eave those till after breakfast. Or leave them till this evening and
give them to me for a Christmas gift."

"Under the mistletoe?" and Ferris looked mischievous.

"Certainly not," said Patty, with great dignity. "I'm too grown-up for
such foolishness as that!"

"Oh, I don't know," said Ferris.

* * * * *

The appearance of the two runaways in the breakfast-room was greeted
with shouts of surprise.

Adele knew they had gone skating, but no one else did, and it was
supposed they hadn't yet come downstairs.

Patty's glowing cheeks were almost as scarlet as her coat and cap,
while Ferris was grinning with boyish enthusiasm.

"Top o' the morning to you all," he cried. "Me and Miss Fairfield,
we've been skating for an hour."

"On the lake?" cried Daisy, in surprise. "Why, you must have started
before sunrise."

"Oh, no, not that," declared Patty, as, throwing off her wraps, she
took a seat next to Adele; "but long enough to get up a ravenous
appetite. I hope the Kenerley larder is well stocked."

"Why didn't you let us all in on this game?" asked the host. "I think
a morning skating party would be just about right."

"All right," said Patty. "We'll have one any morning you say. I shall
be here for a fortnight, and I'll go any morning you like."

"I won't go," declared Mona. "I hate skating, and I hate getting up
early, so count me out."

"I doubt if any one goes very soon," said Adele, "for I think there's
a storm coming. It looks bright out of doors, but it feels like snow
in the air."

"It does," agreed her brother; "and I hope it will snow. I'd like a
real good, old-fashioned snowstorm for Christmas."

"Well, I hope it won't begin before night," said Adele. "We've a lot
to do to-day. I want you all to help me decorate the tree and fix the
presents."

"Of course we will," said Patty. "But, if I may, I want to skip over
to the village on an errand. Can some one take me over, Adele, or
must I walk?"

"I'll go with you," said Daisy, who was of no mind to be left out of
Patty's escapades, if she could help it.

"All right, Daisy, but you mustn't tell what I buy, because it's a
secret."

"Everything's a secret at Christmas time," said Mr. Kenerley; "but,
Patty, you can have the small motor, and go over to the village any
time you like."

As there was room for them all, Daisy and Mona both accompanied Patty
on her trip to the village, and Hal Ferris volunteer