“And so I have, Patty girl,” said Nan, growing serious all at once. “I truly have. Also, I’ll help you, if I can.”
“That’s just it, Nan. You can help me this time, and I’m going to tell you all about it, before I start in.”
“Going to tell me now?”
“Yes, because I go this afternoon.”
“Go where?”
“That’s just it. I go to take a position as a companion to an elderly lady. And I shall stay a week. I’ll take some clothes in a suitcase, or small trunk, and after I’m gone, you must tell father, and make it all right with him.”
“But, Patty, he said at the outset, you must be home by five o’clock every day, whatever you were doing.”
“Yes; but that referred to occupations by the day. Now, that I’ve decided to take this sort of a position, which is really more appropriate to a lady of my ‘social standing,’ you must explain to him that I can’t come home at five o’clock, because I have to stay all the time, nights and all.”
“Patty, you’re crazy!”
“No, I’m not. I’m determined; I’m even stubborn, if you like; but I’m going! So, that’s settled. Now, you said you’d help me. Are you going to back out?”