Patty at Home

Patty at Home

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Title: Patty at Home
Author: Carolyn Wells
Release Date: November 25, 2003 [EBook #10268]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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Patty At Home
BY CAROLYN WELLS
AUTHOR OF TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES, THE MARJORIE
SERIES, ETC.

1904

_To My very good friend, Ruth Pilling_

CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.
THE DEBATE
II. THE DECISION
III. THE TEA CLUB
IV. BOXLEY HALL
V. SHOPPING
VI. SERVANTS
VII. DIFFERING TASTES
VIII. AN UNATTAINED AMBITION
IX. A CALLER
X. A PLEASANT EVENING
XI. PREPARATIONS
XII. A TEA CLUB TEA
XIII. A NEW FRIEND

XIV. THE NEIGHBOUR AGAIN
XV. BILLS
XVI. A SUCCESSFUL PLAY
XVII. ENTERTAINING RELATIVES
XVIII. A SAILING PARTY
XIX. MORE COUSINS
XX. A FAIR EXCHANGE
XXI. A GOOD SUGGESTION
XXII. AT THE SEASHORE
XXIII. AMBITIONS
XXIV. AN AFTERNOON DRIVE
CHAPTER I
THE DEBATE
In Mrs. Elliott's library at Vernondale a great discussion was going on.
It was an evening in early December, and the room was bright with
firelight and electric light, and merry with the laughter and talk of
people who were trying to decide a great and momentous question.
For the benefit of those who are not acquainted with Patty Fairfield and
her relatives, it may be well to say that Mrs. Elliott was Patty's Aunt
Alice, at whose home Patty and her father were now visiting. Of the
other members of the Elliott family, Uncle Charley, grandma, Marian,
and Frank were present, and these with Mr. Fairfield and Patty were
debating a no less important subject than the location of Patty's future
home.

"You know, papa," said Patty, "you said that if I wanted to live in
Vernondale you'd buy a house here, and I do want to live here,--at least,
I am almost sure I do."
"Oh, Patty," said Marian, "why aren't you quite sure? You're president
of the club, and the girls are all so fond of you, and you're getting along
so well in school. I don't see where else you could want to live."
"I know," said Frank. "Patty wants to live in New York. Her soul
yearns for the gay and giddy throng, and the halls of dazzling lights.
'Ah, Patricia, beware! the rapids are below you!' as it says in that
thrilling tale in the Third Reader."
"I think papa would rather live in New York," said Patty, looking very
undecided.
"I'll tell you what we'll do," exclaimed Frank, "let's debate the question.
A regular, honest debate, I mean, and we'll have all the arguments for
and against clearly stated and ably discussed. Uncle Fred shall be the
judge, and his decision must be final."
"No," said Mr. Fairfield, "we'll have the debate, but Patty must be the
judge. She is the one most interested, and I am ready to give her a
home wherever she wants it; in Greenland's icy mountains, or India's
coral strand, if she chooses."
"You certainly are a disinterested member," said Uncle Charley,
laughing, "but that won't do in debate. Here, I'll organise this thing, and
for the present we won't consider either Greenland or India. The
question, as I understand it, is between Vernondale and New York.
Now, to bring this mighty matter properly before the house, I will put it
in the form of a resolution, thus:
"RESOLVED, That Miss Patty Fairfield shall take up her permanent
abode in New York City."
Patty gave a little cry of dismay, and Marian exclaimed, "Oh, father,
that isn't fair!"

"Of course it's fair," said Mr. Elliott, with a twinkle in his eye. "It
doesn't really mean she's going, but it's the only way to find out what
she is going to do. Now, Fred shall be captain on the affirmative side,
and I will take the negative. We will each choose our colleagues. Fred,
you may begin."
"All right," said Mr. Fairfield "As a matter of social etiquette, I think it
right to compliment my hostess, so I choose Mrs. Elliott on my side."
"Oh, you choose me, father," cried Marian, "do choose me."
"Owing to certain insidious wire-pulling I'm forced to choose Miss
Marian Elliott," said Uncle Charley, pinching his daughter's ear.
"If one Mrs. Elliott is a good thing," said Mr. Fairfield, "I am sure two
would be better, and so I choose Grandma Elliott to add to my
collection of great minds."
"Frank, my