Miss Patten's School 



jump for joy as I called to mind that Ridley 

 too was the youngest of his family. 



"O Ridley," I said, "isn't it nice that 

 both you and me are the flower of the 

 flock!" 



My cousin was mightily tickled at this ; 

 indeed he rolled on the grass to enjoy his 

 laugh the more thoroughly, and I promptly 

 seized that opportunity to run off with his 

 hat. And so we had altogether the mer- 

 riest time in the world. 



Mother and Mary nearly smothered me 

 with hugs when I arrived hot, dusty, and 

 rapturously happy, and just in time for tea ; 

 and when my Father came in on the after- 

 noon coach, my joy was indeed complete. 



Long afterwards I learned that Miss 

 Patten, distressed at my grief and home- 

 sickness, had sent word of it to my Mother. 

 The matter was discussed in full family 

 conclave, and Ridley spoke up and said, 



'' I believe I know Harry as well as any 

 of you, and I know this, that if you don't 

 have him back he'll die ; he's just the kind 

 to die of fretting." 



Both my Mother and Mary were by that 

 time only too inclined to think with him, and 

 so they bade him go and see for himself 

 how matters stood with me and to act then 

 as he thouo-ht best. 



