Jean Webster

When Patty Went to College Jean Webster

Book Excerpt: ...pectacle with her. She felt that the silence was becoming ominous, however, and she hastened to interrupt it."There's something wrong with that stove; it won't burn a bit. I am afraid we didn't put it together just right. I shouldn't be surprised if you might be able to tell what's the matter with it, Mr. Peters." She smiled sweetly. "Men know such a lot about such things! Would you mind looking at it?"Peters grunted again; but he approached the stove. Five minutes later, when Priscilla stuck her head in to find out if, by chance, anything remained of Patty, she saw Peters on his knees on the floor of her bedroom, with the dismembered stove scattered about him, and heard him saying, "I don't know as I have any call to report you, for I s'pose, since they're up, they might as well stay"; and Patty's voice returning: "You're very kind, Mr. Peters. Of course if we'd known--" Priscilla shut the door softly, and retired around the corner to await Peters's departure...