CHAPTER

   I plans for Patty
  II the decision
 III souvenirs
  IV an aquatic party
   V good-Byes
  VI the old ma’amselle
 VII Western friends
VIII days at sea
  IX Paris
   X sightseeing
  XI an excursion to Versailles
 XII shopping
XIII Chantilly
 XIV making A home
  XV st. Germain
 XVI an expected guest
XVII A motor ride
XVIII A new year fete
XIX cyclamen perfume
XX the bazaar
XXI A surprise

ILLUSTRATIONS

“A long blue veil tied her trim little hat in place”

“’There never was such a dear, lovely, beautiful stepmother on the face of the earth!’”

“The next morning the girls spent in packing and getting ready to go ashore”

“They also read books of history outside of school hours quite from choice.”

“They were all perched on Patty’s big bed—­alone at last”

“‘I just remember!  I left my purse on the seat!’”

CHAPTER I

PLANS FOR PATTY

The Fairfields were holding a family conclave.  As the Fairfield family consisted of only three members, the meeting was not large but it was highly enthusiastic.  The discussion was about Patty; and as a consequence, Patty herself was taking a lively part in it.

“But you promised me, last year, papa,” she said, “that if I graduated from the Oliphant School with honours, I needn’t go to school this year.”

“But I meant in the city,” explained her father; “it’s absurd, Patty, for you to consider your education finished, and you not yet eighteen.”

“But I’ll soon be eighteen, papa, and so suppose we postpone this conversation until then.”

“Don’t be frivolous, my child.  This is a serious matter, and requires careful consideration and wise judgement.”

“That’s so,” said Nan, “and as I have already considered it carefully, I will give you the benefit of my wise judgment.”

Though Nan’s face had assumed the expression of an owl named Solomon, there was a smile in her eyes, and Patty well knew that her stepmother’s views agreed with her own, rather than with those of her father.

It was the last week in September, and the Fairfields were again in their pleasant city home after their summer in the country.

Patty and Nan were both fond of city life, and were looking forward to a delightful winter.  Of course Patty was too young to be in society, but there were many simple pleasures which she was privileged to enjoy, and she and Nan had planned a series of delightful affairs, quite apart from the more elaborate functions which Nan would attend with her husband.

But Mr. Fairfield had suddenly interfered with their plans by announcing his decision that Patty should go to college.