“Of course, it would require a great deal of most insistent urging,” put in Philip.
“Don’t let’s urge him,” said Patty, but the merry smile she flashed at the young man belied her words.
“If you smile like that, I’ll do the urging myself,” he cried. “Please, Mrs. Fairfield, do let me stay; I’ll be as good as gold.”
“What say you, Patty?” asked Nan.
“He may stay,” rejoined Patty, “if he’ll help me with my work on those puzzles.”
“Puzzles? Well, I just guess I will! I’ll do them all for you. Where’s your slate and pencil?”
“Oh, not yet!” laughed Patty. “We won’t do those until after dinner.”
“Why do you do them at all?” asked Nan; “and what are they, anyway?”
“I’ll tell you,” began Patty; “no, I won’t, either. At least, not now. It’s a grand project,—a really great scheme. And I’ll unfold it at dinner, then father can hear about it, too.”
So, later, when the quartette were seated around the dinner table, Patty announced that she would tell of her great project.