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PATTY'S SUCCESS

by

CAROLYN WELLS

Author Of
Two Little Women Series,
The Marjorie Series, Etc.







Grosset & Dunlap
Publishers New York

Copyright, 1910
by Dodd, Mead and Company

Printed in U.S.A.




CONTENTS

CHAPTER                             PAGE
      I  Welcome Home                  9
     II  An Advance Christmas Gift    23
    III  The Day Before Christmas     36
     IV  A Splendid Tree              50
      V  Skating and Dancing          65
     VI  A Fair Proposition           80
    VII  Department G                 93
   VIII  Embroidered Blossoms        109
     IX  Slips and Sleeves           124
      X  The Clever Goldfish         139
     XI  A Busy Morning              154
    XII  Three Hats                  169
   XIII  The Thursday Club           181
    XIV  Mrs. Van Reypen             197
     XV  Persistent Philip           211
    XVI  An Invitation Declined      227
   XVII  The Road to Success         243
  XVIII  Home Again                  257
    XIX  Christine Comes             271
     XX  A Satisfactory Conclusion   284






PATTY'S SUCCESS

CHAPTER I

WELCOME HOME


"I do think waiting for a steamer is the horridest, pokiest performance
in the world! You never know when they're coming, no matter how much they
sight them and signal them and wireless them!"

Mrs. Allen was not pettish, and she spoke half laughingly, but she was
wearied with her long wait for the _Mauretania_, in which she expected
her daughter, Nan, and, incidentally, Mr. Fairfield and Patty.

"There, there, my dear," said her husband, soothingly, "I think it will
soon arrive now."

"I think so, too," declared Kenneth Harper, who was looking down the
river through field-glasses. "I'm just sure I see that whale of a boat in
the dim distance, and I think I see Patty's yellow head sticking over the
bow."

"Do you?" cried Mrs. Allen eagerly; "do you see Nan?"

"I'm not positive that I do, but we soon shall know, for that's surely
the _Mauretania_."

It surely was, and though the last quarter hour of waiting seemed longer
than all the rest, at last the big ship was in front of them, and
swinging around in midstream. They could see the Fairfields clearly now,
but not being within hearing distance, they could only express their
welcome by frantic wavings of hands, handkerchiefs, and flags. But at
last the gangplank was put in place, and at last the Fairfields crossed
it, and then an enthusiastic and somewhat incoherent scene of reunion
followed.

Beside Mr. and Mrs. Allen and Kenneth Harper, Roger and Elise Farrington
were there to meet the home-comers, and the young people seized on Patty
as if they would never let her go again.

"My! but you've grown!" said Kenneth, looking at her admiringly; "I mean
you're grown-up looking, older, you know."

"I'm only a year older," returned Patty, laughing, "and you're that,
yourself!"

"Why, so I am. But you've changed somehow,--I don't know just how."

Honest Kenneth looked so puzzled that Elise laughed at him and said:

"Nonsense, Ken, it's her clothes. She has a foreign effect, but it will
soon wear off in New York. I _am_ glad to see you again, Patty; we didn't
think it would be so long when we parted in Paris last Spring."

"No, indeed; and I'm glad to be home again, though I have had a terribly
good time. Now, I suppose we must see about our luggage."

"Yes," said Roger, "you'll be sorry you brought so many fine clothes when
you have to pay duty on them."

"Well, duty first, and pleasure afterward," said Kenneth. "Come on,
Patty, I'll help you."

"Oh, dear," said Mrs. Allen, "must we wait for all this custom-house
botheration? I'm so tired of waiting."

"No, you needn't," said Mr. Fairfield, kindly. "You and Nan and Mr. Allen
jump in a taxicab and go home. I'll keep Patty with me, and any other of
the young people who care to stay, and we'll settle matters here in short
order."

The young people all cared to stay, and though they had to wait some
time, when at last they did get a customs inspector he proved to be both
courteous and expeditious.

"Oh, don't spoil my best hat!" cried Patty, in dismay, as he laid
thoughtless hands on a befeathered creation.

"That I won't, ma'am," was the hearty response, and the hat was laid back
in its box as carefully as an infant in its cradle. "I have ladies in my
own family, ma'am, and I know just how you feel about it."

"I'm perfectly willing to declare all my dutiable goods," went on Patty,
"but I do hate to have my nice things all tumbled up."

"Quite right, ma'am, quite right," amiably agreed the inspector, who had
fallen a victim to Patty's pretty face and bright smiles.

"Well, you did get through easily, Patty," said Elise, after it was over
and the trunks despatched by express. "When we came home, mother was half
a day fussing over customs."

"It's Patty's winning ways as does it," said Kenneth. "She hypnotised
that fat inspector with a mere glance of her eye."

"Nonsense!" said Patty, laughing; "it's an easy trick. They're always
nice and kind if you jolly them a little bit."

"Jolly me," said Kenneth, "and see how nice and kind I'll be."

"You're kind enough as you are," returned Patty. "If you were any kinder,
I'd be overwhelmed with obligations. But how are we all going to get into
this taxicab? Five into one won't go."

"That's