“And how are you, Miss Daggett?”

“Not very well, child, not very well, but you won’t stay long, will you?  I sent for you, yes, I sent for you on an impulse.  I thought I’d like to see you, but I’d no sooner sent than I wished I hadn’t.  But you won’t stay long, will you, dearie?”

“No,” said Patty, feeling really sorry for the queer old lady.  “No, I won’t stay long, I’ll go very soon; in fact, I’ll go just as soon as you tell me to.  I’ll go now, if you say so.”

“Oh, don’t be silly.  I wouldn’t have sent for you if I’d wanted you to go right away again.  Sit down, turn your toes out, and answer my questions.”

“What are your questions?” said Patty, not wishing to make any rash promises.

“Well, first, are you really keeping that big house over there all alone by yourself?”

“I’m keeping house there, yes, but I’m not all alone by myself.  My father’s there, and two servants.”

“Don’t you keep a man?”

“No; a man comes every day to do the hard work, but he doesn’t live with us.”

“Humph, I suppose you think you’re pretty smart, don’t you?”

“I don’t know,” said Patty slowly, as if considering; “yes, I think I’m pretty smart in some ways, and in other ways I’m as stupid as an owl.”

“Well, you must be pretty smart, because you haven’t had to borrow anything over here yet.”

“But I wouldn’t borrow anything here, anyway, Miss Daggett; you specially asked me not to.”

Miss Daggett’s old wrinkled face broke into a smile.

“And so you remember that.  Well, well, you are a nice little girl; you must have had a good mother, and a good bringing-up.”

“My mother died when I was three, and my father brought me up.”

“He did, hey?  Well, he made a fairly good job of it.  Now, I guess you can go; I’m about tired of talking to you.”

“Then I will go.  But, first, Miss Daggett, let me tell you that I met your nephew the other day.”

“Kenneth!  For the land’s sake!  Well, well, sit down again.  I don’t want you to go yet; tell me all about him.  Isn’t he a nice boy?  Hasn’t he fine eyes?  And gentlemanly manners?  And oh, the lovely ways with him!”

“Yes, Miss Daggett, he is indeed a nice boy; my father and I both think so.  His eyes and his manners are fine.  He says he wants to come out to see you soon.”

“Bless his heart, I hope he’ll come!  I do hope he’ll come.”

“Then you like to have him come to see you?” said Patty, a little roguishly.

“Yes, and I like to have you, too.  Land, child! you mustn’t mind my quick ways.”

“I don’t mind how quick you are,” said Patty; “but when you tell me to be sure and not come to see you, of course I don’t come.”

“Oh, that’s all right,” said Miss Daggett, “that’s all right; I’ll always send for you when I want you.

“But perhaps I can’t always come,” said Patty.  “I may be busy with my housekeeping.”