"Yes, like me," said Patty; "I am cheerful and glad always. I like to be." "I would like to be, too," said Miss Daggett. "Do you suppose if I opened the shutters I would be?" "Let's try it and see," said Patty, and running to the windows, she flung open the inside blinds and flooded the room with sunshine. "Oh, what a beautiful room!" she exclaimed, as she turned around. "Why, Miss Daggett, to think of keeping all these lovely things shut up in the dark. I believe they cry about it when you aren't looking." Already the old lady's face seemed to show a gentler and sunnier expression, and she said: "Yes, I have some beautiful things, child. Would you like to look through this cabinet of East Indian curiosities?" "I would very much," said Patty, "but I fear I can't take the time this morning; I have to study my part in a play we're going to give. It's a play your nephew told us about," she added quickly, feeling sure that this would rouse the old lady's interest in it. "One of Kenneth's college plays?" she said eagerly. "Yes, that's just what it is. A chum of his wrote it, and oh, Miss Daggett, we're going to invite Mr. Harper to come to Vernondale the night of the play, and take the same part that he took at college last year; you see, he'll know it, and he can just step right in." "Good for you! I hope he'll come. I'll write at once and tell him how much I want him. He can stay here, of course, and perhaps he can come sooner, so as to be here for one or two rehearsals." "That would be a good help. I hope he will do that; he could coach the rest of us." "I don't know just what coach means, but I'm sure Kenneth can do it, he's a very clever boy; he says he can run an automobile, but I don't believe it. Run away home now, child, I'm tired of having company; and besides I want to compose my mind so I can write a letter to Kenneth." "And will you leave your blinds open till afternoon?" said Patty, who was beginning to learn her queer old neighbour. "Yes, I will, if I don't forget it. Clear out, child, clear out now; run away home and mind you're not to borrow anything and you're not to come back till I send for you." "All right," said Patty. "Good-bye, and mind, you're to keep bright and cheerful, and let the sunlight in all the time." CHAPTER XV BILLS Patty's plans for systematic housekeeping included a number of small Russia-leather account books, and she looked forward with some eagerness to the time when the first month's bills should come in, and she could present to her father a neat and accurate statement of the household expenses for the month. The 1st of February was Sunday, but on Monday morning the postman brought a sheaf of letters which were evidently bills.