Patty's Social Season by Carolyn Wells

Christmas would be on Wednesday, and it was arranged that Patty and / Mona should go up to Fern Falls on Monday. Roger and Philip Van Reypen / were to go up on Tuesday for the Christmas Eve celebration; and the / rest of the house-party were already at the Kenerleys'.

The girls started off early in the afternoon, and a train ride of / three hours brought them to the pretty little New England village of / Fern Falls.

Jim Kenerley met them with a motor.

"We hoped for snow," he said, as he cordially greeted the befurred / young women who stepped off the train at the little station. "So much / more Christmassy, you know. But, at any rate, we have cold, clear / weather, and that's something. Hop in, now. Adele didn't come to meet / you, -- sent all kinds of excuses, which I've forgotten, but she can / tell you herself, when we reach the house. Here, I'll sit between you, / and keep you from shaking around and perhaps spilling out."

Cheery Jim Kenerley bustled them into the tonneau, looked after their / luggage, and then, taking his own place, drew up the fur robes snugly, / and the chauffeur started off. It was a four-mile spin to the house, / for the village itself was distant from the station, and the / Kenerleys' house a mile or so beyond.

It was cold, but the girls were warmly wrapped up and didn't a bit / mind the clear, frosty air, though in an open car. "Didn't bring the / limousine," Mr. Kenerley rattled on. "Can't abide to be shut up in a / stuffy glass house, and then, you know, people who ride in glass / houses mustn't throw stones."

"But, you see, we girls couldn't hit anything if we did throw a / stone," said Patty. "At least, women have that reputation."

"That's so," agreed Jim. "Can't even hit the side of a barn, so they / say. But I expect you girls that grow up with athletics and basket / ball, and such things, put the old proverbs to rout."

"How's Daisy? " asked Mona. "Same as ever?"

"Yep; same as ever. Daisy's all right, you know, if things go her way. / But if not"

"If not, she makes them go her way," said Mona, and Jim laughed and / agreed, "She sure does!"

At last they reached the house, which Jim informed them they had / dubbed the Kenerley Kennel, for no particular reason, except that it / sounded well.

"But you have dogs? " asked Patty, as they rolled up the driveway.

"Yes, but we didn't exactly name it after them. Hello, here are the / girls!"

Adele and Daisy appeared in the doorway, and greeted the visitors in / truly feminine fashion, which included much laughter and exclamation.

"Where do I come in? " said a laughing voice, and a big, laughing man / left his seat by the fireplace and came toward them.

"This is my brother," said Adele, "by name, Mr. Harold Ferris, -- but / commonly called Chub."

The name was not inapt, for Mr. Ferris showed a round, chubby face, / with big, dancing black eyes and ringlets of dark hair clustered on / his brow. Only his enormous size prevented his appearance being / positively infantile, and his round, dimpled face was as good-natured / as that of a laughing baby.

"And so you're the two girls who are to spend Christmas with us," he / said, beaming down on them from his great height. "Well, you'll do!"

He looked approvingly from Patty's flower face to Mona's glowing / beauty, and truly it would have been hard to find two more attractive / looking girls. The sudden transition from the cold out-of-doors to the / warmth of the blazing fire had flushed their cheeks and brightened / their eyes, and the hearty welcome they received brought smiles of / delight to their faces.