CHAPTER II.
THE DECISION "Hooray for our side!" cried Frank, as Marian dropped into a chair after her outburst of enthusiasm.
"Oh, I haven't finished yet," said Marian, jumping up again.

"I want to remark further that not only is Patty going to live in Vernondale, but she's going to have a house very near this one.

I've picked it out," and Marian wagged her head with the air of a mysterious sibyl.

"I won't tell you where it is just yet, but it's a lovely house, and big enough to accommodate Uncle Fred and Patty, and a guest or two besides.

I've selected the room that I prefer, and I hope you will furnish it in blue." "The speaker is a bit hasty," said Patty as Marian sat down again; "we can't furnish any rooms before this debate is concluded; and, though we deeply regret it, Miss Elliott will be obliged to wait for her blue room until the other speakers have had their speak." But Patty smiled at Marian understandingly, and began to have a very attractive mental picture of her cousin's blue room next her own.
"The next speaker," announced the judge, "will be Mrs.Elliott, Senior,--the Dowager Duchess.