"If I can only live up to it all," sighed Patty, as she looked at the enormous collection of iron, tin, wood, and granite. "Or down to it," said Marian. CHAPTER VI SERVANTS "I did think," said Patty, in a disgusted tone, "that we could get settled in the house in time to eat our Christmas dinner there, but it doesn't look a bit like it. I was over there this afternoon, and such a hopeless-looking mess of papering and painting and plumbing I never saw in my life. I don't believe it will _ever_ be done!" "I don't either," said Marian; "those men work as slow as mud-turtles." The conversation was taking place at the Elliotts' dinner-table, and Uncle Charley looked up from his carving to say: "It's an ill wind that blows nobody good, and the slower the mud-turtles are, the longer we shall have our guests with us. For my part, I shall be very sorry to see pretty Patty go out of this house." Patty smiled gaily at her uncle, for they were great friends, and said: "Then I shall expect you to visit me very often in my new home,--that is, if I ever get there." "I can't see our way clear to a Christmas dinner in Boxley Hall," said Mr. Fairfield; "but I think I can promise you, chick, that you can invite your revered uncle and his family to dine with you there on New Year's day." There were general exclamations of delight at this from all except Patty, who looked a little bewildered. "What's the matter, Patsie?" said her uncle. "Don't you want to entertain your admiring relatives?" "Yes," said Patty, "of course I do; but it scares me to death to think of it! How can I have a dinner party, when I don't know anything about anything?" "Aunt Alice will tell you something about something," said her father; "and I'll tell you the rest about the rest." "Oh, I know it will be all right," said Patty, quickly regaining confidence, as she looked at her father. "If papa says the house will be ready, I know it will be, and if he says we'll have a dinner party on New Year's day, I know we will; and so I now invite you all, and I expect you all to accept; and I hope Aunt Alice will come early." "I shall come the night before," said Marian, "so as to be sure to be there in time." "I'm not sure that any of us will be there the night before," said Mr. Fairfield, laughing. "I've guaranteed the house for the dinner, but I didn't say we would be living there at the time." "That's a good idea," said Aunt Alice; "let Patty entertain her first company there, and then come back here for the reaction." "Well, we'll see," said Patty; "but I'd like to go there the first day of January, and stay there."