At last the day of sailing came. The steamer was to leave her dock at
three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and soon after two Patty went on
board, accompanied by Nan and her father.

A crowd of friends had also gathered to bid Patty goodspeed, and besides
these the Farringtons had many friends there to say good-bye to them.

With the exception of Marian, it was not a sad parting. Indeed it seemed
rather a hilarious occasion than otherwise. This was partly because most
of the persons concerned felt truly sorry to miss Patty's bright
presence out of their lives, and feared that if they showed any regret
the situation might become too much for them.

Hilda and Lorraine felt this especially, and they were so absurdly gay
that it was quite clear to Patty that their gaiety was assumed. But she
was grateful to them for it, for, as she had previously confided to Nan,
she didn't want a weepy, teary crowd to bid her good-bye; she wanted to
go away amid laughter and smiles.

As the brief hour before sailing passed, more and more people came to
see them off, and Patty began to think that everybody she ever knew
would be there.

Many of the friends brought gifts, and many had already sent fruit or
flowers, both to the Farringtons and to Patty. Down in the dining-saloon
a whole table was occupied with the gifts to their party, and more than
a fair proportion of these belonged to Patty. She was quite bewildered,
for sailing away from her native land was a new experience to her, and