"Well, it seems," said Nan, "that Patty has more hopes of realising her ambition than either of us."
"Speak for yourself," said Marian.
"I think I have," said Patty. "I have all the keys I want, and I'm quite sure papa would buy me a falcon if I asked him to."
CHAPTER XXIV
AN AFTERNOON DRIVE
The next Saturday Mr. Fairfield proposed that they all go for a drive to Allaire.
"What's Allaire?" said Patty.
"It's a deserted village," replied her father. "The houses are empty, the old mill is silent, the streets are overgrown; in fact, it's nothing but a picturesque ruin of a once busy hamlet."
"They say it's a lovely drive," said Nan. "I've always wanted to go there."
"The boys will be down by noon," said Mr. Elliott, "and we can get off soon after luncheon. Do you suppose, Fred, we can get conveyances enough for our large and flourishing family?"