And then Patty told Nan and her father the whole story of Kit
Cameron and the telephone.

Nan laughed in sympathy, but Mr. Fairfield looked a little dubious.

"And I thought you a well-brought up young woman," he said,--half in
earnest and half in jest. "Do you think it's correct to telephone to
strange young men? I'm shocked! that's what I am,--SHOCKED."

"Fiddlesticks, Fred," said Nan; "it's perfectly all right. In the
first place, the man HAS been introduced to Patty. She met him at
Miss Homer's."

"But she telephoned BEFORE she met him," stormed Mr. Fairfield, for
Patty had told the whole story.

"But she didn't do it purposely," said Nan, impatiently. "She got
him on the wire by mistake. She couldn't help THAT. And, anyway,
when he said he was Miss Homer's cousin, that made it all right. I
think it's a gay little joke, and I'd like to see that young man's
face when he meets Patty!"

"I shan't meet him," said Patty, pretending to look doleful; "he
hates tow-headed girls."

"Well, you're certainly that," said her father, looking at her with
pretended disapproval. "I have to tell you the truth once in awhile,
because everybody else flatters you until you're a spoiled baby."