[Patty Fairfield by Carolyn Wells]@TWC D-Link bookPatty Fairfield CHAPTER IV 12/13
"I just guess we're as good as the Crandons any day in the week.
I don't know as you'd better invite them, my dear." "They wouldn't come if you did," said Reginald. "They would so," snapped Ethelyn, "they'd jump at the chance." "I bet they wouldn't!" "I bet they would! You don't know everything in the world." "Neither do you!" "Hush, children," said Mrs.St.Clair, mildly, "your Cousin Patricia will think you very rude and unmannerly if you quarrel so.
Florelle is the only one who is behaving nicely, aren't you, darling ?" Florelle beamed at this, and looked like a little cherub, until Reginald slyly took a cake from her plate. "Oh-h-h!" screamed Florelle, bursting into tears, "he took my cakie, he did,--give it to me!" and she began pounding her brother with her small fists. But Reginald had eaten it, and no other cake on the plate would pacify the angry child. "No, no," she cried, "I want that same one--it had a green nut on it,--and I wa-a-ant it!" "But brother can't give it to you, baby, he's eaten it," said her father, vainly trying to console her with other dainties. But Florelle continued to scream, and Mrs.St Clair was obliged to summon the nurse and have her taken up-stairs. "Well, that's a relief," said Ethelyn, as the struggling child was carried away.
"I told you you'd hear her yell pretty often, Patricia." Patty felt rather embarrassed, and didn't know what to say; she was beginning to think Villa Rosa had some thorns as well as roses. After dinner, as they sat round the great fireplace in the library, Mrs. St.Clair announced: "I have made up my mind.
I will give a tea for Patricia in order that she may be properly introduced to the Elmbridge people,--the best of them,--and then later, we will have a large party for her." This pleased everybody and amiability was restored, and all fell to making plans for the future pleasures of their guest. When Patty went to her room that night, she was so tired out with the excitements of the day, that she was glad to go to rest. But first of all she opened the little box that her father had given her at parting.
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