It was a dainty little blue and white striped silk, with ruffles edged with narrow black velvet. The yoke and sleeves were of fine white embroidered muslin, and very fair and sweet Patty looked as she clasped her "Victoria Cross" at her throat. "Now can I go in the parlor, Frank?" she said, as she met her cousin on the stairs. "Yes, Patsy, come along," and the boy threw open the parlor doors with a flourish. The room was elaborately trimmed with palms and chrysanthemums, and at one end was a raised platform, like a throne, on which stood a large armchair draped with a red velvet portiere. Above this was a semicircular canopy cleverly made of cornstalks and bunches of grain and up on the very top was the biggest pumpkin you ever saw cut like a jack-o'-lantern. More tall cornstalks formed a background to the throne and at each side stood a noble sheaf of wheat. Thickly scattered over the whole affair were gourds or mock-oranges, which had been hollowed out and held lighted tapers, while across the top was "welcome" in large letters made of gilt paper. "Oh," said Patty, quite awestruck at this bright and novel scene, "what is it all for?" "Tell her, mother," said Frank to Aunt Alice, who had just come in, "I must go and listen for the carriage." "It's for you, Patty," said her aunt; "you are to sit there and welcome your father when he comes, and you'd better jump into the chair now, for he may be here at any minute." "Oh, how kind you all are," said Patty. "Did Frank do all this for me? Won't papa be pleased?" Patty flew up the steps and settled herself in the great chair with delight. "That's all right," said Marian, who had just come in and who gave a critical glance at the whole picture. "Now _stay_ there, Patty; don't jump down when you hear us greet Uncle Fred in the hall." "I won't," said Patty, "I'll stay," and in another minute the carriage drove up, and Patty heard her father's voice greeting Aunt Alice and her cousins, and then saying, "But where's Patty? Where's my girl?" "Here, papa," cried Patty, mindful of her promise to sit still, but unable to resist calling to him, and then Mr. Fairfield hurried into the parlor and saw his pretty daughter enthroned to welcome him. But at sight of his dear face, Patty _couldn't_ sit still, and she flew out of her chair and was in her father's arms before he was half-way across the room. Nobody minded, however, for there was such a chattering and laughing and frolicking as you never saw, and all the time Mr. Fairfield kept his arm around his little daughter as if he would never let her leave him again. "But don't think your beautiful work isn't appreciated, my boy," he said to Frank, as Patty called his attention to the cleverly constructed throne, "indeed, I think now is the time to put it to use," and Mr. Fairfield seated himself in the big chair and drew Patty down upon his knee.