appearing at Patty's doorway, herself all
dressed for dinner.

"Oh, Nan," cried Patty, laughing, "me legs is broke; and me arms is
broke; and me back is broke. But I'm not nervous or worried, and I'm
going to win out this time! But, Nan, I just _can't_ go down to dinner.
Send Jane up with a tray,--there's a dear. And tell father I'm all right,
but I don't care to mingle in society to-night."

"Well, I'm glad you're in good spirits," said Nan, half annoyed, half
laughing, as she saw the pile of white work on the bed.

"Run along, Nan, there's a good lady," said Patty, jumping up, and urging
Nan out the door. "Skippy-skip, before father comes up to learn the
latest news from the seat of war. Tell him everything is all right, and
I'm earning my living with neatness and despatch, only working girls
simply can't get into chiffons and dine with the 'quality.'"

Reassured by Patty's gay air, Nan went downstairs, laughing, and told her
husband that she believed Patty would yet accomplish her project.

"These experiences will do her no harm," said Mr. Fairfield, after
hearing Nan's story. "So long as she doesn't get nervous or mentally
upset, we'll let her go on with her experiment. She's a peculiar nature,
and has a wonderful amount of will-power for one so young."

"I've always heard you were called stubborn," said Nan, smiling, "though
I've never seen it specially exemplified in your case."

"One doesn't need to be stubborn with such an angelic disposition as
yours in the house," he returned, and Nan smiled happily, for she knew
the words were lovingly in earnest.

Meantime, Patty was sitting luxuriously in a big easy-chair, eating her
dinner from the tray Jane had brought her.

"This is rather fun," she thought; "and my, but running a sewing-machine
does give one an appetite! I could eat two trays-full, I verily believe.
Thank goodness, I've no more stitching to do."

Having despatched her dinner, perhaps a trifle hastily, Patty reluctantly
left her big easy-chair for a small rocker by the drop-light.

She wearily picked up a little gown, cut a buttonhole at the throat, and
proceeded to work it. As she was so skilful at embroidery, of course this
was easy work; but Patty was tired, and her fingers almost refused to
push the needle through the cloth. About ten o'clock Nan came upstairs.

Patty was just sewing on the last button, the buttonholes being all done.

This fact made her jubilant.

"Nan!" she cried; "