tience at last. "A gift
like that is not in very good taste from a boy to a girl; but from a girl
to a boy, it's very much worse. And, anyway, it was different in my case;
for Ken and I are old friends, which you and he are not. And, beside,
father knew about it, and he said as a parting keepsake it was all right.
But at a Christmas tree, in your own house,--Elise, you'll make a great
mistake if you give Kenneth Harper a seal ring."

"All right, Patty, you know I always do just as you say, so I'll give it
to Roger."

Patty knew she had judged rightly in the matter, but she also knew that
Elise was greatly disappointed at her decision.

She had already noticed that Elise liked handsome Kenneth, but if she
did, that was only an added reason why she should not make him a present
of a ring.

"She ought to have had more sense!" Patty said to herself, indignantly.
"And I'm sorry if she's sorry; but I couldn't let her do such a foolish
thing!"

CHAPTER IV

A SPLENDID TREE

The Christmas Eve dinner was set for an early hour, that the younger
Farrington children might take part in the festivities.

Beside Elise and Roger, there were two younger girls, Louise and Hester,
and Bobby, aged ten.

When Patty went down to the drawing-room, she found these three eager
with anticipation of the Christmas frolic about to begin.

Kenneth Harper was there too, but there were no other guests, as this
evening was to be a family celebration. Soon the other members of the
household appeared, and then dinner was announced, and they all went to
the dining-room.

Mr. Farrington offered his arm to Patty, and escorted her out first, as
guest of honour. Mrs. Farrington followed with Kenneth, and then the five
Farrington children came out less formally.

A burst of applause greeted their first sight of the dinner table. It was
indeed a Christmas feast to the eye as well as to the palate.

In the centre of the table was a Christmas tree, decorated with tinsel
and gay ornaments, and lighted by tiny electric bulbs.

At each plate also, was a tiny Christmas tree, whose box-shaped standards
bore the names of the diners.

"Here's mine!" cried Bobby, as he slid into his chair. "Oh, what a jolly
dinner!"

On the little place trees hung nuts and bonbons which were to be eaten,
"at the pleasure of the performer," as Roger expressed it.

The table was also decked with holly and red ribbons, and the various
viands, as they were serve