Just Patty | Page 3

flitted over the Dowager's face, but the next
instant she was grave again.
"It is very necessary that we study this year," Patty added. "Priscilla
and I are going to college, and we realize the necessity of being
prepared. Upon the thorough foundation that we lay here, depends our
success for the next four years--for our whole lives you might say."
Conny jogged her elbow warningly. It was too patently a crib from
Miss Lord.
"And besides," Patty added hastily, "all my things are blue, and Mae
has a purple screen and a yellow sofa cushion."
"That is awkward," the Dowager admitted.
"We are used to living in Paradise Al--I mean, the West Wing--and we
shall--er--miss the sunsets."
The Dowager allowed an anxious silence to follow, while she
thoughtfully tapped the desk with her lorgnette. The three studied her
face with speculative eyes. It was a mask they could not penetrate.
"The present arrangement is more or less temporary," she commenced
in equable tones. "I may find it expedient to make some changes, and I
may not. We have an unusual number of new girls this year; and
instead of putting them together, it has seemed wisest to mix them with
the old girls. You three have been with us a long time. You know the
traditions of the school. Therefore--" The Dowager smiled, a smile
partially tinged with amusement--"I am sending you as missionaries
among the newcomers. I wish you to make your influence felt."
Patty straightened her back and stared.
"Our influence?"

"Your new room-mate," Mrs. Trent continued imperturbably, "is too
grown-up for her years. She has lived in fashionable hotels, and under
such conditions, it is inevitable that a girl should become somewhat
affected. See if you cannot arouse in Mae an interest in girlish sports.
"And you, Constance, are rooming with Irene McCullough. She is, as
you know, an only child, and I fear has been a trifle spoiled. It would
please me if you could waken her to a higher regard for the spiritual
side of life, and less care for material things."
"I--I'll try," Conny stammered, dazed at so suddenly finding herself cast
in the unfamiliar rôle of moral reformer.
"And you have next to you the little French girl, Aurelie Deraismes. I
should be pleased, Constance, if you would assume an oversight of her
school career. She can help you to a more idiomatic knowledge of
French--and you can do the same for her in English.
"You, Priscilla, are rooming with--" She adjusted her lorgnette and
consulted a large chart.--"Ah, yes, Keren Hersey, a very unusual girl.
You two will find many subjects of mutual interest. The daughter of a
naval officer should have much in common with the daughter of a
missionary. Keren bids fair to become an earnest student--almost, if
such a thing were possible, too earnest. She has never had any girl
companions, and knows nothing of the give and take of school life. She
can teach you, Priscilla, to be more studious, and you can teach her to
be more, shall I say, flexible?"
"Yes, Mrs. Trent," Priscilla murmured.
"And so," the Dowager finished, "I am sending you out in my place, as
moral reformers. I want the older girls to set an example to the
newcomers. I wish to have the real government of the school a strong,
healthy Public Opinion. You three exert a great deal of influence. See
what you can do in the directions I have indicated--and in others that
may occur to you as you mix with your companions. I have watched
you carefully for three years, and in your fundamental good sense, I
have the greatest confidence."

She nodded dismissal, and the three found themselves in the hall again.
They looked at one another for a moment of blank silence.
"Moral reformers!" Conny gasped.
"I see through the Dowager," said Patty, "She thinks she's found a new
method of managing us."
"But I don't see that we're getting back to Paradise Alley," Priscilla
complained.
Patty's eyes suddenly brightened. She seized them each by an elbow
and shoved them into the empty schoolroom.
"We'll do it!"
"Do what?" asked Conny.
"Pitch right in and reform the school. If we just keep at
it--steady--you'll see! We'll be back in Paradise Alley at the end of two
weeks."
"Um," said Priscilla, thoughtfully. "I believe we might."
"We'll commence with Irene," said Conny, her mind eagerly jumping to
details, "and make her lose that twenty pounds. That's what the
Dowager meant when she said she wanted her less material."
"We'll have her thin in no time," Patty nodded energetically. "And we'll
give Mae Mertelle a dose of bubbling girlishness."
"And Keren," interposed Priscilla, "we'll teach her to become frivolous
and neglect her lessons."
"But we won't just confine ourselves