ey to talk slang," said Mr. Fairfield,
laughing, "for it would be too incongruous with that Madonna face of
hers."

"She is like a Madonna, isn't she?" said Patty, thoughtfully. "I've been
trying to think what her face reminded me of."

"Yes, she is," said Mr. Hepworth, "and as I feel pretty sure you can't
teach her to use slang, why don't you take this occasion to discontinue
the use of it yourself?"

"Can't do it," returned Patty. "There are times in my mad career when
nothing expresses what I want to say so well as a mild bit of slang. I
never say anything very dreadful."

"Of course you don't," declared Kenneth, who loved to take Patty's part
against Mr. Hepworth. "Why, you wouldn't be 'Our Patty' if you used only
dictionary English. All the slang Miss Farley gets from you will do her
good rather than harm. She needs it in her make-up."

"I agree with the spirit of that, if not the letter," said Mr. Hepworth,
kindly; and Patty said:

"Yes, she needs to be jollied; and, you take it from me, she's going to
get jollied!"

CHAPTER XX

A SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION

As Nan had surmised, Christine was worn out by her day of fatigue and
excitement, and the next morning found her possessed of better mental
poise and a more placid manner.

And as more days went by the girl improved greatly in demeanour and
bearing, and lost, to a great degree, her look of startled fear and
painful self-consciousness. Of course this was not accomplished
completely, or all at once, but helped by the kind gentleness of Nan and
affectionate chaffing of Patty, Christine grew more accustomed to the
pleasant social atmosphere into which she had been so suddenly thrown.

They visited picture galleries and went to the shops, and went driving
and motoring, and though Christine could not be persuaded to go to
afternoon teas, or to formal luncheons, yet she enjoyed the pleasures she
had and grew every day more at her ease in society.

Her own determination helped her greatly. She purposed to yet become as
unaffected and un-self-conscious as Patty, and, though she knew she could
never acquire Patty's inborn gaiety of spirit, she resolved to come as
near to it as she could with her naturally quiet disposition.

The two girls became fast friends, and, after a few days, Patty ventured
to broach the subject of Christine's career.

To her surprise, Christine was quite ready to talk about it, and asked
Patty's advice as to ways and means.