There were no other flowers, and the glossy green and vivid scarlet made a charming centrepiece, surrounded, as it was, by dainty silver, glass, and china. "It's good to be here once more," said Nan, as she took her place at the head of her own table. "Right you are," said Mr. Fairfield, as he sat opposite her. "Mother Allen, it was kind of you to arrange this hearty Welcome Home for us." "It doesn't half express my joy at having you here again," said Mrs. Allen, as she looked affectionately at her daughter. Then the conversation turned upon Christmas and Christmas plans. "I must have Nan with me at Christmas," said Mrs. Allen. "And I shall count on Fred, also, of course. Patty, dear, I want you, too, if you care to come; but----" "Oh, Mrs. Allen," broke in Elise, "divide the family with me, won't you? If you have Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield, won't you let me take Patty?" As Elise had hinted this to Mrs. Allen while they were at the steamer dock waiting for Patty, the good lady was not greatly surprised. And she knew that Patty would prefer to be in New York with her young friends, rather than in Philadelphia. So it was settled that Patty should spend Christmas with Elise, much to the joy of both girls, and also to the satisfaction of the two boys. "We'll have a gay old time," said Roger. "We'll have a tree and a dance and a boar's head,--whatever that thing is,--I never did know." "I don't know either," confessed Patty; "but we'll find out. For we must have all the modern improvements." "I shouldn't call a boar's head a modern improvement," said Mr. Fairfield, smiling. "But ours will be," said saucy Patty, "for it will be such an improvement on the sort they used to have. And we'll have carols and waits----" "What are waits?" said Elise. "Why, waits," said Patty, "don't you know what waits are? Why, they're just _waits_." "Oh, yes," said Elise, "_now_ I understand _perfectly!_ You explain things so clearly, Patty!" "Yes, doesn't she!" agreed Kenneth. "Never mind, Elise, I'll be a wait and show you." "Do," said Elise, "I'd much rather see than be one. Just think, Patty, Christmas is only ten days off! Can you be ready?" "Oh, yes," said Patty, smiling. "Why, I could get ready for two Christmases in ten days." "Wonderful girl!" commented Roger. "I thought ladies were always behind time with their Christmas preparations. I thought they always said, 'It doesn't seem _possible_ Christmas is so near!' and things like that." "I haven't half my presents ready," said Kenneth, in an exaggerated feminine voice. "I haven't finished that pink pincushion for Sadie, nor the blue bedroom slippers for Bella." Roger took the cue. "Nor I," he said, also mimicking a fussy, womanish manner. "But I never get into the spirit of the thing until near Christmas Day. Then I run round and try to do everything at once." "Do you tie up your presents in tissue paper and holly-ribbon?" asked Kenneth, turning to Roger as if in earnest.