Reginald was already in his place and was studying away for dear life. He was naturally a studious boy, and he was anxious to prepare himself to enter a certain school the next year. But Ethelyn had no taste for study, and she flounced herself into her chair and unwillingly took up her books. "Now, Ethelyn," said Miss Morton, "you must learn that history lesson to-day. You've dawdled over it so long, that it has become a real bug bear to you. But I'm sure if you determine to conquer it, you can easily do so. Just try it." "Ho," called out Reginald, teasingly, "can't learn a history lesson! I couldn't wait for you, so I went on ahead. I'm 'way over to the 'Founding of the German Empire.' Where are you in history, Patricia?" "I've only studied United States History," she replied, a little ashamed of her small attainments, "but I've been through that twice." "Well," said Miss Morton, kindly, "it's better to know one thing thoroughly than to have smatterings of a great many. If you are familiar with United States History, you will enjoy lessons in the history of other countries for a change." "I'm sure I shall," said Patty, "and my father told me to study whatever you thought best for me. But I don't like to study very much. I'd rather read story books." Miss Morton examined Patty in arithmetic, geography, and some other branches, and decided that as her attainments in knowledge were about equal to those of her cousins, they might all have the same lessons each day. Patty afterwards discovered that Reginald learned these lessons, and Ethelyn did not. But she simply skipped them and went on to the next, apparently making the same progress as her brother. Patty had become absorbed in her history lesson, which was very interesting, when Ethelyn began to chatter. "Miss Morton," she said, "we are going to have a party for my cousin." "Are you? That will be very nice, but don't let us discuss it now, for I want you to put your whole attention on that history lesson." "I will,--but, Miss Morton, it's going to be a very grand party. Everybody in Elmbridge will be invited. I mean," she added, tossing her head, "everybody that _is_ anybody." "Everybody is somebody," said Reginald, without looking up from his book, "and I wish you'd keep still, Ethelyn." "Well, you know what I mean; everybody that's rich and important, and fit for us to know." "Why," said Patty, looking at her cousin in surprise, "aren't people fit for you to know unless they're rich?" "No," said Ethelyn, "I wouldn't associate with people unless they were rich, and neither would you, Patricia." "Yes, I would," said Patty, stoutly, "if they were good and wise and refined, and they often are." "Well, you can't associate with them while you're living with us, anyhow; we only go with the swells." "Ethelyn," said Miss Morton, gently, "that isn't the right way to talk. I think--"