E-text prepared by David Garcia
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
It is a deep regret to the publishers that Miss Emilia Elliott, thecreator of the charming character of Patricia, did not live to see thisbook in print, nor to enjoy the welcome that they are confident it willbe accorded.
CHAPTER
IV. PATRICIA'S CHRISTMAS FAMILY
Patricia sat on the back fence, almost hidden by the low-spreadingbranches of an old apple-tree. Below her, on the grass, lay a small,curly, black dog, his brown, trustful eyes fixed confidently onPatricia.
"Really, you know," the child said, gravely, "it's a very perplexingsituation. Aunt Julia needn't have been so inhospitable. Why didn'tI wait until Daddy got home! Daddy's so much more—convincible. Butit's no use now; Daddy never goes back on Aunt Julia."
Patricia slipped from the fence. "I rather think you and I'd better godown to the back meadow to talk things over; it's getting pretty nearsewing-time."
Out in the meadow, flat on her back in the long grass, Patricia setherself to the task of solving this perplexing situation.
Half an hour earlier she had appeared back from one of her desultoryrambles, accompanied by this most forlorn of all forlorn dogs,explaining that she had met him on the road, and he had followedher home.
It was no unusual occurrence, but when Patricia added that he didn'tseem to belong to anybody, and she thought she would keep him, MissKirby promptly and firmly protested.
To Patricia's pleading, that he was poor and lame and homeless, thatCæsar, the pointer, was the only dog they had now, and he was too oldto play much, Miss Kirby had proved adamant. Patricia might give herfoundling a good meal, but keep him she could not.
Whereupon, Patricia, having given the wanderer what was in realityseveral meals condensed into one, had retired with him to think thingsover.
"It really seems as if you'd been meant for me," she told him now;"I found you. I can't see why Aunt Julia won't look at things in aproper light. I'm afraid she hurt your feelings. Aunt Julia generallymeans pretty well, but she's apt to speak out sort of quick. We Kirbysmostly do. I wonder what your name is?"
The dog stretched comfortably out in the warm grass, quite as happy andcontented as if he had been everything he wasn't, sat up suddenly, witha short little bark, as if trying to give the desired information.
Rolling over, Patricia, her chin in her hands, surveyed him carefully."You aren't very handsome just now; but then, I know lots of people whoaren't very good looking. I don't see why that saying Aunt Julia is sofond of—about 'Handsome is as handsome does'—shoul