Her housekeeping was going on smoothly; the night before her father had expressed himself as being greatly pleased with the system and order which seemed everywhere noticeable in the house.

It was Saturday morning, and she didn't have to go to school.
Moreover, she was very much interested in the play and in her own part in it, and had already planned a most beautiful gown, which the dressmaker, Madame LaFayette, was to make for her.
Patty's part in the play was that of Diana, and her costume was to be a beautiful one of hunter's green cloth with russet leather leggings and a jaunty cap.

Being up-to-date, instead of being a huntress she was to represent an agent of the S.P.C.A.
This suited Patty exactly, for she had a horror of killing live things, and very much preferred doing all she could to prevent such slaughter.
Moreover, the humour of the thing appealed to her, and the funny effect of the huntress Diana going around distributing S.P.C.A.

leaflets, and begging her fellow-Olympians not to shoot, seemed to Patty very humourous and attractive.
This Saturday, then, she had settled down in the library to study her lines all through the long cosey morning, when, to her annoyance, the doorbell rang.
"I hope it's none of the girls," she thought.

"I did want this morning to myself." It wasn't any of the girls, but Pansy announced that a messenger had come from Miss Daggett's, and that Miss Daggett wished Miss Fairfield to return her call at once.
Patty smiled at the unusual message, but groaned at the thought of her interrupted holiday.
However, Miss Daggett was not one to be ignored or lightly set aside, so Patty put on her things and started.
Although Miss Daggett's house was next door to Boxley Hall, yet it was set in the middle of such a large lot, and was so far back from the street, and so surrounded by tall, thick trees, that Patty had never had a really good view of it.
She was surprised, therefore, to find it a very large, old-fashioned stone house, with broad veranda and steps guarded by two stone lions.
Patty rang the bell, and the door was opened very slightly.