"Yes," said Patty; "they're about as right as anything I know."
And so the evening passed in merry chaff and good-natured fun; and at its close the young guests all went away except Marian, who was going to spend the night at Boxley Hall.
After her cousin had gone upstairs to her pretty blue bedroom, Patty lingered a moment in the library for a word with her father.
"How am I getting along, papa?" she said. "How about the proportion to-night?"
"The market seems pretty strong on proportion to-day, Patty, dear; your housekeeping is beginning wonderfully well. That little dinner you gave us was first-class in every respect, and the simple refreshments you had this evening were very pretty and graceful."
"Don't praise me too much, papa, or I'll grow conceited."
"You'll get praise from me, my lady, just when you deserve it, and at no other time. Now, skip along to bed, or you'll have too great a proportion of late hours."
With a good-night kiss Patty went singing upstairs, feeling sure that she was the happiest and most fortunate little girl in the world.
So impressed was she with her realisation of this fact that she announced it to Marian.
Marian looked at her curiously.