XXXVIII. A TEST OF CIVILIZATION 262 XXXIX. THE NIGHT-WATCH 269 XL. CLARENCE AGAIN 275 XLI. OLD MULLEN'S WILL 279 XLII. BOLD PLAY 283 XLIII. CLARENCE IS ANSWERED 289 XLIV. WILL AND EASE 294 XLV. A QUIET WEDDING 297 XLVI. CHRISTMAS 302 PATTY'S PERVERSITIES. CHAPTER I. MORNING. "There is one thing sure," mused Patty Sanford, newly awakened by the sun's rays which streamed through her honeysuckle-draped casement; "there is one thing sure,--I shall go to the picnic with whom I like: else why should I go at all? To-day they will come to invite me. Burleigh will come, of course; but it is easy to get rid of him. Then Clarence Toxteth is sure to ask me. How it piques the girls to see me behind his span! Clarence's span is so nice! It is a pity he isn't--I mean I wish I liked him better. But he isn't always saying horrid things, like Tom Putnam. I wonder if Tom will ask me. I do so hope he will, so I can snub him. I'm sure," she continued to herself, in her energy raising herself upon her dimpled elbow,--"I'm sure I don't know anybody who needs snubbing more than he. If he only would come after Clarence has invited me, that would be fun. He'd manage to come out superior, though, in some way. He always does; and that's the worst of him--or the best, I'm not quite certain which. There! Will would say I was 'moonier than the moon.'--Flossy, Floss!" "Yes," answered a sleepy voice from the next chamber. "Are you awake?" "Well," the voice replied with great deliberation, "not as much as some." "You'd better be, then. There are oceans of things to see to to-day." At that moment was heard from below the voice of Mrs. Sanford, calling her daughter; and Patty hastily began her toilet for the early breakfast, already being prepared below by Bathalina Clemens, the maid of all work. The company assembled around the breakfast-table consisted, in addition to Patty, of her father and mother, her brother Will, and a cousin rejoicing in the euphonious title of Flossy Plant. Dr. Sanford was a tall, thin-faced gentleman, with deep, kindly eyes, and slightly-stooping shoulders. He would have been hen-pecked, but for the fact that he was so fully aware of his wife's peculiarities as to be able to guard himself against them. He smiled at her vagaries and gallinaceous ways with a quiet, inward sense of humor. "Your aunt is a very amusing woman," he once said to Flossy Plant; and, indeed, it was sometimes difficult for the whole family not to regard Mrs. Sanford as a species of private Punch and Judy intended for their especial entertainment. This morning the worthy lady was discussing the church picnic, to take place the following day.