But, as Miss Daggett was very much in earnest, Patty concluded that she must necessarily make some choice.
Accordingly, she picked out a lavender moire silk, trimmed with soft white lace at the throat and wrist.

Although old-fashioned, it was plain and very simply made, and would, Patty thought, be less conspicuous than the more elaborate gowns.
"That's just the one I had decided on myself," said Miss Daggett, "and I should have worn that anyway, whatever you had said." "Then why did you call me over ?" said Patty, moved to impatience by this inconsistency.
"Oh, because I wanted your opinion, and I wanted to ask you about some other things.

Kenneth is coming to-night, you know." "Yes, I know it," said Patty, "and I am very glad." This frank statement and the clear, unembarrassed light in Patty's eyes seemed to please Miss Daggett, and she kissed the pretty face upturned to hers, but she only said: "Run along now, child, go home, I don't want company now." "I'm glad of it," Patty thought to herself, but she only said: "Good-bye, then, Miss Daggett; I'll see you this evening." "Wait a minute, child; come back here, I'm not through with you yet." Patty groaned in spirit, but went back with a smiling face.
Miss Daggett regarded her steadily.
"You're pretty busy, I suppose, to-day," she said, "getting ready for your play." "Yes, I am," said Patty frankly.
"And you didn't want to take the time to come over here to see me, did you ?" "Oh, I shall have time enough to do all I want to do," said Patty.
"Don't evade my question, child.

You didn't want to come, did you ?" "Well, Miss Daggett," said Patty, "you are often quite frank with me, so now I'll be frank with you, and confess that when your message came I did wish you had chosen some other day to send for me; for I certainly have a lot of little things to do, but I shall get them all done, I know, and I am very glad to learn that you are coming to the entertainment." "You are a good girl," said Miss Daggett; "you are a good girl, and I like you very much.

Good-bye." "Good-bye," said Patty, and she ran downstairs and over home, determined to work fast enough to make up for the time she had lost.
She succeeded in this, and when her father came home at night, bringing Mr.Hepworth with him, they found a very charming little hostess awaiting them and Boxley Hall imbued throughout with an air of comfortable hospitality.
After dinner Patty donned her Diana costume and came down to ask her father's opinion of it.