Farnsworth had spoken in a kind voice, but Patty knew that he had heard what she and Philip had said about coming down in the moonlight. "I think he's a horrid, mean old thing!" said Patty to herself, when she reached her own room. "His manners are not half as good as Philip's, and he's rude and unkind, and I just hate him!" Whereupon, as if to prove her words, she took from her portfolio the poem in the blue envelope, and read it all over again; and then put it under her pillow and went to sleep. * * * * * A few days later Patty was back in New York. She gave her father and Nan glowing accounts of the delightful times she had had at Fern Falls and the jollities of a country house party in the winter time. She told them all about the pleasant people she had met up there, about her experience at Mrs. Fay's, and about Farnsworth's flying visits. "I'd like to meet that man," said Nan. "I think he sounds attractive, Patty." "He is attractive," said Patty, frankly; "but he's queer. You never know what mood he's going to be in. Sometimes he's awfully friendly, and then again he gets huffy over nothing." "I'm afraid you tease him, Patty," said her father, smiling at her. "You're getting to be such a popular young person that I fear you're getting spoiled." "Not Patty," said Nan, kindly. "Go ahead, my child, and have all the fun you can. The young men all adore you, and I don't wonder." "Why, Nancy Bell, how complimentary you are!" and Patty gave her stepmother an affectionate pat. "But now," said Mr. Fairfield, "if I may have the floor for a minute, I'd like to make an announcement. We have a plan, Patty, which we made while you were away, and which I hope will meet with your approval." "As if I ever disapproved of any of your plans, my dear daddy. Consider my approval granted before you begin." "Well, it's this: I think Nan is looking a little bit pale, and I feel a trifle pale myself, so I think we two will run away down South for a fortnight or so, and leave you here." "Alone?" asked Patty, in surprise. "Well, no; hardly that. But how would you like to have Mrs. Allen, Nan's mother, come and stay with you?" "I think that will be lovely," exclaimed Patty. "I'm awfully fond of Mrs. Allen, and I haven't seen her for a long time." "She's not a very sedate matron," said Nan, laughing. "I dare say she'll keep you on the go, Patty. She's fond of opera and concerts, and she likes gaiety. But father will come over for the week-ends, and look after you both." Nan's parents lived in Philadelphia, and as they had just returned from a trip abroad, the Fairfields hadn't seen them lately. But it had seemed to them that the arrangement they had planned would be satisfactory all round, for Mrs. Allen liked to spend a few weeks in New York each winter. About a week later the elder Fairfields departed, and Mrs. Allen arrived.