mber, but, of course, you wouldn't have that. Green, now?"

"No, we don't seem to have those. We've mostly pink and blue."

"Old-fashioned! Why don't you have amber or russet?"

"I wish we had. I'd love to give you what you want. How about white?"

"Namby pamby! But show me what you have. I'm determined to get
something."

"If you only cared for blue," and Patty sighed. "Here's a new box yet
unopened, but it says on the end, 'Light Blue.' So that wouldn't do."

"Oh, well, let me see it."

Patty opened the Japanese looking box, and out from the tissue papers
fell a dream of a kimono. Of palest blue silk, it was covered with
embroidered apple blossoms, not in a set design, but powdered over it,
as if wafted there by a summer breeze. The conventional Japanese
flowers are cherry blooms, but these were true apple blossoms, softly
pink and white, the very loveliest gown Patty had ever seen.

Farnsworth was looking on, and he, too, caught sight of the exquisite
design. He looked quickly at Patty, and, in dumb show, begged her not
to sell the garment. Nor had she any intention of doing so. The
moment she saw it, she wanted it for herself, and began hastily to fold
it back in its box.

"Wait! Stop!" cried the lady; "I think I want that."

"It's already sold," said Big Bill, stepping forward. "Isn't that the
one I ordered, Miss Fairfield?"

"Is it?" said Patty, helplessly, wanting to laugh at the way the lady
looked daggers at Bill, yet not knowing quite what to say.

"It is. Kindly lay it aside for me. Mark it Farnsworth."

"Do nothing of the sort!" snapped the lady. "You said that was an
unopened box. It can't belong to any one then. I will take it. How
much is it?"

Patty thought quickly. She had received a green kimono for Christmas,
which she had not worn, and didn't care for. It had been sent her by a
distant cousin, who would never know or care what she did with it.

"All right," she said, "take it if you like. You have the first right
to it."

Farnsworth looked disturbed, but did not combat Patty's decision.

"But," Patty went on, "I think I have a green one, after all. I've
just remembered it. You can take your choice."

Stepping aside to her own wardrobe, Patty brought out a box and shook
out a very pretty green gown. She put it on, and, draping it
gracefully, stood, with her head on one side, observing the effect.
She then looked doubtfully at the lady, and said, "I dare