“Oh, you took the house, then,” exclaimed Elise; “how jolly! and when are we going there to live?”

“As soon as it can be made habitable,” said Mrs. Farrington; “they call it a furnished house, but it is not at all my idea of furnishing.  It’s about as well appointed as a summer cottage might be at home.  The drawing-room is all right, and the dining-room is fairly good, but the bedrooms must be almost entirely refurnished.  Some day, my children, you shall go shopping with me to select things for your own rooms.”

This shopping expedition took place soon, and Patty, with her usual happy enthusiasm, thought it was quite as much fun as any other mode of entertainment.

Mrs. Farrington and the two girls, driven by the chauffeur, went flying around in the automobile, stopping now at one beautiful shop, and now at another, and buying lovely things.

“It seems foolish,” said Mrs. Farrington, “to buy a lot of furniture for a rented house, but we must be comfortable through the winter, and then the prettiest of the things we’ll take back to America with us.”

The girls were allowed to make their own selections, and Patty decided that her room should be green and white, while Elise chose pink.

The girls had not yet seen the house, but Mrs. Farrington told them that two large rooms adjoining each other on the third floor were to be for their use, and though the principal articles of furniture were already in them, they might choose some pretty appointments, such as writing-desks, work-tables or book-racks.

Also, they selected some little French gilded chairs and queer-shaped ottomans, Patty thinking the while how pretty these would look when transported back to her New York home.

After about a week more of hotel life the Farringtons moved to their own home.

It was a good-sized house on the Bois de Boulogne, and stood in a small but well-laid out park or garden.

There were stone porticos on which opened long, French windows, and the high ceilings and winding staircase with broad landings gave the house an attractive, though foreign air.

Like all French houses, the decorations were elaborate, and mirrors were everywhere, and crystal chandeliers and painted panels abounded.

It was all of great interest to Patty, who dearly loved home-making, and who saw great possibilities for the unusual combination of American cosiness in a Paris house.

Mrs. Farrington was delighted when she discovered Patty’s capabilities in domestic matters, and declared that she would not wish for a better assistant.

It was Patty’s deft fingers that transformed stiff and formal rooms into apartments of real comfort and homelikeness.  It was very often Patty’s taste that selected simple decorations or ornaments which toned down the gorgeousness of the original scheme.

The two girls’ own rooms were greatly successful.