"That's just it. I go to take a position as a companion to an elderly lady. And I shall stay a week. I'll take some clothes in a suitcase, or small trunk, and after I'm gone, you must tell father, and make it all right with him." "But, Patty, he said at the outset, you must be home by five o'clock every day, whatever you were doing." "Yes; but that referred to occupations by the day. Now, that I've decided to take this sort of a position, which is really more appropriate to a lady of my 'social standing,' you must explain to him that I can't come home at five o'clock, because I have to stay all the time, nights and all." "Patty, you're crazy!" "No, I'm not. I'm determined; I'm even stubborn, if you like; but I'm _going_! So, that's settled. Now, you said you'd help me. Are you going to back out?" "No; I'm not. But I can't approve of it." "Oh, you can, if you try hard enough. Just think how much properer it is for me to be companion to a lovely lady in her own house, than to be racing around lower Broadway for patchwork!" "That's so," said Nan, and then she realised that if she knew where Patty was going, they could go and bring her home at any time, if Mr. Fairfield wished. "Well," she went on, "who's your lovely lady?" "Mrs. Van Reypen." "Patty Fairfield! Not _the_ Mrs. Van Reypen?" "Yes, the very one! Isn't it gay? She's a bit eccentric, and she advertised for a companion, saying the application must be a written one. So I pranced up to her house this morning, and secured the position." "But she said to apply by letter." "Yes; that's why I went myself! I sent up my card, and a message that I had come in answer to her advertisement. She sent back word that I could go home and write to her. I said I'd write then and there. So I helped myself to her library desk, and wrote out a regular application. In less than five minutes, I was summoned to her august presence, and after looking me over, she engaged me at once. How's that for quick action?" "But does she know who you are?" "Why, she knows my name, and that's all." "But she's a,--why, she's sort of an institution." "Yes; I know she's a public benefactor, and all that. But, really, she's very interesting; though, I fancy she has a quick temper. However, we've made the agreement for a week. Then if either of us wants to back out, we're at liberty to do so." "She was willing to arrange it that way?" "She insisted on it. She never takes anybody until after a week's trial." "What are your duties?" "Oh, almost nothing. I'm not a social secretary, or anything like that. Merely a companion, to be with her, and read to her occasionally, or perhaps sing to her, and go to drive with her,--and that's about all." "No one else in the family?"