At last she tucked herself into bed, and rolling over on the nubbly mattress and creaky springs, she almost wished that it had been a feather bed. But she was soon asleep, and thought no more about anything until morning. Breakfast was at half-past seven, and after that, the long morning dragged. The fun and novelty had worn off, and Patty was anxious to get back to Fern Falls. She was bright and entertaining as ever, but the spontaneous enthusiasm of the day before had vanished. But it was impossible to start that morning, Philip said. The roads were piled high with drifts, and almost impassable. "But why can't we break the roads?" asked Patty. "Somebody has to do it, and I'm sure Jim's horses are as good as anybody's." "Little girls mustn't advise on matters which they know nothing about," said Philip, unable to resist the temptation to tease her. Patty pouted a little, and then, with a sudden resolution, was her own sunny self again. "All right, Philip," she said, smiling at him. "I know you'll start as soon as it's possible. When will that be?" "Perhaps we can go this afternoon, dear; right after dinner, maybe. The man thinks the roads will be broken by that time." The storm had ceased, and it was cloudy most of the morning, but about noon the sun came out, and by two o'clock they prepared to start. The two kind old ladies were sorry to see them go, and begged them to come again some time to visit them. Patty said good-bye with expressions of real and honestly meant gratitude, for surely Mrs. Fay and her sister had been kindness itself to their young guests. "But goodness, gracious, Philip," Patty exclaimed, as they went flying down the road, "if I had had to stay there another night, I should have died!" "Why, Patty, it wasn't so bad. Of course, they are primitive and old-fashioned people; but they are true ladies, even if not very highly educated. And their hospitality was simply unlimited." "Yes, I know all that," said Patty, impatiently; "but I was bored to death." "Well, you didn't show it; you were sweet as a peach to those two people, and they'll always love you for it." "Oh, of course I wouldn't be impolite; but I'm glad we're started for home." "Well, I'm not. Patty, I just enjoyed every minute,--because I was there with you. Dear, you don't _know_ what it meant to me." "Now, Philip," and Patty turned to flash a twinkling smile at him, "we have a twelve-mile drive ahead of us, besides gathering the eggs. Now, if you're going to say things like that to me all that twelve miles, I'm going to jump right out into this snowbank and stay there till somebody comes along and picks me up." "But, Patty, I _must_ say these things to you." "Then, I _must_ jump." "But wait a minute, dear; before you jump, won't you just tell me that I may have a little hope that some day you'll promise to be my own little Patty forever?"