he
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."

"Yes, I could see that. But you are too high-strung to be successful in a
position of this kind. You should be more deferential in spirit as well
as in manner. Do I make myself clear?"

"You do, Mrs. Van Reypen," said Patty, smiling; "so clear that I am going
to tell you the truth about this whole business. I'm not really obliged
to earn my own living. I have a happy home and loving parents. My father,
though not a millionaire, is wealthy and generous enough to supply all my
wants, and the reason I took this position with you is a special and
peculiar one, which I will tell you about if you care to hear."

"You sly puss!" cried Mrs. Van Reypen, with a smile that indicated relief
rather than dismay at Patty's revelation. "Then you've been only
masquerading as a companion?"

"Yes," said Patty, smiling back at her, "that's about the size of it."

CHAPTER XVIII

HOME AGAIN

After Patty had told Mrs. Van Reypen the whole story of her efforts to
earn her living for a week, and why she had undertaken such a thing, she
found herself occupying a changed place in that lady's regard.

"It was fine of you, perfectly fine!" Mrs. Van Reypen declared, "to
sacrifice yourself, your tastes, and your time for a noble end like
that."

"Don't praise me more than I deserve," said Patty, smiling. "I did begin
the game with a charitable motive, but I thought it was going to be easy.
When I found it difficult I fear I kept on rather from stubbornness than
anything else."

"I don't call it stubbornness, Miss Fairfield; I call it commendable
perseverance, and I'm glad you've told me your story. Of course, I
wo