“You shall, Patty!  All the time you are here, your word shall be law in this house, both over the servants and myself.”

“Oh, I can manage the servants,” cried Patty, gaily.  “I’m rather good at that.  Now, if I can only manage you!”

“You can!  I’ll prove so manageable and docile, you’ll scarcely know me!”

So, having flown her colours, Patty wagged her head sagaciously as Mona went away.  “I think, Miss Fairfield,” she observed to her reflection in a gold-garlanded mirror, “that you’re in for a pleasant summer.  Firmness tempered with kindness must be your plan; and I’m pretty sure you can, in that way, manage Mona without friction.”

Humming snatches of song to herself, Patty continued to explore her new domain.  The rose-coloured boudoir opened into a dainty bedroom done in white and gold.  Everywhere white silk or lace curtains were looped back with Frenchy pink satin rosebuds, and the gilded furniture, with its embroidered satin cushions, made the room look fit for a princess.  Patty laughed with glee, for she loved dainty prettiness and this was a novel change from her own simpler belongings.

From the bedroom she went on to the dressing-room and bathroom; the former replete with all known appurtenances to Milady’s toilette, and the latter a bewildering vista of marble, silver, and glass.

Dinner was a gay little feast.  Although Patty had dined once or twice before at “Red Chimneys,” it had been with her parents at formal dinners, and they had been examples of the unrestrained elegance which Mr. Galbraith deemed the correct way of displaying his wealth.

The Fairfields had assumed that the overelaborateness was due to the festive occasion, but Patty now perceived that the same formality of service was observed with only the two girls at the table.  And the menu was long and varied enough to have served a dinner party.

Of course, it all appealed to Patty’s sense of humour, but as it was Mona’s habit to dine under the supervision of three or four serving-men, Patty was quite willing to accept the situation placidly.  The servants, however, were no bar to their gay chatter.  Except that they did not refer to the expected temporary chaperon, they discussed all the details of the evening’s party.

Many of the courses of the dinner they dismissed without tasting, and so, by half-past seven, Patty was back in her own rooms, and Mrs. Hastings appeared promptly at the hour.  A maid named Janet had been appointed to look after Patty personally, but she was dismissed, with instructions to return at eight, and then Patty began her transformation scene.