tared at this, for they knew that Patty's morning
efforts had been far from successful.

But Patty only smiled at them in a pleasant, but impersonal manner, as
she took up her new work.

Her confidence returned. She knew she could do what she was now about to
attempt, for, added to her natural taste and love of colour, she had been
critically interested in hats while in Paris, and while visiting her
friend, Lady Kitty, who was especially extravagant in her millinery
purchases.

After a period of thought, Patty decided on her scheme of trimming for
the two hats before her, and then set blithely to work.

One was to be a simple style of decoration, the other, much more
complicated. Taking up the elaborate one first, Patty went at it with
energy, and with an assured touch, for she had the effect definitely
pictured in her imagination and was sure she could materialise it.

And she did. After about two hours' hard work, Patty achieved a triumph.
She held up the finished hat, and every girl at the table uttered an
"ah!" of admiration at the beautiful sight.

Without response, other than a quiet smile, Patty took up the second hat.
This was simple, but daring in its very simplicity. A black velvet
Gainsborough, with broad, rolling brim. Patty turned it smartly up, at
one side, and fastened it with a rosette of dull blue velvet and a silver
buckle. Just then, Miss O'Flynn came in.

"Where did that hat come from?" she said, pointing to Patty's finished
confection.

"I trimmed it," said Patty, nonchalantly. "Have you some silver hatpins,
Miss O'Flynn?"

"You trimmed it!" exclaimed the forewoman, ignoring Patty's question, and
taking up the trimmed hat.

"Yes; do you like it?"

"It's a marvel! It looks like a French hat. How did you know enough to
trim it like this?"

"I thought it would look well that way."

"But these twists of velvet; they have a touch!"

"Yes?" said Patty, inwardly exultant, but outwardly calm.

"And now," she went on, "this hat is of another type."

"It's not finished?" asked Miss O'Flynn, eyeing the hat in uncertainty,
"and yet,--any other trimming would spoil its lines."

"Just so," said Patty, placidly. "You see, all it needs now, is two large
silver hatpins, like this,--see."

Patty pulled two hatpins from her own hat, which she still had on, and
placed them carefully in the hat she held in her hand.

"These pins are too small,--but you see what I mean."

Miss O'Flynn did see. S