that I'd want her to be one; no _indeed_, but it's
pleasant to think that she could."

"Oh, certainly," said Uncle Harry. "It would be most delightful if we
could be _sure_ that, at ten minutes' notice, Arabella could become the
world's greatest actress; that by gently beckoning to him, the most
obdurate theatrical manager would bow abjectly before her."

"Well, I guess so," the prim little woman said, not quite understanding
his meaning, but thinking the speech, as a whole, rather grand.

The little entertainment had been a success, and Aunt Charlotte received
very warm congratulations for the fine work which her little pupils had
done.

As they strolled homeward, the guests talked of the numbers which had
most delighted them.

Uncle Harry, wag that he was, had found Aunt Matilda quite as amusing as
the music, the pretty dance which Nancy had contributed, or the fairy
dialogue. He was expecting every moment that his young wife would gently
upbraid him for his raillery, and he had not long to wait. As they
turned in at their own gateway, she looked up at him.

"Harry," she said, "you have a merry heart, and I would not for the
world have you more quiet, but sometimes you carry your jokes too far.
Dear, will you tell me why you did not mention that strange woman's
name? You introduced her as Arabella's aunt."

"My dear, that's who she said she was; she didn't tell me her name, so
how could I tell you?"

"But you did not tell her _my_ name; you introduced me as your wife."

"Well, surely you _are_ my wife; as she omitted to state what _her_
name was, I wouldn't tell her _yours_. Simply evening things up, that's
all."

"What an idea!" she said, but she could not help laughing at his little
joke.

CHAPTER V

THE RETURN OF PATRICIA

Of course they talked and talked of their entertainment, of their fine
audience, of the applause, and the delight of their friends.

They were on their way to school one morning, Nina, Jeanette, and their
cousin, Lola Blessington.

"Nancy Ferris danced just _beautifully_," said Lola, "I wonder where she
learned."

"I don't know," Jeanette said, sullenly.

She had envied the applause which Nancy's graceful dancing had evoked.

"Why, Jeanette," exclaimed Nina, "you _do_ know that Nancy learned to
dance in New York."

"Well, I don't know _who_ taught her, and that's probably what Lola
meant," Jeanette retorted sharply.

"New York!" said Lola. "Why, I remember a li