like that! The
idea! I just simply, plain won't stand it, and that's all there is
about that!"

And so, after Patty was snugly in bed, cuddled beneath the comforting
down coverlet, she let herself go, and cried to her heart's content;
great, soul-satisfying sobs that quieted her throbbing pulses and
exhausted her strained nerves, until she fell asleep from sheer
weariness.

And next morning she awoke, smiling. Everything looked bright and
cheery. The sun shone in at her windows, and as she felt somebody
pinching her toes through the blankets, she opened her eyes to see Mona
sitting on the edge of the bed and Elise just coming in at the door.
Mrs. Farrington followed, and Patty sat up in bed with a smiling
welcome for all.

"Hello, you dear things!" she cried. "You first, Mrs. Farrington. I
want to 'fess up to you. I was baddy girl last night, and I stayed at
the party much later than I meant to, or than I knew, until I suddenly
realised the time. Am I forguv? Oh, do say yes, and _don't_ scold me!"

Pretty Patty possessed herself of the lady's hand and looked so
penitent and so wheedlesome that Mrs. Farrington was disarmed.

"Why, of course, dear; it was not really wrong, but young girls ought
to be home by midnight at latest, I think,--and too, ought to come home
with their own people."

"I know it, Mrs. Farrington, I do know it. I have been brought up
right--honest, I have. But it was a special occasion, you see, and,
too, my own people ran off and left me."

"Oh, now, Patty," began Elise, "Sam said you sent word for us to do so."

"Well, I didn't exactly do that, but I did want to stay longer. Oh,
Mrs. Farrington, you've no idea how interesting those psychic souls
are----"

"What!"

"Yes, they're psychic, you know----"

"And what are psychics,--clearly, now, Patty, what _are_ psychics?"

"Why, they're----they're----"

"Yes, go on."

"Well, they're--why, they're _psychics_! That's what they are."

"Patty, you're an irresistible little goose!" and Mrs. Farrington bent
down to kiss the pretty, flushed face, and then laughingly declared she
had no more time to waste on psychics, and trailed away.

"Now, tell us all about it, Patsy," said Elise. "I shan't let you get
up till you do."

"There's not much to tell, Elise; but I liked to learn about the things
they were talking about and so I stayed later than I should have. But
since your mother is so lovely about it, I don't care what any