head. Now, forget me and my vagaries, and devote all your time and
attention to the consideration of Mrs. Frederick Fairfield."

"Ready, Nan?" called her husband from the doorway, and then there
was a flurry of leave-takings, and final advices, and last words,
and good-bye embraces; and then the motor-car rolled down the
drive carrying the travellers away, and Patty dropped into a
veranda chair to realise that she was her own mistress.

Not that her father or Nan were over strict with her; they merely
exercised the kind and gentle supervision that every young girl
ought to have. But sometimes, of late, Patty had chafed a little
at their restrictions, and though she had no desire to do anything
they would disapprove of, she enjoyed the novel sense of entire
freedom of action. However, to be responsible to nobody at all
seemed to make Patty feel an added responsibility of her own
behaviour, so she went into the house, determined to do all she
ought to do as mistress there. Though her time for such duties was
short. The Fairfields had been obliged to leave on an early
morning train, and Patty was not to go to Mona's until late in the
afternoon. She had, therefore, several hours, and she went
systematically to work, looking through each room to make sure all
was in order for closing the house. She put away some books and
some bits of choice bric-a-brac, and then went out to interview
the cook.

"Yes, Miss Patty," said that worthy, in answer to her enquiries,
"I've enough av food for yer luncheon, an' thin I'll dispose av
the schraps, and lave the refrigerators clane an' empty."