



Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan, and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team.





                              Patty At Home

                             BY CAROLYN WELLS

        AUTHOR OF TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES, THE MARJORIE SERIES, ETC.

                                   1904




_To My very good friend, Ruth Pilling_




CONTENTS

CHAPTER

      I. THE DEBATE

     II. THE DECISION

    III. THE TEA CLUB

     IV. BOXLEY HALL

      V. SHOPPING

     VI. SERVANTS

    VII. DIFFERING TASTES

   VIII. AN UNATTAINED AMBITION

     IX. A CALLER

      X. A PLEASANT EVENING

     XI. PREPARATIONS

    XII. A TEA CLUB TEA

   XIII. A NEW FRIEND

    XIV. THE NEIGHBOUR AGAIN

     XV. BILLS

    XVI. A SUCCESSFUL PLAY

   XVII. ENTERTAINING RELATIVES

  XVIII. A SAILING PARTY

    XIX. MORE COUSINS

     XX. A FAIR EXCHANGE

    XXI. A GOOD SUGGESTION

   XXII. AT THE SEASHORE

  XXIII. AMBITIONS

   XXIV. AN AFTERNOON DRIVE




CHAPTER I

THE DEBATE


In Mrs. Elliott's library at Vernondale a great discussion was going on.
It was an evening in early December, and the room was bright with
firelight and electric light, and merry with the laughter and talk of
people who were trying to decide a great and momentous question.

For the benefit of those who are not acquainted with Patty Fairfield and
her relatives, it may be well to say that Mrs. Elliott was Patty's Aunt
Alice, at whose home Patty and her father were now visiting. Of the other
members of the Elliott family, Uncle Charley, grandma, Marian, and Frank
were present, and these with Mr. Fairfield and Patty were debating a no
less important subject than the location of Patty's future home.

"You know, papa," said Patty, "you said that if I wanted to live in
Vernondale you'd buy a house here, and I do want to live here,--at least,
I am almost sure I do."

"Oh, Patty," said Marian, "why aren't you quite sure? You're president of
the club, and the girls are all so fond of you, and you're getting along
so well in school. I don't see where else you could want to live."

"I know," said Frank. "Patty wants to live in New York. Her soul yearns
for the gay and giddy throng, and the halls of dazzling lights. 'Ah,
Patricia, beware! the rapids are below you!' as it says in that thrilling
tale in the Third Reader."

"I think papa would rather live in New York," said Patty, looking very
undecided.

"I'll tell you what we'll do," exclaimed Frank, "let's debate the
question. A regular, honest debate, I mean, and we'll have all the
arguments for and against clearly stated and ably discussed. Uncle Fred
shall be the judge, and his decision must be final."

"No," said Mr. Fairfield, "we'll have the debate, but Patty must be the
judge. She is the one most interested, and I am ready to give her a home
wherever she wants it; in Greenland's icy mountains, or India's coral
strand, if she chooses."

"You certainly are a disinterested member," said Uncle Charley, laughing,
"but that won't do in debate. Here, I'll organise this thing, and for the
present we won't consider either Greenland or India. The question, as I
understand it, is between Vernondale and New York. Now, to bring this
mighty matter properly before the house, I will put it in the form of a
resolution, thus:

"RESOLVED, That Miss Patty Fairfield shall take up her permanent abode in
New York City."

Patty gave a little cry of dismay, and Marian exclaimed, "Oh, father,
that isn't fair!"

"Of course it's fair," said Mr. Elliott, with a twinkle in his eye. "It
doesn't really mean she's going, but it's the only way to find out what
she is going to do. Now, Fred shall be captain on the affirmative side,
and I will take the negative. We will each choose our colleagues. Fred,
you may begin."

"All right," said Mr. Fairfield "As a matter of social etiquette, I think
it right to compliment my hostess, so I choose Mrs. Elliott on my side."

"Oh, you choose me, father," cried Marian, "do choose me."

"Owing to certain insidious wire-pulling I'm forced to choose Miss Marian
Elliott," said Uncle Charley, pinching his daughter's ear.

"If one Mrs. Elliott is a good thing," said