"I can't see our way clear to a Christmas dinner in Boxley Hall," said
Mr. Fairfield; "but I think I can promise you, chick, that you can
invite your revered uncle and his family to dine with you there on New
Year's day."
There were general exclamations of delight at this from all except Patty, who looked a little bewildered.
"What's the matter, Patsie?" said her uncle. "Don't you want to entertain your admiring relatives?"
"Yes," said Patty, "of course I do; but it scares me to death to think of it! How can I have a dinner party, when I don't know anything about anything?"
"Aunt Alice will tell you something about something," said her father; "and I'll tell you the rest about the rest."
"Oh, I know it will be all right," said Patty, quickly regaining confidence, as she looked at her father. "If papa says the house will be ready, I know it will be, and if he says we'll have a dinner party on New Year's day, I know we will; and so I now invite you all, and I expect you all to accept; and I hope Aunt Alice will come early."
"I shall come the night before," said Marian, "so as to be sure to be there in time."
"I'm not sure that any of us will be there the night before," said Mr. Fairfield, laughing. "I've guaranteed the house for the dinner, but I didn't say we would be living there at the time."
"That's a good idea," said Aunt Alice; "let Patty entertain her first company there, and then come back here for the reaction."
"Well, we'll see," said Patty; "but I'd like to go there the first day of
January, and stay there."