her belongings that she wished.
This greatly pleased Mr. Fairfield, for he felt more comfortable at
leaving Patty, to know that she had a foothold in London, and somebody to
look after her, should she care to leave Cromarty before her parents'
return.

At last the day of departure came, and Mr. Fairfield accompanied Patty to
the station to meet the Hartleys for the journey.

It was with a homesick heart that Patty bade her father good-bye.
Somehow, she suddenly felt that she was leaving her own people to go away
with strangers. But she knew she must not be foolish, so she bravely kept
back the tears and said good-bye with a tender, if not a gay, smile.

"It is the loveliest thing," said Mabel, after they were settled in the
train, "to think that you're really going with us. I wanted you to, so
dreadfully, but I didn't urge it very much, for fear you wouldn't enjoy
yourself with us."

"I always enjoy myself," said Patty, "but I know I shall be happy with
you."

"We'll try to make you so, Miss Fairfield," said Bob, earnestly, and
Patty smiled at him, and said:

"Then the first thing you can do toward it, is to drop that formal name,
and call me Patty. I'm not really grown-up enough for the other."

"No, I don't think you are," said Bob, as he looked at her critically.
"So, as we're all to live under one roof for a time, we'll be first
namers all round."

"Good!" said Sinclair, "that suits me; and now, Mater, when you're ready,
we'll go in to luncheon."

Patty thought luncheon in the dining car was great fun. Only four could
sit at a table, but as Mrs. Hartley had a slight headache and did not
care to talk, she and Grandma Cromarty sat at another table, and left the
four young people to chatter by themselves.

Everything interested Patty, from the unusual things she found on the
menu to the strange sights she saw from the window.

This was her first trip in this direction, for they were travelling
toward Leicester, and the scenes were all new to her.

The boys were full of fun and nonsense, and Mabel was so gay and jolly
that Patty began to think she had imagined the girl was of a sad nature.
They all told funny stories, and made absurd jokes, and poked fun at each
other, and Patty concluded she was likely to have a very jolly summer
with the Hartleys. Back they went after luncheon to their funny parlour
car, which had double seats facing each other, with a small table
between.

"Just the place for a game,