As Patty suspected, it was Uncle Robert dressed up to represent the old Saint, with flowing white hair and beard and a gilt paper halo. He wore a long white robe with red hearts dotted all over it, and carried a gilt bow and arrow. He carried also a pack or pouch full of valentines which he distributed to the guests. Of course they were very handsome affairs, and in each was hidden some dainty trifle, handkerchief, fan or bonbons. Besides those at the party, Patty received numerous other valentines, some of which came by mail, and others in the good old-fashioned way, under the front door. Many of these were from the Elmbridge young people, while several from Richmond included a beauty from her father, and a pretty one from Clara Hayden. Although the cousins had varying tastes, they had become very good friends, and both felt sad when the day came for Patty to leave Villa Rosa. Indeed, the whole family felt sad, for Patty was a very lovable little girl, and had endeared herself to them all. Uncle Robert was to take her to New York and put her on the boat, where Mr. Tom Fleming would meet her and take her to his mother's house in Boston. Aunt Isabel said she, too, would go to New York with Patty, and of course Ethelyn announced her intention of going. Then Florelle set up such a howl to go, that Patty begged her aunt to take her, and the child went. Reginald declined to be left out of such a family affair, so Patty was amply escorted to her destination. They went on board the _Priscilla_, a beautiful boat of the Fall River Line, and Mr. St. Clair soon found Mr. Fleming, who had agreed to meet him at a certain spot. Then Patty was introduced to her Cousin Tom, who was a tall young man of about thirty-five, with a pointed beard, and dark, pleasant eyes. "So this is my little Southern cousin," he said, cordially, as he took her hand. Then he chatted affably with the whole party until the warning gong announced that they must go ashore. Ethelyn was heart-broken at the thought of parting, and flinging her arms round Patty's neck, burst into tears. This was enough for Florelle, who promptly followed suit, and set up one of her very best howls. With a good-bye kiss to his niece, Uncle Robert picked up the screaming child and marshaled his family off of the boat, and Patty was left alone with her new-found cousin. CHAPTER VIII AN ABSENT-MINDED COUSIN "Now, Patty," said Cousin Tom, as they walked along the saloon, "I am going to hand you over to the stewardess, who will show you your stateroom. Go with her, and she will look after you. I think you would better leave off that heavy coat, as it is too chilly outside to permit of going on deck, and the atmosphere within is quite warm. Ah, here she is. Stewardess, this is Miss Fairfield and here is her stateroom key. See to it that she is made comfortable."