"And suppose I bring it back unfinished, or only part done?" "If what you do is done right, you'll get paid. And if the pieces you don't do are unsoiled and in good condition, we redeem them. But if you care for steady work here, you'd better not take more'n you can accomplish." "Thank you," said Patty, slowly. "I'll keep the three dozen. Good-morning." "Good-day," said the woman, curtly, and turned away with a tired sigh. Patty went out to the street, and found Miller looking exceedingly anxious about the prolonged absence of his young mistress. A look of relief overspread his face as she appeared, and when she got into the car and said: "Home, Miller," he started with an air of decided satisfaction. CHAPTER VIII EMBROIDERED BLOSSOMS It was after twelve o'clock when Patty reached home, and she found Nan, with her wraps on, rather anxiously awaiting her. "Patty! Wherever have you been all this time?" she cried, as Patty came in with her big bundle. "Laying the foundations of my great career; and, oh, Nan, it was pretty awful! I'm in for it, I can tell you!" "What a goose you are!" But Nan smiled affectionately at the rosy, excited face of her stepdaughter. "Well, I'm going out on a short errand, Patty. I'll be home to luncheon at one, and then you must tell me all about it." Patty ran up to her own room, and, flinging off her hat and coat, sat down to open her bundle of work. It was appalling. The portion to be embroidered looked larger than it had done in the shop, and the pattern was one of the most intricate and elaborate she had ever seen. "Thank goodness, they're all alike," thought poor Patty. "After I do one, the others will be easier." She flew for her embroidery hoops and work-basket, and began at once on one of the centrepieces. The pattern was a floral design, tied with bow-knots and interlaced with a conventional lattice-work. The shading of the blossoms was complicated, and showed many shades of each colour. The bow-knots were of a solid colour, but required close, fine stitches of a tedious nature, while the lattice-work part seemed to present an interminable task. Patty was a skilful embroiderer, and realised at her first glance that she had a fearful amount of work before her. But as yet she was undismayed, and cheerfully started in on the flowers. She selected the right silks, cut the skeins neatly, and put them in thread papers. "For," she thought, "if I allow my silks to get tangled or mixed up, it will delay me, of course." At one o'clock, Nan came to her room. "Didn't you hear the luncheon gong?" she said. "No," replied Patty, looking up. "Is it one o'clock already?" "For goodness', gracious' sake, Patty! What _are_ you doing? Is _that_ your 'occupation'?" "Yes," said Patty, proudly displaying a wild rose, beautifully worked, and carefully tinted. "Don't I do it nicely?" "Indeed you do! Your embroidery is always exquisite. But are you going to work that whole centrepiece?"