Marian was a beautiful girl with fun and intelligence written all over her bright face, and when she said, "Oh, Patty, I'm _so_ glad you've come," Patty felt sure they would be not only warm friends but congenial chums. Ten-year old Edith clasped Patty's hand in both her own and held it for a long while, looking up in her cousin's face with an occasional smile of happy confidence. Last came little Gilbert, the pet of the household, and a lovely boy he was. Short dark curls clustered all over his head and his great brown eyes gazed at Patty in rapt contemplation. "I'm glad you've come," he said, finally, "and I love you, and I'll try to be good all the time you're here." "That's right, my boy," said Uncle Charlie, catching Gilbert up in his arms and setting him on his shoulder, "and after Patty is gone, what then?" "Then,--I'll see about it," said the child, gravely, and they all laughed at the carefully considered decision. Then Aunt Alice took Patty up to her room, and as they went through the halls, Patty thought she had never seen such a beautiful house in her life. It was as large as the St. Clairs' house, but the decorations and furnishings were in subdued tints and quiet effects and there was no loud or garish ornamentation. When they entered a room on the second floor, Patty could not repress an exclamation of delight. "Oh, Aunt Alice," she said, "what a lovely room! Is this mine?" "Yes, dear," said her aunt, "and I'm glad you like it. It was a great pleasure for Marian and me to arrange it for you." The room was a large one, with windows on two sides, and the coloring was all pale green and ivory. The walls were a beautiful shade of light green, with a few water-colors and etchings in narrow gilt or ivory frames. The carpet was plain green, soft and velvety, like moss; and the furniture, of a light cream-colored wood, was in dainty shapes, with delicate spindle-legged tables and chairs. The dressing-table was furnished with ivory-backed brushes and mirrors, and there was a charming little work-table with sewing materials of all kinds. An open desk showed every kind of writing-implement, made of ivory or cut-glass, and the blotting-pad was pale green. A couch by a corner window was provided with many ruffly fluffy pillows, covered with green silk, and a knitted afghan of soft green wool lay folded at the foot. Two or three vases of mignonette and ferns harmonized with the general effect, and gave the room a delightful fragrance. Although unable to appreciate all these details at a first glance, Patty at once realized that the whole room presented a far more charming and refined appearance than her more elaborate apartment at Villa Rosa, with its ornate bric-a-brac and expensive rugs. "It is lovely," she said to her aunt. "I never saw a room that I liked as well. I think a fairy must have touched it with her wand, it is all so fresh and sweet, just like a woodland dell."