" said Patty, "they have to be made a special way, and you'd only
spoil them."

"But if you showed me," urged Nan, patiently. "If you did two or three,
perhaps I could copy them exactly; at any rate, let me try."

"Very well," said Patty, dully, "I wish you could do them, I'm sure."

The flowers were delayed, as is not unusual in such cases, and it was
nearly ten when they arrived.

Patty was almost frantic by that time, and Nan, as she afterward told her
husband, had to "handle her with gloves on."

But by dint of tact and patience, Nan succeeded in persuading Patty,
after making two or three garlands, to leave the rest for her to do.
Although they were of complicated design, Nan was clever at such things,
and could easily copy Patty's work. And had she been herself, Patty would
have known this. But so upset was she that even her common sense seemed
warped.

When she reached the schoolroom there were a thousand and one things to
see to, and nearly all of them were going wrong.

Patty flew from one thing to another, straightening them out and bringing
order from confusion, and though she held herself well in hand, the
tension was growing tighter, and there was danger of her losing control
of herself at any minute.

Hilda Henderson was the only one who realised this, and, taking Patty
aside, she said to her, quietly, "Look here, girl, I'll attend to
everything else; there's not much left that needs special attention. And
I want you to go right straight home, take a hot bath, and then lie down
and rest until time to dress for the afternoon programme. Will you?"

Patty looked at Hilda with a queer, uncomprehending gaze. She seemed
scarcely to understand what was being said to her.

"Yes," she said, but as she turned she half stumbled, and would have
fallen to the floor if Hilda had not caught her strongly by the arm.

"Brace up," she said, and her voice was stern because she was thoroughly
frightened. "Patty Fairfield, don't you dare to collapse now! If you do,
I'll--I don't know _what_ I'll do to you! Come on, now, I'll go home with
you."

Hilda was really afraid to let Patty go alone, so hastily donning her hat
and coat she went with her to her very door.

"Take this girl," she said to Nan, "and put her to bed, and don't let her
see anybody or say anything until the programme begins this afternoon.
I'll look after everything that isn't finished, if you'll just keep her
quiet."

Nan was thoroughly alarmed