Patty flew over to Nan and threw her arms about her neck.  “You dear old duck,” she cried; “there never was such a dear, lovely, beautiful stepmother on the face of the earth!  And now it’s all settled, isn’t it, papa?”

“It seems to be,” said Mr. Fairfield, smiling.  “But on your own heads be the consequences.  I put Patty into your hands now, so far as her future education is concerned, and you can fix it up between you.  To tell the truth, I’m delighted myself at the thought of having Patty stay home with us, but my sense of duty made me feel that I must at least put the matter before her.”

“And you did,” cried Patty gleefully, “and now I’ve put it behind me, and that’s all there is about that.  And I’ll promise, papa, to study awfully hard on my French and music; and as for reading, that will be no hardship, for I’d rather read than eat any day.”

Mr. Fairfield had really acquiesced to the wishes of the others out of his sheer kind-heartedness.  For he did not think that the lessons at home would be as definite and regular as at a school, and he still held his original opinions in the matter.  But having waived his theories for theirs, he raised no further objection and seemed to consider the question settled.

After a moment, however, he said thoughtfully:  “What you really ought to have, Patty, is a year abroad.  That would do more for you in the way of general information and liberal education than anything else.”

“Now that would be right down splendid,” said Patty.  “Come on, papa, let’s all go.”

“I would in a minute, dear, but I can’t leave my business just now.  It has increased alarmingly of late and it needs my constant attention to keep up with it.  Indeed it is becoming so ridiculously successful that unless I can check it we shall soon be absurdly rich people.”

“Then you can retire,” said Nan, “and we can all go abroad for Patty’s benefit.”

“Yes,” said Mr. Fairfield seriously, “after a year or two we can do that.  I sha’n’t exactly retire, but I shall get the business into such shape that I can take a long vacation, and then we’ll all go out and see the world.  But that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with Patty’s immediate future.  I have thought over this a great deal, and if you don’t go to college, Patty, I should like very much to have you go abroad sooner than I can take you.  But I can’t see any way for you to go.  I can’t spare Nan to go with you, and I’m not sure you would care to go with one of those parties of personally conducted young ladies.”

“No, indeed!” cried Patty.  “I’m crazy to go to Europe, but I don’t want to go with six other girls and a chaperon, and go flying along from one country to the next, with a Baedeker in one hand and a suit case in the other.  I’d much rather wait and go with you and Nan, later on.”

“Well, I haven’t finished thinking it out yet,” said Mr. Fairfield, who, in spite of his apparent pliability, had a strong will of his own.  “I may send you across in charge of a reliable guardian, and put you into a French convent.”