't agree readily, I was going to abide by your wishes, without
a murmur."

"Oh, what a goody-girl!" said Mr. Fairfield, laughing. "Now, you
see, Virtue is its own reward."

"And I'm SO glad!" Mona declared, fervently. "Oh, Patty, we'll
have perfectly elegant times! I was so afraid you wouldn't WANT to
come to stay with me."

"Oh, yes, I do," said Patty, "but I warn you I'm a self-willed
young person, and if I insist on having my own way, what are you
going to do?"

"Let you have it," said Mona, promptly. "Your way is always better
than mine."

"But suppose you two quarrel," said Mr. Fairfield, "what can you
do then? Patty will have nowhere to go."

"Oh, we won't quarrel," said Mona, confidently. "Patty's too