"Charming!" she exclaimed, letting her recent display of bad temper go without apology. "I felt sure you could do it. This afternoon we will go out to the shops and buy some materials, and you shall make me another hat." They did so, and, though it meant an afternoon of rather strenuous shopping, Patty didn't mind it much, for Mrs. Van Reypen couldn't fly into a rage in the presence of the salespeople. And so the days dragged by. Patty had hard work to keep her own temper when her employer was unreasonably cross and snappish, but she stuck to her plan of flattering her, and it worked well more often than not. Nor was she insincere. There were so many admirable qualities and traits of Mrs. Van Reypen that she really admired, it was easy enough to tell her so, and invariably the lady was pleased. But she often broke out into foolish, unjustifiable rages, and then Patty had to wait meekly until they passed over. But when, at last, Wednesday evening had gone by, and she went to her room, knowing it was the last night she should spend under that roof, she was glad indeed. "Another week of this would give me nervous prostration!" she said to herself. "But to-morrow my week is up, and that means Success! I have really and truly succeeded in earning my own living for a week, and I'm glad and proud of it. I knew I should succeed, but I confess I didn't think I'd score so many failures first. But perhaps that makes my success all the sweeter. Anyway, I'm jolly glad I'm going home to-morrow. Wow! but I'm homesick." Then she tumbled into bed, and soon forgot her homesickness in a sound, dreamless sleep. Patty had been uncertain whether to tell Mrs. Van Reypen the true story of her week of companionship or not; but on Thursday morning she decided she would do so. And, as it chanced, after breakfast Mrs. Van Reypen herself opened the way for Patty's confidences. "Miss Fairfield," she said, as they sat down in the library, "you know our trial week is up to-day." "Yes, Mrs. Van Reypen, and you remember that either of us has the privilege of terminating our engagement to-day." "I do remember, and, though I fear you will be greatly disappointed, I must tell you that I have decided that I cannot keep you as my companion." As Patty afterward told Nan, she was "struck all of a heap." She had been wondering how she should persuade Mrs. Van Reypen to let her go, and now the lady was voluntarily dismissing her! It was so sudden and so unexpected that Patty showed her surprise by her look of blank amazement. "I knew you'd feel dreadful about it," went on Mrs. Van Reypen, with real regret in her tone, "but I cannot help it. You are not, by nature, fitted for the position. You are--I don't exactly know how to express it, but you are not of a subservient disposition." "No," said Patty, "I'm not. But I have tried to do as you wanted me to."