"Isn't it mean," she wailed; "here's this horrid, hateful old snowstorm, and we can't go outdoors or anything! I'm mad as a hornet, as a hatter, as a wet hen, as a March hare, as a--as hops, as--what else gets awful mad, Elise?" "I shall, if you continue to act like an idiot!" "My good heavens!" and Patty rolled her eyes toward the ceiling, "there's no pleasing her--positively _no_ pleasing her! What to do! What to do!" But Elise's face had cleared up, and as she looked from the window, she smiled gaily. "He's coming!" she cried, "Sam's coming!" Patty hastily adjusted her dignity and sat up with a formal air to greet the visitor, while Elise scrabbled up the sofa cushions and newspapers. The girls were down at Lakewood. Patty was the guest of Elise, whose family had taken a cottage there for the season. That is, it was called a cottage, but was in reality an immense house, most comfortably and delightfully appointed. Patty was still supposed to be convalescing from her recent illness, but, as a matter of fact, she had regained her health and strength, and, though never robust, was entirely well. The invitation to Pine Laurel, as the house was called, was a welcome one, and the elder Fairfields were glad to have Patty go there for a fortnight or so. She had arrived but the day before, and now the unexpected snowstorm had spoiled the plans for tennis and other outdoor affairs. Though it was late November, it was early for such a tempestuous snowstorm, and the weather-wise ones opined that it was a mere swift and sudden flurry. Patty, with her usual adaptability to circumstances, didn't care much, and felt pretty sure the storm would depart as quickly as it had gathered. She was quite willing to stay indoors a day or two if need be, and could easily amuse herself in many ways. Not so Elise. She was impatient and impetuous, and was always greatly put out if her plans went awry. But the diversion of an unexpected guest roused her to animation and she poked the logs to a brighter blaze by way of welcome. After the sound of stamping and whisking off snow in the hall, a young man came into the pleasant sun-parlour where the girls were. It was with difficulty that Patty concealed her amazement as she looked at him. He was of a type that she had heard of, but had never before chanced to meet. Mechanically, she went through the formalities of the introduction, and sat staring at him, without realising that she was doing so. "Well," said Sam Blaney, at last, "what about it? Do I get a blue ribbon?" "Oh, I beg your pardon!" and Patty blushed at her rudeness. "You see, you er--you reminded me of somebody I have met----" "No, you mean I remind you of somebody you never have met, but are glad to discover at last." Patty laughed outright, for the words so definitely expressed her state of mind. Thus encouraged, she continued to look at him.