To put her more at her ease Patty had led her at once upstairs, and now the presence of only warm-hearted Patty and the view of the welcoming room made her forget her embarrassment and seem more like her natural self.
“I cannot thank you,” she began. “I am a bit bewildered by it all.”
“Of course you are,” said Patty, cheerily. “Don’t bother about thanks. And don’t feel shy. Let’s pretend we’ve known each other for years—long enough to use first names. May I take your hat off, Christine?”
Tears sprang to Christine Farley’s eyes at this whole-souled welcome, and she said:
“You make me ashamed of my stupid shyness. Really I’ll try to overcome it—Patty.”
And soon the two girls were chatting cosily and veritably as if they had been acquainted a long time.
Presently Nan came in. “If you prefer, Miss Farley,” she said, “you needn’t come down to dinner to-night. I’ll have a tray sent up here. I know you’re tired with your journey.”
“No, thank you, Mrs. Fairfield; I’m not tired—and I think I’ll go down.”
The girl would have greatly preferred to accept the offer of dining in her own room, but she felt it her duty to conquer the absurd timidity which made her dread facing strangers at dinner.
“I’ll be glad if you will,” said Nan, simply. “Mr. Fairfield will like to welcome you, and Mr. Hepworth will be the only other guest. You are not afraid of him?”