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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Patty's Friends, by Carolyn Wells
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Patty's Friends
+
+Author: Carolyn Wells
+
+Release Date: June 20, 2008 [EBook #25847]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY'S FRIENDS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+PATTY'S FRIENDS
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+BY THE SAME AUTHOR
+
+  PATTY FAIRFIELD
+  PATTY AT HOME
+  PATTY IN THE CITY
+  PATTY'S SUMMER DAYS
+  PATTY IN PARIS
+  PATTY'S FRIENDS
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+[Illustration: "Patty was a comfort-loving creature" (p. 33)]
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+PATTY'S FRIENDS
+
+By
+CAROLYN WELLS
+
+Author of "Patty Fairfield," "Patty in Paris," etc.
+
+NEW YORK
+DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY
+1908
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Copyright, 1908
+By Dodd, Mead and Company
+
+Published, September, 1908
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER                            PAGE
+      I  An Afternoon Tea             9
+     II  Riddles and Games           23
+    III  The White Lady              36
+     IV  A Floral Offering           51
+      V  Miss Yankee Doodle          65
+     VI  Herenden Hall               79
+    VII  For One Night Only          93
+   VIII  The Earl of Ruthven        107
+     IX  An Important Document      121
+      X  A Momentous Interview      134
+     XI  The Birthday Party         149
+    XII  Summer Plans               162
+   XIII  Cromarty Manor             175
+    XIV  Uncle Marmaduke            190
+     XV  Puzzling Rhymes            204
+    XVI  The Croquet Party          218
+   XVII  The Griffin and the Rose   231
+  XVIII  The Old Chimney-Piece      245
+    XIX  The Discovery              258
+     XX  Good-Byes                  272
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+"Patty was a comfort-loving creature"                Frontispiece
+
+"Marie pinned it and sewed it"                                 95
+
+"'How _much_ pleasanter this is than squabbling'"             145
+
+"Often she would spend a morning lying in a hammock
+beneath the old trees"                                        175
+
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+PATTY'S FRIENDS
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+AN AFTERNOON TEA
+
+
+"I wish I had a twin sister," said Patty; "no, that wouldn't do, either.
+I wish I were twins, and could be both of them myself."
+
+"What a sensible wish!" commented Nan. "But why do you want to double
+yourself up in that way?"
+
+"So I could go to two places at once. Here I have two lovely invitations
+for this afternoon, and I don't know which I want to accept most. One is
+a musicale at Mrs. Hastings', and the other is a picture exhibition at
+the New Gallery."
+
+"They sound delightful. Can't you manage to go to both?"
+
+"No, they're too far apart; and they're both at four o'clock, anyway. I
+think I'll choose the musicale, for I'll surely get another chance to see
+the pictures."
+
+"Yes, of course you will," agreed Nan, a little absently, for she was
+reading some newly arrived letters.
+
+The Fairfields were in London, and were comfortably established in the
+Savoy Hotel. It was April, and though they intended to travel later in
+the summer, their plans were as yet indefinite, and they were enjoying
+the many and varied delights of the London season.
+
+To be sure, Nan and Mr. Fairfield were invited to many dinners and
+elaborate entertainments which Patty was too young to attend, but her
+time was pleasantly filled with afternoon garden parties or teas, while
+mornings were often devoted to sight-seeing.
+
+Patty was almost eighteen, and though not allowed quite the untrammelled
+freedom she would have had in America, she was not kept so utterly
+secluded as English girls of her age. Sometimes she would go all alone to
+Westminster Abbey or to the National Gallery, and enjoy hugely a solitary
+hour or two. At other times, Nan or her father, or some girl friend,
+would go with her.
+
+The Fairfields had begun their stay in London with only a few friends,
+but these had introduced others, until now their circle of acquaintances
+was large, and the immediate result of this was a sheaf of invitations in
+every mail. For, during the season, Londoners are hospitable folk, and
+give entertainments morning, noon, and night. At first, the Fairfields
+had thought they would take a house, and so have a home of their own. But
+Mr. Fairfield concluded that if Nan had the duties of a housekeeper, her
+trip would not be a holiday, so he declared they would live at a large
+hotel, and thus have a chance to observe the gay life of London.
+
+And so cosy and comfortable were their apartments at the Savoy, that they
+soon began to feel quite at home there. And Patty, as we all know, was
+one who could adapt herself to any mode of living.
+
+Of a naturally happy and contented disposition, she accepted everything
+as it came, and enjoyed everything with the enthusiasm so often seen in
+American girls.
+
+It greatly amused her to note the differences between herself and the
+English girls.
+
+To her mind, they seemed to have no enthusiasm, no enterprise, and little
+capacity for enjoyment, while Patty enjoyed every experience that came to
+her, whether a visit to Windsor Castle, a day at Stratford, or a simple
+afternoon tea in their own rooms.
+
+"I seem to have been set back two or three years," she said to Nan, one
+day. "In New York I was almost a full-fledged young lady, but over here,
+I'm treated as a little girl."
+
+"It doesn't matter," said Nan, sensibly. "You are what you are, and if
+the different countries choose to treat you differently, it doesn't
+matter, does it?"
+
+"Not a bit. I'm Patty Fairfield, and I'm almost eighteen, whether I'm in
+California or the Fiji Islands. But it does amuse me, the way the
+Londoners think we live at home. They really believe American ladies go
+to market in the morning, loaded down with diamonds. You don't often see
+that in New York, do you, Nan?"
+
+"No, I don't think I ever saw a New York matron wearing elaborate jewelry
+to market. But then I never go to market myself, and I don't know many
+people who do. I think that bediamonded marketer story is an old
+tradition, which is really pretty well worn out."
+
+"And the London ladies needn't talk, anyway. If we did wear jewels to
+market, it wouldn't be a bit more absurd than the way they dress to go
+shopping in the morning. Long, trailing, frilly gowns of pink and blue
+chiffon, with swishing lace-ruffled petticoats, that just drag through
+the dirt of the streets."
+
+"Now aren't you criticising them as unfairly as they describe us?"
+
+"No, for what I say is true. I've seen them fluttering about. And,
+anyway, I don't mean to be mean. I like them lots. I just love the London
+ladies, they're so kind to me, and invite me to such lovely things. Of
+course I don't care if they choose to wear garden-party clothes along
+Bond Street. We all have some ridiculous ways."
+
+Pretty Patty was fond of pretty clothes, and the shops of Bond Street
+held great attractions for her, though she herself wore a real
+tailor-made costume when shopping. At first, Nan had exercised a
+supervision over her purchases, but Patty had shown such good taste, and
+such quick and unerring judgment as to fabrics and colors, that it had
+come about that Patty more often advised Nan in her choosing, than the
+other way.
+
+And so, many a pleasant morning was spent in the beautiful London shops,
+buying things they wanted, looking at things they did not want, or noting
+with interest the ways and means peculiar to English shopkeepers.
+
+Thus the days went happily by, and they had already been more than a
+fortnight in London, while as yet their plans for future travel were
+unmade. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield wanted to go to Germany, Switzerland, and
+other countries, but Patty didn't care so much for that as for English
+country, or small nearby towns. So the matter was left unsettled, though
+short and desultory discussions were held now and then.
+
+But oftener their minds were taken up with the doings of the moment, and
+they complacently left the future to itself.
+
+"Well, then I think I'll go to the musicale," said Patty. "What would you
+wear?"
+
+"That new light blue chiffon of yours, with the lace bolero, is just the
+thing."
+
+"Yes, and my new broad-leafed chip hat, with the roses piled all over
+it."
+
+Patty ran away to her own room, and after a time returned in the pretty
+summer costume.
+
+"How do I look?" she asked, smilingly, of Nan.
+
+Nan smiled back at the lovely vision, for Patty's vanity was of a mild
+and innocent sort, and was rather a childish delight in dainty colors and
+fabrics, than any conceit over her own beauty.
+
+For beautiful Patty certainly was, in a sweet, wholesome, girlish way,
+and not the least of her charms was her naturalness of manner and her
+entire lack of self-consciousness.
+
+She looked especially winning in the light, filmy dress, and the big hat,
+weighed down with roses.
+
+"You look all right, Patty," answered Nan. "That's a duck of a frock, and
+suits you perfectly. Are you going alone?"
+
+"Yes; father says I may go alone in our own carriage to any afternoon
+thing. The Hartleys will bring me home, so sha'n't I send the carriage
+back for you?"
+
+"Yes, I wish you would. I'm going to a tea or two, and then we're dining
+out. You're to dine with the Hartleys, aren't you?"
+
+"Yes, if it is dinner. It's more likely to be schoolroom tea. Mabel
+Hartley is sixteen, but I doubt if she's allowed at dinner yet."
+
+"Nonsense, of course she is. Well, then, if they're sending you home,
+Louise needn't go after you?"
+
+"No; they'll send somebody. Good-bye, Nan."
+
+"Good-bye, Patty. Have a lovely time."
+
+"Oh, yes; I always do."
+
+Away went Patty and her frills, and when she reached Chesterton Mansions,
+she was soon established under the wing of her hostess, Mrs. Hastings.
+
+That lady was very glad to have the pretty American girl as her guest,
+and she introduced Patty to so many people that it was almost
+bewildering. But after a time, the music began, and Patty was glad to sit
+still and listen.
+
+It was very fine music, for that is the sort that Londoners usually offer
+at their teas, and Patty thoroughly enjoyed the singing and the
+violin-playing. She was a little afraid that Mrs. Hastings would ask her
+to sing, but as it was a programme of professionals this did not happen.
+
+When the Hartleys came, Mabel at once made her way to Patty's side and
+sat down by her.
+
+"I'm so glad to see you again," she said, "and it's so lovely that you're
+going home with us."
+
+"I'm glad, too," returned Patty, "it was lovely of you to ask me."
+
+Mabel Hartley was an English girl, and was about as different from Patty
+as could well be imagined, and perhaps for this reason the two were very
+good friends. Although they had met only a few times, they liked each
+other from the beginning, and both were ready to continue the friendship.
+
+Mabel was large and stout, with the solidity which characterises the
+British young girls. She was large-boned and not very graceful, but she
+carried herself with a patrician air that told of past generations of
+good-breeding. Her complexion was of that pure pink and white seen only
+on English faces, but her pale, sandy hair and light blue eyes failed to
+add the deeper color that was needed. Her frock was an uninteresting
+shade of tan, and did not hang evenly, while her hat was one of those
+tubby affairs little short of ridiculous.
+
+Patty fairly ached to re-clothe her, in some pretty clear color, and a
+becoming hat.
+
+The girls were politely silent while the music was going on, but in the
+intervals between the numbers they chattered glibly.
+
+"That's Grace Meredith and her brother Tom just coming in," said Mabel.
+"I hope they'll come over here; you'll like them, I know."
+
+The Merediths did come over, and were promptly introduced to Patty.
+
+"Do you know," said Tom Meredith, as he shook hands in cordial, boyish
+fashion, "you're the first American girl I've ever met."
+
+"Am I, really?" laughed Patty. "Now don't ask me if we always wear our
+diamonds to market, for truly the American women who go to market rarely
+have any diamonds."
+
+"I never believed that diamond story, anyway," responded Tom, gravely,
+"but I'm glad to have you tell me it isn't true. I'm perfectly
+unprejudiced about America, though. I'm ready to believe it's the best
+country in the world, outside of our own little island."
+
+"Good for you!" cried Patty. "Then I'm ready to acknowledge that I like
+England next best to America."
+
+"Have you been here long?" asked Grace.
+
+"No, only about two weeks, but I love London better every day, and I know
+I shall love the English country. Just the glimpse I caught coming in the
+train from Dover was delightful."
+
+"You should see the Hartleys' country place," declared Tom, with
+enthusiasm. "It's a ripping old house, two hundred years old, and all
+that. And such parks and orchards! Well!"
+
+"I hope you will come to see it, Patty," said Mabel, a little wistfully,
+and Patty wondered why the girl's tone had in it a note of sadness.
+
+But just then, as the music was over, Mrs. Hastings asked them to go to
+the tea-room, and the group of young people followed in her wake.
+
+"You girls sit here," said Tom, selecting a jolly-looking alcove, with
+window-seats and red cushions, "while I stalk some food."
+
+He was back in a few moments, followed by a waiter, who brought a tray of
+teacups and plates of sweet cakes.
+
+Tom, himself, bore triumphantly a covered silver dish.
+
+"Muffins!" he announced, in a jubilant voice. "Hot, buttered muffins!
+Crickets, what luck!"
+
+The hot muffins, buttered and quartered, were indeed delicious, and
+England and America seemed at one in showing an appreciative appetite for
+them.
+
+"We don't have these in America," said Patty, surveying her bit of muffin
+with admiration. "We have good sandwiches, though."
+
+"We almost never have sandwiches," said Grace.
+
+"You don't need to," said Patty, quickly. "Your wonderful bread and
+butter is too good to be spoiled with a sandwich filling of any sort."
+
+"'Most all things are good eating at an afternoon tea," observed Tom.
+"Somehow, at five o'clock I'm always so hungry I could eat a brickbat if
+it were toasted and buttered."
+
+"Afternoon tea is really an acquired taste with us," said Patty. "You
+seem to have it naturally, even when you're alone, but we only have it
+when we have guests."
+
+"Really?" said Mabel, in astonishment. "Why, we'd as soon think of
+omitting breakfast or dinner as tea."
+
+"It's a lovely meal," said Patty, giving a little sigh of satisfaction,
+as her last crumb of muffin disappeared. "Such good things to eat, and
+then it's so cosy and informal to sit around in easy chairs, instead of
+at a big table."
+
+"But the ideal place for tea is on the lawn," said Tom. "The open air and
+the trees and birds and flowers are even a better setting for it, than an
+interior like this."
+
+"I hope I shall have that kind this summer," said Patty. "I'm invited to
+several country houses, and I know I shall enjoy it immensely."
+
+"Indeed you will," said Mabel, and again Patty thought she detected a
+shade of sadness in her friend's eyes.
+
+But if Mabel was not exactly gay, Grace Meredith made up for it. She was
+full of fun and laughter, and both she and Tom made comical speeches
+until Patty feared she would disgrace herself laughing.
+
+"What's the joke?" asked Mrs. Hartley, coming to collect her young people
+and take them home.
+
+"Tom is making verses about the people here," explained Grace. "Tell Mrs.
+Hartley the one about the violinist, Tom."
+
+"Don't think it's rude, Mrs. Hartley," said young Meredith; "truly, it
+isn't meant to be. But for that classic-browed genius, with his
+chrysanthemum of tawny-colored hair, isn't this a pleasant token of
+regard and esteem?
+
+              "This is our latest social lion,
+              So, to look modest, he's tryin' and tryin'."
+
+"It's very beautiful," said Mrs. Hartley, smiling, "and I daresay
+Professor Prendergast would enjoy it himself, were he to hear it."
+
+"He might," said Tom, doubtfully, "but musicians rarely have a sense of
+humour, at least, about themselves."
+
+"That's true," agreed Mrs. Hartley, "and now, Mabel and Miss Fairfield,
+we must be going on."
+
+Good-byes were soon said, and in the Hartleys' carriage Patty was taken
+away to her first visit in an English home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+RIDDLES AND GAMES
+
+
+Much to Patty's satisfaction Mabel Hartley was in the habit of dining
+with her elders and was not condemned to "schoolroom tea."
+
+The family was not large, consisting only of Mrs. Hartley, her mother,
+Mrs. Cromarty, her two sons, and Mabel. The sons, Sinclair and Robert,
+were big, stalwart fellows, a few years older than Mabel.
+
+Patty liked them at once, for they were cordial and hearty in their
+greetings, and quite at ease in their conversation.
+
+"I say, Mater," began Bob, after they were seated at dinner, "there's a
+stunning garden-party on at Regent's Park next week. Don't you think we
+can all go? Tickets only two shillings each."
+
+"What is it, my son? A charity affair?"
+
+"Yes. Rest cure for semi-orphans, or something. But they've all sorts of
+jolly shows, and the Stagefright Club is going to give a little original
+play. Oh, say we go!"
+
+"I'll see about it," answered Mrs. Hartley. "Perhaps, if we make up a
+party, Miss Fairfield will go with us."
+
+"I'd love to," said Patty. "I've never seen a real English garden party."
+
+"Oh, this isn't a real English garden party in the true sense," said
+Sinclair. "To see that, you must be in the country. But this is a public
+London garden party and typical of its sort. You'll like it, I'm sure.
+Will you go with us, Grandy?"
+
+At first it seemed incongruous to Patty to hear the dignified Mrs.
+Cromarty addressed by such a nickname, but as she came to know her
+better, the name seemed really appropriate. The lady was of the class
+known as _grande dame_, and her white hair and delicate, sharply-cut
+features betokened a high type of English aristocracy. Her voice was very
+sweet and gentle, and she smiled at her big grandson, as she replied:
+
+"No, my boy; I lost my taste for garden parties some years ago. But it's
+a fine setting for you young people, and I hope Emmeline will take you
+all."
+
+"Mother said she'd see about it," said Mabel, "and that's always the same
+as 'yes.' If it's going to be 'no,' she says, 'I'll think it over.'"
+
+"It's a great thing to understand your mother-tongue so well," said
+Patty, laughing; "now I shouldn't have known those distinctions."
+
+"We have a wonderful talent for languages," said Sinclair, gravely.
+"Indeed, we have a language of our own. Shall I teach it to you?"
+
+"You might try," said Patty, "but I'm not at all clever as a linguist."
+
+"You may not learn it easily, but it can be taught in one sentence. It
+consists in merely using the initial of the word instead of the word
+itself."
+
+"But so many words begin with the same initial," said Patty, bewildered
+at the idea.
+
+"Yes, but it's ever so much easier than you'd think. Now listen. Wouldn't
+you understand me if I said: 'D y w t g t t g p?'"
+
+"Say it again, please, and say it slowly."
+
+Sinclair repeated the letters, and Patty clapped her hands, crying: "Yes,
+yes, of course I understand. You mean 'Do you want to go to the garden
+party?' Now, listen to me while I answer: Y I w t g i i d r."
+
+"Good!" exclaimed Mabel. "You said: 'Yes, I want to go, if it doesn't
+rain.' Oh, you are a quick pupil."
+
+"But those are such easy sentences," said Patty, as she considered the
+matter.
+
+"That's the point," said Bob, "most sentences, at least, the ones we use
+most, _are_ easy. If I should meet you unexpectedly, and say H d y d?
+you'd know I meant How do you do? Or if I took leave, and said G b, you'd
+understand good-bye. Those are the simplest possible examples. Now, on
+the other hand, if I were to read you a long speech from the morning
+paper, you'd probably miss many of the long words, but that's the other
+extreme. We've talked in initials for years, and rarely are we uncertain
+as to the sense, though we may sometimes skip a word here and there."
+
+"But what good is it?" asked Patty.
+
+"No good at all," admitted Bob; "but it's fun. And after you're used to
+it, you can talk that way so fast that any one listening couldn't guess
+what you are saying. Sometimes when we're riding on an omnibus, or
+anything like that, it's fun to talk initials and mystify the people."
+
+"D y o d t?" said Patty, her eyes twinkling.
+
+"Yes, we often do that," returned Bob, greatly gratified at the rapid
+progress of the new pupil. "You must be fond of puzzles, to catch this up
+so quickly."
+
+"I am," said Patty. "I've guessed puzzles ever since I was a little girl.
+I always solve all I can find in the papers, and sometimes I take prizes
+for them."
+
+"We do that too," said Mabel; "and sometimes we make puzzles and send
+them to the papers and they print them. Let's make some for each other
+this evening."
+
+After dinner the young people gathered round the table in the pleasant
+library, and were soon busy with paper and pencils. Patty found the
+Hartleys a match for her in quickness and ingenuity, but she was able to
+guess as great a proportion of their puzzles as they of hers.
+
+After amusing themselves with square words and double acrostics, they
+drifted to conundrums, and Bob asked:
+
+"Which letter of the Dutch alphabet spells an English lady of rank?"
+
+"That's not fair," objected Patty, "because I don't know the Dutch
+alphabet."
+
+"That doesn't matter," said Mabel, "you can guess it just as well
+without."
+
+"Indeed I can't, and besides I don't know the names of all the English
+ladies of rank."
+
+"That doesn't matter either," said Sinclair, smiling; "it spells a title,
+not a name; and one you know very well."
+
+"I can't guess it, anyway," said Patty, after a few moment's thought. "I
+give it up; tell me."
+
+"Why, Dutch S," said Bob, and Patty agreed that it was a good catch.
+
+"Now, I'll catch you," said Patty. "You all know your London pretty well,
+I suppose, and are familiar with the places of interest. Well, Mabel, why
+is your nose like St. Paul's?"
+
+Mabel thought hard, and so did the boys.
+
+"Is my nose like St. Paul's, too?" asked Bob, thoughtfully, stroking his
+well-shaped feature.
+
+Patty looked at it critically. "Yes," she said, "and so is Sinclair's.
+But why?"
+
+At last they gave it up, and Patty said, triumphantly, "Because it is
+made of flesh and blood."
+
+They all screamed with laughter, for they quickly saw the point, and
+realised that it was the historic character referred to, and not the
+cathedral.
+
+"Here's one," said Sinclair: "Where did the Prince of Wales go on his
+eleventh birthday?" But Patty was quite quick enough for this. "Into his
+twelfth year," she answered promptly. "And now listen to this: A man
+walking out at night, met a beggar asking alms. The man gave him ten
+cents. He met another beggar and gave him fifteen cents. What time was
+it?"
+
+"Time for him to go home," declared Bob, but Patty said that was not the
+right answer.
+
+"Springtime," guessed Mabel, "because the man was in such a good humor."
+
+"No," said Patty, "it was quarter to two."
+
+Her hearers looked utterly blank at this, and, suddenly realising that
+they were not very familiar with American coins, Patty explained the
+joke. They saw it, of course, but seemed to think it not very good, and
+Sinclair whimsically insisted on calling it, "a shilling to Bob," which
+he said was equally nonsensical.
+
+"Give us one of your poetry ones, Grandy," said Bob to Mrs. Cromarty, who
+sat by, quietly enjoying the young people's fun.
+
+"Miss Fairfield may not care for the old-fashioned enigma, but I will
+offer this one," and in her fine, clear voice the old lady recited her
+verse with elocutionary effect:
+
+                   "Afloat upon the ocean
+                   My graceful form you see;
+
+                   The protector of the people,
+                   The protector of a tree.
+
+                   I often save a patient,
+                   Though a doctor I am not;
+
+                   My name is very easy,
+                   Can you tell me, children? What?"
+
+The others had heard this before, and when Patty promptly guessed "Bark,"
+Mrs. Cromarty was distinctly pleased with her quick-wittedness.
+
+Then lemonade and wafery little cakes were brought in, that the puzzlers
+might refresh themselves.
+
+The atmosphere of the Hartley household was very pleasant, and Patty felt
+much more at home than she had ever expected to feel among English
+people. She made allusion to this, and Bob said: "Oh, this place isn't
+homey at all, compared with our real home. You must come to see us down
+in the country, mustn't she, mother?"
+
+"I should be very glad to welcome you there, my dear," said Mrs. Hartley,
+smiling at Patty, "and I trust it may be arranged. We have this apartment
+for only a few weeks longer, and then we shall go back to Leicester."
+
+"I'm in no haste to go," declared Mabel. "I love Cromarty Manor, but I
+want to stay in London a little longer. But when we do go, Patty, you
+surely must visit us there."
+
+"Indeed I will, if I can manage it. My parents want me to go with them to
+Switzerland, but I'd much prefer to spend the summer in England. I have
+ever so many delightful invitations to country houses, and they seem to
+me a lot more attractive than travelling about. I suppose I ought to care
+more about seeing places, but I don't."
+
+"You're quite young enough yet," said Mrs. Hartley, "to look forward to
+travelling in future years. I think some experiences of English life
+would be quite as advantageous for you."
+
+"I'll tell father you said that," said Patty. "Then perhaps he'll let me
+have my own way. But he usually does that, anyway."
+
+"You'd love Cromarty Manor," said Bob, enthusiastically. "It's so
+beautiful in spring and early summer."
+
+"But not half as grand as other houses where Patty's invited," said
+Mabel, and again the shadow crossed her face that seemed always to come
+when she spoke of her country home.
+
+"Grandeur doesn't count in the country," declared Bob. "That belongs to
+London life. Other places may be larger or in better condition than ours,
+but they _can't_ be more beautiful."
+
+"That is true," said Mrs. Cromarty, in her quiet way, which always seemed
+to decide a disputed point. And then it was time to go home, and Mrs.
+Hartley sent Patty away in her carriage, with a maid to accompany her.
+The woman was middle-aged, with a pleasant voice and a capable manner.
+She chatted affably with Patty, and dilated a little on the glories of
+the Cromarty family.
+
+Patty realised at once that she was an old family servant, and had earned
+a right to a little more freedom of speech than is usual to English
+domestics.
+
+"Oh, yes, Miss," she said; "it's a wonnerful old place, that it is. And
+if the dear lady only 'ad the money as is 'ers by right, she'd keep it up
+lordly, that she would."
+
+Patty wondered what had become of the money in question, but Sarah said
+no more concerning it, and Patty felt she had no right to ask. "You live
+with them, then, in the country?" she said.
+
+"Yes, Miss, I've allus lived with them. My mother was housekeeper at the
+Manor when Miss Emmeline married Mr. 'Artley. Oh, he was the fine
+gentleman. Dead now, this ten year come Whitsuntide. Master Bob, he's the
+image of his father. Are you warm enough, Miss?"
+
+Sarah's quick transit from reminiscences to solicitude for her comfort
+almost startled Patty, but she was getting used to that peculiarity of
+the British mind.
+
+"Yes, thank you," she said, "and anyway, we're home now. Here's the
+Savoy."
+
+Mr. Fairfield and Nan had not yet arrived, so the good Sarah attended
+Patty to her own apartment and gave her over to Louise, who awaited her
+coming.
+
+Louise helped her off with her pretty frock, and brought her a beribboned
+négligée, and Patty curled up in a big armchair in front of the fire to
+think over the evening.
+
+"These wood-fires are lovely," she said to herself, "and they do have
+most comfortable stuffed chairs over here, if they only knew enough to
+put rockers under them."
+
+Patty was a comfort-loving creature, and often bewailed the absence of
+the rocking-chairs so dear to her American heart. Soon her parents came
+in and found her sound asleep in the big chair.
+
+She woke up, as her father kissed her lightly on the forehead.
+
+"Hello, Prince Charming," she said, smiling gaily at the handsome man in
+evening clothes who stood looking down at her.
+
+"I suppose you want a return compliment about the Sleeping Beauty," he
+said, "but you won't get it. Too much flattery isn't good for a baby like
+you, and I shall reserve my pretty speeches for my wife."
+
+"Oh, I'll share them with Patty," laughed Nan, "but with no one else."
+
+"Tell us about your evening, girlie," said her father. "Did you have a
+good time?"
+
+"Fine," said Patty. "The Hartleys are lovely people; I like them better
+than any I've met in London, so far. And they do puzzles, and ask
+riddles, and they're just as clever and quick as Americans. I've heard
+that English people were heavy and stupid, and they're not, a bit."
+
+"You mustn't believe all you hear. Are they a large family?" "Not very.
+Two sons, one daughter, and the mother and grandmother. Mabel's father
+has been dead for years. And they want me to visit them at their home in
+Leicester this summer. Can't I go?"
+
+"Desert your own family for foreigners!"
+
+"Yes; I do want to go there and to some other country places while you
+and Nan go touristing about. Mayn't I?"
+
+"We won't decide now. It's too near midnight for important matters to be
+discussed. Skip to bed, chickabiddy, and dream of the Stars and Stripes,
+lest you forget them entirely."
+
+"Never!" cried Patty, striking a dramatic attitude.
+
+                  "Though English people may be grand,
+                  My heart is in my native land!"
+
+And humming the Star-spangled Banner, she went away to her own room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE WHITE LADY
+
+
+"I feel in a gay mood," said Nan, as she clasped Patty round the waist,
+and always ready for a dance, Patty fell into step, and the two waltzed
+round the room, while Patty sang tum-te-tum to the air of a popular song.
+
+"As if you two ever felt any other way!" exclaimed Mr. Fairfield, smiling
+at them from the depths of his easy chair. "But what does this gay mood
+betoken? I suppose you want to drag me out to the theatre or opera
+to-night."
+
+Mr. Fairfield's pleasant smile belied his pretense at sharpness, and he
+waited to hear a reply.
+
+"That would be lovely," said Nan, "and we'll go if you invite us. But
+what I had in mind is this: I'd like to dine in the Restaurant."
+
+"Good!" cried Mr. Fairfield. "I feel gay enough for that, myself, and we
+haven't dined there for nearly a week."
+
+The Fairfields had a complete apartment of their own, and when not
+invited out, usually dined quietly in their own dining-room. But
+occasionally, when the mood took them, they dined in the great Savoy
+Restaurant, which was a festive pageant indeed.
+
+Patty loved to sit at a table there, and watch the beautiful women in
+their elaborate gowns, and their handsome, stalwart escorts, who were
+sometimes in brave uniforms.
+
+The splendid scene would have palled upon them, had they dined there
+every evening, but as a change from their small family dinner it was
+delightful.
+
+"We'll wear our dress-up frocks," said Patty, "and perhaps my White Lady
+will be there again."
+
+"Your White Lady?" asked Nan. "Who is she?"
+
+"That's just what I can't find out, though I've asked several people. But
+she's the most beautiful lady, with a haughty, proud face, and sad eyes.
+She always wears white, and there's an elderly lady who is sometimes with
+her. A strange-looking old lady in black, she is; and her face is like a
+hawk's."
+
+"Oh, I remember those people; they always sit at the same table." "Yes, I
+think they live here. But she is so sweet and lovely I'd like to know
+her. I make up stories about her all to myself. She's like Ginevra or the
+Lady of Shalott."
+
+"You're too fanciful, Patty. Probably she's the Duchess of Hardscrabble."
+
+"She looks like a Duchess, anyway. And also, she looks like a simple,
+sweet, lovely lady. I'm going to ask father to find out who she is."
+
+A little later the Fairfields went down to dinner.
+
+Nan wore an exquisite gown of embroidered yellow satin, and Patty wore a
+frilled white silk muslin. It was a little low at the throat, and was
+very becoming to her, and in and out of her piled-up curls was twisted a
+broad white ribbon, which ended in front in a saucy cluster of bows,
+after the prevailing fashion.
+
+"This is great fun," said Patty, as she took her seat with a little sigh
+of content. "I just love the lights and flowers and music and noise----"
+
+"Can you distinguish the music from the noise?" asked her father,
+laughing.
+
+"I can if I try, but I don't care whether I do or not. I love the whole
+conglomeration of sounds. People laughing and talking, and a sort of
+undertone of glass and china and waiters."
+
+"That sounds graphic," said Nan, "but the waiters here aren't supposed to
+make any noise."
+
+"No, I know it, but they're just part of the whole scene, and it's all
+beautiful together. Oh, there's my White Lady!"
+
+It was indeed a charming young woman who was just entering the room. She
+was tall and very slender, with a face serene and sweet. Her large, dark
+eyes had a look of resignation, rather than sadness, but the firm set of
+her scarlet lips did not betoken an easily-resigned nature.
+
+With her was the elder lady of whom Patty had spoken. She was
+sharp-featured and looked as if she were sharp-tempered. She wore a
+rather severe evening gown of black net, and in her gray hair was a
+quivering black aigrette.
+
+In contrast to this dark figure, the younger lady looked specially fair
+and sweet. Her trailing gown was of heavy white lace, and round her
+beautiful throat were two long strings of pearls. She wore no other
+ornament save for a white flower in her hair, and her shoulders and arms
+were almost as white as the soft tulle that billowed against them.
+
+It chanced that Mr. Fairfield's table was quite near the one usually
+occupied by these two, and Patty watched the White Lady, without seeming
+to stare at her.
+
+"Isn't she exquisite?" she said, at last, for they were not within
+earshot, and Nan agreed that she was.
+
+As the dinner proceeded, Patty glanced often at the lady of her
+admiration, and after a time was surprised and a little embarrassed to
+find that the White Lady was glancing at her.
+
+Fearing she had stared more frankly than she realised, Patty refrained
+from looking at the lady again, and resolutely kept her eyes turned in
+other directions.
+
+But as if drawn by a magnet, she felt impelled to look at her once more,
+and giving a quick glance, she saw the White Lady distinctly smiling at
+her. There was no mistake, it was a kind, amused little smile of a most
+friendly nature.
+
+Patty was enchanted, and the warm blood rushed to her cheeks as if she
+had been singled out for a great honour. But frankly, and without
+embarrassment, she smiled back at the lovely face, and returned the
+pleased little nod that was then given her.
+
+"Patty, what _are_ you doing?" said Nan; "do you see any one you know?"
+
+"No," said Patty, slowly, almost as one in a dream, "my White Lady smiled
+at me,--that's all,--so I smiled back at her, and then we bowed."
+
+"You mustn't do such things," said Nan, half smiling herself, "she'll
+think you're a forward American."
+
+"I am an American," replied Patty, "and I'd be sorry to be called
+backward."
+
+"You never will be," said her father. "Well, I suppose you may smile at
+her, if she smiles first, but don't begin sending her anonymous notes."
+
+"Nonsense," said Patty, "but you two don't know how lovely she is when
+she smiles."
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield were seated with their backs to the lady in
+question, and could not see her without slightly turning their heads,
+while Patty, opposite them at the round table, faced her directly.
+
+"You're fortunate in your position," observed her father, "for were you
+seated here and we there, of course she would have beamed upon us."
+
+"She isn't beaming," cried Patty, almost indignantly; "I won't have that
+angelic smile called a beam. Now, you're not to tease. She's a sweet,
+dear lady, with some awful tragedy gnawing at her heart."
+
+"Patty, you're growing up romantic! Stop it at once. I'll buy the lady
+for you, if you want her, but I won't have you indulging in rubbishy
+romance like that, with nothing to base it on."
+
+Patty looked at her father comically.
+
+"I don't believe you'd better buy her, Daddy, dear," she said. "You know
+you often say that, with Nan and me on your hands, you have all you can
+manage. So I'm sure you couldn't add those two to your collection; for I
+feel certain wherever the White Lady goes the Black Lady goes too."
+
+The subject was lost sight of then, by the greetings of some friends who
+were passing by the Fairfields on their way out of the Restaurant.
+
+"Why, Mrs. Leigh," exclaimed Nan, "how do you do? Won't you and Mr. Leigh
+sit down and have coffee with us? Or, better yet, suppose we all go up to
+our drawing-room and have coffee there."
+
+After Patty had spoken to the newcomers and was sitting silent while her
+elders were talking, she looked up in surprise as a waiter approached
+her. He laid a long-stemmed white rose beside her plate, and said,
+quietly, "From Lady Hamilton, Miss."
+
+Involuntarily, Patty glanced at the White Lady, and seeing her smile,
+knew at once that she had sent the rose.
+
+As Patty explained the presence of the flower to the others, Mrs. Leigh
+glanced across, and said: "Oh, that's Lady Hamilton! Excuse me, I must
+speak to her just a moment."
+
+"Who is Lady Hamilton?" asked Nan of Mr. Leigh, unable longer to repress
+her interest.
+
+"One of the best and most beautiful women in London," he replied. "One of
+the most indifferent, and the most sought after; one of the richest, and
+the saddest; one of the most popular, and the loneliest."
+
+All this seemed enough to verify Patty's surmises of romance connected
+with the White Lady, but before she could ask a question, Mrs. Leigh
+returned, and Lady Hamilton came with her. After introductions and a few
+words of greeting, Lady Hamilton said to Mr. Fairfield: "I wonder if you
+couldn't be induced to lend me your daughter for an hour or so. I will do
+my best to entertain her."
+
+"Indeed, yes, Lady Hamilton; and I think you will find her quite ready to
+be borrowed. You seemed to cast a magic spell over her, even before she
+knew your name."
+
+"I must confess that I have been wanting to meet her; I have searched
+this room in vain for some mutual friend who might introduce us, but
+until I saw Mrs. Leigh over here, I could find no one. Then, to attract
+Mrs. Leigh's attention, in hope of her helping me, I sent over a signal
+of distress."
+
+"I took it as a flag of truce," said Patty, holding up the white rose as
+it trembled on its stem.
+
+"I thought it was a cipher message," said Nan, smiling. "Patty is so fond
+of puzzles and secret languages, I wasn't sure but it might mean 'All is
+discovered; fly at once!'"
+
+"It means 'all is well'," said Lady Hamilton, in her gracious way; "and
+now I must fly at once with my spoil."
+
+She took possession of Patty, and with a few words of adieu to the
+others, led her from the room. The lady in black rose from the table and
+followed them, and Patty entered the lift, blissfully happy, but a little
+bewildered.
+
+"We'll have our coffee right here," said Lady Hamilton, as having reached
+her drawing-room, she proceeded to adjust some dainty gilt cups that
+stood on a small table. "That is, if you are allowed to have coffee at
+night. From your roseleaf cheeks, I fancy you drink only honeydew or
+buttercup tea."
+
+"No, indeed; I'm far too substantial for those things," said Patty, as
+she dropped into the cosy chair Lady Hamilton had indicated; "and for
+over a year now, I've been allowed to have after-dinner coffee."
+
+"Dear me! what a grown-up! Miss Fairfield, this is Mrs. Betham, my very
+good friend, who looks after me when I get frisky and try to scrape
+acquaintance across a public dining-room."
+
+If Lady Hamilton was lovely when she was silent, she was doubly
+bewitching when she talked in this gay strain. Little dimples came and
+went in her cheeks, so quickly that they had scarcely disappeared before
+they were back again.
+
+Mrs. Betham bowed and spoke politely to Patty, but her voice was quick
+and sharp, and her manner, though courteous, was not attractive.
+
+"I doubt the coffee's hot," she said, as a waiter, who had just brought
+it in, was filling the tiny cups.
+
+"It's steaming," said Lady Hamilton, gaily, and Patty saw at once that
+whatever it was that made her new friend sorrowful, it was not the
+grumbling tones of Mrs. Betham.
+
+"It's quite too hot, Julia," she went on; "unless you're careful, you'll
+steam your throat."
+
+"Not I," growled Mrs. Betham. "I'm not such a stupid as that. But I must
+say I like my coffee at a table like a Christian, and not setting my cup
+in my lap, or holding it up in the air."
+
+"Dear me, Julia," said Lady Hamilton, with great solicitude expressed on
+her face; "dear me, your gout must be very bad to-night. It makes you
+quite cross. Poor dear!"
+
+Mrs. Betham sniffed at this, but a grim smile came into her eyes, and
+Patty concluded she was not quite so grumpy as she seemed.
+
+After the coffee was finished, and the tray taken away, Mrs. Betham
+excused herself and went off to her own room.
+
+"The way it began," said Lady Hamilton, as if to explain her interest in
+Patty, "was one day when I went through the corridors and passed your
+drawing-room, and the door was a little mite ajar, and I heard you
+singing. I am very fond of just that high, sweet kind of voice that you
+have, and I paused a few moments to listen to you. Then afterward I saw
+you in the dining-room two or three times at luncheon or dinner, and I
+took a fancy to know you, for I felt sure I should like you. Do you mind
+coming to see me once in a while, my dear? I am very lonely."
+
+"Mind! No, indeed!" cried Patty, impetuously throwing her arms around her
+new friend. "I loved you the first time I ever saw you. But why do you
+say you are lonely? You, a great lady."
+
+"I will tell you my story in a few words," said Lady Hamilton. "For I
+suppose you would hear it from others, and I would rather tell it you
+myself. I am the daughter of Sir Otho Markleham. Of course, if you were a
+Londoner, you would know all this, but as you're not, I'll tell you.
+Well, I am Sir Otho's only daughter, and four years ago, when I was just
+eighteen, I ran away from home and married Lord Cecil Hamilton. He was a
+good man, but he had quarrelled with my father on a point of politics,
+and my father disapproved of the match. He disowned me as his daughter,
+though he said he would always continue the allowance I had had as a
+girl. I was glad of this, not only because Lord Hamilton, though a man of
+good fortune, was not a wealthy man, but also because it seemed to show
+my father had not entirely cast me off. But he forbade us to go to his
+house, and we went to Paris and lived there for a year. After one year of
+happy married life Cecil died, and since then my only aim in life has
+been to be reconciled to my father. But he will not have it, or at least
+he won't have it unless I make the first overtures toward peace."
+
+"And won't you?" cried Patty, in astonishment.
+
+"Not I! I am not to blame. The two men quarrelled, and now that Cecil is
+gone, why should my father hold the feud against me? It is not my place
+to ask his pardon; I've done nothing wrong."
+
+"You ran away from home," said Patty, thinking only of the justice of the
+case, and quite forgetting that she was seeming to censure a titled
+English lady.
+
+"Yes, but that was not wrong. Father knew that Cecil was a fine,
+honourable man, of an old family. He had no right to forbid my marriage
+because of a foolish personal disagreement."
+
+"Your mother?" said Patty.
+
+"My mother died when I was a child," said Lady Hamilton, and at once
+Patty felt a new bond of companionship.
+
+"I lived alone with my father, in our great house in London, and I had a
+happy and uneventful life, until Cecil came. Since his death, I've longed
+so to go home to my father, and be at peace with him, but though many
+kind friends have tried to bring about a reconciliation, they haven't
+been able to do so."
+
+"And so you live here alone at the Savoy?"
+
+"Yes, with Mrs. Betham, who is really an old dear, though sometimes she
+grumbles terribly."
+
+"And do you go into society?"
+
+"I've begun to go a little, of late. Cecil made me promise I'd never wear
+black dresses, so I've worn white only, ever since he died, and I suppose
+I always shall. That is, in the house. I have black street gowns. But I
+can't seem to care for gay parties as I used to. I want father, and I
+want my home."
+
+"Is your father in London?"
+
+"Oh, yes; he's a Member of Parliament. But he's of a stubborn and
+unyielding nature."
+
+"And so are you?"
+
+"And so am I. Now, let's drop the subject of myself for the present,
+while you sing for me. Will you?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Patty, warmly; "with more pleasure than I ever sang
+for any one else."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A FLORAL OFFERING
+
+
+As the days went by, Patty and Lady Hamilton became close friends. Mr.
+and Mrs. Fairfield approved of the intimacy, for the elder woman's
+influence was in every way good for Patty, and in return the girl brought
+sunshine and happiness into Lady Hamilton's life.
+
+They went together to concerts and picture exhibitions, but Patty could
+rarely persuade her friend to go to a social affair.
+
+"It's absurd, Lady Hamilton," said Patty, one day, "to shut yourself up
+as you do! All London wants you, and yet you won't go 'round and play
+pretty with them."
+
+Ignoring this outburst, Lady Hamilton only smiled, and said: "Do you
+know, Patty, I think it's time you dropped my formal title, and called me
+by my first name. I'd love to have you do so."
+
+"I've often wondered what your first name is, but I haven't the slightest
+idea. Tell me."
+
+"No, guess. What name do you think suits me?"
+
+Patty considered.
+
+"Well," she said, at last, "I think it must be either Ethelfrida or
+Gwendolyn Gladys."
+
+Lady Hamilton laughed merrily. "Prepare yourself for a sudden shock," she
+said. "I was named for my grandmother, Catharine."
+
+"Catharine! What an absurd name for you! You're not even a Kate. But you
+are Lady Kitty, and I'll call you that, if I may."
+
+"Indeed you may. Father used to call me Kitty, when I was a child, but as
+I grew older, I preferred my full name."
+
+"Lady Kitty is just right for you, and when you're in the mood you're a
+saucy puss. Now, listen, the reason for my invasion of your premises this
+morning is that I want you to go with me this afternoon to a tea on the
+Terrace of Parliament House."
+
+Patty's tones were very persuasive, and she looked so daintily attractive
+in her fresh morning gown that few could have refused any request she
+might make.
+
+Lady Hamilton in a soft, frilly white négligée, was sipping her coffee
+and looking over her letters when Patty had interrupted the process. She
+looked at her eager young guest with a slow, provoking smile, and said
+only:
+
+"Nixy."
+
+"But why not?" said Patty, smiling too, for she knew the Englishwoman had
+learned the slangy word from herself. "You'd have a lovely time. It's so
+beautiful there, and the people are always so cordial and pleasant."
+
+"But I don't want to go."
+
+"But you _ought_ to want to. You're too young to give up the pomps and
+vanities of this world. How can I _make_ you go?"
+
+"You can't."
+
+"I know it! That's just the trouble with you. I never saw such a
+stubborn, self-willed, determined----"
+
+"Pigheaded?"
+
+"Yes! and stupidly obstinate thing as you are! So, there now!"
+
+They both laughed, and then Lady Hamilton said more seriously, "Shall I
+tell you why I won't go?"
+
+"Yes, do, if you know, yourself."
+
+"I know perfectly. I won't go to the Terrace because I'm afraid I'll meet
+my father there."
+
+"For goodness' sake! Is that the real reason? But you _want_ to be
+reconciled to him!"
+
+"Yes, but you don't understand. We couldn't have a 'Come home and all
+will be forgiven' scene on the Terrace, in sight of hundreds of people,
+so if I did see him, I should have to bow slightly, or cut him dead; it
+would depend on his attitude toward me which I did. _Then_ the episode
+would merely serve to widen the breach, and it would break me up for
+days."
+
+"I can't understand such conditions," said Patty, earnestly. "Why, if I
+were at odds with my father, and I can't even imagine such a thing, I'd
+rush at him and fling myself into his arms and stay there till everything
+was all right."
+
+"That's just because you're of a different temperament, and so is your
+father. My father is an austere, unbending man, and if I were on the
+Terrace and were to fling myself into his arms, he'd very likely fling me
+into the Thames."
+
+"You'd probably be rescued," said Patty, gravely; "there's always so much
+traffic."
+
+"Yes, but father wouldn't jump in to rescue me, so I'd only spoil my gown
+for nothing. Give it up, dear, it's a case outside your experience.
+Father and I are both too proud to make the first advance, and yet I
+really believe he wants me as much as I want him. He must be very lonely
+in the great house, with only the servants to look after him."
+
+"Perhaps he'll marry again," said Patty, thoughtfully; "my father did."
+
+"I wish he would, but I've no hope of that. Now, never mind about my
+troubles, tell me of your own. Who's taking you to the tea?"
+
+"Mrs. Hastings. But she isn't giving it. We're to sit at some Member's
+table; I don't know whose. The Merediths will be there, too. Tom and
+Grace, you know. I like them very much."
+
+"Yes, they're nice children. I know them slightly. Patty, some day I'll
+give a party for you, here in my rooms. How would you like that?"
+
+"Oh, Lady Kitty, I'd love it! You'd have to come to that, wouldn't you?"
+
+"Yes, indeed, you couldn't drive me away. Let's have a children's party.
+All dress as children, I mean; little children, or babies."
+
+"Just the thing! I always wanted to see a party like that. I've only
+heard of them. Can we have it soon?"
+
+"Next week, I think. I'll consult Mrs. Betham, and I think I can coax her
+'round to it; though she's bound to wet-blanket it at first."
+
+"Oh, yes, you can coax her, I know. How good you are to me! I do have
+beautiful times. Really too many for one girl. Honestly, Lady Kitty, do
+you think it's right for me to lead such a butterfly life? I just fly
+about from one entertainment to another; and even if I'm at home, or
+alone, I always have a good time. Sometimes I think I'm a very useless
+member of this busy world."
+
+Lady Hamilton smiled kindly. "How old are you?" she said.
+
+"I'll be eighteen next month."
+
+"And you haven't set the Thames on fire, or won the Victoria Cross yet?
+But you're just at the age when your type of happy girlhood is often
+beset with over-conscientious scruples. Don't give way to them, Patty. It
+is not your lot to do definite, physical good to suffering humanity, like
+a Red Cross nurse, or the Salvation Army. Nor is it necessary that you
+should work to earn your bread, like a teacher or a stenographer. But it
+is your duty, or rather your privilege, to shed sunshine wherever you go.
+I think I've never known any one with such a talent for spontaneous and
+unconscious giving-out of happiness. It is involuntary, which is its
+chiefest charm, but whoever is with you for a time is cheered and
+comforted just by the influence of your own gladness. This is honest
+talk, my child, and I want you to take it as I mean it. Don't _try_ to do
+this thing, that would spoil it all; but just remember that you _do_ do
+it, and let that satisfy your desire to be a useful member of this busy
+world."
+
+"You're such a dear," said Patty, as she caressed her friend's hand
+affectionately; "if that's all true, and of course it is, since you say
+so, I'm very glad. But can't I do something more definite, more
+voluntary?"
+
+"Of course there are always opportunities for doing good,--organised
+charities and those things that everybody takes part in. But if you want
+to widen your own field of benefaction, simply know more people. Whether
+you know them socially or as casual acquaintances, you will almost
+invariably add happiness to their lives, though it be in the merest
+trifles. Now, I'm assuming that you have sense enough not to overdo this
+thing, and thrust yourself upon people who don't want you."
+
+"Madam," said Patty, in mock indignation, "you may trust me. I am an
+American!"
+
+"You are indeed; and you have what is known as Yankee good sense, if you
+are a mere infant."
+
+"Eighteen is pretty old, _I_ think; and you're not so very ancient,
+yourself," retorted Patty; "but I'm willing to sit at your feet and
+acquire wisdom."
+
+When dressed to go out that afternoon, Patty stopped at Lady Hamilton's
+door to say good-bye.
+
+"Come in, and let me see if you'll pass muster. Yes, that frilly,
+flowered muslin is just right for the Terrace; and that hat with long
+streamers is truly pastoral."
+
+"What's pastoral about the Terrace, pray?"
+
+"Nothing but the ladies' clothes, and the lamb-like demeanour of the
+M.P.'s."
+
+"I may see your father there."
+
+"You may. But he'll be an exception to the lamb-like ones. Here, let me
+put these valley lilies in your belt. They rather suit your costume."
+
+"Oh, thank you; they're beautiful. If I see your father, I'll give him a
+spray and say you sent it."
+
+"Very well; he'll then pitch you and the flowers all in the Thames
+together." "Well, at least we'll cause a sensation among the lambs.
+Good-by, Kitty lady."
+
+"Good-bye, little one. Have a good time, and come in to tell me about it
+when you return."
+
+The tea on the Terrace was a new delight. Patty had been through the
+Houses of Parliament before, but this was her first experience of that
+unique function known as the Terrace Tea.
+
+The broad, beautiful space was crowded with tables, and the tables were
+crowded with people. Merry, chatting, laughing Londoners, Americans, and
+foreigners mingled in groups and drank tea together.
+
+Mrs. Hastings and Patty were met by their host, Mr. Pauncefote, and
+escorted to a table, already surrounded by several people.
+
+Patty felt greatly pleased when she found herself seated between Grace
+and Tom Meredith, and listened with interest as they designated various
+celebrated people who were strolling by.
+
+"But, after all," she said, at last, "Dukes and Duchesses don't look very
+different from ordinary people."
+
+"Of course they don't. Why should they? They aren't any different," said
+Tom. "Indeed, Miss Fairfield, I've vanity enough to believe you'd find me
+more interesting than some of the Dukes."
+
+"I'm sure you are," laughed Patty, "but if I were introduced to a real
+Duke, I'd be so scared I wouldn't know what to say."
+
+"Now I call that too bad," declared Tom, with an aggrieved look. "And,
+pray, why aren't you scared when in my august society?"
+
+"I am," said Patty, dimpling, as she smiled at him, "only I'm
+successfully striving not to show my quaking fright."
+
+"That's better. I hope the longer you know me, the more awed you'll be of
+my,--of my----"
+
+"Of your what?" calmly inquired his sister.
+
+"'Pon my word, I don't know," confessed Tom, good-naturedly; "of my
+awesomeness, I suppose."
+
+"How do you like London?" said a loud voice, in the tones that are
+sometimes called stentorian, and Patty suddenly realised that her host
+was addressing her.
+
+A bit embarrassed at finding the eyes of all at the table upon her, she
+answered, shyly: "I love it; it is so--so kind to me."
+
+"Bravo! Pretty good for an American," shouted Mr. Pauncefote, who seemed
+unable to moderate his voice. "And which do you like best, the people or
+the show-places?"
+
+"The people," said Patty, her embarrassment lost sight of in a flash of
+mischief. "I like the Members of Parliament better than Parliament
+House."
+
+"Good! Good!" cried the portly M.P., striking the table with his fist
+until the cups rattled; "that's true Yankee cleverness. You're a good
+sort, my child. Are they all like you in America?"
+
+"Yes, I think so," said Patty, demurely; "are they all like you in
+England?"
+
+Patty's innocent air of inquiry robbed the speech of all effect of
+pertness, and the genial Mr. Pauncefote roared with delight.
+
+"Ha, ha!" he cried; "all like me in England? No, my child, no! Heaven be
+praised, there are very few after my pattern."
+
+"That's too bad," said Patty. "I think your pattern is a good one."
+
+"It is," said Tom Meredith. "If we had more statesmen after Mr.
+Pauncefote's pattern, the House of Commons would be better off."
+
+This speech called forth applause from the other guests, and the host
+said, loudly: "Pshaw, pshaw!" but he looked greatly pleased.
+
+When the tea was over and the party rose from the table, Mr. Pauncefote
+detained Patty for a moment's chat, while the others broke up into
+smaller groups or wandered away.
+
+"I want you to meet my daughter," he was saying; "the young lady in gray
+over there, talking to Sir Otho."
+
+"Sir Otho who?" said Patty, quickly, forgetting to respond in regard to
+Miss Pauncefote.
+
+"Sir Otho Markleham; see the large gentleman with gold-rimmed glasses.
+She is my youngest daughter, and I know she'd be glad to meet you."
+
+"I'd be delighted," said Patty, but her attention centred on Sir Otho.
+
+Could it be that was Lady Hamilton's severe father? He did not look so
+obstinate as she had imagined him, but as she drew nearer, she observed
+the firm set of his square jaw and reversed her opinion.
+
+Sir Otho was very tall and big, and his smoothly brushed hair was light
+brown without a trace of gray.
+
+He wore closely-trimmed whiskers, of the style known as "mutton-chop,"
+and his cold gray eyes almost glittered as he looked through his glasses.
+The introduction to Miss Pauncefote implied also an introduction to Sir
+Otho, and in a moment Patty found herself chatting in a group of which
+Lady Kitty's father was one.
+
+There was something about the big man that awed her, and she naturally
+fell into conversation with Miss Pauncefote, while the two gentlemen
+talked together. But as they were all about to separate, and even after
+Sir Otho had said good-afternoon, Patty hesitated irresolutely for a
+second, and then turned back toward him again.
+
+"Sir Otho," she said, timidly.
+
+"Well, ma'am, what is it?" was the response as he turned in surprise to
+look at her.
+
+"I am very glad to meet you," said Patty, and as soon as the words were
+uttered, she realised how absurd they were.
+
+"Thank you, ma'am," said the puzzled gentleman. He was very unresponsive,
+and showed in his face that he thought little of this exhibition of
+American forwardness.
+
+"Especially so," Patty went on, "because I know your daughter, Lady
+Hamilton."
+
+"Bless my soul!" ejaculated Sir Otho Markleham, the red blood dyeing his
+large face crimson, and his eyes fairly snapping with anger.
+
+"Yes, I do," went on Patty, resolved now to plunge in desperately, "and
+she sent you these flowers."
+
+Patty had previously detached two or three of the prettiest sprays of the
+lilies of the valley, and now held them out, with the air of one
+fulfilling a trust.
+
+For a moment Sir Otho Markleham looked as if he would really like to
+pitch the American girl and her flowers into the river, and then, almost
+mechanically, he took the blossoms from Patty's hand.
+
+Then, with a straight, cold stare at her, he said, in a hard voice: "I
+have no daughter," and after a stiff, formal bow, he walked away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+MISS YANKEE DOODLE
+
+
+"You didn't, really!" exclaimed Lady Hamilton, as Patty gleefully
+described giving the flowers to Sir Otho Markleham.
+
+"But I did, Kitty, and truly, he _was_ mad enough to pitch me into that
+yellow muddy old river. I greatly admire his self-control in not really
+doing it. But what eyes he has! So gray and steely, they cut right
+through me! And he just said, tragically, 'I have no daughter,' and
+stalked away. But--and this is the main thing--he kept the flowers!"
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"I watched him. I fully expected he'd fling them straight over Parliament
+House, but he didn't. He didn't even throw them on the stone floor of the
+Terrace, and gr-r-rind them 'neath his iron heel! I can't say that he put
+them in his button-hole, for his back was toward me, but I _know_ he kept
+them."
+
+"Oh, Patty, you are a silly! You think you've gone far toward healing the
+family feud of the Marklehams. But you haven't. My father gave the whole
+episode no thought at all, unless it was to think of you as an
+impertinent child."
+
+"Well, it was a wedge," said Patty, doggedly, "and if I ever get another
+chance at him, I'll hammer it in."
+
+"No, don't, Patty dear; you mean well, I know, but you don't know
+father's disposition. If he thought you were an intermediary, he'd be
+more stubborn than ever."
+
+"Huh!" said Patty, more expressively than politely; "I'm not going to
+make any trouble. Trust your Aunt Patty for that!"
+
+Lady Hamilton laughed, as she always did at Patty's funny American
+phrases, and the subject of Sir Otho was dropped.
+
+"Better not mix yourself up in other people's quarrels," said Mr.
+Fairfield, when Patty told him about it. "Your motive is a good one, but
+an Englishman is not apt to brook interference from an outsider,
+especially an American."
+
+"Oh, pshaw, Fred; Patty won't do any harm," said Nan. "Patty's tact is a
+match for any English temper, and if she could bring about a
+reconciliation, I'd be so glad for that sweet Lady Hamilton."
+
+"All right; I give in. When you two are against me, I hold up my hands."
+
+"We're not against you, Daddy," said Patty, smiling fondly at her father.
+"You're on our side, only you don't quite realise it."
+
+"I told you she had tact," laughed Nan, "and she grows cleverer every
+day; don't you, Stepdaughter?"
+
+"Yes, Stepmother," replied Patty, gazing at Nan in mock adoration; "since
+I have you for a model, how could I do otherwise?"
+
+"You're a pair of sillies," said Mr. Fairfield, laughing at their
+nonsense, "and in a vain endeavour to improve your minds, I think I'll
+read aloud to you."
+
+"Oh, goody!" cried Patty, for they both loved to hear Mr. Fairfield read.
+"And mayn't I ask Lady Kitty to come in? She'll sit still as a mouse, I
+know."
+
+"Certainly, my child; ask any one you like. If you see any people in the
+corridors, bring them back with you. Perhaps the elevator man will come."
+
+"'Deed he won't be asked," said Patty, indignantly. "I just want my
+sweet, lovely Lady Kitty."
+
+The sweet, lovely lady was pleased to come, and did indeed sit still as a
+mouse, listening to Mr. Fairfield's fine reading.
+
+Then Patty sang one or two of her newest songs, and then Nan declared
+they must all go down to the Grill Room for a Welsh Rabbit.
+
+This plan enchanted Patty, and after a moment's hesitation, Lady Hamilton
+agreed. So the evening proved a merry little festivity, and Patty went to
+bed healthily tired, but healthily happy.
+
+Bob Hartley did not forget his promise to ask Patty to the Garden Party
+at Regent's Park, and Patty gladly accepted the invitation.
+
+"The only thing that bothers me," she said to Nan, "is that the Hartleys
+don't seem to have much money, and at a Charity Garden Party there are so
+many ways to spend, that I fear I'll be a burden to them. It makes me
+awfully uncomfortable, and yet I can't offer to pay for myself. And with
+those young men present, I can't offer to pay for the whole party."
+
+"No," agreed Nan. "But you might do something yourself. Invite them all
+to be your guests at some especial side-show, or booth. There are often
+such opportunities."
+
+"I hope there will be. The Hartleys are a funny kind of poor. They have a
+good apartment in London, and their country place is fine. They have old
+servants, and keep a carriage, and all that, and yet they never seem to
+have spending money."
+
+"English people are often like that. The keeping up of an establishment
+comes first with them, and little personal comforts afterward."
+
+"That isn't my idea of economy," said Patty, decidedly; "I'd rather spend
+all I want on flowers and books and pretty hats, and go without a butler
+and a footman and even a team of horses."
+
+"You can't judge, because you've always had whatever you want."
+
+"Of course; because father is indulgent and has plenty of money. But if
+he hadn't, I'd be just as happy, living in a plainer way."
+
+"Yes, Patty, I believe you would," and Nan looked at the girl
+affectionately. "Well, do your best to help the Hartleys financially this
+afternoon without offending them."
+
+"Ah, that's just the trouble. They're so dreadfully proud they won't
+accept so much as a glass of lemonade from one who is their guest."
+
+"Try it, and see. It may not be so difficult as you think."
+
+So Patty went gaily off to the Garden Party. Mrs. Hartley called for her
+in her carriage. Mabel was with her, and they were to meet the boys at
+the park.
+
+It was a beautiful drive, in the open victoria, along the busy streets of
+the city, and then on out to the green slopes of Regent's Park.
+
+The portion of the park devoted to the Garden Party was gay with booths
+and flower-stands, tents and arbours, and catch-penny shows of all sorts.
+
+Sinclair and Robert were awaiting them, and also another young
+Englishman, whom Bob introduced as Mr. Lawton. The latter was a typical
+Briton, with a slight drawl, and a queer-looking monocle in his right
+eye.
+
+"Awfully jolly to meet you," he exclaimed, as he shook Mrs. Hartley's
+hand, and bowed formally to the girls.
+
+He fascinated Patty, he was so exactly like the young Englishmen pictured
+in _Punch_, and she waited to hear him say "Bah Jove!" But he didn't say
+it, he contented himself with "My word!" by way of expletive, and though
+it didn't seem to mean anything, it was apparently useful to him.
+
+"You must jolly well let me be your guide," he declared; "Mrs. Hartley
+and I will lead and the rest of you will follow wherever we go. First, we
+make the grand tour."
+
+This meant joining a long procession that were sauntering along a board
+walk, on either side of which were settees filled with people.
+
+Patty, with Sinclair, followed the leaders, and Mabel and Bob followed
+them.
+
+But their progress was slow, for continually some of the party recognised
+friends seated alongside, and stopped to speak to them. Patty was
+introduced so often that she became bewildered, and soon stopped trying
+to remember who was who.
+
+"You're getting jolly well fagged," said Mr. Lawton, suddenly noticing
+her expression. "Now, we'll stop this merry-go-round and adjourn to the
+tea tent."
+
+This they did, and were soon comfortably seated round a tea table.
+
+"Great show, isn't it?" said Bob, enthusiastically. "And you haven't seen
+half of it yet. There's fortune-telling, and Punch and Judy, and the
+hat-trimming contest, and I don't know what beside."
+
+Sinclair adroitly paid the tea bill, before Mr. Lawton could do so,
+though the latter tried.
+
+"Never mind, old fellow," he cried, "I'll get even with you! I hereby
+invite you all to supper at six o'clock."
+
+"We're pleased to accept," said Patty, promptly; "and I hereby invite you
+all to the play, or whatever it is, given by the Stagefright Club. I
+think that's such a lovely name for a dramatic club. Can't we go at
+once?"
+
+Mrs. Hartley looked a little disturbed at Patty's invitation, but did not
+demur, and tea being over, they all went toward the tent where the play
+was to be given. Patty managed to walk ahead with Mr. Lawton, this time,
+and when they reached the big tent, she offered him her little gold
+chain-purse, saying, quietly, "Won't you see to the tickets, please?"
+
+"Trust me," said Mr. Lawton, and taking Patty's purse, he bought seats
+for them all. It was gracefully done, and they all went in in gay spirits
+and without a trace of embarrassment, thanks to Patty's tact.
+
+The play was very funny. Though only a trifling farce, it was written by
+professionals, for the benefit of the charity, and was played by the
+clever amateurs who had chosen such an odd name for their club. The
+situations in the play were screamingly funny, and Patty shook with
+laughter as she listened to the jokes and the merry by-play.
+
+"Hist, she comes!" declared a weird figure in a sepulchral voice, as he
+waited in the middle of the stage.
+
+"Hist, she comes!"
+
+But nobody came.
+
+"That's her cue," he muttered; "what can be the matter? I say," he
+cleared his throat and spoke louder: "Hist, she comes!" As the expected
+entrance was still delayed, he only said: "Well, she ought to be hissed
+when she does come!" And calmly sat down to wait for her, amid the
+applause of the audience.
+
+The short playlet soon came to an end, and still shaking with laughter,
+the party went out again into the beautiful atmosphere which is found on
+a spring day in Regent's Park.
+
+"Now, my children," said Mrs. Hartley, "I simply cannot walk about any
+more. I'm going to sit in one of those chairs yonder, for I see some
+people I know over there. You can amuse yourselves with Punch and Judy,
+or Ring Toss or whatever you like, and come back to me in an hour or so.
+Sinclair, look after the little ones, won't you?"
+
+It was a great joke that Sinclair, the oldest Hartley boy, should look
+after the others. He had reached the age of twenty, and was much more
+grave and dignified than Bob and Grace. Mrs. Hartley often declared she
+could even trust him to match samples for her, so careful was he. So the
+young people wandered away and spent a delightful hour looking at the
+beautiful or grotesque sights that adorned the fair.
+
+Patty could not do much financially, but under cover of giving to
+charity, she bought pretty souvenirs for Mabel and Mrs. Hartley, and
+laughingly invited the group to be photographed by a Camera Fiend.
+
+This personage was clothed in red, and with black horns and Mephistophelean
+countenance was made to look as much like a fiend as possible. With
+outlandish hoots and yells, he posed the group and took several snapshots,
+which they were to call for later.
+
+As they concluded it was nearly time to drift back to Mrs. Hartley, Patty
+noticed a gentleman who stood at a little distance, looking at her
+intently.
+
+"Who's your friend, Patty?" asked Mabel. "Do you know him?"
+
+"Yes," said Patty, slowly. "He's Sir Otho Markleham."
+
+"So he is," said Bob. "I've seen him often, but I don't know him
+personally."
+
+Sir Otho, still looking at Patty, took a few steps toward her, and then
+paused irresolutely.
+
+"Please excuse me," said Patty to the others, "I think I'll go speak to
+him for a minute."
+
+"Do," said Mr. Lawton; "we'll wait for you right here."
+
+Following an impulse, Patty walked directly toward Sir Otho, who looked
+as if he would like to run away.
+
+"How do you do?" she said, pleasantly, as they met.
+
+"Quite well," he said, but there was no responsiveness in his manner. "Do
+you wish to speak to me?"
+
+Now after he had first advanced toward Patty, this was a strange
+question, but she bravely took up the burden of conversation.
+
+"Well, yes," she said, smiling at him prettily; "I want to ask you how
+you are enjoying the Garden Party."
+
+"I never enjoy anything," he returned, but his face was sad now, rather
+than angry.
+
+"Oh, what a pity!" said Patty, involuntarily, "and you have such powers
+of enjoyment, too."
+
+"How do you know that, Miss Yankee Doodle?"
+
+Patty didn't altogether like the name, or rather the tone in which it was
+said, but she was determined not to get piqued. So she said:
+
+"Oh, because you're such a big, healthy, hearty-looking man; you ought to
+laugh most of the time."
+
+"Ought I, indeed? But you see I never have anything to laugh at."
+
+At this Patty laughed outright.
+
+"Why, the world is full of things to laugh at,--and you're not blind."
+
+"No, but I don't feel like laughing."
+
+"Don't you ever even feel like smiling?"
+
+"Not often."
+
+"Didn't you feel like smiling just a little bit of a happy smile, when I
+gave you those flowers the other day? Those flowers--from Kitty."
+
+Sir Otho's face grew dark.
+
+"How dare you mention her name to me?" he cried. "You are a saucy minx!
+Go away!"
+
+"I won't be sent away like that," declared Patty, looking haughty now.
+"I'm no child to be scolded for nothing. How dare you speak to me like
+that? What do you think I am?"
+
+Sir Otho turned red with rage. He choked and stammered and looked like a
+choleric old gentleman, as indeed he was.
+
+"I think you're an impertinent Yankee. What do you think I am?"
+
+Patty looked him squarely in the eye. Her chance had come, and she did
+not flinch.
+
+"I think," she said, looking steadfastly at him, "I think you're an
+obstinate, stubborn, selfish, cruel old--Pighead!"
+
+She confessed, afterward, that at that moment she fully expected the
+irate old man to strike her. But he did not. Instead, he looked at her
+just a moment in amazement, and then burst into peals of laughter.
+
+Surprised beyond measure, but unable to resist the infectious merriment,
+Patty laughed too.
+
+"Oh, Miss Yankee Doodle," said Sir Otho, wiping his eyes, "you are most
+astonishing. The strange part is, you are quite right. I _am_ a stubborn
+old Pighead, but how did you know it? Do I wear my heart on my sleeve to
+that extent?"
+
+"Have you a heart?" asked Patty, so gravely that Sir Otho again roared
+with laughter.
+
+"And yet," said Patty, thoughtfully, seeing that frankness pleased the
+old man, "and yet, no one with such a sense of humour as you seem to have
+can be wholly bad."
+
+"Oh, thank you! So I'm not wholly bad? Well, that's a comfort; I always
+thought I was. But your friends are looking this way. I think they want
+you to rejoin them."
+
+"In a moment," said Patty. "Sir Otho,--won't you--please--send a flower
+back to my friend, Lady Hamilton?"
+
+"I would do much for any friend of yours," said the strange old man, very
+gravely, and taking a few steps to a nearby flower stand, he bought a
+bunch of sweet peas, and said, carelessly, "Give her those, if you like."
+
+Then formally escorting Patty back to her friends, he raised his hat, and
+walked quickly away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+HERENDEN HALL
+
+
+"There, Kitty lady," said Patty, as she reached the Savoy on her return
+from the Garden Party, "there's a nosegay from your affectionate father."
+
+Lady Hamilton stared at the bunch of sweet peas that Patty held out to
+her.
+
+"My word!" she exclaimed, "you are the most amazing child! I suppose he
+sent them to me just about as much as I sent him those valley lilies you
+took to him the other day."
+
+Lady Kitty guessed so near the truth that Patty felt a little
+crestfallen.
+
+"It was more than that," she said. "I asked him to send some flowers to
+you, and he bought these purposely."
+
+"Did he select sweet peas, himself?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That means something, then, Patty dear; for father well knows my
+fondness for these flowers. Well, you're a dear, good little girl to try
+to heal the breach, but I can't feel much encouragement. Father is too
+old and too obstinate ever to forgive me."
+
+"And you're too young and too obstinate to go and beg his forgiveness!"
+
+"Indeed I am! Fancy my meekly returning, like a prodigal daughter, when I
+haven't done anything wrong!"
+
+"You don't deserve a reconciliation," cried Patty; "you're a hard-hearted
+little thing,--for all you look so soft and amiable."
+
+"Yes," said Lady Kitty, demurely; "I inherited my father's disposition."
+
+"Indeed, you did; and you'll grow more like him every day you live, if
+you don't try to be more forgiving."
+
+"I believe you're right, Patty; and perhaps some day I will try. But now
+let me tell you what's been happening. While you were away, I had a call
+from that very charming stepmother of yours. And this was the burden of
+her visit. It seems that she and your father are invited to spend the
+week-end at a country house, and the question was, where to pack you away
+for safe-keeping while they're gone."
+
+"And they're going to let me stay with you!" exclaimed Patty, clasping
+her hands and assuming an ecstatically happy expression.
+
+"Well, Mrs. Nan seemed to think that I could keep you in order, though
+I'm not so sure of it myself. But the strange part is, I also am invited
+for this same week-end to a most delightful country house, and I have
+already accepted."
+
+Patty's face fell.
+
+"What is to become of poor little me?" she said. "I don't want to stay
+with Mrs. Betham."
+
+"No; I've a plan for you. And it's this. I want to take you with me to
+Herenden Hall, where I'm going, and,--Mrs. Nan says I may."
+
+"Oh, Kitty! You duck! How perfectly lovely!" Patty flew at her friend,
+and nearly strangled her in a spasmodic embrace.
+
+"You see," went on Lady Hamilton, when she had regained her breath, "I'm
+so well acquainted with the Herendens, that I can ask an invitation for
+you; and though you're not really 'out' yet, it will give you a glimpse
+of the nicest kind of English country-house life."
+
+"It's great!" declared Patty. "I'm wild with excitement. But I care more
+about being with you than I do about the house-party."
+
+"You won't when you get there. They're really charming people, and the
+Hall is one of the finest old estates in England."
+
+"Shall I have to have some new frocks?"
+
+"We'll look over your wardrobe, and see. I fancy the ones you already
+have will do. You know you'll be looked upon as scarcely more than a
+schoolgirl, and you must wear simple, frilly muslins and broad-leafed
+hats."
+
+"I can even live through that! I don't care what I wear if I'm with you.
+Three whole days! Will it be three days, Kitty?"
+
+"Three days or more. If they politely ask us to remain a day or two
+longer we might do so. They're old friends of mine, do you see? And I
+haven't been there for years, so they'll be glad to see us."
+
+"To see you, you mean. They don't know me, so how can they be glad to see
+me?"
+
+"Oh, you must,--what is your idiotic American phrase? You must 'make
+good'!"
+
+"I will," said Patty, laughing to hear the phrase from an Englishwoman,
+and then she ran away to her own apartment, to talk over affairs with
+Nan.
+
+"It's a great piece of good fortune," said Nan, "that you're such good
+friends with Lady Hamilton, for Fred and I couldn't take you with us, and
+what would have become of you?"
+
+"Oh, I always land on my feet," returned Patty, "I must have been born
+under a lucky star."
+
+"I believe you were, Pattykins."
+
+"And won't I have the time of my life at Herenden Hall----"
+
+"Oh, Patty, Patty, you must stop using slang. They'll never ask you to
+Herenden Hall again if you behave like a wild Indian."
+
+"But you see, Stepmother, they look upon me as an infant anyhow, so I may
+as well have some fun."
+
+"But don't be a hoyden, and do remember that American slang isn't admired
+over here."
+
+"Yas'm; I'll be good. And I'll say 'Really?' and 'Only fancy!' till
+they'll think I'm the daughter of a hundred Earls."
+
+"I'm not at all worried about your manners," said Nan, serenely. "You
+usually behave pretty well, but you will talk American instead of
+English."
+
+"Well, I'll try to make myself understood, at all events. And you're
+going to have a lovely time, too, aren't you? Isn't it fun! I do like to
+have all my friends as happy as I am. I suppose you and father will be
+like two young turtle-doves off on your honeymoon trip."
+
+"Oh, we're always that, even when there's a great, big girl like you
+around to make us seem old."
+
+"Well, if you behave as well as you look, I won't be ashamed of you."
+Patty gazed critically at Nan, and then added, "Though your nose does
+seem to turn up more than it used to."
+
+Whereupon Nan threw a sofa-pillow at her, which Patty caught and stuffed
+behind her own curly head.
+
+The Saturday of their departure was a beautiful, bright day, and it was
+about noon when Patty and Lady Hamilton, accompanied by the latter's
+maid, took the train from Victoria Station.
+
+It was a long ride to their destination in Kent, and not an especially
+interesting one, but Patty, in the companionship of her dear friend, was
+entirely happy. They chatted gaily as the train rolled from one English
+town to another. At Robertsbridge they had to change to a funny little
+railroad, which had the strangest cars Patty had ever seen.
+
+They were almost like freight cars, with benches along the sides. There
+were no tickets, and presently the guard came in to collect their fares,
+as if in a street-car.
+
+Moreover the luggage had been tumbled in without check or paster, and
+Patty wondered if anybody ever could pick out their own again.
+
+"Your regular first-class coaches are funny enough," she said to Lady
+Hamilton, "but they are comfortable. This box we're in is like a cattle
+pen."
+
+"Oh, no," laughed Lady Hamilton; "this isn't bad at all. You see it's
+only a tiny branch road, running to some little hamlets, and it's not
+much used. There are only about two trains each way every day."
+
+This gave Patty a different idea of the little railroad, and she began to
+feel a more personal interest in it. They rolled slowly through the
+hop-growing country, and though the scenery was not grand, it was
+picturesque. Patty said it was like a panorama of "The Angelus." They
+reached their station at about five o'clock, and found a fine open
+barouche awaiting them, and a wagon for their trunks.
+
+The footman greeted them deferentially, and asked them to pick out their
+luggage from the lot that had been dumped on the station platform.
+
+"I can't see either of my trunks," said Patty. "So I suppose I'd better
+take the ones I like best of these others."
+
+"Nonsense," said Lady Hamilton; "yours must be here somewhere. Look
+around, Marie; you know Miss Fairfield's boxes."
+
+"Yes, my Lady; but they are not here."
+
+Sure enough, they weren't there, and as Patty was certain they had been
+put on the train, she concluded they had been carried on.
+
+"What can I do?" she cried. "Can we telephone to the next station and
+have them sent back?"
+
+But in that small station, merely a tiny box, there was no telephone.
+
+The impassive coachman and footman from Herenden Hall seemed to have no
+advice to offer, so there was nothing to do but to proceed to the house.
+
+Patty was distressed at the outlook.
+
+"Oh, Kitty," she said; "I can't go to dinner at all! Of course I couldn't
+appear in this travelling costume, and I'll have to put on one of your
+négligées, and eat dinner all alone in my room!"
+
+The prospect was appalling, but neither of them could think of any help
+for it.
+
+"Has Lady Herenden any daughters about my age?" Patty asked, after a few
+moments' thought.
+
+"No, indeed. She and Lord Herenden have no children. But if there are any
+young girls there as guests, you might borrow a frock for to-night.
+Surely they'll get your things by to-morrow."
+
+They drove into the park, through great gates, and past various lodges.
+The wonderful old trees waved above their heads; the marvellous lawns
+stretched away in rolling slopes; and the well-kept road wound along, now
+over a bridge, now under an arch until they paused at the noble old
+entrance of Herenden Hall.
+
+Liveried servants seemed to appear, as if by magic, from all directions
+at once. Dogs came, barking a noisy welcome, and, following Lady Hamilton
+across the terrace and into the great entrance hall, Patty found herself
+being presented to a lovely young woman, almost as beautiful as Lady
+Hamilton herself.
+
+"You must be the greatest chums," Lady Hamilton was saying, "for Miss
+Fairfield is one of my dearest friends, and I want you to adore each
+other."
+
+"We will!" said Lady Herenden and Patty, at the same moment, and then
+they all laughed, and the guests were at once shown to their rooms.
+
+After a bewildering route through several branching halls, Patty found
+that to her had been assigned a large and pleasant room, which looked out
+upon the rose-garden. On one side it communicated with Lady Hamilton's
+room, and on the other opened into a dainty dressing-room and bath. It
+was all enchanting, and Patty's gaze rested admiringly upon the chintz
+draperies and Dresden ornaments, when she heard a tap at her door.
+Answering, she found a trim maid, who courtesied and said: "I'm Susan,
+Miss. Will you give me the keys of your boxes, and I'll unpack them."
+
+Patty almost laughed at this casual request, in the face of what seemed
+to her a tragedy.
+
+"Susan," she said, "here are the keys, but you can't unpack my boxes for
+they haven't come."
+
+"Lor', Miss; they must be downstairs. I'll have them sent up."
+
+"No--wait, Susan; they're not downstairs. They didn't come on the train."
+
+"Lor', Miss, whatever will you do?"
+
+The girl's eyes grew big and troubled. Here was a dreadful situation
+indeed! Already Susan felt drawn toward the pretty young American girl,
+and she was aghast at the outlook of a dinner party with no party frock.
+
+"I can't go to dinner at all, Susan," said Patty, dejectedly. "You must
+bring me a tray up here--though I don't feel like eating."
+
+"Not go to dinner, Miss? Oh, what a pity! It's a grand dinner to-night.
+The Earl of Ruthven is here, and it's one of her ladyship's greatest
+dinners of the season."
+
+The good Susan looked so concerned, and her face was so anxious, that it
+went straight to Patty's heart. To her mind there came a vivid and
+tantalising remembrance of her exquisite dinner frock, of white
+chiffon, embroidered with tiny sprays of blossoms--a soft sash and
+shoulder-knots--one of the loveliest dresses she had ever had, and with a
+sob she threw herself on to the couch and indulged in a few foolish but
+comforting tears.
+
+"There, there, Miss," said Susan, sympathisingly, "don't ee take on so.
+Maybe we can find summat for ee."
+
+When Susan was excited or troubled, she lapsed into her old dialect,
+which she was striving to outgrow.
+
+"You can't find anything, I know," said Patty, sitting up, and looking
+the picture of woe. "There are no very young ladies in the house, are
+there, Susan?"
+
+"No, Miss, none so young as yourself, nor near it."
+
+"And I can't wear this," went on Patty, looking at the silk blouse that
+was part of her travelling gown.
+
+"Lor' no, Miss; not to a dinner!"
+
+"Then what?"
+
+"Then what, indeed, Miss!"
+
+Patty and Susan faced each other, at last in a full realisation of the
+hopelessness of the situation, when, after a light tap at the door, Lady
+Hamilton came in.
+
+She laughed outright at the tragic attitude of the two, and knew at once
+what they were troubled about.
+
+"Listen to me, Pattypet," she said. "Am I your fairy godmother, or am I
+not?"
+
+"You are," said Patty, with an air of conviction, and feeling sure that
+Lady Hamilton was about to help her out of her troubles, somehow.
+
+"Well, I've carefully considered the case. I've sent Marie to canvass the
+house for clothes suitable for a mademoiselle of seventeen."
+
+"Nearly eighteen," murmured Patty.
+
+"It doesn't matter. There isn't what's known as a 'misses' costume'
+beneath this roof. Now, I simply refuse to let you be absent from this
+dinner. It will be both a pleasure and an education to you to see this
+especial kind of a formal function, and probably you'll not often have a
+chance. They've sent a man and a wagon over to the next station, several
+miles away for your boxes; that's the way they do things here. But he
+can't get back until long after the dinner hour. So listen, to my
+command, dictum, fiat--call it what you please, but this is what you're
+to do."
+
+"I'll do anything you say, Kitty Lady, if it's to go to bed at once, and
+sleep soundly till morning."
+
+"Nothing of the sort. You must and shall attend this dinner. And--you're
+going to wear one of my gowns!"
+
+"Yours?"
+
+"Yes. We're so nearly the same size that it will fit you quite well
+enough. I've picked out the simplest one, a white Irish point. It's cut
+princess, but all my gowns are. I'm sure Marie can make it fit you
+perfectly, with a few pins or a stitch here and there."
+
+"Oh, it will fit well enough, but, Kitty, won't I be the grown-up! I've
+never worn a real train in my life!"
+
+"Of course it's a lot too old for you, and truly, I hate to have you
+appear in a gown like that. But what else can we do? I won't let you miss
+the dinner--and after all, it doesn't matter so much. After this visit I
+doubt if you'll ever see these people again, and let them think you're
+five or six years older than you are. Who cares?"
+
+"I don't," said Patty, gleefully. "I think it will be fun. I'll have my
+hair piled high on my head. Can you do it for me, Sarah?"
+
+"Oh, yes, Miss. I'm a hair-dresser and I'm that glad you're going to
+dinner."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY
+
+
+Sarah was indeed an expert hair-dresser, and she piled up Patty's hair in
+soft coils, and twisted the curly tendrils into fluffy puffs, and though
+the result was beautiful, it made Patty look like her own older sister. A
+jewelled ornament of Lady Hamilton's crowned the coiffure, and this gave
+an added effect of dignity. The lace gown was easily made to fit its new
+wearer. Marie pinned it, and sewed it, and patted it into place, till
+nobody would suspect it had not been made for Patty. But the long lines
+of the Princess pattern took away all of Patty's usual simple girlish
+appearance, and transformed her at once into a beautiful, queenly young
+woman. The décolletée corsage, and the sleeves, which were merely
+frills of lace, were very becoming; and the long train, which billowed
+into a frou-frou of chiffon ruffles took away the last semblance of a
+girl of eighteen. Notwithstanding her softly-curved cheeks and throat,
+and her exquisite, fresh complexion, Patty looked quite the young woman
+of society and could easily have been adjudged about twenty-four years
+old.
+
+Her eyes danced, as she walked sedately through the open door and into
+Lady Hamilton's room.
+
+"My word, Patty!" exclaimed that lady, "you're simply stunning in that
+gown! You look as if you'd been 'out' for two or three seasons. Your
+people would never forgive me if they knew how I've dressed you up."
+
+"It was the only thing to do," said Patty, airily, as she began to draw
+on her arms a pair of Lady Hamilton's long white gloves. "The wonder is
+that you had plenty of all sorts of things to fit me out, and also that
+they do fit so well. These gloves are just right, though I confess the
+slippers pinch me just a speck."
+
+"'Pretty never hurts,' you know," said Lady Hamilton, laughing. "Marie,
+isn't Miss Fairfield a picture?"
+
+"_Mais oui!_ She is _charmante_. It is amazing how the gown suits her.
+She is _très-belle!_"
+
+With the grown-up clothes, Patty had quite unconsciously assumed a
+grown-up air. She nonchalantly flung aside her train with just the same
+gesture Lady Hamilton was wont to use, and she carried herself with a
+dignity and graciousness of manner which would have been absurd when
+wearing her own simple frocks.
+
+[Illustration: "Marie pinned it and sewed it"]
+
+"Gracious, goodness, child!" cried Lady Hamilton. "Come down off that
+pedestal! You walk like a Duchess. It won't do, you know, really."
+
+"I don't mean to," said Patty; "you know I'm a sort of chameleon. This
+gown makes me feel as if I belonged in an opera-box, or had an audience
+with the Queen."
+
+"Oh, you goose! Stop your nonsense, and we'll go down to dinner. Mind,
+now, none of those airs, or I'll send you back to your room."
+
+Patty honestly tried to be her own simple-minded self, and would have
+succeeded all right, if Herenden Hall had not been so lavishly provided
+with mirrors. On the grand staircase she came face to face with a radiant
+creature, and was about to step aside when she discovered it was herself!
+Involuntarily she gazed at the reflection of the white-gowned lady, and
+unconsciously an air of serenity, almost hauteur, replaced her usual
+merry smile, and with a gracious mien she passed on down the stairs.
+
+Lady Herenden awaited them in the drawing-room.
+
+A brilliant assemblage was already there, for Patty's unusual costuming
+had caused her some delay. After the first few introductions, Lady
+Hamilton and Patty became separated, and the guests stood about
+conversing in small groups.
+
+Patty chanced to fall in with some very entertaining people, among whom
+was the Earl of Ruthven.
+
+The Earl was a handsome man, tall, and of an imposing presence.
+
+When presented to Patty, he gazed at her with frank, though quite
+deferential admiration. "So pleased to meet you, Miss Fairfield," he
+said; "I adore American ladies."
+
+Patty really felt a little in awe of an Earl, as she had never met one
+before, and was about to make a shy response, when a slight movement of
+her head showed her her own reflection in a nearby mirror.
+
+Realising afresh that she was masquerading as a society lady, a spirit of
+mischief suddenly took possession of her, and she determined to throw
+herself into the rôle. So, with a pretty little toss of her head, and a
+charming smile, she said:
+
+"Thank you, Lord Ruthven; I adore Englishmen, too, but I know so few of
+them."
+
+"You've not been here long, then?"
+
+"No, only a few weeks. And there's so much I want to learn."
+
+"Let me teach you," said his Lordship, eagerly. "I do not think you would
+prove a dull pupil."
+
+Patty's eyes smiled. "No Americans are dull," she said.
+
+"That's true; my experience has already proved it. I've met six, I think,
+including yourself. But what sort of things do you want to learn?"
+
+"The language, principally. I just want to learn to say 'only fancy'
+occasionally, and 'd'y' see?' in the middle of every sentence."
+
+"It's not easy," said Lord Ruthven, thoughtfully, "but I think I can
+teach you in, say, about ten lessons. When shall we begin the course?"
+
+Patty looked at him reproachfully. "If you knew the American nature at
+all," she said, "you'd know that we always begin things the moment the
+plan occurs to us."
+
+"Good! there's no time like the present."
+
+But just then their conversation was interrupted by the announcement of
+dinner.
+
+Patty hoped she would sit at table next the Earl, but it was not so. The
+nobleman was accorded the seat of honour at the right of his hostess,
+while Patty, as a minor guest, was far away across the table. But she
+found herself between two affable and pleasant-mannered young Englishmen,
+and instantly forgot all about her titled friend.
+
+Indeed, the bewildering beauty of the scene claimed her attention, and
+she fairly held her breath as she looked about her. The great oval room
+was lighted only by wax candles in crystal chandeliers and candelabra.
+This made a soft, mellow radiance quite different from gas or
+electricity. On one side of the room long French windows opened on to the
+terrace, through which came the scent of roses and the sound of plashing
+fountains. On the other side, only slender pillars and arches divided the
+dining-room from a conservatory, and a riotous tangle of blossoms and
+foliage fairly spilled into the room, forming almost a cascade of
+flowers.
+
+The great round table was a bewildering array of gold plate, gilded
+glass, and exquisite china, while on the delicate lace of the tablecloth
+lay rare blossoms that seemed to have drifted from the circular mound of
+flowers which formed the low centrepiece.
+
+Twenty-four guests sat round the board, in chairs of gilded wicker, and
+as the silent, black-garbed waiters served the viands, the scene became
+as animated as it was beautiful.
+
+Patty forgot all else in her absolute enjoyment of the fairy-like
+spectacle, and was only brought back to a sense of reality by the sound
+of a voice at her side. Mr. Merivale was speaking--the young man who had
+escorted her out to dinner, and who now sat at her right hand.
+
+"You love beauty of detail," he was saying as he noted Patty's
+absorption.
+
+"Oh, isn't it great!" she exclaimed, and then suddenly realised that the
+expression was not at all in keeping with the dignity of her Princess
+gown.
+
+But Mr. Merivale seemed amused rather than shocked.
+
+"That's American for 'ripping,' isn't it?" he said, smiling. "But
+whatever the adjective, the fact is the same. Lady Herenden's dinners are
+always the refinement of the spectacular."
+
+Patty realised the appropriateness of this phrase, and cudgelled her
+brain for an appropriate reply. She began to think that playing grown-up
+was a more difficult game than she had supposed. Had she had on her own
+simple little frock, Mr. Merivale would not have talked to her like that.
+
+"Don't you remember last season," he went on, "when Lady Herenden had a
+real pond, with gold fish in the middle of the table, and ferns and water
+lilies round the edge?"
+
+"I wasn't here last season," said Patty. "I have never been in England
+until this summer."
+
+"Indeed? I know you are an American, but you have really an English
+manner."
+
+"It's acquired," said Patty, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "I
+find my American manner isn't admired over here, so I assume London
+airs."
+
+"Ah, you wish to be admired?"
+
+"Of all things!" declared naughty Patty, with a roguish glance at the
+jesting young man.
+
+"You'll probably get your wish," he replied. "I'm jolly well ready to do
+my share."
+
+This brought the colour to Patty's cheeks, and she turned slightly away,
+toward the man on her other side.
+
+He was a slightly older man than Mr. Merivale and was the squire of an
+adjoining estate. He was quite ready to talk to his American neighbour,
+and began the conversation by asking her if she had yet seen Lady
+Herenden's rose-orchard.
+
+"No, Mr. Snowden," said Patty, "I only arrived a few hours ago, and I've
+not been round the place at all."
+
+"Then let me show it to you, please. I'll come over to-morrow morning for
+a stroll. May I?"
+
+"I don't know," said Patty, hesitatingly, for she was uncertain what she
+ought to do in the matter. "You see, I'm with Lady Hamilton, and whatever
+she says----"
+
+"Oh, nonsense! She'll spare you from her side for an hour or two. There's
+really a lot to see."
+
+Again poor Patty realised her anomalous position. But for her piled-up
+hair and her trained gown, the man would never have dreamed of asking her
+to go for a walk unchaperoned. Patty had learned the ethics of London
+etiquette for girls of eighteen, but she was not versed in the ways of
+older young women.
+
+"We'll see about it," she said, non-committally, and then she almost
+laughed outright at the sudden thought of Mr. Snowden's surprise should
+he see her next day in one of her own simple morning frocks of light
+muslin. Lady Hamilton's morning gowns were Paris affairs, with trailing
+frills and long knotted ribbons.
+
+"It seems to amuse you," said Mr. Snowden, a trifle piqued at her
+merriment.
+
+"You'll be amused, too," she said, "if you see me to-morrow."
+
+Then something in the man's pleasant face seemed to invite confidence,
+and she said, impulsively:
+
+"I may as well tell you that I'm masquerading. I'm not a grown-up lady at
+all. I'm not much more than a schoolgirl--not quite eighteen years old.
+But--but my box didn't come, and--and I had to wear Lady Hamilton's gown.
+It makes me seem a lot older, I know, but I had to do it, or stay away
+from dinner."
+
+Mr. Snowden looked first amazed, and then he burst into laughter.
+
+"I beg your pardon, I'm sure," he said, "but I had no idea! And so Lady
+Hamilton is your chaperon? I see. Of course. Well, we'll have the stroll
+just the same, if you will, and we'll ask her to go with us."
+
+"Isn't she the dearest thing?" exclaimed Patty, looking at Lady Kitty
+across the table, and feeling much more at her ease now that she had
+confessed her position.
+
+"She is a beautiful and charming woman," agreed Mr. Snowden.
+
+And then it was time for Patty to turn back to Mr. Merivale, for she had
+learned that one must divide the time fairly between dinner neighbors.
+
+"I didn't offend you, did I?" said young Merivale, eagerly. "You turned
+so quickly--and--and you--er--blushed, you know, and so I was
+afraid--er----"
+
+But Patty was of no mind to confess the fewness of her years to
+everybody, and her mischievous spirit returned as she determined to chaff
+this amusing young man.
+
+"What!" she said, reproachfully, "an Englishman, and afraid!"
+
+"Afraid of nothing but a fair lady's displeasure. All true Englishmen
+surrender to that."
+
+"I'm not displeased," said Patty, dimpling and smiling; "in fact, I've
+even forgotten what you said."
+
+"That's good! Now we can start fresh. Will you save a lot of dances for
+me to-night?"
+
+"Oh, will there be dancing?" exclaimed Patty, delighted at the prospect.
+
+"Yes, indeed; in the big ballroom. Will you give me all the waltzes?"
+
+Patty looked at him in amazement. "You said you were going to 'start
+fresh,'" she said, "and now you've certainly done so!"
+
+But the American phrase was lost on the Englishman, who only proceeded to
+repeat his request.
+
+Meantime, Mr. Snowden was asking Patty for a dance.
+
+"Certainly," she said, "I shall be pleased to dance with you."
+
+"You'll give me more than one dance or you needn't give me any," grumbled
+young Merivale.
+
+"All right," said Patty, quickly. "Mr. Snowden, I've just had a dance
+'returned with thanks,' so you can have that, if you wish it."
+
+"I do indeed," he replied, enthusiastically, and Mr. Merivale relapsed
+into a sulky silence.
+
+Then Lady Herenden rose from the table, and the ladies all rose and
+followed her up to one of the beautiful salons, where coffee was served
+to them. Patty managed to secure a seat on a divan beside Lady Hamilton.
+
+"You quite take my breath away, little Patty," said her friend, in a low
+voice. "You are already a favourite, and in a fair way to become the
+belle of the ball."
+
+"I try not to act too old, Kitty," said Patty, earnestly, "but truly
+everybody thinks I'm a society lady. They don't even look on me as a
+débutante."
+
+"Never mind, dearie; have all the fun you can. Enjoy the dancing, and
+don't care what anybody thinks."
+
+Encouraged by Lady Hamilton's approval, Patty ceased to think about her
+demeanour and proceeded to enjoy the conversation of those about her.
+
+Lady Herenden was especially kind to her, and singled out the young
+American for her special favour and attention.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE EARL OF RUTHVEN
+
+
+After a time the men came from the dining-room and rejoined the ladies.
+
+Patty was chatting with a group of young women, and when she glanced
+around, it was to see Lord Ruthven standing at her side.
+
+"I was miles away from you at dinner," he said, "but now there is an
+opportunity, let us begin our lessons in English at once."
+
+"Do," said Patty, smiling; "where shall be our classroom?"
+
+"We'll pre-empt this sofa," said Lord Ruthven, indicating, as he spoke, a
+gold-framed Louis XIV. tête-à-tête. "We'll pretend that it is a real
+schoolroom, with four walls hung with maps and charts--just such as you
+used to have when you were a little girl."
+
+Patty smiled at this reference to her far-away school-days, but fell in
+with his mood.
+
+"Yes," she said, "and you must be the stern schoolmaster, and I the
+stupid pupil who has been kept in after school."
+
+But their merry game was interrupted by Lady Herenden's invitation to the
+ballroom.
+
+Escorted by Lord Ruthven, Patty followed the others to the great hall
+where they were to dance.
+
+It was a resplendent apartment, with balconies and boxes, from which the
+spectators could look down upon the dancers. A fine orchestra furnished
+the music, and Patty, who loved to dance, found her feet involuntarily
+keeping time to the harmonious strains.
+
+"Shall we have a try?" said Lord Ruthven, and in a moment they were
+gliding over the smooth floor.
+
+Patty already knew that English dancing is not like the American steps,
+but she was so completely mistress of the art, that she could adapt
+herself instantly to any variation.
+
+"I won't compliment your dancing," said the Earl, as the waltz was
+finished, "for you must have been told so often how wonderfully well you
+dance. But I must tell you what a pleasure it is to dance with you."
+
+Patty thought this a very pretty speech, and graciously gave his lordship
+some other dances for which he asked, and then, leaving her with Lady
+Herenden, he excused himself and went away. Then Patty was besieged with
+would-be partners. Her dancing had called forth the admiration of
+everybody, and the young men crowded about, begging to see her
+dance-card.
+
+Only Mr. Merivale stood aloof. He was still sulky, and he looked so like
+a cross schoolboy that Patty took pity on him.
+
+She slightly nodded her head at him by way of invitation, and he came
+slowly toward her.
+
+"Which two do you want?" she said, demurely.
+
+Merivale's face lighted up. "You are indeed kind," he said, in a low
+voice. "I will take any you will give me. My card is blank as yet."
+
+So Patty arranged the dances, and the young man went away looking much
+happier. The evening was all too short. Patty whirled through dance after
+dance, and between them was restored to Lady Herenden or Lady Hamilton,
+only to be claimed the next minute by another partner.
+
+"What a belle it is!" said Lady Herenden, patting the girl's shoulder
+affectionately. "You have made a real sensation, Miss Fairfield."
+
+"But I'm Cinderella, to-night," she said, gaily.
+
+"Wait till to-morrow, and see all my popularity vanish."
+
+Lady Herenden did not understand, but took it as merry chaff and paid no
+heed.
+
+Then Lord Ruthven came for the last dance.
+
+"This is an extra, Miss Fairfield," he said; "will you give it to me?"
+
+Patty agreed, but as they walked away, his Lordship said:
+
+"You look really tired; would you not rather sit on the terrace than
+dance?"
+
+"I am tired," said Patty, honestly; "I think it's carrying this heavy
+train around. I've never before danced in a long gown."
+
+"Then you shall rest. Let us sit on the terrace, and I'll send for an ice
+for you."
+
+Lord Ruthven was very kind and courteous. He found a delightful corner of
+the terrace unoccupied, and he arranged two wicker easy-chairs, where
+they might be just out of the way of the promenaders. He asked a footman
+to bring the ices, and then seated himself beside Patty.
+
+"Is it not beautiful," he said, "the rose garden in the moonlight? One
+can almost fancy the roses opening beneath the moon's light as in daytime
+by the sun's warm rays."
+
+"Yes," said Patty, falling in with his fanciful mood, "and I think,
+perhaps, at night, the white roses and the pale yellow ones bloom. Then
+at daybreak, the pink or blush roses open, and at midday the deep red
+ones."
+
+"You have the mind of a poet, Miss Fairfield. Where do you get those
+graceful conceits?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know," said Patty, carelessly; "I think they are the result
+of this beautiful moonlight night, and these picturesque surroundings."
+
+"Yes, I am sure that is true. You have a soul that responds to all beauty
+in art or nature. Let us take a short turn in the rose garden, and get a
+view of this noble old house with the moonlight full upon it."
+
+"But I want my ice cream," objected Patty, who still had her schoolgirl
+appetite.
+
+"We'll stay but a moment, and we'll return to find it awaiting us,"
+gently insisted Lord Ruthven, and Patty amiably went down the terrace
+steps and along the garden path with him.
+
+Near a clump of cedars, only a short distance away, they turned to look
+at the beautiful old house. Herenden Hall was always a splendid picture,
+but especially at night, backgrounded by a gray sky full of racing
+clouds, and touched at every gable by the silver moonlight, it was
+enchanting.
+
+"Oh," said Patty, drawing a sigh, "it is the most wonderful effect I ever
+saw. See that great, quiet roof sloping darkly away, and beneath, the gay
+lights of the terrace, and the laughter of happy people."
+
+"It is a beautiful picture," said Lord Ruthven, looking steadily at
+Patty, "but not so beautiful as another one I see. A lovely face framed
+in soft, shining curls, against a background of dark cedar trees."
+
+His tone, even more than his words, alarmed Patty. She was not used to
+such speeches as this, and she said, gravely: "Take me back to the house,
+please, Lord Ruthven."
+
+"Not just yet," pleaded the nobleman. "Dear Miss Fairfield, listen to me
+a moment. Let me tell you something. Let me justify myself. I oughtn't to
+talk to you like this, I know--but the fact is--oh, the fact is you've
+completely bowled me over."
+
+"What?" said Patty, not at all comprehending his meaning.
+
+"Yes; I'm done for--and at first sight! And by an American! But it's a
+fact. I adore you, Miss Fairfield--I'm so desperately in love with you
+that I can't down it. Oh, I know I oughtn't to be talking to you like
+this. I ought to see your father, and all that. And I will, as soon as I
+can, but--oh, I say, Patty, tell me you like me a little!"
+
+It suddenly dawned on Patty that she was having a proposal! And from an
+English Earl! And all on account of her grown-up gown! The absurdity of
+it impressed her far more than the romantic side of it, and though a
+little frightened, she couldn't help smiling at the Earl's tragic tones.
+
+"Nonsense, Lord Ruthven," she said, though her cheeks were pink; "don't
+talk like that. Please cut me that lovely cluster of roses, and then take
+me back to Lady Hamilton."
+
+The Earl drew a penknife from his pocket, and cut the flowers she asked
+for. Then he stood, trimming off the thorns, and looking down at her.
+
+Patty had never looked so winsome. Her garb made her seem a grown woman,
+and yet the situation alarmed her, and her perplexed face was that of a
+troubled child.
+
+"Tell me," he repeated, "that you like me a little."
+
+"Of course I like you a little," returned Patty, in a matter-of-fact
+voice. "Why shouldn't I?"
+
+"That's something," said the Earl, in a tone of satisfaction, "and now
+will you accept these flowers as a gift from me? As, for the moment, I've
+nothing else to offer."
+
+Patty took the flowers in both hands, but Lord Ruthven still held them,
+too, saying: "And will you let them mean----?"
+
+"No," cried Patty, "they don't mean anything--not anything at all!"
+
+Lord Ruthven clasped Patty's two hands, roses and all, in his own.
+
+"They do," he said quietly; "they mean I love you. Do you understand?"
+
+He looked straight into the troubled, beseeching eyes that met his own.
+
+"Please let me go, Lord Ruthven--_please!_" said Patty, her hands
+trembling in his own.
+
+"You may go, if you will first call me by some less formal name. Patty,
+dearest, say Sylvester--just once!"
+
+This desperate request was too much for Patty's sense of humour.
+
+"Why can't I say it twice?" she said in a low tone, but her voice was
+shaking with laughter.
+
+"You little witch!" exclaimed the Earl, and his clasp tightened on her
+hands. "Now you shan't go until you _have_ said it twice!"
+
+"Sylvester--Sylvester--there!" said Patty, her eyes twinkling with fun,
+and her lips on the verge of laughter. Then, gently disengaging her hands
+from his, she gathered up her long white train, and prepared to run away.
+
+The Earl laid a detaining hand on her arm. "Miss Fairfield," he said,
+"Patty, I won't keep you now, but to-morrow you'll give me an
+opportunity, won't you? to tell you----"
+
+"Wait till to-morrow, my lord," said Patty, really laughing now. "You
+will probably have changed your mind."
+
+"How little you know me!" he cried, reproachfully, and then they had
+reached the terrace, and joined the others.
+
+Soon after the guests all retired to their own rooms, and the moonlight
+on Herenden Hall saw no more the gay scene on the terrace.
+
+Patty, passing through her own room, discovered that her two trunks had
+arrived and had been unpacked. She went straight on and tapped at Lady
+Hamilton's door. "Get me out of this gown, please, Marie; I've had quite
+enough of being a grown-up young woman!"
+
+"What's the matter, Patty?" said Lady Kitty, looking round. "Didn't you
+have a good time this evening?"
+
+"The time of my life!" declared Patty, dropping into her own graphic
+speech, as she emerged from the heap of lace and silk. "I'll see you
+later, Kitty," and without further word she returned to her own room.
+
+And later, when Marie had been dismissed, Patty crept back to Lady
+Hamilton, a very different Patty, indeed. Her hair fell in two long
+braids, with curly tails; a dainty dressing-gown enveloped her slight
+figure; and on her bare feet were heelless satin slippers. She found Lady
+Kitty in an armchair before the wood fire, awaiting her.
+
+Patty threw a big, fat sofa pillow at her friend's feet, and settled
+herself cosily upon it.
+
+"Well, girlie," said Lady Hamilton, "come to the story at once. What
+happened to you as a grown-up?"
+
+"What usually happens to grown-ups, I suppose," said Patty, demurely;
+"the Earl of Ruthven proposed to me."
+
+"What!" cried Lady Hamilton, starting up, and quite upsetting Patty from
+her cushion.
+
+"Yes, he did," went on Patty, placidly; "shall I accept him?"
+
+"Patty, you naughty child, tell me all about it at once! Oh, what shall I
+say to your father and mother?"
+
+Patty grinned. "Yes, it was all your fault, Kitty. If I hadn't worn your
+gown, he would never have dreamed of such a thing."
+
+"But, Patty, it _can't_ be true. You must have misunderstood him."
+
+"Not I. It's my first proposal, to be sure; but I know what a man means
+when he says he loves me and begs me to call him by his first name. And I
+did--twice."
+
+Patty went off in shrieks of laughter at the remembrance of it, and she
+rocked back and forth on her cushion in paroxysms of mirth.
+
+"Patty, behave yourself, and tell me the truth. I've a mind to shake
+you!"
+
+"I _am_ shaking," said Patty, trying to control her voice. "And I _am_
+telling you the truth. His first name is Sylvester. Lovely name!"
+
+"Where did this occur?"
+
+"In the rose garden. Oh, right near the terrace. Not a dozen yards away
+from you all. I'm sure if you'd been listening, you could have heard me
+say, 'Sylvester--_Sylvester!_'"
+
+Again Patty went off in uncontrollable merriment at this recollection,
+and Lady Kitty had to laugh too.
+
+"What did you tell him?"
+
+"I told him to wait till to-morrow, and he'd probably change his mind.
+And I see my trunks have come, so he surely will. You see he proposed to
+that long-tailed gown and jewelled tiara I had on----"
+
+"It wasn't a tiara."
+
+"Well, it looked something like one. I'm sure he thought it was. He
+doubtless wants a dignified, stately Lady Ruthven, and he thought I was
+_it_. Oh, Kitty! if you could have heard him."
+
+"I don't think it's nice of you, to take him that way."
+
+"All right, I won't. But I'm not going to take him at all. Why, Kitty,
+when he sees me to-morrow in my own little pink muslin, he won't know me,
+let alone remembering what he said to me."
+
+"Patty, you're incorrigible. I don't know what to say to you. But I hope
+your parents won't blame me for this."
+
+"Of course they won't, Kitsie. You see it was an accident. A sort of case
+of mistaken identity. I don't mind it so much now that it's over, but I
+was scared stiff at the time. Only it was all so funny that it swallowed
+up my scare. Now I'll tell you the whole story."
+
+So Patty told every word that the Earl had said to her during the
+evening, in the ballroom and on the terrace. And Lady Hamilton listened
+attentively.
+
+"You were not a bit to blame, dear," she said, kindly, when the tale was
+finished. "I don't think you even flirted with him. But it's truly
+extraordinary that he should speak so soon."
+
+"It was on the spur of the moment," declared Patty, with conviction. "You
+know, moonlight and roses and a summer evening have a romantic influence
+on some natures."
+
+"What do you know of a romantic influence, you baby. Hop along to bed,
+now, and get up in the morning your own sweet, natural self--without a
+thought of Earls or moonlight."
+
+"I will so," said Patty; "I didn't like it a bit, except that it was all
+so funny. Won't Nan howl?"
+
+"She may, but I'm afraid your father will be annoyed. You know you're in
+my care, Patty."
+
+"Don't you worry. I'll tell Daddy all about it. And I rather guess it
+will make him laugh."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT
+
+
+It was the custom at Herenden Hall to serve morning tea to the guests in
+their rooms.
+
+When Patty's tray was brought, she asked to have it taken into Lady
+Hamilton's room, and the two friends chatted cosily over their toast and
+teacups.
+
+Lady Kitty, with a dainty dressing-jacket round her shoulders, was still
+nestled among her pillows, while Patty, in a blue kimono, curled up,
+Turk-fashion on the foot of the bed.
+
+"It's a gorgeous day," observed Patty, stirring her tea, which she was
+trying to sip, though she hated it. "I'll be glad to explore that lovely
+rose garden without horrid old moonlit Earls."
+
+"It's a wonderfully fine place, Patty; you really must go over the
+estate. I'll show you round myself."
+
+"Thank you," said Patty, airily, "but I believe I have an engagement. Mr.
+Snowden, or Snowed on, or Snowed under, or whatever his name is, kindly
+offered to do that same."
+
+"Yes, and he'll kindly withdraw his offer when he sees you in your own
+rightful raiment. I've a notion to put you in a pinafore, and give you a
+Teddy Bear to carry. There's no keeping you down any other way."
+
+"Oh, don't be alarmed. I've no designs on the young men. I like the boys
+better, anyhow. That Jack Merivale is a chummy kind of a youth. That's
+the sort I like. Rest assured I won't trouble that wretched Earl. I won't
+even speak to him, and I'll make over to you whatever interest he may
+deign to show in me."
+
+"As one Humpty Dumpty said, 'I'd rather see that on paper.'"
+
+"So you shall," said Patty, and setting down her unfinished tea, she flew
+to the writing table.
+
+Perching herself on the corner of the desk chair, she laid out a sheet of
+Lady Herenden's crested note paper, and took up a pen. "Shall I write the
+agreement as I please?" she said, "or will you dictate it?"
+
+"I'll dictate," said Lady Kitty, smiling lazily at the foolery. But as
+she paused between sentences, Patty put in parentheses of her own, and
+when finished the remarkable document read thus:
+
+  "I, the undersigned, being of (fairly) sound mind, do hereby of my
+  own free will (coerced by one Lady Hamilton) relinquish all interest
+  or concern in the (illustrious) personage known as Sylvester, Earl
+  of Ruthven (but I do think he has a lovely name), and should he show
+  any interest in me, personally, I promise (gladly) to refer him to
+  (the aforesaid) Lady Hamilton (though what she wants of him, I don't
+  know!), and I hereby solemnly promise and agree, not to seek or
+  accept any further acquaintance or friendship with the (Belted)
+  gentleman above referred to.
+
+  "Furthermore, I (being still of sound mind, but it's tottering)
+  promise not to talk or converse with the (Sylvester! _Sylvester!_)
+  Earl of Ruthven, beyond the ordinary civilities of the day (whatever
+  that may mean!), never to smile at him voluntarily (I can't help
+  laughing at him), and _never_ to wave my eyelashes at him across the
+  table. (_Why_ does she think I'd do that?)
+
+                   "Witness my hand and seal,
+
+                                     "PATRICIA FAIRFIELD."
+
+("Lady Patricia would sound great! Wouldn't it?")
+
+"There, Kitty Cat," said Patty, tossing the paper to Lady Hamilton,
+"there's your agreement, and now, my dreams of glory over, I'll go and
+'bind my hair and lace my bodice blue.' I always wondered how people bind
+their hair. Do you suppose they use skirt braid?"
+
+But Lady Kitty was shaking with laughter over Patty's foolish "document"
+and offered no reply.
+
+An hour or so later, Patty presented herself for inspection.
+
+She wore a pale blue dimity, whose round, full blouse was belted with a
+soft ribbon. The skirt, with its three frills edged with tiny lace, came
+just to her instep, and disclosed dainty, patent-leather oxfords.
+
+Her golden braids, crossed and recrossed low at the back of her head,
+were almost covered by a big butterfly bow of wide white ribbon. In fact,
+she was perfectly garbed for an American girl of eighteen, and the
+costume was more becoming to her pretty, young face than the trained gown
+of the night before.
+
+Lady Hamilton was still at her dressing table.
+
+"I feel quite at ease about you now," she said, looking up. "Nobody will
+propose to you in that rig. They'll be more likely to buy you a doll. I'm
+not nearly ready yet, but don't wait. Run along downstairs, you'll find
+plenty of people about."
+
+Slowly Patty descended the great staircase, looking at the pictures and
+hanging rugs as she passed them.
+
+"For mercy's sake, who is that?" was Lady Herenden's mental exclamation
+as the girl neared the lower floor.
+
+"Good-morning, Lady Herenden," cried Patty, gaily, as she approached her
+hostess. "Don't look so surprised to see me, and I'll tell you all about
+it."
+
+"Why, it's Miss Fairfield!" exclaimed the elder lady, making room for
+Patty on the sofa beside her.
+
+"Yes, and I really owe you an explanation. You see, my boxes didn't come
+last night, and I had to wear one of Lady Hamilton's gowns at dinner. I
+couldn't tell you so, before all the guests, and so you didn't know me
+this morning in my own frock."
+
+"It's astonishing what a difference it makes! You look years younger."
+
+"I am. I'm not quite eighteen yet, and I wish you'd call me Patty, won't
+you?"
+
+"I will, indeed," said Lady Herenden, answering the pretty smile that
+accompanied the request. "I knew Kitty Hamilton said you weren't out yet,
+and so, when I saw you last night, I just couldn't understand it. But I
+do now. Have you breakfasted, dearie?"
+
+"Yes, thank you. And now, I want to go out and see the flowers, and the
+dogs. May I?"
+
+"Yes, indeed. Run around as you like. You'll find people on the terrace
+and lawn, though there are no girls here as young as yourself."
+
+"That doesn't matter. I like people of all ages. I've friends from four
+to forty."
+
+"I'm not surprised. You're a friendly little thing. Be sure to go through
+the rose orchard; it's back of the rose garden, and you'll love it."
+
+Hatless, Patty ran out into the sunshine, and, strolling through the rose
+garden, soon forgot all else in her delight at the marvellous array of
+blossoms.
+
+As she turned a corner of a path, she came upon two men talking together.
+They were Lord Ruthven and Lord Herenden's head gardener.
+
+"Yes," his lordship was saying, "you've done a good thing, Parker, in
+getting that hybrid. And this next bush is a fine one, too. Is it a
+Baroness Rothschild?"
+
+"No," said Patty, carelessly joining in the conversation, "it's a
+Catherine Mermet."
+
+"So it is, Miss," said the gardener, turning politely toward her, but
+Lord Ruthven, after a slight glance, paid no attention to the girl.
+
+"Are you sure, Parker?" he said. "The Mermets are usually pinker."
+
+"He doesn't know me! What larks!" thought Patty, gleefully. "I'll try
+again."
+
+"Where is the rose orchard, Parker?" she asked, turning her full face
+toward the gardener, and leaving only the big white bow to greet the
+Earl.
+
+Something in her voice startled Lord Ruthven, and he wheeled quickly
+about. "It is--it can't be--Miss Fairfield?"
+
+"Good-morning, my lord," said Patty, with cool politeness. "This, of
+course," she thought to herself, "is the civility of the day."
+
+"I will show you the rose orchard," went on the Earl. "Come with me."
+
+"No, thank you," said Patty, turning again to the gardener. She was
+absurdly placed, and she felt a little embarrassed. But, on the other
+hand, she had pledged her word, and a silly performance it was! But she
+would keep it, at least until Lady Hamilton released her from her
+promise. Patty's ideas of honour were, perhaps, a little strained, but
+she took the promise of that burlesque document as seriously as if it had
+been of national importance. And now she was in a dilemma. To refuse to
+walk with the Earl was so rude, and yet to talk with him was to break her
+pledged word.
+
+The gardener went on about his work, and the other two stood silent. For
+the first time in her life, Patty had a really difficult situation to
+cope with. If she could have laughed and talked naturally, it would have
+been easy to explain matters. But that absurd paper sealed her lips. Oh,
+why had she been so foolish?
+
+She did not look at the Earl, but he gazed fixedly at her.
+
+"I don't understand," he said. "Why are you so changed from last
+evening?"
+
+Patty thought hard. She was allowed the "civilities of the day," so she
+must depend on those.
+
+"Isn't it a charming morning?" she said, without, however, turning toward
+the man at her side.
+
+"It is indeed. But why are you such an enigma? Are all Americans so
+puzzling?"
+
+"And isn't the rose garden wonderful?" went on Patty, still looking off
+in the distance.
+
+"Wonderful, of course. Please look at me. I believe, after all, you're
+Miss Fairfield's younger sister! Ah, I have guessed you at last!"
+
+Patty still looked straight ahead, but an irrepressible smile dimpled the
+corners of her mouth.
+
+"Do you think it will rain?" she said.
+
+"By Jove, I won't stand this!" cried the Earl, impetuously. "I know you
+are yourself--the Miss Fairfield I talked with last night--but why you're
+masquerading as a schoolgirl, I don't know!"
+
+At this Patty could restrain her mirth no longer, and her pretty laughter
+seemed to appease the Earl's irritation.
+
+"Am I not fit to be looked at, or spoken to?" he said, more gently; "and
+if not, you must at least tell me why."
+
+"I can't tell you why," said Patty, stifling her laughter, but still
+gazing at the far-away hills.
+
+"Why can't you? Have you promised not to?" The Earl meant this as a jest,
+little thinking it was the truth, but Patty, now nearly choking with
+merriment, said demurely, "Yes, sir."
+
+"Nonsense! I'm not going to eat you! Look at me, child."
+
+"I can't," repeated Patty, in a small voice, and holding her wilful,
+golden head very straight, as she stared firmly ahead.
+
+"Whom did you promise?"
+
+"You have no right to ask."--"That," said Patty to herself, "is an
+ordinary _incivility_, but I can't help it!"
+
+"I have a right to ask! And I don't care whether I have or not. You're a
+mischief, and I won't stand any more of your chaff. Who made you promise
+not to speak to me, or look at me?"
+
+The Earl, quietly, but with a decided air, moved around until he faced
+Patty, and the laughing blue eyes were so full of fun that he laughed
+too.
+
+"You ridiculous baby!" he cried; "what are you, anyway? One night, a
+charming young woman, the next day, a naughty child."
+
+"I'm _not_ naughty! Nobody made me promise. I did it of my own free
+will."
+
+"But whom did you promise?"
+
+"Lady Hamilton," said Patty, remembering all at once that the matter was
+to be referred to her.
+
+"Oho! Well, now, see here. You just break that promise, as quick as you
+can, and I'll make it square with Lady Hamilton."
+
+"Will you?" said Patty, drawing a long sigh of relief. "And will you blot
+out last evening, and pretend it never was, and begin our acquaintance
+from now?"
+
+"I will," said the Earl, looking at her, curiously, "if you will tell me
+why you seem to have a dual personality."
+
+Then Patty explained her appearance at dinner in Lady Hamilton's gown,
+and to her pleased surprise, the Earl laughed long and loudly.
+
+"Best joke ever!" he declared; "a baby like you giving an imitation of
+the 'belle of the ball'!"
+
+"I'm not so infantile," said Patty, pouting a little, for the Earl now
+treated her as if she were about twelve.
+
+"You are!" he declared. "You ought to be in the schoolroom eating bread
+and jam."
+
+"I'd like the bread and jam well enough, for I'm getting hungrier every
+minute."
+
+"Well, it's an hour yet to luncheon time; come along and I'll show you
+the rose orchard. It may make you forget your gnawing pangs of hunger."
+
+On pleasant terms, then, they went through the gate in the high hedge
+that surrounded the enclosure. The rose orchard was unique. It had
+originally been a fruit orchard, and as most of the trees were dead, and
+many of them fallen, roses had been trained over their trunks and
+branches. The gorgeous masses of bloom covered the old gnarled wood, and
+the climbing roses twined lovingly around branches and boughs. Here and
+there were rustic seats and arbours; and there were many bird-houses,
+whose tiny occupants were exceedingly tame and sociable. Several other
+guests were walking about, and Patty and the Earl joined a group which
+included their host and hostess.
+
+"How do you like it?" said Lady Herenden, drawing Patty's arm through her
+own.
+
+"It's the most beautiful place since the Garden of Eden," said Patty, so
+enthusiastically that everybody laughed.
+
+Then Mr. Snowden sauntered up, and reminded Patty of her promise to go
+walking with him.
+
+"You haven't seen the deer park yet," he said, "nor the carp pond; though
+I believe the carp are merely tradition. Still, the pond is there."
+
+"Run along, child!" said Lady Herenden. "You'll just about have time for
+a pleasant stroll before luncheon."
+
+Patty was greatly relieved when Mr. Snowden made no reference to her age
+or her costume. He treated her politely and chatted gaily as he led her
+around to see all the picturesque bits of woodland and meadow. The
+magnificent old place showed its age, for it had not been unduly
+renovated, though everything was in good order.
+
+They went into the old church, which was on the estate, they visited the
+farmhouses and stables, and Patty found Mr. Snowden a kind and
+entertaining guide.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+A MOMENTOUS INTERVIEW
+
+
+The rest of their stay at Herenden Hall passed off delightfully. Patty
+fitted into her own niche, and everybody liked the natural, unaffected
+young girl.
+
+She and Jack Merivale became good chums, and went fishing together, and
+rowing on the pond like old cronies.
+
+It was Patty's nature to make friends quickly, and during her stay in
+Kent, she had a royal good time. Lord Ruthven talked over the matter with
+Lady Hamilton, and as he chose to consider it all a great joke on
+himself, she also took his view of it. As for Patty, she was so engrossed
+with other people that she nearly forgot all about the moonlight episode.
+
+Only sometimes, when she chanced to catch sight of Lord Ruthven, she
+would say to herself, "Sylvester, _Sylvester!_" and then turn away to
+hide her laughter.
+
+They stayed over until Tuesday, and then took the noon train back to
+London, Lady Herenden expressing an earnest wish that Patty would visit
+her again. Lady Kitty and Patty reached the Savoy duly, and Mr. Fairfield
+invited the returned travellers to dinner in the great Restaurant. This
+was a treat in itself, and Patty gleefully ran up to her room to dress
+for dinner.
+
+"Lend me one of your gowns to wear, Kitty?" she said, roguishly, looking
+in at her friend's door.
+
+"Go away, you bad child. You're not in my care, now. I shall confess all
+to your father to-night at dinner, and then I've done with you."
+
+"You've chosen a wise time," said Patty, sagely. "Father's always
+especially good-natured at dinner."
+
+"Let us hope he will be," said Lady Hamilton, who was really a little
+anxious about it all. But she need not have been, for when the story was
+told, both Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield looked upon it as a huge joke.
+
+Nan, especially, was almost convulsed with laughter at the account Patty
+gave of the moonlight scene, and her tragic repetition in a stage whisper
+of "Sylvester, _Sylvester!_" was truly funny of itself.
+
+"It couldn't be helped," said Mr. Fairfield, "and it was in no way your
+fault, Lady Hamilton. It would have been a pity to shut Patty in her room
+on such a gala occasion, and no one could foresee that she was going to
+throw herself at the Earl's head!"
+
+"Father!" exclaimed Patty, "I didn't do any such thing! He threw himself
+at my feet, if you please."
+
+"Well, it's all right, chickabiddy, but don't let it happen again. At
+least, not for many years, yet. I suppose some time, in the far future, I
+shall be asked to be a father-in-law to a Duke or a Count, but let's put
+it off as long as possible."
+
+"Then Nan will be Dowager Duchess," cried irrepressible Patty, "won't
+that be fun!"
+
+"I can do it," said Nan, with an air of self-satisfaction that made them
+all laugh.
+
+"I'm glad you exonerate me," said Lady Hamilton, with a sigh of relief.
+"And since I let Patty appear too old, I'm going to average matters in
+this way. Next week is the child's birthday, and I want to give her a
+children's party, if I may. You and your husband may come, Mrs.
+Fairfield, if you'll both dress as children of tender years."
+
+"We'll do it," cried Mr. Fairfield. "This is an inspiration of yours,
+Lady Hamilton, and will, as you say, quite even things up."
+
+Then plans were speedily made for the children's party. It was only a
+week to Patty's birthday, but Lady Kitty said that was long enough ahead
+to send invitations to an afternoon affair.
+
+For the party was to be held from three to six, and each guest was asked
+to dress as a small child. Patty put considerable thought on her own
+costume, for she said her eighteenth birthday was an important occasion,
+and she must do it honour.
+
+She finally decided on a quaint little Kate Greenaway dress, and
+big-brimmed hat of dark green velvet with white feathers tumbling over
+its brim. The frock was ankle length and short-waisted and she wore
+old-fashioned little slippers, with crossed ribbons, and black lace
+mitts. A shirred silk workbag hung at her side, and she carried a tiny
+parasol.
+
+A few days before the party, Patty had an inspiration. It came to her
+suddenly, as most inspirations do, and it was so startling that it almost
+took her breath away.
+
+"I _can't_ do it," she said to herself, one minute; and "I _will_ do it,"
+she said to herself the next.
+
+Not daring to think long about it lest she lose her determination, she
+started that very afternoon on her surprising errand.
+
+She had the carriage to herself, for she had been to tea with a friend,
+and on her way home she asked the coachman to stop at a house in Carlton
+Terrace.
+
+Reaching the house, Patty sent her card in by the footman, and awaited
+results with a beating heart.
+
+The footman returned to the carriage door, saying, Sir Otho Markleham
+would be pleased to see Miss Fairfield, and resolutely crushing down her
+timidity, Patty went in.
+
+She was ushered into a large and formal drawing-room, and waited there a
+few moments alone.
+
+She wished she had been asked into a library, or some more cosy room, for
+the stiff hangings, and massive furniture were oppressive. But she had no
+time for further thought, for Sir Otho entered the room.
+
+He bowed with exceeding courtesy, but with a surprised air, which was
+indeed only natural.
+
+Frightened almost out of her wits, Patty extended her hand, and though
+she tried to conquer her embarrassment, her voice trembled, as she said:
+"How do you do, Sir Otho? I've come to see you."
+
+She tried to speak jauntily, but there was a queer little break in her
+voice.
+
+"So I perceive," said Sir Otho, coldly. "May I ask why I have this
+honour?"
+
+This was too much for Patty. Her nerves were strained almost to the
+breaking point, and when Sir Otho spoke so repellently, she realised how
+foolish her little plan had been, and how hopeless was her dream of
+reconciling this dreadful old man and his daughter. Partly, then, because
+of her overwrought nerves, and partly because of the downfall of her
+cherished hopes, Patty burst into tears.
+
+She rarely cried, almost never, unless at some injustice or undeserved
+unkindness. But when she did cry, it was done as she did everything else,
+with a whole-souled enthusiasm.
+
+Utterly unable to control herself, for a few moments she sobbed, and
+shook in paroxysms of emotion.
+
+The old gentleman fairly danced around.
+
+"Bless my soul!" he exclaimed; "what is the matter? What does this mean?
+Did you come into my house for the purpose of having a fit of hysterics?"
+
+Now Patty wasn't a bit hysterical; it was merely a sudden blow of
+disappointment, and she would have been over it in a moment, but that Sir
+Otho made matters worse by storming at her.
+
+"Stop it, do you hear? I won't have such goings on in my house! You are a
+madwoman!"
+
+As Patty's sobs grew quieter, and she sat softly weeping into an already
+soaked handkerchief, her host's mood seemed to change also.
+
+"When I consented to see Miss Patricia Fairfield," he said, quoting her
+name as it appeared on the card she had sent in, "I didn't know I was to
+be subjected to this extraordinary treatment."
+
+"I d-didn't know it e-either," said Patty, wiping her eyes, and trying to
+smile. Then, as she saw Sir Otho's hard old face beginning to soften a
+little, she smiled at him through her tears.
+
+"There, there, my dear, don't cry," he said, with a clumsy imitation of
+gentleness. "Shall I ring for a maid? Will you have some sal volatile?"
+
+"No," said Patty, trying hard to check her sobs; "no, I will go away."
+
+"But what's it all about?" said the bewildered old man. "What made you
+cry?"
+
+"You did," said Patty, with such suddenness that he nearly fell over.
+
+"I? Bless my soul! What did I do?"
+
+"You were so c-cross," said Patty, weeping afresh at the remembrance of
+his cold looks.
+
+"Well, never mind, child, I won't be cross again. Tell me all about it."
+
+Surely Sir Otho was melting! Patty sagaciously believed he was touched by
+her tears, so made no desperate effort to stop them.
+
+"I c-can't tell you now. You're not in a k-kind m-mood."
+
+"Yes, I am; try to tell me, my dear child."
+
+Patty thought she had never known any one who could turn from anger to
+kindness so suddenly, but she resolved to strike while the iron was hot.
+
+"It's about K-Kitty," she said, still sobbing, but peeping out from
+behind her handkerchief to see how he took this broadside.
+
+"I supposed so," he said, with a sigh. "Well, what about her?"
+
+"She's your daughter, you know," went on Patty, growing more daring, as
+she slyly watched the old gentleman's expression.
+
+"Is she, indeed? I'd forgotten the fact."
+
+This, though in a sarcastic tone, was better than his usual disavowal of
+the relationship.
+
+"And did you stop in here, and treat me to this absurd scene, just to
+inform me concerning my family tree?"
+
+"N-no," said Patty, resorting to tears again. "I stopped in, to--to ask
+you s-something."
+
+"Well, out with it! Are you afraid of me?"
+
+This nettled Patty.
+
+"No," she said, starting to her feet. Her tears had stopped now, and her
+eyes were blazing. "No! I am not afraid of you! I'm sorry I broke down. I
+was foolishly nervous. But I'm over it now. I came in here, Sir Otho
+Markleham, to ask you to make peace with your daughter, and to propose to
+you a pleasant way to do so. But you have been so cross and ugly, so
+sarcastic and cruel, that I see the utter hopelessness of trying to
+reconcile you two. I was foolish even to think of it! Lady Kitty is
+gentle and sweet in many ways, but she has inherited your obstinate,
+stubborn----"
+
+"Pigheaded," suggested Sir Otho, politely.
+
+"Yes! Pigheaded disposition, and though, as the older, you ought to make
+the advance, you'll never do it--and she never will--and--so----"
+
+Patty broke down again, this time from sheer sadness of heart at the
+irrevocable state of things.
+
+Her face buried in her handkerchief, to her great surprise she felt a
+kindly touch on her shoulder.
+
+"Don't condemn me too soon, little one; and don't condemn me unheard.
+Suppose I tell you that some of my ideas have undergone a change since
+Miss Yankee Doodle has taken it upon herself to scold me."
+
+"Oh!" said Patty, rendered almost breathless with amazement at the kind
+tone and the gentle touch.
+
+"But suppose it's very hard for an old man like me to uproot some
+feelings that have grown and strengthened with the passing years."
+
+"But if they're bad and unworthy feelings, you _want_ to uproot them!"
+cried Patty.
+
+"Yes," said Sir Otho, "I do. And though my irascible and taciturn nature
+won't let me admit this to any one else, I'll confess to you, Miss Yankee
+Doodle, I do want to pull them up, root and branch."
+
+Sir Otho looked so brave and manly as he made this confession, which was
+truly difficult for him, that Patty grasped his hand in both hers, and
+cried: "Oh, what a _splendid_ man you are! I'll _never_ be afraid of you
+again!"
+
+"You _weren't_ afraid of me, child. That's why your words had weight with
+me. You fearlessly told me just what I was, and I had the grace to be
+ashamed of myself."
+
+"Never mind that now," said Patty, eagerly. "Do you want to be friends
+again with Kitty?"
+
+"More than anything on earth."
+
+"Well, then, let me manage it; and do it the way I want you to, will
+you?"
+
+Patty's voice and smile were very wheedlesome, and Sir Otho smiled in
+response, as he said:
+
+"You've surely earned the right to manage it. How shall it be done? Will
+Kitty meet me halfway?"
+
+"I think she will," said Patty, slowly. "But she's not very tractable,
+you know. Indeed, Sir Otho, she's such a contrary-minded person, that if
+she knew you wanted to be kind to her, she'd likely run away."
+
+"Miss Patricia," said Sir Otho, gravely, "you can't tell me anything
+about my daughter Catharine that I don't already know. And she is,
+indeed, contrary-minded, on occasion. As you so justly observed, she
+inherits my obstinate and cross-grained disposition."
+
+"And yet she's so lovely to look at," sighed Patty.
+
+"Ah, well, she didn't get her good looks from me, I'll admit."
+
+"I think she did," said Patty, looking critically at the fine old face,
+with a thoughtful gaze that was very amusing.
+
+"Well, are you going to detail to me the plan of this rather difficult
+campaign?"
+
+"Yes, I am. And I hope you'll see it as I do."
+
+"If I don't, I have little doubt but you can change my views. Will you
+have time to drink a cup of tea with me? We can plan so much more cosily
+over the teacups."
+
+"Yes, I will," said Patty, consulting her watch.
+
+"Then let us have it served in the library, and not in this depressing
+room, which you must associate with stormy outbursts of woe."
+
+Patty laughed, and followed the stately old gentleman into the library,
+where tea was soon served.
+
+[Illustration: "'How _much_ pleasanter this is than squabbling'"]
+
+"One lump?" said Patty, holding the sugar-tongs poised over a teacup,
+while she put her head on one side and smiled at her host.
+
+"Two, please. It's delightful to have some one make my tea for me, and
+you do it very prettily."
+
+"But, alas!" said Patty, in mock despair, "I'll soon be supplanted here,
+by that 'obstinate, cross-grained' Lady Kitty."
+
+"Why are you so sure she'll come back here to live?"
+
+"Just give her the chance, and see," said Patty, wagging her head
+sagaciously, as she poured her own tea.
+
+"How _much_ pleasanter this is than squabbling," she observed, glancing
+happily at her host.
+
+"Yes, or crying," said he, a bit teasingly, and Patty blushed.
+
+"That's past history," she said; "and _now_ I'll tell you my plan."
+
+The details of the plan kept them both talking for some time, and then
+Patty had to hurry away to reach home at her appointed hour.
+
+"Now, I won't see you again until then," she said, as they parted at the
+door. "But I know you won't fail me."
+
+"Not I!" said Sir Otho, and with his hand on his heart, he made a
+profound bow, and Patty drove homeward in the happiest mood she had known
+for many a day.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
+
+
+Patty's birthday party was a great success.
+
+As a rule, young people love a "dress-up" party, and the guests all
+entered into the spirit of the thing.
+
+Lady Hamilton was in her element.
+
+For the occasion, she had engaged a large salon, and aside from the
+pretty floral decorations, there were dolls and Teddy Bears and rocking
+horses, and all sorts of children's toys and games. On the walls hung
+bright-colored prints, intended for nursery use, and little, low chairs
+and ottomans stood about.
+
+Of course, Lady Hamilton, as hostess, did not dress like a child, but
+wore one of her own lovely, trailing white house-gowns.
+
+When the guests arrived they were shown to dressing-rooms, where
+white-capped nurses awaited them, and assisted them to lay aside their
+wraps.
+
+Then led to the salon by these same nurses, the guests were presented to
+Lady Hamilton and Patty. Such shouts of laughter as arose at these
+presentations! The young people, dressed as tiny children, came in with a
+shy air (not always entirely assumed), and made funny little, bobbing
+curtseys. Some, finger in mouth, could find nothing to say; others of
+more fertile brain, babbled childishly, or lisped in baby-talk.
+
+Before many had arrived, Patty and Lady Kitty were in such roars of
+laughter they could scarcely welcome the rest.
+
+Tom Meredith was a dear. Though a boy nearly six feet tall, he had a
+round, cherubic face, and soft, curly hair. He wore a white dress of
+simple "Mother Hubbard" cut, the fulness hanging from a yoke, and ending
+just below his knees, in lace-edged frills. White stockings, and white
+kid pumps adorned his feet, and his short curls were tied at one side
+with an immense white bow. He was such a smiling, good-natured chap, and
+looked so girlish and sweet in his white frock, that Patty at once called
+him Baby Belle, and the name exactly suited him.
+
+"Did you come all alone?" asked Lady Hamilton.
+
+"Yeth, ma'am," replied Tom, rolling up his eyes in pretended diffidence.
+"My nurthie went to a ball game, tho I had to come all by mythelf. But
+I'th a big dirl, now!"
+
+"You are indeed," said Patty, glancing at his stalwart proportions, "but
+you're surely the belle of this ball."
+
+Grace Meredith was a little Dutch girl, and was charming in the
+picturesque Holland headgear, and a tight-waisted, long-skirted blue
+gown, that just cleared the tops of her clattering wooden sabots. She
+talked a Dutch dialect, or rather, what she imagined was such, and if not
+real Hollandese, it was at least, very amusing and funny.
+
+Mabel Hartley looked very sweet as Little Red Riding-Hood, and she
+carried a little basket on her arm, which contained a real pat of butter.
+
+Sinclair and Bob Hartley were the Princes in the Tower, and the black
+velvet suits and white lace collars were exceedingly becoming to them.
+They wore wigs of long flaxen hair, and often fell into the pose of the
+celebrated picture, to the delight of all who saw them. But when not
+posing as a tableau, they were so full of antics that Patty told them
+they were more like Court Jesters than Princes.
+
+"Clowns, you mean," said Bob, as with a flash of his black satin legs he
+leap-frogged over Sinclair's back.
+
+"Behave yourselves, Princes!" admonished Patty, and in a second, the two
+stood motionless, side by side, as in the great painting.
+
+"You certainly must be photographed like that," exclaimed Lady Hamilton;
+and then a brilliant idea came to her and she sent a message at once to a
+well-known photographer to send one of his men and a camera at once.
+
+And so, the regular programme of the party was suspended while
+photographs of the guests were taken. Singly and in groups they were
+snapped off as fast as the camera could be adjusted, and Lady Hamilton
+promised to send copies to their homes later.
+
+Some of the young people had hired very elaborate costumes and
+represented celebrated works of art.
+
+Gainsborough's "Blue Boy," and Velasquez' "Maria Teresa," were truly
+beautiful, while Van Dyck's "Baby Stuart," made a lovely picture. But
+equally interesting were the less pretentious characters and costumes.
+
+Simple Simon was a favourite with all. A faded blue smock frock, and a
+battered old hat formed his characteristic garb, and long, straight
+yellow locks, and a stupid, open-mouthed expression of face made him look
+like the traditional Simon. He was a boy of much original wit, and his
+funny repartee proved him, in reality, far from simple-minded.
+
+Little Miss Muffet was present, and Struwelpeter, and "Alice," and a
+merry brother and sister had to cut up many roguish antics before they
+were recognised as "The Heavenly Twins."
+
+Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, wore a pretty Dolly Varden costume, and
+carried a watering-pot, while Little Boy Blue shyly blew his horn at her.
+There were several Lord Fauntleroys, and Buster Browns and Rollos, and
+also a great many who represented nobody in particular, but just a dear
+little child.
+
+Mr. Fairfield and Nan, though they had said they would come to the party
+dressed as children, had changed their minds, and arrived later than the
+others, wearing the garb of elderly people.
+
+They said they were the grandparents, come to look at the children enjoy
+themselves.
+
+Nan made a very sweet old lady, with white wig, and gold glasses, while
+Mr. Fairfield pretended to be an old man, cross and gouty. But so funny
+was his ferocious crustiness that nobody felt in awe of him.
+
+Led by Lady Hamilton, the boys and girls played all sorts of merry
+children's games.
+
+"Ring Around a Rosy," "London Bridge is Falling Down," "Hide the
+Thimble," and other such infantile entertainments proved exceedingly
+mirth-provoking. The big babies were continually crying over fancied
+woes, and sometimes even the historic characters grew humorously
+quarrelsome.
+
+At half-past four supper was served. The children were formed in pairs
+for a grand march. To the strains of "The Baby's Opera" they marched to
+another room, where a long table was set for them.
+
+At each place was a bread-and-milk set, and a mug which was lettered in
+gilt, "For a Good Child."
+
+The mugs were especially pretty ones, and were to be taken home as
+souvenirs. At each place was a bib with strings, and when these were tied
+around their necks, the big "children" looked absurd indeed.
+
+In keeping with their assumed rôles, their table manners were not
+impeccable, and many fists pounded on the table, while babyish voices
+said: "Me wants me thupper," or "Div me some beddy-butter!" But though
+the bowls and mugs betokened infantile fare, the supper really served
+included dainty salads and sandwiches, followed by ices, jellies and
+cakes, and was fully enjoyed by the healthy appetites which belong to
+young people of eighteen or thereabouts.
+
+After supper, they returned to the drawing-room for a dance.
+
+Delightful music was played, and it was a pretty sight to see the fancy
+costumes gracefully flit about in the dance.
+
+When it was nearly time to go home, one of the "nurses" came to Lady
+Hamilton saying that a belated guest had arrived.
+
+"Who is it?" asked Lady Hamilton, surprised that any one should arrive so
+late.
+
+"He says he is Peter Pan," answered the maid.
+
+"Show him in, at once," said Lady Hamilton, "we surely want to see Peter
+Pan--the boy who never _could_ grow up."
+
+And then through the doorway came a figure that unmistakably represented
+Peter Pan.
+
+The well-known costume of russet browns and autumn-leaf tints, the small,
+close cap with its single feather, and the fierce-looking dagger were all
+there. To be sure, it was a much _larger_ Peter Pan than any of them had
+seen in the play, but otherwise it was surely Peter.
+
+At first, Lady Hamilton looked completely bewildered, and then, as she
+realised that it was really her own father, she turned pale and then very
+pink.
+
+Patty stood near her, and though she didn't know what might happen, she
+felt sure Lady Hamilton would be quite able to cope with the situation.
+
+And so she was. After the first dazed moment, she stepped forward, and
+offering her hand, said cordially:
+
+"Welcome, Peter Pan! We are indeed glad to see you. We're sorry you
+couldn't come earlier, but pray fall right into place with the rest of
+our little guests."
+
+It was the nature of Sir Otho Markleham to do thoroughly whatever he did
+at all.
+
+So, now, throwing himself into the spirit of the moment, he made friends
+with the young people at once. He entertained them with stories of his
+thrilling adventures with the pirates; he told them how he lost his
+shadow, he explained all about Fairies, and soon the other guests were
+all crowded about him, listening breathlessly to his talk.
+
+Lady Hamilton, standing a little to one side of the listening group,
+looked at her father. She realised at once what it all meant. She knew
+that Patty had persuaded him to come, and that it meant complete
+reconciliation between father and daughter. The whole matter could be
+discussed later, if they chose, but the mere presence of her father
+beneath her roof meant forgiveness and peace between them.
+
+Softly Patty came up beside her and clasped her hand. "You're a witch,"
+whispered Lady Hamilton, as she warmly returned the pressure. "How did
+you ever accomplish this?"
+
+"Never mind that, now," said Patty, her eyes shining. "Are you glad?"
+
+"Glad! Yes, only that's a short word to express my joy and my gratitude
+to you. But you took a risk! Suppose I had fainted, or done something
+foolish in my great surprise."
+
+"Oh, I knew you better than that," returned Patty. "Isn't he a dear in
+that Peter Pan suit? And, only think, he took off his beloved
+'sideboards,' so he'd look the character better."
+
+"They'll soon grow again," said Lady Hamilton, carelessly; "but what I
+can't understand is why he came at all."
+
+"Because he loves you," whispered Patty, "and you love him. And you've
+both been acting like silly geese, but now that's all over."
+
+"Yes, it is!" And Lady Hamilton gave a soft sigh of relief. Then,
+following her father's example, she devoted herself to her young guests,
+and the time passed pleasantly until their departure.
+
+Of course, these young people knew nothing of the state of affairs
+between "Peter Pan" and his hostess, though they soon discovered the
+identity of Sir Otho.
+
+Soon after six, the "children" went away, declaring that it had been the
+event of the season, and they had never enjoyed a party more. The three
+Fairfields took leave at the same time, and Lady Hamilton was left alone
+with her father.
+
+Exactly what was said in the next half hour neither of them ever told,
+but when it was past, the two were entirely reconciled, and Lady Kitty
+had consented to return to her father's house to live. Then she sent a
+note to the Fairfields, asking them all to dine with herself and her
+father that evening.
+
+"And meantime, Kitty," said Sir Otho, "I'll go and get out of this
+foolish toggery."
+
+"Yes, but save that suit to be photographed in. I must have your picture
+to put with those of the other 'children.'"
+
+Sir Otho went away, enveloped in a long raincoat, and promising to return
+at the dinner hour. It was a merry dinner party that night.
+
+Patty had a new frock in honour of the occasion, and as she donned the
+pretty demi-toilette of pale green gauze, Nan said it was the most
+becoming costume she had ever worn.
+
+"Now that you're really eighteen, Patty," she said, "I think you might
+discard hair-ribbons."
+
+"No, thank you," said Patty, as Louise tied her big, white bow for her.
+"I'll wear them a little longer. At least as long as I'm in this country
+where Dukes and Earls run wild. When I get back to New York, I'll see
+about it."
+
+"Good-evening, Miss Yankee Doodle," said Sir Otho, as he met her again at
+dinner. "Once more the American has conquered the English, and I would be
+greatly honoured by your kind acceptance of this tiny memento of the
+occasion."
+
+As Sir Otho spoke, he handed Patty a small jeweller's box. She opened it
+and saw a dear little brooch in the form of an American flag. The Stars
+and Stripes were made of small sparkling brilliants of the three colours,
+and the twinkling effect was very beautiful.
+
+"It is lovely!" she exclaimed; "how can I ever thank you! This is one of
+my very choicest birthday gifts, and I have received a great many."
+
+"It is nothing," said Sir Otho, "compared to what you have given me," and
+he glanced affectionately toward his daughter.
+
+And this was all he ever said by way of expressing his gratitude to
+Patty, but it was enough, for the deep tone of his voice, and the
+suggestion of tears in his eyes, proved his inexpressible appreciation of
+Patty's achievement.
+
+Then the matter was dropped entirely, and the conversation became general
+and gay. Sir Otho proved to be as entertaining to older people as he had
+been to the children at the party, and Lady Kitty was in her most
+charming mood. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield quite did their share toward the
+general entertainment, but Patty was queen of the feast. She enjoyed it
+all, for she dearly loved a festivity of any sort, but to-night she was
+specially happy to think that her plan had succeeded, and that she had
+given to her dear friend Kitty what she most wanted in all the world.
+
+"And I trust it will not be long," said Sir Otho, "before you will all
+accept an invitation to dine with me in Carlton Terrace, with Lady
+Hamilton presiding at my table."
+
+This invitation was delightedly accepted, and then they all went up to
+the Fairfields' drawing-room, and Patty sang songs, and they all sang
+choruses, and then, as a final surprise, came a great, beautiful birthday
+cake, with eighteen lighted candles.
+
+Then Patty cut the cake, and there were more congratulations and good
+wishes all round, and for pretty nearly the eighteenth time in her life
+Patty declared it was the best birthday she had ever had.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+SUMMER PLANS
+
+
+"As usual," said Mr. Fairfield, smiling, "the question is, what is to be
+done with Patty?"
+
+"Yes," agreed Patty, complacently, "you and Nan are usually trying to
+dispose of me in some way. It's lucky I'm good-natured and don't mind
+being left behind."
+
+"That's a pretty speech!" exclaimed Nan, "after we've begged and coaxed
+you to go with us!"
+
+"So you have, my pretty little Stepmother--so you have; and I'm just
+ungrateful enough not to want to go."
+
+It was about a week after the birthday party, and the Fairfields were
+making their plans for the summer. The elders wanted to travel in
+Switzerland and Germany. Patty did not want to go with them, but her
+dilemma was, which of several delightful invitations to accept.
+
+"You see," she went on, "I'm invited to spend June in five separate
+places, each one lovelier than the other. Now I can't chop myself up into
+five pieces."
+
+"You can chop June up into five pieces," suggested Nan.
+
+"Yes, but if I go to a country house to make a good long visit, I want to
+stay about a month. A week here and then a week there is so unsatisfactory.
+However, after much thoughtful brooding over the question, I've cut out
+three, and that brings my quandary down to only two places to decide
+between."
+
+"Lady Hamilton's being one," observed her father.
+
+"Yes, Kitty's is one; and Mabel Hartley's is the other. Of course, if I
+spend June with Kitty, we'll be right here in London all the time, and
+though I love it, yet I love the country too. Now, if I go to Mabel's,
+I'll have a beautiful experience of real English country life."
+
+"You would enjoy it, I'm sure," said Nan; "and I think you'd better
+decide to go to Cromarty Manor, and then, if for any reason, you don't
+like it, come back, and put in the rest of your time with Lady Kitty."
+
+"Nan, that's an inspiration!" cried Patty, running across the room, and
+clasping Nan in one of her rather strenuous embraces.
+
+"Look out! You'll break her!" cried Mr. Fairfield, in great pretence of
+fear.
+
+"No, indeed!" said Patty, "she's too substantial. And anyway, such a
+clever suggestion deserves ample recognition."
+
+Patty sat on the arm of Nan's chair, and amused herself by twisting Nan's
+curly hair into tight little spirals.
+
+"Stop that, Patty," said her father; "you make Nan look like a
+pickaninny."
+
+"No matter what she looks like, if it's becoming," said Patty, serenely.
+"But truly, Nan, you ought to wear your hair like that; it's awfully
+effective!"
+
+The spirals now stood out all round Nan's face, like a spiky frame, but
+the good-natured victim only laughed, as she said, "Never mind me, let's
+get these great questions settled."
+
+So, after some more talk and discussion, it was settled that Patty should
+accept the Hartleys' urgent invitation to Cromarty Manor, for, at least,
+a part of June, and then, if she cared to, stay also a time with Lady
+Hamilton.
+
+"It may sound silly," said Patty, thoughtfully, "but I can't help feeling
+that Mabel not only wants me to visit her this summer, but she needs me.
+Now, I don't mean to be conceited, but, don't you know, you can tell when
+people seem to need you, if only in a trivial way."
+
+"I understand," said Nan, quickly; "and you're not conceited a bit,
+Patty. Mabel does need you. She is a sweet girl, but sometimes she seems
+to me the least bit morbid; no, not quite that, but verging that way. She
+adores you, and I'm perfectly sure that your companionship will do her a
+world of good."
+
+"I hope so," said Patty; "I love Mabel, but there is something about her
+I can't quite understand."
+
+"You'll probably find out what it is, when you're staying with her," said
+her father, "and I know, Patty, you'll do all in your power to brighten
+her up. The Merediths live near them, don't they?"
+
+"Yes; only a mile or two away. And the Merediths are gay enough for
+anybody. If they're at home this summer, there'll be plenty of fun going
+on, I'm sure."
+
+"Lady Hamilton will miss you a lot," said Nan; "what does she say to your
+going?"
+
+"Oh, she says she'll miss me," said Patty, "and so she will, some, but
+it's not like it was when she was here, alone. Now that she's settled in
+her father's house again, she has so much to occupy her time and
+attention she's never lonely. Of course, she's just as fond of me, and I
+am of her, but since she's gone away from here, I don't see so much of
+her. And, truly, she doesn't need me, and Mabel does. So I'll go to
+Mabel's first, and I shouldn't be surprised if I stay there until you
+people come back from your trip. Mrs. Hartley asked me for the whole
+summer, you know, but you won't be gone more than a month or six weeks,
+will you?"
+
+"Not more than two months," answered her father, "and you know,
+chickabiddy, if ever you want to join us, I'll send for you, or come for
+you myself, whenever you say the word. Just telegraph me, and I'll
+respond at once."
+
+"All right; I will if I want to. But there's too much fun for me in
+civilization to want to go wandering off to the ends of the earth."
+
+"And you may decide to go to Herenden Hall for a time."
+
+"Yes, I may. I'd love to visit Lady Herenden again, if I thought that
+Earl gentleman wouldn't be there."
+
+"He probably won't be," said Nan. "I daresay you scared him away from
+there forever."
+
+"Even so, I didn't scare him as much as he scared me," returned Patty,
+"but I do hope there won't be any Earls at Cromarty. I like plain, big
+boys better."
+
+"Those Hartley boys are fine fellows," observed Mr. Fairfield. "Young
+Meredith has more fun and jollity, but the Hartleys are of a sterling
+good sort. I like the whole family, and I'm glad, Patty girl, that you've
+decided to go there. I'll willingly leave you in Mrs. Hartley's care, and
+I'm sure you'll have a good time."
+
+"Of course I shall, Daddy, and I'll write you every day, if you want me
+to."
+
+"Not quite so often, my dear. Twice a week, will be all you'll find time
+for, I'm certain."
+
+"Quite likely," said Patty, who was not very fond of writing letters.
+
+Only a week later, Patty was to go away with the Hartleys. And a week was
+not a very long time for her preparations. There was shopping to do, and
+calling, and, as Nan and Mr. Fairfield were leaving at the same time,
+they were to give up their hotel apartment for the present.
+
+But Lady Hamilton insisted that Patty must look upon Sir Otho's big house
+in Carlton Terrace as her own home. If she cared to run up to London for
+a few days at any time, she would be more than welcome at Lady Kitty's.
+Or she could leave there any trunks or other belongings that she wished.
+This greatly pleased Mr. Fairfield, for he felt more comfortable at
+leaving Patty, to know that she had a foothold in London, and somebody to
+look after her, should she care to leave Cromarty before her parents'
+return.
+
+At last the day of departure came, and Mr. Fairfield accompanied Patty to
+the station to meet the Hartleys for the journey.
+
+It was with a homesick heart that Patty bade her father good-bye.
+Somehow, she suddenly felt that she was leaving her own people to go away
+with strangers. But she knew she must not be foolish, so she bravely kept
+back the tears and said good-bye with a tender, if not a gay, smile.
+
+"It is the loveliest thing," said Mabel, after they were settled in the
+train, "to think that you're really going with us. I wanted you to, so
+dreadfully, but I didn't urge it very much, for fear you wouldn't enjoy
+yourself with us."
+
+"I always enjoy myself," said Patty, "but I know I shall be happy with
+you."
+
+"We'll try to make you so, Miss Fairfield," said Bob, earnestly, and
+Patty smiled at him, and said:
+
+"Then the first thing you can do toward it, is to drop that formal name,
+and call me Patty. I'm not really grown-up enough for the other."
+
+"No, I don't think you are," said Bob, as he looked at her critically.
+"So, as we're all to live under one roof for a time, we'll be first
+namers all round."
+
+"Good!" said Sinclair, "that suits me; and now, Mater, when you're ready,
+we'll go in to luncheon."
+
+Patty thought luncheon in the dining car was great fun. Only four could
+sit at a table, but as Mrs. Hartley had a slight headache and did not
+care to talk, she and Grandma Cromarty sat at another table, and left the
+four young people to chatter by themselves.
+
+Everything interested Patty, from the unusual things she found on the
+menu to the strange sights she saw from the window.
+
+This was her first trip in this direction, for they were travelling
+toward Leicester, and the scenes were all new to her.
+
+The boys were full of fun and nonsense, and Mabel was so gay and jolly
+that Patty began to think she had imagined the girl was of a sad nature.
+They all told funny stories, and made absurd jokes, and poked fun at each
+other, and Patty concluded she was likely to have a very jolly summer
+with the Hartleys. Back they went after luncheon to their funny parlour
+car, which had double seats facing each other, with a small table
+between.
+
+"Just the place for a game," said Sinclair, as the four took their seats,
+two on either side of the table.
+
+"What sort of a game?" asked Patty.
+
+"Oh, I don't know; I'll make one up." The boy took a bit of chalk from
+his pocket, and marked off the table into various sections, with a circle
+in each corner, and crosses here and there.
+
+"Now," he explained, as he offered each player a coin, "this isn't money,
+you know. They're merely counters, for the time being. But when the game
+is over you must all give them back to me, because they'll be money again
+then."
+
+"But what do we do with them?" asked Patty, who was greatly interested in
+any game.
+
+"I'll show you. These places are homes, and these are wilderness. If
+you're in the wilderness you may be captured, but if you're at home, you
+can't be."
+
+The game was really a mix-up of parcheesi, halma, and some others; to
+which were added some original rules out of Sinclair's own head. Patty
+and Bob were partners against the other two, and soon the quartette were
+deeply absorbed in the game.
+
+"You are the cleverest boy, to make this up!" cried Patty, as her side
+won, and they prepared to begin over again.
+
+"Oh, he often makes up games," said Mabel. "We all do, only Sinclair's
+are always the best."
+
+"Mine are very good, though," observed Bob, modestly.
+
+"Good enough, yes," said Sinclair; "only usually they're so difficult
+that nobody can win but yourself."
+
+Bob made a profound bow at this compliment, and then the game went on. It
+seemed impossible that they had been about five hours on the train, when
+it was time to get out. They had reached Leicester, and from there were
+to drive to Cromarty Manor.
+
+Two vehicles met them at the station.
+
+Into one of these, a comfortable victoria, Sinclair assisted the four
+ladies, and in the other, the boys rode up with the luggage. The drive
+was beautiful, and Patty warmly expressed her gratitude to Mrs. Hartley,
+for inviting her to this delightful experience of English country life.
+
+"It is beautiful," said Mrs. Hartley, looking about her. "I'm always glad
+to get back from London to the restful quiet of these great trees and the
+far-away, peaceful hills."
+
+Mabel's mood had changed. She no longer laughed and jested, and though
+sweet and gentle as ever, the hint of sadness had again crept into her
+face, and her speech was slow and quiet. Patty adapted her mood to the
+other's, and it was almost in silence they drove along the country roads.
+
+It was a long ride, and it was nearly dusk when at last they arrived at
+Cromarty Manor.
+
+An old servant came out from the Porter's Lodge to open the high iron
+gates for them.
+
+He gave them a warm greeting, which seemed a heart-felt welcome, and not
+merely the speech of a paid dependant, and then they drove on toward the
+house.
+
+The whole effect was so beautiful that it almost took Patty's breath
+away. It was not a bit like Herenden Hall, it was more like an old feudal
+castle. The picturesque house was of gray stone, with towers and turrets
+almost entirely covered with ivy. From the ivy the birds flew in and out,
+and the darkness of the surrounding trees and tall shrubbery gave the
+place a weird and fairly mysterious appearance.
+
+"You feel the charm of it, don't you?" said Mrs. Hartley, kindly, as she
+looked at Patty's rapt face and serious eyes.
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Patty, softly; "I can't explain it, but it casts a
+spell over me. Oh, I don't wonder you love it!"
+
+But the darkness of the outer world was soon dispelled by a broad gleam
+of light, as the great front doors were thrown open. An old, gray-haired
+butler stood on the threshold, and greeted them with rather pompous
+respect and punctilious deference. The interior was quite in keeping with
+the outside view of the house. But though the old carved rafters and
+wainscoting were dark and heavy, cheerful lamps were in abundance, and in
+the halls and drawing-rooms, wax candles were lighted also.
+
+At the first view on entering there seemed to be an interminable vista of
+rooms, that opened one from another; this was partly the effect of the
+elaborate old architecture, and partly because of many long mirrors in
+various positions.
+
+The furniture, tapestries and ornaments were all of an epoch two
+centuries back, and the whole picture fascinated Patty beyond all words.
+
+"It's a wonderful place," she said at last; "and after a week or two, I'm
+going to examine it in detail. But at first I shall be satisfied just to
+bask in its atmosphere."
+
+"You'll do!" cried Bob, who had just arrived. "If you hadn't appreciated
+Cromarty, we were going to pack you straight back to London; but you've
+acquitted yourself nobly. Nobody could make a better speech than you did,
+and I'll wager you didn't learn it beforehand either."
+
+"I couldn't," said Patty, "because I didn't know what the place was like.
+What few remarks you made about it seem like nothing, now that I've begun
+to see it for myself."
+
+"Yes, and you've only begun," said Sinclair. "To-morrow, when you get
+further into the heart of it, you'll surrender to its charm as we all
+do."
+
+"I'm sure I shall," agreed Patty, "and, indeed, I think I have already
+done so."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+CROMARTY MANOR
+
+
+Life at Cromarty Manor was very pleasant indeed.
+
+Although Patty had not definitely realised it, she was thoroughly tired
+out by her London gaieties, and the peaceful quiet of the country brought
+her a rest that she truly needed.
+
+Also, the Hartleys were a delightful family to visit. There is quite as
+much hospitality in knowing when to leave guests to themselves as there
+is in continually entertaining them.
+
+And while the Hartleys planned many pleasures for Patty, yet there were
+also hours in the morning or early afternoon, when she was free to follow
+her own sweet will.
+
+Sometimes she would roam around the historic old house, pausing here and
+there in some of the silent, unused rooms, to imagine romances of days
+gone by.
+
+Sometimes she would stroll out-of-doors, through the orchards and woods,
+by ravines and brooks, always discovering some new and beautiful vista or
+bit of scenery.
+
+And often she would spend a morning, lying in a hammock beneath the old
+trees, reading a book, or merely day-dreaming, as she watched the
+sunlight play hide-and-seek among the leaves above her head.
+
+One morning, after she had been at Cromarty Manor for about a week, Patty
+betook herself to her favourite hammock, carrying with her a book of
+Fairy Tales, for which she had never outgrown her childish fondness.
+
+But the book remained unopened, for Patty's mind was full of busy
+thoughts.
+
+She looked around at the beautiful landscape which, as far as the eye
+could reach included only the land belonging to the Cromarty estate.
+There were more than a thousand acres in all, much of which was
+cultivated ground, and the rest woodland or rolling meadows. Patty looked
+at the dark woods in the distance; the orchards nearer by; and, in her
+immediate vicinity, the beautiful gardens and terraces.
+
+The latter, of which there were two, known as the Upper and Lower
+Terrace, were two hundred feet long and were separated by a sloping bank
+of green lawn, dotted with round flower beds.
+
+[Illustration: "Often she would spend a morning lying in a hammock
+beneath the old trees"]
+
+Above the terraces rose the old house itself. The Manor was built of a
+grayish stone, and was of Elizabethan architecture.
+
+More than two hundred years old, it had been remodelled and added to by
+its various successive owners, but much of its fine old, original plan
+was left.
+
+Ivy clung to its walls, and birds fluttered in and out continually.
+
+There was a tower on either side the great entrance, and Patty loved to
+fancy that awful and mysterious deeds had been committed within those
+frowning walls.
+
+But there was no legend or tradition attached to the mansion, and all its
+history seemed to be peaceful and pleasant.
+
+Even the quaint old yew-tree walk, with its strangely misshapen
+shrubbery, was bright and cheerful in the morning sunlight, and the lake
+rippled like silver, and gave no hint of dark or gloomy depths.
+
+And yet, Patty couldn't help feeling that there was some shadow hanging
+over the Hartley family. They were never sad or low-spirited, but
+sometimes Mrs. Hartley would sigh, or Grandma Cromarty would look
+anxious, as if at some unrelievable sorrow.
+
+The boys were always light-hearted and gay, but Mabel often had moods of
+despondency, which, while they never made her cross or irritable, were so
+pathetic that it worried Patty's loving heart.
+
+And so she lay in her hammock, gazing at the beauty all about her, and
+wondering what was the secret grief that harassed her dear friends. It
+never occurred to her that it was none of her affair, for Patty was
+possessed of a healthy curiosity, and moreover she was innately of a
+helpful nature, and longed to know what the trouble was, in a vague hope
+that she might be of some assistance.
+
+"I know they're not rich," she said to herself, "for the whole place
+shows neglect and shabbiness; but there's something besides lack of money
+that makes Madam Cromarty sad."
+
+The place was indeed in a state of unrepair. Though there were many
+servants, there were not enough to do all that should have been done. The
+two gardeners did their best to keep the flowers in order, but the
+elaborate conventional gardens, laid out in geometric designs, and
+intricate paths, called for a complete staff of trained workers, and in
+the absence of these, became overgrown at their borders and untidy in
+appearance.
+
+It was the same indoors. The handsome old furniture, covered with silk
+brocades and tapestries, was worn and sometimes ragged in appearance.
+Some of the decorations showed need of regilding, and though the
+magnificent old carved woodwork, and tessellated floors could not be
+marred by time, yet many of the lesser appointments called for renovation
+or renewal. The Great Hall, as it was called, had best withstood the
+ravages of time, as it was wainscoted and ceiled in massive old oak.
+
+It was a noble apartment, with recessed windows and panelled walls, and
+across one end was a raised platform from the back of which rose a
+wonderfully carved chimney-piece.
+
+This apartment, in the palmier days of the Manor House, had been the
+Banqueting Hall, but as there was a smaller and more appropriate
+dining-room, the Hartleys used the Great Hall as a living room, and had
+gathered in it their dearest treasures and belongings. Grandma Cromarty
+had her own corner, with her knitting basket. In another corner was a
+grand piano, and many other musical instruments. In one north bay window
+was Mabel's painting outfit, and so large was the recess that it formed a
+good-sized studio. On the walls, hobnobbing with the ancient antlers and
+deers' heads, trophies of the chase, were the boys' tennis rackets, and
+in the outstretched arm of a tall figure in armour, a lot of golfsticks
+rested against the quartered shield.
+
+"I suppose," Mabel had said, when they first showed this room to Patty,
+"a great many people would consider it desecration to fill up this fine
+old place with all our modern stuff. But we're modern, and so we make the
+carving and tapestries give way to us."
+
+"They like it," Patty had replied. "They feel sorry for other houses
+where the carvings and tapestries have to stay back in their own old
+times. Now hear these old rafters ring to modern music," and seating
+herself at the piano, Patty began some rollicking songs that were of
+decidedly later date than the old rafters.
+
+Opening from the old Banqueting Hall was the library. This had been left
+just as it was, and the shelves full of old books were a never-failing
+delight to Patty's browsing nature. A gallery ran round all four sides,
+which was reached by spiral iron staircases, and the deep-seated windows,
+with their old leather cushions, made delightful nooks in which to pore
+over the old volumes. There were many unused rooms in the Manor House.
+Many unexpected alcoves and corridors, and in these the old furniture was
+worn and decayed. The rooms that were lived in were kept in comfortable
+order, but Patty knew, had there been more house-servants, these other
+apartments would have been thrown open to light and air.
+
+Surely, Patty decided, the Hartleys were pinched for money, but just as
+surely, she thought, that could not have the effect of casting that
+indefinite gloom over them which was now and then observable. And as she
+idly swung in her hammock, she made up her mind to ask about it.
+
+"If they don't want to tell me, they needn't," she said to herself, "but
+they surely know me well enough now to know that I'm honestly interested
+in their life, and not merely trying to pry into their secrets."
+
+But she could not quite decide which one of the family to ask about it.
+She would have preferred to ask Grandma Cromarty, but the old lady had a
+certain reserve, which, at times, was forbidding, and Patty stood a
+little in awe of her.
+
+Mrs. Hartley was kindly and responsive, but Patty rarely saw her except
+when the whole family was present. In the morning Mrs. Hartley was busy
+with household duties, and afternoons Patty and Mabel were usually
+together. Patty felt sure she could never ask Mabel, for though the two
+girls were confidential friends, there was a sensitiveness in Mabel's
+disposition that made Patty shrink from touching on what she felt might
+be a painful subject. Then there were the boys. Bob, at home on his
+vacation from college was Patty's chum and merry comrade, but she
+imagined he would cleverly evade a serious question. He was always
+chaffing, and while Patty was always glad to meet him on this ground, she
+almost knew he wouldn't talk seriously on family subjects. This left only
+Sinclair. Patty really liked Sinclair Hartley. A young man of about
+twenty, he was studying law in a nearby town, where he went every
+morning, returning in mid-afternoon.
+
+He was kindly and courteous, and though often grave, was always
+appreciative of a joke, and quite ready to join in any fun. But he had a
+serious side, and Patty had enjoyed many long talks with him on subjects
+that never would interest Mabel or Bob.
+
+And so she concluded that at the first opportunity, she would ask
+Sinclair what was the nature of the mystery that seemed to hang over the
+House of Hartley.
+
+"Ah, there, Pitty-Pat!" called a gay voice, and looking around, Patty saw
+Bob strolling toward her across the lawn. "Want to go out on the lake and
+fish for pond-lilies?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Patty, twisting herself out of the hammock. "What are
+you going to do with them?"
+
+"Oh, just for the lunch table. Mabel's so everlastingly fond of them, you
+know."
+
+Patty thought it was nice of Bob to remember his sister's tastes, and she
+willingly went with him toward the lake.
+
+"How beautiful it all is!" she said as they went down the terrace steps
+and along the lake path which led through a pergola and around a curved
+corner called "The Alcove."
+
+This delightful nook was a small open court of marble, adorned with
+pillars and statues, and partly surrounding a fountain.
+
+"Yes, isn't it?" exclaimed Bob, enthusiastically. "You know, Patty, this
+old place is my joy and my despair. I love every stick and stone of it,
+but I wish we could keep it up in decent order. Heigh-ho! Just wait until
+I'm out of college. I'll do something then to turn an honest shilling,
+and every penny of it shall go to fix up the dear old place."
+
+"What are you going to be, Bob?"
+
+"An engineer. There's more chance for a fellow in that than in any other
+profession. Old Sinclair's for being a lawyer, and he'll be a good one,
+too, but it's slow work."
+
+"You ought to go to America, Bob, if you want to get rich."
+
+"I would, like a shot, if I could take the old house with me. But I'm
+afraid it's too big to uproot."
+
+"I'm afraid it is. I suppose you wouldn't like to live in a brown-stone
+front on Fifth Avenue?"
+
+"Never having seen your brown-stone Avenue, ma'am, I can't say; but I
+suppose a deer park and lake and several thousand acres of meadow land
+are not included with each house."
+
+"No; not unless you take the whole of Manhattan Island."
+
+"Even that wouldn't do; unless I had taken it a few hundred years ago,
+and started the trees growing then."
+
+"No, America wouldn't suit you," said Patty, thoughtfully, "any more than
+English country life would suit most of our American boys."
+
+"But you like this life of ours?"
+
+"I love it; for a time. And just now I am enjoying it immensely. Oh, what
+gorgeous lilies!"
+
+They had reached the lake, and the quiet, well-behaved water was placidly
+rippling against the stone coping.
+
+Bob untied the boat.
+
+"It's an old thing," he said, regretfully; "but it's water-tight, so
+don't be afraid."
+
+Patty went down the broad marble steps, and seated herself in the stern
+of the boat, while Bob took the rowing seat.
+
+A few of his strong pulls, and they were out among the lily pads.
+
+"Row around a bit before we gather them," suggested Patty, and Bob with
+long, slow strokes sent the boat softly and steadily along.
+
+"Isn't it perfect?" said Patty, dreamily. "It seems as if nothing could
+stir me up on a day like this."
+
+"Is that so?" said Bob, and with mischief in his eyes, he began to rock
+the boat from side to side.
+
+"You villain!" cried Patty, rudely stirred from her calm enjoyment; "take
+that!"
+
+She dashed light sprays of water at him from over the side of the boat,
+and he returned by cleverly sprinkling a few drops on her from the blade
+of his oar.
+
+"Why did you want to kick up a bobbery, when everything was so nice and
+peaceful?" she said, reproachfully.
+
+"I shall always kick up a bobbery," he returned, calmly, "when you put on
+that romantic, sentimental air."
+
+"I didn't put on any sentimental air! I was just enjoying the dreamy
+spirit of the lake."
+
+"Thank you! That's the same as saying my society makes you sleepy."
+
+"Nothing of the sort. And anyway, the dreamy mood has passed."
+
+"Yes, I intended it should. Now, let's sing."
+
+"All right; what?"
+
+"The 'Little Kibosh,' I think. That's a good song to row by."
+
+The young people at Cromarty Manor had already composed several songs
+which seemed to them choicest gems of musical composition.
+
+As a rule Patty and Bob made up the words, while Mabel and Sinclair
+arranged the tunes.
+
+Sometimes the airs were adapted from well-known songs, and sometimes they
+were entirely original.
+
+"The Little Kibosh" was one of their favourite nonsense songs, and now
+Patty and Bob sang it in unison as they rowed slowly about on the lake.
+
+              "It was ever so many years ago,
+                On a prairie by the sea;
+              A little Kibosh I used to know
+                By the name of Hoppity Lee.
+              His hair was as green as the driven snow,
+                And his cheeks were as blue as tea.
+
+              "'Twas just about night, or nearly noon
+                When Hoppity Lee and I
+              Decided to go for a sail to the moon,
+                At least, as far as the sky.
+              But instead of taking the Big Balloon,
+                sailed in a pumpkin pie.
+
+              "Dear little Hoppity Lee and I
+                Were happy and glad and gay;
+              But the Dog Star came out as we passed by,
+                And began to bark and bay.
+              And the little Kibosh fell out of the pie,
+                And into the Milky Way!
+
+              "I fished and fished for a year and a week
+                For dear little Hoppity Lee;
+              And at last I heard a small faint squeak
+                From the place where he used to be;
+              And he said, 'Go home, and never more seek,
+                Oh, never more seek for me!'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+UNCLE MARMADUKE
+
+
+That very same evening Patty had a chance to speak to Sinclair alone.
+
+It was just after dinner, and the lovely English twilight was beginning
+to cast long, soft shadows of the tall cypresses across the lawn. The
+various members of the family were standing about on the terrace, when
+Sinclair said, "You need some exercise, Patty; let's walk as far as the
+alcove."
+
+Patty assented, and the two strolled away, while Mabel called after them,
+"Don't be gone long, for we're all going to play games this evening."
+
+They all loved games, so Patty promised to return very soon.
+
+"I never saw anything like this alcove before in my life," said Patty, as
+they reached the picturesque spot and sat down upon the curving marble
+seat.
+
+"They are often found in the gardens of old English homes. Any arched or
+covered seat out of doors is called an alcove. But this is rather an
+elaborate one. The marble pillars are of fine design, and the whole thing
+is beautifully proportioned."
+
+"Is it very old?"
+
+"Yes, older than the house. You know the Cromartys have lived on this
+estate for several hundred years. But the original house was destroyed by
+fire, or nearly so, and the present house was built on the old
+foundations about the middle of the seventeenth century. If you're
+interested in these things, there are lots of books in the library,
+telling all about the history of the place."
+
+"Indeed I am interested, and I shall look up the books, if you'll tell me
+what they are. Is there any legend or tradition connected with the
+place?"
+
+"No. We have no ghosts at Cromarty Manor. We've always been a peaceful
+sort, except that my great uncle quarrelled with my grandfather."
+
+"Mrs. Cromarty's husband?"
+
+"Yes. He was Roger Cromarty--grandfather was, I mean--and he had a
+brother Marmaduke. They were both high-tempered, and Marmaduke after an
+unusually fierce quarrel left home and went to India. But have you never
+heard the story of the Cromarty Fortune?"
+
+"No, I never have. Is it a sad story? Would you rather not tell me?"
+
+"Why, no; it isn't a sad story, except that the conditions are rather sad
+for us. But there's no reason in the world why you shouldn't hear it, if
+you care to. Indeed, I supposed Mabel had already told it you."
+
+"No, she never did. Will you?"
+
+"Yes. But not here. Let us go in, and get the family all together, and
+we'll give you a dramatic recital of the Great Cromarty Mystery."
+
+"Oh, is it a mystery story? How delightful. I love a mystery."
+
+"I'm glad you do, but I assure you I wish it wasn't a mystery."
+
+"Will it never be solved?"
+
+"I fear not, now. But let us go back to the house, and tell the tale as
+it should be told."
+
+They found that the others had already gone into the house, and were
+gathered round the big table that stood in the middle of the living room.
+As they joined the group, Sinclair said:
+
+"Before we play games this evening, we are going to tell Patty the story
+of Uncle Marmaduke's money."
+
+Patty was surprised to note the different expressions on her friends'
+faces. Mabel seemed to shrink into herself, as if in embarrassment or
+sensitiveness. Mrs. Cromarty looked calmly proud, and Mrs. Hartley smiled
+a little.
+
+But Bob laughed outright, and said:
+
+"Good! I'll help; we'll all help, and we'll touch up the tale until it
+has all the dramatic effect of a three-volume novel."
+
+"It won't need touching up," said Sinclair. "Just the plain truth is
+story enough of itself."
+
+"You begin it, Grandy," said Bob, "and then, when your imagination gives
+out, I'll take a hand at it."
+
+The old lady smiled.
+
+"It needs no imagination, Robert," she said; "if Patty cares to hear of
+our family misfortune, I'm quite willing to relate the tale."
+
+"Oh, I didn't know it was a misfortune," cried Patty. "I thought it was a
+mystery story."
+
+"It's both," said Mrs. Cromarty, "but if the mystery could be solved, it
+would be no misfortune."
+
+"That sounds like an enigma," observed Patty.
+
+"It's all an enigma," said Bob. "Go ahead, Grandy."
+
+"The story begins," said Mrs. Cromarty, "with my marriage to Roger
+Cromarty. I was wed in the year 1855. My husband and I were happy during
+the first few years of our married life. He was the owner of this
+beautiful place, which had been in his family for many generations. My
+daughter, Emmeline, was born here, and when she was a child she filled
+the old house with her happy laughter and chatter. My husband had a
+brother, Marmaduke, with whom he was not on good terms. Before my
+marriage, this brother had left home, and gone to India. My husband held
+no communication with him, but we sometimes heard indirectly from him,
+and reports always said that he was amassing great wealth in some Indian
+commerce."
+
+"Is that his portrait?" asked Patty, indicating a painting of a
+fine-looking man in the prime of life.
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Cromarty. "But the picture represents him as looking
+amiable, whereas he was always cross, grumpy, and irritable."
+
+"Like me," commented Bob.
+
+"No," said his mother, "I'm thankful to say that none of you children
+show the slightest signs of Uncle Marmaduke's disposition. I was only
+fifteen years old when he died, but I shall never forget his scowling
+face and angry tones."
+
+"Was he always cross?" asked Patty, amazed that any one could be
+invariably ill-tempered.
+
+"Always," said Mrs. Cromarty. "At least, whenever he was here. I never
+saw him elsewhere."
+
+"Go back, Grandy; you're getting ahead of your story."
+
+"Well, I tried my best to bring about a reconciliation between the two
+brothers, but both were proud and a bit stubborn. I could not persuade my
+husband to write to Marmaduke, and though I wrote to him myself, my
+letters were torn up, and the scraps returned to me."
+
+"Lovely old gentleman!" commented Bob. "I'm glad my manners are at least
+better than that!"
+
+"At last, my husband, Mr. Roger Cromarty, became very ill. I knew he
+could not recover, and wrote Marmaduke to that effect. To my surprise, I
+received a grim, but fairly polite letter, saying that he would leave
+India at once, and hoped to reach his brother's bedside in time for a
+reconciliation."
+
+"And did he?" asked Patty, breathlessly.
+
+"Yes, but that was all. My husband was dying when his brother came. They
+made peace, however, and arranged some business matters."
+
+"Oh," cried Patty, "how glad you must have been that he did not come too
+late. What a comfort all these years, to know that they did make up their
+quarrel."
+
+"Yes, indeed," assented Mrs. Cromarty. "But I have talked all I can.
+Emmeline, you may take up the narrative."
+
+"I'll tell a little," said Mrs. Hartley, smiling; "but I shall soon let
+Sinclair continue. We all know this tale by heart, but only Sinclair can
+do full justice to the mysterious part of it. I was only ten years old
+when my father died, and Uncle Marmaduke came here to live. It changed
+the whole world for me. Where before all had been happiness and love, now
+all was unkindness and fear. None of us dared cross Uncle Marmaduke, for
+his fiery anger was something not to be endured. And beside being
+bad-tempered, he was erratic. He did most peculiar things, without any
+reason in them whatever. Altogether, he was a most difficult man to live
+with. But at my father's death he owned this estate, and we had to live
+with him or go homeless. He had plenty of money, and he repaired and
+restored much about the place. But even in this he was erratic. He would
+have masons in to renew the crumbling plaster and brickwork in the
+cellars, while the drawing-room furniture could go ragged and forlorn. He
+spent his money freely for anything he wanted himself, but was niggardly
+toward mother and myself. However, he always told us that at his death we
+should inherit his wealth. The estate, also, he willed to mother. He
+lived with us for about five years, and then was killed by a fall from
+his horse. I was a girl of fifteen then, and when he was brought in,
+mangled and almost dead, he called for me. I went to his bedside,
+trembling, for even then I feared he was going to scold me. But he could
+only speak in hesitating, disjointed sentences. It was with difficulty I
+gathered that he was trying to give me some information about his
+fortune. I wish now I had tried to help him tell me; but at that time it
+seemed heartless to think of such things when the poor man was dying, and
+I soothed him, and begged him not to try to talk, when it was such an
+exertion."
+
+"Oh, Mother," wailed Bob, "if you'd only listened, instead of talking
+yourself!"
+
+Mrs. Hartley smiled, as if she were used to such comments at this part of
+the story.
+
+"Well," she said, "I think Sinclair may take up the recital here. That
+is, if you're interested, Patty?"
+
+"If I'm interested! Indeed I am! It's very exciting, and I want it all
+now; no 'continued in our next.'"
+
+"We don't know the end, ourselves," said Mabel, with such a wistful look
+in her eyes that Patty went over and sat by her, and with her arm round
+her listened to the rest of the story.
+
+"Well, then," said Sinclair, in his grave, kindly voice, "Uncle Marmaduke
+tried very hard to communicate to mother and Grandy something about his
+fortune. But his accident had somehow paralysed his throat, and he could
+scarcely articulate. But for an hour or more, as he lay dying, he would
+look at them with piercing glances, and say what sounded like dickens!
+gold!"
+
+"Did he mean gold money?" asked Patty, impulsively.
+
+"They didn't know, then. But they thought at the time that dickens! was
+one of his angry expletives, as he was given to such language. The gold,
+they felt sure, referred to his fortune, which he had always declared he
+would leave to Grandmother. Then he died, without being able to say any
+other except those two words, gold and dickens."
+
+"He might have meant Charles Dickens," suggested Patty, who dearly loved
+to guess at a puzzle.
+
+"As it turned out, he did," said Sinclair, serenely; "but that's ahead of
+the story."
+
+"And, too," said Mrs. Hartley, "the way in which he finally articulated
+the word, by a great effort, and after many attempts, was so--so
+explosive, that it sounded like an ejaculation far more than like a noted
+author."
+
+"Years went by," continued Sinclair, "and Grandy and mother were left
+with the old Cromarty estate, and nothing to keep it up with."
+
+"We had a small income, my boy," said his grandmother.
+
+"Yes, but not enough to keep the place as it should be kept. However, no
+trace could be found of Uncle Marmaduke's money. He was generally
+supposed to have brought a large fortune home from India, but it seemed
+to have vanished into thin air. His private papers and belongings showed
+no records of stocks or bonds, no bank books, and save for a small amount
+of ready money he had by him, he seemed to be penniless. Of course, he
+wasn't; the way he had lived, and the money he had spent indicated that
+he had a fortune somewhere; and, too, there was his promise to leave it
+to Grandy. Of course, the conclusion was that he had hidden this
+fortune."
+
+"A hidden fortune!" exclaimed Patty, blissfully. "Oh, what a lovely
+mystery! Why, you couldn't have a better one!"
+
+"I think a discovered fortune would be far better," said Mabel, and Patty
+clasped her friend's hand in sympathy.
+
+"At last," said Sinclair, "a _very_ bright lawyer had a glimmering of an
+idea that Uncle Marmaduke's last words had some meaning to them. He
+inquired of the ladies of the house, and learned that the late Mr.
+Marmaduke had been exceedingly fond of reading Dickens, and that he was
+greatly attached to his own well-worn set of the great author's works.
+'Ah, ha!' said the very bright lawyer. 'Between those well-thumbed pages,
+we will find many Bank of England notes, or certificates of valuable
+stocks!' They flew to the library, and thoroughly searched all the
+volumes of the set. And what do you think they found?"
+
+"Nothing," said Patty, wagging her head solemnly.
+
+"Exactly that! Save for a book-marker here and there, the volumes held
+nothing but their own immortal stories. 'Foiled again!' hissed the _very_
+bright lawyer. But he kept right on being foiled, and still no hoard of
+securities was found."
+
+"But what about the gold?" said Patty. "They didn't expect to find gold
+coins in Dickens' books?"
+
+"No, but they fondly hoped they'd find a mysterious paper in cryptogram,
+like the 'Gold Bug,' you know, telling them to go out in the dark of the
+moon, and dig north by northwest under the old apple tree."
+
+"Don't try to be funny, Clair," put in Bob; "go on with the yarn. You're
+telling it well to-night."
+
+"And then," said Sinclair, looking from one to another of his interested
+hearers, "and then the years rolled by until the fair maiden, Emmeline
+Cromarty, was of sufficient age to have suitors for her lily-white hand.
+As we can well believe, after a mere glance in her direction, she was the
+belle of the whole countryside. Brave gallants from far and near came
+galloping into the courtyard, and dismounting in feverish, haste, cried,
+'What ho! is the radiant Emmeline within?' Then the old warden with his
+clanking keys admitted them, and they stood in rows, that the coquettish
+damsel might make a selection."
+
+"How ridiculous you are, Sinclair!" said his mother, smiling. "Can't you
+omit that part?"
+
+"Nay, nay, fair lady. And so, it came to pass, that among the shoals of
+suitors was one who was far more brave and strong and noble than all the
+rest. Edgar Hartley----"
+
+Sinclair's voice broke a little as he spoke the name of his revered
+father. But hiding his emotion, he went on.
+
+"Edgar Hartley wooed and won Emmeline Cromarty, and in the beautiful June
+of 1880 they were wed and merrily rang the bells. Now while Edgar Hartley
+was by no means wealthy, he had a fair income, and the fortunes of
+Cromarty Manor improved. The young couple took up their abode here, and
+the Dowager Duchess of Cromarty lived with them."
+
+"I'm not a Duchess," interposed Mrs. Cromarty, in her calm way.
+
+"You ought to have been, Grandy," declared Bob. "You look the part, and
+I'm sure there's a missing title somewhere that belongs to you. Perhaps
+Uncle Marmaduke concealed it with the rest of his fortune."
+
+"No, dear boy; we are not titled people. But the Cromartys are an old
+family, and much beloved and respected by all the country round."
+
+"We are so!" declared Bob, with great enthusiasm.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+PUZZLING RHYMES
+
+
+"As I was saying," continued Sinclair, "Mr. and Mrs. Hartley lived
+happily at Cromarty Manor. Three beautiful children were born to them,
+who have since grown to be the superior specimens of humanity you see
+before you. I am the oldest, and, as I may modestly remark, the flower of
+the family."
+
+"Oh, I don't know," commented Patty, looking affectionately at Mabel.
+
+"Well, anyway, as was only natural, the search for that hidden fortune
+went on at times. Perhaps a visitor would stir up the interest afresh,
+and attempts would be made to discover new meaning in Uncle Marmaduke's
+last words. And it was my father who succeeded in doing this. He sat in
+the library one day, looking over the old set of Dickens' works, which
+always had a fascinating air of holding the secret. He had not lived here
+long then, and was not very familiar with the books on the library
+shelves, but looking about he discovered another set of Dickens, a much
+newer set, and the volumes were bound in cloth, but almost entirely
+covered by a gilded decoration. Wait, I'll show you one."
+
+Sinclair rose, and going into the library, returned in a moment with a
+copy of "Barnaby Rudge." It was bound in green cloth, but so ornate was
+the gold tooling that little green could be seen.
+
+"Dickens--gold----" murmured Patty, her eyes shining as she realised the
+new meaning in the words.
+
+"Yes; and, sure enough that was what Uncle Marmaduke meant. Just think!
+For fifteen years that set of books had stood untouched on the shelves,
+while people nearly wore out the older set, hunting for a clue to the
+fortune!"
+
+"It's great!" declared Patty; "go on!"
+
+"Well, this set of Dickens proved extremely interesting. Between the
+leaves of the books were papers of all sorts. Bills, deeds, banknotes,
+memoranda, and even a will."
+
+"Then you had the fortune, at last?"
+
+"No such luck. The banknotes and the few securities in the books amounted
+to a fair sum, which was gratefully appreciated by my parents, but as to
+the bulk of the fortune, it only made matters more tantalising than
+ever."
+
+"Why?" asked Patty.
+
+"One of the papers was a will, properly executed and witnessed, leaving
+all the fortune of which Uncle Marmaduke died possessed, to my mother.
+Then, instead of a definite statement of where this money was deposited,
+were some foolish jingles hinting where to find it. These rhymes would be
+interesting as an old legend, or in a story book, but to find them
+instead of a heap of money, was, to say the least, disappointing."
+
+"And did you never find the money?"
+
+"Never. And, of course, now we never will. Remember all this happened
+twenty years ago. I mean the discovery of the papers. Of course, the
+money was hidden more than thirty-five years ago."
+
+"And do you mean to say that you people are living here, in your own
+house, and your own money is hidden here somewhere, and you can't find
+it?"
+
+"Exactly as you state it."
+
+"Well! _I'd_ find it, if I had to tear the whole house down."
+
+"Wait a minute, Miss Impetuosity. We don't think it's in the house."
+
+"Oh, out of doors?"
+
+"You're good at puzzles, I know, but just wait until you hear the
+directions that came with the package, and I think you'll admit it's a
+hopeless problem."
+
+"May she see them, Mother?" said Mabel. "Will you get them out for us?"
+
+"Not to-night, dear. I'll show the old papers to Patty, some other time;
+but now Sinclair can tell her the lines just as well."
+
+"Of all the papers in the books," Sinclair went on, "only two seemed to
+be directions for finding the money, although others vaguely hinted that
+the fortune was concealed. And still others gave the impression that
+Uncle Marmaduke meant to tell mother all about it; but as his death came
+upon him so suddenly, of course he could not do this. On these two papers
+are rhymes, which we children have known by heart all our lives. One is:
+
+                  "'Great treasure lieth in the poke
+                  Between the fir trees and the oak.'
+
+"You see uncle was a true poet."
+
+"What does the poke mean?" asked Patty.
+
+"Oh, a poke is a pocket; or a hiding-place of any sort. Of course, this
+information sent father to digging around every fir tree and oak tree on
+the place. As you know, there are hundreds of both kinds of trees, so the
+directions can't be called explicit."
+
+"But," said Patty, wrinkling her brow, "it says 'between the fir trees
+and the oak,' as if it meant a clump of firs and only one big oak."
+
+"Yes; that's what has been surmised. And many a separate oak tree that
+stands near a group of firs has been thoroughly investigated. But wait;
+there's another clue. On a separate paper these words are written:
+
+                  "'Above the stair, across the hall,
+                    Between the bedhead and the wall,
+                  A careful searching will reveal
+                    The noble fortune I conceal.'
+
+"There, could anything be plainer than that?"
+
+"Then the money is _in_ the house!" exclaimed Patty.
+
+"Take your choice. There are the two declarations. It may be he concealed
+the money in one place, and then transferred it to another. Or it may be
+he put part in the ground, and part in the house."
+
+"But, 'between the bedhead and the wall,' is so definite. There are not
+so very many bedrooms, you know."
+
+"True enough. And of course, when my father found that paper, he went
+directly upstairs, crossed the hall, and so reached Uncle Marmaduke's own
+bedroom. The furniture had been moved about, but Grandy remembered where
+the head of the bed stood in Uncle's time. They searched thoroughly, took
+up flooring, took down wainscoting, and all that, to no avail."
+
+"Of course, they tried other 'bedheads'?"
+
+"Yes, tell her about it, Grandy."
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Cromarty, placidly. "All the bedrooms in the house, even
+the servants' rooms, were subjected to most careful scrutiny. Although so
+many years had elapsed, I could remember where the various beds stood
+when Marmaduke was with us. Behind each, we had the walls sounded, and in
+some cases, broken into. We even looked for pockets or receptacles of
+some sort on the backs of the headboards themselves, but never a trace of
+anything could we find."
+
+"It's very exciting!" said Patty; "how can you all be so calm about it? I
+should think you'd be searching every minute!"
+
+"You must remember, dear," said Mrs. Hartley, "it's an old story to us.
+At first, we were indeed excited. For several years we searched almost
+continuously. Then hope began to fail, and our investigations became
+intermittent. Every now and then we would make a fresh attempt, but
+invariably repeated failures dampened our enthusiasm."
+
+"It's _so_ interesting," sighed Patty. "Can't we get up a little of the
+old enthusiasm, and do some searching while I'm here?"
+
+"Indeed, we can," cried Bob. "Would you prefer an excavating party, with
+picks and spades, or an indoor performance in the old bedrooms?"
+
+"Both," declared Patty. "Of course I know how absurd it is to go over the
+ground that has already been worn threadbare, but--but, oh! if we _could_
+find it!"
+
+Grandma Cromarty smiled.
+
+"Forgive me, dearie," she said, "but I've heard those sentiments from all
+my guests to whom we have told the story, for the past thirty-five years;
+and though I don't want to seem ungrateful for your interest, I feel it
+my duty to warn you there is no hope."
+
+"Oh, yes there is _hope_, Grandy," said Sinclair, "but there is nothing
+else. There's no probability, scarcely a possibility, but we'll _never_
+give up hope."
+
+"Never!" agreed Bob; but Mabel's expression plainly showed that she
+hadn't the faintest glimmering of a hope.
+
+"It does seem so strange," said Patty, thoughtfully, "to have the two
+directions, and both so explicit. No, not explicit, they're not that, but
+both so definite."
+
+"Hardly definite, either," said Bob, "except that they seem to reveal the
+fact that there _is_ a fortune concealed about the place. Oh! it makes me
+frantic! I feel so helpless."
+
+"There's no use storming about it, Bob, my boy," said his mother. "And,
+Patty, you mustn't set us down as too mercenary in this matter. But I
+think you know that we, as a family, long for the means which would
+enable us to keep up this dear old place as it should be, and not let its
+beautiful parks and gardens go uncared for and neglected."
+
+"I do know!" cried Patty; "and it makes me furious to think that the
+money--your own money--is perhaps within your reach, and yet--you can't
+get it! Oh, why didn't Mr. Marmaduke say just where he put it!"
+
+"He did," said Bob, smiling.
+
+"Yes, so he did. Well, I'd tear up every square foot of ground on the
+whole estate, then."
+
+"Remember, Patty," said Sinclair, in his quiet way, "there are nearly ten
+thousand acres in all; and except for meadowlands and water, there are
+oaks and firs on nearly every acre. The fortune itself would scarcely pay
+for all that labour."
+
+"Well, then, I'd tear the house to pieces."
+
+"Oh, no you wouldn't," said Mrs. Hartley; "and beside, that has almost
+been done. My husband had so much of the woodwork and plaster removed,
+that I almost feared he would bring the house down about our ears. And it
+is such a big, rambling old place, it is hopeless to think of examining
+it really thoroughly."
+
+Patty glanced around at the great hall she was in. The groined ceiling,
+with its intricate carvings at the intersections; the cornice carved in
+deep relief, with heraldic bosses, and massive patterns; the tall columns
+and pilasters; all seemed part of an old monument which it would be
+desecration to break into.
+
+"I wonder where it is," she said; "indoors or out."
+
+"I think it's out of doors," said Sinclair. "I think uncle hid it in the
+house first, and then wrote his exquisite poem about the poke. Perhaps it
+was merely a pocket of leather or canvas, that hung behind the headboard
+of his own bed. In that case all prying into the walls would mean
+nothing. Then, I think, as that was only a temporary hiding-place, he
+later buried it in the ground between some special oak tree and fir tree,
+or trees. I think, too, he left, or meant to leave some more of his
+poetry to tell which trees, but owing to his sudden taking off, he didn't
+do this."
+
+"Sinclair," said Bob, "as our American friend, Mr. Dooley, says, 'Yer
+opinions is inthrestin', but not convincin'.' As opinions, they're fine;
+but I wish I had some facts. If uncle had only left a cryptogram or a
+cipher, I'd like it better than all that rhymed foolishness."
+
+"Perhaps it isn't foolishness," said Patty; "I think, with Sinclair, it's
+likely Mr. Marmaduke wrote the indoor one first, and then changed the
+hiding-place and wrote the other. But how could he do all this hiding and
+rehiding without being seen?"
+
+"I went up to London every season," said Mrs. Cromarty; "and, of course,
+took Emmeline with me. Marmaduke always stayed here, and thus had ample
+opportunity to do what he would. Indeed, he usually had great goings-on
+while we were away. One year, he had the Italian garden laid out. Another
+year, he had a new porter's lodge built. This was done the last year of
+his life, and as he had masons around so much at that time, repairing the
+cellars and all that, we thought later, that he might have had a
+hiding-place arranged in the wall behind the head of his bed. But, if so,
+we never could find it."
+
+"And have you dug under the trees much?" persisted Patty, who could not
+accept the hopelessness of the others.
+
+"Dug!" exclaimed Bob, "I've blistered my hands by the hour. I've viewed
+fir trees and oaks, until I know every one on the place by heart. I've
+trudged a line from oaks to firs, and starting in the middle, I've dug
+both ways. But I'm nearly ready to give up. Not quite, though. I'm making
+a thorough search of all the books in the library, on the chance of
+finding some other message. But there are such a lot of books! I've been
+at it for three years now, off and on, and I'm only three-quarters way
+round. And not a paper yet, except a few old letters and bills."
+
+"I'll help you, Bob," said Patty; "oh, I'd love to do something toward
+the search, even if I don't find a thing. I'll begin to-morrow. You tell
+me what books you've done."
+
+"I will, indeed. I'll be jolly glad to have help. And you can do as much
+as you like, before your young enthusiasm wears off."
+
+"I'll do it, gladly," said Patty, and then they discovered that the
+evening had flown away, and it was bedtime.
+
+As they went upstairs, Mabel followed Patty to her room and sat down for
+a little good-night chat.
+
+Patty's eyes were shining with excitement, and as she took off her hair
+ribbon, and folded it round her hand, she said:
+
+"Even if we don't find anything, you'll be no worse off, and it's such
+fun to hunt."
+
+"They didn't tell you all, Patty," said Mabel, in a pathetic tone, and
+Patty turned quickly to her friend.
+
+"Why, what do you mean?"
+
+"I mean this. Of course, we've never been rich, and we've never been able
+to do for the place what ought to be done for it; but we have been able
+to live here. And now--now, if we can't get any more money, we--we can't
+stay here! Oh, Patty!"
+
+Patty's arms went round Mabel, as the poor child burst into tears.
+
+"Yes," she said, sobbing, "some of mother's business interests have
+failed--it's all come on lately, I don't entirely understand it--but,
+anyway, we may soon have to leave Cromarty, and oh, Patty, how _could_ we
+live anywhere else? and what's worse, how _could_ we have any one else
+living here?"
+
+"Leave Cromarty Manor! Where you've all lived so long--I mean your
+ancestors and all! Why, Mabel, you can't do that!"
+
+"But we'll have to. We haven't money enough to pay the servants--or, at
+least, we won't have, soon."
+
+"Are you sure of all this, dear? Does Mrs. Cromarty expect to go away?"
+
+"It's all uncertain. We don't know. But mother's lawyer thinks we'd
+better sell or let the place. Of course we won't sell it, but it would be
+almost as bad to let it. Think of strangers here!"
+
+"I can't think of such a thing! It seems impossible. But perhaps matters
+may turn out better than you think. Perhaps you won't have to go."
+
+"That's what Sinclair says--and mother. But I'm sure the worst will
+happen."
+
+"Now, Mabel, stop that! I won't let you look on the dark side. And,
+anyway, you're not to think any more about it to-night. You won't sleep a
+wink if you get nervous and worried. Now put it out of your mind, and
+let's talk about the croquet party to-morrow at Grace Meredith's. How are
+we going over?"
+
+"You and I are to drive in the pony cart, and the others will go in the
+carriage."
+
+"That will be lovely. Now, what shall we wear?"
+
+Thus, tactfully, Patty led Mabel's thoughts away from her troubles, for
+the time, at least, and when the two friends parted for the night, they
+both went healthily and happily to sleep.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+THE CROQUET PARTY
+
+
+The next afternoon the two girls started in the pony cart for the
+Merediths.
+
+Patty loved to play croquet, and though it greatly amused her to hear the
+English people pronounce the word as if it were spelled _croky_, yet not
+to appear peculiar, she spoke it that way too.
+
+The party was a large one, and the games were arranged somewhat after the
+fashion of a tournament.
+
+Patty's partner was Tom Meredith, and as he played a fairly good game
+they easily beat their first opponents.
+
+But later on they found themselves matched against Mabel Hartley and a
+young man named Jack Stanton. Mr. Stanton was an expert, and Mabel played
+the best game Patty had ever seen a girl play.
+
+"It's no use," said Patty, good-naturedly, as they began the game, "Tom
+and I never can win against you two."
+
+"Don't despair," said Tom, encouragingly, "There's many a slip, you
+know."
+
+The game progressed until, when Tom and Patty were about three-quarters
+of the way around, Mabel was passing through her last wicket and Mr.
+Stanton was a "rover."
+
+"Be careful, now," said Mr. Stanton, as Mabel aimed to send her ball
+through the arch. "It's a straight shot, and a long shot, and you're
+liable to touch the post."
+
+And that's just what happened. As Mabel's swift, clear stroke sent the
+ball straight through the wicket, it went spinning on and hit squarely
+the home stake.
+
+"Jupiter! that's bad luck!" exclaimed Jack Stanton. "They'll jolly well
+beat us now. But never mind, perhaps I can slip through yet."
+
+But he couldn't. The fact that they had two plays to his one, gave Patty
+and Tom a great advantage.
+
+Tom was a clever manager, and Patty followed his directions implicitly.
+So they played a defensive game, and spent much time keeping Stanton's
+ball away from the positions he desired. The result was that Tom and
+Patty won, but their success was really owing to Mabel's mistake in going
+out.
+
+The test was to win two games out of three, so with one game in favor of
+Patty's side they began the next.
+
+Patty was considered a good croquet player in America, but in England the
+rules of the game, as well as the implements, were so different that it
+seriously impeded her progress.
+
+The wickets were so narrow that the ball could barely squeeze through if
+aimed straight, and a side shot through one was impossible.
+
+But all this added to the zest, and it was four very eager young people
+who strove for the victory.
+
+The second game went easily to Mabel and Jack Stanton, and then the
+third, the decisive one, was begun. According to the laws of the
+tournament, this was the final game. The opponents had already vanquished
+all the other contestants, and now, pitted against each other, were
+playing for the prize.
+
+Patty knew in her heart she would be glad to have Mabel win it, and yet,
+so strong was her love of games, and so enthusiastic her natural desire
+to succeed, that she tried her best to beat the third game.
+
+All played conservatively. The partners kept together, and progressed
+evenly. Toward the last Jack and Mabel began to creep ahead. Tom saw
+this, and said to Patty: "This is our last chance; if we plod on like
+this, they'll calmly walk out and leave us. Unless we can make a
+brilliant dash of some sort, we are beaten."
+
+"I don't believe I can," said Patty, looking doubtfully at her ball.
+"It's my turn, and unless I can hit Mabel's ball, clear across the
+grounds, I can't do anything."
+
+"That's just it. You _must_ hit Mabel's ball."
+
+So Patty aimed carefully, and sent her ball spinning over the ground
+toward Mabel's, and missed it by a hair's breadth!
+
+"Goody!" cried Mabel, and hitting Patty's ball, she roqueted it back
+where it had come from.
+
+"Now here's our very lastest chance," said Tom, with a groan of despair.
+"And I'm sure, Patty, I won't do any better than you did."
+
+Nor did he. Although not far from Jack's ball, at which he aimed, there
+was a wicket in the way, which sent his own ball glancing off at an
+angle, and he did not hit his opponent.
+
+A minute more, and Jack skilfully sent Mabel's ball and then his own
+against the home stake, and the game was over.
+
+The onlookers crowded up and congratulated the winners, and offered
+condolence to Patty and Tom. Patty smiled, and responded merrily. She did
+not try to lay the blame on the unusual shaped wickets, or short, heavy
+mallets. She declared that the best players had won, and that she was
+satisfied. And indeed she was.
+
+When she saw the lovely prize that was given to Mabel, she was deeply
+thankful that she hadn't won it. It was a white parasol, of silk and
+chiffon, with a pearl handle. A really exquisite, dainty affair, and just
+the very thing Mabel had wanted, but couldn't afford to buy. As for Patty
+herself, she had several parasols, and so was delighted that Mabel had
+won.
+
+But though she truly preferred that Mabel should have the prize, she felt
+a little chagrined at losing the contest, for like all people who are
+fond of games and sports, Patty loved to win.
+
+These feelings, though, she successfully concealed, and gave Mabel very
+sincere and loving congratulations. Mr. Stanton's prize was a pretty
+scarf pin, and Tom Meredith loudly bewailed his own misfortune in losing
+this. Though, really, as the tournament was at his own home, he would not
+have taken the prize had he won it, but would have passed it on to the
+one with the next highest record.
+
+The victors were cheered and applauded, and were then led in triumph to
+the pretty tent where tea was being served.
+
+If Patty had had a shadow of regret that she had not been the honoured
+one, it was lost sight of in her gladness that it fell to Mabel's lot.
+
+"You're a plucky one," said Tom Meredith, who was observing her closely.
+"You're a good loser, aren't you?"
+
+"I don't know," said Patty, thoughtfully. "I want to be, but do you know,
+I just love to win contests or games. And when I lose--I'm ashamed to say
+it--but I do feel put out."
+
+"Of course you do! That's only natural. And that's why I say you're a
+good loser. If you didn't care tuppence whether you won or not, it
+wouldn't be much to your credit to look smiling and pleasant when you
+lose. But since you _do_ care, a whole lot, you're a jolly plucky girl to
+take it so well. Now, what can I get for you? An ice?"
+
+"Yes, please," said Patty, really gratified at Tom's appreciative words.
+
+"How long are you staying with the Hartleys?" Tom asked, as, returning
+with ices, he found cosy seats at a small table for himself and Patty.
+
+"Two or three weeks longer, I think. But I shall hate to go away, for
+I've become so interested in their 'mystery,' that I can't stop trying to
+solve it."
+
+"Oh, you mean that old affair of the hidden fortune. I don't believe
+there's any at all. I think the old man who pretended to hide it was
+merely guying them."
+
+"Oh, no! That can't be. Why, it all sounds so real and natural. The story
+of the hiding, I mean."
+
+"Yes, but why should he want to hide it? Why not bank it decently, like
+other people?"
+
+"Oh, because he was eccentric. People who are naturally queer or freakish
+are always hiding things. And I know it's silly of me, but I'm going to
+try to find that money."
+
+"I've lots of faith in your energy and perseverance, but I can't think
+you'll succeed in that job. Better try something easier."
+
+"I don't think I can say I expect to succeed. But I'm going to
+try--and--who can tell what might happen?"
+
+"Who, indeed? But you know, of course, that the Cromarty people have been
+hunting it for nearly forty years."
+
+"Yes," said Patty, and her eyes fairly blazed with determination,
+"yes--but I am an American!"
+
+Tom Meredith shouted with laughter.
+
+"Good for you, little Stars and Stripes!" he cried. "I've always heard of
+the cleverness of the Yankees, but if you can trace the Cromarty fortune,
+I'll believe you a witch, for sure. Aren't there witches in that New
+England of yours?"
+
+"I believe there used to be. And my ancestors, some of them, were Salem
+people. That may be where I get my taste for divination and solving
+problems. I just love puzzles of all sorts, and if the old Cromarty
+gentleman had only left a cipher message, it would have been fun to
+puzzle it out."
+
+"He did leave messages of some sort, didn't he? Maybe they are more
+subtle than you think."
+
+"I've been wondering about that. They might mean something entirely
+different from what they sound like; but I can't see any light that way.
+'The headboard of a bed against a wall,' is pretty practical, and doesn't
+seem to mean anything else. And the oak trees and fir trees are there in
+abundance. But that's the trouble with them, there are so many."
+
+"Go on, and do all you can, my child. You'll get over it the sooner, if
+you work hard on it at first. We've all been through it. Nearly everybody
+in this part of the country has tried at one time or another to guess the
+Cromarty riddle."
+
+"But I'm the first American to try," insisted Patty, with a twinkle in
+her eye.
+
+"Quite so, Miss Yankee Doodle Doo; and I wish you success where my own
+countrymen have failed."
+
+Tom said this with such a nice, kindly air that Patty felt a little
+ashamed of her own vaunting attitude. But sometimes Patty showed a
+decided tendency to over-assuredness in her own powers, and though she
+tried to correct it, it would spring up now and again. Then the Hartley
+boys joined them, and all discussion of the missing fortune was dropped.
+
+It was soon time to take leave, and as it was already twilight, Sinclair
+proposed that he should drive Patty home in the pony cart, and Mabel
+should return in the carriage.
+
+Mabel quite agreed to this, saying that after her croquet, she did not
+care to drive. The road lay through a lovely bit of country, and Patty
+enjoyed the drive home with Sinclair. She always liked to talk with him,
+he was so gentle and kindly. While not so merry as Bob or as Tom
+Meredith, Sinclair was an interesting talker, and Patty always felt that
+she was benefited by his conversation.
+
+He told her much about the country as they drove along, described the
+life and work of the villagers, and pointed out buildings or other
+objects of interest.
+
+They passed several fine estates, whose towering mansions could be seen
+half hidden by trees, or boldly placed on a summit.
+
+"But no place is as beautiful as Cromarty," said Sinclair, and Patty
+entirely agreed with them.
+
+"Is it true that you may have to leave it?" she asked, thinking it wiser
+to refer to it casually.
+
+Sinclair frowned.
+
+"Who's been talking to you?" he said; "Mabel, I suppose. Well, yes, there
+is a chance that we'll have to let it for a term of years. I hope not,
+but I can't tell yet. But even if so, it will be only temporary. As soon
+as I get fairly established in my career, I hope to make money enough to
+take care of it all. A few years hence, when I'm on my feet, and Bob's
+through college, it will be easier all round. But if some business
+troubles that are now impending don't blow over, there'll be no income to
+keep things going, and we'll have to--to----But that _shan't_ happen!"
+
+Sinclair spoke almost desperately, and Patty saw his fingers clench
+around the reins he was holding.
+
+"I wonder," said Patty slowly, for she was not quite sure how what she
+was about to say would be received. "I wonder, Sinclair, if we're not
+good friends enough, you and I, for me to speak plainly to you."
+
+The young man gave her a quick, earnest glance.
+
+"Go on," he said, briefly.
+
+"It's only this," said Patty, still hesitating, "my father has lots of
+money--couldn't you--couldn't he lend you some?"
+
+Sinclair looked at her squarely now, and spoke in low, stern tones.
+
+"Never suggest such a thing again. The Cromartys do not borrow."
+
+"Not even from a friend?" said Patty, softly.
+
+"Not even from a friend," repeated Sinclair, but his voice was more
+gentle. "You don't understand, I suppose," he went on, "but we would
+leave Cromarty for ever before we would stay on such terms."
+
+"No," said Patty, "I don't understand. I should think you'd be as glad to
+accept a friend's help as he would be to offer it."
+
+"If you'd do me a real kindness, Patty, you'll never even mention such an
+idea again. I know you mean well and I thank you, but it's absolutely
+impossible."
+
+"Then there's only one other way out of the difficulty," said Patty, with
+an effort at lightness; "and that's to find your buried fortune."
+
+"Ah, that would be a help," cried Sinclair, also assuming a gayer tone.
+"If you'll help us to do that, I'll set up a memorial tablet to your
+cleverness."
+
+"Where will you set it? Between the fir trees and the oak?"
+
+"Yes, if you find the fortune there."
+
+"But if I find it behind the headboard, that's no sort of a place for a
+tablet!"
+
+"You can choose your own spot for your Roll of Fame, and I'll see to it
+that the memorial is a worthy one."
+
+"And will you put fresh flowers on it every day?"
+
+"Yes, indeed; for if--I mean _when_, you find the fortune for us, the
+gardens will have immediate attention."
+
+"Then I must set to work at once," said Patty, with pretended gravity,
+but in her heart she registered a mental vow to try in earnest to fulfil
+the promise given in jest.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE GRIFFIN AND THE ROSE
+
+
+Although the Hartleys had practically given up all hope of ever finding
+the hidden money, they couldn't help being imbued with Patty's
+enthusiasm.
+
+Indeed, it took little to rouse the sleeping fires of interest that never
+were entirely extinguished.
+
+But though they talked it over by the hour there seemed to be nothing to
+do but talk.
+
+One day, Patty went out all by herself, determined to see if she couldn't
+find some combination of an oak tree and a group of firs that would
+somehow seem especially prominent.
+
+But after looking at a score or more of such combinations, she realised
+that task was futile.
+
+She looked at the ground under some of them, but who could expect a mark
+of any kind on the ground after nearly forty years? No. Unless Mr.
+Marmaduke Cromarty had marked his hiding-place with a stone or iron
+plate, it would probably never be found by his heirs. Search in the house
+was equally unsatisfactory. What availed it to scan a wall or a bedstead
+that had been scrutinised for years by eager, anxious eyes? And then
+Patty set her wits to work. She tried to think where an erratic old
+gentleman would secrete his wealth. And she was forced to admit that the
+most natural place was in the ground on his estate, the location to be
+designated by some obscure message. And surely, the message was obscure
+enough!
+
+She kept her promise to help Bob in his self-appointed task of going
+through all the books in the library. This was no small piece of work,
+for it was not enough to shake each book, and let loose papers, if any,
+drop out. Some of the old papers had been found pinned to leaves, and so
+each book must be run through in such a way that every page could be
+glanced at.
+
+Nor was this a particularly pleasant task. For Mrs. Hartley had made it a
+rule that when her own children went over the old books, they were to
+dust them as they went along. Thus, she said, at least some good would be
+accomplished, though no hidden documents might be found.
+
+Of course, she did not request Patty to do this, but learning of the
+custom, Patty insisted on doing it, and many an hour she spent in the old
+library, clad in apron and dust-cap. Her progress was rather slow, for
+book-loving Patty often became absorbed in the old volumes, and dropping
+down on the window-seat, or the old steps to the gallery, would read
+away, oblivious to all else till some one came to hunt for her.
+
+At last, one day, her patient search met a reward. In an old book she
+found several of what were beyond all doubt Mr. Marmaduke Comarty's
+papers.
+
+Without looking at them closely, Patty took the book straight to Mrs.
+Cromarty.
+
+"Dear me!" said the old lady, putting on her glasses. "Have we really
+found something? I declare I'm quite nervous over it. Emmeline, you read
+them."
+
+Mrs. Hartley was a bit excited, too, and as for Patty and Mabel, they
+nearly went frantic at their elders' slowness in opening the old and
+yellow papers.
+
+There were several letters, a few bills, and some hastily-scribbled
+memoranda. The letters and bills were of no special interest, but on one
+of the small bits of paper was another rhymed couplet that seemed to
+indicate a direction.
+
+It read:
+
+                    "Where the angry griffin shows,
+                    Ruthless, tear away the rose."
+
+"Oh," exclaimed Patty, "it's another direction how to get the fortune!
+Oh, Mabel, it will be all right yet! Oh, where is the angry griffin? Is
+it over a rosebush? You're only to pull up the rosebush, and there you
+are!"
+
+Mabel looked bewildered. So did the older ladies.
+
+"Speak, somebody!" cried Patty, dancing about in excitement. "Isn't there
+any angry griffin? There must be!"
+
+"That's the trouble," said Mrs. Hartley; "there are so many of them. Why,
+there are angry griffins on the gates, over the lodge doors, on the
+marbles in the gardens, and all over the house."
+
+"Of course there are," said Mabel. "You must have noticed them, Patty.
+There's one now," and she pointed to a bit of wood carving over the door
+frame of the room they were in.
+
+"I don't care! It means something, I know it does," declared Patty.
+"We'll work it out yet. I wish the boys were home."
+
+"They'll soon be here," said Mrs. Cromarty. "I can't help thinking that
+it does mean something--Marmaduke was very fond of roses, and it would be
+just like him to plant a rosebush over his buried treasure."
+
+"That's it," cried Patty. "Now, where is there a rosebush growing, and
+one of the angry griffins near it?"
+
+"There probably are some in the rose garden," said Mrs. Cromarty. "I
+don't remember any, though."
+
+"Come on, Mabel," said Patty, "let's go and look. I can't wait another
+minute!"
+
+Away flew the two girls, and for the next hour they hovered about the
+rosebushes with more energy than is often shown by the busiest of bees.
+
+"I wish old Uncle Marmaduke had been less of a poet," said Mabel, as they
+sat down a moment to rest, "and more of a--a----"
+
+"More straightforward," suggested Patty. "If he'd only written a few
+words of plain prose, and left it with his lawyer, all this trouble
+needn't have been."
+
+"Well, I suppose he did intend to make it plain before he died, but he
+went off so suddenly. Oh, here are the boys."
+
+Sinclair and Bob came bounding down toward the rose garden, followed more
+sedately by their mother and grandmother.
+
+"Not a sign of a griffin a-sniffin' of a rose," said Patty, disconsolately.
+
+"Oh, you haven't looked all round yet," said Bob. "It's such fun to have
+something to look for besides fir trees and beds, I'm going to make a
+close search."
+
+"Of course," said Sinclair, "the same rose bush wouldn't be here now that
+was here thirty or forty years ago."
+
+"But it would have been renewed," said Mrs. Cromarty. "We've always tried
+to keep the flowers as nearly as possible the same."
+
+"Then here goes to interview every griffin on the place," declared Bob.
+"Jolly of old uncle to mark the spot with a rosebush and a griffin.
+That's what I call decent of him. And you're a wonder, Patty, to find the
+old paper."
+
+"Oh, that's nothing," said Patty. "I just followed your orders about the
+books. If you'd kept at it yourself, you'd have found the same book."
+
+"I s'pose so. But I'm glad you helped the good work along. Oh, dear! no
+rosebush seems to be near a griffin; and the griffins seem positively
+afraid of the rosebushes." And try as they would, no angry griffin could
+they find, with a rosebush near it. Griffins there were in plenty; both
+angry and grinning. Also were there plenty of roses, but they were
+arranged in well-laid-out beds, and in no case were guarded or menaced by
+angry griffins.
+
+"Never mind," said Sinclair, as they returned to the house for dinner,
+"it's something to work on. I shall stay at home to-morrow and try to
+find that particular rosebush, or the place where it used to be."
+
+"Maybe it's a stone rose," said Patty, as she touched a rose carved in
+stone that was part of an ornamental urn whose handles were the heads of
+angry griffins. Sinclair stared at her.
+
+"You're right," he said, slowly, as if grasping a great thought. "It's
+much more likely to be a rose of stone or marble, and when that's
+ruthlessly torn away the secret will be revealed. Oh, mother, there _is_
+hope!"
+
+Patty had never seen the placid Sinclair so excited, and they all went to
+their rooms to get ready for dinner, with a feeling that something was
+going to happen. Conversation at dinner was all on the engrossing
+subject.
+
+Everybody made suggestions, and everybody recalled various partly-forgotten
+griffins in odd nooks and corners, each being sure that was "just the place
+uncle would choose!"
+
+After dinner, the young people were anxious to go out and search more,
+but it had begun to rain, so they all went into the library and again
+scrutinised the old papers Patty had found.
+
+They looked through more books, too, but found nothing further of
+interest.
+
+At last, wearied with the hunt, Patty threw herself into a big armchair
+and declared she would do no more that night.
+
+"I should say not," said Bob. "You've done quite enough in giving us this
+new start."
+
+Although, as Patty had said, the looking through all the old books was
+Bob's plan, he generously gave her the credit of this new find. Sinclair
+threw himself on a long leather couch, and began to sing softly some of
+their nonsense songs, as he often did when tired out. The others joined,
+and for a time the fortune was left to take care of itself.
+
+Very pleasant were the four fresh young voices, and the elders listened
+gladly to their music.
+
+In the middle of a song, Patty stopped, and sat bolt upright, her eyes
+staring at a door opposite her as if she had never seen it before.
+
+"Gracious, goodness! Patty," said Mabel, "what is the matter?"
+
+"What is it, little one?" said Sinclair, still humming the refrain of the
+interrupted song.
+
+Patty pointed to the door, or rather to the elaborately carved door
+frame, and said slowly, "I've been reading a lot in the old architecture
+books--and they often used to have secret hiding places in the walls. And
+look at that door frame! There's an angry griffin on one jamb, and a
+smiling griffin on the other, and under each is a rose. That is it's a
+five-leafed blossom, a sort of conventional flower that they always call
+a rose in architecture."
+
+"Though I suppose," said Sinclair, "by any other name it would look as
+sweet. Patty, my child, you're dreaming. That old carving is as solid as
+Gibraltar and that old griffin isn't very angry anyway. He just looks
+rather purse proud and haughty."
+
+"But it's the only griffin that's near a rose," persisted Patty. "And he
+is angry, compared to the happy-looking griffin opposite to him."
+
+"I believe the girl is right," said Bob, who was already examining the
+carvings in question. "The rose doesn't look movable, exactly, but it is
+not quite like this other rose. It's more deeply cut."
+
+By this time all had clustered about the door frame, and one after
+another poked and pushed at the wooden rose.
+
+"There's something in it," persisted Bob. "In the idea, I mean. If
+there's a secret hiding-place in that upright carved beam, that rose is
+the key to it. See how deeply it's cut in, compared to the other; and I
+can almost see a crack all round it, as if it could be removed. May I try
+to get it out, Grandy?"
+
+"Certainly, my boy. We mustn't leave a stone unturned."
+
+"A rose unturned, you mean. Clair, what shall we ruthlessly tear it away
+with? I hate to take a chisel to this beautiful old door."
+
+"Try a corkscrew," said Mabel.
+
+"You mean a gimlet," said Bob. "That's a good idea."
+
+Fetching a gimlet, he bored a hole right in the centre of the carved
+blossom, but though it turned and creaked a little it wouldn't come out.
+
+"It must come," said Sinclair. "It turns, so that proves it's meant to be
+movable. It probably has some hinge or spring that is rusted, and so it
+doesn't work as it ought to. We'll have to take hammer and chisel; shall
+we, Grandy?"
+
+The boys were deferential to Mrs. Cromarty, for they well knew that she
+was tired of having the old house torn up to no avail. But surely this
+was an important development.
+
+"Yes, indeed, boys. If your uncle's words mean anything, they mean that
+it must be ruthlessly torn away, if removed at all."
+
+For quite ten minutes the two boys worked away with their tools,
+endeavouring to mar the carving as little as might be, but resolved to
+succeed in their undertaking. At last the wooden rose fell out in their
+hands, leaving a round opening.
+
+Peering in, Sinclair saw a small iron knob, which seemed to be part of a
+rusty spring.
+
+Greatly excited, he tried to push or turn it, but couldn't move it.
+
+"Anyway, we're getting warm," he cried, and his glowing face corroborated
+his words.
+
+The boys took turns in working at the stubborn spring, trying with
+forceps and pincers to move it, until at last something seemed to give
+way, and the whole front of the door jamb fell out as one panel.
+
+Behind it was a series of small pigeon holes one above the other, all
+filled with neatly piled papers.
+
+Though yellow with age, the papers were carefully folded, labelled, and
+dated.
+
+"Patty!" cried Mabel, as she embraced her friend, "you've found our
+fortune for us!"
+
+"Don't be too sure," said Patty, laughing, and almost crying at the same
+time, so excited was she. "Your Uncle Marmaduke was of such uncertain
+ways I shouldn't wonder if these were merely more files of his immortal
+verse."
+
+"They're bills," declared Sinclair, as he ran over a packet he took from
+a shelf.
+
+"Let's look them all over systematically," said Bob. "Let's all sit round
+the table, and one of us read out what the paper is about. Then if we
+come to anything important, we'll all know it at once."
+
+This plan was adopted, and Sinclair, as the oldest, was chosen to read.
+He sat at the head of the long library table, and the others were at
+either side.
+
+But the packets of bills, though interesting in a general way, had no
+bearing on the great question of the fortune. The papers were all bills.
+
+"Not even a bit of poetry," sighed Patty, as Sinclair laid aside one
+after another of the receipted bills for merchandise, household goods,
+clothing, and labour.
+
+"These might interest a historian," said Sinclair, "as they throw some
+light on the prices of goods at that time. But we'll keep on, we may come
+to something of interest yet."
+
+"I hope so," said Bob. "I'm so anxious, that nothing less than a straight
+direction to the fortune would satisfy me."
+
+"Well, here's something," said Sinclair, "whatever it may mean."
+
+The paper he had just unfolded was a mason's bill, containing only one
+item. The bill was made out in due form, by one Martin Campbell, and was
+properly receipted as paid. And its single item read:
+
+"To constructing one secret pocket.... Three Guineas."
+
+"Oh!" cried Patty, breathless with excitement. "Then there is a secret
+pocket, or poke as your exasperating uncle calls it."
+
+"There must be," said Sinclair; "and now that we know that, we're going
+to find it. Of course, we assumed there was one, but we had only that
+foolish doggerel to prove it. Now this regular bill establishes it as a
+fact beyond all doubt. Do you know this Martin Campbell, Grandy?"
+
+"I know there was a mason by that name, who worked here several times for
+your uncle. He came down from Leicester, but of course I know nothing
+more of him."
+
+"We'll find him!" declared Bob. "We'll make him give up the secret of the
+pocket."
+
+"Maybe he's dead by this time," said Sinclair. "Was he an old man,
+Grandy?"
+
+"I don't know, my dear. I never saw him. He worked here when I was away
+in London. I fear, however, he is not alive now."
+
+"Oh, perhaps he is. It was only about thirty-five years ago, or forty,
+that he built this 'secret pocket.' Thirty-eight, to be exact. The date
+on the bill proves that."
+
+"Well, to-morrow you must go to see him," said Mrs. Hartley, rising. "But
+now, my children, you must go to bed. You can't learn any more to-night,
+and to-morrow we will pick up the broken thread. Patty, my dear child,
+you are doing a great deal for us."
+
+"It isn't anything yet," said Patty, "but oh, if it only leads to
+something, I shall be so glad!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE OLD CHIMNEY-PIECE
+
+
+But Sinclair's search for the old mason in Leicester was absolutely
+unsuccessful. He learned that Martin Campbell had died many years ago,
+and had left no direct descendants. A cousin of the old mason told
+Sinclair all this, and said, too, that there were no books or papers or
+accounts of the dead man left in existence.
+
+So Sinclair returned home, disappointed but not entirely discouraged.
+
+"We'll find it yet," he said to Patty. "We have proof of a hiding-place,
+now we must discover it."
+
+"We will!" declared Patty. "But it's so exasperating not to know whether
+the old mason built that 'pocket' indoors or out."
+
+"Out, I think," said Sinclair. "It's probably a sunken bin or vault of
+brick, made water-tight, and carefully concealed."
+
+"Yes, it's certainly carefully concealed," Patty agreed.
+
+Sinclair was entitled to a fortnight's vacation from his law studies, and
+he arranged to take it at this time. For now that the interest was
+revived, all were eager to make search all the time.
+
+"Let's be systematic about it," said Bob, "and divide the estate up into
+sections. Then let's examine each section in turn."
+
+This sounded well, but it was weary work. In the wooded land, especially,
+it was hopeless to look for any indicatory mark beneath the undergrowth
+of forty years. But each morning the four young people started out with
+renewed determination to keep at it, at any rate.
+
+On rainy days they searched about the house. Having found one secret
+panel, they hoped for more, and the boys went about tapping the walls or
+carved woodwork here and there, listening for a hollow sound.
+
+Bob and Patty went on searching the books. But though a number of old
+papers were found they were of no value. Incidentally, Patty was
+acquiring a store of information of various sorts. Though too eager in
+her work to sit down and read any book through, she scanned many pages
+here and there, and learned much that was interesting and useful.
+Especially did she like books that described the old castles and abbeys
+of England. There were many of these books, both architectural and
+historical, and Patty lingered over the illustrations, and let her eyes
+run hastily over the pages of description.
+
+One afternoon she sat cross-legged, in Turk fashion, on the library
+floor, absorbed in an account of the beautiful old mansion known as
+"Audley End." The description so interested her that she read on and on,
+and in her perusal she came to this sentence:
+
+"There are other curious relics, among them the chair of Alexander Pope,
+and the carved oak head of Cromwell's bed, converted into a chimney-piece."
+
+Anything in reference to the headboard of a bedstead caught Patty's
+attention, and she read the paragraph over again.
+
+"Sinclair," she called, but he had gone elsewhere, and did not hear her.
+
+Patty looked around at the mantel or chimney-piece in the library, but it
+was so evidently a part of the plan of wall decoration, that it could not
+possibly have been anything else.
+
+Patty sighed. "It would have been so lovely," she thought to herself, "if
+it only had been a bedhead, made into a mantel, for then that bothering
+old man could easily have tucked his money between it and the wall."
+
+And then, though Patty's thoughts came slowly, they came surely, and she
+remembered that in the great hall, or living-room, the mantel was a
+massive affair of carved oak.
+
+Half bewildered, Patty dropped the book, jumped up, and went to the door
+of the hall. No one was there, and the girl was glad of it, for if she
+really was on the eve of a great discovery she wanted to be alone at
+first.
+
+As she entered the room, the lines came to her mind:
+
+                   "Above the stair, across the hall,
+                   Between the bedhead and the wall,"
+
+and she noticed that the chimney-piece stood on a sort of wide platform,
+which extended across that whole end of the hall. Could it be that Mr.
+Marmaduke had meant above this platform, calling it a stair, which ran
+across the great hall? For years they had taken the direction to mean "up
+the staircase," and "across the corridor," or hall which led to the
+bedrooms.
+
+Slowly, almost as if afraid, Patty crossed the hall, stepped up on the
+platform, and examined the old chimney-piece. She couldn't tell,
+positively, but surely, surely it looked as if it _might_ once have been
+the headboard of an ancient bed. It certainly was different in its
+workmanship from the wood carving that decorated the apartment.
+
+The top of it was well above her head, but might it not be that the old
+rhyme meant between _this_ bedhead and the wall?
+
+Here they had never looked. It must be that it was not generally known
+that this mantel was, or had been, a bedhead.
+
+Still, as if in a daze, Patty went and sat in a chair facing the old
+chimney-piece, and wondered. She intended to call the others in a moment,
+but first she wanted to enjoy alone the marvel of her own discovery.
+
+As she sat there, scrutinising every detail of the room, the lines kept
+repeating themselves in her brain:
+
+_"Above the stair, across the hall, Between the bedhead and the wall."_
+
+If the secret pocket was between that bedhead and the wall, it was
+certainly above the stair across the hall! Why had that stair or platform
+been built across the hall? It was a peculiar arrangement.
+
+This question Patty gave up, but she thought it might well have been done
+when the bedhead was set up there, in order to make the chimney-piece
+higher and so more effective.
+
+Patty had learned something of architecture in her library browsings.
+
+Above the high mantel was a large painting. It was a landscape and showed
+a beautiful bit of scenery without buildings or people. In the foreground
+were several distinct trees of noble proportions.
+
+"They're firs," said Patty to herself, for she had become thoroughly
+familiar with fir trees.
+
+And then, like a flash, through her brain came the words:
+
+_"Great treasure lieth in the poke Between the fir trees and the oak."_
+
+The secret was revealed! Patty knew it!
+
+Beside the bedhead evidence, it was clear to her mind that "Between the
+fir trees and the oak," meant between these painted fir trees and the old
+carved oak mantel. Grasping the arms of her chair, she sat still a minute
+trying to take it all in, and then looked about for something to stand on
+that she might examine the top of the old mantel-shelf.
+
+But her next quick thought was, that that was not her right. Those to
+whom the fortune belonged must make the investigation themselves.
+
+"Sinclair," called Patty, again; "Mabel, Mrs. Hartley, where are you
+all?"
+
+Bob responded first, and seeing by Patty's excited face that she had
+discovered something important, he went in search of the others.
+
+At last they were all gathered in the great hall, and Patty's sense of
+the dramatic proved too strong to allow her to make her announcement
+simply.
+
+"People," she said, "I have made a discovery. That is, I think I have. If
+I am right, the Cromarty fortune is within your grasp. If I am
+wrong--well, in that case, we'll begin all over again."
+
+"Tell us about your new find," said Sinclair, selecting a comfortable
+chair, and sitting down as if for a long session. "Is it another mason's
+bill?"
+
+Nobody minded being chaffed about searching or finding, for the subject
+was treated jocosely as well as seriously.
+
+Patty stood on the platform in front of the carved oak chimney-piece, and
+addressed her audience, who listened, half laughing, half eager.
+
+"What is this on which I stand?" she demanded.
+
+"A rug," replied Mabel, promptly.
+
+"I mean beneath the rug?"
+
+"The floor."
+
+"No, it isn't! What is this--this construction across the room?"
+
+"A platform," put in Bob, willing to help her along.
+
+"Yes. But what else could it be called? I'm in earnest."
+
+"A step," suggested Sinclair.
+
+"Yes, a step; but couldn't it be called a stair?"
+
+"It _could_ be," said Bob, "but I don't believe it is one."
+
+"But suppose your erratic uncle chose to call it that."
+
+"Oh," laughed Bob, "you mean the stair in the poem."
+
+"I do. I mean the stair across the hall."
+
+"What! Oh, I say, Patty, now you're jumbling up the sense."
+
+"No, I'm not. I'm straightening out the sense. Suppose Mr. Marmaduke
+meant 'above the stair across the hall,' and meant this stair and this
+hall."
+
+"Yes, but go on," said Sinclair; "next comes the bedhead."
+
+"That's my discovery!" announced Patty, with what was truly forgivable
+triumph.
+
+"This carved oak chimney-piece is, I have reason to believe, the
+headboard of some magnificent, ancient bed."
+
+"Patty Fairfield!" cried Sinclair, jumping up, and reaching her side with
+two bounds. "You've struck it! What a girl you are!"
+
+"Wait a minute," said Patty, pushing him back; "I'm entitled to a
+hearing. Take your seat again, sir, until I unfold the rest of the tale."
+
+Patty was fairly quivering with excitement. Her cheeks glowed, and her
+eyes shone, and her voice trembled as she went on.
+
+Mabel, with clasped hands, just sat and looked at her. The elder ladies
+were plainly bewildered, and Bob was trying hard to sit still.
+
+"I read in an old book," Patty went on, "how somebody else used a carved
+headboard for a chimney-piece, and I wondered if this mightn't be one.
+And it surely looks like it. And then I wondered if 'above the stair
+across the hall' mightn't mean this platform across this hall. And I
+think it does. But that's not all. My really important discovery is
+this."
+
+Patty's voice had sunk to a thrilling whisper, and she addressed herself
+to Mrs. Cromarty, as she continued.
+
+"I think the other rhyme, the one that says the fortune is concealed
+'between the fir trees and the oak,' refers to this same place, and means
+between the painting of fir trees, which hangs over the mantel, and--the
+oak mantel itself!"
+
+With a smiling bow, Patty stepped down from the platform, and taking a
+seat by old Mrs. Cromarty, nestled in that lady's loving arms. The two
+boys made a spring for the mantel, but paused simultaneously to grasp
+both Patty's hands in theirs and nearly shake her arms off. Then they
+left the heroine of the hour to Mabel and Mrs. Hartley and began to
+investigate the chimney piece.
+
+"'Between the fir trees and the oak'!" exclaimed Bob. "Great, isn't it!
+And here for thirty-five years we Cromarty dubs have thought that meant
+real trees! To think it took a Yankee to tell us! Oh, Patty, Patty, we'll
+take down that historic painting and put up a tablet to the honour of
+Saint Patricia. For you surely deserve canonisation!"
+
+"'Between the bedhead and the wall,'" ruminated Sinclair. "Well, here
+goes for finding an opening."
+
+Clambering up on stools, both boys examined the place where the mantel
+shelf touched the wall. The ornate carvings of the mantel left many
+interstices where coins or notes might be dropped through, yet they were
+by no means conspicuous enough to attract the attention of any one not
+looking for them.
+
+"Crickets!" cried Bob. "There's a jolly place for the precious poke to be
+located. I'm going down cellar to see if I can find traces of that
+mason's work. Come on, Clair."
+
+The two boys flew off, and the ladies remained discussing the wonderful
+discovery, and examining the old chimney-piece.
+
+"I can see it was a bedhead now," said Mabel; "but I never suspected it
+before. What a splendid mantel it makes. Didn't you ever hear its
+history, Grandy?"
+
+"No, dear. It must have been put there when the house was built, I think.
+Though, of course, it may have been added later. But it was all before my
+time. I married your grandfather Cromarty and came here to live in 1855.
+The building and decorations then were all just as they are now, except
+for such additions as Marmaduke made. He may have had that mantel set up
+in earlier years--I don't know. He was very fond of antique carvings."
+
+Back came the boys from the cellar.
+
+"The whole chimney is bricked up," Sinclair explained. "We couldn't get
+into it without tearing it all down. And do you know what I think,
+Grandy? I think it would be wiser to take away the chimney-piece up here,
+and do our investigating from this end. Then, if we find anything, it
+will all be in this room, and not in the cellar, where the servants can
+pry about."
+
+"I quite agree with you," said Mrs. Cromarty, "and I put the whole matter
+in your hands. You and Robert are the sons of the house, and it is your
+right to manage its affairs."
+
+"Then I say, tear it down at once," cried Bob. "We needn't damage the
+carving itself, and all that we break away of plaster or inner woodwork
+can easily be repaired, whatever our success may be."
+
+"Shall we begin now?" asked Sinclair, doubtfully. He was not so impetuous
+as Bob, and would have been quite willing to study over the matter first.
+
+"Yes, indeed!" cried his impatient brother. "I'm not going to waste a
+minute. I'm glad I'm a bit of a carpenter. Though not an expert, I can
+tear down if I can't build up."
+
+"But we must take it down carefully," said Sinclair. "These screws must
+come out first." But Bob had already gone for tools, and soon returned
+with screw-drivers, chisels, gimlets, and all the paraphernalia of a
+carpenter's well-appointed tool-chest.
+
+"Here goes!" he cried, as he put the big screw-driver in the first screw.
+"Good luck to the Cromartys and three cheers for Uncle Marmaduke and
+Patty Fairfield!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+THE DISCOVERY
+
+
+The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task. If the Hartley
+boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have
+succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall. But they did do it,
+and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost
+fortune!
+
+Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old
+bedhead and the main wall. It was really built in the chimney itself,
+though not in the flue. But this chimney-place, with its wonderfully
+carved mantel, was never used for fires, and the fortune had remained
+undisturbed in its hiding-place.
+
+As the boys lifted away the portion of the heavy oak that covered the
+secret pocket, a rough wall of plaster was seen, and by tapping on it,
+Sinclair learned that it was hollow.
+
+"Shall we break through?" he said. "I feel sure the money is there."
+
+"Break through, of course," cried Bob; "but wait a moment till I lock the
+doors. This is no time for intruders."
+
+Bob fastened the doors, and then with a hatchet they broke through the
+plaster.
+
+And even as the old mortar crumbled beneath their blows, out fell a
+shower of glittering gold coins and tightly folded banknotes!
+
+The sight was too much for the strained nerves of the watchers. Mabel
+burst into tears, and Mrs. Cromarty trembled like a leaf.
+
+The boys broke into shouts of joy, and Patty scarcely knew whether to
+laugh or cry. But in a moment they were all congratulating each other and
+showering praises on Patty for her cleverness in the matter.
+
+"It's ours! It's ours!" cried Bob. "It's Grandy's, to be sure, but it
+belongs to old Cromarty Manor, and we're all Cromartys. Patty, you're
+hereby adopted and made one of us."
+
+"What shall we do with it?" asked the more practical Sinclair. "I mean,
+just at present. We must take care of it, at once, you know. We can't
+leave it long like this."
+
+"There's the old Spanish chest," said Mrs. Hartley, indicating a
+good-sized affair that stood nearby. "Put it in that."
+
+"Just the thing," said Bob. "Lend a hand, Clair."
+
+It was a strange proceeding. The old coins, many of them still bright,
+though of far back dates; represented a great deal of money. How much,
+they could not guess as yet, but it was surely a large sum. Also there
+were Bank of England notes, folded small that they might be pushed
+through the openings in the carved oak, and well-preserved, as the pocket
+had been carefully made damp-proof.
+
+The boys took the money out in double handfuls and deposited it in the
+old Spanish chest.
+
+"It will be quite safe there until to-morrow," said Mrs. Hartley, "and
+then we must get it to the bank. But as no one yet knows of our
+discovery, there can be no danger of its being stolen to-night."
+
+"What ever made Uncle Marmaduke choose this way of concealing his
+fortune?" asked Bob, as he kept on transferring the money from its
+hiding-place to the chest.
+
+"He had a fear of banks or investments," said Mrs. Cromarty. "I've often
+heard him say he wouldn't trust any of them. He said he'd rather be sure
+of his principal, and go without his interest."
+
+"Crickets!" said Bob, "if all this _had_ been out at interest for forty
+years, think how it would have increased!"
+
+"Yes," said his mother, "but in that case it would not have been hidden,
+and before now, it might have all been spent."
+
+"Then I'm glad the old gentleman chose this way of banking. And I suppose
+he meant to leave full instructions where to find it."
+
+"Well," said Sinclair, "we found it without his instructions, thanks to
+our Patty."
+
+And then they all began again to bless and praise Patty, until she was
+really embarrassed at their overwhelming gratitude.
+
+"We'd offer you a share," said Bob, gaily, "but you already have more
+than you know what to do with."
+
+"Perhaps not quite that," said Patty, smiling, "but I have enough. And,
+oh! I am so glad that you have your own at last."
+
+"How much do you suppose there is?" asked Mabel, awestruck, as she
+watched the boys still carrying their precious handfuls across the room.
+
+"Enough to buy you some new frocks, sister," said Sinclair, "and enough
+to fix up dear old Cromarty as it should be fixed up."
+
+"There must be thousands of pounds," said Grandma Cromarty. "To think of
+Marmaduke exchanging all his securities and bonds for gold and notes! I
+suppose he did it while I was away in London. He was a most erratic man."
+
+"Well, you see," said Sinclair, thoughtfully, "once he had the place
+built, he could drop his money through whenever he received any. I can
+imagine the old chap, after every one else in the house was in bed,
+standing here and dropping in his coins one by one, and listening to them
+clink. Why, it's like a child's toy savings-bank, on a large scale."
+
+"It's a large scale!" said Bob. "Whew! I'm tired out. But it's nearly all
+in the chest now, and see, Grandy, the chest is nearly full! When shall
+we count it? And how _shall_ we get this mess cleared away? If the
+servants come in here, they'll know it all, at once. And I think we ought
+to keep the matter quiet until we can cart the gold away to the bank."
+
+"I think so too," said his mother. "Suppose we leave this room exactly as
+it is, and lock it all up until to-morrow. Then we can talk it over this
+evening, and decide what is best to do. I think we should consult with
+Lawyer Ashton, and let him advise us."
+
+So, after carefully securing the windows, and locking all the doors of
+the room, it was a merry-hearted family who went away to dress for
+dinner.
+
+"Let's put on our prettiest frocks, and make the dinner a sort of
+celebration feast," said Patty, who dearly loved an "occasion."
+
+"We will," said Mabel, "and Grandy must wear her black velvet."
+
+Mrs. Cromarty was easily persuaded, and the happy old lady looked almost
+regal as, in her trailing gown, she led the way to the dining-room. The
+dinner conversation was on the all-absorbing topic, and Patty realised
+afresh how dearly these people loved their old home, and how anxious they
+were to devote their newly-found fortune to restoring the glories of the
+place.
+
+"And now we can have the garden party!" exclaimed Mabel. "You know,
+Patty, we've had one every summer for years and years, and this summer we
+thought we couldn't afford it. What fun to have you here to it!"
+
+"Let's have it soon," said Sinclair. "Can you get ready in a week,
+mother?"
+
+"Give me a little longer than that, son. And we want to send out the
+invitations about ten days before the party."
+
+"We'll make the lists to-night. Let's invite everybody. I suppose, after
+we put the money safely away, there's no necessity for secrecy about it."
+
+"No, I think not. All our friends will rejoice with us, that we've found
+it at last."
+
+Later on, they all sat round the library table, and made plans for the
+garden party. Patty discovered that it would be a much larger and more
+important affair than she had imagined. The invitation list soon rose to
+about four hundred, and seemed literally to include everybody in all the
+country round.
+
+"I really ought to have a new frock for the party," said Mabel; "but
+we've so much going on that I won't have time to get one made."
+
+This gave Patty an idea, and she determined to give Mabel a little
+surprise. While they were making the plans for the fête, she was
+planning to write to Lady Hamilton and ask her to send down from London
+two new frocks for herself and Mabel to wear at the garden party. She
+felt sure she could secretly procure one of Mabel's old dresses to send
+for a pattern, and she meant that Mabel should not know of it until the
+new frock arrived.
+
+The evening was a merry one, indeed. The boys were so exuberant that they
+laughed and sang snatches of songs, and exclaimed over and over how much
+they appreciated the good turn Patty had done them.
+
+The two elder ladies were more quietly glad, and it did Patty's heart
+good to see that the sad, anxious expression was gone from Mabel's face.
+
+The days before the garden party flew by quickly, for there was much to
+be done. Extra servants had to be secured, some repairing done in house
+and gardens, and the caterer's orders attended to. The day before the
+party the dresses arrived from London. Lady Hamilton had chosen them,
+though Patty had given her a general idea of what she wanted.
+
+Though they were called white muslin frocks, they were made almost
+entirely of fine embroidery and lace. Mabel's was worn over a pink silk
+slip, and Patty's over blue. Frenchy knots of ribbon were placed here and
+there, and when the boxes were opened and the tissue papers torn away,
+Mabel gave a shriek of delight at the beautiful things.
+
+Patty had wanted to give Mabel a pretty frock, but had hesitated to do
+so, lest she wound her pride.
+
+But this seemed different, and Patty offered the gift so prettily, as a
+souvenir of the garden party, that Mabel accepted it in the spirit it was
+given.
+
+The day of the party was perfect. Just the right temperature, and not a
+cloud in the blue sky, except some fleecy little white ones that were as
+innocent as kittens.
+
+The party was from three till six, and promptly at three o'clock the
+guests began to arrive. There was a continuous stream of carriages and
+motor cars, and soon Patty was almost bewildered by the crowds of people.
+Although introduced to them as they arrived, she couldn't remember them
+all. But many of them she had met before, and after a time she and Mabel
+were excused from the receiving party, and were sent to mingle with the
+guests.
+
+The old place was looking its best. Though there had not been time for
+much work on the gardens, yet a deal of tidying up had been done. New
+flowers had been set out in the formal flower beds, the fountains had
+been repaired and put in working order, and the shrubs and hedges had
+been trimmed. Patty, looking very sweet in her lovely white dress,
+wandered around indoors and out, greeting old friends and making new
+ones.
+
+The house was thrown open, and of course the old chimney-piece, which had
+been replaced, was scrutinised with great interest. Patty was lionised
+until she became almost embarrassed at being made so prominent. But
+everybody was thoroughly glad that the Cromartys had come into their
+fortune at last. On the lawn was a band of musicians in gay scarlet and
+gold uniforms, who played popular music at intervals during the
+afternoon. The terraces and gardens were filled with groups of people
+pleasantly chatting, and the ladies' pretty summer costumes added to the
+brilliancy of the scene.
+
+At four o'clock tea was served in a great round tent, which had been put
+up for the purpose. Although called tea, the repast was a substantial
+supper of various and elaborate viands. Patty thought she had never seen
+so many sorts of salads and carefully constructed cold dishes. She sat at
+a small table with the Merediths and some other young people.
+
+"You're going to stay here all summer, aren't you?" asked Tom, who
+sincerely hoped she was.
+
+"I don't know," replied Patty. "I'd love to stay, for I'm happy every
+minute here. But my own people are writing me very urgently to join them
+in Switzerland. They're in such delightful quarters there, that they
+think I'd like it too."
+
+"Oh, don't go. Stay here with us. We're going to get up a croquet club,
+and we want you to be a member."
+
+"I'll be glad to, if I stay. But where are the people going now?"
+
+The guests had all risen, and were being led to a part of the grounds
+where a platform had been erected. On this were a troupe of entertainers
+called The Pierrots. They all wore funny white suits, with little black
+pompons bobbing all over them. They sang amusing songs, played on cymbals
+and other instruments, did some clever acrobatic work, and for a
+half-hour entertained the guests who stood about on the grass, or sat on
+camp chairs to watch them.
+
+At six o'clock the guests all took leave, and the great procession of
+vehicles again appeared on the driveway. Mrs. Cromarty and Mrs. Hartley
+received their good-byes, and Patty and Mabel invited a number of the
+young people to remain to dine and spend the evening.
+
+"Though I'm sure we can't eat any dinner, after that very satisfying
+tea," said Grace Meredith, as she accepted the invitation.
+
+In the evening they all went out on the lake for a moonlight row. Several
+new boats had been bought, and the young men rowed the girls about. The
+boats were hung with Chinese lanterns, which gave the lake the appearance
+of a regatta or a water festival.
+
+Then back to the house for a dance in the great hall. The musicians had
+remained, and to their inspiriting strains the young people glided about
+in merry measures.
+
+"Do give me another waltz," Tom Meredith begged of Patty.
+
+"I'd be glad to, Tom," said Patty, frankly; "but I can't do it without
+offending somebody else. I love to dance with you, but you've had three
+already, and I've promised all the rest."
+
+But Tom wheedled Mrs. Hartley into allowing one more extra, after the
+last dance, and he claimed Patty for that.
+
+"You're the best dancer I ever saw," said Tom, as they floated away.
+
+"You're the best English dancer I ever saw," laughed Patty, for she well
+knew English people do not dance like Americans. Good-natured Tom didn't
+mind her implication, and after the waltz was ended he led her out on the
+terrace to sit down for a bit and rest. There were several others there,
+the Hartley boys among them, and soon they began to sing songs.
+
+Others came and joined them, and the young voices rose in merry choruses
+and glees.
+
+"You have splendid songs in England," said Patty, after the men's voices
+had come out strong in "Hearts of Oak" and "Rule Britannia."
+
+"Yes, we have," agreed Tom. "But, Patty, won't you sing something alone?"
+
+"Do," chorused the rest, and Mabel said: "Sing that newest song that you
+and Sinclair made."
+
+"'The Moon's Song?'" asked Patty.
+
+"Yes; this is just the night for it."
+
+The moon was nearing the western horizon, and its soft light fell across
+the lake in silver ripples. Truly it was just the time and place to sing
+the pretty song of which Patty had composed the words, and Sinclair had
+set them to music. It was a simple air, but full of soft, lingering
+cadences, and without accompaniment Patty's really sweet voice sounded
+exquisite as it thrilled through the summer evening air.
+
+The song was called "The Minstrel Moon," and the words were these:
+
+               "I wonder if the moon could sing,
+               On a marvellous, mystical night in spring,
+               I wonder what the song would be
+               That the minstrel moon would sing to me.
+               And as I think, I seem to know
+               How the music of the moon would go.
+               It would be a mystic, murmuring strain
+               Like the falling of far-away fairy rain.
+               Just a soft and silvery song
+               That would swing and swirl along;
+                       Not a word
+                       Could be heard
+               But a lingering ding-a-dong.
+               Just a melody low and sweet,
+               Just a harmony faint and fleet,
+                       Just a croon
+                       Of a tune
+               Is the Music of the Moon."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+GOOD-BYES
+
+
+One beautiful morning, about a week after the garden party, Patty lay in
+her favourite hammock out under the trees. She liked this hammock
+especially, for from it she could see both terraces, the formal gardens,
+and the lake beyond.
+
+As she looked around this morning she could see the workmen busily
+engaged in restoring the gardens to their original symmetry and beauty.
+The Hartleys were by no means purse proud or ostentatious, and their
+sudden acquisition of a great fortune in no way changed their simple,
+pleasant attitude toward life. But they were now enabled to live in their
+dear old home, without financial anxieties, and moreover, were able to
+repair and restore its appointments.
+
+But though Patty loved to let her idle gaze roam over the attractive
+landscape, her thoughts just now were far away. She had in her hand a
+letter from her father, and its message was strongly in favour of her
+leaving Cromarty Manor and joining her parents in Switzerland.
+
+It was for Patty to make choice, but both Nan and Mr. Fairfield urged the
+plan they proposed. So Patty was thinking it over. She was very happy at
+Cromarty, and the life was quiet and pleasant, and interspersed with many
+little gaieties. But she thought, herself, it was a pity not to travel
+about and see sights and places when opportunity presented itself.
+
+As she lay, thinking, she saw a large motorcar coming along the drive
+through the park. She jumped out of the hammock and started toward the
+house, in order to greet the guests whoever they might be. As the car
+came nearer, she saw a lady and gentleman in the tonneau, but so
+concealed were they by their motor-clothes she could not recognise them.
+
+As they drew nearer, the lady waved her hand, and seeing the familiar
+gesture, Patty at once realised that it was Lady Hamilton.
+
+Her father was with her, and Patty ran to meet them, and reached the
+steps of the great entrance of Cromarty just as the car swung round the
+last curve of the road.
+
+"Oh, Kitty!" cried Patty; "I'm _so_ glad to see you! Where did you come
+from? Why didn't you tell me you were coming? How do you do, Sir Otho.
+This is indeed a surprise."
+
+"How are you, my dear child?" said Sir Otho Markleham, after Patty had
+released Lady Kitty from her enthusiastic embrace, and turned to shake
+hands with her father.
+
+"Come in," said Patty, dancing about in her excited glee. "Come right in.
+You are welcome to Cromarty Manor, and in a moment the family will also
+tell you so."
+
+"What a delightful house!" said Lady Hamilton, pausing to admire the
+stately old portal.
+
+"Yes, isn't it? You know the Hartleys, don't you?"
+
+"Slightly. I'll be glad to see them again. But, of course, we came to see
+you."
+
+"And it's a lovely surprise. Are you staying near here?"
+
+"Only for a day or two," said Sir Otho. "We're taking a little jaunt
+about, and as Kitty wanted to see you especially, we came in this
+direction."
+
+The chauffeur and the big touring car were put in charge of the Cromarty
+coachman, and Patty ushered her guests into the house.
+
+The ladies soon appeared and with hospitable welcome insisted that Sir
+Otho and his daughter should remain for a few days. This they were unable
+to do, but it was finally decided that they should stay the night, and
+resume their trip the next day.
+
+"And," said Sir Otho, "it may seem a rather sudden proceeding, but we
+want to take Patty with us."
+
+"Take Patty!" exclaimed Mabel, aghast; "for how long?"
+
+"You tell her," said Sir Otho, smiling at his daughter. "I haven't the
+courage."
+
+"I'll explain later," said Lady Hamilton. "But now, I want to enjoy the
+beauties of this grand old place. Is this the celebrated apartment where
+the fortune was hidden?"
+
+"Yes," said Patty, who had written to Lady Kitty about the matter. "And
+here is the old chimney-piece."
+
+"You can imagine, Lady Hamilton," said Mrs. Hartley, "the deep debt of
+gratitude we are under to our dear Patty."
+
+"You must be, indeed. But I know Patty is quite as glad that she made the
+discovery as you are yourselves."
+
+The rest of the morning was devoted to showing the visitors about the
+place. Sir Otho was greatly interested in the plans for the restoration
+of the gardens, and both he and Lady Kitty were enraptured with the
+historic treasures of the old house. After luncheon, Lady Hamilton
+unfolded her plans to Patty.
+
+"I have been in correspondence with Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield," she said,
+"and we've concluded that we must have Patty back with us again. She has
+been very happy here, I know, but she has made you a long visit, and I've
+really been sent down here to kidnap her."
+
+Patty smiled, but the others didn't. Mrs. Cromarty and Mrs. Hartley
+looked truly sorry, and Mabel had to struggle to keep her tears back.
+
+"You are right," said Mrs. Cromarty, at last. "We have enjoyed having
+Patty here more than I can tell you. But we must not be selfish. I know
+her parents have been writing for her to go to them, and it is wrong for
+us to urge her to stay here."
+
+"But I don't want Patty to go away," said Mabel, and now she was really
+crying.
+
+"I know you don't, dearie," said her mother. "But I see it as Grandma
+does, and I think we must let her go. Perhaps some time she'll come
+again."
+
+"Oh, I hope so," said Patty, smiling through the tears that had gathered
+in her own eyes. "You've all been so good to me, and I've had such lovely
+times."
+
+The question once settled, Lady Hamilton went on to say that she proposed
+to take Patty away the next day. Of course this redoubled Mabel's woe,
+but Lady Kitty was firm.
+
+"It would be just as hard to spare her a week hence," she said. "And
+then, who would take her to London? If she goes with us to-morrow, we
+will keep her with us for the rest of our motor tour--about a week--and
+then reach London about the first of July. After that Patty and I will
+join Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield in Switzerland, and go on to do some further
+travelling."
+
+Although Patty was sorry to leave Cromarty, this plan did sound
+delightful, and she was glad that it was all settled for her, and she had
+no further responsibility in the matter.
+
+Lady Hamilton had a genius for despatch, and she superintended the
+packing of Patty's clothes and belongings that same afternoon. Except for
+the luggage needed on the motor-tour, everything was to be sent to Lady
+Kitty's home in London, and Patty had to smile, as she realised that her
+present temporary home was the great house where she had so daringly
+braved the irascible Sir Otho.
+
+There was a daintily furnished room in the Markleham house that had been
+set aside for Patty's very own, and whenever she cared to she was invited
+to occupy it.
+
+When the boys came home that afternoon and heard the news, they set up a
+wail of woe that was both genuine and very noisy.
+
+No one could help admiring Lady Kitty, but Sinclair and Bob felt as if
+she were robbing their household, and it required all their good manners
+to hide their feeling of resentment.
+
+But they rose nobly to the occasion, and Bob said: "Well, since Patty
+must go, we'll have to send her off in a blaze of glory. Let's make a
+party, mother, a few people to dinner, and some more for the evening."
+
+Mrs. Hartley quickly realised that this would be the best way to tide
+over a sad occasion, and she agreed. The Merediths and a few others were
+sent for to come to dinner, and a dozen or more young people asked for a
+little dance in the evening. Notwithstanding her unwelcome errand, Lady
+Kitty fitted right into the house party, and both she and her father were
+so affable and pleasant that the Hartleys forgave them for stealing Patty
+away.
+
+The tourists had luggage with them, so were able to don attire suitable
+to the party. Lady Hamilton wore one of her beautiful trailing lace
+gowns, which had won for her Patty's name of "The White Lady."
+
+Patty, too, wore a white frock, of ruffled organdie, with touches of pale
+green velvet. In her pretty hair was a single pink rose, and as she
+arranged it, she felt a pang as she thought that might be the last flower
+she would ever wear from the dear old Cromarty rose garden. The dinner
+was a beautiful feast, indeed. The table sparkled with the old silver and
+glass that had belonged to the Cromarty ancestors. Flowers were
+everywhere, and the table and dining-room were lighted entirely by wax
+candles, with the intent of abiding by the old traditions of the manor.
+
+At Patty's plate was a multitude of gifts. How they managed it on such
+short notice, she never knew, but every one of the family and most of the
+guests gave her a parting souvenir.
+
+Grandma Cromarty gave her a valuable old miniature that had long been in
+her historic collection. Mrs. Hartley gave her an exquisite fan, painted
+by a celebrated artist. Mabel gave her a ring set with a beautiful pearl,
+and the boys together gave her a splendid set of Dickens' works in
+elaborately gilded binding. Grace Meredith brought her a bangle, and Tom
+a quaint old-fashioned candlestick; and many other guests brought pretty
+or curious trifles.
+
+Patty was overwhelmed at this unexpected kindness, and opened parcel
+after parcel in a bewilderment of delight.
+
+Everybody was gay and merry, yet there was an undercurrent of sadness, as
+one after another remembered this was the last time they would see pretty
+Patty.
+
+After dinner they all assembled on the terrace, and the other guests,
+arriving later, joined them there.
+
+But the soft beauty of the summer evening seemed to intensify the spirit
+of sadness, and all were glad to hear the strains of a violin coming from
+the great hall.
+
+Bob had sent for two or three musicians, and soon the young people were
+spinning around in the dance, and merriment once more reigned.
+
+Always a popular partner, Patty was fairly besieged that night.
+
+"I can't," she said laughingly, as the young men gathered around to beg
+her favours; "I've halved every dance already; I can't do more than
+that."
+
+"Don't halve this one," said Tom Meredith, as he led her away for a
+waltz. "I must have all of it. Unless you'll sit it out with me on the
+terrace."
+
+"No, thank you," said Patty. "I'd rather dance. I don't suppose I'll find
+another dancer as good as you all summer."
+
+"I hate to think of your going away," said Tom. "You almost promised me
+you'd stay here all summer."
+
+"I know. But I'm not mistress of my own plans. They're made for me."
+
+"And you're glad of it," said Tom, almost angrily. "You're glad you're
+going away from here--to go motoring in Switzerland, and all sorts of
+things."
+
+"Don't be so savage. It isn't surprising that I'm glad to go away from
+any one as cross as you are."
+
+Tom had to smile in return for Patty's laughing tones, and he said more
+gently:
+
+"I don't mean to be bearish, but I wish you weren't going. I--I like you
+an awful lot, Patty. Truly I do."
+
+"I'm glad of it," said Patty, heartily, "and I like you too. After
+Sinclair and Bob, you're the nicest boy in England."
+
+"There's luck in odd numbers," said Tom, a little ruefully, "so I'm glad
+I'm number three. But I'd like to be number one."
+
+"Well, you're a number one dancer," said Patty, as the music ceased, and
+with that Tom had to be content.
+
+And now the hour was getting late and the young people began to go home.
+
+It was really an ordeal for Patty to say good-bye, for she had many
+friends among them, and they all seemed truly regretful to part with her.
+
+But after they had gone, and only those staying in the house remained,
+another surprise was in waiting for Patty. They were gathered in the
+great hall, talking over for the last time the mystery of the hidden
+fortune, and Patty's clever solution of it.
+
+"And now," said Sinclair, "I've a little speech to make."
+
+He went and stood on the "stair across the hall," in front of the old
+chimney-piece, and so, just beneath the picture of the fir trees. The
+painting was a fine one, and represented a landscape with firs in the
+foreground. It had hung there since the days of the earlier Cromartys,
+and was a valuable work of art.
+
+Patty had always loved the picture, even before the added interest of
+learning the truth about the fir trees, and they all knew it was one of
+her favourites among the many art treasures of the old house.
+
+"I was going to make this speech when the party was here," proceeded
+Sinclair, "but I didn't, partly because I feared it might embarrass
+Patty, and partly because I like it better to have only our own people
+here. But the speech itself is this: We, the Cromartys of Cromarty Manor,
+realising that we can never liquidate the great debt of gratitude we owe
+to our beautiful and beloved friend, Miss Patty Fairfield, wish, at
+least, to give her a token of our affection and a memento of her noble
+deed. We, therefore, one and all of the household of Cromarty, offer her
+this picture of fir trees, this painting by Hobbema, and we trust that
+she will accept it in the spirit it is tendered."
+
+Sinclair bowed and sat down, and Patty sat for a moment in awestruck
+silence.
+
+Then, "The Hobbema!" she cried, "I won't take it! The idea of giving me
+that painting! Why, it's one of the gems of the house!"
+
+"That's why we want you to have it, Patty dear," said Grandma Cromarty,
+gently. "It is one of our treasures, and for that very reason it is
+worthy to be presented as a souvenir to one who so gloriously deserves
+it."
+
+"Hear! Hear!" cried Bob. "Grandy makes a better speech than you, Clair."
+
+Patty's scruples were lovingly overcome, and she was made to realise that
+she was the owner of a real masterpiece of art, that would be to her a
+lifelong delight.
+
+"But what will take its place?" she said. "It has hung there so many
+years."
+
+"It hung there," said Mrs. Hartley, "until its mission was fulfilled. Now
+that there is nothing to be searched for 'between the fir trees and the
+oak,' it need hang there no longer. It is fitting that we retain the
+'oak' and you possess the 'fir trees,' thus assuring an everlasting bond
+of union between the fir trees and the oak."
+
+"Bravo, Mater!" cried Bob. "You're coming out strong on speechifying,
+too. Mabel, we must look out for our laurels."
+
+But Mabel was too near the verge of tears to trust her voice, so she
+slipped her hand in Patty's, knowing that she would understand all that
+could not be said.
+
+"Well," went on Bob, "I'm not much of an orator, but I'll take it for my
+part to see that the Fir Trees are properly packed and sent to your home,
+Patty. Where shall I send the box?"
+
+"I hate to have it go to New York now," said Patty, "for I want it with
+me while I'm over here."
+
+So it was arranged to send the picture to Sir Otho's house in London,
+there to remain until the Fairfields returned to America.
+
+The departure from Cromarty was made next morning directly after
+breakfast. It was fortunate that the last details of luggage
+preparations, and the packing of luncheon and so forth, made a bustle and
+hurry that left little time for actual farewells. And, too, they were all
+too sensible to mar Patty's last memory of Cromarty with futile regrets.
+
+So after good-byes were said, and the party stowed away in the big car,
+Sinclair started one of their favourite nonsense songs.
+
+The others joined in, and Patty sang too, and handkerchiefs were waved,
+and as the car slid out of sight among the trees, those who were left
+could still hear Patty's high, sweet soprano ringing back to them.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Patty's Friends, by Carolyn Wells
+
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+"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+<head>
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+<title>
+The Project Gutenberg eBook of Patty's Friends, by Carolyn Wells.
+</title>
+
+<style type="text/css">
+/*<![CDATA[  XML blockout */
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+    div.ce p          {text-align: center; margin: auto 0;}
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+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Patty's Friends, by Carolyn Wells
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Patty's Friends
+
+Author: Carolyn Wells
+
+Release Date: June 20, 2008 [EBook #25847]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY'S FRIENDS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>PATTY&#8217;S FRIENDS</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<table summary="" style='border:1px solid black; padding:0.5em'>
+<tr><td align='center' style='font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:1em;'>BY THE SAME AUTHOR</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left' style='font-size:0.8em'>
+PATTY FAIRFIELD<br />
+PATTY AT HOME<br />
+PATTY IN THE CITY<br />
+PATTY&#8217;S SUMMER DAYS<br />
+PATTY IN PARIS<br />
+PATTY&#8217;S FRIENDS
+</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a>
+<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br />
+<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'>
+&#8220;Patty was a comfort-loving creature&#8221; (p. 33)
+<br />
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.8em; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em;'>Patty&#8217;s Friends</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1em;'>BY</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:1em;'>CAROLYN WELLS</p>
+<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>Author of &#8220;Patty Fairfield,&#8221; &#8220;Patty</p>
+<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:1em;'>in Paris,&#8221; etc.</p>
+</div>
+
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<img src='images/illus-emb.png' alt='' title='' /><br />
+<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'>
+
+<br />
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1em; margin-top:1em;'>NEW YORK</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1em; margin-bottom:1em;'>1908</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce' style=' font-size:0.8em;'>
+<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Copyright</span>, 1908</p>
+<p style=' margin-bottom:1em;'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>By Dodd, Mead and Company</span></p>
+<p>Published, September, 1908</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>CONTENTS</p>
+</div>
+
+<table border='0' width='400' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'>
+<tr>
+  <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>I&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>An Afternoon Tea&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I_AN_AFTERNOON_TEA'>9</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>II&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>Riddles and Games&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II_RIDDLES_AND_GAMES'>23</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>III&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>The White Lady&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III_THE_WHITE_LADY'>36</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>IV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>A Floral Offering&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV_A_FLORAL_OFFERING'>51</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>V&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>Miss Yankee Doodle&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V_MISS_YANKEE_DOODLE'>65</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>VI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>Herenden Hall&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI_HERENDEN_HALL'>79</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>VII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>For One Night Only&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII_FOR_ONE_NIGHT_ONLY'>93</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>VIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>The Earl of Ruthven&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII_THE_EARL_OF_RUTHVEN'>107</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>IX&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>An Important Document&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IX_AN_IMPORTANT_DOCUMENT'>121</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>X&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>A Momentous Interview&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#X_A_MOMENTOUS_INTERVIEW'>134</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>The Birthday Party&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XI_THE_BIRTHDAY_PARTY'>149</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>Summer Plans&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XII_SUMMER_PLANS'>162</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>Cromarty Manor&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIII_CROMARTY_MANOR'>175</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XIV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>Uncle Marmaduke&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIV_UNCLE_MARMADUKE'>190</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>Puzzling Rhymes&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XV_PUZZLING_RHYMES'>204</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XVI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>The Croquet Party&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVI_THE_CROQUET_PARTY'>218</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XVII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>The Griffin and the Rose&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVII_THE_GRIFFIN_AND_THE_ROSE'>231</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XVIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>The Old Chimney-Piece&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVIII_THE_OLD_CHIMNEYPIECE'>245</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XIX&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>The Discovery&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIX_THE_DISCOVERY'>258</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XX&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>Good-Byes&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XX_GOODBYES'>272</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>ILLUSTRATIONS</p>
+</div>
+
+<table border='0' width='500' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Illustrations' style='margin:1em auto'>
+<col style='width:80%;' />
+<col style='width:20%;' />
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>&#8220;Patty was a comfort-loving creature&#8221;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_1'>Frontispiece</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>&#8220;Marie pinned it and sewed it&#8221;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_2'>95</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>&#8220;&#8216;How <i>much</i> pleasanter this is than squabbling&#8217;&#8221;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_3'>146</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'>&#8220;Often she would spend a morning lying in a hammock<br />beneath the old trees&#8221;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_4'>177</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span></div>
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.8em;'>Patty&#8217;s Friends</p>
+</div>
+
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='I_AN_AFTERNOON_TEA' id='I_AN_AFTERNOON_TEA'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER I</h2>
+<h3>AN AFTERNOON TEA</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wish I had a twin sister,&#8221; said Patty;
+&#8220;no, that wouldn&#8217;t do, either. I wish I
+were twins, and could be both of them
+myself.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What a sensible wish!&#8221; commented Nan.
+&#8220;But why do you want to double yourself up
+in that way?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So I could go to two places at once. Here
+I have two lovely invitations for this afternoon,
+and I don&#8217;t know which I want to accept most.
+One is a musicale at Mrs. Hastings&#8217;, and the
+other is a picture exhibition at the New Gallery.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They sound delightful. Can&#8217;t you manage
+to go to both?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, they&#8217;re too far apart; and they&#8217;re both
+at four o&#8217;clock, anyway. I think I&#8217;ll choose the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span>
+musicale, for I&#8217;ll surely get another chance to see
+the pictures.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, of course you will,&#8221; agreed Nan, a
+little absently, for she was reading some newly
+arrived letters.
+</p>
+<p>The Fairfields were in London, and were
+comfortably established in the Savoy Hotel. It
+was April, and though they intended to travel
+later in the summer, their plans were as yet
+indefinite, and they were enjoying the many and
+varied delights of the London season.
+</p>
+<p>To be sure, Nan and Mr. Fairfield were invited
+to many dinners and elaborate entertainments
+which Patty was too young to attend, but
+her time was pleasantly filled with afternoon
+garden parties or teas, while mornings were often
+devoted to sight-seeing.
+</p>
+<p>Patty was almost eighteen, and though not
+allowed quite the untrammelled freedom she
+would have had in America, she was not kept
+so utterly secluded as English girls of her age.
+Sometimes she would go all alone to Westminster
+Abbey or to the National Gallery, and enjoy
+hugely a solitary hour or two. At other times,
+Nan or her father, or some girl friend, would
+go with her.
+</p>
+<p>The Fairfields had begun their stay in
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span>
+London with only a few friends, but these
+had introduced others, until now their circle
+of acquaintances was large, and the immediate
+result of this was a sheaf of invitations
+in every mail. For, during the season, Londoners
+are hospitable folk, and give entertainments
+morning, noon, and night. At first, the Fairfields
+had thought they would take a house, and so
+have a home of their own. But Mr. Fairfield
+concluded that if Nan had the duties of a housekeeper,
+her trip would not be a holiday, so he
+declared they would live at a large hotel, and
+thus have a chance to observe the gay life of
+London.
+</p>
+<p>And so cosy and comfortable were their
+apartments at the Savoy, that they soon began
+to feel quite at home there. And Patty, as we
+all know, was one who could adapt herself to
+any mode of living.
+</p>
+<p>Of a naturally happy and contented disposition,
+she accepted everything as it came, and enjoyed
+everything with the enthusiasm so often
+seen in American girls.
+</p>
+<p>It greatly amused her to note the differences
+between herself and the English girls.
+</p>
+<p>To her mind, they seemed to have no enthusiasm,
+no enterprise, and little capacity for enjoyment,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span>
+while Patty enjoyed every experience
+that came to her, whether a visit to Windsor
+Castle, a day at Stratford, or a simple afternoon
+tea in their own rooms.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I seem to have been set back two or three
+years,&#8221; she said to Nan, one day. &#8220;In New
+York I was almost a full-fledged young lady, but
+over here, I&#8217;m treated as a little girl.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; said Nan, sensibly.
+&#8220;You are what you are, and if the different
+countries choose to treat you differently, it
+doesn&#8217;t matter, does it?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not a bit. I&#8217;m Patty Fairfield, and I&#8217;m almost
+eighteen, whether I&#8217;m in California or the
+Fiji Islands. But it does amuse me, the way the
+Londoners think we live at home. They really
+believe American ladies go to market in the
+morning, loaded down with diamonds. You
+don&#8217;t often see that in New York, do you,
+Nan?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t think I ever saw a New York
+matron wearing elaborate jewelry to market.
+But then I never go to market myself, and I
+don&#8217;t know many people who do. I think that
+bediamonded marketer story is an old tradition,
+which is really pretty well worn out.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And the London ladies needn&#8217;t talk, anyway.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span>
+If we did wear jewels to market, it
+wouldn&#8217;t be a bit more absurd than the way they
+dress to go shopping in the morning. Long,
+trailing, frilly gowns of pink and blue chiffon,
+with swishing lace-ruffled petticoats, that just
+drag through the dirt of the streets.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now aren&#8217;t you criticising them as unfairly
+as they describe us?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, for what I say is true. I&#8217;ve seen them
+fluttering about. And, anyway, I don&#8217;t mean
+to be mean. I like them lots. I just love the
+London ladies, they&#8217;re so kind to me, and invite
+me to such lovely things. Of course I don&#8217;t
+care if they choose to wear garden-party clothes
+along Bond Street. We all have some ridiculous
+ways.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Pretty Patty was fond of pretty clothes, and
+the shops of Bond Street held great attractions
+for her, though she herself wore a real tailor-made
+costume when shopping. At first, Nan
+had exercised a supervision over her purchases,
+but Patty had shown such good taste, and such
+quick and unerring judgment as to fabrics and
+colors, that it had come about that Patty more
+often advised Nan in her choosing, than the
+other way.
+</p>
+<p>And so, many a pleasant morning was spent
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span>
+in the beautiful London shops, buying things
+they wanted, looking at things they did not
+want, or noting with interest the ways and
+means peculiar to English shopkeepers.
+</p>
+<p>Thus the days went happily by, and they had
+already been more than a fortnight in London,
+while as yet their plans for future travel
+were unmade. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield wanted
+to go to Germany, Switzerland, and other countries,
+but Patty didn&#8217;t care so much for that as
+for English country, or small nearby towns.
+So the matter was left unsettled, though short
+and desultory discussions were held now and
+then.
+</p>
+<p>But oftener their minds were taken up with
+the doings of the moment, and they complacently
+left the future to itself.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, then I think I&#8217;ll go to the musicale,&#8221;
+said Patty. &#8220;What would you wear?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That new light blue chiffon of yours, with
+the lace bolero, is just the thing.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and my new broad-leafed chip hat, with
+the roses piled all over it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty ran away to her own room, and after a
+time returned in the pretty summer costume.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How do I look?&#8221; she asked, smilingly, of
+Nan.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span></p>
+<p>Nan smiled back at the lovely vision, for
+Patty&#8217;s vanity was of a mild and innocent sort,
+and was rather a childish delight in dainty colors
+and fabrics, than any conceit over her own
+beauty.
+</p>
+<p>For beautiful Patty certainly was, in a sweet,
+wholesome, girlish way, and not the least of her
+charms was her naturalness of manner and her
+entire lack of self-consciousness.
+</p>
+<p>She looked especially winning in the light,
+filmy dress, and the big hat, weighed down with
+roses.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You look all right, Patty,&#8221; answered Nan.
+&#8220;That&#8217;s a duck of a frock, and suits you perfectly.
+Are you going alone?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes; father says I may go alone in our own
+carriage to any afternoon thing. The Hartleys
+will bring me home, so sha&#8216;n&#8217;t I send the carriage
+back for you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I wish you would. I&#8217;m going to a tea
+or two, and then we&#8217;re dining out. You&#8217;re to
+dine with the Hartleys, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, if it is dinner. It&#8217;s more likely to
+be schoolroom tea. Mabel Hartley is sixteen,
+but I doubt if she&#8217;s allowed at dinner
+yet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nonsense, of course she is. Well, then, if
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span>
+they&#8217;re sending you home, Louise needn&#8217;t go
+after you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No; they&#8217;ll send somebody. Good-bye,
+Nan.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good-bye, Patty. Have a lovely time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes; I always do.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Away went Patty and her frills, and when she
+reached Chesterton Mansions, she was soon
+established under the wing of her hostess, Mrs.
+Hastings.
+</p>
+<p>That lady was very glad to have the pretty
+American girl as her guest, and she introduced
+Patty to so many people that it was almost
+bewildering. But after a time, the music began,
+and Patty was glad to sit still and listen.
+</p>
+<p>It was very fine music, for that is the sort that
+Londoners usually offer at their teas, and Patty
+thoroughly enjoyed the singing and the violin-playing.
+She was a little afraid that Mrs. Hastings
+would ask her to sing, but as it was a
+programme of professionals this did not happen.
+</p>
+<p>When the Hartleys came, Mabel at once made
+her way to Patty&#8217;s side and sat down by her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad to see you again,&#8221; she said, &#8220;and
+it&#8217;s so lovely that you&#8217;re going home with us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad, too,&#8221; returned Patty, &#8220;it was lovely
+of you to ask me.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span></p>
+<p>Mabel Hartley was an English girl, and was
+about as different from Patty as could well be
+imagined, and perhaps for this reason the two
+were very good friends. Although they had
+met only a few times, they liked each other from
+the beginning, and both were ready to continue
+the friendship.
+</p>
+<p>Mabel was large and stout, with the solidity
+which characterises the British young girls. She
+was large-boned and not very graceful, but she
+carried herself with a patrician air that told of
+past generations of good-breeding. Her complexion
+was of that pure pink and white seen
+only on English faces, but her pale, sandy hair
+and light blue eyes failed to add the deeper
+color that was needed. Her frock was an uninteresting
+shade of tan, and did not hang evenly,
+while her hat was one of those tubby affairs
+little short of ridiculous.
+</p>
+<p>Patty fairly ached to re-clothe her, in some
+pretty clear color, and a becoming hat.
+</p>
+<p>The girls were politely silent while the music
+was going on, but in the intervals between the
+numbers they chattered glibly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s Grace Meredith and her brother Tom
+just coming in,&#8221; said Mabel. &#8220;I hope they&#8217;ll
+come over here; you&#8217;ll like them, I know.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span></p>
+<p>The Merediths did come over, and were
+promptly introduced to Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you know,&#8221; said Tom Meredith, as he
+shook hands in cordial, boyish fashion, &#8220;you&#8217;re
+the first American girl I&#8217;ve ever met.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Am I, really?&#8221; laughed Patty. &#8220;Now don&#8217;t
+ask me if we always wear our diamonds to
+market, for truly the American women who go
+to market rarely have any diamonds.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I never believed that diamond story, anyway,&#8221;
+responded Tom, gravely, &#8220;but I&#8217;m glad
+to have you tell me it isn&#8217;t true. I&#8217;m perfectly
+unprejudiced about America, though. I&#8217;m ready
+to believe it&#8217;s the best country in the world, outside
+of our own little island.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good for you!&#8221; cried Patty. &#8220;Then I&#8217;m
+ready to acknowledge that I like England next
+best to America.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Have you been here long?&#8221; asked Grace.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, only about two weeks, but I love London
+better every day, and I know I shall love the
+English country. Just the glimpse I caught coming
+in the train from Dover was delightful.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You should see the Hartleys&#8217; country place,&#8221;
+declared Tom, with enthusiasm. &#8220;It&#8217;s a ripping
+old house, two hundred years old, and all
+that. And such parks and orchards! Well!&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I hope you will come to see it, Patty,&#8221; said
+Mabel, a little wistfully, and Patty wondered
+why the girl&#8217;s tone had in it a note of sadness.
+</p>
+<p>But just then, as the music was over, Mrs.
+Hastings asked them to go to the tea-room, and
+the group of young people followed in her
+wake.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You girls sit here,&#8221; said Tom, selecting a
+jolly-looking alcove, with window-seats and red
+cushions, &#8220;while I stalk some food.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He was back in a few moments, followed by a
+waiter, who brought a tray of teacups and
+plates of sweet cakes.
+</p>
+<p>Tom, himself, bore triumphantly a covered silver
+dish.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Muffins!&#8221; he announced, in a jubilant voice.
+&#8220;Hot, buttered muffins! Crickets, what
+luck!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The hot muffins, buttered and quartered, were
+indeed delicious, and England and America
+seemed at one in showing an appreciative appetite
+for them.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t have these in America,&#8221; said Patty,
+surveying her bit of muffin with admiration.
+&#8220;We have good sandwiches, though.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We almost never have sandwiches,&#8221; said
+Grace.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t need to,&#8221; said Patty, quickly.
+&#8220;Your wonderful bread and butter is too good
+to be spoiled with a sandwich filling of any
+sort.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8217;Most all things are good eating at an afternoon
+tea,&#8221; observed Tom. &#8220;Somehow, at five
+o&#8217;clock I&#8217;m always so hungry I could eat a brickbat
+if it were toasted and buttered.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Afternoon tea is really an acquired taste with
+us,&#8221; said Patty. &#8220;You seem to have it naturally,
+even when you&#8217;re alone, but we only have
+it when we have guests.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; said Mabel, in astonishment.
+&#8220;Why, we&#8217;d as soon think of omitting breakfast
+or dinner as tea.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a lovely meal,&#8221; said Patty, giving a little
+sigh of satisfaction, as her last crumb of muffin
+disappeared. &#8220;Such good things to eat, and
+then it&#8217;s so cosy and informal to sit around in
+easy chairs, instead of at a big table.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But the ideal place for tea is on the lawn,&#8221;
+said Tom. &#8220;The open air and the trees and
+birds and flowers are even a better setting for
+it, than an interior like this.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I hope I shall have that kind this summer,&#8221;
+said Patty. &#8220;I&#8217;m invited to several country
+houses, and I know I shall enjoy it immensely.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed you will,&#8221; said Mabel, and again
+Patty thought she detected a shade of sadness
+in her friend&#8217;s eyes.
+</p>
+<p>But if Mabel was not exactly gay, Grace Meredith
+made up for it. She was full of fun and
+laughter, and both she and Tom made comical
+speeches until Patty feared she would disgrace
+herself laughing.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the joke?&#8221; asked Mrs. Hartley,
+coming to collect her young people and take
+them home.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tom is making verses about the people here,&#8221;
+explained Grace. &#8220;Tell Mrs. Hartley the one
+about the violinist, Tom.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s rude, Mrs. Hartley,&#8221; said
+young Meredith; &#8220;truly, it isn&#8217;t meant to be.
+But for that classic-browed genius, with his
+chrysanthemum of tawny-colored hair, isn&#8217;t this
+a pleasant token of regard and esteem?
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>&#8220;This is our latest social lion,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>So, to look modest, he&#8217;s tryin&#8217; and tryin&#8217;.&#8221;</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s very beautiful,&#8221; said Mrs. Hartley, smiling,
+&#8220;and I daresay Professor Prendergast
+would enjoy it himself, were he to hear it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He might,&#8221; said Tom, doubtfully, &#8220;but
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span>
+musicians rarely have a sense of humour, at least,
+about themselves.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s true,&#8221; agreed Mrs. Hartley, &#8220;and
+now, Mabel and Miss Fairfield, we must be going
+on.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Good-byes were soon said, and in the Hartleys&#8217;
+carriage Patty was taken away to her first
+visit in an English home.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='II_RIDDLES_AND_GAMES' id='II_RIDDLES_AND_GAMES'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER II</h2>
+<h3>RIDDLES AND GAMES</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Much to Patty&#8217;s satisfaction Mabel
+Hartley was in the habit of dining with
+her elders and was not condemned to
+&#8220;schoolroom tea.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The family was not large, consisting only of
+Mrs. Hartley, her mother, Mrs. Cromarty, her
+two sons, and Mabel. The sons, Sinclair and
+Robert, were big, stalwart fellows, a few years
+older than Mabel.
+</p>
+<p>Patty liked them at once, for they were cordial
+and hearty in their greetings, and quite at ease in
+their conversation.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I say, Mater,&#8221; began Bob, after they were
+seated at dinner, &#8220;there&#8217;s a stunning garden-party
+on at Regent&#8217;s Park next week. Don&#8217;t
+you think we can all go? Tickets only two
+shillings each.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What is it, my son? A charity affair?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes. Rest cure for semi-orphans, or something.
+But they&#8217;ve all sorts of jolly shows, and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span>
+the Stagefright Club is going to give a little
+original play. Oh, say we go!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll see about it,&#8221; answered Mrs. Hartley.
+&#8220;Perhaps, if we make up a party, Miss Fairfield
+will go with us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d love to,&#8221; said Patty. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen a
+real English garden party.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, this isn&#8217;t a real English garden party in
+the true sense,&#8221; said Sinclair. &#8220;To see that, you
+must be in the country. But this is a public
+London garden party and typical of its sort.
+You&#8217;ll like it, I&#8217;m sure. Will you go with us,
+Grandy?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>At first it seemed incongruous to Patty to hear
+the dignified Mrs. Cromarty addressed by such
+a nickname, but as she came to know her better,
+the name seemed really appropriate. The lady
+was of the class known as <i>grande dame</i>, and her
+white hair and delicate, sharply-cut features betokened
+a high type of English aristocracy. Her
+voice was very sweet and gentle, and she smiled
+at her big grandson, as she replied:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, my boy; I lost my taste for garden
+parties some years ago. But it&#8217;s a fine setting for
+you young people, and I hope Emmeline will
+take you all.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mother said she&#8217;d see about it,&#8221; said Mabel,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span>
+&#8220;and that&#8217;s always the same as &#8216;yes.&#8217; If it&#8217;s
+going to be &#8216;no,&#8217; she says, &#8216;I&#8217;ll think it over.&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a great thing to understand your mother-tongue
+so well,&#8221; said Patty, laughing; &#8220;now I
+shouldn&#8217;t have known those distinctions.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We have a wonderful talent for languages,&#8221;
+said Sinclair, gravely. &#8220;Indeed, we have a
+language of our own. Shall I teach it to
+you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You might try,&#8221; said Patty, &#8220;but I&#8217;m not at
+all clever as a linguist.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You may not learn it easily, but it can be
+taught in one sentence. It consists in merely
+using the initial of the word instead of the
+word itself.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But so many words begin with the same
+initial,&#8221; said Patty, bewildered at the idea.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but it&#8217;s ever so much easier than you&#8217;d
+think. Now listen. Wouldn&#8217;t you understand
+me if I said: &#8216;D y w t g t t g p?&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Say it again, please, and say it slowly.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sinclair repeated the letters, and Patty clapped
+her hands, crying: &#8220;Yes, yes, of course I understand.
+You mean &#8216;Do you want to go to
+the garden party?&#8217; Now, listen to me while I
+answer: Y I w t g i i d r.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good!&#8221; exclaimed Mabel. &#8220;You said:
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span>
+&#8216;Yes, I want to go, if it doesn&#8217;t rain.&#8217; Oh, you
+are a quick pupil.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But those are such easy sentences,&#8221; said
+Patty, as she considered the matter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the point,&#8221; said Bob, &#8220;most sentences,
+at least, the ones we use most, <i>are</i> easy. If I
+should meet you unexpectedly, and say H d y d?
+you&#8217;d know I meant How do you do? Or if I
+took leave, and said G b, you&#8217;d understand
+good-bye. Those are the simplest possible examples.
+Now, on the other hand, if I were to
+read you a long speech from the morning paper,
+you&#8217;d probably miss many of the long words, but
+that&#8217;s the other extreme. We&#8217;ve talked in
+initials for years, and rarely are we uncertain
+as to the sense, though we may sometimes skip
+a word here and there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But what good is it?&#8221; asked Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No good at all,&#8221; admitted Bob; &#8220;but it&#8217;s fun.
+And after you&#8217;re used to it, you can talk that
+way so fast that any one listening couldn&#8217;t guess
+what you are saying. Sometimes when we&#8217;re
+riding on an omnibus, or anything like that, it&#8217;s
+fun to talk initials and mystify the people.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;D y o d t?&#8221; said Patty, her eyes twinkling.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, we often do that,&#8221; returned Bob, greatly
+gratified at the rapid progress of the new pupil.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span>
+&#8220;You must be fond of puzzles, to catch this up
+so quickly.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am,&#8221; said Patty. &#8220;I&#8217;ve guessed puzzles
+ever since I was a little girl. I always solve
+all I can find in the papers, and sometimes I take
+prizes for them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We do that too,&#8221; said Mabel; &#8220;and sometimes
+we make puzzles and send them to the
+papers and they print them. Let&#8217;s make some
+for each other this evening.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>After dinner the young people gathered round
+the table in the pleasant library, and were soon
+busy with paper and pencils. Patty found the
+Hartleys a match for her in quickness and ingenuity,
+but she was able to guess as great a
+proportion of their puzzles as they of hers.
+</p>
+<p>After amusing themselves with square words
+and double acrostics, they drifted to conundrums,
+and Bob asked:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Which letter of the Dutch alphabet spells an
+English lady of rank?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not fair,&#8221; objected Patty, &#8220;because I
+don&#8217;t know the Dutch alphabet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; said Mabel, &#8220;you can
+guess it just as well without.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed I can&#8217;t, and besides I don&#8217;t know the
+names of all the English ladies of rank.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t matter either,&#8221; said Sinclair,
+smiling; &#8220;it spells a title, not a name; and one
+you know very well.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t guess it, anyway,&#8221; said Patty, after a
+few moment&#8217;s thought. &#8220;I give it up; tell
+me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, Dutch S,&#8221; said Bob, and Patty agreed
+that it was a good catch.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, I&#8217;ll catch you,&#8221; said Patty. &#8220;You all
+know your London pretty well, I suppose, and
+are familiar with the places of interest. Well,
+Mabel, why is your nose like St. Paul&#8217;s?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mabel thought hard, and so did the boys.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Is my nose like St. Paul&#8217;s, too?&#8221; asked
+Bob, thoughtfully, stroking his well-shaped
+feature.
+</p>
+<p>Patty looked at it critically. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said,
+&#8220;and so is Sinclair&#8217;s. But why?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>At last they gave it up, and Patty said, triumphantly,
+&#8220;Because it is made of flesh and
+blood.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They all screamed with laughter, for they
+quickly saw the point, and realised that it was
+the historic character referred to, and not the
+cathedral.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here&#8217;s one,&#8221; said Sinclair: &#8220;Where did the
+Prince of Wales go on his eleventh birthday?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span>
+But Patty was quite quick enough for this.
+&#8220;Into his twelfth year,&#8221; she answered promptly.
+&#8220;And now listen to this: A man walking out
+at night, met a beggar asking alms. The man
+gave him ten cents. He met another beggar
+and gave him fifteen cents. What time
+was it?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Time for him to go home,&#8221; declared
+Bob, but Patty said that was not the right
+answer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Springtime,&#8221; guessed Mabel, &#8220;because the
+man was in such a good humor.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Patty, &#8220;it was quarter to two.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Her hearers looked utterly blank at this, and,
+suddenly realising that they were not very familiar
+with American coins, Patty explained the
+joke. They saw it, of course, but seemed to
+think it not very good, and Sinclair whimsically
+insisted on calling it, &#8220;a shilling to Bob,&#8221; which
+he said was equally nonsensical.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Give us one of your poetry ones, Grandy,&#8221;
+said Bob to Mrs. Cromarty, who sat by, quietly
+enjoying the young people&#8217;s fun.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Miss Fairfield may not care for the old-fashioned
+enigma, but I will offer this one,&#8221;
+and in her fine, clear voice the old lady recited
+her verse with elocutionary effect:
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span></p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>&#8220;Afloat upon the ocean</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>My graceful form you see;</p>
+<br />
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>The protector of the people,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>The protector of a tree.</p>
+<br />
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>I often save a patient,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Though a doctor I am not;</p>
+<br />
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>My name is very easy,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Can you tell me, children? What?&#8221;</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<p>The others had heard this before, and when
+Patty promptly guessed &#8220;Bark,&#8221; Mrs. Cromarty
+was distinctly pleased with her quick-wittedness.
+</p>
+<p>Then lemonade and wafery little cakes were
+brought in, that the puzzlers might refresh
+themselves.
+</p>
+<p>The atmosphere of the Hartley household was
+very pleasant, and Patty felt much more at
+home than she had ever expected to feel among
+English people. She made allusion to this, and
+Bob said: &#8220;Oh, this place isn&#8217;t homey at all,
+compared with our real home. You must come
+to see us down in the country, mustn&#8217;t she,
+mother?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I should be very glad to welcome you there,
+my dear,&#8221; said Mrs. Hartley, smiling at Patty,
+&#8220;and I trust it may be arranged. We have
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span>
+this apartment for only a few weeks longer,
+and then we shall go back to Leicester.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m in no haste to go,&#8221; declared Mabel. &#8220;I
+love Cromarty Manor, but I want to stay in
+London a little longer. But when we do go,
+Patty, you surely must visit us there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed I will, if I can manage it. My parents
+want me to go with them to Switzerland,
+but I&#8217;d much prefer to spend the summer in
+England. I have ever so many delightful invitations
+to country houses, and they seem to me
+a lot more attractive than travelling about. I
+suppose I ought to care more about seeing
+places, but I don&#8217;t.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re quite young enough yet,&#8221; said Mrs.
+Hartley, &#8220;to look forward to travelling in future
+years. I think some experiences of English
+life would be quite as advantageous for
+you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell father you said that,&#8221; said Patty.
+&#8220;Then perhaps he&#8217;ll let me have my own way.
+But he usually does that, anyway.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d love Cromarty Manor,&#8221; said Bob, enthusiastically.
+&#8220;It&#8217;s so beautiful in spring and
+early summer.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But not half as grand as other houses where
+Patty&#8217;s invited,&#8221; said Mabel, and again the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span>
+shadow crossed her face that seemed always to
+come when she spoke of her country home.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Grandeur doesn&#8217;t count in the country,&#8221; declared
+Bob. &#8220;That belongs to London life.
+Other places may be larger or in better
+condition than ours, but they <i>can&#8217;t</i> be more
+beautiful.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That is true,&#8221; said Mrs. Cromarty, in her
+quiet way, which always seemed to decide a disputed
+point. And then it was time to go home,
+and Mrs. Hartley sent Patty away in her carriage,
+with a maid to accompany her. The
+woman was middle-aged, with a pleasant voice
+and a capable manner. She chatted affably with
+Patty, and dilated a little on the glories of the
+Cromarty family.
+</p>
+<p>Patty realised at once that she was an old
+family servant, and had earned a right to a
+little more freedom of speech than is usual to
+English domestics.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes, Miss,&#8221; she said; &#8220;it&#8217;s a wonnerful
+old place, that it is. And if the dear lady
+only &#8217;ad the money as is &#8217;ers by right, she&#8217;d
+keep it up lordly, that she would.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty wondered what had become of the money
+in question, but Sarah said no more concerning
+it, and Patty felt she had no right to ask.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span>
+&#8220;You live with them, then, in the country?&#8221;
+she said.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, Miss, I&#8217;ve allus lived with them. My
+mother was housekeeper at the Manor when Miss
+Emmeline married Mr. &#8217;Artley. Oh, he was the
+fine gentleman. Dead now, this ten year come
+Whitsuntide. Master Bob, he&#8217;s the image of
+his father. Are you warm enough, Miss?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sarah&#8217;s quick transit from reminiscences to solicitude
+for her comfort almost startled Patty,
+but she was getting used to that peculiarity of
+the British mind.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, thank you,&#8221; she said, &#8220;and anyway,
+we&#8217;re home now. Here&#8217;s the Savoy.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Fairfield and Nan had not yet arrived,
+so the good Sarah attended Patty to her own
+apartment and gave her over to Louise, who
+awaited her coming.
+</p>
+<p>Louise helped her off with her pretty frock, and
+brought her a beribboned négligée, and Patty
+curled up in a big armchair in front of the
+fire to think over the evening.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;These wood-fires are lovely,&#8221; she said to
+herself, &#8220;and they do have most comfortable
+stuffed chairs over here, if they only knew
+enough to put rockers under them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty was a comfort-loving creature, and often
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span>
+bewailed the absence of the rocking-chairs so
+dear to her American heart. Soon her parents
+came in and found her sound asleep in the big
+chair.
+</p>
+<p>She woke up, as her father kissed her lightly
+on the forehead.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hello, Prince Charming,&#8221; she said, smiling
+gaily at the handsome man in evening clothes
+who stood looking down at her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I suppose you want a return compliment
+about the Sleeping Beauty,&#8221; he said, &#8220;but you
+won&#8217;t get it. Too much flattery isn&#8217;t good for
+a baby like you, and I shall reserve my pretty
+speeches for my wife.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;ll share them with Patty,&#8221; laughed
+Nan, &#8220;but with no one else.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tell us about your evening, girlie,&#8221; said her
+father. &#8220;Did you have a good time?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Fine,&#8221; said Patty. &#8220;The Hartleys are
+lovely people; I like them better than any I&#8217;ve
+met in London, so far. And they do puzzles,
+and ask riddles, and they&#8217;re just as clever and
+quick as Americans. I&#8217;ve heard that English
+people were heavy and stupid, and they&#8217;re not,
+a bit.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You mustn&#8217;t believe all you hear. Are they
+a large family?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span>
+&#8220;Not very. Two sons, one daughter, and the
+mother and grandmother. Mabel&#8217;s father has
+been dead for years. And they want me to visit
+them at their home in Leicester this summer.
+Can&#8217;t I go?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Desert your own family for foreigners!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes; I do want to go there and to some other
+country places while you and Nan go touristing
+about. Mayn&#8217;t I?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We won&#8217;t decide now. It&#8217;s too near midnight
+for important matters to be discussed.
+Skip to bed, chickabiddy, and dream of the Stars
+and Stripes, lest you forget them entirely.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Never!&#8221; cried Patty, striking a dramatic attitude.
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>&#8220;Though English people may be grand,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>My heart is in my native land!&#8221;</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<p>And humming the Star-spangled Banner, she
+went away to her own room.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='III_THE_WHITE_LADY' id='III_THE_WHITE_LADY'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER III</h2>
+<h3>THE WHITE LADY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;I feel in a gay mood,&#8221; said Nan, as she
+clasped Patty round the waist, and always
+ready for a dance, Patty fell into
+step, and the two waltzed round the room, while
+Patty sang tum-te-tum to the air of a popular
+song.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;As if you two ever felt any other way!&#8221; exclaimed
+Mr. Fairfield, smiling at them from the
+depths of his easy chair. &#8220;But what does this
+gay mood betoken? I suppose you want to drag
+me out to the theatre or opera to-night.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Fairfield&#8217;s pleasant smile belied his pretense
+at sharpness, and he waited to hear a
+reply.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That would be lovely,&#8221; said Nan, &#8220;and we&#8217;ll
+go if you invite us. But what I had in mind is
+this: I&#8217;d like to dine in the Restaurant.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good!&#8221; cried Mr. Fairfield. &#8220;I feel gay
+enough for that, myself, and we haven&#8217;t dined
+there for nearly a week.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The Fairfields had a complete apartment of
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span>
+their own, and when not invited out, usually
+dined quietly in their own dining-room. But
+occasionally, when the mood took them, they
+dined in the great Savoy Restaurant, which was
+a festive pageant indeed.
+</p>
+<p>Patty loved to sit at a table there, and watch
+the beautiful women in their elaborate gowns,
+and their handsome, stalwart escorts, who were
+sometimes in brave uniforms.
+</p>
+<p>The splendid scene would have palled upon
+them, had they dined there every evening, but as
+a change from their small family dinner it was
+delightful.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll wear our dress-up frocks,&#8221; said Patty,
+&#8220;and perhaps my White Lady will be there
+again.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Your White Lady?&#8221; asked Nan. &#8220;Who is
+she?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s just what I can&#8217;t find out, though I&#8217;ve
+asked several people. But she&#8217;s the most beautiful
+lady, with a haughty, proud face, and sad
+eyes. She always wears white, and there&#8217;s an
+elderly lady who is sometimes with her. A
+strange-looking old lady in black, she is; and her
+face is like a hawk&#8217;s.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I remember those people; they always
+sit at the same table.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span>
+&#8220;Yes, I think they live here. But she is so
+sweet and lovely I&#8217;d like to know her. I
+make up stories about her all to myself. She&#8217;s
+like Ginevra or the Lady of Shalott.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re too fanciful, Patty. Probably she&#8217;s
+the Duchess of Hardscrabble.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She looks like a Duchess, anyway. And also,
+she looks like a simple, sweet, lovely lady. I&#8217;m
+going to ask father to find out who she is.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>A little later the Fairfields went down to dinner.
+</p>
+<p>Nan wore an exquisite gown of embroidered
+yellow satin, and Patty wore a frilled white silk
+muslin. It was a little low at the throat, and
+was very becoming to her, and in and out of
+her piled-up curls was twisted a broad white
+ribbon, which ended in front in a saucy cluster
+of bows, after the prevailing fashion.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;This is great fun,&#8221; said Patty, as she took
+her seat with a little sigh of content. &#8220;I just
+love the lights and flowers and music and
+noise&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Can you distinguish the music from the
+noise?&#8221; asked her father, laughing.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can if I try, but I don&#8217;t care whether I
+do or not. I love the whole conglomeration of
+sounds. People laughing and talking, and a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span>
+sort of undertone of glass and china and
+waiters.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That sounds graphic,&#8221; said Nan, &#8220;but the
+waiters here aren&#8217;t supposed to make any noise.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, I know it, but they&#8217;re just part of the
+whole scene, and it&#8217;s all beautiful together. Oh,
+there&#8217;s my White Lady!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It was indeed a charming young woman who
+was just entering the room. She was tall and
+very slender, with a face serene and sweet. Her
+large, dark eyes had a look of resignation,
+rather than sadness, but the firm set of her
+scarlet lips did not betoken an easily-resigned
+nature.
+</p>
+<p>With her was the elder lady of whom Patty
+had spoken. She was sharp-featured and looked
+as if she were sharp-tempered. She wore a
+rather severe evening gown of black net, and in
+her gray hair was a quivering black aigrette.
+</p>
+<p>In contrast to this dark figure, the younger lady
+looked specially fair and sweet. Her trailing
+gown was of heavy white lace, and round her
+beautiful throat were two long strings of pearls.
+She wore no other ornament save for a white
+flower in her hair, and her shoulders and arms
+were almost as white as the soft tulle that billowed
+against them.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span></p>
+<p>It chanced that Mr. Fairfield&#8217;s table was quite
+near the one usually occupied by these two, and
+Patty watched the White Lady, without seeming
+to stare at her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t she exquisite?&#8221; she said, at last, for
+they were not within earshot, and Nan agreed
+that she was.
+</p>
+<p>As the dinner proceeded, Patty glanced often at
+the lady of her admiration, and after a time was
+surprised and a little embarrassed to find that
+the White Lady was glancing at her.
+</p>
+<p>Fearing she had stared more frankly than she
+realised, Patty refrained from looking at the
+lady again, and resolutely kept her eyes turned
+in other directions.
+</p>
+<p>But as if drawn by a magnet, she felt impelled
+to look at her once more, and giving a quick
+glance, she saw the White Lady distinctly smiling
+at her. There was no mistake, it was a
+kind, amused little smile of a most friendly nature.
+</p>
+<p>Patty was enchanted, and the warm blood
+rushed to her cheeks as if she had been singled
+out for a great honour. But frankly, and without
+embarrassment, she smiled back at the lovely
+face, and returned the pleased little nod that
+was then given her.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Patty, what <i>are</i> you doing?&#8221; said Nan; &#8220;do
+you see any one you know?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Patty, slowly, almost as one in a
+dream, &#8220;my White Lady smiled at me,&mdash;that&#8217;s
+all,&mdash;so I smiled back at her, and then we
+bowed.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You mustn&#8217;t do such things,&#8221; said Nan, half
+smiling herself, &#8220;she&#8217;ll think you&#8217;re a forward
+American.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am an American,&#8221; replied Patty, &#8220;and
+I&#8217;d be sorry to be called backward.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You never will be,&#8221; said her father. &#8220;Well,
+I suppose you may smile at her, if she smiles
+first, but don&#8217;t begin sending her anonymous
+notes.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nonsense,&#8221; said Patty, &#8220;but you two don&#8217;t
+know how lovely she is when she smiles.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield were seated with their
+backs to the lady in question, and could not see
+her without slightly turning their heads, while
+Patty, opposite them at the round table, faced
+her directly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re fortunate in your position,&#8221; observed
+her father, &#8220;for were you seated here and we
+there, of course she would have beamed upon
+us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She isn&#8217;t beaming,&#8221; cried Patty, almost indignantly;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span>
+&#8220;I won&#8217;t have that angelic smile
+called a beam. Now, you&#8217;re not to tease. She&#8217;s
+a sweet, dear lady, with some awful tragedy
+gnawing at her heart.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Patty, you&#8217;re growing up romantic! Stop
+it at once. I&#8217;ll buy the lady for you, if you
+want her, but I won&#8217;t have you indulging in
+rubbishy romance like that, with nothing to base
+it on.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty looked at her father comically.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe you&#8217;d better buy her, Daddy,
+dear,&#8221; she said. &#8220;You know you often say that,
+with Nan and me on your hands, you have all
+you can manage. So I&#8217;m sure you couldn&#8217;t add
+those two to your collection; for I feel certain
+wherever the White Lady goes the Black Lady
+goes too.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The subject was lost sight of then, by the
+greetings of some friends who were passing by
+the Fairfields on their way out of the Restaurant.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, Mrs. Leigh,&#8221; exclaimed Nan, &#8220;how
+do you do? Won&#8217;t you and Mr. Leigh sit
+down and have coffee with us? Or, better yet,
+suppose we all go up to our drawing-room and
+have coffee there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>After Patty had spoken to the newcomers and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span>
+was sitting silent while her elders were talking,
+she looked up in surprise as a waiter approached
+her. He laid a long-stemmed white rose beside
+her plate, and said, quietly, &#8220;From Lady
+Hamilton, Miss.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Involuntarily, Patty glanced at the White
+Lady, and seeing her smile, knew at once that
+she had sent the rose.
+</p>
+<p>As Patty explained the presence of the flower to
+the others, Mrs. Leigh glanced across, and
+said: &#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s Lady Hamilton! Excuse me,
+I must speak to her just a moment.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who is Lady Hamilton?&#8221; asked Nan of
+Mr. Leigh, unable longer to repress her interest.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;One of the best and most beautiful women
+in London,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;One of the most indifferent,
+and the most sought after; one of the
+richest, and the saddest; one of the most popular,
+and the loneliest.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>All this seemed enough to verify Patty&#8217;s surmises
+of romance connected with the White
+Lady, but before she could ask a question, Mrs.
+Leigh returned, and Lady Hamilton came with
+her. After introductions and a few words of
+greeting, Lady Hamilton said to Mr. Fairfield:
+&#8220;I wonder if you couldn&#8217;t be induced to lend
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span>
+me your daughter for an hour or so. I will do
+my best to entertain her.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed, yes, Lady Hamilton; and I think you
+will find her quite ready to be borrowed. You
+seemed to cast a magic spell over her, even before
+she knew your name.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I must confess that I have been wanting to
+meet her; I have searched this room in vain
+for some mutual friend who might introduce us,
+but until I saw Mrs. Leigh over here, I could
+find no one. Then, to attract Mrs. Leigh&#8217;s attention,
+in hope of her helping me, I sent over
+a signal of distress.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I took it as a flag of truce,&#8221; said Patty, holding
+up the white rose as it trembled on its stem.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I thought it was a cipher message,&#8221; said
+Nan, smiling. &#8220;Patty is so fond of puzzles and
+secret languages, I wasn&#8217;t sure but it might mean
+&#8216;All is discovered; fly at once!&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It means &#8216;all is well&#8217;,&#8221; said Lady Hamilton,
+in her gracious way; &#8220;and now I must fly at
+once with my spoil.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>She took possession of Patty, and with a few
+words of adieu to the others, led her from the
+room. The lady in black rose from the table
+and followed them, and Patty entered the lift,
+blissfully happy, but a little bewildered.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll have our coffee right here,&#8221; said Lady
+Hamilton, as having reached her drawing-room,
+she proceeded to adjust some dainty gilt cups
+that stood on a small table. &#8220;That is,
+if you are allowed to have coffee at night.
+From your roseleaf cheeks, I fancy you drink
+only honeydew or buttercup tea.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, indeed; I&#8217;m far too substantial for those
+things,&#8221; said Patty, as she dropped into the
+cosy chair Lady Hamilton had indicated; &#8220;and
+for over a year now, I&#8217;ve been allowed to have
+after-dinner coffee.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dear me! what a grown-up! Miss Fairfield,
+this is Mrs. Betham, my very good friend, who
+looks after me when I get frisky and try to
+scrape acquaintance across a public dining-room.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>If Lady Hamilton was lovely when she was
+silent, she was doubly bewitching when she
+talked in this gay strain. Little dimples came
+and went in her cheeks, so quickly that they had
+scarcely disappeared before they were back
+again.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Betham bowed and spoke politely to
+Patty, but her voice was quick and sharp,
+and her manner, though courteous, was not
+attractive.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I doubt the coffee&#8217;s hot,&#8221; she said, as a
+waiter, who had just brought it in, was filling
+the tiny cups.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s steaming,&#8221; said Lady Hamilton, gaily,
+and Patty saw at once that whatever it was that
+made her new friend sorrowful, it was not the
+grumbling tones of Mrs. Betham.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s quite too hot, Julia,&#8221; she went on; &#8220;unless
+you&#8217;re careful, you&#8217;ll steam your throat.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not I,&#8221; growled Mrs. Betham. &#8220;I&#8217;m not
+such a stupid as that. But I must say I like
+my coffee at a table like a Christian, and not
+setting my cup in my lap, or holding it up in the
+air.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dear me, Julia,&#8221; said Lady Hamilton, with
+great solicitude expressed on her face; &#8220;dear me,
+your gout must be very bad to-night. It makes
+you quite cross. Poor dear!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Betham sniffed at this, but a grim smile
+came into her eyes, and Patty concluded she was
+not quite so grumpy as she seemed.
+</p>
+<p>After the coffee was finished, and the tray taken
+away, Mrs. Betham excused herself and went
+off to her own room.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The way it began,&#8221; said Lady Hamilton, as
+if to explain her interest in Patty, &#8220;was one
+day when I went through the corridors and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span>
+passed your drawing-room, and the door was a
+little mite ajar, and I heard you singing. I am
+very fond of just that high, sweet kind of voice
+that you have, and I paused a few moments to
+listen to you. Then afterward I saw you in the
+dining-room two or three times at luncheon or
+dinner, and I took a fancy to know you, for I
+felt sure I should like you. Do you mind coming
+to see me once in a while, my dear? I am
+very lonely.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mind! No, indeed!&#8221; cried Patty, impetuously
+throwing her arms around her new friend.
+&#8220;I loved you the first time I ever saw you. But
+why do you say you are lonely? You, a great
+lady.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I will tell you my story in a few words,&#8221; said
+Lady Hamilton. &#8220;For I suppose you would
+hear it from others, and I would rather tell it
+you myself. I am the daughter of Sir Otho
+Markleham. Of course, if you were a Londoner,
+you would know all this, but as you&#8217;re
+not, I&#8217;ll tell you. Well, I am Sir Otho&#8217;s only
+daughter, and four years ago, when I was just
+eighteen, I ran away from home and married
+Lord Cecil Hamilton. He was a good man,
+but he had quarrelled with my father on
+a point of politics, and my father disapproved
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span>
+of the match. He disowned me as
+his daughter, though he said he would always
+continue the allowance I had had as a girl. I
+was glad of this, not only because Lord Hamilton,
+though a man of good fortune, was not a
+wealthy man, but also because it seemed to
+show my father had not entirely cast me off.
+But he forbade us to go to his house, and we
+went to Paris and lived there for a year. After
+one year of happy married life Cecil died, and
+since then my only aim in life has been to be
+reconciled to my father. But he will not have
+it, or at least he won&#8217;t have it unless I make
+the first overtures toward peace.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And won&#8217;t you?&#8221; cried Patty, in astonishment.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not I! I am not to blame. The two men
+quarrelled, and now that Cecil is gone, why
+should my father hold the feud against me?
+It is not my place to ask his pardon; I&#8217;ve done
+nothing wrong.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You ran away from home,&#8221; said Patty, thinking
+only of the justice of the case, and quite forgetting
+that she was seeming to censure a titled
+English lady.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but that was not wrong. Father knew
+that Cecil was a fine, honourable man, of an
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span>
+old family. He had no right to forbid my
+marriage because of a foolish personal disagreement.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Your mother?&#8221; said Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My mother died when I was a child,&#8221; said
+Lady Hamilton, and at once Patty felt a new
+bond of companionship.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I lived alone with my father, in our great
+house in London, and I had a happy and uneventful
+life, until Cecil came. Since his death,
+I&#8217;ve longed so to go home to my father, and
+be at peace with him, but though many kind
+friends have tried to bring about a reconciliation,
+they haven&#8217;t been able to do so.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And so you live here alone at the Savoy?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, with Mrs. Betham, who is really an
+old dear, though sometimes she grumbles
+terribly.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And do you go into society?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve begun to go a little, of late. Cecil made
+me promise I&#8217;d never wear black dresses, so I&#8217;ve
+worn white only, ever since he died, and I suppose
+I always shall. That is, in the house. I
+have black street gowns. But I can&#8217;t seem to
+care for gay parties as I used to. I want father,
+and I want my home.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Is your father in London?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes; he&#8217;s a Member of Parliament. But
+he&#8217;s of a stubborn and unyielding nature.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And so are you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And so am I. Now, let&#8217;s drop the subject of
+myself for the present, while you sing for me.
+Will you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, indeed,&#8221; said Patty, warmly; &#8220;with
+more pleasure than I ever sang for any one else.&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='IV_A_FLORAL_OFFERING' id='IV_A_FLORAL_OFFERING'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+<h3>A FLORAL OFFERING</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>As the days went by, Patty and Lady
+Hamilton became close friends. Mr. and
+Mrs. Fairfield approved of the intimacy,
+for the elder woman&#8217;s influence was in every
+way good for Patty, and in return the girl
+brought sunshine and happiness into Lady
+Hamilton&#8217;s life.
+</p>
+<p>They went together to concerts and picture exhibitions,
+but Patty could rarely persuade her
+friend to go to a social affair.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s absurd, Lady Hamilton,&#8221; said Patty, one
+day, &#8220;to shut yourself up as you do! All London
+wants you, and yet you won&#8217;t go &#8217;round and
+play pretty with them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Ignoring this outburst, Lady Hamilton only
+smiled, and said: &#8220;Do you know, Patty, I
+think it&#8217;s time you dropped my formal title, and
+called me by my first name. I&#8217;d love to have
+you do so.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve often wondered what your first name is,
+but I haven&#8217;t the slightest idea. Tell me.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;No, guess. What name do you think suits
+me?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty considered.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; she said, at last, &#8220;I think it must be
+either Ethelfrida or Gwendolyn Gladys.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Lady Hamilton laughed merrily. &#8220;Prepare
+yourself for a sudden shock,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I was
+named for my grandmother, Catharine.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Catharine! What an absurd name for you!
+You&#8217;re not even a Kate. But you are Lady
+Kitty, and I&#8217;ll call you that, if I may.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed you may. Father used to call me
+Kitty, when I was a child, but as I grew older,
+I preferred my full name.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lady Kitty is just right for you, and when
+you&#8217;re in the mood you&#8217;re a saucy puss. Now,
+listen, the reason for my invasion of your premises
+this morning is that I want you to go with
+me this afternoon to a tea on the Terrace of
+Parliament House.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty&#8217;s tones were very persuasive, and she
+looked so daintily attractive in her fresh morning
+gown that few could have refused any request
+she might make.
+</p>
+<p>Lady Hamilton in a soft, frilly white négligée,
+was sipping her coffee and looking over her
+letters when Patty had interrupted the process.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span>
+She looked at her eager young guest with a slow,
+provoking smile, and said only:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nixy.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But why not?&#8221; said Patty, smiling too, for
+she knew the Englishwoman had learned the
+slangy word from herself. &#8220;You&#8217;d have a
+lovely time. It&#8217;s so beautiful there, and the people
+are always so cordial and pleasant.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I don&#8217;t want to go.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But you <i>ought</i> to want to. You&#8217;re too young
+to give up the pomps and vanities of this world.
+How can I <i>make</i> you go?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I know it! That&#8217;s just the trouble with you.
+I never saw such a stubborn, self-willed, determined&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Pigheaded?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes! and stupidly obstinate thing as you are!
+So, there now!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They both laughed, and then Lady Hamilton
+said more seriously, &#8220;Shall I tell you why I
+won&#8217;t go?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, do, if you know, yourself.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I know perfectly. I won&#8217;t go to the Terrace
+because I&#8217;m afraid I&#8217;ll meet my father there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;For goodness&#8217; sake! Is that the real reason?
+But you <i>want</i> to be reconciled to him!&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but you don&#8217;t understand. We couldn&#8217;t
+have a &#8216;Come home and all will be forgiven&#8217;
+scene on the Terrace, in sight of hundreds of
+people, so if I did see him, I should have to
+bow slightly, or cut him dead; it would depend
+on his attitude toward me which I did. <i>Then</i>
+the episode would merely serve to widen the
+breach, and it would break me up for days.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t understand such conditions,&#8221; said
+Patty, earnestly. &#8220;Why, if I were at odds with
+my father, and I can&#8217;t even imagine such a
+thing, I&#8217;d rush at him and fling myself into his
+arms and stay there till everything was all
+right.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s just because you&#8217;re of a different temperament,
+and so is your father. My father is
+an austere, unbending man, and if I were on the
+Terrace and were to fling myself into his arms,
+he&#8217;d very likely fling me into the Thames.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d probably be rescued,&#8221; said Patty,
+gravely; &#8220;there&#8217;s always so much traffic.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but father wouldn&#8217;t jump in to rescue
+me, so I&#8217;d only spoil my gown for nothing.
+Give it up, dear, it&#8217;s a case outside your experience.
+Father and I are both too proud to make
+the first advance, and yet I really believe he
+wants me as much as I want him. He must be
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span>
+very lonely in the great house, with only the
+servants to look after him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Perhaps he&#8217;ll marry again,&#8221; said Patty,
+thoughtfully; &#8220;my father did.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I wish he would, but I&#8217;ve no hope of that.
+Now, never mind about my troubles, tell me of
+your own. Who&#8217;s taking you to the tea?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mrs. Hastings. But she isn&#8217;t giving it.
+We&#8217;re to sit at some Member&#8217;s table; I don&#8217;t
+know whose. The Merediths will be there, too.
+Tom and Grace, you know. I like them very
+much.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, they&#8217;re nice children. I know them
+slightly. Patty, some day I&#8217;ll give a party for
+you, here in my rooms. How would you like
+that?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Lady Kitty, I&#8217;d love it! You&#8217;d have to
+come to that, wouldn&#8217;t you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, indeed, you couldn&#8217;t drive me away.
+Let&#8217;s have a children&#8217;s party. All dress as children,
+I mean; little children, or babies.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just the thing! I always wanted to see a
+party like that. I&#8217;ve only heard of them. Can
+we have it soon?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Next week, I think. I&#8217;ll consult Mrs.
+Betham, and I think I can coax her &#8217;round to it;
+though she&#8217;s bound to wet-blanket it at first.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes, you can coax her, I know. How
+good you are to me! I do have beautiful times.
+Really too many for one girl. Honestly, Lady
+Kitty, do you think it&#8217;s right for me to lead
+such a butterfly life? I just fly about from one
+entertainment to another; and even if I&#8217;m at
+home, or alone, I always have a good time.
+Sometimes I think I&#8217;m a very useless member
+of this busy world.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Lady Hamilton smiled kindly. &#8220;How old are
+you?&#8221; she said.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be eighteen next month.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And you haven&#8217;t set the Thames on fire, or
+won the Victoria Cross yet? But you&#8217;re just at
+the age when your type of happy girlhood is
+often beset with over-conscientious scruples.
+Don&#8217;t give way to them, Patty. It is not your
+lot to do definite, physical good to suffering
+humanity, like a Red Cross nurse, or the Salvation
+Army. Nor is it necessary that you should
+work to earn your bread, like a teacher or a
+stenographer. But it is your duty, or rather
+your privilege, to shed sunshine wherever you
+go. I think I&#8217;ve never known any one with such
+a talent for spontaneous and unconscious giving-out
+of happiness. It is involuntary, which is its
+chiefest charm, but whoever is with you for a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span>
+time is cheered and comforted just by the influence
+of your own gladness. This is honest talk,
+my child, and I want you to take it as I mean
+it. Don&#8217;t <i>try</i> to do this thing, that would spoil
+it all; but just remember that you <i>do</i> do it, and
+let that satisfy your desire to be a useful member
+of this busy world.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re such a dear,&#8221; said Patty, as she
+caressed her friend&#8217;s hand affectionately; &#8220;if
+that&#8217;s all true, and of course it is, since you say
+so, I&#8217;m very glad. But can&#8217;t I do something
+more definite, more voluntary?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course there are always opportunities for
+doing good,&mdash;organised charities and those
+things that everybody takes part in. But if you
+want to widen your own field of benefaction,
+simply know more people. Whether you know
+them socially or as casual acquaintances, you will
+almost invariably add happiness to their lives,
+though it be in the merest trifles. Now, I&#8217;m assuming
+that you have sense enough not to overdo
+this thing, and thrust yourself upon people who
+don&#8217;t want you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Madam,&#8221; said Patty, in mock indignation,
+&#8220;you may trust me. I am an
+American!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You are indeed; and you have what is known
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span>
+as Yankee good sense, if you are a mere infant.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Eighteen is pretty old, <i>I</i> think; and you&#8217;re
+not so very ancient, yourself,&#8221; retorted Patty;
+&#8220;but I&#8217;m willing to sit at your feet and acquire
+wisdom.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>When dressed to go out that afternoon, Patty
+stopped at Lady Hamilton&#8217;s door to say good-bye.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come in, and let me see if you&#8217;ll pass muster.
+Yes, that frilly, flowered muslin is just right for
+the Terrace; and that hat with long streamers
+is truly pastoral.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s pastoral about the Terrace,
+pray?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nothing but the ladies&#8217; clothes, and the
+lamb-like demeanour of the M.P.&#8217;s.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I may see your father there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You may. But he&#8217;ll be an exception to the
+lamb-like ones. Here, let me put these valley
+lilies in your belt. They rather suit your costume.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, thank you; they&#8217;re beautiful. If I see
+your father, I&#8217;ll give him a spray and say you
+sent it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Very well; he&#8217;ll then pitch you and the flowers
+all in the Thames together.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span>
+&#8220;Well, at least we&#8217;ll cause a sensation among
+the lambs. Good-by, Kitty lady.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good-bye, little one. Have a good time, and
+come in to tell me about it when you return.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The tea on the Terrace was a new delight.
+Patty had been through the Houses of Parliament
+before, but this was her first experience
+of that unique function known as the Terrace
+Tea.
+</p>
+<p>The broad, beautiful space was crowded with
+tables, and the tables were crowded with people.
+Merry, chatting, laughing Londoners, Americans,
+and foreigners mingled in groups and
+drank tea together.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Hastings and Patty were met by their
+host, Mr. Pauncefote, and escorted to a table,
+already surrounded by several people.
+</p>
+<p>Patty felt greatly pleased when she found herself
+seated between Grace and Tom Meredith,
+and listened with interest as they designated
+various celebrated people who were strolling by.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But, after all,&#8221; she said, at last, &#8220;Dukes and
+Duchesses don&#8217;t look very different from ordinary
+people.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course they don&#8217;t. Why should they?
+They aren&#8217;t any different,&#8221; said Tom. &#8220;Indeed,
+Miss Fairfield, I&#8217;ve vanity enough to believe
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span>
+you&#8217;d find me more interesting than some
+of the Dukes.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure you are,&#8221; laughed Patty, &#8220;but if I
+were introduced to a real Duke, I&#8217;d be so
+scared I wouldn&#8217;t know what to say.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now I call that too bad,&#8221; declared Tom, with
+an aggrieved look. &#8220;And, pray, why aren&#8217;t you
+scared when in my august society?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am,&#8221; said Patty, dimpling, as she smiled
+at him, &#8220;only I&#8217;m successfully striving not to
+show my quaking fright.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s better. I hope the longer you know
+me, the more awed you&#8217;ll be of my,&mdash;of
+my&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of your what?&#8221; calmly inquired his sister.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8217;Pon my word, I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; confessed
+Tom, good-naturedly; &#8220;of my awesomeness, I
+suppose.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How do you like London?&#8221; said a loud
+voice, in the tones that are sometimes called
+stentorian, and Patty suddenly realised that her
+host was addressing her.
+</p>
+<p>A bit embarrassed at finding the eyes of all at
+the table upon her, she answered, shyly: &#8220;I love
+it; it is so&mdash;so kind to me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Bravo! Pretty good for an American,&#8221;
+shouted Mr. Pauncefote, who seemed unable to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span>
+moderate his voice. &#8220;And which do you like
+best, the people or the show-places?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The people,&#8221; said Patty, her embarrassment
+lost sight of in a flash of mischief. &#8220;I like the
+Members of Parliament better than Parliament
+House.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good! Good!&#8221; cried the portly M.P.,
+striking the table with his fist until the cups
+rattled; &#8220;that&#8217;s true Yankee cleverness. You&#8217;re
+a good sort, my child. Are they all like you in
+America?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I think so,&#8221; said Patty, demurely; &#8220;are
+they all like you in England?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty&#8217;s innocent air of inquiry robbed the
+speech of all effect of pertness, and the genial
+Mr. Pauncefote roared with delight.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ha, ha!&#8221; he cried; &#8220;all like me in England?
+No, my child, no! Heaven be praised, there
+are very few after my pattern.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s too bad,&#8221; said Patty. &#8220;I think your
+pattern is a good one.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It is,&#8221; said Tom Meredith. &#8220;If we had
+more statesmen after Mr. Pauncefote&#8217;s pattern,
+the House of Commons would be better off.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This speech called forth applause from the
+other guests, and the host said, loudly: &#8220;Pshaw,
+pshaw!&#8221; but he looked greatly pleased.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span></p>
+<p>When the tea was over and the party rose from
+the table, Mr. Pauncefote detained Patty for a
+moment&#8217;s chat, while the others broke up into
+smaller groups or wandered away.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I want you to meet my daughter,&#8221; he was
+saying; &#8220;the young lady in gray over there,
+talking to Sir Otho.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sir Otho who?&#8221; said Patty, quickly, forgetting
+to respond in regard to Miss Pauncefote.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sir Otho Markleham; see the large gentleman
+with gold-rimmed glasses. She is my
+youngest daughter, and I know she&#8217;d be glad to
+meet you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d be delighted,&#8221; said Patty, but her attention
+centred on Sir Otho.
+</p>
+<p>Could it be that was Lady Hamilton&#8217;s severe
+father? He did not look so obstinate as she
+had imagined him, but as she drew nearer, she
+observed the firm set of his square jaw and reversed
+her opinion.
+</p>
+<p>Sir Otho was very tall and big, and his
+smoothly brushed hair was light brown without
+a trace of gray.
+</p>
+<p>He wore closely-trimmed whiskers, of the style
+known as &#8220;mutton-chop,&#8221; and his cold gray
+eyes almost glittered as he looked through his
+glasses. The introduction to Miss Pauncefote
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span>
+implied also an introduction to Sir Otho, and
+in a moment Patty found herself chatting in a
+group of which Lady Kitty&#8217;s father was one.
+</p>
+<p>There was something about the big man that
+awed her, and she naturally fell into conversation
+with Miss Pauncefote, while the two gentlemen
+talked together. But as they were all about
+to separate, and even after Sir Otho had said
+good-afternoon, Patty hesitated irresolutely for
+a second, and then turned back toward him
+again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sir Otho,&#8221; she said, timidly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, ma&#8217;am, what is it?&#8221; was the response
+as he turned in surprise to look at her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am very glad to meet you,&#8221; said Patty,
+and as soon as the words were uttered, she realised
+how absurd they were.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thank you, ma&#8217;am,&#8221; said the puzzled gentleman.
+He was very unresponsive, and showed
+in his face that he thought little of this exhibition
+of American forwardness.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Especially so,&#8221; Patty went on, &#8220;because I
+know your daughter, Lady Hamilton.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Bless my soul!&#8221; ejaculated Sir Otho Markleham,
+the red blood dyeing his large face crimson,
+and his eyes fairly snapping with anger.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I do,&#8221; went on Patty, resolved now to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span>
+plunge in desperately, &#8220;and she sent you these
+flowers.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty had previously detached two or three of
+the prettiest sprays of the lilies of the valley, and
+now held them out, with the air of one fulfilling
+a trust.
+</p>
+<p>For a moment Sir Otho Markleham looked as
+if he would really like to pitch the American
+girl and her flowers into the river, and then,
+almost mechanically, he took the blossoms from
+Patty&#8217;s hand.
+</p>
+<p>Then, with a straight, cold stare at her, he
+said, in a hard voice: &#8220;I have no daughter,&#8221;
+and after a stiff, formal bow, he walked away.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='V_MISS_YANKEE_DOODLE' id='V_MISS_YANKEE_DOODLE'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER V</h2>
+<h3>MISS YANKEE DOODLE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t, really!&#8221; exclaimed Lady
+Hamilton, as Patty gleefully described
+giving the flowers to Sir Otho Markleham.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I did, Kitty, and truly, he <i>was</i> mad
+enough to pitch me into that yellow muddy
+old river. I greatly admire his self-control in
+not really doing it. But what eyes he has! So
+gray and steely, they cut right through me!
+And he just said, tragically, &#8216;I have no
+daughter,&#8217; and stalked away. But&mdash;and this is
+the main thing&mdash;he kept the flowers!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How do you know?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I watched him. I fully expected he&#8217;d fling
+them straight over Parliament House, but he
+didn&#8217;t. He didn&#8217;t even throw them on the stone
+floor of the Terrace, and gr-r-rind them &#8217;neath
+his iron heel! I can&#8217;t say that he put them in
+his button-hole, for his back was toward me, but
+I <i>know</i> he kept them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Patty, you are a silly! You think you&#8217;ve
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span>
+gone far toward healing the family feud of the
+Marklehams. But you haven&#8217;t. My father
+gave the whole episode no thought at all, unless
+it was to think of you as an impertinent child.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, it was a wedge,&#8221; said Patty, doggedly,
+&#8220;and if I ever get another chance at him, I&#8217;ll
+hammer it in.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, don&#8217;t, Patty dear; you mean well, I
+know, but you don&#8217;t know father&#8217;s disposition.
+If he thought you were an intermediary, he&#8217;d be
+more stubborn than ever.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Huh!&#8221; said Patty, more expressively than
+politely; &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to make any trouble.
+Trust your Aunt Patty for that!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Lady Hamilton laughed, as she always did at
+Patty&#8217;s funny American phrases, and the subject
+of Sir Otho was dropped.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Better not mix yourself up in other people&#8217;s
+quarrels,&#8221; said Mr. Fairfield, when Patty told
+him about it. &#8220;Your motive is a good one, but
+an Englishman is not apt to brook interference
+from an outsider, especially an American.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, pshaw, Fred; Patty won&#8217;t do any
+harm,&#8221; said Nan. &#8220;Patty&#8217;s tact is a match for
+any English temper, and if she could bring
+about a reconciliation, I&#8217;d be so glad for that
+sweet Lady Hamilton.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;All right; I give in. When you two are
+against me, I hold up my hands.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re not against you, Daddy,&#8221; said Patty,
+smiling fondly at her father. &#8220;You&#8217;re on our
+side, only you don&#8217;t quite realise it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I told you she had tact,&#8221; laughed Nan, &#8220;and
+she grows cleverer every day; don&#8217;t you, Stepdaughter?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, Stepmother,&#8221; replied Patty, gazing at
+Nan in mock adoration; &#8220;since I have you for
+a model, how could I do otherwise?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a pair of sillies,&#8221; said Mr. Fairfield,
+laughing at their nonsense, &#8220;and in a vain endeavour
+to improve your minds, I think I&#8217;ll read
+aloud to you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, goody!&#8221; cried Patty, for they both loved
+to hear Mr. Fairfield read. &#8220;And mayn&#8217;t I ask
+Lady Kitty to come in? She&#8217;ll sit still as a
+mouse, I know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Certainly, my child; ask any one you like.
+If you see any people in the corridors, bring them
+back with you. Perhaps the elevator man will
+come.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8217;Deed he won&#8217;t be asked,&#8221; said Patty, indignantly.
+&#8220;I just want my sweet, lovely Lady
+Kitty.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The sweet, lovely lady was pleased to come,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span>
+and did indeed sit still as a mouse, listening to
+Mr. Fairfield&#8217;s fine reading.
+</p>
+<p>Then Patty sang one or two of her newest
+songs, and then Nan declared they must all go
+down to the Grill Room for a Welsh Rabbit.
+</p>
+<p>This plan enchanted Patty, and after a moment&#8217;s
+hesitation, Lady Hamilton agreed. So
+the evening proved a merry little festivity, and
+Patty went to bed healthily tired, but healthily
+happy.
+</p>
+<p>Bob Hartley did not forget his promise to ask
+Patty to the Garden Party at Regent&#8217;s Park,
+and Patty gladly accepted the invitation.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The only thing that bothers me,&#8221; she said to
+Nan, &#8220;is that the Hartleys don&#8217;t seem to have
+much money, and at a Charity Garden Party
+there are so many ways to spend, that I fear I&#8217;ll
+be a burden to them. It makes me awfully uncomfortable,
+and yet I can&#8217;t offer to pay for
+myself. And with those young men present, I
+can&#8217;t offer to pay for the whole party.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; agreed Nan. &#8220;But you might do something
+yourself. Invite them all to be your guests
+at some especial side-show, or booth. There
+are often such opportunities.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I hope there will be. The Hartleys are a
+funny kind of poor. They have a good apartment
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span>
+in London, and their country place is fine.
+They have old servants, and keep a carriage,
+and all that, and yet they never seem to have
+spending money.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;English people are often like that. The keeping
+up of an establishment comes first with them,
+and little personal comforts afterward.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That isn&#8217;t my idea of economy,&#8221; said Patty,
+decidedly; &#8220;I&#8217;d rather spend all I want on flowers
+and books and pretty hats, and go without
+a butler and a footman and even a team of
+horses.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t judge, because you&#8217;ve always had
+whatever you want.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course; because father is indulgent and
+has plenty of money. But if he hadn&#8217;t, I&#8217;d be
+just as happy, living in a plainer way.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, Patty, I believe you would,&#8221; and Nan
+looked at the girl affectionately. &#8220;Well, do
+your best to help the Hartleys financially this
+afternoon without offending them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ah, that&#8217;s just the trouble. They&#8217;re so
+dreadfully proud they won&#8217;t accept so much as
+a glass of lemonade from one who is their
+guest.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Try it, and see. It may not be so difficult
+as you think.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span></p>
+<p>So Patty went gaily off to the Garden Party.
+Mrs. Hartley called for her in her carriage.
+Mabel was with her, and they were to meet the
+boys at the park.
+</p>
+<p>It was a beautiful drive, in the open victoria,
+along the busy streets of the city, and then on
+out to the green slopes of Regent&#8217;s Park.
+</p>
+<p>The portion of the park devoted to the Garden
+Party was gay with booths and flower-stands,
+tents and arbours, and catch-penny shows of all
+sorts.
+</p>
+<p>Sinclair and Robert were awaiting them, and
+also another young Englishman, whom Bob introduced
+as Mr. Lawton. The latter was a
+typical Briton, with a slight drawl, and a queer-looking
+monocle in his right eye.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Awfully jolly to meet you,&#8221; he exclaimed, as
+he shook Mrs. Hartley&#8217;s hand, and bowed formally
+to the girls.
+</p>
+<p>He fascinated Patty, he was so exactly like
+the young Englishmen pictured in <i>Punch</i>, and
+she waited to hear him say &#8220;Bah Jove!&#8221; But
+he didn&#8217;t say it, he contented himself with &#8220;My
+word!&#8221; by way of expletive, and though it
+didn&#8217;t seem to mean anything, it was apparently
+useful to him.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You must jolly well let me be your guide,&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span>
+he declared; &#8220;Mrs. Hartley and I will lead
+and the rest of you will follow wherever we
+go. First, we make the grand tour.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This meant joining a long procession that were
+sauntering along a board walk, on either side
+of which were settees filled with people.
+</p>
+<p>Patty, with Sinclair, followed the leaders, and
+Mabel and Bob followed them.
+</p>
+<p>But their progress was slow, for continually
+some of the party recognised friends seated
+alongside, and stopped to speak to them. Patty
+was introduced so often that she became bewildered,
+and soon stopped trying to remember
+who was who.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re getting jolly well fagged,&#8221; said Mr.
+Lawton, suddenly noticing her expression.
+&#8220;Now, we&#8217;ll stop this merry-go-round and adjourn
+to the tea tent.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This they did, and were soon comfortably
+seated round a tea table.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Great show, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; said Bob, enthusiastically.
+&#8220;And you haven&#8217;t seen half of it yet.
+There&#8217;s fortune-telling, and Punch and Judy,
+and the hat-trimming contest, and I don&#8217;t know
+what beside.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sinclair adroitly paid the tea bill, before Mr.
+Lawton could do so, though the latter tried.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Never mind, old fellow,&#8221; he cried, &#8220;I&#8217;ll get
+even with you! I hereby invite you all to
+supper at six o&#8217;clock.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re pleased to accept,&#8221; said Patty,
+promptly; &#8220;and I hereby invite you all to the
+play, or whatever it is, given by the Stagefright
+Club. I think that&#8217;s such a lovely name for a
+dramatic club. Can&#8217;t we go at once?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Hartley looked a little disturbed at
+Patty&#8217;s invitation, but did not demur, and tea
+being over, they all went toward the tent where
+the play was to be given. Patty managed to
+walk ahead with Mr. Lawton, this time, and
+when they reached the big tent, she offered him
+her little gold chain-purse, saying, quietly,
+&#8220;Won&#8217;t you see to the tickets, please?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Trust me,&#8221; said Mr. Lawton, and taking
+Patty&#8217;s purse, he bought seats for them all. It
+was gracefully done, and they all went in in
+gay spirits and without a trace of embarrassment,
+thanks to Patty&#8217;s tact.
+</p>
+<p>The play was very funny. Though only a
+trifling farce, it was written by professionals, for
+the benefit of the charity, and was played by the
+clever amateurs who had chosen such an odd
+name for their club. The situations in the play
+were screamingly funny, and Patty shook with
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span>
+laughter as she listened to the jokes and the
+merry by-play.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hist, she comes!&#8221; declared a weird figure in
+a sepulchral voice, as he waited in the middle
+of the stage.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hist, she comes!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But nobody came.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s her cue,&#8221; he muttered; &#8220;what can be
+the matter? I say,&#8221; he cleared his throat and
+spoke louder: &#8220;Hist, she comes!&#8221; As the expected
+entrance was still delayed, he only said:
+&#8220;Well, she ought to be hissed when she does
+come!&#8221; And calmly sat down to wait for her,
+amid the applause of the audience.
+</p>
+<p>The short playlet soon came to an end, and
+still shaking with laughter, the party went out
+again into the beautiful atmosphere which is
+found on a spring day in Regent&#8217;s Park.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, my children,&#8221; said Mrs. Hartley, &#8220;I
+simply cannot walk about any more. I&#8217;m going
+to sit in one of those chairs yonder, for I see
+some people I know over there. You can amuse
+yourselves with Punch and Judy, or Ring Toss
+or whatever you like, and come back to me in an
+hour or so. Sinclair, look after the little ones,
+won&#8217;t you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It was a great joke that Sinclair, the oldest
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span>
+Hartley boy, should look after the others. He
+had reached the age of twenty, and was much
+more grave and dignified than Bob and Grace.
+Mrs. Hartley often declared she could even
+trust him to match samples for her, so careful
+was he. So the young people wandered away
+and spent a delightful hour looking at the beautiful
+or grotesque sights that adorned the fair.
+</p>
+<p>Patty could not do much financially, but under
+cover of giving to charity, she bought pretty
+souvenirs for Mabel and Mrs. Hartley, and
+laughingly invited the group to be photographed
+by a Camera Fiend.
+</p>
+<p>This personage was clothed in red, and with
+black horns and Mephistophelean countenance
+was made to look as much like a fiend as possible.
+With outlandish hoots and yells, he posed
+the group and took several snapshots, which
+they were to call for later.
+</p>
+<p>As they concluded it was nearly time to drift
+back to Mrs. Hartley, Patty noticed a gentleman
+who stood at a little distance, looking at
+her intently.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s your friend, Patty?&#8221; asked Mabel.
+&#8220;Do you know him?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Patty, slowly. &#8220;He&#8217;s Sir Otho
+Markleham.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;So he is,&#8221; said Bob. &#8220;I&#8217;ve seen him often,
+but I don&#8217;t know him personally.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sir Otho, still looking at Patty, took a few
+steps toward her, and then paused irresolutely.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Please excuse me,&#8221; said Patty to the others,
+&#8220;I think I&#8217;ll go speak to him for a minute.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do,&#8221; said Mr. Lawton; &#8220;we&#8217;ll wait for you
+right here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Following an impulse, Patty walked directly toward
+Sir Otho, who looked as if he would like
+to run away.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How do you do?&#8221; she said, pleasantly, as
+they met.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Quite well,&#8221; he said, but there was no responsiveness
+in his manner. &#8220;Do you wish to
+speak to me?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Now after he had first advanced toward Patty,
+this was a strange question, but she bravely took
+up the burden of conversation.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, yes,&#8221; she said, smiling at him prettily;
+&#8220;I want to ask you how you are enjoying the
+Garden Party.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I never enjoy anything,&#8221; he returned, but his
+face was sad now, rather than angry.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, what a pity!&#8221; said Patty, involuntarily,
+&#8220;and you have such powers of enjoyment,
+too.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;How do you know that, Miss Yankee
+Doodle?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty didn&#8217;t altogether like the name, or rather
+the tone in which it was said, but she was determined
+not to get piqued. So she said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, because you&#8217;re such a big, healthy,
+hearty-looking man; you ought to laugh most of
+the time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ought I, indeed? But you see I never have
+anything to laugh at.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>At this Patty laughed outright.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, the world is full of things to laugh at,&mdash;and
+you&#8217;re not blind.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, but I don&#8217;t feel like laughing.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you ever even feel like smiling?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not often.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Didn&#8217;t you feel like smiling just a little bit
+of a happy smile, when I gave you those flowers
+the other day? Those flowers&mdash;from Kitty.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sir Otho&#8217;s face grew dark.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How dare you mention her name to me?&#8221;
+he cried. &#8220;You are a saucy minx! Go away!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t be sent away like that,&#8221; declared
+Patty, looking haughty now. &#8220;I&#8217;m no child to
+be scolded for nothing. How dare you speak
+to me like that? What do you think I am?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sir Otho turned red with rage. He choked
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span>
+and stammered and looked like a choleric old
+gentleman, as indeed he was.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think you&#8217;re an impertinent Yankee. What
+do you think I am?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty looked him squarely in the eye. Her
+chance had come, and she did not flinch.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think,&#8221; she said, looking steadfastly at
+him, &#8220;I think you&#8217;re an obstinate, stubborn,
+selfish, cruel old&mdash;Pighead!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>She confessed, afterward, that at that moment
+she fully expected the irate old man to strike
+her. But he did not. Instead, he looked at her
+just a moment in amazement, and then burst
+into peals of laughter.
+</p>
+<p>Surprised beyond measure, but unable to
+resist the infectious merriment, Patty laughed
+too.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Miss Yankee Doodle,&#8221; said Sir Otho,
+wiping his eyes, &#8220;you are most astonishing.
+The strange part is, you are quite right. I <i>am</i>
+a stubborn old Pighead, but how did you know
+it? Do I wear my heart on my sleeve to that
+extent?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Have you a heart?&#8221; asked Patty, so gravely
+that Sir Otho again roared with laughter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And yet,&#8221; said Patty, thoughtfully, seeing
+that frankness pleased the old man, &#8220;and yet,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span>
+no one with such a sense of humour as you
+seem to have can be wholly bad.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, thank you! So I&#8217;m not wholly bad?
+Well, that&#8217;s a comfort; I always thought I was.
+But your friends are looking this way. I think
+they want you to rejoin them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;In a moment,&#8221; said Patty. &#8220;Sir Otho,&mdash;won&#8217;t
+you&mdash;please&mdash;send a flower back to my
+friend, Lady Hamilton?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I would do much for any friend of yours,&#8221;
+said the strange old man, very gravely, and
+taking a few steps to a nearby flower stand, he
+bought a bunch of sweet peas, and said, carelessly,
+&#8220;Give her those, if you like.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Then formally escorting Patty back to her
+friends, he raised his hat, and walked quickly
+away.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='VI_HERENDEN_HALL' id='VI_HERENDEN_HALL'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+<h3>HERENDEN HALL</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;There, Kitty lady,&#8221; said Patty, as she
+reached the Savoy on her return from
+the Garden Party, &#8220;there&#8217;s a nosegay
+from your affectionate father.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Lady Hamilton stared at the bunch of sweet
+peas that Patty held out to her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My word!&#8221; she exclaimed, &#8220;you are the
+most amazing child! I suppose he sent them
+to me just about as much as I sent him those
+valley lilies you took to him the other day.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Lady Kitty guessed so near the truth that
+Patty felt a little crestfallen.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It was more than that,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I asked
+him to send some flowers to you, and he bought
+these purposely.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Did he select sweet peas, himself?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That means something, then, Patty dear; for
+father well knows my fondness for these flowers.
+Well, you&#8217;re a dear, good little girl to try to
+heal the breach, but I can&#8217;t feel much encouragement.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span>
+Father is too old and too obstinate ever
+to forgive me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And you&#8217;re too young and too obstinate to
+go and beg his forgiveness!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed I am! Fancy my meekly returning,
+like a prodigal daughter, when I haven&#8217;t done
+anything wrong!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t deserve a reconciliation,&#8221; cried
+Patty; &#8220;you&#8217;re a hard-hearted little thing,&mdash;for
+all you look so soft and amiable.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Lady Kitty, demurely; &#8220;I inherited
+my father&#8217;s disposition.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed, you did; and you&#8217;ll grow more like
+him every day you live, if you don&#8217;t try to be
+more forgiving.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I believe you&#8217;re right, Patty; and perhaps
+some day I will try. But now let me tell you
+what&#8217;s been happening. While you were away,
+I had a call from that very charming stepmother
+of yours. And this was the burden of her visit.
+It seems that she and your father are invited
+to spend the week-end at a country house, and
+the question was, where to pack you away for
+safe-keeping while they&#8217;re gone.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And they&#8217;re going to let me stay with you!&#8221;
+exclaimed Patty, clasping her hands and assuming
+an ecstatically happy expression.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, Mrs. Nan seemed to think that I
+could keep you in order, though I&#8217;m not so sure
+of it myself. But the strange part is, I also am
+invited for this same week-end to a most delightful
+country house, and I have already accepted.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty&#8217;s face fell.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What is to become of poor little me?&#8221; she
+said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to stay with Mrs. Betham.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No; I&#8217;ve a plan for you. And it&#8217;s this. I
+want to take you with me to Herenden Hall,
+where I&#8217;m going, and,&mdash;Mrs. Nan says I may.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Kitty! You duck! How perfectly
+lovely!&#8221; Patty flew at her friend, and nearly
+strangled her in a spasmodic embrace.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You see,&#8221; went on Lady Hamilton, when she
+had regained her breath, &#8220;I&#8217;m so well acquainted
+with the Herendens, that I can ask
+an invitation for you; and though you&#8217;re not
+really &#8216;out&#8217; yet, it will give you a glimpse of
+the nicest kind of English country-house life.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s great!&#8221; declared Patty. &#8220;I&#8217;m wild with
+excitement. But I care more about being with
+you than I do about the house-party.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You won&#8217;t when you get there. They&#8217;re
+really charming people, and the Hall is one of
+the finest old estates in England.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Shall I have to have some new frocks?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll look over your wardrobe, and see. I
+fancy the ones you already have will do. You
+know you&#8217;ll be looked upon as scarcely more
+than a schoolgirl, and you must wear simple,
+frilly muslins and broad-leafed hats.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can even live through that! I don&#8217;t care
+what I wear if I&#8217;m with you. Three whole
+days! Will it be three days, Kitty?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Three days or more. If they politely ask
+us to remain a day or two longer we might do
+so. They&#8217;re old friends of mine, do you see?
+And I haven&#8217;t been there for years, so they&#8217;ll be
+glad to see us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;To see you, you mean. They don&#8217;t know
+me, so how can they be glad to see me?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, you must,&mdash;what is your idiotic American
+phrase? You must &#8216;make good&#8217;!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I will,&#8221; said Patty, laughing to hear the
+phrase from an Englishwoman, and then she
+ran away to her own apartment, to talk over
+affairs with Nan.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a great piece of good fortune,&#8221; said Nan,
+&#8220;that you&#8217;re such good friends with Lady
+Hamilton, for Fred and I couldn&#8217;t take you with
+us, and what would have become of you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I always land on my feet,&#8221; returned
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span>
+Patty, &#8220;I must have been born under a lucky
+star.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I believe you were, Pattykins.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And won&#8217;t I have the time of my life at
+Herenden Hall&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Patty, Patty, you must stop using slang.
+They&#8217;ll never ask you to Herenden Hall again
+if you behave like a wild Indian.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But you see, Stepmother, they look upon me
+as an infant anyhow, so I may as well have
+some fun.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But don&#8217;t be a hoyden, and do remember that
+American slang isn&#8217;t admired over here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yas&#8217;m; I&#8217;ll be good. And I&#8217;ll say &#8216;Really?&#8217;
+and &#8216;Only fancy!&#8217; till they&#8217;ll think I&#8217;m the
+daughter of a hundred Earls.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not at all worried about your manners,&#8221;
+said Nan, serenely. &#8220;You usually behave pretty
+well, but you will talk American instead of English.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;ll try to make myself understood, at
+all events. And you&#8217;re going to have a lovely
+time, too, aren&#8217;t you? Isn&#8217;t it fun! I do like
+to have all my friends as happy as I am. I suppose
+you and father will be like two young
+turtle-doves off on your honeymoon trip.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we&#8217;re always that, even when there&#8217;s a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span>
+great, big girl like you around to make us seem
+old.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, if you behave as well as you look, I
+won&#8217;t be ashamed of you.&#8221; Patty gazed critically
+at Nan, and then added, &#8220;Though your
+nose does seem to turn up more than it used to.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Whereupon Nan threw a sofa-pillow at her,
+which Patty caught and stuffed behind her own
+curly head.
+</p>
+<p>The Saturday of their departure was a beautiful,
+bright day, and it was about noon when
+Patty and Lady Hamilton, accompanied by the
+latter&#8217;s maid, took the train from Victoria
+Station.
+</p>
+<p>It was a long ride to their destination in Kent,
+and not an especially interesting one, but Patty,
+in the companionship of her dear friend, was entirely
+happy. They chatted gaily as the train
+rolled from one English town to another. At
+Robertsbridge they had to change to a funny
+little railroad, which had the strangest cars
+Patty had ever seen.
+</p>
+<p>They were almost like freight cars, with
+benches along the sides. There were no tickets,
+and presently the guard came in to collect their
+fares, as if in a street-car.
+</p>
+<p>Moreover the luggage had been tumbled in
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span>
+without check or paster, and Patty wondered
+if anybody ever could pick out their own again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Your regular first-class coaches are funny
+enough,&#8221; she said to Lady Hamilton, &#8220;but they
+are comfortable. This box we&#8217;re in is like a
+cattle pen.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, no,&#8221; laughed Lady Hamilton; &#8220;this isn&#8217;t
+bad at all. You see it&#8217;s only a tiny branch road,
+running to some little hamlets, and it&#8217;s not much
+used. There are only about two trains each
+way every day.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This gave Patty a different idea of the little
+railroad, and she began to feel a more personal
+interest in it. They rolled slowly through the
+hop-growing country, and though the scenery
+was not grand, it was picturesque. Patty said
+it was like a panorama of &#8220;The Angelus.&#8221;
+They reached their station at about five o&#8217;clock,
+and found a fine open barouche awaiting them,
+and a wagon for their trunks.
+</p>
+<p>The footman greeted them deferentially, and
+asked them to pick out their luggage from the lot
+that had been dumped on the station platform.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t see either of my trunks,&#8221; said Patty.
+&#8220;So I suppose I&#8217;d better take the ones I like best
+of these others.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nonsense,&#8221; said Lady Hamilton; &#8220;yours
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span>
+must be here somewhere. Look around, Marie;
+you know Miss Fairfield&#8217;s boxes.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, my Lady; but they are not here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sure enough, they weren&#8217;t there, and as Patty
+was certain they had been put on the train, she
+concluded they had been carried on.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What can I do?&#8221; she cried. &#8220;Can we telephone
+to the next station and have them sent
+back?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But in that small station, merely a tiny box,
+there was no telephone.
+</p>
+<p>The impassive coachman and footman from
+Herenden Hall seemed to have no advice to
+offer, so there was nothing to do but to proceed
+to the house.
+</p>
+<p>Patty was distressed at the outlook.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Kitty,&#8221; she said; &#8220;I can&#8217;t go to dinner
+at all! Of course I couldn&#8217;t appear in this
+travelling costume, and I&#8217;ll have to put on one
+of your négligées, and eat dinner all alone in
+my room!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The prospect was appalling, but neither of
+them could think of any help for it.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Has Lady Herenden any daughters about my
+age?&#8221; Patty asked, after a few moments&#8217;
+thought.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, indeed. She and Lord Herenden have
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span>
+no children. But if there are any young girls
+there as guests, you might borrow a frock for
+to-night. Surely they&#8217;ll get your things by to-morrow.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They drove into the park, through great gates,
+and past various lodges. The wonderful old
+trees waved above their heads; the marvellous
+lawns stretched away in rolling slopes; and the
+well-kept road wound along, now over a bridge,
+now under an arch until they paused at the noble
+old entrance of Herenden Hall.
+</p>
+<p>Liveried servants seemed to appear, as if by
+magic, from all directions at once. Dogs came,
+barking a noisy welcome, and, following Lady
+Hamilton across the terrace and into the great
+entrance hall, Patty found herself being presented
+to a lovely young woman, almost as beautiful
+as Lady Hamilton herself.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You must be the greatest chums,&#8221; Lady
+Hamilton was saying, &#8220;for Miss Fairfield is one
+of my dearest friends, and I want you to adore
+each other.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We will!&#8221; said Lady Herenden and Patty,
+at the same moment, and then they all laughed,
+and the guests were at once shown to their
+rooms.
+</p>
+<p>After a bewildering route through several
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span>
+branching halls, Patty found that to her had
+been assigned a large and pleasant room, which
+looked out upon the rose-garden. On one side
+it communicated with Lady Hamilton&#8217;s room,
+and on the other opened into a dainty dressing-room
+and bath. It was all enchanting, and
+Patty&#8217;s gaze rested admiringly upon the chintz
+draperies and Dresden ornaments, when she
+heard a tap at her door. Answering, she found
+a trim maid, who courtesied and said: &#8220;I&#8217;m
+Susan, Miss. Will you give me the keys of
+your boxes, and I&#8217;ll unpack them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty almost laughed at this casual request, in
+the face of what seemed to her a tragedy.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Susan,&#8221; she said, &#8220;here are the keys, but you
+can&#8217;t unpack my boxes for they haven&#8217;t
+come.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lor&#8217;, Miss; they must be downstairs. I&#8217;ll
+have them sent up.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No&mdash;wait, Susan; they&#8217;re not downstairs.
+They didn&#8217;t come on the train.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lor&#8217;, Miss, whatever will you do?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girl&#8217;s eyes grew big and troubled. Here
+was a dreadful situation indeed! Already Susan
+felt drawn toward the pretty young American
+girl, and she was aghast at the outlook of a dinner
+party with no party frock.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t go to dinner at all, Susan,&#8221; said Patty,
+dejectedly. &#8220;You must bring me a tray up
+here&mdash;though I don&#8217;t feel like eating.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not go to dinner, Miss? Oh, what a pity!
+It&#8217;s a grand dinner to-night. The Earl of Ruthven
+is here, and it&#8217;s one of her ladyship&#8217;s greatest
+dinners of the season.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The good Susan looked so concerned, and her
+face was so anxious, that it went straight to
+Patty&#8217;s heart. To her mind there came a vivid
+and tantalising remembrance of her exquisite
+dinner frock, of white chiffon, embroidered with
+tiny sprays of blossoms&mdash;a soft sash and
+shoulder-knots&mdash;one of the loveliest dresses she
+had ever had, and with a sob she threw herself
+on to the couch and indulged in a few foolish
+but comforting tears.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There, there, Miss,&#8221; said Susan, sympathisingly,
+&#8220;don&#8217;t ee take on so. Maybe we can
+find summat for ee.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>When Susan was excited or troubled, she lapsed
+into her old dialect, which she was striving to
+outgrow.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t find anything, I know,&#8221; said Patty,
+sitting up, and looking the picture of woe.
+&#8220;There are no very young ladies in the house,
+are there, Susan?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;No, Miss, none so young as yourself, nor
+near it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And I can&#8217;t wear this,&#8221; went on Patty, looking
+at the silk blouse that was part of her
+travelling gown.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lor&#8217; no, Miss; not to a dinner!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then what?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then what, indeed, Miss!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty and Susan faced each other, at last in a
+full realisation of the hopelessness of the situation,
+when, after a light tap at the door, Lady
+Hamilton came in.
+</p>
+<p>She laughed outright at the tragic attitude of
+the two, and knew at once what they were
+troubled about.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Listen to me, Pattypet,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Am I
+your fairy godmother, or am I not?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You are,&#8221; said Patty, with an air of conviction,
+and feeling sure that Lady Hamilton
+was about to help her out of her troubles,
+somehow.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;ve carefully considered the case.
+I&#8217;ve sent Marie to canvass the house for clothes
+suitable for a mademoiselle of seventeen.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nearly eighteen,&#8221; murmured Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter. There isn&#8217;t what&#8217;s known
+as a &#8216;misses&#8217; costume&#8217; beneath this roof. Now,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span>
+I simply refuse to let you be absent from this
+dinner. It will be both a pleasure and an education
+to you to see this especial kind of a formal
+function, and probably you&#8217;ll not often have a
+chance. They&#8217;ve sent a man and a wagon over
+to the next station, several miles away for your
+boxes; that&#8217;s the way they do things here. But
+he can&#8217;t get back until long after the dinner
+hour. So listen, to my command, dictum, fiat&mdash;call
+it what you please, but this is what you&#8217;re
+to do.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll do anything you say, Kitty Lady, if it&#8217;s to
+go to bed at once, and sleep soundly till morning.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nothing of the sort. You must and shall
+attend this dinner. And&mdash;you&#8217;re going to wear
+one of my gowns!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yours?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes. We&#8217;re so nearly the same size that it
+will fit you quite well enough. I&#8217;ve picked out
+the simplest one, a white Irish point. It&#8217;s cut
+princess, but all my gowns are. I&#8217;m sure Marie
+can make it fit you perfectly, with a few pins or
+a stitch here and there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, it will fit well enough, but, Kitty, won&#8217;t
+I be the grown-up! I&#8217;ve never worn a real
+train in my life!&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course it&#8217;s a lot too old for you, and
+truly, I hate to have you appear in a gown like
+that. But what else can we do? I won&#8217;t let you
+miss the dinner&mdash;and after all, it doesn&#8217;t matter
+so much. After this visit I doubt if you&#8217;ll ever
+see these people again, and let them think you&#8217;re
+five or six years older than you are. Who
+cares?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t,&#8221; said Patty, gleefully. &#8220;I think it
+will be fun. I&#8217;ll have my hair piled high on my
+head. Can you do it for me, Sarah?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes, Miss. I&#8217;m a hair-dresser and I&#8217;m
+that glad you&#8217;re going to dinner.&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='VII_FOR_ONE_NIGHT_ONLY' id='VII_FOR_ONE_NIGHT_ONLY'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+<h3>FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Sarah was indeed an expert hair-dresser,
+and she piled up Patty&#8217;s hair in soft coils,
+and twisted the curly tendrils into fluffy
+puffs, and though the result was beautiful, it
+made Patty look like her own older sister. A
+jewelled ornament of Lady Hamilton&#8217;s crowned
+the coiffure, and this gave an added effect of
+dignity. The lace gown was easily made to fit its
+new wearer. Marie pinned it, and sewed it,
+and patted it into place, till nobody would suspect
+it had not been made for Patty. But the
+long lines of the Princess pattern took away all
+of Patty&#8217;s usual simple girlish appearance, and
+transformed her at once into a beautiful, queenly
+young woman. The décolletée corsage, and the
+sleeves, which were merely frills of lace, were
+very becoming; and the long train, which billowed
+into a frou-frou of chiffon ruffles took
+away the last semblance of a girl of eighteen.
+Notwithstanding her softly-curved cheeks and
+throat, and her exquisite, fresh complexion,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span>
+Patty looked quite the young woman of society
+and could easily have been adjudged about
+twenty-four years old.
+</p>
+<p>Her eyes danced, as she walked sedately
+through the open door and into Lady Hamilton&#8217;s
+room.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My word, Patty!&#8221; exclaimed that lady,
+&#8220;you&#8217;re simply stunning in that gown! You
+look as if you&#8217;d been &#8216;out&#8217; for two or three
+seasons. Your people would never forgive me
+if they knew how I&#8217;ve dressed you up.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It was the only thing to do,&#8221; said Patty,
+airily, as she began to draw on her arms a pair
+of Lady Hamilton&#8217;s long white gloves. &#8220;The
+wonder is that you had plenty of all sorts of
+things to fit me out, and also that they do fit so
+well. These gloves are just right, though I confess
+the slippers pinch me just a speck.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Pretty never hurts,&#8217; you know,&#8221; said Lady
+Hamilton, laughing. &#8220;Marie, isn&#8217;t Miss Fairfield
+a picture?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;<i>Mais oui!</i> She is <i>charmante</i>. It is amazing
+how the gown suits her. She is <i>très-belle!</i>&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>With the grown-up clothes, Patty had quite unconsciously
+assumed a grown-up air. She nonchalantly
+flung aside her train with just the
+same gesture Lady Hamilton was wont to use,
+and she carried herself with a dignity and graciousness
+of manner which would have been absurd
+when wearing her own simple frocks.
+</p>
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span>
+<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a>
+<img src='images/illus-094.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br />
+<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'>
+&#8220;Marie pinned it and sewed it&#8221;
+<br />
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span></div>
+<p>&#8220;Gracious, goodness, child!&#8221; cried Lady
+Hamilton. &#8220;Come down off that pedestal!
+You walk like a Duchess. It won&#8217;t do, you
+know, really.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t mean to,&#8221; said Patty; &#8220;you know I&#8217;m
+a sort of chameleon. This gown makes me feel
+as if I belonged in an opera-box, or had an audience
+with the Queen.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, you goose! Stop your nonsense, and
+we&#8217;ll go down to dinner. Mind, now, none of
+those airs, or I&#8217;ll send you back to your room.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty honestly tried to be her own simple-minded
+self, and would have succeeded all right,
+if Herenden Hall had not been so lavishly provided
+with mirrors. On the grand staircase she
+came face to face with a radiant creature, and
+was about to step aside when she discovered it
+was herself! Involuntarily she gazed at the reflection
+of the white-gowned lady, and unconsciously
+an air of serenity, almost hauteur, replaced
+her usual merry smile, and with a gracious
+mien she passed on down the stairs.
+</p>
+<p>Lady Herenden awaited them in the drawing-room.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span></p>
+<p>A brilliant assemblage was already there, for
+Patty&#8217;s unusual costuming had caused her some
+delay. After the first few introductions, Lady
+Hamilton and Patty became separated, and the
+guests stood about conversing in small groups.
+</p>
+<p>Patty chanced to fall in with some very entertaining
+people, among whom was the Earl of
+Ruthven.
+</p>
+<p>The Earl was a handsome man, tall, and of
+an imposing presence.
+</p>
+<p>When presented to Patty, he gazed at her
+with frank, though quite deferential admiration.
+&#8220;So pleased to meet you, Miss Fairfield,&#8221; he
+said; &#8220;I adore American ladies.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty really felt a little in awe of an Earl, as
+she had never met one before, and was about to
+make a shy response, when a slight movement
+of her head showed her her own reflection in a
+nearby mirror.
+</p>
+<p>Realising afresh that she was masquerading as
+a society lady, a spirit of mischief suddenly took
+possession of her, and she determined to throw
+herself into the rôle. So, with a pretty little
+toss of her head, and a charming smile, she
+said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thank you, Lord Ruthven; I adore Englishmen,
+too, but I know so few of them.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve not been here long, then?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, only a few weeks. And there&#8217;s so much
+I want to learn.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let me teach you,&#8221; said his Lordship,
+eagerly. &#8220;I do not think you would prove a
+dull pupil.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty&#8217;s eyes smiled. &#8220;No Americans are
+dull,&#8221; she said.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s true; my experience has already
+proved it. I&#8217;ve met six, I think, including yourself.
+But what sort of things do you want to
+learn?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The language, principally. I just want to
+learn to say &#8216;only fancy&#8217; occasionally, and &#8216;d&#8217;y&#8217; see?&#8217;
+in the middle of every sentence.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not easy,&#8221; said Lord Ruthven, thoughtfully,
+&#8220;but I think I can teach you in, say, about
+ten lessons. When shall we begin the course?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty looked at him reproachfully. &#8220;If you
+knew the American nature at all,&#8221; she said,
+&#8220;you&#8217;d know that we always begin things the
+moment the plan occurs to us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good! there&#8217;s no time like the present.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But just then their conversation was interrupted
+by the announcement of dinner.
+</p>
+<p>Patty hoped she would sit at table next the
+Earl, but it was not so. The nobleman was
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span>
+accorded the seat of honour at the right of his
+hostess, while Patty, as a minor guest, was far
+away across the table. But she found herself
+between two affable and pleasant-mannered
+young Englishmen, and instantly forgot all
+about her titled friend.
+</p>
+<p>Indeed, the bewildering beauty of the scene
+claimed her attention, and she fairly held her
+breath as she looked about her. The great oval
+room was lighted only by wax candles in crystal
+chandeliers and candelabra. This made a soft,
+mellow radiance quite different from gas or electricity.
+On one side of the room long French
+windows opened on to the terrace, through
+which came the scent of roses and the sound of
+plashing fountains. On the other side, only
+slender pillars and arches divided the dining-room
+from a conservatory, and a riotous tangle
+of blossoms and foliage fairly spilled into the
+room, forming almost a cascade of flowers.
+</p>
+<p>The great round table was a bewildering array
+of gold plate, gilded glass, and exquisite china,
+while on the delicate lace of the tablecloth lay
+rare blossoms that seemed to have drifted from
+the circular mound of flowers which formed the
+low centrepiece.
+</p>
+<p>Twenty-four guests sat round the board, in
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span>
+chairs of gilded wicker, and as the silent, black-garbed
+waiters served the viands, the scene became
+as animated as it was beautiful.
+</p>
+<p>Patty forgot all else in her absolute enjoyment
+of the fairy-like spectacle, and was only brought
+back to a sense of reality by the sound of a
+voice at her side. Mr. Merivale was speaking&mdash;the
+young man who had escorted her out
+to dinner, and who now sat at her right
+hand.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You love beauty of detail,&#8221; he was saying
+as he noted Patty&#8217;s absorption.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, isn&#8217;t it great!&#8221; she exclaimed, and then
+suddenly realised that the expression was not at
+all in keeping with the dignity of her Princess
+gown.
+</p>
+<p>But Mr. Merivale seemed amused rather than
+shocked.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s American for &#8216;ripping,&#8217; isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; he
+said, smiling. &#8220;But whatever the adjective, the
+fact is the same. Lady Herenden&#8217;s dinners are
+always the refinement of the spectacular.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty realised the appropriateness of this
+phrase, and cudgelled her brain for an appropriate
+reply. She began to think that playing
+grown-up was a more difficult game than she
+had supposed. Had she had on her own simple
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span>
+little frock, Mr. Merivale would not have
+talked to her like that.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you remember last season,&#8221; he went
+on, &#8220;when Lady Herenden had a real pond,
+with gold fish in the middle of the table, and
+ferns and water lilies round the edge?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t here last season,&#8221; said Patty. &#8220;I
+have never been in England until this
+summer.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed? I know you are an American, but
+you have really an English manner.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s acquired,&#8221; said Patty, with a mischievous
+twinkle in her eye. &#8220;I find my American manner
+isn&#8217;t admired over here, so I assume London
+airs.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ah, you wish to be admired?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of all things!&#8221; declared naughty Patty, with
+a roguish glance at the jesting young man.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll probably get your wish,&#8221; he replied.
+&#8220;I&#8217;m jolly well ready to do my share.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This brought the colour to Patty&#8217;s cheeks, and
+she turned slightly away, toward the man on her
+other side.
+</p>
+<p>He was a slightly older man than Mr. Merivale
+and was the squire of an adjoining estate.
+He was quite ready to talk to his American
+neighbour, and began the conversation by asking
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span>
+her if she had yet seen Lady Herenden&#8217;s
+rose-orchard.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, Mr. Snowden,&#8221; said Patty, &#8220;I only arrived
+a few hours ago, and I&#8217;ve not been round
+the place at all.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then let me show it to you, please. I&#8217;ll
+come over to-morrow morning for a stroll.
+May I?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; said Patty, hesitatingly, for
+she was uncertain what she ought to do in the
+matter. &#8220;You see, I&#8217;m with Lady Hamilton,
+and whatever she says&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, nonsense! She&#8217;ll spare you from her
+side for an hour or two. There&#8217;s really a lot
+to see.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Again poor Patty realised her anomalous position.
+But for her piled-up hair and her trained
+gown, the man would never have dreamed of
+asking her to go for a walk unchaperoned.
+Patty had learned the ethics of London etiquette
+for girls of eighteen, but she was not versed in
+the ways of older young women.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll see about it,&#8221; she said, non-committally,
+and then she almost laughed outright at the
+sudden thought of Mr. Snowden&#8217;s surprise
+should he see her next day in one of her own
+simple morning frocks of light muslin. Lady
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span>
+Hamilton&#8217;s morning gowns were Paris affairs,
+with trailing frills and long knotted ribbons.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It seems to amuse you,&#8221; said Mr. Snowden,
+a trifle piqued at her merriment.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll be amused, too,&#8221; she said, &#8220;if you
+see me to-morrow.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Then something in the man&#8217;s pleasant face
+seemed to invite confidence, and she said, impulsively:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I may as well tell you that I&#8217;m masquerading.
+I&#8217;m not a grown-up lady at all. I&#8217;m not
+much more than a schoolgirl&mdash;not quite eighteen
+years old. But&mdash;but my box didn&#8217;t come, and&mdash;and
+I had to wear Lady Hamilton&#8217;s gown.
+It makes me seem a lot older, I know, but I had
+to do it, or stay away from dinner.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Snowden looked first amazed, and then
+he burst into laughter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I beg your pardon, I&#8217;m sure,&#8221; he said, &#8220;but
+I had no idea! And so Lady Hamilton is your
+chaperon? I see. Of course. Well, we&#8217;ll
+have the stroll just the same, if you will, and
+we&#8217;ll ask her to go with us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t she the dearest thing?&#8221; exclaimed
+Patty, looking at Lady Kitty across the table,
+and feeling much more at her ease now that she
+had confessed her position.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;She is a beautiful and charming woman,&#8221;
+agreed Mr. Snowden.
+</p>
+<p>And then it was time for Patty to turn back to
+Mr. Merivale, for she had learned that one
+must divide the time fairly between dinner neighbors.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t offend you, did I?&#8221; said young Merivale,
+eagerly. &#8220;You turned so quickly&mdash;and&mdash;and
+you&mdash;er&mdash;blushed, you know, and so I was
+afraid&mdash;er&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But Patty was of no mind to confess the fewness
+of her years to everybody, and her mischievous
+spirit returned as she determined to
+chaff this amusing young man.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What!&#8221; she said, reproachfully, &#8220;an Englishman,
+and afraid!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Afraid of nothing but a fair lady&#8217;s displeasure.
+All true Englishmen surrender to that.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not displeased,&#8221; said Patty, dimpling and
+smiling; &#8220;in fact, I&#8217;ve even forgotten what you
+said.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s good! Now we can start fresh. Will
+you save a lot of dances for me to-night?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, will there be dancing?&#8221; exclaimed Patty,
+delighted at the prospect.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, indeed; in the big ballroom. Will you
+give me all the waltzes?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span></p>
+<p>Patty looked at him in amazement. &#8220;You
+said you were going to &#8216;start fresh,&#8217;&#8221; she said,
+&#8220;and now you&#8217;ve certainly done so!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But the American phrase was lost on the Englishman,
+who only proceeded to repeat his
+request.
+</p>
+<p>Meantime, Mr. Snowden was asking Patty for
+a dance.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Certainly,&#8221; she said, &#8220;I shall be pleased to
+dance with you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll give me more than one dance or you
+needn&#8217;t give me any,&#8221; grumbled young Merivale.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; said Patty, quickly. &#8220;Mr. Snowden,
+I&#8217;ve just had a dance &#8216;returned with
+thanks,&#8217; so you can have that, if you wish it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I do indeed,&#8221; he replied, enthusiastically, and
+Mr. Merivale relapsed into a sulky silence.
+</p>
+<p>Then Lady Herenden rose from the table, and
+the ladies all rose and followed her up to one
+of the beautiful salons, where coffee was served
+to them. Patty managed to secure a seat on a
+divan beside Lady Hamilton.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You quite take my breath away, little Patty,&#8221;
+said her friend, in a low voice. &#8220;You are already
+a favourite, and in a fair way to become
+the belle of the ball.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I try not to act too old, Kitty,&#8221; said Patty,
+earnestly, &#8220;but truly everybody thinks I&#8217;m a
+society lady. They don&#8217;t even look on me as a
+débutante.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Never mind, dearie; have all the fun you can.
+Enjoy the dancing, and don&#8217;t care what anybody
+thinks.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Encouraged by Lady Hamilton&#8217;s approval,
+Patty ceased to think about her demeanour and
+proceeded to enjoy the conversation of those
+about her.
+</p>
+<p>Lady Herenden was especially kind to her, and
+singled out the young American for her special
+favour and attention.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='VIII_THE_EARL_OF_RUTHVEN' id='VIII_THE_EARL_OF_RUTHVEN'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+<h3>THE EARL OF RUTHVEN</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>After a time the men came from the dining-room
+and rejoined the ladies.
+</p>
+<p>Patty was chatting with a group of
+young women, and when she glanced around, it
+was to see Lord Ruthven standing at her side.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I was miles away from you at dinner,&#8221; he
+said, &#8220;but now there is an opportunity, let us
+begin our lessons in English at once.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do,&#8221; said Patty, smiling; &#8220;where shall be
+our classroom?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll pre-empt this sofa,&#8221; said Lord Ruthven,
+indicating, as he spoke, a gold-framed
+Louis XIV. tête-à-tête. &#8220;We&#8217;ll pretend that it
+is a real schoolroom, with four walls hung with
+maps and charts&mdash;just such as you used to have
+when you were a little girl.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty smiled at this reference to her far-away
+school-days, but fell in with his mood.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said, &#8220;and you must be the stern
+schoolmaster, and I the stupid pupil who has
+been kept in after school.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span></p>
+<p>But their merry game was interrupted by Lady
+Herenden&#8217;s invitation to the ballroom.
+</p>
+<p>Escorted by Lord Ruthven, Patty followed the
+others to the great hall where they were to
+dance.
+</p>
+<p>It was a resplendent apartment, with balconies
+and boxes, from which the spectators could look
+down upon the dancers. A fine orchestra furnished
+the music, and Patty, who loved to dance,
+found her feet involuntarily keeping time to the
+harmonious strains.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Shall we have a try?&#8221; said Lord Ruthven,
+and in a moment they were gliding over the
+smooth floor.
+</p>
+<p>Patty already knew that English dancing is not
+like the American steps, but she was so completely
+mistress of the art, that she could adapt
+herself instantly to any variation.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t compliment your dancing,&#8221; said the
+Earl, as the waltz was finished, &#8220;for you must
+have been told so often how wonderfully well
+you dance. But I must tell you what a pleasure
+it is to dance with you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty thought this a very pretty speech, and
+graciously gave his lordship some other dances
+for which he asked, and then, leaving her with
+Lady Herenden, he excused himself and went
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span>
+away. Then Patty was besieged with would-be
+partners. Her dancing had called forth the
+admiration of everybody, and the young men
+crowded about, begging to see her dance-card.
+</p>
+<p>Only Mr. Merivale stood aloof. He was still
+sulky, and he looked so like a cross schoolboy
+that Patty took pity on him.
+</p>
+<p>She slightly nodded her head at him by way
+of invitation, and he came slowly toward her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Which two do you want?&#8221; she said, demurely.
+</p>
+<p>Merivale&#8217;s face lighted up. &#8220;You are indeed
+kind,&#8221; he said, in a low voice. &#8220;I will
+take any you will give me. My card is blank
+as yet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So Patty arranged the dances, and the young
+man went away looking much happier. The
+evening was all too short. Patty whirled
+through dance after dance, and between them
+was restored to Lady Herenden or Lady Hamilton,
+only to be claimed the next minute by another
+partner.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What a belle it is!&#8221; said Lady Herenden,
+patting the girl&#8217;s shoulder affectionately. &#8220;You
+have made a real sensation, Miss Fairfield.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I&#8217;m Cinderella, to-night,&#8221; she said, gaily.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Wait till to-morrow, and see all my popularity
+vanish.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Lady Herenden did not understand, but took it
+as merry chaff and paid no heed.
+</p>
+<p>Then Lord Ruthven came for the last dance.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;This is an extra, Miss Fairfield,&#8221; he said;
+&#8220;will you give it to me?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty agreed, but as they walked away, his
+Lordship said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You look really tired; would you not rather
+sit on the terrace than dance?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am tired,&#8221; said Patty, honestly; &#8220;I think
+it&#8217;s carrying this heavy train around. I&#8217;ve never
+before danced in a long gown.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then you shall rest. Let us sit on the terrace,
+and I&#8217;ll send for an ice for you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Lord Ruthven was very kind and courteous.
+He found a delightful corner of the terrace unoccupied,
+and he arranged two wicker easy-chairs,
+where they might be just out of the way
+of the promenaders. He asked a footman to
+bring the ices, and then seated himself beside
+Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Is it not beautiful,&#8221; he said, &#8220;the rose garden
+in the moonlight? One can almost fancy the
+roses opening beneath the moon&#8217;s light as in
+daytime by the sun&#8217;s warm rays.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Patty, falling in with his fanciful
+mood, &#8220;and I think, perhaps, at night, the
+white roses and the pale yellow ones bloom.
+Then at daybreak, the pink or blush roses open,
+and at midday the deep red ones.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You have the mind of a poet, Miss Fairfield.
+Where do you get those graceful conceits?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; said Patty, carelessly;
+&#8220;I think they are the result of this beautiful
+moonlight night, and these picturesque surroundings.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I am sure that is true. You have a soul
+that responds to all beauty in art or nature.
+Let us take a short turn in the rose garden, and
+get a view of this noble old house with the
+moonlight full upon it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I want my ice cream,&#8221; objected Patty,
+who still had her schoolgirl appetite.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll stay but a moment, and we&#8217;ll return to
+find it awaiting us,&#8221; gently insisted Lord Ruthven,
+and Patty amiably went down the terrace
+steps and along the garden path with him.
+</p>
+<p>Near a clump of cedars, only a short distance
+away, they turned to look at the beautiful old
+house. Herenden Hall was always a splendid
+picture, but especially at night, backgrounded
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span>
+by a gray sky full of racing clouds, and touched
+at every gable by the silver moonlight, it was
+enchanting.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; said Patty, drawing a sigh, &#8220;it is the
+most wonderful effect I ever saw. See that
+great, quiet roof sloping darkly away, and beneath,
+the gay lights of the terrace, and the
+laughter of happy people.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It is a beautiful picture,&#8221; said Lord Ruthven,
+looking steadily at Patty, &#8220;but not so beautiful
+as another one I see. A lovely face framed
+in soft, shining curls, against a background of
+dark cedar trees.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>His tone, even more than his words, alarmed
+Patty. She was not used to such speeches as this,
+and she said, gravely: &#8220;Take me back to the
+house, please, Lord Ruthven.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not just yet,&#8221; pleaded the nobleman.
+&#8220;Dear Miss Fairfield, listen to me a moment.
+Let me tell you something. Let me justify myself.
+I oughtn&#8217;t to talk to you like this, I
+know&mdash;but the fact is&mdash;oh, the fact is you&#8217;ve
+completely bowled me over.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; said Patty, not at all comprehending
+his meaning.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes; I&#8217;m done for&mdash;and at first sight! And
+by an American! But it&#8217;s a fact. I adore you,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span>
+Miss Fairfield&mdash;I&#8217;m so desperately in love with
+you that I can&#8217;t down it. Oh, I know I oughtn&#8217;t
+to be talking to you like this. I ought to see
+your father, and all that. And I will, as soon
+as I can, but&mdash;oh, I say, Patty, tell me you
+like me a little!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It suddenly dawned on Patty that she was having
+a proposal! And from an English Earl!
+And all on account of her grown-up gown! The
+absurdity of it impressed her far more than
+the romantic side of it, and though a little
+frightened, she couldn&#8217;t help smiling at the
+Earl&#8217;s tragic tones.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nonsense, Lord Ruthven,&#8221; she said, though
+her cheeks were pink; &#8220;don&#8217;t talk like that.
+Please cut me that lovely cluster of roses, and
+then take me back to Lady Hamilton.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The Earl drew a penknife from his pocket,
+and cut the flowers she asked for. Then he
+stood, trimming off the thorns, and looking down
+at her.
+</p>
+<p>Patty had never looked so winsome. Her garb
+made her seem a grown woman, and yet the
+situation alarmed her, and her perplexed face
+was that of a troubled child.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tell me,&#8221; he repeated, &#8220;that you like me a
+little.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course I like you a little,&#8221; returned Patty,
+in a matter-of-fact voice. &#8220;Why shouldn&#8217;t I?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s something,&#8221; said the Earl, in a tone
+of satisfaction, &#8220;and now will you accept these
+flowers as a gift from me? As, for the moment,
+I&#8217;ve nothing else to offer.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty took the flowers in both hands, but Lord
+Ruthven still held them, too, saying: &#8220;And will
+you let them mean&mdash;&mdash;?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; cried Patty, &#8220;they don&#8217;t mean anything&mdash;not
+anything at all!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Lord Ruthven clasped Patty&#8217;s two hands, roses
+and all, in his own.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They do,&#8221; he said quietly; &#8220;they mean I
+love you. Do you understand?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He looked straight into the troubled, beseeching
+eyes that met his own.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Please let me go, Lord Ruthven&mdash;<i>please!</i>&#8221;
+said Patty, her hands trembling in his own.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You may go, if you will first call me by some
+less formal name. Patty, dearest, say Sylvester&mdash;just
+once!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This desperate request was too much for
+Patty&#8217;s sense of humour.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why can&#8217;t I say it twice?&#8221; she said in a
+low tone, but her voice was shaking with
+laughter.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;You little witch!&#8221; exclaimed the Earl, and
+his clasp tightened on her hands. &#8220;Now you
+shan&#8217;t go until you <i>have</i> said it twice!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sylvester&mdash;Sylvester&mdash;there!&#8221; said Patty,
+her eyes twinkling with fun, and her lips on the
+verge of laughter. Then, gently disengaging
+her hands from his, she gathered up her long
+white train, and prepared to run away.
+</p>
+<p>The Earl laid a detaining hand on her arm.
+&#8220;Miss Fairfield,&#8221; he said, &#8220;Patty, I won&#8217;t keep
+you now, but to-morrow you&#8217;ll give me an opportunity,
+won&#8217;t you? to tell you&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Wait till to-morrow, my lord,&#8221; said Patty,
+really laughing now. &#8220;You will probably have
+changed your mind.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How little you know me!&#8221; he cried, reproachfully,
+and then they had reached the terrace,
+and joined the others.
+</p>
+<p>Soon after the guests all retired to their own
+rooms, and the moonlight on Herenden Hall
+saw no more the gay scene on the terrace.
+</p>
+<p>Patty, passing through her own room, discovered
+that her two trunks had arrived and had
+been unpacked. She went straight on and tapped
+at Lady Hamilton&#8217;s door. &#8220;Get me out of this
+gown, please, Marie; I&#8217;ve had quite enough
+of being a grown-up young woman!&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter, Patty?&#8221; said Lady Kitty,
+looking round. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t you have a good time
+this evening?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The time of my life!&#8221; declared Patty, dropping
+into her own graphic speech, as she emerged
+from the heap of lace and silk. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see you
+later, Kitty,&#8221; and without further word she returned
+to her own room.
+</p>
+<p>And later, when Marie had been dismissed,
+Patty crept back to Lady Hamilton, a very different
+Patty, indeed. Her hair fell in two long
+braids, with curly tails; a dainty dressing-gown
+enveloped her slight figure; and on her bare feet
+were heelless satin slippers. She found Lady
+Kitty in an armchair before the wood fire, awaiting
+her.
+</p>
+<p>Patty threw a big, fat sofa pillow at her
+friend&#8217;s feet, and settled herself cosily upon
+it.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, girlie,&#8221; said Lady Hamilton, &#8220;come to
+the story at once. What happened to you as a
+grown-up?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What usually happens to grown-ups, I suppose,&#8221;
+said Patty, demurely; &#8220;the Earl of Ruthven
+proposed to me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What!&#8221; cried Lady Hamilton, starting up,
+and quite upsetting Patty from her cushion.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, he did,&#8221; went on Patty, placidly; &#8220;shall
+I accept him?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Patty, you naughty child, tell me all about
+it at once! Oh, what shall I say to your father
+and mother?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty grinned. &#8220;Yes, it was all your fault,
+Kitty. If I hadn&#8217;t worn your gown, he would
+never have dreamed of such a thing.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But, Patty, it <i>can&#8217;t</i> be true. You must have
+misunderstood him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not I. It&#8217;s my first proposal, to be sure;
+but I know what a man means when he says he
+loves me and begs me to call him by his first
+name. And I did&mdash;twice.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty went off in shrieks of laughter at
+the remembrance of it, and she rocked back
+and forth on her cushion in paroxysms of
+mirth.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Patty, behave yourself, and tell me the truth.
+I&#8217;ve a mind to shake you!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I <i>am</i> shaking,&#8221; said Patty, trying to control
+her voice. &#8220;And I <i>am</i> telling you the
+truth. His first name is Sylvester. Lovely
+name!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where did this occur?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;In the rose garden. Oh, right near the terrace.
+Not a dozen yards away from you all.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span>
+I&#8217;m sure if you&#8217;d been listening, you could have
+heard me say, &#8216;Sylvester&mdash;<i>Sylvester!</i>&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Again Patty went off in uncontrollable merriment
+at this recollection, and Lady Kitty had to
+laugh too.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What did you tell him?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I told him to wait till to-morrow, and he&#8217;d
+probably change his mind. And I see my trunks
+have come, so he surely will. You see he proposed
+to that long-tailed gown and jewelled
+tiara I had on&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t a tiara.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, it looked something like one. I&#8217;m sure
+he thought it was. He doubtless wants a dignified,
+stately Lady Ruthven, and he thought
+I was <i>it</i>. Oh, Kitty! if you could have heard
+him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s nice of you, to take him
+that way.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right, I won&#8217;t. But I&#8217;m not going to
+take him at all. Why, Kitty, when he sees me
+to-morrow in my own little pink muslin, he
+won&#8217;t know me, let alone remembering what he
+said to me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Patty, you&#8217;re incorrigible. I don&#8217;t know
+what to say to you. But I hope your parents
+won&#8217;t blame me for this.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course they won&#8217;t, Kitsie. You see it
+was an accident. A sort of case of mistaken
+identity. I don&#8217;t mind it so much now that it&#8217;s
+over, but I was scared stiff at the time. Only
+it was all so funny that it swallowed up my
+scare. Now I&#8217;ll tell you the whole story.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So Patty told every word that the Earl had
+said to her during the evening, in the ballroom
+and on the terrace. And Lady Hamilton listened
+attentively.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You were not a bit to blame, dear,&#8221; she
+said, kindly, when the tale was finished. &#8220;I
+don&#8217;t think you even flirted with him. But it&#8217;s
+truly extraordinary that he should speak so
+soon.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It was on the spur of the moment,&#8221; declared
+Patty, with conviction. &#8220;You know, moonlight
+and roses and a summer evening have a romantic
+influence on some natures.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What do you know of a romantic influence,
+you baby. Hop along to bed, now, and
+get up in the morning your own sweet,
+natural self&mdash;without a thought of Earls or
+moonlight.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I will so,&#8221; said Patty; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t like it a bit,
+except that it was all so funny. Won&#8217;t Nan
+howl?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;She may, but I&#8217;m afraid your father will be
+annoyed. You know you&#8217;re in my care,
+Patty.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you worry. I&#8217;ll tell Daddy all about
+it. And I rather guess it will make him laugh.&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='IX_AN_IMPORTANT_DOCUMENT' id='IX_AN_IMPORTANT_DOCUMENT'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+<h3>AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was the custom at Herenden Hall to serve
+morning tea to the guests in their rooms.
+</p>
+<p>When Patty&#8217;s tray was brought, she asked
+to have it taken into Lady Hamilton&#8217;s room,
+and the two friends chatted cosily over their
+toast and teacups.
+</p>
+<p>Lady Kitty, with a dainty dressing-jacket round
+her shoulders, was still nestled among her pillows,
+while Patty, in a blue kimono, curled up,
+Turk-fashion on the foot of the bed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a gorgeous day,&#8221; observed Patty, stirring
+her tea, which she was trying to sip, though she
+hated it. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be glad to explore that lovely
+rose garden without horrid old moonlit Earls.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a wonderfully fine place, Patty; you really
+must go over the estate. I&#8217;ll show you round
+myself.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; said Patty, airily, &#8220;but I believe
+I have an engagement. Mr. Snowden, or
+Snowed on, or Snowed under, or whatever his
+name is, kindly offered to do that same.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and he&#8217;ll kindly withdraw his offer when
+he sees you in your own rightful raiment. I&#8217;ve
+a notion to put you in a pinafore, and give
+you a Teddy Bear to carry. There&#8217;s no keeping
+you down any other way.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t be alarmed. I&#8217;ve no designs on the
+young men. I like the boys better, anyhow.
+That Jack Merivale is a chummy kind of a
+youth. That&#8217;s the sort I like. Rest assured I
+won&#8217;t trouble that wretched Earl. I won&#8217;t even
+speak to him, and I&#8217;ll make over to you whatever
+interest he may deign to show in me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;As one Humpty Dumpty said, &#8216;I&#8217;d rather see
+that on paper.&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So you shall,&#8221; said Patty, and setting down
+her unfinished tea, she flew to the writing
+table.
+</p>
+<p>Perching herself on the corner of the desk
+chair, she laid out a sheet of Lady Herenden&#8217;s
+crested note paper, and took up a pen. &#8220;Shall
+I write the agreement as I please?&#8221; she said,
+&#8220;or will you dictate it?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll dictate,&#8221; said Lady Kitty, smiling lazily
+at the foolery. But as she paused between sentences,
+Patty put in parentheses of her own, and
+when finished the remarkable document read
+thus:
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span></p>
+<div class='blockquot'>
+<p>&#8220;I, the undersigned, being of (fairly) sound
+mind, do hereby of my own free will (coerced by
+one Lady Hamilton) relinquish all interest or
+concern in the (illustrious) personage known as
+Sylvester, Earl of Ruthven (but I do think he
+has a lovely name), and should he show any interest
+in me, personally, I promise (gladly) to
+refer him to (the aforesaid) Lady Hamilton
+(though what she wants of him, I don&#8217;t
+know!), and I hereby solemnly promise and
+agree, not to seek or accept any further acquaintance
+or friendship with the (Belted)
+gentleman above referred to.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Furthermore, I (being still of sound mind,
+but it&#8217;s tottering) promise not to talk or converse
+with the (Sylvester! <i>Sylvester!</i>) Earl of
+Ruthven, beyond the ordinary civilities of the
+day (whatever that may mean!), never to
+smile at him voluntarily (I can&#8217;t help laughing
+at him), and <i>never</i> to wave my eyelashes at him
+across the table. (<i>Why</i> does she think I&#8217;d do
+that?)
+</p>
+<p style='text-align:right; margin-right:20%'>&#8220;Witness my hand and seal,</p>
+<p style='text-align:right;'>&#8220;PATRICIA FAIRFIELD.&#8221;</p>
+
+</div>
+<p>(&#8220;Lady Patricia would sound great! Wouldn&#8217;t it?&#8221;)
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;There, Kitty Cat,&#8221; said Patty, tossing the
+paper to Lady Hamilton, &#8220;there&#8217;s your agreement,
+and now, my dreams of glory over, I&#8217;ll
+go and &#8216;bind my hair and lace my bodice blue.&#8217;
+I always wondered how people bind their hair.
+Do you suppose they use skirt braid?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But Lady Kitty was shaking with laughter
+over Patty&#8217;s foolish &#8220;document&#8221; and offered
+no reply.
+</p>
+<p>An hour or so later, Patty presented herself
+for inspection.
+</p>
+<p>She wore a pale blue dimity, whose round, full
+blouse was belted with a soft ribbon. The skirt,
+with its three frills edged with tiny lace, came
+just to her instep, and disclosed dainty, patent-leather
+oxfords.
+</p>
+<p>Her golden braids, crossed and recrossed low
+at the back of her head, were almost covered
+by a big butterfly bow of wide white ribbon.
+In fact, she was perfectly garbed for an American
+girl of eighteen, and the costume was more
+becoming to her pretty, young face than the
+trained gown of the night before.
+</p>
+<p>Lady Hamilton was still at her dressing table.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I feel quite at ease about you now,&#8221; she said,
+looking up. &#8220;Nobody will propose to you in
+that rig. They&#8217;ll be more likely to buy you a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span>
+doll. I&#8217;m not nearly ready yet, but don&#8217;t wait.
+Run along downstairs, you&#8217;ll find plenty of
+people about.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Slowly Patty descended the great staircase,
+looking at the pictures and hanging rugs as she
+passed them.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;For mercy&#8217;s sake, who is that?&#8221; was Lady
+Herenden&#8217;s mental exclamation as the girl
+neared the lower floor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good-morning, Lady Herenden,&#8221; cried
+Patty, gaily, as she approached her hostess.
+&#8220;Don&#8217;t look so surprised to see me, and I&#8217;ll
+tell you all about it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, it&#8217;s Miss Fairfield!&#8221; exclaimed the
+elder lady, making room for Patty on the sofa
+beside her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and I really owe you an explanation.
+You see, my boxes didn&#8217;t come last night, and
+I had to wear one of Lady Hamilton&#8217;s gowns
+at dinner. I couldn&#8217;t tell you so, before all the
+guests, and so you didn&#8217;t know me this morning
+in my own frock.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s astonishing what a difference it makes!
+You look years younger.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I am. I&#8217;m not quite eighteen yet, and I wish
+you&#8217;d call me Patty, won&#8217;t you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I will, indeed,&#8221; said Lady Herenden, answering
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span>
+the pretty smile that accompanied the
+request. &#8220;I knew Kitty Hamilton said you
+weren&#8217;t out yet, and so, when I saw you last
+night, I just couldn&#8217;t understand it. But I do
+now. Have you breakfasted, dearie?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, thank you. And now, I want to go out
+and see the flowers, and the dogs. May I?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, indeed. Run around as you like.
+You&#8217;ll find people on the terrace and lawn,
+though there are no girls here as young as yourself.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t matter. I like people of all
+ages. I&#8217;ve friends from four to forty.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not surprised. You&#8217;re a friendly little
+thing. Be sure to go through the rose orchard;
+it&#8217;s back of the rose garden, and you&#8217;ll
+love it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Hatless, Patty ran out into the sunshine, and,
+strolling through the rose garden, soon forgot
+all else in her delight at the marvellous array of
+blossoms.
+</p>
+<p>As she turned a corner of a path, she came
+upon two men talking together. They were
+Lord Ruthven and Lord Herenden&#8217;s head gardener.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; his lordship was saying, &#8220;you&#8217;ve done
+a good thing, Parker, in getting that hybrid.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span>
+And this next bush is a fine one, too. Is it a
+Baroness Rothschild?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Patty, carelessly joining in the conversation,
+&#8220;it&#8217;s a Catherine Mermet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So it is, Miss,&#8221; said the gardener, turning
+politely toward her, but Lord Ruthven, after
+a slight glance, paid no attention to the
+girl.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Are you sure, Parker?&#8221; he said. &#8220;The
+Mermets are usually pinker.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He doesn&#8217;t know me! What larks!&#8221;
+thought Patty, gleefully. &#8220;I&#8217;ll try again.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where is the rose orchard, Parker?&#8221; she
+asked, turning her full face toward the gardener,
+and leaving only the big white bow to greet the
+Earl.
+</p>
+<p>Something in her voice startled Lord Ruthven,
+and he wheeled quickly about. &#8220;It is&mdash;it can&#8217;t
+be&mdash;Miss Fairfield?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good-morning, my lord,&#8221; said Patty, with
+cool politeness. &#8220;This, of course,&#8221; she thought
+to herself, &#8220;is the civility of the day.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I will show you the rose orchard,&#8221; went on
+the Earl. &#8220;Come with me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, thank you,&#8221; said Patty, turning again
+to the gardener. She was absurdly placed, and
+she felt a little embarrassed. But, on the other
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span>
+hand, she had pledged her word, and a silly performance
+it was! But she would keep it, at
+least until Lady Hamilton released her from her
+promise. Patty&#8217;s ideas of honour were, perhaps,
+a little strained, but she took the promise of that
+burlesque document as seriously as if it had been
+of national importance. And now she was in a
+dilemma. To refuse to walk with the Earl was
+so rude, and yet to talk with him was to break
+her pledged word.
+</p>
+<p>The gardener went on about his work, and the
+other two stood silent. For the first time in
+her life, Patty had a really difficult situation to
+cope with. If she could have laughed and talked
+naturally, it would have been easy to explain
+matters. But that absurd paper sealed her lips.
+Oh, why had she been so foolish?
+</p>
+<p>She did not look at the Earl, but he gazed
+fixedly at her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t understand,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Why are
+you so changed from last evening?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty thought hard. She was allowed the
+&#8220;civilities of the day,&#8221; so she must depend on
+those.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it a charming morning?&#8221; she said,
+without, however, turning toward the man at
+her side.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;It is indeed. But why are you such an
+enigma? Are all Americans so puzzling?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And isn&#8217;t the rose garden wonderful?&#8221; went
+on Patty, still looking off in the distance.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Wonderful, of course. Please look at me.
+I believe, after all, you&#8217;re Miss Fairfield&#8217;s
+younger sister! Ah, I have guessed you at
+last!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty still looked straight ahead, but an irrepressible
+smile dimpled the corners of her
+mouth.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you think it will rain?&#8221; she said.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;By Jove, I won&#8217;t stand this!&#8221; cried the
+Earl, impetuously. &#8220;I know you are yourself&mdash;the
+Miss Fairfield I talked with last night&mdash;but
+why you&#8217;re masquerading as a schoolgirl,
+I don&#8217;t know!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>At this Patty could restrain her mirth no
+longer, and her pretty laughter seemed to appease
+the Earl&#8217;s irritation.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Am I not fit to be looked at, or spoken to?&#8221;
+he said, more gently; &#8220;and if not, you must at
+least tell me why.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t tell you why,&#8221; said Patty, stifling her
+laughter, but still gazing at the far-away hills.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why can&#8217;t you? Have you promised not
+to?&#8221; The Earl meant this as a jest, little thinking
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span>
+it was the truth, but Patty, now nearly choking
+with merriment, said demurely, &#8220;Yes, sir.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nonsense! I&#8217;m not going to eat you! Look
+at me, child.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t,&#8221; repeated Patty, in a small voice, and
+holding her wilful, golden head very straight,
+as she stared firmly ahead.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Whom did you promise?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You have no right to ask.&#8221;&mdash;&#8220;That,&#8221; said
+Patty to herself, &#8220;is an ordinary <i>incivility</i>, but I
+can&#8217;t help it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I have a right to ask! And I don&#8217;t care
+whether I have or not. You&#8217;re a mischief, and
+I won&#8217;t stand any more of your chaff. Who
+made you promise not to speak to me, or look
+at me?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The Earl, quietly, but with a decided air,
+moved around until he faced Patty, and the
+laughing blue eyes were so full of fun that he
+laughed too.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You ridiculous baby!&#8221; he cried; &#8220;what are
+you, anyway? One night, a charming young
+woman, the next day, a naughty child.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m <i>not</i> naughty! Nobody made me promise.
+I did it of my own free will.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But whom did you promise?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lady Hamilton,&#8221; said Patty, remembering
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span>
+all at once that the matter was to be referred to
+her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oho! Well, now, see here. You just break
+that promise, as quick as you can, and I&#8217;ll make
+it square with Lady Hamilton.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Will you?&#8221; said Patty, drawing a long sigh
+of relief. &#8220;And will you blot out last evening,
+and pretend it never was, and begin our acquaintance
+from now?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I will,&#8221; said the Earl, looking at her, curiously,
+&#8220;if you will tell me why you seem to
+have a dual personality.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Then Patty explained her appearance at dinner
+in Lady Hamilton&#8217;s gown, and to her pleased
+surprise, the Earl laughed long and loudly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Best joke ever!&#8221; he declared; &#8220;a baby like
+you giving an imitation of the &#8216;belle of the
+ball&#8217;!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not so infantile,&#8221; said Patty, pouting a
+little, for the Earl now treated her as if she
+were about twelve.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You are!&#8221; he declared. &#8220;You ought to be
+in the schoolroom eating bread and jam.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d like the bread and jam well enough, for
+I&#8217;m getting hungrier every minute.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, it&#8217;s an hour yet to luncheon time; come
+along and I&#8217;ll show you the rose orchard. It
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span>
+may make you forget your gnawing pangs of
+hunger.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>On pleasant terms, then, they went through the
+gate in the high hedge that surrounded the enclosure.
+The rose orchard was unique. It had
+originally been a fruit orchard, and as most
+of the trees were dead, and many of them fallen,
+roses had been trained over their trunks and
+branches. The gorgeous masses of bloom covered
+the old gnarled wood, and the climbing
+roses twined lovingly around branches and
+boughs. Here and there were rustic seats and
+arbours; and there were many bird-houses,
+whose tiny occupants were exceedingly tame and
+sociable. Several other guests were walking
+about, and Patty and the Earl joined a group
+which included their host and hostess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How do you like it?&#8221; said Lady Herenden,
+drawing Patty&#8217;s arm through her own.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the most beautiful place since the Garden
+of Eden,&#8221; said Patty, so enthusiastically
+that everybody laughed.
+</p>
+<p>Then Mr. Snowden sauntered up, and reminded
+Patty of her promise to go walking
+with him.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You haven&#8217;t seen the deer park yet,&#8221; he said,
+&#8220;nor the carp pond; though I believe the carp
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span>
+are merely tradition. Still, the pond is
+there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Run along, child!&#8221; said Lady Herenden.
+&#8220;You&#8217;ll just about have time for a pleasant
+stroll before luncheon.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty was greatly relieved when Mr. Snowden
+made no reference to her age or her costume.
+He treated her politely and chatted gaily as he
+led her around to see all the picturesque bits of
+woodland and meadow. The magnificent old
+place showed its age, for it had not been unduly
+renovated, though everything was in good
+order.
+</p>
+<p>They went into the old church, which was on
+the estate, they visited the farmhouses and
+stables, and Patty found Mr. Snowden a kind
+and entertaining guide.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='X_A_MOMENTOUS_INTERVIEW' id='X_A_MOMENTOUS_INTERVIEW'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER X</h2>
+<h3>A MOMENTOUS INTERVIEW</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The rest of their stay at Herenden Hall
+passed off delightfully. Patty fitted into
+her own niche, and everybody liked the
+natural, unaffected young girl.
+</p>
+<p>She and Jack Merivale became good chums,
+and went fishing together, and rowing on the
+pond like old cronies.
+</p>
+<p>It was Patty&#8217;s nature to make friends quickly,
+and during her stay in Kent, she had a royal
+good time. Lord Ruthven talked over the matter
+with Lady Hamilton, and as he chose to consider
+it all a great joke on himself, she also took
+his view of it. As for Patty, she was so engrossed
+with other people that she nearly forgot
+all about the moonlight episode.
+</p>
+<p>Only sometimes, when she chanced to catch
+sight of Lord Ruthven, she would say to herself,
+&#8220;Sylvester, <i>Sylvester!</i>&#8221; and then turn
+away to hide her laughter.
+</p>
+<p>They stayed over until Tuesday, and then took
+the noon train back to London, Lady Herenden
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span>
+expressing an earnest wish that Patty would
+visit her again. Lady Kitty and Patty reached
+the Savoy duly, and Mr. Fairfield invited the
+returned travellers to dinner in the great Restaurant.
+This was a treat in itself, and Patty
+gleefully ran up to her room to dress for
+dinner.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lend me one of your gowns to wear,
+Kitty?&#8221; she said, roguishly, looking in at her
+friend&#8217;s door.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Go away, you bad child. You&#8217;re not in my
+care, now. I shall confess all to your father to-night
+at dinner, and then I&#8217;ve done with you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve chosen a wise time,&#8221; said Patty,
+sagely. &#8220;Father&#8217;s always especially good-natured
+at dinner.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let us hope he will be,&#8221; said Lady Hamilton,
+who was really a little anxious about it all.
+But she need not have been, for when the story
+was told, both Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield looked
+upon it as a huge joke.
+</p>
+<p>Nan, especially, was almost convulsed with
+laughter at the account Patty gave of the moonlight
+scene, and her tragic repetition in a stage
+whisper of &#8220;Sylvester, <i>Sylvester!</i>&#8221; was truly
+funny of itself.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It couldn&#8217;t be helped,&#8221; said Mr. Fairfield,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span>
+&#8220;and it was in no way your fault, Lady Hamilton.
+It would have been a pity to shut Patty
+in her room on such a gala occasion, and no
+one could foresee that she was going to throw
+herself at the Earl&#8217;s head!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Father!&#8221; exclaimed Patty, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t do any
+such thing! He threw himself at my feet, if
+you please.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, it&#8217;s all right, chickabiddy, but don&#8217;t
+let it happen again. At least, not for many
+years, yet. I suppose some time, in the far future,
+I shall be asked to be a father-in-law to
+a Duke or a Count, but let&#8217;s put it off as long as
+possible.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then Nan will be Dowager Duchess,&#8221; cried
+irrepressible Patty, &#8220;won&#8217;t that be fun!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can do it,&#8221; said Nan, with an air of self-satisfaction
+that made them all laugh.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad you exonerate me,&#8221; said Lady
+Hamilton, with a sigh of relief. &#8220;And since I
+let Patty appear too old, I&#8217;m going to average
+matters in this way. Next week is the child&#8217;s
+birthday, and I want to give her a children&#8217;s
+party, if I may. You and your husband may
+come, Mrs. Fairfield, if you&#8217;ll both dress as
+children of tender years.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll do it,&#8221; cried Mr. Fairfield. &#8220;This is
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span>
+an inspiration of yours, Lady Hamilton, and
+will, as you say, quite even things up.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Then plans were speedily made for the children&#8217;s
+party. It was only a week to Patty&#8217;s
+birthday, but Lady Kitty said that was long
+enough ahead to send invitations to an afternoon
+affair.
+</p>
+<p>For the party was to be held from three to
+six, and each guest was asked to dress as a small
+child. Patty put considerable thought on her
+own costume, for she said her eighteenth birthday
+was an important occasion, and she must
+do it honour.
+</p>
+<p>She finally decided on a quaint little Kate
+Greenaway dress, and big-brimmed hat of dark
+green velvet with white feathers tumbling over
+its brim. The frock was ankle length and
+short-waisted and she wore old-fashioned little
+slippers, with crossed ribbons, and black lace
+mitts. A shirred silk workbag hung at her
+side, and she carried a tiny parasol.
+</p>
+<p>A few days before the party, Patty had an
+inspiration. It came to her suddenly, as most
+inspirations do, and it was so startling that it
+almost took her breath away.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I <i>can&#8217;t</i> do it,&#8221; she said to herself, one minute;
+and &#8220;I <i>will</i> do it,&#8221; she said to herself the next.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span></p>
+<p>Not daring to think long about it lest she
+lose her determination, she started that very
+afternoon on her surprising errand.
+</p>
+<p>She had the carriage to herself, for she had
+been to tea with a friend, and on her way home
+she asked the coachman to stop at a house in
+Carlton Terrace.
+</p>
+<p>Reaching the house, Patty sent her card in by
+the footman, and awaited results with a beating
+heart.
+</p>
+<p>The footman returned to the carriage door,
+saying, Sir Otho Markleham would be pleased
+to see Miss Fairfield, and resolutely crushing
+down her timidity, Patty went in.
+</p>
+<p>She was ushered into a large and formal drawing-room,
+and waited there a few moments
+alone.
+</p>
+<p>She wished she had been asked into a library,
+or some more cosy room, for the stiff hangings,
+and massive furniture were oppressive. But she
+had no time for further thought, for Sir Otho
+entered the room.
+</p>
+<p>He bowed with exceeding courtesy, but with
+a surprised air, which was indeed only natural.
+</p>
+<p>Frightened almost out of her wits, Patty extended
+her hand, and though she tried to conquer
+her embarrassment, her voice trembled, as
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span>
+she said: &#8220;How do you do, Sir Otho? I&#8217;ve
+come to see you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>She tried to speak jauntily, but there was a
+queer little break in her voice.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So I perceive,&#8221; said Sir Otho, coldly. &#8220;May
+I ask why I have this honour?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This was too much for Patty. Her nerves
+were strained almost to the breaking point, and
+when Sir Otho spoke so repellently, she realised
+how foolish her little plan had been, and how
+hopeless was her dream of reconciling this
+dreadful old man and his daughter. Partly,
+then, because of her overwrought nerves, and
+partly because of the downfall of her cherished
+hopes, Patty burst into tears.
+</p>
+<p>She rarely cried, almost never, unless at some
+injustice or undeserved unkindness. But when
+she did cry, it was done as she did everything
+else, with a whole-souled enthusiasm.
+</p>
+<p>Utterly unable to control herself, for a few
+moments she sobbed, and shook in paroxysms
+of emotion.
+</p>
+<p>The old gentleman fairly danced around.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Bless my soul!&#8221; he exclaimed; &#8220;what is the
+matter? What does this mean? Did you come
+into my house for the purpose of having a fit
+of hysterics?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span></p>
+<p>Now Patty wasn&#8217;t a bit hysterical; it was
+merely a sudden blow of disappointment, and
+she would have been over it in a moment, but
+that Sir Otho made matters worse by storming
+at her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Stop it, do you hear? I won&#8217;t have such
+goings on in my house! You are a madwoman!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>As Patty&#8217;s sobs grew quieter, and she sat softly
+weeping into an already soaked handkerchief,
+her host&#8217;s mood seemed to change also.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;When I consented to see Miss Patricia Fairfield,&#8221;
+he said, quoting her name as it appeared
+on the card she had sent in, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know I
+was to be subjected to this extraordinary treatment.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I d-didn&#8217;t know it e-either,&#8221; said Patty,
+wiping her eyes, and trying to smile. Then,
+as she saw Sir Otho&#8217;s hard old face beginning
+to soften a little, she smiled at him through her
+tears.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There, there, my dear, don&#8217;t cry,&#8221; he said,
+with a clumsy imitation of gentleness. &#8220;Shall
+I ring for a maid? Will you have some sal
+volatile?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Patty, trying hard to check her
+sobs; &#8220;no, I will go away.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;But what&#8217;s it all about?&#8221; said the bewildered
+old man. &#8220;What made you cry?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You did,&#8221; said Patty, with such suddenness
+that he nearly fell over.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I? Bless my soul! What did I do?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You were so c-cross,&#8221; said Patty, weeping
+afresh at the remembrance of his cold looks.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, never mind, child, I won&#8217;t be cross
+again. Tell me all about it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Surely Sir Otho was melting! Patty sagaciously
+believed he was touched by her tears, so
+made no desperate effort to stop them.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I c-can&#8217;t tell you now. You&#8217;re not in a k-kind
+m-mood.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I am; try to tell me, my dear child.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty thought she had never known any one
+who could turn from anger to kindness so suddenly,
+but she resolved to strike while the iron
+was hot.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s about K-Kitty,&#8221; she said, still sobbing,
+but peeping out from behind her handkerchief
+to see how he took this broadside.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I supposed so,&#8221; he said, with a sigh. &#8220;Well,
+what about her?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s your daughter, you know,&#8221; went on
+Patty, growing more daring, as she slyly
+watched the old gentleman&#8217;s expression.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Is she, indeed? I&#8217;d forgotten the fact.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This, though in a sarcastic tone, was better
+than his usual disavowal of the relationship.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And did you stop in here, and treat me to
+this absurd scene, just to inform me concerning
+my family tree?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;N-no,&#8221; said Patty, resorting to tears again.
+&#8220;I stopped in, to&mdash;to ask you s-something.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, out with it! Are you afraid of
+me?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This nettled Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; she said, starting to her feet. Her
+tears had stopped now, and her eyes were blazing.
+&#8220;No! I am not afraid of you! I&#8217;m sorry
+I broke down. I was foolishly nervous. But
+I&#8217;m over it now. I came in here, Sir Otho Markleham,
+to ask you to make peace with your
+daughter, and to propose to you a pleasant way
+to do so. But you have been so cross and
+ugly, so sarcastic and cruel, that I see the utter
+hopelessness of trying to reconcile you two. I
+was foolish even to think of it! Lady Kitty is
+gentle and sweet in many ways, but she has inherited
+your obstinate, stubborn&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Pigheaded,&#8221; suggested Sir Otho, politely.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes! Pigheaded disposition, and though, as
+the older, you ought to make the advance,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span>
+you&#8217;ll never do it&mdash;and she never will&mdash;and&mdash;so&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty broke down again, this time from sheer
+sadness of heart at the irrevocable state of
+things.
+</p>
+<p>Her face buried in her handkerchief, to her
+great surprise she felt a kindly touch on her
+shoulder.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t condemn me too soon, little one; and
+don&#8217;t condemn me unheard. Suppose I tell you
+that some of my ideas have undergone a change
+since Miss Yankee Doodle has taken it upon
+herself to scold me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; said Patty, rendered almost breathless
+with amazement at the kind tone and the gentle
+touch.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But suppose it&#8217;s very hard for an old man
+like me to uproot some feelings that have
+grown and strengthened with the passing
+years.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But if they&#8217;re bad and unworthy feelings,
+you <i>want</i> to uproot them!&#8221; cried Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Sir Otho, &#8220;I do. And though
+my irascible and taciturn nature won&#8217;t let me admit
+this to any one else, I&#8217;ll confess to you, Miss
+Yankee Doodle, I do want to pull them up, root
+and branch.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span></p>
+<p>Sir Otho looked so brave and manly as he
+made this confession, which was truly difficult
+for him, that Patty grasped his hand in both
+hers, and cried: &#8220;Oh, what a <i>splendid</i> man
+you are! I&#8217;ll <i>never</i> be afraid of you again!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You <i>weren&#8217;t</i> afraid of me, child. That&#8217;s
+why your words had weight with me. You fearlessly
+told me just what I was, and I had the
+grace to be ashamed of myself.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Never mind that now,&#8221; said Patty, eagerly.
+&#8220;Do you want to be friends again with Kitty?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;More than anything on earth.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, then, let me manage it; and do it the
+way I want you to, will you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty&#8217;s voice and smile were very wheedlesome,
+and Sir Otho smiled in response, as he
+said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve surely earned the right to manage it.
+How shall it be done? Will Kitty meet me halfway?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think she will,&#8221; said Patty, slowly. &#8220;But
+she&#8217;s not very tractable, you know. Indeed, Sir
+Otho, she&#8217;s such a contrary-minded person, that
+if she knew you wanted to be kind to her, she&#8217;d
+likely run away.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Miss Patricia,&#8221; said Sir Otho, gravely, &#8220;you
+can&#8217;t tell me anything about my daughter
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span>
+Catharine that I don&#8217;t already know. And she
+is, indeed, contrary-minded, on occasion. As
+you so justly observed, she inherits my obstinate
+and cross-grained disposition.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And yet she&#8217;s so lovely to look at,&#8221; sighed
+Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ah, well, she didn&#8217;t get her good looks from
+me, I&#8217;ll admit.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think she did,&#8221; said Patty, looking critically
+at the fine old face, with a thoughtful gaze
+that was very amusing.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, are you going to detail to me the
+plan of this rather difficult campaign?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I am. And I hope you&#8217;ll see it as
+I do.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If I don&#8217;t, I have little doubt but you can
+change my views. Will you have time to drink
+a cup of tea with me? We can plan so much
+more cosily over the teacups.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I will,&#8221; said Patty, consulting her
+watch.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then let us have it served in the library, and
+not in this depressing room, which you must associate
+with stormy outbursts of woe.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty laughed, and followed the stately old
+gentleman into the library, where tea was soon
+served.
+</p>
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span>
+<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a>
+<img src='images/illus-144.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br />
+<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'>
+&#8220;&#8216;How <i>much</i> pleasanter this is than squabbling&#8217;&#8221;
+<br />
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span></div>
+<p>&#8220;One lump?&#8221; said Patty, holding the sugar-tongs
+poised over a teacup, while she put
+her head on one side and smiled at her
+host.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Two, please. It&#8217;s delightful to have some
+one make my tea for me, and you do it very
+prettily.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But, alas!&#8221; said Patty, in mock despair,
+&#8220;I&#8217;ll soon be supplanted here, by that &#8216;obstinate,
+cross-grained&#8217; Lady Kitty.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why are you so sure she&#8217;ll come back here
+to live?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just give her the chance, and see,&#8221; said
+Patty, wagging her head sagaciously, as she
+poured her own tea.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How <i>much</i> pleasanter this is than squabbling,&#8221;
+she observed, glancing happily at her
+host.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, or crying,&#8221; said he, a bit teasingly, and
+Patty blushed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s past history,&#8221; she said; &#8220;and <i>now</i>
+I&#8217;ll tell you my plan.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The details of the plan kept them both talking
+for some time, and then Patty had to
+hurry away to reach home at her appointed
+hour.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, I won&#8217;t see you again until then,&#8221; she
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span>
+said, as they parted at the door. &#8220;But I know
+you won&#8217;t fail me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not I!&#8221; said Sir Otho, and with his hand
+on his heart, he made a profound bow, and
+Patty drove homeward in the happiest mood
+she had known for many a day.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XI_THE_BIRTHDAY_PARTY' id='XI_THE_BIRTHDAY_PARTY'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2>
+<h3>THE BIRTHDAY PARTY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Patty&#8217;s birthday party was a great success.
+</p>
+<p>As a rule, young people love a &#8220;dress-up&#8221;
+party, and the guests all entered into the
+spirit of the thing.
+</p>
+<p>Lady Hamilton was in her element.
+</p>
+<p>For the occasion, she had engaged a large
+salon, and aside from the pretty floral decorations,
+there were dolls and Teddy Bears and
+rocking horses, and all sorts of children&#8217;s toys
+and games. On the walls hung bright-colored
+prints, intended for nursery use, and little, low
+chairs and ottomans stood about.
+</p>
+<p>Of course, Lady Hamilton, as hostess, did not
+dress like a child, but wore one of her own
+lovely, trailing white house-gowns.
+</p>
+<p>When the guests arrived they were shown to
+dressing-rooms, where white-capped nurses
+awaited them, and assisted them to lay aside
+their wraps.
+</p>
+<p>Then led to the salon by these same nurses,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span>
+the guests were presented to Lady Hamilton
+and Patty. Such shouts of laughter as arose
+at these presentations! The young people,
+dressed as tiny children, came in with a shy air
+(not always entirely assumed), and made funny
+little, bobbing curtseys. Some, finger in mouth,
+could find nothing to say; others of more fertile
+brain, babbled childishly, or lisped in baby-talk.
+</p>
+<p>Before many had arrived, Patty and Lady
+Kitty were in such roars of laughter they could
+scarcely welcome the rest.
+</p>
+<p>Tom Meredith was a dear. Though a boy
+nearly six feet tall, he had a round, cherubic
+face, and soft, curly hair. He wore a white
+dress of simple &#8220;Mother Hubbard&#8221; cut, the
+fulness hanging from a yoke, and ending just
+below his knees, in lace-edged frills. White
+stockings, and white kid pumps adorned his
+feet, and his short curls were tied at one side
+with an immense white bow. He was such a
+smiling, good-natured chap, and looked so girlish
+and sweet in his white frock, that Patty at
+once called him Baby Belle, and the name exactly
+suited him.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Did you come all alone?&#8221; asked Lady
+Hamilton.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yeth, ma&#8217;am,&#8221; replied Tom, rolling up his
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span>
+eyes in pretended diffidence. &#8220;My nurthie
+went to a ball game, tho I had to come all by
+mythelf. But I&#8217;th a big dirl, now!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You are indeed,&#8221; said Patty, glancing at his
+stalwart proportions, &#8220;but you&#8217;re surely the
+belle of this ball.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Grace Meredith was a little Dutch girl, and
+was charming in the picturesque Holland headgear,
+and a tight-waisted, long-skirted blue
+gown, that just cleared the tops of her clattering
+wooden sabots. She talked a Dutch dialect,
+or rather, what she imagined was such, and if
+not real Hollandese, it was at least, very amusing
+and funny.
+</p>
+<p>Mabel Hartley looked very sweet as Little Red
+Riding-Hood, and she carried a little basket on
+her arm, which contained a real pat of butter.
+</p>
+<p>Sinclair and Bob Hartley were the Princes in
+the Tower, and the black velvet suits and white
+lace collars were exceedingly becoming to them.
+They wore wigs of long flaxen hair, and often
+fell into the pose of the celebrated picture, to
+the delight of all who saw them. But when not
+posing as a tableau, they were so full of antics
+that Patty told them they were more like Court
+Jesters than Princes.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Clowns, you mean,&#8221; said Bob, as with a flash
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span>
+of his black satin legs he leap-frogged over Sinclair&#8217;s
+back.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Behave yourselves, Princes!&#8221; admonished
+Patty, and in a second, the two stood motionless,
+side by side, as in the great painting.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You certainly must be photographed like
+that,&#8221; exclaimed Lady Hamilton; and then a
+brilliant idea came to her and she sent a message
+at once to a well-known photographer to
+send one of his men and a camera at once.
+</p>
+<p>And so, the regular programme of the party
+was suspended while photographs of the guests
+were taken. Singly and in groups they were
+snapped off as fast as the camera could be adjusted,
+and Lady Hamilton promised to send
+copies to their homes later.
+</p>
+<p>Some of the young people had hired very
+elaborate costumes and represented celebrated
+works of art.
+</p>
+<p>Gainsborough&#8217;s &#8220;Blue Boy,&#8221; and Velasquez&#8217;
+&#8220;Maria Teresa,&#8221; were truly beautiful, while
+Van Dyck&#8217;s &#8220;Baby Stuart,&#8221; made a lovely picture.
+But equally interesting were the less pretentious
+characters and costumes.
+</p>
+<p>Simple Simon was a favourite with all. A
+faded blue smock frock, and a battered old hat
+formed his characteristic garb, and long,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span>
+straight yellow locks, and a stupid, open-mouthed
+expression of face made him look like
+the traditional Simon. He was a boy of much
+original wit, and his funny repartee proved him,
+in reality, far from simple-minded.
+</p>
+<p>Little Miss Muffet was present, and Struwelpeter,
+and &#8220;Alice,&#8221; and a merry brother and
+sister had to cut up many roguish antics before
+they were recognised as &#8220;The Heavenly
+Twins.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, wore a pretty
+Dolly Varden costume, and carried a watering-pot,
+while Little Boy Blue shyly blew his horn at
+her. There were several Lord Fauntleroys, and
+Buster Browns and Rollos, and also a great
+many who represented nobody in particular, but
+just a dear little child.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Fairfield and Nan, though they had said
+they would come to the party dressed as children,
+had changed their minds, and arrived later
+than the others, wearing the garb of elderly
+people.
+</p>
+<p>They said they were the grandparents, come
+to look at the children enjoy themselves.
+</p>
+<p>Nan made a very sweet old lady, with white
+wig, and gold glasses, while Mr. Fairfield pretended
+to be an old man, cross and gouty. But
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span>
+so funny was his ferocious crustiness that nobody
+felt in awe of him.
+</p>
+<p>Led by Lady Hamilton, the boys and girls
+played all sorts of merry children&#8217;s games.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ring Around a Rosy,&#8221; &#8220;London Bridge is
+Falling Down,&#8221; &#8220;Hide the Thimble,&#8221; and
+other such infantile entertainments proved exceedingly
+mirth-provoking. The big babies
+were continually crying over fancied woes, and
+sometimes even the historic characters grew
+humorously quarrelsome.
+</p>
+<p>At half-past four supper was served. The
+children were formed in pairs for a grand
+march. To the strains of &#8220;The Baby&#8217;s Opera&#8221;
+they marched to another room, where a long
+table was set for them.
+</p>
+<p>At each place was a bread-and-milk set, and a
+mug which was lettered in gilt, &#8220;For a Good
+Child.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The mugs were especially pretty ones, and
+were to be taken home as souvenirs. At each
+place was a bib with strings, and when these
+were tied around their necks, the big &#8220;children&#8221;
+looked absurd indeed.
+</p>
+<p>In keeping with their assumed rôles, their table
+manners were not impeccable, and many fists
+pounded on the table, while babyish voices
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span>
+said: &#8220;Me wants me thupper,&#8221; or &#8220;Div me
+some beddy-butter!&#8221; But though the bowls
+and mugs betokened infantile fare, the supper
+really served included dainty salads and sandwiches,
+followed by ices, jellies and cakes, and
+was fully enjoyed by the healthy appetites which
+belong to young people of eighteen or thereabouts.
+</p>
+<p>After supper, they returned to the drawing-room
+for a dance.
+</p>
+<p>Delightful music was played, and it was a
+pretty sight to see the fancy costumes gracefully
+flit about in the dance.
+</p>
+<p>When it was nearly time to go home, one of
+the &#8220;nurses&#8221; came to Lady Hamilton saying
+that a belated guest had arrived.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who is it?&#8221; asked Lady Hamilton, surprised
+that any one should arrive so late.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He says he is Peter Pan,&#8221; answered the
+maid.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Show him in, at once,&#8221; said Lady Hamilton,
+&#8220;we surely want to see Peter Pan&mdash;the boy
+who never <i>could</i> grow up.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>And then through the doorway came a figure
+that unmistakably represented Peter Pan.
+</p>
+<p>The well-known costume of russet browns and
+autumn-leaf tints, the small, close cap with its
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span>
+single feather, and the fierce-looking dagger
+were all there. To be sure, it was a much
+<i>larger</i> Peter Pan than any of them had seen in
+the play, but otherwise it was surely Peter.
+</p>
+<p>At first, Lady Hamilton looked completely bewildered,
+and then, as she realised that it was
+really her own father, she turned pale and then
+very pink.
+</p>
+<p>Patty stood near her, and though she didn&#8217;t
+know what might happen, she felt sure Lady
+Hamilton would be quite able to cope with the
+situation.
+</p>
+<p>And so she was. After the first dazed moment,
+she stepped forward, and offering her hand,
+said cordially:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Welcome, Peter Pan! We are indeed glad
+to see you. We&#8217;re sorry you couldn&#8217;t come
+earlier, but pray fall right into place with the
+rest of our little guests.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It was the nature of Sir Otho Markleham to
+do thoroughly whatever he did at all.
+</p>
+<p>So, now, throwing himself into the spirit of the
+moment, he made friends with the young people
+at once. He entertained them with stories of
+his thrilling adventures with the pirates; he told
+them how he lost his shadow, he explained all
+about Fairies, and soon the other guests were
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span>
+all crowded about him, listening breathlessly to
+his talk.
+</p>
+<p>Lady Hamilton, standing a little to one side of
+the listening group, looked at her father. She
+realised at once what it all meant. She knew
+that Patty had persuaded him to come, and that
+it meant complete reconciliation between father
+and daughter. The whole matter could be discussed
+later, if they chose, but the mere presence
+of her father beneath her roof meant forgiveness
+and peace between them.
+</p>
+<p>Softly Patty came up beside her and clasped
+her hand. &#8220;You&#8217;re a witch,&#8221; whispered Lady
+Hamilton, as she warmly returned the pressure.
+&#8220;How did you ever accomplish this?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Never mind that, now,&#8221; said Patty, her eyes
+shining. &#8220;Are you glad?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Glad! Yes, only that&#8217;s a short word to express
+my joy and my gratitude to you. But you
+took a risk! Suppose I had fainted, or done
+something foolish in my great surprise.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I knew you better than that,&#8221; returned
+Patty. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t he a dear in that Peter Pan
+suit? And, only think, he took off his beloved
+&#8216;sideboards,&#8217; so he&#8217;d look the character
+better.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ll soon grow again,&#8221; said Lady Hamilton,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span>
+carelessly; &#8220;but what I can&#8217;t understand
+is why he came at all.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Because he loves you,&#8221; whispered Patty,
+&#8220;and you love him. And you&#8217;ve both been
+acting like silly geese, but now that&#8217;s all
+over.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, it is!&#8221; And Lady Hamilton gave a
+soft sigh of relief. Then, following her father&#8217;s
+example, she devoted herself to her young
+guests, and the time passed pleasantly until their
+departure.
+</p>
+<p>Of course, these young people knew nothing of
+the state of affairs between &#8220;Peter Pan&#8221; and
+his hostess, though they soon discovered the
+identity of Sir Otho.
+</p>
+<p>Soon after six, the &#8220;children&#8221; went away, declaring
+that it had been the event of the season,
+and they had never enjoyed a party more. The
+three Fairfields took leave at the same time, and
+Lady Hamilton was left alone with her father.
+</p>
+<p>Exactly what was said in the next half hour
+neither of them ever told, but when it was past,
+the two were entirely reconciled, and Lady
+Kitty had consented to return to her father&#8217;s
+house to live. Then she sent a note to the Fairfields,
+asking them all to dine with herself and
+her father that evening.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;And meantime, Kitty,&#8221; said Sir Otho, &#8220;I&#8217;ll
+go and get out of this foolish toggery.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but save that suit to be photographed
+in. I must have your picture to put with those
+of the other &#8216;children.&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sir Otho went away, enveloped in a long raincoat,
+and promising to return at the dinner
+hour. It was a merry dinner party that night.
+</p>
+<p>Patty had a new frock in honour of the occasion,
+and as she donned the pretty demi-toilette
+of pale green gauze, Nan said it was
+the most becoming costume she had ever worn.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now that you&#8217;re really eighteen, Patty,&#8221; she
+said, &#8220;I think you might discard hair-ribbons.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, thank you,&#8221; said Patty, as Louise tied
+her big, white bow for her. &#8220;I&#8217;ll wear them a
+little longer. At least as long as I&#8217;m in this
+country where Dukes and Earls run wild.
+When I get back to New York, I&#8217;ll see about
+it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good-evening, Miss Yankee Doodle,&#8221; said
+Sir Otho, as he met her again at dinner. &#8220;Once
+more the American has conquered the English,
+and I would be greatly honoured by your kind
+acceptance of this tiny memento of the occasion.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>As Sir Otho spoke, he handed Patty a small
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span>
+jeweller&#8217;s box. She opened it and saw a dear
+little brooch in the form of an American flag.
+The Stars and Stripes were made of small sparkling
+brilliants of the three colours, and the
+twinkling effect was very beautiful.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It is lovely!&#8221; she exclaimed; &#8220;how can I
+ever thank you! This is one of my very choicest
+birthday gifts, and I have received a great
+many.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It is nothing,&#8221; said Sir Otho, &#8220;compared to
+what you have given me,&#8221; and he glanced affectionately
+toward his daughter.
+</p>
+<p>And this was all he ever said by way of expressing
+his gratitude to Patty, but it was
+enough, for the deep tone of his voice, and the
+suggestion of tears in his eyes, proved his inexpressible
+appreciation of Patty&#8217;s achievement.
+</p>
+<p>Then the matter was dropped entirely, and the
+conversation became general and gay. Sir Otho
+proved to be as entertaining to older people as
+he had been to the children at the party, and
+Lady Kitty was in her most charming mood.
+Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield quite did their share
+toward the general entertainment, but Patty
+was queen of the feast. She enjoyed it all, for
+she dearly loved a festivity of any sort, but to-night
+she was specially happy to think that her
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span>
+plan had succeeded, and that she had given to
+her dear friend Kitty what she most wanted
+in all the world.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And I trust it will not be long,&#8221; said Sir
+Otho, &#8220;before you will all accept an invitation
+to dine with me in Carlton Terrace, with Lady
+Hamilton presiding at my table.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This invitation was delightedly accepted, and
+then they all went up to the Fairfields&#8217; drawing-room,
+and Patty sang songs, and they all
+sang choruses, and then, as a final surprise,
+came a great, beautiful birthday cake, with
+eighteen lighted candles.
+</p>
+<p>Then Patty cut the cake, and there were more
+congratulations and good wishes all round, and
+for pretty nearly the eighteenth time in her life
+Patty declared it was the best birthday she
+had ever had.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XII_SUMMER_PLANS' id='XII_SUMMER_PLANS'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2>
+<h3>SUMMER PLANS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;As usual,&#8221; said Mr. Fairfield, smiling,
+&#8220;the question is, what is to be done with
+Patty?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; agreed Patty, complacently, &#8220;you and
+Nan are usually trying to dispose of me in some
+way. It&#8217;s lucky I&#8217;m good-natured and don&#8217;t
+mind being left behind.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a pretty speech!&#8221; exclaimed Nan,
+&#8220;after we&#8217;ve begged and coaxed you to go
+with us!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So you have, my pretty little Stepmother&mdash;so
+you have; and I&#8217;m just ungrateful enough not
+to want to go.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It was about a week after the birthday party,
+and the Fairfields were making their plans for
+the summer. The elders wanted to travel in
+Switzerland and Germany. Patty did not want
+to go with them, but her dilemma was, which
+of several delightful invitations to accept.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You see,&#8221; she went on, &#8220;I&#8217;m invited to spend
+June in five separate places, each one lovelier
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span>
+than the other. Now I can&#8217;t chop myself up
+into five pieces.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You can chop June up into five pieces,&#8221; suggested
+Nan.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but if I go to a country house to make
+a good long visit, I want to stay about a month.
+A week here and then a week there is so unsatisfactory.
+However, after much thoughtful
+brooding over the question, I&#8217;ve cut out three,
+and that brings my quandary down to only two
+places to decide between.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lady Hamilton&#8217;s being one,&#8221; observed her
+father.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, Kitty&#8217;s is one; and Mabel Hartley&#8217;s is
+the other. Of course, if I spend June with
+Kitty, we&#8217;ll be right here in London all the
+time, and though I love it, yet I love the country
+too. Now, if I go to Mabel&#8217;s, I&#8217;ll have a beautiful
+experience of real English country life.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You would enjoy it, I&#8217;m sure,&#8221; said Nan;
+&#8220;and I think you&#8217;d better decide to go to Cromarty
+Manor, and then, if for any reason, you
+don&#8217;t like it, come back, and put in the rest of
+your time with Lady Kitty.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nan, that&#8217;s an inspiration!&#8221; cried Patty,
+running across the room, and clasping Nan in
+one of her rather strenuous embraces.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Look out! You&#8217;ll break her!&#8221; cried Mr.
+Fairfield, in great pretence of fear.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, indeed!&#8221; said Patty, &#8220;she&#8217;s too substantial.
+And anyway, such a clever suggestion
+deserves ample recognition.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty sat on the arm of Nan&#8217;s chair, and
+amused herself by twisting Nan&#8217;s curly hair into
+tight little spirals.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Stop that, Patty,&#8221; said her father; &#8220;you
+make Nan look like a pickaninny.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No matter what she looks like, if it&#8217;s becoming,&#8221;
+said Patty, serenely. &#8220;But truly, Nan,
+you ought to wear your hair like that; it&#8217;s awfully
+effective!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The spirals now stood out all round Nan&#8217;s
+face, like a spiky frame, but the good-natured
+victim only laughed, as she said, &#8220;Never mind
+me, let&#8217;s get these great questions settled.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So, after some more talk and discussion, it was
+settled that Patty should accept the Hartleys&#8217;
+urgent invitation to Cromarty Manor, for, at
+least, a part of June, and then, if she cared
+to, stay also a time with Lady Hamilton.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It may sound silly,&#8221; said Patty, thoughtfully,
+&#8220;but I can&#8217;t help feeling that Mabel not
+only wants me to visit her this summer, but
+she needs me. Now, I don&#8217;t mean to be conceited,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span>
+but, don&#8217;t you know, you can tell when
+people seem to need you, if only in a trivial
+way.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I understand,&#8221; said Nan, quickly; &#8220;and
+you&#8217;re not conceited a bit, Patty. Mabel does
+need you. She is a sweet girl, but sometimes
+she seems to me the least bit morbid; no, not
+quite that, but verging that way. She adores
+you, and I&#8217;m perfectly sure that your companionship
+will do her a world of good.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I hope so,&#8221; said Patty; &#8220;I love Mabel, but
+there is something about her I can&#8217;t quite understand.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll probably find out what it is, when
+you&#8217;re staying with her,&#8221; said her father, &#8220;and
+I know, Patty, you&#8217;ll do all in your power to
+brighten her up. The Merediths live near
+them, don&#8217;t they?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes; only a mile or two away. And the
+Merediths are gay enough for anybody. If
+they&#8217;re at home this summer, there&#8217;ll be plenty
+of fun going on, I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lady Hamilton will miss you a lot,&#8221; said
+Nan; &#8220;what does she say to your going?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, she says she&#8217;ll miss me,&#8221; said Patty,
+&#8220;and so she will, some, but it&#8217;s not like it was
+when she was here, alone. Now that she&#8217;s
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span>
+settled in her father&#8217;s house again, she has so
+much to occupy her time and attention she&#8217;s
+never lonely. Of course, she&#8217;s just as fond of
+me, and I am of her, but since she&#8217;s gone away
+from here, I don&#8217;t see so much of her. And,
+truly, she doesn&#8217;t need me, and Mabel does.
+So I&#8217;ll go to Mabel&#8217;s first, and I shouldn&#8217;t be
+surprised if I stay there until you people come
+back from your trip. Mrs. Hartley asked me
+for the whole summer, you know, but you won&#8217;t
+be gone more than a month or six weeks, will
+you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not more than two months,&#8221; answered her
+father, &#8220;and you know, chickabiddy, if ever you
+want to join us, I&#8217;ll send for you, or come for
+you myself, whenever you say the word. Just
+telegraph me, and I&#8217;ll respond at once.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right; I will if I want to. But there&#8217;s
+too much fun for me in civilization to want to
+go wandering off to the ends of the earth.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And you may decide to go to Herenden
+Hall for a time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I may. I&#8217;d love to visit Lady Herenden
+again, if I thought that Earl gentleman
+wouldn&#8217;t be there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He probably won&#8217;t be,&#8221; said Nan. &#8220;I daresay
+you scared him away from there forever.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Even so, I didn&#8217;t scare him as much as he
+scared me,&#8221; returned Patty, &#8220;but I do hope
+there won&#8217;t be any Earls at Cromarty. I like
+plain, big boys better.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Those Hartley boys are fine fellows,&#8221; observed
+Mr. Fairfield. &#8220;Young Meredith has
+more fun and jollity, but the Hartleys are of a
+sterling good sort. I like the whole family, and
+I&#8217;m glad, Patty girl, that you&#8217;ve decided to go
+there. I&#8217;ll willingly leave you in Mrs. Hartley&#8217;s
+care, and I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll have a good
+time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course I shall, Daddy, and I&#8217;ll write you
+every day, if you want me to.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not quite so often, my dear. Twice a week,
+will be all you&#8217;ll find time for, I&#8217;m certain.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Quite likely,&#8221; said Patty, who was not very
+fond of writing letters.
+</p>
+<p>Only a week later, Patty was to go away with
+the Hartleys. And a week was not a very
+long time for her preparations. There was
+shopping to do, and calling, and, as Nan and
+Mr. Fairfield were leaving at the same time,
+they were to give up their hotel apartment for
+the present.
+</p>
+<p>But Lady Hamilton insisted that Patty must
+look upon Sir Otho&#8217;s big house in Carlton Terrace
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span>
+as her own home. If she cared to run up
+to London for a few days at any time, she
+would be more than welcome at Lady Kitty&#8217;s.
+Or she could leave there any trunks or other belongings
+that she wished. This greatly pleased
+Mr. Fairfield, for he felt more comfortable at
+leaving Patty, to know that she had a foothold
+in London, and somebody to look after her,
+should she care to leave Cromarty before her
+parents&#8217; return.
+</p>
+<p>At last the day of departure came, and Mr.
+Fairfield accompanied Patty to the station to
+meet the Hartleys for the journey.
+</p>
+<p>It was with a homesick heart that Patty bade
+her father good-bye. Somehow, she suddenly
+felt that she was leaving her own people to go
+away with strangers. But she knew she must
+not be foolish, so she bravely kept back the
+tears and said good-bye with a tender, if not a
+gay, smile.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It is the loveliest thing,&#8221; said Mabel, after
+they were settled in the train, &#8220;to think that
+you&#8217;re really going with us. I wanted you to,
+so dreadfully, but I didn&#8217;t urge it very much,
+for fear you wouldn&#8217;t enjoy yourself with us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I always enjoy myself,&#8221; said Patty, &#8220;but I
+know I shall be happy with you.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll try to make you so, Miss Fairfield,&#8221;
+said Bob, earnestly, and Patty smiled at him,
+and said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then the first thing you can do toward it, is
+to drop that formal name, and call me Patty.
+I&#8217;m not really grown-up enough for the other.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, I don&#8217;t think you are,&#8221; said Bob, as he
+looked at her critically. &#8220;So, as we&#8217;re all to
+live under one roof for a time, we&#8217;ll be first
+namers all round.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good!&#8221; said Sinclair, &#8220;that suits me; and
+now, Mater, when you&#8217;re ready, we&#8217;ll go in to
+luncheon.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty thought luncheon in the dining car was
+great fun. Only four could sit at a table, but
+as Mrs. Hartley had a slight headache and did
+not care to talk, she and Grandma Cromarty
+sat at another table, and left the four young
+people to chatter by themselves.
+</p>
+<p>Everything interested Patty, from the unusual
+things she found on the menu to the strange
+sights she saw from the window.
+</p>
+<p>This was her first trip in this direction, for
+they were travelling toward Leicester, and the
+scenes were all new to her.
+</p>
+<p>The boys were full of fun and nonsense, and
+Mabel was so gay and jolly that Patty began
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span>
+to think she had imagined the girl was of a sad
+nature. They all told funny stories, and made
+absurd jokes, and poked fun at each other, and
+Patty concluded she was likely to have a very
+jolly summer with the Hartleys. Back they
+went after luncheon to their funny parlour car,
+which had double seats facing each other, with
+a small table between.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just the place for a game,&#8221; said Sinclair, as
+the four took their seats, two on either side of
+the table.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What sort of a game?&#8221; asked Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t know; I&#8217;ll make one up.&#8221; The
+boy took a bit of chalk from his pocket, and
+marked off the table into various sections, with
+a circle in each corner, and crosses here and
+there.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now,&#8221; he explained, as he offered each
+player a coin, &#8220;this isn&#8217;t money, you know.
+They&#8217;re merely counters, for the time being.
+But when the game is over you must all give
+them back to me, because they&#8217;ll be money again
+then.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But what do we do with them?&#8221; asked
+Patty, who was greatly interested in any game.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll show you. These places are homes, and
+these are wilderness. If you&#8217;re in the wilderness
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span>
+you may be captured, but if you&#8217;re at home,
+you can&#8217;t be.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The game was really a mix-up of parcheesi,
+halma, and some others; to which were added
+some original rules out of Sinclair&#8217;s own head.
+Patty and Bob were partners against the other
+two, and soon the quartette were deeply absorbed
+in the game.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You are the cleverest boy, to make this up!&#8221;
+cried Patty, as her side won, and they prepared
+to begin over again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, he often makes up games,&#8221; said Mabel.
+&#8220;We all do, only Sinclair&#8217;s are always the best.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mine are very good, though,&#8221; observed
+Bob, modestly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good enough, yes,&#8221; said Sinclair; &#8220;only usually
+they&#8217;re so difficult that nobody can win but
+yourself.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Bob made a profound bow at this compliment,
+and then the game went on. It seemed
+impossible that they had been about five hours
+on the train, when it was time to get out. They
+had reached Leicester, and from there were to
+drive to Cromarty Manor.
+</p>
+<p>Two vehicles met them at the station.
+</p>
+<p>Into one of these, a comfortable victoria, Sinclair
+assisted the four ladies, and in the other,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span>
+the boys rode up with the luggage. The drive
+was beautiful, and Patty warmly expressed her
+gratitude to Mrs. Hartley, for inviting her to
+this delightful experience of English country
+life.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It is beautiful,&#8221; said Mrs. Hartley, looking
+about her. &#8220;I&#8217;m always glad to get back from
+London to the restful quiet of these great trees
+and the far-away, peaceful hills.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mabel&#8217;s mood had changed. She no longer
+laughed and jested, and though sweet and gentle
+as ever, the hint of sadness had again crept into
+her face, and her speech was slow and quiet.
+Patty adapted her mood to the other&#8217;s, and it
+was almost in silence they drove along the
+country roads.
+</p>
+<p>It was a long ride, and it was nearly dusk
+when at last they arrived at Cromarty
+Manor.
+</p>
+<p>An old servant came out from the Porter&#8217;s
+Lodge to open the high iron gates for them.
+</p>
+<p>He gave them a warm greeting, which seemed
+a heart-felt welcome, and not merely the speech
+of a paid dependant, and then they drove on
+toward the house.
+</p>
+<p>The whole effect was so beautiful that it almost
+took Patty&#8217;s breath away. It was not a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span>
+bit like Herenden Hall, it was more like an old
+feudal castle. The picturesque house was of
+gray stone, with towers and turrets almost entirely
+covered with ivy. From the ivy the birds
+flew in and out, and the darkness of the surrounding
+trees and tall shrubbery gave the place
+a weird and fairly mysterious appearance.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You feel the charm of it, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; said
+Mrs. Hartley, kindly, as she looked at Patty&#8217;s
+rapt face and serious eyes.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, indeed,&#8221; said Patty, softly; &#8220;I can&#8217;t explain
+it, but it casts a spell over me. Oh, I
+don&#8217;t wonder you love it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But the darkness of the outer world was soon
+dispelled by a broad gleam of light, as the
+great front doors were thrown open. An old,
+gray-haired butler stood on the threshold, and
+greeted them with rather pompous respect and
+punctilious deference. The interior was quite
+in keeping with the outside view of the house.
+But though the old carved rafters and wainscoting
+were dark and heavy, cheerful lamps
+were in abundance, and in the halls and drawing-rooms,
+wax candles were lighted also.
+</p>
+<p>At the first view on entering there seemed to
+be an interminable vista of rooms, that opened
+one from another; this was partly the effect of
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span>
+the elaborate old architecture, and partly because
+of many long mirrors in various positions.
+</p>
+<p>The furniture, tapestries and ornaments were
+all of an epoch two centuries back, and the
+whole picture fascinated Patty beyond all words.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a wonderful place,&#8221; she said at last;
+&#8220;and after a week or two, I&#8217;m going to examine
+it in detail. But at first I shall be satisfied just
+to bask in its atmosphere.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll do!&#8221; cried Bob, who had just arrived.
+&#8220;If you hadn&#8217;t appreciated Cromarty, we were
+going to pack you straight back to London; but
+you&#8217;ve acquitted yourself nobly. Nobody could
+make a better speech than you did, and I&#8217;ll
+wager you didn&#8217;t learn it beforehand either.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t,&#8221; said Patty, &#8220;because I didn&#8217;t
+know what the place was like. What few remarks
+you made about it seem like nothing,
+now that I&#8217;ve begun to see it for myself.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and you&#8217;ve only begun,&#8221; said Sinclair.
+&#8220;To-morrow, when you get further into the
+heart of it, you&#8217;ll surrender to its charm as
+we all do.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure I shall,&#8221; agreed Patty, &#8220;and, indeed,
+I think I have already done so.&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XIII_CROMARTY_MANOR' id='XIII_CROMARTY_MANOR'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
+<h3>CROMARTY MANOR</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Life at Cromarty Manor was very pleasant
+indeed.
+</p>
+<p>Although Patty had not definitely realised
+it, she was thoroughly tired out by her
+London gaieties, and the peaceful quiet of the
+country brought her a rest that she truly needed.
+</p>
+<p>Also, the Hartleys were a delightful family
+to visit. There is quite as much hospitality in
+knowing when to leave guests to themselves as
+there is in continually entertaining them.
+</p>
+<p>And while the Hartleys planned many pleasures
+for Patty, yet there were also hours in
+the morning or early afternoon, when she was
+free to follow her own sweet will.
+</p>
+<p>Sometimes she would roam around the historic
+old house, pausing here and there in some
+of the silent, unused rooms, to imagine romances
+of days gone by.
+</p>
+<p>Sometimes she would stroll out-of-doors,
+through the orchards and woods, by ravines and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span>
+brooks, always discovering some new and beautiful
+vista or bit of scenery.
+</p>
+<p>And often she would spend a morning, lying
+in a hammock beneath the old trees, reading a
+book, or merely day-dreaming, as she watched
+the sunlight play hide-and-seek among the leaves
+above her head.
+</p>
+<p>One morning, after she had been at Cromarty
+Manor for about a week, Patty betook herself
+to her favourite hammock, carrying with her a
+book of Fairy Tales, for which she had never
+outgrown her childish fondness.
+</p>
+<p>But the book remained unopened, for Patty&#8217;s
+mind was full of busy thoughts.
+</p>
+<p>She looked around at the beautiful landscape
+which, as far as the eye could reach included
+only the land belonging to the Cromarty estate.
+There were more than a thousand acres
+in all, much of which was cultivated ground,
+and the rest woodland or rolling meadows.
+Patty looked at the dark woods in the distance;
+the orchards nearer by; and, in her immediate
+vicinity, the beautiful gardens and
+terraces.
+</p>
+<p>The latter, of which there were two, known
+as the Upper and Lower Terrace, were two
+hundred feet long and were separated by a sloping
+bank of green lawn, dotted with round
+flower beds.
+</p>
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span>
+<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a>
+<img src='images/illus-174.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br />
+<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'>
+&#8220;Often she would spend a morning lying in a hammock<br />
+beneath the old trees&#8221;
+<br />
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span></div>
+<p>Above the terraces rose the old house itself.
+The Manor was built of a grayish stone, and
+was of Elizabethan architecture.
+</p>
+<p>More than two hundred years old, it had been
+remodelled and added to by its various successive
+owners, but much of its fine old, original
+plan was left.
+</p>
+<p>Ivy clung to its walls, and birds fluttered in and
+out continually.
+</p>
+<p>There was a tower on either side the great
+entrance, and Patty loved to fancy that awful
+and mysterious deeds had been committed
+within those frowning walls.
+</p>
+<p>But there was no legend or tradition attached
+to the mansion, and all its history seemed to
+be peaceful and pleasant.
+</p>
+<p>Even the quaint old yew-tree walk, with its
+strangely misshapen shrubbery, was bright and
+cheerful in the morning sunlight, and the lake
+rippled like silver, and gave no hint of dark
+or gloomy depths.
+</p>
+<p>And yet, Patty couldn&#8217;t help feeling that there
+was some shadow hanging over the Hartley
+family. They were never sad or low-spirited,
+but sometimes Mrs. Hartley would sigh, or
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span>
+Grandma Cromarty would look anxious, as if at
+some unrelievable sorrow.
+</p>
+<p>The boys were always light-hearted and gay,
+but Mabel often had moods of despondency,
+which, while they never made her cross or irritable,
+were so pathetic that it worried Patty&#8217;s
+loving heart.
+</p>
+<p>And so she lay in her hammock, gazing at the
+beauty all about her, and wondering what was
+the secret grief that harassed her dear friends.
+It never occurred to her that it was none of
+her affair, for Patty was possessed of a healthy
+curiosity, and moreover she was innately of a
+helpful nature, and longed to know what the
+trouble was, in a vague hope that she might be
+of some assistance.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I know they&#8217;re not rich,&#8221; she said to herself,
+&#8220;for the whole place shows neglect and shabbiness;
+but there&#8217;s something besides lack of
+money that makes Madam Cromarty sad.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The place was indeed in a state of unrepair.
+Though there were many servants, there were
+not enough to do all that should have been done.
+The two gardeners did their best to keep the
+flowers in order, but the elaborate conventional
+gardens, laid out in geometric designs, and intricate
+paths, called for a complete staff of
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span>
+trained workers, and in the absence of these, became
+overgrown at their borders and untidy in
+appearance.
+</p>
+<p>It was the same indoors. The handsome old
+furniture, covered with silk brocades and tapestries,
+was worn and sometimes ragged in appearance.
+Some of the decorations showed need of
+regilding, and though the magnificent old carved
+woodwork, and tessellated floors could not be
+marred by time, yet many of the lesser appointments
+called for renovation or renewal. The
+Great Hall, as it was called, had best withstood
+the ravages of time, as it was wainscoted and
+ceiled in massive old oak.
+</p>
+<p>It was a noble apartment, with recessed windows
+and panelled walls, and across one end
+was a raised platform from the back of
+which rose a wonderfully carved chimney-piece.
+</p>
+<p>This apartment, in the palmier days of the
+Manor House, had been the Banqueting Hall,
+but as there was a smaller and more appropriate
+dining-room, the Hartleys used the Great
+Hall as a living room, and had gathered in
+it their dearest treasures and belongings.
+Grandma Cromarty had her own corner, with
+her knitting basket. In another corner was a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span>
+grand piano, and many other musical instruments.
+In one north bay window was Mabel&#8217;s
+painting outfit, and so large was the recess that
+it formed a good-sized studio. On the walls,
+hobnobbing with the ancient antlers and deers&#8217;
+heads, trophies of the chase, were the boys&#8217; tennis
+rackets, and in the outstretched arm of a
+tall figure in armour, a lot of golfsticks rested
+against the quartered shield.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I suppose,&#8221; Mabel had said, when they first
+showed this room to Patty, &#8220;a great many
+people would consider it desecration to fill up
+this fine old place with all our modern stuff.
+But we&#8217;re modern, and so we make the carving
+and tapestries give way to us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They like it,&#8221; Patty had replied. &#8220;They
+feel sorry for other houses where the carvings
+and tapestries have to stay back in their own
+old times. Now hear these old rafters ring to
+modern music,&#8221; and seating herself at the piano,
+Patty began some rollicking songs that were of
+decidedly later date than the old rafters.
+</p>
+<p>Opening from the old Banqueting Hall was
+the library. This had been left just as it was,
+and the shelves full of old books were a never-failing
+delight to Patty&#8217;s browsing nature. A
+gallery ran round all four sides, which was
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span>
+reached by spiral iron staircases, and the deep-seated
+windows, with their old leather cushions,
+made delightful nooks in which to pore over
+the old volumes. There were many unused
+rooms in the Manor House. Many unexpected
+alcoves and corridors, and in these the old furniture
+was worn and decayed. The rooms that
+were lived in were kept in comfortable order,
+but Patty knew, had there been more house-servants,
+these other apartments would have
+been thrown open to light and air.
+</p>
+<p>Surely, Patty decided, the Hartleys were
+pinched for money, but just as surely, she
+thought, that could not have the effect of casting
+that indefinite gloom over them which was
+now and then observable. And as she idly
+swung in her hammock, she made up her mind
+to ask about it.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If they don&#8217;t want to tell me, they needn&#8217;t,&#8221;
+she said to herself, &#8220;but they surely know me
+well enough now to know that I&#8217;m honestly interested
+in their life, and not merely trying to
+pry into their secrets.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But she could not quite decide which one of the
+family to ask about it. She would have preferred
+to ask Grandma Cromarty, but the old
+lady had a certain reserve, which, at times, was
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span>
+forbidding, and Patty stood a little in awe of
+her.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Hartley was kindly and responsive, but
+Patty rarely saw her except when the whole
+family was present. In the morning Mrs.
+Hartley was busy with household duties, and
+afternoons Patty and Mabel were usually together.
+Patty felt sure she could never ask
+Mabel, for though the two girls were confidential
+friends, there was a sensitiveness in Mabel&#8217;s
+disposition that made Patty shrink from touching
+on what she felt might be a painful subject.
+Then there were the boys. Bob, at home on his
+vacation from college was Patty&#8217;s chum and
+merry comrade, but she imagined he would
+cleverly evade a serious question. He was always
+chaffing, and while Patty was always glad
+to meet him on this ground, she almost knew
+he wouldn&#8217;t talk seriously on family subjects.
+This left only Sinclair. Patty really liked Sinclair
+Hartley. A young man of about twenty,
+he was studying law in a nearby town, where
+he went every morning, returning in mid-afternoon.
+</p>
+<p>He was kindly and courteous, and though often
+grave, was always appreciative of a joke, and
+quite ready to join in any fun. But he had a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span>
+serious side, and Patty had enjoyed many long
+talks with him on subjects that never would
+interest Mabel or Bob.
+</p>
+<p>And so she concluded that at the first opportunity,
+she would ask Sinclair what was the nature
+of the mystery that seemed to hang over the
+House of Hartley.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ah, there, Pitty-Pat!&#8221; called a gay voice,
+and looking around, Patty saw Bob strolling toward
+her across the lawn. &#8220;Want to go out on
+the lake and fish for pond-lilies?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, indeed,&#8221; said Patty, twisting herself
+out of the hammock. &#8220;What are you going to
+do with them?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, just for the lunch table. Mabel&#8217;s so
+everlastingly fond of them, you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty thought it was nice of Bob to remember
+his sister&#8217;s tastes, and she willingly went with
+him toward the lake.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How beautiful it all is!&#8221; she said as they
+went down the terrace steps and along the lake
+path which led through a pergola and around a
+curved corner called &#8220;The Alcove.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This delightful nook was a small open court
+of marble, adorned with pillars and statues, and
+partly surrounding a fountain.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221; exclaimed Bob, enthusiastically.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span>
+&#8220;You know, Patty, this old place is my
+joy and my despair. I love every stick and
+stone of it, but I wish we could keep it up in
+decent order. Heigh-ho! Just wait until I&#8217;m
+out of college. I&#8217;ll do something then to turn an
+honest shilling, and every penny of it shall go
+to fix up the dear old place.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What are you going to be, Bob?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;An engineer. There&#8217;s more chance for a
+fellow in that than in any other profession.
+Old Sinclair&#8217;s for being a lawyer, and he&#8217;ll be
+a good one, too, but it&#8217;s slow work.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You ought to go to America, Bob, if you
+want to get rich.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I would, like a shot, if I could take the old
+house with me. But I&#8217;m afraid it&#8217;s too big to
+uproot.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid it is. I suppose you wouldn&#8217;t like
+to live in a brown-stone front on Fifth
+Avenue?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Never having seen your brown-stone Avenue,
+ma&#8217;am, I can&#8217;t say; but I suppose a deer park
+and lake and several thousand acres of meadow
+land are not included with each house.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No; not unless you take the whole of Manhattan
+Island.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Even that wouldn&#8217;t do; unless I had taken
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span>
+it a few hundred years ago, and started the
+trees growing then.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, America wouldn&#8217;t suit you,&#8221; said Patty,
+thoughtfully, &#8220;any more than English country
+life would suit most of our American boys.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But you like this life of ours?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I love it; for a time. And just now I am
+enjoying it immensely. Oh, what gorgeous
+lilies!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They had reached the lake, and the quiet, well-behaved
+water was placidly rippling against the
+stone coping.
+</p>
+<p>Bob untied the boat.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s an old thing,&#8221; he said, regretfully; &#8220;but
+it&#8217;s water-tight, so don&#8217;t be afraid.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty went down the broad marble steps, and
+seated herself in the stern of the boat, while
+Bob took the rowing seat.
+</p>
+<p>A few of his strong pulls, and they were out
+among the lily pads.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Row around a bit before we gather them,&#8221;
+suggested Patty, and Bob with long, slow
+strokes sent the boat softly and steadily along.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it perfect?&#8221; said Patty, dreamily. &#8220;It
+seems as if nothing could stir me up on a day
+like this.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Is that so?&#8221; said Bob, and with mischief in
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span>
+his eyes, he began to rock the boat from side
+to side.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You villain!&#8221; cried Patty, rudely stirred
+from her calm enjoyment; &#8220;take that!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>She dashed light sprays of water at him from
+over the side of the boat, and he returned by
+cleverly sprinkling a few drops on her from
+the blade of his oar.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why did you want to kick up a bobbery,
+when everything was so nice and peaceful?&#8221;
+she said, reproachfully.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I shall always kick up a bobbery,&#8221; he returned,
+calmly, &#8220;when you put on that romantic,
+sentimental air.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t put on any sentimental air! I was
+just enjoying the dreamy spirit of the lake.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thank you! That&#8217;s the same as saying my
+society makes you sleepy.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nothing of the sort. And anyway, the
+dreamy mood has passed.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I intended it should. Now, let&#8217;s sing.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right; what?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The &#8216;Little Kibosh,&#8217; I think. That&#8217;s a good
+song to row by.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The young people at Cromarty Manor had
+already composed several songs which seemed
+to them choicest gems of musical composition.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span></p>
+<p>As a rule Patty and Bob made up the words,
+while Mabel and Sinclair arranged the tunes.
+</p>
+<p>Sometimes the airs were adapted from well-known
+songs, and sometimes they were entirely
+original.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The Little Kibosh&#8221; was one of their favourite
+nonsense songs, and now Patty and Bob
+sang it in unison as they rowed slowly about
+on the lake.
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>&#8220;It was ever so many years ago,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>On a prairie by the sea;</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>A little Kibosh I used to know</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>By the name of Hoppity Lee.</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>His hair was as green as the driven snow,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>And his cheeks were as blue as tea.</p>
+<br />
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>&#8220;&#8217;Twas just about night, or nearly noon</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>When Hoppity Lee and I</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Decided to go for a sail to the moon,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>At least, as far as the sky.</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>But instead of taking the Big Balloon,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>sailed in a pumpkin pie.</p>
+<br />
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>&#8220;Dear little Hoppity Lee and I</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>Were happy and glad and gay;</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>But the Dog Star came out as we passed by,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>And began to bark and bay.</p>
+<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span></div>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>And the little Kibosh fell out of the pie,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>And into the Milky Way!</p>
+<br />
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>&#8220;I fished and fished for a year and a week</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>For dear little Hoppity Lee;</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>And at last I heard a small faint squeak</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>From the place where he used to be;</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>And he said, &#8216;Go home, and never more seek,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>Oh, never more seek for me!&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XIV_UNCLE_MARMADUKE' id='XIV_UNCLE_MARMADUKE'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2>
+<h3>UNCLE MARMADUKE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>That very same evening Patty had a
+chance to speak to Sinclair alone.
+</p>
+<p>It was just after dinner, and the lovely
+English twilight was beginning to cast long,
+soft shadows of the tall cypresses across the
+lawn. The various members of the family were
+standing about on the terrace, when Sinclair
+said, &#8220;You need some exercise, Patty; let&#8217;s
+walk as far as the alcove.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty assented, and the two strolled away,
+while Mabel called after them, &#8220;Don&#8217;t be gone
+long, for we&#8217;re all going to play games this
+evening.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They all loved games, so Patty promised to return
+very soon.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I never saw anything like this alcove before
+in my life,&#8221; said Patty, as they reached the picturesque
+spot and sat down upon the curving
+marble seat.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They are often found in the gardens of old
+English homes. Any arched or covered seat
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span>
+out of doors is called an alcove. But this is
+rather an elaborate one. The marble pillars are
+of fine design, and the whole thing is beautifully
+proportioned.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Is it very old?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, older than the house. You know the
+Cromartys have lived on this estate for several
+hundred years. But the original house was destroyed
+by fire, or nearly so, and the present
+house was built on the old foundations about
+the middle of the seventeenth century. If
+you&#8217;re interested in these things, there are lots
+of books in the library, telling all about the history
+of the place.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed I am interested, and I shall look up
+the books, if you&#8217;ll tell me what they are. Is
+there any legend or tradition connected with the
+place?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No. We have no ghosts at Cromarty
+Manor. We&#8217;ve always been a peaceful sort, except
+that my great uncle quarrelled with my
+grandfather.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mrs. Cromarty&#8217;s husband?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes. He was Roger Cromarty&mdash;grandfather
+was, I mean&mdash;and he had a brother
+Marmaduke. They were both high-tempered,
+and Marmaduke after an unusually fierce quarrel
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span>
+left home and went to India. But have you
+never heard the story of the Cromarty Fortune?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, I never have. Is it a sad story? Would
+you rather not tell me?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, no; it isn&#8217;t a sad story, except that
+the conditions are rather sad for us. But there&#8217;s
+no reason in the world why you shouldn&#8217;t hear
+it, if you care to. Indeed, I supposed Mabel
+had already told it you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, she never did. Will you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes. But not here. Let us go in, and get
+the family all together, and we&#8217;ll give you a
+dramatic recital of the Great Cromarty Mystery.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, is it a mystery story? How delightful.
+I love a mystery.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad you do, but I assure you I wish it
+wasn&#8217;t a mystery.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Will it never be solved?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I fear not, now. But let us go back to the
+house, and tell the tale as it should be told.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They found that the others had already gone
+into the house, and were gathered round the
+big table that stood in the middle of the living
+room. As they joined the group, Sinclair said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Before we play games this evening, we are
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span>
+going to tell Patty the story of Uncle Marmaduke&#8217;s
+money.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty was surprised to note the different expressions
+on her friends&#8217; faces. Mabel seemed
+to shrink into herself, as if in embarrassment or
+sensitiveness. Mrs. Cromarty looked calmly
+proud, and Mrs. Hartley smiled a little.
+</p>
+<p>But Bob laughed outright, and said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good! I&#8217;ll help; we&#8217;ll all help, and we&#8217;ll
+touch up the tale until it has all the dramatic
+effect of a three-volume novel.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It won&#8217;t need touching up,&#8221; said Sinclair.
+&#8220;Just the plain truth is story enough of itself.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You begin it, Grandy,&#8221; said Bob, &#8220;and then,
+when your imagination gives out, I&#8217;ll take a
+hand at it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The old lady smiled.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It needs no imagination, Robert,&#8221; she said;
+&#8220;if Patty cares to hear of our family misfortune,
+I&#8217;m quite willing to relate the tale.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I didn&#8217;t know it was a misfortune,&#8221; cried
+Patty. &#8220;I thought it was a mystery story.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s both,&#8221; said Mrs. Cromarty, &#8220;but if the
+mystery could be solved, it would be no misfortune.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That sounds like an enigma,&#8221; observed
+Patty.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all an enigma,&#8221; said Bob. &#8220;Go ahead,
+Grandy.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The story begins,&#8221; said Mrs. Cromarty,
+&#8220;with my marriage to Roger Cromarty. I was
+wed in the year 1855. My husband and I were
+happy during the first few years of our married
+life. He was the owner of this beautiful place,
+which had been in his family for many generations.
+My daughter, Emmeline, was born here,
+and when she was a child she filled the old house
+with her happy laughter and chatter. My husband
+had a brother, Marmaduke, with whom he
+was not on good terms. Before my marriage,
+this brother had left home, and gone to India.
+My husband held no communication with him,
+but we sometimes heard indirectly from him,
+and reports always said that he was amassing
+great wealth in some Indian commerce.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Is that his portrait?&#8221; asked Patty, indicating
+a painting of a fine-looking man in the
+prime of life.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Mrs. Cromarty. &#8220;But the picture
+represents him as looking amiable, whereas
+he was always cross, grumpy, and irritable.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Like me,&#8221; commented Bob.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said his mother, &#8220;I&#8217;m thankful to say
+that none of you children show the slightest
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span>
+signs of Uncle Marmaduke&#8217;s disposition. I was
+only fifteen years old when he died, but I shall
+never forget his scowling face and angry tones.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Was he always cross?&#8221; asked Patty, amazed
+that any one could be invariably ill-tempered.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Always,&#8221; said Mrs. Cromarty. &#8220;At least,
+whenever he was here. I never saw him elsewhere.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Go back, Grandy; you&#8217;re getting ahead of
+your story.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I tried my best to bring about a
+reconciliation between the two brothers, but both
+were proud and a bit stubborn. I could not
+persuade my husband to write to Marmaduke,
+and though I wrote to him myself, my letters
+were torn up, and the scraps returned to me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lovely old gentleman!&#8221; commented Bob.
+&#8220;I&#8217;m glad my manners are at least better than
+that!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;At last, my husband, Mr. Roger Cromarty,
+became very ill. I knew he could not recover,
+and wrote Marmaduke to that effect. To my
+surprise, I received a grim, but fairly polite
+letter, saying that he would leave India at once,
+and hoped to reach his brother&#8217;s bedside in time
+for a reconciliation.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And did he?&#8221; asked Patty, breathlessly.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but that was all. My husband was dying
+when his brother came. They made peace,
+however, and arranged some business matters.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; cried Patty, &#8220;how glad you must have
+been that he did not come too late. What a
+comfort all these years, to know that they did
+make up their quarrel.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, indeed,&#8221; assented Mrs. Cromarty.
+&#8220;But I have talked all I can. Emmeline, you
+may take up the narrative.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell a little,&#8221; said Mrs. Hartley, smiling;
+&#8220;but I shall soon let Sinclair continue. We
+all know this tale by heart, but only Sinclair
+can do full justice to the mysterious part
+of it. I was only ten years old when my
+father died, and Uncle Marmaduke came
+here to live. It changed the whole world for
+me. Where before all had been happiness and
+love, now all was unkindness and fear. None
+of us dared cross Uncle Marmaduke, for his
+fiery anger was something not to be endured.
+And beside being bad-tempered, he was erratic.
+He did most peculiar things, without any reason
+in them whatever. Altogether, he was a
+most difficult man to live with. But at my
+father&#8217;s death he owned this estate, and we had
+to live with him or go homeless. He had plenty
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span>
+of money, and he repaired and restored much
+about the place. But even in this he was erratic.
+He would have masons in to renew the
+crumbling plaster and brickwork in the cellars,
+while the drawing-room furniture could go ragged
+and forlorn. He spent his money freely
+for anything he wanted himself, but was niggardly
+toward mother and myself. However,
+he always told us that at his death we should
+inherit his wealth. The estate, also, he willed
+to mother. He lived with us for about five
+years, and then was killed by a fall from his
+horse. I was a girl of fifteen then, and when
+he was brought in, mangled and almost dead,
+he called for me. I went to his bedside, trembling,
+for even then I feared he was going to
+scold me. But he could only speak in hesitating,
+disjointed sentences. It was with difficulty I
+gathered that he was trying to give me some information
+about his fortune. I wish now I had
+tried to help him tell me; but at that time it
+seemed heartless to think of such things when
+the poor man was dying, and I soothed him, and
+begged him not to try to talk, when it was such
+an exertion.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Mother,&#8221; wailed Bob, &#8220;if you&#8217;d only
+listened, instead of talking yourself!&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span></p>
+<p>Mrs. Hartley smiled, as if she were used to
+such comments at this part of the story.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; she said, &#8220;I think Sinclair may take
+up the recital here. That is, if you&#8217;re interested,
+Patty?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If I&#8217;m interested! Indeed I am! It&#8217;s very
+exciting, and I want it all now; no &#8216;continued in
+our next.&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t know the end, ourselves,&#8221; said
+Mabel, with such a wistful look in her eyes that
+Patty went over and sat by her, and with her
+arm round her listened to the rest of the story.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, then,&#8221; said Sinclair, in his grave,
+kindly voice, &#8220;Uncle Marmaduke tried very
+hard to communicate to mother and Grandy
+something about his fortune. But his accident
+had somehow paralysed his throat, and he could
+scarcely articulate. But for an hour or more,
+as he lay dying, he would look at them with
+piercing glances, and say what sounded like
+dickens! gold!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Did he mean gold money?&#8221; asked Patty,
+impulsively.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They didn&#8217;t know, then. But they thought
+at the time that dickens! was one of his angry
+expletives, as he was given to such language.
+The gold, they felt sure, referred to his fortune,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span>
+which he had always declared he would
+leave to Grandmother. Then he died, without
+being able to say any other except those two
+words, gold and dickens.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He might have meant Charles Dickens,&#8221; suggested
+Patty, who dearly loved to guess at a
+puzzle.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;As it turned out, he did,&#8221; said Sinclair,
+serenely; &#8220;but that&#8217;s ahead of the story.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And, too,&#8221; said Mrs. Hartley, &#8220;the way in
+which he finally articulated the word, by a great
+effort, and after many attempts, was so&mdash;so explosive,
+that it sounded like an ejaculation far
+more than like a noted author.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Years went by,&#8221; continued Sinclair, &#8220;and
+Grandy and mother were left with the old Cromarty
+estate, and nothing to keep it up with.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We had a small income, my boy,&#8221; said his
+grandmother.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but not enough to keep the place as it
+should be kept. However, no trace could be
+found of Uncle Marmaduke&#8217;s money. He was
+generally supposed to have brought a large fortune
+home from India, but it seemed to have
+vanished into thin air. His private papers and
+belongings showed no records of stocks or
+bonds, no bank books, and save for a small
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span>
+amount of ready money he had by him, he
+seemed to be penniless. Of course, he wasn&#8217;t;
+the way he had lived, and the money he
+had spent indicated that he had a fortune somewhere;
+and, too, there was his promise to leave
+it to Grandy. Of course, the conclusion was
+that he had hidden this fortune.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A hidden fortune!&#8221; exclaimed Patty, blissfully.
+&#8220;Oh, what a lovely mystery! Why, you
+couldn&#8217;t have a better one!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think a discovered fortune would be far
+better,&#8221; said Mabel, and Patty clasped her
+friend&#8217;s hand in sympathy.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;At last,&#8221; said Sinclair, &#8220;a <i>very</i> bright lawyer
+had a glimmering of an idea that Uncle Marmaduke&#8217;s
+last words had some meaning to them.
+He inquired of the ladies of the house, and
+learned that the late Mr. Marmaduke had been
+exceedingly fond of reading Dickens, and that
+he was greatly attached to his own well-worn
+set of the great author&#8217;s works. &#8216;Ah, ha!&#8217; said
+the very bright lawyer. &#8216;Between those well-thumbed
+pages, we will find many Bank of England
+notes, or certificates of valuable stocks!&#8217;
+They flew to the library, and thoroughly
+searched all the volumes of the set. And what
+do you think they found?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Nothing,&#8221; said Patty, wagging her head
+solemnly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Exactly that! Save for a book-marker here
+and there, the volumes held nothing but their
+own immortal stories. &#8216;Foiled again!&#8217; hissed
+the <i>very</i> bright lawyer. But he kept right on
+being foiled, and still no hoard of securities was
+found.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But what about the gold?&#8221; said Patty.
+&#8220;They didn&#8217;t expect to find gold coins in
+Dickens&#8217; books?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, but they fondly hoped they&#8217;d find a
+mysterious paper in cryptogram, like the &#8216;Gold
+Bug,&#8217; you know, telling them to go out in the
+dark of the moon, and dig north by northwest
+under the old apple tree.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t try to be funny, Clair,&#8221; put in Bob;
+&#8220;go on with the yarn. You&#8217;re telling it well
+to-night.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And then,&#8221; said Sinclair, looking from one
+to another of his interested hearers, &#8220;and then
+the years rolled by until the fair maiden, Emmeline
+Cromarty, was of sufficient age to have
+suitors for her lily-white hand. As we can well
+believe, after a mere glance in her direction, she
+was the belle of the whole countryside. Brave
+gallants from far and near came galloping into
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span>
+the courtyard, and dismounting in feverish,
+haste, cried, &#8216;What ho! is the radiant Emmeline
+within?&#8217; Then the old warden with his
+clanking keys admitted them, and they stood in
+rows, that the coquettish damsel might make a
+selection.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How ridiculous you are, Sinclair!&#8221; said his
+mother, smiling. &#8220;Can&#8217;t you omit that part?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nay, nay, fair lady. And so, it came to
+pass, that among the shoals of suitors was one
+who was far more brave and strong and noble
+than all the rest. Edgar Hartley&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sinclair&#8217;s voice broke a little as he spoke the
+name of his revered father. But hiding his
+emotion, he went on.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Edgar Hartley wooed and won Emmeline
+Cromarty, and in the beautiful June of 1880
+they were wed and merrily rang the bells. Now
+while Edgar Hartley was by no means wealthy,
+he had a fair income, and the fortunes of Cromarty
+Manor improved. The young couple
+took up their abode here, and the Dowager
+Duchess of Cromarty lived with them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not a Duchess,&#8221; interposed Mrs. Cromarty,
+in her calm way.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You ought to have been, Grandy,&#8221; declared
+Bob. &#8220;You look the part, and I&#8217;m sure there&#8217;s
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span>
+a missing title somewhere that belongs to you.
+Perhaps Uncle Marmaduke concealed it with
+the rest of his fortune.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, dear boy; we are not titled people. But
+the Cromartys are an old family, and much beloved
+and respected by all the country round.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We are so!&#8221; declared Bob, with great enthusiasm.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XV_PUZZLING_RHYMES' id='XV_PUZZLING_RHYMES'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2>
+<h3>PUZZLING RHYMES</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;As I was saying,&#8221; continued Sinclair,
+&#8220;Mr. and Mrs. Hartley lived happily
+at Cromarty Manor. Three beautiful
+children were born to them, who have since
+grown to be the superior specimens of humanity
+you see before you. I am the oldest, and, as I
+may modestly remark, the flower of the family.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; commented Patty, looking
+affectionately at Mabel.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, anyway, as was only natural, the search
+for that hidden fortune went on at times. Perhaps
+a visitor would stir up the interest afresh,
+and attempts would be made to discover new
+meaning in Uncle Marmaduke&#8217;s last words.
+And it was my father who succeeded in doing
+this. He sat in the library one day, looking
+over the old set of Dickens&#8217; works, which always
+had a fascinating air of holding the secret.
+He had not lived here long then, and was
+not very familiar with the books on the library
+shelves, but looking about he discovered another
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span>
+set of Dickens, a much newer set, and the
+volumes were bound in cloth, but almost entirely
+covered by a gilded decoration. Wait,
+I&#8217;ll show you one.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sinclair rose, and going into the library, returned
+in a moment with a copy of &#8220;Barnaby
+Rudge.&#8221; It was bound in green cloth, but so
+ornate was the gold tooling that little green
+could be seen.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dickens&mdash;gold&mdash;&mdash;&#8221; murmured Patty, her
+eyes shining as she realised the new meaning in
+the words.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes; and, sure enough that was what Uncle
+Marmaduke meant. Just think! For fifteen
+years that set of books had stood untouched
+on the shelves, while people nearly wore
+out the older set, hunting for a clue to the
+fortune!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s great!&#8221; declared Patty; &#8220;go on!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, this set of Dickens proved extremely
+interesting. Between the leaves of the books
+were papers of all sorts. Bills, deeds, banknotes,
+memoranda, and even a will.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then you had the fortune, at last?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No such luck. The banknotes and the few
+securities in the books amounted to a fair
+sum, which was gratefully appreciated by my
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span>
+parents, but as to the bulk of the fortune,
+it only made matters more tantalising than
+ever.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; asked Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;One of the papers was a will, properly executed
+and witnessed, leaving all the fortune of
+which Uncle Marmaduke died possessed, to my
+mother. Then, instead of a definite statement
+of where this money was deposited, were some
+foolish jingles hinting where to find it. These
+rhymes would be interesting as an old legend,
+or in a story book, but to find them instead of
+a heap of money, was, to say the least, disappointing.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And did you never find the money?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Never. And, of course, now we never will.
+Remember all this happened twenty years ago.
+I mean the discovery of the papers. Of course,
+the money was hidden more than thirty-five
+years ago.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And do you mean to say that you people
+are living here, in your own house, and your
+own money is hidden here somewhere, and you
+can&#8217;t find it?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Exactly as you state it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well! <i>I&#8217;d</i> find it, if I had to tear the whole
+house down.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Wait a minute, Miss Impetuosity. We don&#8217;t
+think it&#8217;s in the house.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, out of doors?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re good at puzzles, I know, but just
+wait until you hear the directions that came with
+the package, and I think you&#8217;ll admit it&#8217;s a
+hopeless problem.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;May she see them, Mother?&#8221; said Mabel.
+&#8220;Will you get them out for us?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not to-night, dear. I&#8217;ll show the old papers
+to Patty, some other time; but now Sinclair can
+tell her the lines just as well.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of all the papers in the books,&#8221; Sinclair went
+on, &#8220;only two seemed to be directions for finding
+the money, although others vaguely hinted
+that the fortune was concealed. And still others
+gave the impression that Uncle Marmaduke
+meant to tell mother all about it; but as his
+death came upon him so suddenly, of course
+he could not do this. On these two papers are
+rhymes, which we children have known by heart
+all our lives. One is:
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>&#8220;&#8216;Great treasure lieth in the poke</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Between the fir trees and the oak.&#8217;</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<p>&#8220;You see uncle was a true poet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What does the poke mean?&#8221; asked Patty.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, a poke is a pocket; or a hiding-place of
+any sort. Of course, this information sent
+father to digging around every fir tree and oak
+tree on the place. As you know, there are hundreds
+of both kinds of trees, so the directions
+can&#8217;t be called explicit.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But,&#8221; said Patty, wrinkling her brow, &#8220;it
+says &#8216;between the fir trees and the oak,&#8217; as if
+it meant a clump of firs and only one big oak.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes; that&#8217;s what has been surmised. And
+many a separate oak tree that stands near a
+group of firs has been thoroughly investigated.
+But wait; there&#8217;s another clue. On a separate
+paper these words are written:
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>&#8220;&#8216;Above the stair, across the hall,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>Between the bedhead and the wall,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>A careful searching will reveal</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 2em;'>The noble fortune I conceal.&#8217;</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<p>&#8220;There, could anything be plainer than
+that?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then the money is <i>in</i> the house!&#8221; exclaimed
+Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Take your choice. There are the two declarations.
+It may be he concealed the money
+in one place, and then transferred it to another.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span>
+Or it may be he put part in the ground, and
+part in the house.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But, &#8216;between the bedhead and the wall,&#8217; is
+so definite. There are not so very many bedrooms,
+you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;True enough. And of course, when my
+father found that paper, he went directly upstairs,
+crossed the hall, and so reached Uncle
+Marmaduke&#8217;s own bedroom. The furniture
+had been moved about, but Grandy remembered
+where the head of the bed stood in Uncle&#8217;s
+time. They searched thoroughly, took up flooring,
+took down wainscoting, and all that, to no
+avail.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course, they tried other &#8216;bedheads&#8217;?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, tell her about it, Grandy.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Mrs. Cromarty, placidly. &#8220;All
+the bedrooms in the house, even the servants&#8217;
+rooms, were subjected to most careful scrutiny.
+Although so many years had elapsed, I could
+remember where the various beds stood when
+Marmaduke was with us. Behind each, we had
+the walls sounded, and in some cases, broken
+into. We even looked for pockets or receptacles
+of some sort on the backs of the headboards
+themselves, but never a trace of anything could
+we find.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s very exciting!&#8221; said Patty; &#8220;how can
+you all be so calm about it? I should think
+you&#8217;d be searching every minute!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You must remember, dear,&#8221; said Mrs. Hartley,
+&#8220;it&#8217;s an old story to us. At first, we were
+indeed excited. For several years we searched
+almost continuously. Then hope began to fail,
+and our investigations became intermittent.
+Every now and then we would make a fresh
+attempt, but invariably repeated failures dampened
+our enthusiasm.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s <i>so</i> interesting,&#8221; sighed Patty. &#8220;Can&#8217;t
+we get up a little of the old enthusiasm, and
+do some searching while I&#8217;m here?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed, we can,&#8221; cried Bob. &#8220;Would you
+prefer an excavating party, with picks and
+spades, or an indoor performance in the old
+bedrooms?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Both,&#8221; declared Patty. &#8220;Of course I know
+how absurd it is to go over the ground that
+has already been worn threadbare, but&mdash;but,
+oh! if we <i>could</i> find it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Grandma Cromarty smiled.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Forgive me, dearie,&#8221; she said, &#8220;but I&#8217;ve
+heard those sentiments from all my guests to
+whom we have told the story, for the past
+thirty-five years; and though I don&#8217;t want to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span>
+seem ungrateful for your interest, I feel it my
+duty to warn you there is no hope.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes there is <i>hope</i>, Grandy,&#8221; said Sinclair,
+&#8220;but there is nothing else. There&#8217;s no
+probability, scarcely a possibility, but we&#8217;ll <i>never</i>
+give up hope.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Never!&#8221; agreed Bob; but Mabel&#8217;s expression
+plainly showed that she hadn&#8217;t the faintest
+glimmering of a hope.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It does seem so strange,&#8221; said Patty, thoughtfully,
+&#8220;to have the two directions, and both so
+explicit. No, not explicit, they&#8217;re not that, but
+both so definite.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hardly definite, either,&#8221; said Bob, &#8220;except
+that they seem to reveal the fact that there <i>is</i> a
+fortune concealed about the place. Oh! it
+makes me frantic! I feel so helpless.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no use storming about it, Bob, my
+boy,&#8221; said his mother. &#8220;And, Patty, you
+mustn&#8217;t set us down as too mercenary in this
+matter. But I think you know that we, as a
+family, long for the means which would enable
+us to keep up this dear old place as it should
+be, and not let its beautiful parks and gardens
+go uncared for and neglected.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I do know!&#8221; cried Patty; &#8220;and it makes me
+furious to think that the money&mdash;your own
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span>
+money&mdash;is perhaps within your reach, and yet&mdash;you
+can&#8217;t get it! Oh, why didn&#8217;t Mr. Marmaduke
+say just where he put it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He did,&#8221; said Bob, smiling.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, so he did. Well, I&#8217;d tear up every
+square foot of ground on the whole estate,
+then.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Remember, Patty,&#8221; said Sinclair, in his quiet
+way, &#8220;there are nearly ten thousand acres in
+all; and except for meadowlands and water,
+there are oaks and firs on nearly every acre.
+The fortune itself would scarcely pay for all
+that labour.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, then, I&#8217;d tear the house to pieces.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, no you wouldn&#8217;t,&#8221; said Mrs. Hartley;
+&#8220;and beside, that has almost been done. My
+husband had so much of the woodwork and
+plaster removed, that I almost feared he
+would bring the house down about our ears.
+And it is such a big, rambling old place,
+it is hopeless to think of examining it really
+thoroughly.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty glanced around at the great hall she was
+in. The groined ceiling, with its intricate carvings
+at the intersections; the cornice carved in
+deep relief, with heraldic bosses, and massive
+patterns; the tall columns and pilasters; all
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span>
+seemed part of an old monument which it would
+be desecration to break into.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I wonder where it is,&#8221; she said; &#8220;indoors
+or out.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s out of doors,&#8221; said Sinclair. &#8220;I
+think uncle hid it in the house first, and then
+wrote his exquisite poem about the poke. Perhaps
+it was merely a pocket of leather or canvas,
+that hung behind the headboard of his own
+bed. In that case all prying into the walls would
+mean nothing. Then, I think, as that was only
+a temporary hiding-place, he later buried it in
+the ground between some special oak tree and
+fir tree, or trees. I think, too, he left, or meant
+to leave some more of his poetry to tell which
+trees, but owing to his sudden taking off, he
+didn&#8217;t do this.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sinclair,&#8221; said Bob, &#8220;as our American friend,
+Mr. Dooley, says, &#8216;Yer opinions is inthrestin&#8217;,
+but not convincin&#8217;.&#8217; As opinions, they&#8217;re fine;
+but I wish I had some facts. If uncle had only
+left a cryptogram or a cipher, I&#8217;d like it better
+than all that rhymed foolishness.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Perhaps it isn&#8217;t foolishness,&#8221; said Patty; &#8220;I
+think, with Sinclair, it&#8217;s likely Mr. Marmaduke
+wrote the indoor one first, and then changed
+the hiding-place and wrote the other. But how
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span>
+could he do all this hiding and rehiding without
+being seen?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I went up to London every season,&#8221; said
+Mrs. Cromarty; &#8220;and, of course, took Emmeline
+with me. Marmaduke always stayed
+here, and thus had ample opportunity to do
+what he would. Indeed, he usually had great
+goings-on while we were away. One year, he
+had the Italian garden laid out. Another year,
+he had a new porter&#8217;s lodge built. This was
+done the last year of his life, and as he had
+masons around so much at that time, repairing
+the cellars and all that, we thought later, that he
+might have had a hiding-place arranged in the
+wall behind the head of his bed. But, if so, we
+never could find it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And have you dug under the trees much?&#8221;
+persisted Patty, who could not accept the hopelessness
+of the others.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dug!&#8221; exclaimed Bob, &#8220;I&#8217;ve blistered my
+hands by the hour. I&#8217;ve viewed fir trees and
+oaks, until I know every one on the place by
+heart. I&#8217;ve trudged a line from oaks to firs,
+and starting in the middle, I&#8217;ve dug both ways.
+But I&#8217;m nearly ready to give up. Not quite,
+though. I&#8217;m making a thorough search of all
+the books in the library, on the chance of finding
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span>
+some other message. But there are such a
+lot of books! I&#8217;ve been at it for three years
+now, off and on, and I&#8217;m only three-quarters
+way round. And not a paper yet, except a few
+old letters and bills.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll help you, Bob,&#8221; said Patty; &#8220;oh, I&#8217;d love
+to do something toward the search, even if I
+don&#8217;t find a thing. I&#8217;ll begin to-morrow. You
+tell me what books you&#8217;ve done.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I will, indeed. I&#8217;ll be jolly glad to have
+help. And you can do as much as you
+like, before your young enthusiasm wears
+off.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll do it, gladly,&#8221; said Patty, and then they
+discovered that the evening had flown away,
+and it was bedtime.
+</p>
+<p>As they went upstairs, Mabel followed Patty
+to her room and sat down for a little good-night
+chat.
+</p>
+<p>Patty&#8217;s eyes were shining with excitement, and
+as she took off her hair ribbon, and folded it
+round her hand, she said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Even if we don&#8217;t find anything, you&#8217;ll be no
+worse off, and it&#8217;s such fun to hunt.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They didn&#8217;t tell you all, Patty,&#8221; said Mabel,
+in a pathetic tone, and Patty turned quickly to
+her friend.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, what do you mean?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I mean this. Of course, we&#8217;ve never been
+rich, and we&#8217;ve never been able to do for the
+place what ought to be done for it; but we have
+been able to live here. And now&mdash;now, if we
+can&#8217;t get any more money, we&mdash;we can&#8217;t stay
+here! Oh, Patty!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty&#8217;s arms went round Mabel, as the poor
+child burst into tears.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said, sobbing, &#8220;some of mother&#8217;s
+business interests have failed&mdash;it&#8217;s all come on
+lately, I don&#8217;t entirely understand it&mdash;but, anyway,
+we may soon have to leave Cromarty, and
+oh, Patty, how <i>could</i> we live anywhere else? and
+what&#8217;s worse, how <i>could</i> we have any one else
+living here?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Leave Cromarty Manor! Where you&#8217;ve all
+lived so long&mdash;I mean your ancestors and all!
+Why, Mabel, you can&#8217;t do that!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But we&#8217;ll have to. We haven&#8217;t money
+enough to pay the servants&mdash;or, at least, we
+won&#8217;t have, soon.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Are you sure of all this, dear? Does Mrs.
+Cromarty expect to go away?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s all uncertain. We don&#8217;t know. But
+mother&#8217;s lawyer thinks we&#8217;d better sell or let
+the place. Of course we won&#8217;t sell it, but it
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span>
+would be almost as bad to let it. Think of
+strangers here!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t think of such a thing! It seems impossible.
+But perhaps matters may turn out
+better than you think. Perhaps you won&#8217;t have
+to go.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what Sinclair says&mdash;and mother. But
+I&#8217;m sure the worst will happen.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, Mabel, stop that! I won&#8217;t let you
+look on the dark side. And, anyway, you&#8217;re not
+to think any more about it to-night. You won&#8217;t
+sleep a wink if you get nervous and worried.
+Now put it out of your mind, and let&#8217;s talk
+about the croquet party to-morrow at Grace
+Meredith&#8217;s. How are we going over?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You and I are to drive in the pony cart, and
+the others will go in the carriage.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That will be lovely. Now, what shall we
+wear?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Thus, tactfully, Patty led Mabel&#8217;s thoughts
+away from her troubles, for the time, at least,
+and when the two friends parted for the night,
+they both went healthily and happily to sleep.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XVI_THE_CROQUET_PARTY' id='XVI_THE_CROQUET_PARTY'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
+<h3>THE CROQUET PARTY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The next afternoon the two girls started
+in the pony cart for the Merediths.
+</p>
+<p>Patty loved to play croquet, and though
+it greatly amused her to hear the English people
+pronounce the word as if it were spelled <i>croky</i>,
+yet not to appear peculiar, she spoke it that way
+too.
+</p>
+<p>The party was a large one, and the games were
+arranged somewhat after the fashion of a tournament.
+</p>
+<p>Patty&#8217;s partner was Tom Meredith, and as he
+played a fairly good game they easily beat their
+first opponents.
+</p>
+<p>But later on they found themselves matched
+against Mabel Hartley and a young man named
+Jack Stanton. Mr. Stanton was an expert, and
+Mabel played the best game Patty had ever seen
+a girl play.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s no use,&#8221; said Patty, good-naturedly, as
+they began the game, &#8220;Tom and I never can
+win against you two.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t despair,&#8221; said Tom, encouragingly,
+&#8220;There&#8217;s many a slip, you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The game progressed until, when Tom and
+Patty were about three-quarters of the way
+around, Mabel was passing through her last
+wicket and Mr. Stanton was a &#8220;rover.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Be careful, now,&#8221; said Mr. Stanton, as
+Mabel aimed to send her ball through the arch.
+&#8220;It&#8217;s a straight shot, and a long shot, and
+you&#8217;re liable to touch the post.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>And that&#8217;s just what happened. As Mabel&#8217;s
+swift, clear stroke sent the ball straight through
+the wicket, it went spinning on and hit squarely
+the home stake.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Jupiter! that&#8217;s bad luck!&#8221; exclaimed Jack
+Stanton. &#8220;They&#8217;ll jolly well beat us now. But
+never mind, perhaps I can slip through yet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But he couldn&#8217;t. The fact that they had two
+plays to his one, gave Patty and Tom a great
+advantage.
+</p>
+<p>Tom was a clever manager, and Patty followed
+his directions implicitly. So they played
+a defensive game, and spent much time keeping
+Stanton&#8217;s ball away from the positions he desired.
+The result was that Tom and Patty won,
+but their success was really owing to Mabel&#8217;s
+mistake in going out.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span></p>
+<p>The test was to win two games out of three,
+so with one game in favor of Patty&#8217;s side they
+began the next.
+</p>
+<p>Patty was considered a good croquet player in
+America, but in England the rules of the game,
+as well as the implements, were so different that
+it seriously impeded her progress.
+</p>
+<p>The wickets were so narrow that the ball could
+barely squeeze through if aimed straight, and
+a side shot through one was impossible.
+</p>
+<p>But all this added to the zest, and it was four
+very eager young people who strove for the
+victory.
+</p>
+<p>The second game went easily to Mabel and
+Jack Stanton, and then the third, the decisive
+one, was begun. According to the laws of the
+tournament, this was the final game. The opponents
+had already vanquished all the other
+contestants, and now, pitted against each other,
+were playing for the prize.
+</p>
+<p>Patty knew in her heart she would be glad to
+have Mabel win it, and yet, so strong was her
+love of games, and so enthusiastic her natural
+desire to succeed, that she tried her best to beat
+the third game.
+</p>
+<p>All played conservatively. The partners kept
+together, and progressed evenly. Toward the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span>
+last Jack and Mabel began to creep ahead.
+Tom saw this, and said to Patty: &#8220;This is our
+last chance; if we plod on like this, they&#8217;ll calmly
+walk out and leave us. Unless we can make a
+brilliant dash of some sort, we are beaten.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe I can,&#8221; said Patty, looking
+doubtfully at her ball. &#8220;It&#8217;s my turn, and unless
+I can hit Mabel&#8217;s ball, clear across the
+grounds, I can&#8217;t do anything.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s just it. You <i>must</i> hit Mabel&#8217;s ball.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So Patty aimed carefully, and sent her ball
+spinning over the ground toward Mabel&#8217;s, and
+missed it by a hair&#8217;s breadth!
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Goody!&#8221; cried Mabel, and hitting Patty&#8217;s
+ball, she roqueted it back where it had come
+from.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now here&#8217;s our very lastest chance,&#8221; said
+Tom, with a groan of despair. &#8220;And I&#8217;m sure,
+Patty, I won&#8217;t do any better than you did.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Nor did he. Although not far from Jack&#8217;s
+ball, at which he aimed, there was a wicket in
+the way, which sent his own ball glancing off at
+an angle, and he did not hit his opponent.
+</p>
+<p>A minute more, and Jack skilfully sent Mabel&#8217;s
+ball and then his own against the home stake,
+and the game was over.
+</p>
+<p>The onlookers crowded up and congratulated
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span>
+the winners, and offered condolence to Patty and
+Tom. Patty smiled, and responded merrily.
+She did not try to lay the blame on the unusual
+shaped wickets, or short, heavy mallets. She
+declared that the best players had won, and
+that she was satisfied. And indeed she was.
+</p>
+<p>When she saw the lovely prize that was given
+to Mabel, she was deeply thankful that she
+hadn&#8217;t won it. It was a white parasol, of silk
+and chiffon, with a pearl handle. A really exquisite,
+dainty affair, and just the very thing
+Mabel had wanted, but couldn&#8217;t afford to buy.
+As for Patty herself, she had several parasols,
+and so was delighted that Mabel had won.
+</p>
+<p>But though she truly preferred that Mabel
+should have the prize, she felt a little chagrined
+at losing the contest, for like all people who are
+fond of games and sports, Patty loved to win.
+</p>
+<p>These feelings, though, she successfully concealed,
+and gave Mabel very sincere and loving
+congratulations. Mr. Stanton&#8217;s prize was a
+pretty scarf pin, and Tom Meredith loudly bewailed
+his own misfortune in losing this.
+Though, really, as the tournament was at his
+own home, he would not have taken the prize
+had he won it, but would have passed it on to
+the one with the next highest record.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span></p>
+<p>The victors were cheered and applauded, and
+were then led in triumph to the pretty tent where
+tea was being served.
+</p>
+<p>If Patty had had a shadow of regret that she
+had not been the honoured one, it was lost sight
+of in her gladness that it fell to Mabel&#8217;s lot.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a plucky one,&#8221; said Tom Meredith,
+who was observing her closely. &#8220;You&#8217;re a
+good loser, aren&#8217;t you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; said Patty, thoughtfully.
+&#8220;I want to be, but do you know, I just love to
+win contests or games. And when I lose&mdash;I&#8217;m
+ashamed to say it&mdash;but I do feel put out.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course you do! That&#8217;s only natural.
+And that&#8217;s why I say you&#8217;re a good loser. If
+you didn&#8217;t care tuppence whether you won or
+not, it wouldn&#8217;t be much to your credit to look
+smiling and pleasant when you lose. But since
+you <i>do</i> care, a whole lot, you&#8217;re a jolly plucky
+girl to take it so well. Now, what can I get
+for you? An ice?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, please,&#8221; said Patty, really gratified at
+Tom&#8217;s appreciative words.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How long are you staying with the Hartleys?&#8221;
+Tom asked, as, returning with ices, he
+found cosy seats at a small table for himself
+and Patty.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Two or three weeks longer, I think. But
+I shall hate to go away, for I&#8217;ve become so interested
+in their &#8216;mystery,&#8217; that I can&#8217;t stop
+trying to solve it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, you mean that old affair of the hidden
+fortune. I don&#8217;t believe there&#8217;s any at all. I
+think the old man who pretended to hide it was
+merely guying them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, no! That can&#8217;t be. Why, it all sounds
+so real and natural. The story of the hiding,
+I mean.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but why should he want to hide it?
+Why not bank it decently, like other people?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, because he was eccentric. People who
+are naturally queer or freakish are always hiding
+things. And I know it&#8217;s silly of me, but I&#8217;m
+going to try to find that money.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve lots of faith in your energy and perseverance,
+but I can&#8217;t think you&#8217;ll succeed in
+that job. Better try something easier.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think I can say I expect to succeed.
+But I&#8217;m going to try&mdash;and&mdash;who can tell what
+might happen?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who, indeed? But you know, of course,
+that the Cromarty people have been hunting it
+for nearly forty years.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Patty, and her eyes fairly blazed
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span>
+with determination, &#8220;yes&mdash;but I am an
+American!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom Meredith shouted with laughter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good for you, little Stars and Stripes!&#8221; he
+cried. &#8220;I&#8217;ve always heard of the cleverness of
+the Yankees, but if you can trace the Cromarty
+fortune, I&#8217;ll believe you a witch, for sure.
+Aren&#8217;t there witches in that New England of
+yours?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I believe there used to be. And my ancestors,
+some of them, were Salem people.
+That may be where I get my taste for divination
+and solving problems. I just love
+puzzles of all sorts, and if the old Cromarty
+gentleman had only left a cipher message, it
+would have been fun to puzzle it out.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He did leave messages of some sort, didn&#8217;t
+he? Maybe they are more subtle than you
+think.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been wondering about that. They
+might mean something entirely different from
+what they sound like; but I can&#8217;t see any light
+that way. &#8216;The headboard of a bed against a
+wall,&#8217; is pretty practical, and doesn&#8217;t seem to
+mean anything else. And the oak trees and fir
+trees are there in abundance. But that&#8217;s the
+trouble with them, there are so many.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Go on, and do all you can, my child. You&#8217;ll
+get over it the sooner, if you work hard on it
+at first. We&#8217;ve all been through it. Nearly
+everybody in this part of the country has tried
+at one time or another to guess the Cromarty
+riddle.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I&#8217;m the first American to try,&#8221; insisted
+Patty, with a twinkle in her eye.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Quite so, Miss Yankee Doodle Doo; and I
+wish you success where my own countrymen
+have failed.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom said this with such a nice, kindly air that
+Patty felt a little ashamed of her own vaunting
+attitude. But sometimes Patty showed a decided
+tendency to over-assuredness in her own
+powers, and though she tried to correct it, it
+would spring up now and again. Then the
+Hartley boys joined them, and all discussion
+of the missing fortune was dropped.
+</p>
+<p>It was soon time to take leave, and as it was
+already twilight, Sinclair proposed that he
+should drive Patty home in the pony cart, and
+Mabel should return in the carriage.
+</p>
+<p>Mabel quite agreed to this, saying that after
+her croquet, she did not care to drive. The
+road lay through a lovely bit of country, and
+Patty enjoyed the drive home with Sinclair.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span>
+She always liked to talk with him, he was so
+gentle and kindly. While not so merry as Bob
+or as Tom Meredith, Sinclair was an interesting
+talker, and Patty always felt that she was
+benefited by his conversation.
+</p>
+<p>He told her much about the country as they
+drove along, described the life and work of the
+villagers, and pointed out buildings or other
+objects of interest.
+</p>
+<p>They passed several fine estates, whose towering
+mansions could be seen half hidden by trees,
+or boldly placed on a summit.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But no place is as beautiful as Cromarty,&#8221;
+said Sinclair, and Patty entirely agreed with
+them.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Is it true that you may have to leave it?&#8221;
+she asked, thinking it wiser to refer to it casually.
+</p>
+<p>Sinclair frowned.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who&#8217;s been talking to you?&#8221; he said;
+&#8220;Mabel, I suppose. Well, yes, there is a chance
+that we&#8217;ll have to let it for a term of years. I
+hope not, but I can&#8217;t tell yet. But even if so,
+it will be only temporary. As soon as I get
+fairly established in my career, I hope to make
+money enough to take care of it all. A few
+years hence, when I&#8217;m on my feet, and Bob&#8217;s
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span>
+through college, it will be easier all round. But
+if some business troubles that are now impending
+don&#8217;t blow over, there&#8217;ll be no income to
+keep things going, and we&#8217;ll have to&mdash;to&mdash;&mdash;But
+that <i>shan&#8217;t</i> happen!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sinclair spoke almost desperately, and Patty
+saw his fingers clench around the reins he was
+holding.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I wonder,&#8221; said Patty slowly, for she was
+not quite sure how what she was about to say
+would be received. &#8220;I wonder, Sinclair, if
+we&#8217;re not good friends enough, you and I, for
+me to speak plainly to you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The young man gave her a quick, earnest
+glance.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Go on,&#8221; he said, briefly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s only this,&#8221; said Patty, still hesitating,
+&#8220;my father has lots of money&mdash;couldn&#8217;t you&mdash;couldn&#8217;t
+he lend you some?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sinclair looked at her squarely now, and spoke
+in low, stern tones.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Never suggest such a thing again. The Cromartys
+do not borrow.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not even from a friend?&#8221; said Patty, softly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not even from a friend,&#8221; repeated Sinclair,
+but his voice was more gentle. &#8220;You don&#8217;t understand,
+I suppose,&#8221; he went on, &#8220;but we would
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span>
+leave Cromarty for ever before we would stay
+on such terms.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Patty, &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand. I
+should think you&#8217;d be as glad to accept a friend&#8217;s
+help as he would be to offer it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If you&#8217;d do me a real kindness, Patty, you&#8217;ll
+never even mention such an idea again. I know
+you mean well and I thank you, but it&#8217;s absolutely
+impossible.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then there&#8217;s only one other way out of the
+difficulty,&#8221; said Patty, with an effort at lightness;
+&#8220;and that&#8217;s to find your buried fortune.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ah, that would be a help,&#8221; cried Sinclair,
+also assuming a gayer tone. &#8220;If you&#8217;ll help us
+to do that, I&#8217;ll set up a memorial tablet to your
+cleverness.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where will you set it? Between the fir trees
+and the oak?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, if you find the fortune there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But if I find it behind the headboard, that&#8217;s
+no sort of a place for a tablet!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You can choose your own spot for your Roll
+of Fame, and I&#8217;ll see to it that the memorial is a
+worthy one.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And will you put fresh flowers on it every
+day?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, indeed; for if&mdash;I mean <i>when</i>, you find
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span>
+the fortune for us, the gardens will have immediate
+attention.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then I must set to work at once,&#8221; said Patty,
+with pretended gravity, but in her heart she
+registered a mental vow to try in earnest to
+fulfil the promise given in jest.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XVII_THE_GRIFFIN_AND_THE_ROSE' id='XVII_THE_GRIFFIN_AND_THE_ROSE'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2>
+<h3>THE GRIFFIN AND THE ROSE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Although the Hartleys had practically
+given up all hope of ever finding the
+hidden money, they couldn&#8217;t help being
+imbued with Patty&#8217;s enthusiasm.
+</p>
+<p>Indeed, it took little to rouse the sleeping fires
+of interest that never were entirely extinguished.
+</p>
+<p>But though they talked it over by the hour
+there seemed to be nothing to do but talk.
+</p>
+<p>One day, Patty went out all by herself, determined
+to see if she couldn&#8217;t find some combination
+of an oak tree and a group of firs that
+would somehow seem especially prominent.
+</p>
+<p>But after looking at a score or more of
+such combinations, she realised that task was
+futile.
+</p>
+<p>She looked at the ground under some of them,
+but who could expect a mark of any kind on
+the ground after nearly forty years? No. Unless
+Mr. Marmaduke Cromarty had marked his
+hiding-place with a stone or iron plate, it would
+probably never be found by his heirs. Search
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span>
+in the house was equally unsatisfactory. What
+availed it to scan a wall or a bedstead that had
+been scrutinised for years by eager, anxious
+eyes? And then Patty set her wits to work.
+She tried to think where an erratic old gentleman
+would secrete his wealth. And she was
+forced to admit that the most natural place was
+in the ground on his estate, the location to be
+designated by some obscure message. And
+surely, the message was obscure enough!
+</p>
+<p>She kept her promise to help Bob in his self-appointed
+task of going through all the books
+in the library. This was no small piece of work,
+for it was not enough to shake each book, and
+let loose papers, if any, drop out. Some of the
+old papers had been found pinned to leaves, and
+so each book must be run through in such a
+way that every page could be glanced at.
+</p>
+<p>Nor was this a particularly pleasant task. For
+Mrs. Hartley had made it a rule that when her
+own children went over the old books, they were
+to dust them as they went along. Thus, she
+said, at least some good would be accomplished,
+though no hidden documents might be found.
+</p>
+<p>Of course, she did not request Patty to do
+this, but learning of the custom, Patty insisted
+on doing it, and many an hour she spent in the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span>
+old library, clad in apron and dust-cap. Her
+progress was rather slow, for book-loving Patty
+often became absorbed in the old volumes, and
+dropping down on the window-seat, or the old
+steps to the gallery, would read away, oblivious
+to all else till some one came to hunt for
+her.
+</p>
+<p>At last, one day, her patient search met a reward.
+In an old book she found several of
+what were beyond all doubt Mr. Marmaduke
+Comarty&#8217;s papers.
+</p>
+<p>Without looking at them closely, Patty took
+the book straight to Mrs. Cromarty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dear me!&#8221; said the old lady, putting on her
+glasses. &#8220;Have we really found something?
+I declare I&#8217;m quite nervous over it. Emmeline,
+you read them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Hartley was a bit excited, too, and as
+for Patty and Mabel, they nearly went frantic
+at their elders&#8217; slowness in opening the old and
+yellow papers.
+</p>
+<p>There were several letters, a few bills, and
+some hastily-scribbled memoranda. The letters
+and bills were of no special interest, but on one
+of the small bits of paper was another rhymed
+couplet that seemed to indicate a direction.
+</p>
+<p>It read:
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span></p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>&#8220;Where the angry griffin shows,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Ruthless, tear away the rose.&#8221;</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; exclaimed Patty, &#8220;it&#8217;s another direction
+how to get the fortune! Oh, Mabel, it
+will be all right yet! Oh, where is the
+angry griffin? Is it over a rosebush? You&#8217;re
+only to pull up the rosebush, and there you
+are!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mabel looked bewildered. So did the older
+ladies.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Speak, somebody!&#8221; cried Patty, dancing
+about in excitement. &#8220;Isn&#8217;t there any angry
+griffin? There must be!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the trouble,&#8221; said Mrs. Hartley;
+&#8220;there are so many of them. Why, there are
+angry griffins on the gates, over the lodge doors,
+on the marbles in the gardens, and all over the
+house.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course there are,&#8221; said Mabel. &#8220;You
+must have noticed them, Patty. There&#8217;s one
+now,&#8221; and she pointed to a bit of wood carving
+over the door frame of the room they were in.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t care! It means something, I know
+it does,&#8221; declared Patty. &#8220;We&#8217;ll work it out
+yet. I wish the boys were home.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ll soon be here,&#8221; said Mrs. Cromarty.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span>
+&#8220;I can&#8217;t help thinking that it does mean something&mdash;Marmaduke
+was very fond of roses, and
+it would be just like him to plant a rosebush
+over his buried treasure.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it,&#8221; cried Patty. &#8220;Now, where is
+there a rosebush growing, and one of the angry
+griffins near it?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There probably are some in the rose garden,&#8221;
+said Mrs. Cromarty. &#8220;I don&#8217;t remember
+any, though.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come on, Mabel,&#8221; said Patty, &#8220;let&#8217;s go and
+look. I can&#8217;t wait another minute!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Away flew the two girls, and for the next hour
+they hovered about the rosebushes with more
+energy than is often shown by the busiest of
+bees.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I wish old Uncle Marmaduke had been less
+of a poet,&#8221; said Mabel, as they sat down a
+moment to rest, &#8220;and more of a&mdash;a&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;More straightforward,&#8221; suggested Patty.
+&#8220;If he&#8217;d only written a few words of plain
+prose, and left it with his lawyer, all this trouble
+needn&#8217;t have been.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I suppose he did intend to make it
+plain before he died, but he went off so suddenly.
+Oh, here are the boys.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Sinclair and Bob came bounding down toward
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span>
+the rose garden, followed more sedately by their
+mother and grandmother.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not a sign of a griffin a-sniffin&#8217; of a rose,&#8221;
+said Patty, disconsolately.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, you haven&#8217;t looked all round yet,&#8221; said
+Bob. &#8220;It&#8217;s such fun to have something to look
+for besides fir trees and beds, I&#8217;m going to make
+a close search.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; said Sinclair, &#8220;the same rose
+bush wouldn&#8217;t be here now that was here thirty
+or forty years ago.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But it would have been renewed,&#8221; said Mrs.
+Cromarty. &#8220;We&#8217;ve always tried to keep the
+flowers as nearly as possible the same.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then here goes to interview every griffin on
+the place,&#8221; declared Bob. &#8220;Jolly of old uncle
+to mark the spot with a rosebush and a griffin.
+That&#8217;s what I call decent of him. And you&#8217;re a
+wonder, Patty, to find the old paper.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s nothing,&#8221; said Patty. &#8220;I just followed
+your orders about the books. If you&#8217;d
+kept at it yourself, you&#8217;d have found the same
+book.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I s&#8217;pose so. But I&#8217;m glad you helped the
+good work along. Oh, dear! no rosebush
+seems to be near a griffin; and the griffins seem
+positively afraid of the rosebushes.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span>
+And try as they would, no angry griffin could
+they find, with a rosebush near it. Griffins there
+were in plenty; both angry and grinning. Also
+were there plenty of roses, but they were arranged
+in well-laid-out beds, and in no case
+were guarded or menaced by angry griffins.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Never mind,&#8221; said Sinclair, as they returned
+to the house for dinner, &#8220;it&#8217;s something to work
+on. I shall stay at home to-morrow and try to
+find that particular rosebush, or the place where
+it used to be.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe it&#8217;s a stone rose,&#8221; said Patty, as she
+touched a rose carved in stone that was part of
+an ornamental urn whose handles were the
+heads of angry griffins. Sinclair stared at her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right,&#8221; he said, slowly, as if grasping
+a great thought. &#8220;It&#8217;s much more likely
+to be a rose of stone or marble, and when that&#8217;s
+ruthlessly torn away the secret will be revealed.
+Oh, mother, there <i>is</i> hope!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty had never seen the placid Sinclair so excited,
+and they all went to their rooms to get
+ready for dinner, with a feeling that something
+was going to happen. Conversation at dinner
+was all on the engrossing subject.
+</p>
+<p>Everybody made suggestions, and everybody
+recalled various partly-forgotten griffins in odd
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span>
+nooks and corners, each being sure that was
+&#8220;just the place uncle would choose!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>After dinner, the young people were anxious to
+go out and search more, but it had begun to
+rain, so they all went into the library and again
+scrutinised the old papers Patty had found.
+</p>
+<p>They looked through more books, too, but
+found nothing further of interest.
+</p>
+<p>At last, wearied with the hunt, Patty threw
+herself into a big armchair and declared she
+would do no more that night.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I should say not,&#8221; said Bob. &#8220;You&#8217;ve done
+quite enough in giving us this new start.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Although, as Patty had said, the looking
+through all the old books was Bob&#8217;s plan, he
+generously gave her the credit of this new find.
+Sinclair threw himself on a long leather couch,
+and began to sing softly some of their nonsense
+songs, as he often did when tired out. The
+others joined, and for a time the fortune was
+left to take care of itself.
+</p>
+<p>Very pleasant were the four fresh young
+voices, and the elders listened gladly to their
+music.
+</p>
+<p>In the middle of a song, Patty stopped, and
+sat bolt upright, her eyes staring at a door
+opposite her as if she had never seen it before.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Gracious, goodness! Patty,&#8221; said Mabel,
+&#8220;what is the matter?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What is it, little one?&#8221; said Sinclair,
+still humming the refrain of the interrupted
+song.
+</p>
+<p>Patty pointed to the door, or rather to the
+elaborately carved door frame, and said slowly,
+&#8220;I&#8217;ve been reading a lot in the old architecture
+books&mdash;and they often used to have secret hiding
+places in the walls. And look at that door
+frame! There&#8217;s an angry griffin on one jamb,
+and a smiling griffin on the other, and under
+each is a rose. That is it&#8217;s a five-leafed blossom,
+a sort of conventional flower that they always
+call a rose in architecture.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Though I suppose,&#8221; said Sinclair, &#8220;by any
+other name it would look as sweet. Patty, my
+child, you&#8217;re dreaming. That old carving is as
+solid as Gibraltar and that old griffin isn&#8217;t very
+angry anyway. He just looks rather purse
+proud and haughty.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But it&#8217;s the only griffin that&#8217;s near a rose,&#8221;
+persisted Patty. &#8220;And he is angry, compared
+to the happy-looking griffin opposite to him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I believe the girl is right,&#8221; said Bob, who was
+already examining the carvings in question.
+&#8220;The rose doesn&#8217;t look movable, exactly, but it
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span>
+is not quite like this other rose. It&#8217;s more deeply
+cut.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>By this time all had clustered about the door
+frame, and one after another poked and pushed
+at the wooden rose.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s something in it,&#8221; persisted Bob.
+&#8220;In the idea, I mean. If there&#8217;s a secret hiding-place
+in that upright carved beam, that rose
+is the key to it. See how deeply it&#8217;s cut in, compared
+to the other; and I can almost see a crack
+all round it, as if it could be removed. May
+I try to get it out, Grandy?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Certainly, my boy. We mustn&#8217;t leave a stone
+unturned.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A rose unturned, you mean. Clair, what
+shall we ruthlessly tear it away with? I hate
+to take a chisel to this beautiful old door.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Try a corkscrew,&#8221; said Mabel.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You mean a gimlet,&#8221; said Bob. &#8220;That&#8217;s a
+good idea.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Fetching a gimlet, he bored a hole right in the
+centre of the carved blossom, but though it
+turned and creaked a little it wouldn&#8217;t come
+out.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It must come,&#8221; said Sinclair. &#8220;It turns, so
+that proves it&#8217;s meant to be movable. It probably
+has some hinge or spring that is rusted, and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span>
+so it doesn&#8217;t work as it ought to. We&#8217;ll have
+to take hammer and chisel; shall we, Grandy?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The boys were deferential to Mrs. Cromarty,
+for they well knew that she was tired of having
+the old house torn up to no avail. But surely
+this was an important development.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, indeed, boys. If your uncle&#8217;s words
+mean anything, they mean that it must be ruthlessly
+torn away, if removed at all.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>For quite ten minutes the two boys worked
+away with their tools, endeavouring to mar the
+carving as little as might be, but resolved to
+succeed in their undertaking. At last the
+wooden rose fell out in their hands, leaving a
+round opening.
+</p>
+<p>Peering in, Sinclair saw a small iron knob,
+which seemed to be part of a rusty spring.
+</p>
+<p>Greatly excited, he tried to push or turn it, but
+couldn&#8217;t move it.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Anyway, we&#8217;re getting warm,&#8221; he cried, and
+his glowing face corroborated his words.
+</p>
+<p>The boys took turns in working at the stubborn
+spring, trying with forceps and pincers to move
+it, until at last something seemed to give way,
+and the whole front of the door jamb fell out
+as one panel.
+</p>
+<p>Behind it was a series of small pigeon holes
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span>
+one above the other, all filled with neatly piled
+papers.
+</p>
+<p>Though yellow with age, the papers were carefully
+folded, labelled, and dated.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Patty!&#8221; cried Mabel, as she embraced her
+friend, &#8220;you&#8217;ve found our fortune for us!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be too sure,&#8221; said Patty, laughing, and
+almost crying at the same time, so excited was
+she. &#8220;Your Uncle Marmaduke was of such
+uncertain ways I shouldn&#8217;t wonder if these
+were merely more files of his immortal verse.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re bills,&#8221; declared Sinclair, as he ran
+over a packet he took from a shelf.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s look them all over systematically,&#8221; said
+Bob. &#8220;Let&#8217;s all sit round the table, and one of
+us read out what the paper is about. Then if
+we come to anything important, we&#8217;ll all know
+it at once.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This plan was adopted, and Sinclair, as the
+oldest, was chosen to read. He sat at the head
+of the long library table, and the others were at
+either side.
+</p>
+<p>But the packets of bills, though interesting in
+a general way, had no bearing on the great
+question of the fortune. The papers were all
+bills.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not even a bit of poetry,&#8221; sighed Patty, as
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span>
+Sinclair laid aside one after another of the receipted
+bills for merchandise, household goods,
+clothing, and labour.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;These might interest a historian,&#8221; said Sinclair,
+&#8220;as they throw some light on the prices of
+goods at that time. But we&#8217;ll keep on, we may
+come to something of interest yet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I hope so,&#8221; said Bob. &#8220;I&#8217;m so anxious,
+that nothing less than a straight direction to the
+fortune would satisfy me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, here&#8217;s something,&#8221; said Sinclair,
+&#8220;whatever it may mean.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The paper he had just unfolded was a mason&#8217;s
+bill, containing only one item. The bill was
+made out in due form, by one Martin Campbell,
+and was properly receipted as paid. And its
+single item read:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;To constructing one secret pocket....
+Three Guineas.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; cried Patty, breathless with excitement.
+&#8220;Then there is a secret pocket, or poke
+as your exasperating uncle calls it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There must be,&#8221; said Sinclair; &#8220;and now
+that we know that, we&#8217;re going to find it. Of
+course, we assumed there was one, but we had
+only that foolish doggerel to prove it. Now
+this regular bill establishes it as a fact beyond
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span>
+all doubt. Do you know this Martin Campbell,
+Grandy?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I know there was a mason by that name, who
+worked here several times for your uncle. He
+came down from Leicester, but of course I
+know nothing more of him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll find him!&#8221; declared Bob. &#8220;We&#8217;ll
+make him give up the secret of the pocket.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe he&#8217;s dead by this time,&#8221; said Sinclair.
+&#8220;Was he an old man, Grandy?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, my dear. I never saw him.
+He worked here when I was away in London.
+I fear, however, he is not alive now.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, perhaps he is. It was only about thirty-five
+years ago, or forty, that he built this &#8216;secret
+pocket.&#8217; Thirty-eight, to be exact. The date
+on the bill proves that.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, to-morrow you must go to see him,&#8221;
+said Mrs. Hartley, rising. &#8220;But now, my children,
+you must go to bed. You can&#8217;t learn any
+more to-night, and to-morrow we will pick up
+the broken thread. Patty, my dear child, you
+are doing a great deal for us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t anything yet,&#8221; said Patty, &#8220;but oh,
+if it only leads to something, I shall be so
+glad!&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XVIII_THE_OLD_CHIMNEYPIECE' id='XVIII_THE_OLD_CHIMNEYPIECE'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2>
+<h3>THE OLD CHIMNEY-PIECE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>But Sinclair&#8217;s search for the old mason in
+Leicester was absolutely unsuccessful.
+He learned that Martin Campbell had
+died many years ago, and had left no direct
+descendants. A cousin of the old mason told
+Sinclair all this, and said, too, that there were
+no books or papers or accounts of the dead man
+left in existence.
+</p>
+<p>So Sinclair returned home, disappointed but
+not entirely discouraged.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll find it yet,&#8221; he said to Patty. &#8220;We
+have proof of a hiding-place, now we must discover
+it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We will!&#8221; declared Patty. &#8220;But it&#8217;s so exasperating
+not to know whether the old mason
+built that &#8216;pocket&#8217; indoors or out.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Out, I think,&#8221; said Sinclair. &#8220;It&#8217;s probably
+a sunken bin or vault of brick, made water-tight,
+and carefully concealed.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, it&#8217;s certainly carefully concealed,&#8221; Patty
+agreed.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span></p>
+<p>Sinclair was entitled to a fortnight&#8217;s vacation
+from his law studies, and he arranged to take it
+at this time. For now that the interest was revived,
+all were eager to make search all the
+time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s be systematic about it,&#8221; said Bob, &#8220;and
+divide the estate up into sections. Then let&#8217;s
+examine each section in turn.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This sounded well, but it was weary work. In
+the wooded land, especially, it was hopeless to
+look for any indicatory mark beneath the undergrowth
+of forty years. But each morning the
+four young people started out with renewed determination
+to keep at it, at any rate.
+</p>
+<p>On rainy days they searched about the house.
+Having found one secret panel, they hoped for
+more, and the boys went about tapping the walls
+or carved woodwork here and there, listening
+for a hollow sound.
+</p>
+<p>Bob and Patty went on searching the books.
+But though a number of old papers were found
+they were of no value. Incidentally, Patty was
+acquiring a store of information of various sorts.
+Though too eager in her work to sit down and
+read any book through, she scanned many pages
+here and there, and learned much that was interesting
+and useful. Especially did she like
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span>
+books that described the old castles and abbeys
+of England. There were many of these books,
+both architectural and historical, and Patty lingered
+over the illustrations, and let her eyes run
+hastily over the pages of description.
+</p>
+<p>One afternoon she sat cross-legged, in Turk
+fashion, on the library floor, absorbed in an account
+of the beautiful old mansion known as
+&#8220;Audley End.&#8221; The description so interested
+her that she read on and on, and in her perusal
+she came to this sentence:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There are other curious relics, among them
+the chair of Alexander Pope, and the carved
+oak head of Cromwell&#8217;s bed, converted into a
+chimney-piece.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Anything in reference to the headboard of a
+bedstead caught Patty&#8217;s attention, and she read
+the paragraph over again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sinclair,&#8221; she called, but he had gone elsewhere,
+and did not hear her.
+</p>
+<p>Patty looked around at the mantel or chimney-piece
+in the library, but it was so evidently a
+part of the plan of wall decoration, that it could
+not possibly have been anything else.
+</p>
+<p>Patty sighed. &#8220;It would have been so lovely,&#8221;
+she thought to herself, &#8220;if it only had been a
+bedhead, made into a mantel, for then that
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span>
+bothering old man could easily have tucked his
+money between it and the wall.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>And then, though Patty&#8217;s thoughts came slowly,
+they came surely, and she remembered that in
+the great hall, or living-room, the mantel was a
+massive affair of carved oak.
+</p>
+<p>Half bewildered, Patty dropped the book,
+jumped up, and went to the door of the hall.
+No one was there, and the girl was glad of it,
+for if she really was on the eve of a great discovery
+she wanted to be alone at first.
+</p>
+<p>As she entered the room, the lines came to her
+mind:
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>&#8220;Above the stair, across the hall,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Between the bedhead and the wall,&#8221;</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<p>and she noticed that the chimney-piece stood on
+a sort of wide platform, which extended across
+that whole end of the hall. Could it be that
+Mr. Marmaduke had meant above this platform,
+calling it a stair, which ran across the
+great hall? For years they had taken the direction
+to mean &#8220;up the staircase,&#8221; and &#8220;across
+the corridor,&#8221; or hall which led to the bedrooms.
+</p>
+<p>Slowly, almost as if afraid, Patty crossed the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span>
+hall, stepped up on the platform, and examined
+the old chimney-piece. She couldn&#8217;t tell, positively,
+but surely, surely it looked as if it <i>might</i>
+once have been the headboard of an ancient
+bed. It certainly was different in its workmanship
+from the wood carving that decorated the
+apartment.
+</p>
+<p>The top of it was well above her head, but
+might it not be that the old rhyme meant between
+<i>this</i> bedhead and the wall?
+</p>
+<p>Here they had never looked. It must be that
+it was not generally known that this mantel was,
+or had been, a bedhead.
+</p>
+<p>Still, as if in a daze, Patty went and sat in
+a chair facing the old chimney-piece, and wondered.
+She intended to call the others in a moment,
+but first she wanted to enjoy alone the
+marvel of her own discovery.
+</p>
+<p>As she sat there, scrutinising every detail of
+the room, the lines kept repeating themselves in
+her brain:
+</p>
+<p><i>&#8220;Above the stair, across the hall,
+Between the bedhead and the wall.&#8221;</i>
+</p>
+<p>If the secret pocket was between that bedhead
+and the wall, it was certainly above the stair
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span>
+across the hall! Why had that stair or platform
+been built across the hall? It was a peculiar
+arrangement.
+</p>
+<p>This question Patty gave up, but she thought
+it might well have been done when the bedhead
+was set up there, in order to make the chimney-piece
+higher and so more effective.
+</p>
+<p>Patty had learned something of architecture in
+her library browsings.
+</p>
+<p>Above the high mantel was a large painting.
+It was a landscape and showed a beautiful bit
+of scenery without buildings or people. In the
+foreground were several distinct trees of noble
+proportions.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re firs,&#8221; said Patty to herself, for she
+had become thoroughly familiar with fir trees.
+</p>
+<p>And then, like a flash, through her brain came
+the words:
+</p>
+<p><i>&#8220;Great treasure lieth in the poke
+Between the fir trees and the oak.&#8221;</i>
+</p>
+<p>The secret was revealed! Patty knew it!
+</p>
+<p>Beside the bedhead evidence, it was clear to
+her mind that &#8220;Between the fir trees and the
+oak,&#8221; meant between these painted fir trees and
+the old carved oak mantel. Grasping the arms
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span>
+of her chair, she sat still a minute trying to take
+it all in, and then looked about for something
+to stand on that she might examine the top of
+the old mantel-shelf.
+</p>
+<p>But her next quick thought was, that that was
+not her right. Those to whom the fortune belonged
+must make the investigation themselves.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Sinclair,&#8221; called Patty, again; &#8220;Mabel, Mrs.
+Hartley, where are you all?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Bob responded first, and seeing by Patty&#8217;s excited
+face that she had discovered something important,
+he went in search of the others.
+</p>
+<p>At last they were all gathered in the great
+hall, and Patty&#8217;s sense of the dramatic proved
+too strong to allow her to make her announcement
+simply.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;People,&#8221; she said, &#8220;I have made a discovery.
+That is, I think I have. If I am right, the
+Cromarty fortune is within your grasp. If I
+am wrong&mdash;well, in that case, we&#8217;ll begin all
+over again.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tell us about your new find,&#8221; said Sinclair,
+selecting a comfortable chair, and sitting down
+as if for a long session. &#8220;Is it another mason&#8217;s
+bill?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Nobody minded being chaffed about searching
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span>
+or finding, for the subject was treated jocosely
+as well as seriously.
+</p>
+<p>Patty stood on the platform in front of the
+carved oak chimney-piece, and addressed her
+audience, who listened, half laughing, half
+eager.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What is this on which I stand?&#8221; she demanded.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A rug,&#8221; replied Mabel, promptly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I mean beneath the rug?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The floor.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, it isn&#8217;t! What is this&mdash;this construction
+across the room?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A platform,&#8221; put in Bob, willing to help her
+along.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes. But what else could it be called? I&#8217;m
+in earnest.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A step,&#8221; suggested Sinclair.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, a step; but couldn&#8217;t it be called a
+stair?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It <i>could</i> be,&#8221; said Bob, &#8220;but I don&#8217;t believe
+it is one.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But suppose your erratic uncle chose to call
+it that.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; laughed Bob, &#8220;you mean the stair in
+the poem.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I do. I mean the stair across the hall.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;What! Oh, I say, Patty, now you&#8217;re jumbling
+up the sense.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;m not. I&#8217;m straightening out the
+sense. Suppose Mr. Marmaduke meant &#8216;above
+the stair across the hall,&#8217; and meant this stair
+and this hall.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but go on,&#8221; said Sinclair; &#8220;next comes
+the bedhead.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s my discovery!&#8221; announced Patty,
+with what was truly forgivable triumph.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;This carved oak chimney-piece is, I have reason
+to believe, the headboard of some magnificent,
+ancient bed.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Patty Fairfield!&#8221; cried Sinclair, jumping up,
+and reaching her side with two bounds.
+&#8220;You&#8217;ve struck it! What a girl you are!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Wait a minute,&#8221; said Patty, pushing him
+back; &#8220;I&#8217;m entitled to a hearing. Take your
+seat again, sir, until I unfold the rest of the
+tale.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty was fairly quivering with excitement.
+Her cheeks glowed, and her eyes shone, and her
+voice trembled as she went on.
+</p>
+<p>Mabel, with clasped hands, just sat and looked
+at her. The elder ladies were plainly bewildered,
+and Bob was trying hard to sit still.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I read in an old book,&#8221; Patty went on, &#8220;how
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span>
+somebody else used a carved headboard for a
+chimney-piece, and I wondered if this mightn&#8217;t
+be one. And it surely looks like it. And then
+I wondered if &#8216;above the stair across the hall&#8217;
+mightn&#8217;t mean this platform across this hall.
+And I think it does. But that&#8217;s not all. My
+really important discovery is this.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty&#8217;s voice had sunk to a thrilling whisper,
+and she addressed herself to Mrs. Cromarty, as
+she continued.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think the other rhyme, the one that says
+the fortune is concealed &#8216;between the fir trees
+and the oak,&#8217; refers to this same place, and
+means between the painting of fir trees, which
+hangs over the mantel, and&mdash;the oak mantel
+itself!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>With a smiling bow, Patty stepped down from
+the platform, and taking a seat by old Mrs.
+Cromarty, nestled in that lady&#8217;s loving arms.
+The two boys made a spring for the mantel, but
+paused simultaneously to grasp both Patty&#8217;s
+hands in theirs and nearly shake her arms off.
+Then they left the heroine of the hour to Mabel
+and Mrs. Hartley and began to investigate the
+chimney piece.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Between the fir trees and the oak&#8217;!&#8221; exclaimed
+Bob. &#8220;Great, isn&#8217;t it! And here for
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span>
+thirty-five years we Cromarty dubs have thought
+that meant real trees! To think it took a Yankee
+to tell us! Oh, Patty, Patty, we&#8217;ll take down
+that historic painting and put up a tablet to the
+honour of Saint Patricia. For you surely deserve
+canonisation!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Between the bedhead and the wall,&#8217;&#8221;
+ruminated Sinclair. &#8220;Well, here goes for finding
+an opening.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Clambering up on stools, both boys examined
+the place where the mantel shelf touched the
+wall. The ornate carvings of the mantel left
+many interstices where coins or notes might be
+dropped through, yet they were by no means
+conspicuous enough to attract the attention of
+any one not looking for them.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Crickets!&#8221; cried Bob. &#8220;There&#8217;s a jolly
+place for the precious poke to be located. I&#8217;m
+going down cellar to see if I can find traces of
+that mason&#8217;s work. Come on, Clair.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The two boys flew off, and the ladies remained
+discussing the wonderful discovery, and examining
+the old chimney-piece.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can see it was a bedhead now,&#8221; said Mabel;
+&#8220;but I never suspected it before. What a splendid
+mantel it makes. Didn&#8217;t you ever hear its
+history, Grandy?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_256' name='page_256'></a>256</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;No, dear. It must have been put there
+when the house was built, I think. Though,
+of course, it may have been added later. But
+it was all before my time. I married your
+grandfather Cromarty and came here to live in
+1855. The building and decorations then were
+all just as they are now, except for such additions
+as Marmaduke made. He may have had
+that mantel set up in earlier years&mdash;I don&#8217;t
+know. He was very fond of antique carvings.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Back came the boys from the cellar.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The whole chimney is bricked up,&#8221; Sinclair
+explained. &#8220;We couldn&#8217;t get into it without
+tearing it all down. And do you know what I
+think, Grandy? I think it would be wiser to
+take away the chimney-piece up here, and do
+our investigating from this end. Then, if we
+find anything, it will all be in this room, and
+not in the cellar, where the servants can pry
+about.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I quite agree with you,&#8221; said Mrs. Cromarty,
+&#8220;and I put the whole matter in your hands.
+You and Robert are the sons of the house, and
+it is your right to manage its affairs.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then I say, tear it down at once,&#8221; cried Bob.
+&#8220;We needn&#8217;t damage the carving itself, and
+all that we break away of plaster or inner woodwork
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_257' name='page_257'></a>257</span>
+can easily be repaired, whatever our success
+may be.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Shall we begin now?&#8221; asked Sinclair, doubtfully.
+He was not so impetuous as Bob, and
+would have been quite willing to study over the
+matter first.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, indeed!&#8221; cried his impatient brother.
+&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to waste a minute. I&#8217;m glad
+I&#8217;m a bit of a carpenter. Though not an expert,
+I can tear down if I can&#8217;t build up.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But we must take it down carefully,&#8221; said
+Sinclair. &#8220;These screws must come out first.&#8221;
+But Bob had already gone for tools, and soon
+returned with screw-drivers, chisels, gimlets, and
+all the paraphernalia of a carpenter&#8217;s well-appointed
+tool-chest.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here goes!&#8221; he cried, as he put the big
+screw-driver in the first screw. &#8220;Good luck to
+the Cromartys and three cheers for Uncle Marmaduke
+and Patty Fairfield!&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XIX_THE_DISCOVERY' id='XIX_THE_DISCOVERY'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_258' name='page_258'></a>258</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2>
+<h3>THE DISCOVERY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The removal of the old chimney-piece was
+not an easy task. If the Hartley boys
+hadn&#8217;t been big and strongly-built, they
+could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away
+the woodwork from the wall. But they did do
+it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery
+of the long-lost fortune!
+</p>
+<p>Sure enough the historic &#8220;poke&#8221; was a pocket
+or recess between the old bedhead and the main
+wall. It was really built in the chimney itself,
+though not in the flue. But this chimney-place,
+with its wonderfully carved mantel, was never
+used for fires, and the fortune had remained
+undisturbed in its hiding-place.
+</p>
+<p>As the boys lifted away the portion of the
+heavy oak that covered the secret pocket, a
+rough wall of plaster was seen, and by tapping
+on it, Sinclair learned that it was hollow.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Shall we break through?&#8221; he said. &#8220;I feel
+sure the money is there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Break through, of course,&#8221; cried Bob; &#8220;but
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_259' name='page_259'></a>259</span>
+wait a moment till I lock the doors. This is no
+time for intruders.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Bob fastened the doors, and then with a
+hatchet they broke through the plaster.
+</p>
+<p>And even as the old mortar crumbled beneath
+their blows, out fell a shower of glittering gold
+coins and tightly folded banknotes!
+</p>
+<p>The sight was too much for the strained nerves
+of the watchers. Mabel burst into tears, and
+Mrs. Cromarty trembled like a leaf.
+</p>
+<p>The boys broke into shouts of joy, and Patty
+scarcely knew whether to laugh or cry. But in
+a moment they were all congratulating each
+other and showering praises on Patty for her
+cleverness in the matter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s ours! It&#8217;s ours!&#8221; cried Bob. &#8220;It&#8217;s
+Grandy&#8217;s, to be sure, but it belongs to old Cromarty
+Manor, and we&#8217;re all Cromartys. Patty,
+you&#8217;re hereby adopted and made one of
+us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What shall we do with it?&#8221; asked the more
+practical Sinclair. &#8220;I mean, just at present.
+We must take care of it, at once, you know.
+We can&#8217;t leave it long like this.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s the old Spanish chest,&#8221; said Mrs.
+Hartley, indicating a good-sized affair that
+stood nearby. &#8220;Put it in that.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_260' name='page_260'></a>260</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Just the thing,&#8221; said Bob. &#8220;Lend a hand,
+Clair.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It was a strange proceeding. The old coins,
+many of them still bright, though of far back
+dates; represented a great deal of money. How
+much, they could not guess as yet, but it was
+surely a large sum. Also there were Bank of
+England notes, folded small that they might be
+pushed through the openings in the carved oak,
+and well-preserved, as the pocket had been carefully
+made damp-proof.
+</p>
+<p>The boys took the money out in double handfuls
+and deposited it in the old Spanish chest.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It will be quite safe there until to-morrow,&#8221;
+said Mrs. Hartley, &#8220;and then we must get it
+to the bank. But as no one yet knows of our
+discovery, there can be no danger of its being
+stolen to-night.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What ever made Uncle Marmaduke choose
+this way of concealing his fortune?&#8221; asked Bob,
+as he kept on transferring the money from its
+hiding-place to the chest.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He had a fear of banks or investments,&#8221;
+said Mrs. Cromarty. &#8220;I&#8217;ve often heard him
+say he wouldn&#8217;t trust any of them. He said he&#8217;d
+rather be sure of his principal, and go without
+his interest.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_261' name='page_261'></a>261</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Crickets!&#8221; said Bob, &#8220;if all this <i>had</i> been
+out at interest for forty years, think how it
+would have increased!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said his mother, &#8220;but in that case it
+would not have been hidden, and before now,
+it might have all been spent.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then I&#8217;m glad the old gentleman chose this
+way of banking. And I suppose he meant to
+leave full instructions where to find it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Sinclair, &#8220;we found it without
+his instructions, thanks to our Patty.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>And then they all began again to bless and
+praise Patty, until she was really embarrassed at
+their overwhelming gratitude.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;d offer you a share,&#8221; said Bob, gaily,
+&#8220;but you already have more than you know
+what to do with.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Perhaps not quite that,&#8221; said Patty, smiling,
+&#8220;but I have enough. And, oh! I am so
+glad that you have your own at last.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How much do you suppose there is?&#8221; asked
+Mabel, awestruck, as she watched the boys
+still carrying their precious handfuls across the
+room.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Enough to buy you some new frocks, sister,&#8221;
+said Sinclair, &#8220;and enough to fix up dear old
+Cromarty as it should be fixed up.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_262' name='page_262'></a>262</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;There must be thousands of pounds,&#8221; said
+Grandma Cromarty. &#8220;To think of Marmaduke
+exchanging all his securities and bonds for
+gold and notes! I suppose he did it while I
+was away in London. He was a most erratic
+man.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, you see,&#8221; said Sinclair, thoughtfully,
+&#8220;once he had the place built, he could drop his
+money through whenever he received any. I can
+imagine the old chap, after every one else in
+the house was in bed, standing here and dropping
+in his coins one by one, and listening to
+them clink. Why, it&#8217;s like a child&#8217;s toy savings-bank,
+on a large scale.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a large scale!&#8221; said Bob. &#8220;Whew!
+I&#8217;m tired out. But it&#8217;s nearly all in the chest
+now, and see, Grandy, the chest is nearly full!
+When shall we count it? And how <i>shall</i> we
+get this mess cleared away? If the servants
+come in here, they&#8217;ll know it all, at once.
+And I think we ought to keep the matter
+quiet until we can cart the gold away to the
+bank.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think so too,&#8221; said his mother. &#8220;Suppose
+we leave this room exactly as it is, and lock it
+all up until to-morrow. Then we can talk it
+over this evening, and decide what is best to do.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_263' name='page_263'></a>263</span>
+I think we should consult with Lawyer Ashton,
+and let him advise us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So, after carefully securing the windows, and
+locking all the doors of the room, it was a
+merry-hearted family who went away to dress
+for dinner.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s put on our prettiest frocks, and make
+the dinner a sort of celebration feast,&#8221; said
+Patty, who dearly loved an &#8220;occasion.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We will,&#8221; said Mabel, &#8220;and Grandy must
+wear her black velvet.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Cromarty was easily persuaded, and the
+happy old lady looked almost regal as, in her
+trailing gown, she led the way to the dining-room.
+The dinner conversation was on the all-absorbing
+topic, and Patty realised afresh how
+dearly these people loved their old home, and
+how anxious they were to devote their newly-found
+fortune to restoring the glories of the
+place.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And now we can have the garden party!&#8221;
+exclaimed Mabel. &#8220;You know, Patty, we&#8217;ve
+had one every summer for years and years, and
+this summer we thought we couldn&#8217;t afford it.
+What fun to have you here to it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s have it soon,&#8221; said Sinclair. &#8220;Can
+you get ready in a week, mother?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_264' name='page_264'></a>264</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Give me a little longer than that, son. And
+we want to send out the invitations about ten
+days before the party.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll make the lists to-night. Let&#8217;s invite
+everybody. I suppose, after we put the money
+safely away, there&#8217;s no necessity for secrecy
+about it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, I think not. All our friends will rejoice
+with us, that we&#8217;ve found it at last.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Later on, they all sat round the library table,
+and made plans for the garden party. Patty discovered
+that it would be a much larger and more
+important affair than she had imagined. The
+invitation list soon rose to about four hundred,
+and seemed literally to include everybody in all
+the country round.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I really ought to have a new frock for the
+party,&#8221; said Mabel; &#8220;but we&#8217;ve so much going
+on that I won&#8217;t have time to get one made.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This gave Patty an idea, and she determined
+to give Mabel a little surprise. While they
+were making the plans for the fête, she was
+planning to write to Lady Hamilton and ask
+her to send down from London two new frocks
+for herself and Mabel to wear at the garden
+party. She felt sure she could secretly procure
+one of Mabel&#8217;s old dresses to send for a pattern,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_265' name='page_265'></a>265</span>
+and she meant that Mabel should not know of
+it until the new frock arrived.
+</p>
+<p>The evening was a merry one, indeed. The
+boys were so exuberant that they laughed and
+sang snatches of songs, and exclaimed over and
+over how much they appreciated the good turn
+Patty had done them.
+</p>
+<p>The two elder ladies were more quietly glad,
+and it did Patty&#8217;s heart good to see that the
+sad, anxious expression was gone from Mabel&#8217;s
+face.
+</p>
+<p>The days before the garden party flew by
+quickly, for there was much to be done. Extra
+servants had to be secured, some repairing done
+in house and gardens, and the caterer&#8217;s orders
+attended to. The day before the party the
+dresses arrived from London. Lady Hamilton
+had chosen them, though Patty had given her a
+general idea of what she wanted.
+</p>
+<p>Though they were called white muslin frocks,
+they were made almost entirely of fine embroidery
+and lace. Mabel&#8217;s was worn over a
+pink silk slip, and Patty&#8217;s over blue. Frenchy
+knots of ribbon were placed here and there, and
+when the boxes were opened and the tissue
+papers torn away, Mabel gave a shriek of delight
+at the beautiful things.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_266' name='page_266'></a>266</span></p>
+<p>Patty had wanted to give Mabel a pretty
+frock, but had hesitated to do so, lest she wound
+her pride.
+</p>
+<p>But this seemed different, and Patty offered the
+gift so prettily, as a souvenir of the garden
+party, that Mabel accepted it in the spirit it was
+given.
+</p>
+<p>The day of the party was perfect. Just the
+right temperature, and not a cloud in the blue
+sky, except some fleecy little white ones that
+were as innocent as kittens.
+</p>
+<p>The party was from three till six, and
+promptly at three o&#8217;clock the guests began to
+arrive. There was a continuous stream of carriages
+and motor cars, and soon Patty was almost
+bewildered by the crowds of people. Although
+introduced to them as they arrived, she
+couldn&#8217;t remember them all. But many of them
+she had met before, and after a time she and
+Mabel were excused from the receiving party,
+and were sent to mingle with the guests.
+</p>
+<p>The old place was looking its best. Though
+there had not been time for much work on the
+gardens, yet a deal of tidying up had been
+done. New flowers had been set out in the
+formal flower beds, the fountains had been repaired
+and put in working order, and the shrubs
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_267' name='page_267'></a>267</span>
+and hedges had been trimmed. Patty, looking
+very sweet in her lovely white dress, wandered
+around indoors and out, greeting old friends and
+making new ones.
+</p>
+<p>The house was thrown open, and of course the
+old chimney-piece, which had been replaced,
+was scrutinised with great interest. Patty was
+lionised until she became almost embarrassed
+at being made so prominent. But everybody
+was thoroughly glad that the Cromartys had
+come into their fortune at last. On the lawn
+was a band of musicians in gay scarlet and gold
+uniforms, who played popular music at intervals
+during the afternoon. The terraces and
+gardens were filled with groups of people pleasantly
+chatting, and the ladies&#8217; pretty summer
+costumes added to the brilliancy of the
+scene.
+</p>
+<p>At four o&#8217;clock tea was served in a great round
+tent, which had been put up for the purpose.
+Although called tea, the repast was a substantial
+supper of various and elaborate viands. Patty
+thought she had never seen so many sorts of
+salads and carefully constructed cold dishes.
+She sat at a small table with the Merediths and
+some other young people.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re going to stay here all summer, aren&#8217;t
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_268' name='page_268'></a>268</span>
+you?&#8221; asked Tom, who sincerely hoped she
+was.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; replied Patty. &#8220;I&#8217;d love to
+stay, for I&#8217;m happy every minute here. But my
+own people are writing me very urgently to
+join them in Switzerland. They&#8217;re in such delightful
+quarters there, that they think I&#8217;d like
+it too.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t go. Stay here with us. We&#8217;re
+going to get up a croquet club, and we want you
+to be a member.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll be glad to, if I stay. But where are the
+people going now?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The guests had all risen, and were being led
+to a part of the grounds where a platform had
+been erected. On this were a troupe of entertainers
+called The Pierrots. They all wore
+funny white suits, with little black pompons bobbing
+all over them. They sang amusing songs,
+played on cymbals and other instruments, did
+some clever acrobatic work, and for a half-hour
+entertained the guests who stood about on the
+grass, or sat on camp chairs to watch them.
+</p>
+<p>At six o&#8217;clock the guests all took leave, and the
+great procession of vehicles again appeared on
+the driveway. Mrs. Cromarty and Mrs. Hartley
+received their good-byes, and Patty and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_269' name='page_269'></a>269</span>
+Mabel invited a number of the young people to
+remain to dine and spend the evening.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Though I&#8217;m sure we can&#8217;t eat any dinner,
+after that very satisfying tea,&#8221; said Grace Meredith,
+as she accepted the invitation.
+</p>
+<p>In the evening they all went out on the lake
+for a moonlight row. Several new boats had
+been bought, and the young men rowed the
+girls about. The boats were hung with Chinese
+lanterns, which gave the lake the appearance of
+a regatta or a water festival.
+</p>
+<p>Then back to the house for a dance in the
+great hall. The musicians had remained, and to
+their inspiriting strains the young people glided
+about in merry measures.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do give me another waltz,&#8221; Tom Meredith
+begged of Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d be glad to, Tom,&#8221; said Patty, frankly;
+&#8220;but I can&#8217;t do it without offending somebody
+else. I love to dance with you, but you&#8217;ve had
+three already, and I&#8217;ve promised all the rest.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But Tom wheedled Mrs. Hartley into allowing
+one more extra, after the last dance, and he
+claimed Patty for that.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re the best dancer I ever saw,&#8221; said
+Tom, as they floated away.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re the best English dancer I ever saw,&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_270' name='page_270'></a>270</span>
+laughed Patty, for she well knew English people
+do not dance like Americans. Good-natured
+Tom didn&#8217;t mind her implication, and after the
+waltz was ended he led her out on the terrace
+to sit down for a bit and rest. There were
+several others there, the Hartley boys among
+them, and soon they began to sing songs.
+</p>
+<p>Others came and joined them, and the young
+voices rose in merry choruses and glees.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You have splendid songs in England,&#8221; said
+Patty, after the men&#8217;s voices had come out
+strong in &#8220;Hearts of Oak&#8221; and &#8220;Rule Britannia.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, we have,&#8221; agreed Tom. &#8220;But, Patty,
+won&#8217;t you sing something alone?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do,&#8221; chorused the rest, and Mabel said:
+&#8220;Sing that newest song that you and Sinclair
+made.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;The Moon&#8217;s Song?&#8217;&#8221; asked Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes; this is just the night for it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The moon was nearing the western horizon,
+and its soft light fell across the lake in silver
+ripples. Truly it was just the time and place
+to sing the pretty song of which Patty had composed
+the words, and Sinclair had set them to
+music. It was a simple air, but full of soft,
+lingering cadences, and without accompaniment
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_271' name='page_271'></a>271</span>
+Patty&#8217;s really sweet voice sounded exquisite as it
+thrilled through the summer evening air.
+</p>
+<p>The song was called &#8220;The Minstrel Moon,&#8221;
+and the words were these:
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>&#8220;I wonder if the moon could sing,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>On a marvellous, mystical night in spring,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>I wonder what the song would be</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>That the minstrel moon would sing to me.</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>And as I think, I seem to know</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>How the music of the moon would go.</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>It would be a mystic, murmuring strain</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Like the falling of far-away fairy rain.</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Just a soft and silvery song</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>That would swing and swirl along;</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 8em;'>Not a word</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 8em;'>Could be heard</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>But a lingering ding-a-dong.</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Just a melody low and sweet,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Just a harmony faint and fleet,</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 8em;'>Just a croon</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 8em;'>Of a tune</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Is the Music of the Moon.&#8221;</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XX_GOODBYES' id='XX_GOODBYES'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_272' name='page_272'></a>272</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2>
+<h3>GOOD-BYES</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>One beautiful morning, about a week
+after the garden party, Patty lay in her
+favourite hammock out under the trees.
+She liked this hammock especially, for from it
+she could see both terraces, the formal gardens,
+and the lake beyond.
+</p>
+<p>As she looked around this morning she could
+see the workmen busily engaged in restoring
+the gardens to their original symmetry and
+beauty. The Hartleys were by no means purse
+proud or ostentatious, and their sudden acquisition
+of a great fortune in no way changed their
+simple, pleasant attitude toward life. But they
+were now enabled to live in their dear old home,
+without financial anxieties, and moreover, were
+able to repair and restore its appointments.
+</p>
+<p>But though Patty loved to let her idle gaze
+roam over the attractive landscape, her thoughts
+just now were far away. She had in her hand
+a letter from her father, and its message was
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_273' name='page_273'></a>273</span>
+strongly in favour of her leaving Cromarty
+Manor and joining her parents in Switzerland.
+</p>
+<p>It was for Patty to make choice, but both Nan
+and Mr. Fairfield urged the plan they proposed.
+So Patty was thinking it over. She was very
+happy at Cromarty, and the life was quiet and
+pleasant, and interspersed with many little
+gaieties. But she thought, herself, it was a pity
+not to travel about and see sights and places
+when opportunity presented itself.
+</p>
+<p>As she lay, thinking, she saw a large motorcar
+coming along the drive through the park.
+She jumped out of the hammock and started toward
+the house, in order to greet the guests whoever
+they might be. As the car came nearer,
+she saw a lady and gentleman in the tonneau,
+but so concealed were they by their motor-clothes
+she could not recognise them.
+</p>
+<p>As they drew nearer, the lady waved her hand,
+and seeing the familiar gesture, Patty at once
+realised that it was Lady Hamilton.
+</p>
+<p>Her father was with her, and Patty ran to
+meet them, and reached the steps of the great
+entrance of Cromarty just as the car swung
+round the last curve of the road.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Kitty!&#8221; cried Patty; &#8220;I&#8217;m <i>so</i> glad to
+see you! Where did you come from? Why
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_274' name='page_274'></a>274</span>
+didn&#8217;t you tell me you were coming? How do
+you do, Sir Otho. This is indeed a surprise.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How are you, my dear child?&#8221; said Sir
+Otho Markleham, after Patty had released
+Lady Kitty from her enthusiastic embrace, and
+turned to shake hands with her father.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come in,&#8221; said Patty, dancing about in her
+excited glee. &#8220;Come right in. You are welcome
+to Cromarty Manor, and in a moment the
+family will also tell you so.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What a delightful house!&#8221; said Lady
+Hamilton, pausing to admire the stately old
+portal.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, isn&#8217;t it? You know the Hartleys, don&#8217;t
+you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Slightly. I&#8217;ll be glad to see them again.
+But, of course, we came to see you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And it&#8217;s a lovely surprise. Are you staying
+near here?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Only for a day or two,&#8221; said Sir Otho.
+&#8220;We&#8217;re taking a little jaunt about, and as Kitty
+wanted to see you especially, we came in this
+direction.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The chauffeur and the big touring car were put
+in charge of the Cromarty coachman, and Patty
+ushered her guests into the house.
+</p>
+<p>The ladies soon appeared and with hospitable
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_275' name='page_275'></a>275</span>
+welcome insisted that Sir Otho and his daughter
+should remain for a few days. This they were
+unable to do, but it was finally decided that they
+should stay the night, and resume their trip the
+next day.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And,&#8221; said Sir Otho, &#8220;it may seem a rather
+sudden proceeding, but we want to take Patty
+with us.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Take Patty!&#8221; exclaimed Mabel, aghast;
+&#8220;for how long?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You tell her,&#8221; said Sir Otho, smiling at his
+daughter. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t the courage.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll explain later,&#8221; said Lady Hamilton.
+&#8220;But now, I want to enjoy the beauties of this
+grand old place. Is this the celebrated apartment
+where the fortune was hidden?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Patty, who had written to Lady
+Kitty about the matter. &#8220;And here is the old
+chimney-piece.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You can imagine, Lady Hamilton,&#8221; said
+Mrs. Hartley, &#8220;the deep debt of gratitude we
+are under to our dear Patty.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You must be, indeed. But I know Patty
+is quite as glad that she made the discovery as
+you are yourselves.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The rest of the morning was devoted to showing
+the visitors about the place. Sir Otho was
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_276' name='page_276'></a>276</span>
+greatly interested in the plans for the restoration
+of the gardens, and both he and Lady
+Kitty were enraptured with the historic treasures
+of the old house. After luncheon, Lady
+Hamilton unfolded her plans to Patty.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I have been in correspondence with Mr. and
+Mrs. Fairfield,&#8221; she said, &#8220;and we&#8217;ve concluded
+that we must have Patty back with us again.
+She has been very happy here, I know, but she
+has made you a long visit, and I&#8217;ve really been
+sent down here to kidnap her.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty smiled, but the others didn&#8217;t. Mrs. Cromarty
+and Mrs. Hartley looked truly sorry, and
+Mabel had to struggle to keep her tears
+back.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You are right,&#8221; said Mrs. Cromarty, at last.
+&#8220;We have enjoyed having Patty here more than
+I can tell you. But we must not be selfish. I
+know her parents have been writing for her
+to go to them, and it is wrong for us to urge
+her to stay here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I don&#8217;t want Patty to go away,&#8221; said
+Mabel, and now she was really crying.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I know you don&#8217;t, dearie,&#8221; said her mother.
+&#8220;But I see it as Grandma does, and I think we
+must let her go. Perhaps some time she&#8217;ll come
+again.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_277' name='page_277'></a>277</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I hope so,&#8221; said Patty, smiling through
+the tears that had gathered in her own eyes.
+&#8220;You&#8217;ve all been so good to me, and I&#8217;ve had
+such lovely times.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The question once settled, Lady Hamilton
+went on to say that she proposed to take
+Patty away the next day. Of course this
+redoubled Mabel&#8217;s woe, but Lady Kitty was
+firm.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It would be just as hard to spare her a week
+hence,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And then, who would take
+her to London? If she goes with us to-morrow,
+we will keep her with us for the rest of our
+motor tour&mdash;about a week&mdash;and then reach
+London about the first of July. After that
+Patty and I will join Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield
+in Switzerland, and go on to do some further
+travelling.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Although Patty was sorry to leave Cromarty,
+this plan did sound delightful, and she was glad
+that it was all settled for her, and she had no
+further responsibility in the matter.
+</p>
+<p>Lady Hamilton had a genius for despatch, and
+she superintended the packing of Patty&#8217;s clothes
+and belongings that same afternoon. Except
+for the luggage needed on the motor-tour, everything
+was to be sent to Lady Kitty&#8217;s home in
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_278' name='page_278'></a>278</span>
+London, and Patty had to smile, as she realised
+that her present temporary home was the great
+house where she had so daringly braved the
+irascible Sir Otho.
+</p>
+<p>There was a daintily furnished room in the
+Markleham house that had been set aside for
+Patty&#8217;s very own, and whenever she cared to
+she was invited to occupy it.
+</p>
+<p>When the boys came home that afternoon and
+heard the news, they set up a wail of woe that
+was both genuine and very noisy.
+</p>
+<p>No one could help admiring Lady Kitty, but
+Sinclair and Bob felt as if she were robbing their
+household, and it required all their good manners
+to hide their feeling of resentment.
+</p>
+<p>But they rose nobly to the occasion, and Bob
+said: &#8220;Well, since Patty must go, we&#8217;ll have
+to send her off in a blaze of glory. Let&#8217;s make
+a party, mother, a few people to dinner, and
+some more for the evening.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Hartley quickly realised that this would
+be the best way to tide over a sad occasion, and
+she agreed. The Merediths and a few others
+were sent for to come to dinner, and a dozen
+or more young people asked for a little dance
+in the evening. Notwithstanding her unwelcome
+errand, Lady Kitty fitted right into the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_279' name='page_279'></a>279</span>
+house party, and both she and her father were so
+affable and pleasant that the Hartleys forgave
+them for stealing Patty away.
+</p>
+<p>The tourists had luggage with them, so were
+able to don attire suitable to the party. Lady
+Hamilton wore one of her beautiful trailing lace
+gowns, which had won for her Patty&#8217;s name of
+&#8220;The White Lady.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty, too, wore a white frock, of ruffled organdie,
+with touches of pale green velvet. In
+her pretty hair was a single pink rose, and as she
+arranged it, she felt a pang as she thought
+that might be the last flower she would ever
+wear from the dear old Cromarty rose garden.
+The dinner was a beautiful feast, indeed. The
+table sparkled with the old silver and glass that
+had belonged to the Cromarty ancestors. Flowers
+were everywhere, and the table and dining-room
+were lighted entirely by wax candles, with
+the intent of abiding by the old traditions of the
+manor.
+</p>
+<p>At Patty&#8217;s plate was a multitude of gifts.
+How they managed it on such short notice,
+she never knew, but every one of the family
+and most of the guests gave her a parting
+souvenir.
+</p>
+<p>Grandma Cromarty gave her a valuable old
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_280' name='page_280'></a>280</span>
+miniature that had long been in her historic collection.
+Mrs. Hartley gave her an exquisite
+fan, painted by a celebrated artist. Mabel gave
+her a ring set with a beautiful pearl, and the
+boys together gave her a splendid set of
+Dickens&#8217; works in elaborately gilded binding.
+Grace Meredith brought her a bangle, and
+Tom a quaint old-fashioned candlestick; and
+many other guests brought pretty or curious
+trifles.
+</p>
+<p>Patty was overwhelmed at this unexpected
+kindness, and opened parcel after parcel in a
+bewilderment of delight.
+</p>
+<p>Everybody was gay and merry, yet there was
+an undercurrent of sadness, as one after another
+remembered this was the last time they would
+see pretty Patty.
+</p>
+<p>After dinner they all assembled on the terrace,
+and the other guests, arriving later, joined them
+there.
+</p>
+<p>But the soft beauty of the summer evening
+seemed to intensify the spirit of sadness, and
+all were glad to hear the strains of a violin
+coming from the great hall.
+</p>
+<p>Bob had sent for two or three musicians, and
+soon the young people were spinning around in
+the dance, and merriment once more reigned.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_281' name='page_281'></a>281</span></p>
+<p>Always a popular partner, Patty was fairly
+besieged that night.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t,&#8221; she said laughingly, as the young
+men gathered around to beg her favours; &#8220;I&#8217;ve
+halved every dance already; I can&#8217;t do more
+than that.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t halve this one,&#8221; said Tom Meredith,
+as he led her away for a waltz. &#8220;I must have
+all of it. Unless you&#8217;ll sit it out with me on
+the terrace.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, thank you,&#8221; said Patty. &#8220;I&#8217;d rather
+dance. I don&#8217;t suppose I&#8217;ll find another dancer
+as good as you all summer.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I hate to think of your going away,&#8221; said
+Tom. &#8220;You almost promised me you&#8217;d stay
+here all summer.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I know. But I&#8217;m not mistress of my own
+plans. They&#8217;re made for me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And you&#8217;re glad of it,&#8221; said Tom, almost
+angrily. &#8220;You&#8217;re glad you&#8217;re going away from
+here&mdash;to go motoring in Switzerland, and all
+sorts of things.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be so savage. It isn&#8217;t surprising that
+I&#8217;m glad to go away from any one as cross as
+you are.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom had to smile in return for Patty&#8217;s laughing
+tones, and he said more gently:
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_282' name='page_282'></a>282</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t mean to be bearish, but I wish you
+weren&#8217;t going. I&mdash;I like you an awful lot,
+Patty. Truly I do.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad of it,&#8221; said Patty, heartily, &#8220;and I
+like you too. After Sinclair and Bob, you&#8217;re the
+nicest boy in England.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s luck in odd numbers,&#8221; said Tom, a
+little ruefully, &#8220;so I&#8217;m glad I&#8217;m number three.
+But I&#8217;d like to be number one.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, you&#8217;re a number one dancer,&#8221; said
+Patty, as the music ceased, and with that Tom
+had to be content.
+</p>
+<p>And now the hour was getting late and the
+young people began to go home.
+</p>
+<p>It was really an ordeal for Patty to say good-bye,
+for she had many friends among them, and
+they all seemed truly regretful to part with
+her.
+</p>
+<p>But after they had gone, and only those staying
+in the house remained, another surprise was
+in waiting for Patty. They were gathered in
+the great hall, talking over for the last time the
+mystery of the hidden fortune, and Patty&#8217;s
+clever solution of it.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And now,&#8221; said Sinclair, &#8220;I&#8217;ve a little
+speech to make.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He went and stood on the &#8220;stair across the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_283' name='page_283'></a>283</span>
+hall,&#8221; in front of the old chimney-piece, and so,
+just beneath the picture of the fir trees. The
+painting was a fine one, and represented a landscape
+with firs in the foreground. It had hung
+there since the days of the earlier Cromartys,
+and was a valuable work of art.
+</p>
+<p>Patty had always loved the picture, even before
+the added interest of learning the truth
+about the fir trees, and they all knew it was one
+of her favourites among the many art treasures
+of the old house.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I was going to make this speech when the
+party was here,&#8221; proceeded Sinclair, &#8220;but I
+didn&#8217;t, partly because I feared it might embarrass
+Patty, and partly because I like it better
+to have only our own people here. But the
+speech itself is this: We, the Cromartys of Cromarty
+Manor, realising that we can never liquidate
+the great debt of gratitude we owe to our
+beautiful and beloved friend, Miss Patty Fairfield,
+wish, at least, to give her a token of
+our affection and a memento of her noble
+deed. We, therefore, one and all of the household
+of Cromarty, offer her this picture of
+fir trees, this painting by Hobbema, and we
+trust that she will accept it in the spirit it is
+tendered.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_284' name='page_284'></a>284</span></p>
+<p>Sinclair bowed and sat down, and Patty sat
+for a moment in awestruck silence.
+</p>
+<p>Then, &#8220;The Hobbema!&#8221; she cried, &#8220;I
+won&#8217;t take it! The idea of giving me that
+painting! Why, it&#8217;s one of the gems of the
+house!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why we want you to have it, Patty
+dear,&#8221; said Grandma Cromarty, gently. &#8220;It is
+one of our treasures, and for that very reason it
+is worthy to be presented as a souvenir to one
+who so gloriously deserves it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hear! Hear!&#8221; cried Bob. &#8220;Grandy
+makes a better speech than you, Clair.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Patty&#8217;s scruples were lovingly overcome, and
+she was made to realise that she was the owner
+of a real masterpiece of art, that would be to
+her a lifelong delight.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But what will take its place?&#8221; she said.
+&#8220;It has hung there so many years.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It hung there,&#8221; said Mrs. Hartley, &#8220;until its
+mission was fulfilled. Now that there is nothing
+to be searched for &#8216;between the fir trees and
+the oak,&#8217; it need hang there no longer. It is
+fitting that we retain the &#8216;oak&#8217; and you possess
+the &#8216;fir trees,&#8217; thus assuring an everlasting bond
+of union between the fir trees and the
+oak.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_285' name='page_285'></a>285</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Bravo, Mater!&#8221; cried Bob. &#8220;You&#8217;re coming
+out strong on speechifying, too. Mabel, we
+must look out for our laurels.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But Mabel was too near the verge of tears to
+trust her voice, so she slipped her hand in
+Patty&#8217;s, knowing that she would understand all
+that could not be said.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; went on Bob, &#8220;I&#8217;m not much of an
+orator, but I&#8217;ll take it for my part to see that
+the Fir Trees are properly packed and sent to
+your home, Patty. Where shall I send the
+box?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I hate to have it go to New York now,&#8221; said
+Patty, &#8220;for I want it with me while I&#8217;m over
+here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So it was arranged to send the picture to Sir
+Otho&#8217;s house in London, there to remain until
+the Fairfields returned to America.
+</p>
+<p>The departure from Cromarty was made next
+morning directly after breakfast. It was fortunate
+that the last details of luggage preparations,
+and the packing of luncheon and so forth,
+made a bustle and hurry that left little time
+for actual farewells. And, too, they were all too
+sensible to mar Patty&#8217;s last memory of Cromarty
+with futile regrets.
+</p>
+<p>So after good-byes were said, and the party
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_286' name='page_286'></a>286</span>
+stowed away in the big car, Sinclair started
+one of their favourite nonsense songs.
+</p>
+<p>The others joined in, and Patty sang too, and
+handkerchiefs were waved, and as the car slid
+out of sight among the trees, those who were
+left could still hear Patty&#8217;s high, sweet soprano
+ringing back to them.
+</p>
+<!-- generated by ppgen.rb version: 2.06 -->
+<!-- timestamp: Thu Jun 19 15:31:13 -0600 2008 -->
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
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@@ -0,0 +1,7183 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Patty's Friends, by Carolyn Wells
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Patty's Friends
+
+Author: Carolyn Wells
+
+Release Date: June 20, 2008 [EBook #25847]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY'S FRIENDS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+PATTY'S FRIENDS
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+BY THE SAME AUTHOR
+
+  PATTY FAIRFIELD
+  PATTY AT HOME
+  PATTY IN THE CITY
+  PATTY'S SUMMER DAYS
+  PATTY IN PARIS
+  PATTY'S FRIENDS
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+[Illustration: "Patty was a comfort-loving creature" (p. 33)]
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+PATTY'S FRIENDS
+
+By
+CAROLYN WELLS
+
+Author of "Patty Fairfield," "Patty in Paris," etc.
+
+NEW YORK
+DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY
+1908
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Copyright, 1908
+By Dodd, Mead and Company
+
+Published, September, 1908
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER                            PAGE
+      I  An Afternoon Tea             9
+     II  Riddles and Games           23
+    III  The White Lady              36
+     IV  A Floral Offering           51
+      V  Miss Yankee Doodle          65
+     VI  Herenden Hall               79
+    VII  For One Night Only          93
+   VIII  The Earl of Ruthven        107
+     IX  An Important Document      121
+      X  A Momentous Interview      134
+     XI  The Birthday Party         149
+    XII  Summer Plans               162
+   XIII  Cromarty Manor             175
+    XIV  Uncle Marmaduke            190
+     XV  Puzzling Rhymes            204
+    XVI  The Croquet Party          218
+   XVII  The Griffin and the Rose   231
+  XVIII  The Old Chimney-Piece      245
+    XIX  The Discovery              258
+     XX  Good-Byes                  272
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+"Patty was a comfort-loving creature"                Frontispiece
+
+"Marie pinned it and sewed it"                                 95
+
+"'How _much_ pleasanter this is than squabbling'"             145
+
+"Often she would spend a morning lying in a hammock
+beneath the old trees"                                        175
+
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+PATTY'S FRIENDS
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+AN AFTERNOON TEA
+
+
+"I wish I had a twin sister," said Patty; "no, that wouldn't do, either.
+I wish I were twins, and could be both of them myself."
+
+"What a sensible wish!" commented Nan. "But why do you want to double
+yourself up in that way?"
+
+"So I could go to two places at once. Here I have two lovely invitations
+for this afternoon, and I don't know which I want to accept most. One is
+a musicale at Mrs. Hastings', and the other is a picture exhibition at
+the New Gallery."
+
+"They sound delightful. Can't you manage to go to both?"
+
+"No, they're too far apart; and they're both at four o'clock, anyway. I
+think I'll choose the musicale, for I'll surely get another chance to see
+the pictures."
+
+"Yes, of course you will," agreed Nan, a little absently, for she was
+reading some newly arrived letters.
+
+The Fairfields were in London, and were comfortably established in the
+Savoy Hotel. It was April, and though they intended to travel later in
+the summer, their plans were as yet indefinite, and they were enjoying
+the many and varied delights of the London season.
+
+To be sure, Nan and Mr. Fairfield were invited to many dinners and
+elaborate entertainments which Patty was too young to attend, but her
+time was pleasantly filled with afternoon garden parties or teas, while
+mornings were often devoted to sight-seeing.
+
+Patty was almost eighteen, and though not allowed quite the untrammelled
+freedom she would have had in America, she was not kept so utterly
+secluded as English girls of her age. Sometimes she would go all alone to
+Westminster Abbey or to the National Gallery, and enjoy hugely a solitary
+hour or two. At other times, Nan or her father, or some girl friend,
+would go with her.
+
+The Fairfields had begun their stay in London with only a few friends,
+but these had introduced others, until now their circle of acquaintances
+was large, and the immediate result of this was a sheaf of invitations in
+every mail. For, during the season, Londoners are hospitable folk, and
+give entertainments morning, noon, and night. At first, the Fairfields
+had thought they would take a house, and so have a home of their own. But
+Mr. Fairfield concluded that if Nan had the duties of a housekeeper, her
+trip would not be a holiday, so he declared they would live at a large
+hotel, and thus have a chance to observe the gay life of London.
+
+And so cosy and comfortable were their apartments at the Savoy, that they
+soon began to feel quite at home there. And Patty, as we all know, was
+one who could adapt herself to any mode of living.
+
+Of a naturally happy and contented disposition, she accepted everything
+as it came, and enjoyed everything with the enthusiasm so often seen in
+American girls.
+
+It greatly amused her to note the differences between herself and the
+English girls.
+
+To her mind, they seemed to have no enthusiasm, no enterprise, and little
+capacity for enjoyment, while Patty enjoyed every experience that came to
+her, whether a visit to Windsor Castle, a day at Stratford, or a simple
+afternoon tea in their own rooms.
+
+"I seem to have been set back two or three years," she said to Nan, one
+day. "In New York I was almost a full-fledged young lady, but over here,
+I'm treated as a little girl."
+
+"It doesn't matter," said Nan, sensibly. "You are what you are, and if
+the different countries choose to treat you differently, it doesn't
+matter, does it?"
+
+"Not a bit. I'm Patty Fairfield, and I'm almost eighteen, whether I'm in
+California or the Fiji Islands. But it does amuse me, the way the
+Londoners think we live at home. They really believe American ladies go
+to market in the morning, loaded down with diamonds. You don't often see
+that in New York, do you, Nan?"
+
+"No, I don't think I ever saw a New York matron wearing elaborate jewelry
+to market. But then I never go to market myself, and I don't know many
+people who do. I think that bediamonded marketer story is an old
+tradition, which is really pretty well worn out."
+
+"And the London ladies needn't talk, anyway. If we did wear jewels to
+market, it wouldn't be a bit more absurd than the way they dress to go
+shopping in the morning. Long, trailing, frilly gowns of pink and blue
+chiffon, with swishing lace-ruffled petticoats, that just drag through
+the dirt of the streets."
+
+"Now aren't you criticising them as unfairly as they describe us?"
+
+"No, for what I say is true. I've seen them fluttering about. And,
+anyway, I don't mean to be mean. I like them lots. I just love the London
+ladies, they're so kind to me, and invite me to such lovely things. Of
+course I don't care if they choose to wear garden-party clothes along
+Bond Street. We all have some ridiculous ways."
+
+Pretty Patty was fond of pretty clothes, and the shops of Bond Street
+held great attractions for her, though she herself wore a real
+tailor-made costume when shopping. At first, Nan had exercised a
+supervision over her purchases, but Patty had shown such good taste, and
+such quick and unerring judgment as to fabrics and colors, that it had
+come about that Patty more often advised Nan in her choosing, than the
+other way.
+
+And so, many a pleasant morning was spent in the beautiful London shops,
+buying things they wanted, looking at things they did not want, or noting
+with interest the ways and means peculiar to English shopkeepers.
+
+Thus the days went happily by, and they had already been more than a
+fortnight in London, while as yet their plans for future travel were
+unmade. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield wanted to go to Germany, Switzerland, and
+other countries, but Patty didn't care so much for that as for English
+country, or small nearby towns. So the matter was left unsettled, though
+short and desultory discussions were held now and then.
+
+But oftener their minds were taken up with the doings of the moment, and
+they complacently left the future to itself.
+
+"Well, then I think I'll go to the musicale," said Patty. "What would you
+wear?"
+
+"That new light blue chiffon of yours, with the lace bolero, is just the
+thing."
+
+"Yes, and my new broad-leafed chip hat, with the roses piled all over
+it."
+
+Patty ran away to her own room, and after a time returned in the pretty
+summer costume.
+
+"How do I look?" she asked, smilingly, of Nan.
+
+Nan smiled back at the lovely vision, for Patty's vanity was of a mild
+and innocent sort, and was rather a childish delight in dainty colors and
+fabrics, than any conceit over her own beauty.
+
+For beautiful Patty certainly was, in a sweet, wholesome, girlish way,
+and not the least of her charms was her naturalness of manner and her
+entire lack of self-consciousness.
+
+She looked especially winning in the light, filmy dress, and the big hat,
+weighed down with roses.
+
+"You look all right, Patty," answered Nan. "That's a duck of a frock, and
+suits you perfectly. Are you going alone?"
+
+"Yes; father says I may go alone in our own carriage to any afternoon
+thing. The Hartleys will bring me home, so sha'n't I send the carriage
+back for you?"
+
+"Yes, I wish you would. I'm going to a tea or two, and then we're dining
+out. You're to dine with the Hartleys, aren't you?"
+
+"Yes, if it is dinner. It's more likely to be schoolroom tea. Mabel
+Hartley is sixteen, but I doubt if she's allowed at dinner yet."
+
+"Nonsense, of course she is. Well, then, if they're sending you home,
+Louise needn't go after you?"
+
+"No; they'll send somebody. Good-bye, Nan."
+
+"Good-bye, Patty. Have a lovely time."
+
+"Oh, yes; I always do."
+
+Away went Patty and her frills, and when she reached Chesterton Mansions,
+she was soon established under the wing of her hostess, Mrs. Hastings.
+
+That lady was very glad to have the pretty American girl as her guest,
+and she introduced Patty to so many people that it was almost
+bewildering. But after a time, the music began, and Patty was glad to sit
+still and listen.
+
+It was very fine music, for that is the sort that Londoners usually offer
+at their teas, and Patty thoroughly enjoyed the singing and the
+violin-playing. She was a little afraid that Mrs. Hastings would ask her
+to sing, but as it was a programme of professionals this did not happen.
+
+When the Hartleys came, Mabel at once made her way to Patty's side and
+sat down by her.
+
+"I'm so glad to see you again," she said, "and it's so lovely that you're
+going home with us."
+
+"I'm glad, too," returned Patty, "it was lovely of you to ask me."
+
+Mabel Hartley was an English girl, and was about as different from Patty
+as could well be imagined, and perhaps for this reason the two were very
+good friends. Although they had met only a few times, they liked each
+other from the beginning, and both were ready to continue the friendship.
+
+Mabel was large and stout, with the solidity which characterises the
+British young girls. She was large-boned and not very graceful, but she
+carried herself with a patrician air that told of past generations of
+good-breeding. Her complexion was of that pure pink and white seen only
+on English faces, but her pale, sandy hair and light blue eyes failed to
+add the deeper color that was needed. Her frock was an uninteresting
+shade of tan, and did not hang evenly, while her hat was one of those
+tubby affairs little short of ridiculous.
+
+Patty fairly ached to re-clothe her, in some pretty clear color, and a
+becoming hat.
+
+The girls were politely silent while the music was going on, but in the
+intervals between the numbers they chattered glibly.
+
+"That's Grace Meredith and her brother Tom just coming in," said Mabel.
+"I hope they'll come over here; you'll like them, I know."
+
+The Merediths did come over, and were promptly introduced to Patty.
+
+"Do you know," said Tom Meredith, as he shook hands in cordial, boyish
+fashion, "you're the first American girl I've ever met."
+
+"Am I, really?" laughed Patty. "Now don't ask me if we always wear our
+diamonds to market, for truly the American women who go to market rarely
+have any diamonds."
+
+"I never believed that diamond story, anyway," responded Tom, gravely,
+"but I'm glad to have you tell me it isn't true. I'm perfectly
+unprejudiced about America, though. I'm ready to believe it's the best
+country in the world, outside of our own little island."
+
+"Good for you!" cried Patty. "Then I'm ready to acknowledge that I like
+England next best to America."
+
+"Have you been here long?" asked Grace.
+
+"No, only about two weeks, but I love London better every day, and I know
+I shall love the English country. Just the glimpse I caught coming in the
+train from Dover was delightful."
+
+"You should see the Hartleys' country place," declared Tom, with
+enthusiasm. "It's a ripping old house, two hundred years old, and all
+that. And such parks and orchards! Well!"
+
+"I hope you will come to see it, Patty," said Mabel, a little wistfully,
+and Patty wondered why the girl's tone had in it a note of sadness.
+
+But just then, as the music was over, Mrs. Hastings asked them to go to
+the tea-room, and the group of young people followed in her wake.
+
+"You girls sit here," said Tom, selecting a jolly-looking alcove, with
+window-seats and red cushions, "while I stalk some food."
+
+He was back in a few moments, followed by a waiter, who brought a tray of
+teacups and plates of sweet cakes.
+
+Tom, himself, bore triumphantly a covered silver dish.
+
+"Muffins!" he announced, in a jubilant voice. "Hot, buttered muffins!
+Crickets, what luck!"
+
+The hot muffins, buttered and quartered, were indeed delicious, and
+England and America seemed at one in showing an appreciative appetite for
+them.
+
+"We don't have these in America," said Patty, surveying her bit of muffin
+with admiration. "We have good sandwiches, though."
+
+"We almost never have sandwiches," said Grace.
+
+"You don't need to," said Patty, quickly. "Your wonderful bread and
+butter is too good to be spoiled with a sandwich filling of any sort."
+
+"'Most all things are good eating at an afternoon tea," observed Tom.
+"Somehow, at five o'clock I'm always so hungry I could eat a brickbat if
+it were toasted and buttered."
+
+"Afternoon tea is really an acquired taste with us," said Patty. "You
+seem to have it naturally, even when you're alone, but we only have it
+when we have guests."
+
+"Really?" said Mabel, in astonishment. "Why, we'd as soon think of
+omitting breakfast or dinner as tea."
+
+"It's a lovely meal," said Patty, giving a little sigh of satisfaction,
+as her last crumb of muffin disappeared. "Such good things to eat, and
+then it's so cosy and informal to sit around in easy chairs, instead of
+at a big table."
+
+"But the ideal place for tea is on the lawn," said Tom. "The open air and
+the trees and birds and flowers are even a better setting for it, than an
+interior like this."
+
+"I hope I shall have that kind this summer," said Patty. "I'm invited to
+several country houses, and I know I shall enjoy it immensely."
+
+"Indeed you will," said Mabel, and again Patty thought she detected a
+shade of sadness in her friend's eyes.
+
+But if Mabel was not exactly gay, Grace Meredith made up for it. She was
+full of fun and laughter, and both she and Tom made comical speeches
+until Patty feared she would disgrace herself laughing.
+
+"What's the joke?" asked Mrs. Hartley, coming to collect her young people
+and take them home.
+
+"Tom is making verses about the people here," explained Grace. "Tell Mrs.
+Hartley the one about the violinist, Tom."
+
+"Don't think it's rude, Mrs. Hartley," said young Meredith; "truly, it
+isn't meant to be. But for that classic-browed genius, with his
+chrysanthemum of tawny-colored hair, isn't this a pleasant token of
+regard and esteem?
+
+              "This is our latest social lion,
+              So, to look modest, he's tryin' and tryin'."
+
+"It's very beautiful," said Mrs. Hartley, smiling, "and I daresay
+Professor Prendergast would enjoy it himself, were he to hear it."
+
+"He might," said Tom, doubtfully, "but musicians rarely have a sense of
+humour, at least, about themselves."
+
+"That's true," agreed Mrs. Hartley, "and now, Mabel and Miss Fairfield,
+we must be going on."
+
+Good-byes were soon said, and in the Hartleys' carriage Patty was taken
+away to her first visit in an English home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+RIDDLES AND GAMES
+
+
+Much to Patty's satisfaction Mabel Hartley was in the habit of dining
+with her elders and was not condemned to "schoolroom tea."
+
+The family was not large, consisting only of Mrs. Hartley, her mother,
+Mrs. Cromarty, her two sons, and Mabel. The sons, Sinclair and Robert,
+were big, stalwart fellows, a few years older than Mabel.
+
+Patty liked them at once, for they were cordial and hearty in their
+greetings, and quite at ease in their conversation.
+
+"I say, Mater," began Bob, after they were seated at dinner, "there's a
+stunning garden-party on at Regent's Park next week. Don't you think we
+can all go? Tickets only two shillings each."
+
+"What is it, my son? A charity affair?"
+
+"Yes. Rest cure for semi-orphans, or something. But they've all sorts of
+jolly shows, and the Stagefright Club is going to give a little original
+play. Oh, say we go!"
+
+"I'll see about it," answered Mrs. Hartley. "Perhaps, if we make up a
+party, Miss Fairfield will go with us."
+
+"I'd love to," said Patty. "I've never seen a real English garden party."
+
+"Oh, this isn't a real English garden party in the true sense," said
+Sinclair. "To see that, you must be in the country. But this is a public
+London garden party and typical of its sort. You'll like it, I'm sure.
+Will you go with us, Grandy?"
+
+At first it seemed incongruous to Patty to hear the dignified Mrs.
+Cromarty addressed by such a nickname, but as she came to know her
+better, the name seemed really appropriate. The lady was of the class
+known as _grande dame_, and her white hair and delicate, sharply-cut
+features betokened a high type of English aristocracy. Her voice was very
+sweet and gentle, and she smiled at her big grandson, as she replied:
+
+"No, my boy; I lost my taste for garden parties some years ago. But it's
+a fine setting for you young people, and I hope Emmeline will take you
+all."
+
+"Mother said she'd see about it," said Mabel, "and that's always the same
+as 'yes.' If it's going to be 'no,' she says, 'I'll think it over.'"
+
+"It's a great thing to understand your mother-tongue so well," said
+Patty, laughing; "now I shouldn't have known those distinctions."
+
+"We have a wonderful talent for languages," said Sinclair, gravely.
+"Indeed, we have a language of our own. Shall I teach it to you?"
+
+"You might try," said Patty, "but I'm not at all clever as a linguist."
+
+"You may not learn it easily, but it can be taught in one sentence. It
+consists in merely using the initial of the word instead of the word
+itself."
+
+"But so many words begin with the same initial," said Patty, bewildered
+at the idea.
+
+"Yes, but it's ever so much easier than you'd think. Now listen. Wouldn't
+you understand me if I said: 'D y w t g t t g p?'"
+
+"Say it again, please, and say it slowly."
+
+Sinclair repeated the letters, and Patty clapped her hands, crying: "Yes,
+yes, of course I understand. You mean 'Do you want to go to the garden
+party?' Now, listen to me while I answer: Y I w t g i i d r."
+
+"Good!" exclaimed Mabel. "You said: 'Yes, I want to go, if it doesn't
+rain.' Oh, you are a quick pupil."
+
+"But those are such easy sentences," said Patty, as she considered the
+matter.
+
+"That's the point," said Bob, "most sentences, at least, the ones we use
+most, _are_ easy. If I should meet you unexpectedly, and say H d y d?
+you'd know I meant How do you do? Or if I took leave, and said G b, you'd
+understand good-bye. Those are the simplest possible examples. Now, on
+the other hand, if I were to read you a long speech from the morning
+paper, you'd probably miss many of the long words, but that's the other
+extreme. We've talked in initials for years, and rarely are we uncertain
+as to the sense, though we may sometimes skip a word here and there."
+
+"But what good is it?" asked Patty.
+
+"No good at all," admitted Bob; "but it's fun. And after you're used to
+it, you can talk that way so fast that any one listening couldn't guess
+what you are saying. Sometimes when we're riding on an omnibus, or
+anything like that, it's fun to talk initials and mystify the people."
+
+"D y o d t?" said Patty, her eyes twinkling.
+
+"Yes, we often do that," returned Bob, greatly gratified at the rapid
+progress of the new pupil. "You must be fond of puzzles, to catch this up
+so quickly."
+
+"I am," said Patty. "I've guessed puzzles ever since I was a little girl.
+I always solve all I can find in the papers, and sometimes I take prizes
+for them."
+
+"We do that too," said Mabel; "and sometimes we make puzzles and send
+them to the papers and they print them. Let's make some for each other
+this evening."
+
+After dinner the young people gathered round the table in the pleasant
+library, and were soon busy with paper and pencils. Patty found the
+Hartleys a match for her in quickness and ingenuity, but she was able to
+guess as great a proportion of their puzzles as they of hers.
+
+After amusing themselves with square words and double acrostics, they
+drifted to conundrums, and Bob asked:
+
+"Which letter of the Dutch alphabet spells an English lady of rank?"
+
+"That's not fair," objected Patty, "because I don't know the Dutch
+alphabet."
+
+"That doesn't matter," said Mabel, "you can guess it just as well
+without."
+
+"Indeed I can't, and besides I don't know the names of all the English
+ladies of rank."
+
+"That doesn't matter either," said Sinclair, smiling; "it spells a title,
+not a name; and one you know very well."
+
+"I can't guess it, anyway," said Patty, after a few moment's thought. "I
+give it up; tell me."
+
+"Why, Dutch S," said Bob, and Patty agreed that it was a good catch.
+
+"Now, I'll catch you," said Patty. "You all know your London pretty well,
+I suppose, and are familiar with the places of interest. Well, Mabel, why
+is your nose like St. Paul's?"
+
+Mabel thought hard, and so did the boys.
+
+"Is my nose like St. Paul's, too?" asked Bob, thoughtfully, stroking his
+well-shaped feature.
+
+Patty looked at it critically. "Yes," she said, "and so is Sinclair's.
+But why?"
+
+At last they gave it up, and Patty said, triumphantly, "Because it is
+made of flesh and blood."
+
+They all screamed with laughter, for they quickly saw the point, and
+realised that it was the historic character referred to, and not the
+cathedral.
+
+"Here's one," said Sinclair: "Where did the Prince of Wales go on his
+eleventh birthday?" But Patty was quite quick enough for this. "Into his
+twelfth year," she answered promptly. "And now listen to this: A man
+walking out at night, met a beggar asking alms. The man gave him ten
+cents. He met another beggar and gave him fifteen cents. What time was
+it?"
+
+"Time for him to go home," declared Bob, but Patty said that was not the
+right answer.
+
+"Springtime," guessed Mabel, "because the man was in such a good humor."
+
+"No," said Patty, "it was quarter to two."
+
+Her hearers looked utterly blank at this, and, suddenly realising that
+they were not very familiar with American coins, Patty explained the
+joke. They saw it, of course, but seemed to think it not very good, and
+Sinclair whimsically insisted on calling it, "a shilling to Bob," which
+he said was equally nonsensical.
+
+"Give us one of your poetry ones, Grandy," said Bob to Mrs. Cromarty, who
+sat by, quietly enjoying the young people's fun.
+
+"Miss Fairfield may not care for the old-fashioned enigma, but I will
+offer this one," and in her fine, clear voice the old lady recited her
+verse with elocutionary effect:
+
+                   "Afloat upon the ocean
+                   My graceful form you see;
+
+                   The protector of the people,
+                   The protector of a tree.
+
+                   I often save a patient,
+                   Though a doctor I am not;
+
+                   My name is very easy,
+                   Can you tell me, children? What?"
+
+The others had heard this before, and when Patty promptly guessed "Bark,"
+Mrs. Cromarty was distinctly pleased with her quick-wittedness.
+
+Then lemonade and wafery little cakes were brought in, that the puzzlers
+might refresh themselves.
+
+The atmosphere of the Hartley household was very pleasant, and Patty felt
+much more at home than she had ever expected to feel among English
+people. She made allusion to this, and Bob said: "Oh, this place isn't
+homey at all, compared with our real home. You must come to see us down
+in the country, mustn't she, mother?"
+
+"I should be very glad to welcome you there, my dear," said Mrs. Hartley,
+smiling at Patty, "and I trust it may be arranged. We have this apartment
+for only a few weeks longer, and then we shall go back to Leicester."
+
+"I'm in no haste to go," declared Mabel. "I love Cromarty Manor, but I
+want to stay in London a little longer. But when we do go, Patty, you
+surely must visit us there."
+
+"Indeed I will, if I can manage it. My parents want me to go with them to
+Switzerland, but I'd much prefer to spend the summer in England. I have
+ever so many delightful invitations to country houses, and they seem to
+me a lot more attractive than travelling about. I suppose I ought to care
+more about seeing places, but I don't."
+
+"You're quite young enough yet," said Mrs. Hartley, "to look forward to
+travelling in future years. I think some experiences of English life
+would be quite as advantageous for you."
+
+"I'll tell father you said that," said Patty. "Then perhaps he'll let me
+have my own way. But he usually does that, anyway."
+
+"You'd love Cromarty Manor," said Bob, enthusiastically. "It's so
+beautiful in spring and early summer."
+
+"But not half as grand as other houses where Patty's invited," said
+Mabel, and again the shadow crossed her face that seemed always to come
+when she spoke of her country home.
+
+"Grandeur doesn't count in the country," declared Bob. "That belongs to
+London life. Other places may be larger or in better condition than ours,
+but they _can't_ be more beautiful."
+
+"That is true," said Mrs. Cromarty, in her quiet way, which always seemed
+to decide a disputed point. And then it was time to go home, and Mrs.
+Hartley sent Patty away in her carriage, with a maid to accompany her.
+The woman was middle-aged, with a pleasant voice and a capable manner.
+She chatted affably with Patty, and dilated a little on the glories of
+the Cromarty family.
+
+Patty realised at once that she was an old family servant, and had earned
+a right to a little more freedom of speech than is usual to English
+domestics.
+
+"Oh, yes, Miss," she said; "it's a wonnerful old place, that it is. And
+if the dear lady only 'ad the money as is 'ers by right, she'd keep it up
+lordly, that she would."
+
+Patty wondered what had become of the money in question, but Sarah said
+no more concerning it, and Patty felt she had no right to ask. "You live
+with them, then, in the country?" she said.
+
+"Yes, Miss, I've allus lived with them. My mother was housekeeper at the
+Manor when Miss Emmeline married Mr. 'Artley. Oh, he was the fine
+gentleman. Dead now, this ten year come Whitsuntide. Master Bob, he's the
+image of his father. Are you warm enough, Miss?"
+
+Sarah's quick transit from reminiscences to solicitude for her comfort
+almost startled Patty, but she was getting used to that peculiarity of
+the British mind.
+
+"Yes, thank you," she said, "and anyway, we're home now. Here's the
+Savoy."
+
+Mr. Fairfield and Nan had not yet arrived, so the good Sarah attended
+Patty to her own apartment and gave her over to Louise, who awaited her
+coming.
+
+Louise helped her off with her pretty frock, and brought her a beribboned
+negligee, and Patty curled up in a big armchair in front of the fire to
+think over the evening.
+
+"These wood-fires are lovely," she said to herself, "and they do have
+most comfortable stuffed chairs over here, if they only knew enough to
+put rockers under them."
+
+Patty was a comfort-loving creature, and often bewailed the absence of
+the rocking-chairs so dear to her American heart. Soon her parents came
+in and found her sound asleep in the big chair.
+
+She woke up, as her father kissed her lightly on the forehead.
+
+"Hello, Prince Charming," she said, smiling gaily at the handsome man in
+evening clothes who stood looking down at her.
+
+"I suppose you want a return compliment about the Sleeping Beauty," he
+said, "but you won't get it. Too much flattery isn't good for a baby like
+you, and I shall reserve my pretty speeches for my wife."
+
+"Oh, I'll share them with Patty," laughed Nan, "but with no one else."
+
+"Tell us about your evening, girlie," said her father. "Did you have a
+good time?"
+
+"Fine," said Patty. "The Hartleys are lovely people; I like them better
+than any I've met in London, so far. And they do puzzles, and ask
+riddles, and they're just as clever and quick as Americans. I've heard
+that English people were heavy and stupid, and they're not, a bit."
+
+"You mustn't believe all you hear. Are they a large family?" "Not very.
+Two sons, one daughter, and the mother and grandmother. Mabel's father
+has been dead for years. And they want me to visit them at their home in
+Leicester this summer. Can't I go?"
+
+"Desert your own family for foreigners!"
+
+"Yes; I do want to go there and to some other country places while you
+and Nan go touristing about. Mayn't I?"
+
+"We won't decide now. It's too near midnight for important matters to be
+discussed. Skip to bed, chickabiddy, and dream of the Stars and Stripes,
+lest you forget them entirely."
+
+"Never!" cried Patty, striking a dramatic attitude.
+
+                  "Though English people may be grand,
+                  My heart is in my native land!"
+
+And humming the Star-spangled Banner, she went away to her own room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE WHITE LADY
+
+
+"I feel in a gay mood," said Nan, as she clasped Patty round the waist,
+and always ready for a dance, Patty fell into step, and the two waltzed
+round the room, while Patty sang tum-te-tum to the air of a popular song.
+
+"As if you two ever felt any other way!" exclaimed Mr. Fairfield, smiling
+at them from the depths of his easy chair. "But what does this gay mood
+betoken? I suppose you want to drag me out to the theatre or opera
+to-night."
+
+Mr. Fairfield's pleasant smile belied his pretense at sharpness, and he
+waited to hear a reply.
+
+"That would be lovely," said Nan, "and we'll go if you invite us. But
+what I had in mind is this: I'd like to dine in the Restaurant."
+
+"Good!" cried Mr. Fairfield. "I feel gay enough for that, myself, and we
+haven't dined there for nearly a week."
+
+The Fairfields had a complete apartment of their own, and when not
+invited out, usually dined quietly in their own dining-room. But
+occasionally, when the mood took them, they dined in the great Savoy
+Restaurant, which was a festive pageant indeed.
+
+Patty loved to sit at a table there, and watch the beautiful women in
+their elaborate gowns, and their handsome, stalwart escorts, who were
+sometimes in brave uniforms.
+
+The splendid scene would have palled upon them, had they dined there
+every evening, but as a change from their small family dinner it was
+delightful.
+
+"We'll wear our dress-up frocks," said Patty, "and perhaps my White Lady
+will be there again."
+
+"Your White Lady?" asked Nan. "Who is she?"
+
+"That's just what I can't find out, though I've asked several people. But
+she's the most beautiful lady, with a haughty, proud face, and sad eyes.
+She always wears white, and there's an elderly lady who is sometimes with
+her. A strange-looking old lady in black, she is; and her face is like a
+hawk's."
+
+"Oh, I remember those people; they always sit at the same table." "Yes, I
+think they live here. But she is so sweet and lovely I'd like to know
+her. I make up stories about her all to myself. She's like Ginevra or the
+Lady of Shalott."
+
+"You're too fanciful, Patty. Probably she's the Duchess of Hardscrabble."
+
+"She looks like a Duchess, anyway. And also, she looks like a simple,
+sweet, lovely lady. I'm going to ask father to find out who she is."
+
+A little later the Fairfields went down to dinner.
+
+Nan wore an exquisite gown of embroidered yellow satin, and Patty wore a
+frilled white silk muslin. It was a little low at the throat, and was
+very becoming to her, and in and out of her piled-up curls was twisted a
+broad white ribbon, which ended in front in a saucy cluster of bows,
+after the prevailing fashion.
+
+"This is great fun," said Patty, as she took her seat with a little sigh
+of content. "I just love the lights and flowers and music and noise----"
+
+"Can you distinguish the music from the noise?" asked her father,
+laughing.
+
+"I can if I try, but I don't care whether I do or not. I love the whole
+conglomeration of sounds. People laughing and talking, and a sort of
+undertone of glass and china and waiters."
+
+"That sounds graphic," said Nan, "but the waiters here aren't supposed to
+make any noise."
+
+"No, I know it, but they're just part of the whole scene, and it's all
+beautiful together. Oh, there's my White Lady!"
+
+It was indeed a charming young woman who was just entering the room. She
+was tall and very slender, with a face serene and sweet. Her large, dark
+eyes had a look of resignation, rather than sadness, but the firm set of
+her scarlet lips did not betoken an easily-resigned nature.
+
+With her was the elder lady of whom Patty had spoken. She was
+sharp-featured and looked as if she were sharp-tempered. She wore a
+rather severe evening gown of black net, and in her gray hair was a
+quivering black aigrette.
+
+In contrast to this dark figure, the younger lady looked specially fair
+and sweet. Her trailing gown was of heavy white lace, and round her
+beautiful throat were two long strings of pearls. She wore no other
+ornament save for a white flower in her hair, and her shoulders and arms
+were almost as white as the soft tulle that billowed against them.
+
+It chanced that Mr. Fairfield's table was quite near the one usually
+occupied by these two, and Patty watched the White Lady, without seeming
+to stare at her.
+
+"Isn't she exquisite?" she said, at last, for they were not within
+earshot, and Nan agreed that she was.
+
+As the dinner proceeded, Patty glanced often at the lady of her
+admiration, and after a time was surprised and a little embarrassed to
+find that the White Lady was glancing at her.
+
+Fearing she had stared more frankly than she realised, Patty refrained
+from looking at the lady again, and resolutely kept her eyes turned in
+other directions.
+
+But as if drawn by a magnet, she felt impelled to look at her once more,
+and giving a quick glance, she saw the White Lady distinctly smiling at
+her. There was no mistake, it was a kind, amused little smile of a most
+friendly nature.
+
+Patty was enchanted, and the warm blood rushed to her cheeks as if she
+had been singled out for a great honour. But frankly, and without
+embarrassment, she smiled back at the lovely face, and returned the
+pleased little nod that was then given her.
+
+"Patty, what _are_ you doing?" said Nan; "do you see any one you know?"
+
+"No," said Patty, slowly, almost as one in a dream, "my White Lady smiled
+at me,--that's all,--so I smiled back at her, and then we bowed."
+
+"You mustn't do such things," said Nan, half smiling herself, "she'll
+think you're a forward American."
+
+"I am an American," replied Patty, "and I'd be sorry to be called
+backward."
+
+"You never will be," said her father. "Well, I suppose you may smile at
+her, if she smiles first, but don't begin sending her anonymous notes."
+
+"Nonsense," said Patty, "but you two don't know how lovely she is when
+she smiles."
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield were seated with their backs to the lady in
+question, and could not see her without slightly turning their heads,
+while Patty, opposite them at the round table, faced her directly.
+
+"You're fortunate in your position," observed her father, "for were you
+seated here and we there, of course she would have beamed upon us."
+
+"She isn't beaming," cried Patty, almost indignantly; "I won't have that
+angelic smile called a beam. Now, you're not to tease. She's a sweet,
+dear lady, with some awful tragedy gnawing at her heart."
+
+"Patty, you're growing up romantic! Stop it at once. I'll buy the lady
+for you, if you want her, but I won't have you indulging in rubbishy
+romance like that, with nothing to base it on."
+
+Patty looked at her father comically.
+
+"I don't believe you'd better buy her, Daddy, dear," she said. "You know
+you often say that, with Nan and me on your hands, you have all you can
+manage. So I'm sure you couldn't add those two to your collection; for I
+feel certain wherever the White Lady goes the Black Lady goes too."
+
+The subject was lost sight of then, by the greetings of some friends who
+were passing by the Fairfields on their way out of the Restaurant.
+
+"Why, Mrs. Leigh," exclaimed Nan, "how do you do? Won't you and Mr. Leigh
+sit down and have coffee with us? Or, better yet, suppose we all go up to
+our drawing-room and have coffee there."
+
+After Patty had spoken to the newcomers and was sitting silent while her
+elders were talking, she looked up in surprise as a waiter approached
+her. He laid a long-stemmed white rose beside her plate, and said,
+quietly, "From Lady Hamilton, Miss."
+
+Involuntarily, Patty glanced at the White Lady, and seeing her smile,
+knew at once that she had sent the rose.
+
+As Patty explained the presence of the flower to the others, Mrs. Leigh
+glanced across, and said: "Oh, that's Lady Hamilton! Excuse me, I must
+speak to her just a moment."
+
+"Who is Lady Hamilton?" asked Nan of Mr. Leigh, unable longer to repress
+her interest.
+
+"One of the best and most beautiful women in London," he replied. "One of
+the most indifferent, and the most sought after; one of the richest, and
+the saddest; one of the most popular, and the loneliest."
+
+All this seemed enough to verify Patty's surmises of romance connected
+with the White Lady, but before she could ask a question, Mrs. Leigh
+returned, and Lady Hamilton came with her. After introductions and a few
+words of greeting, Lady Hamilton said to Mr. Fairfield: "I wonder if you
+couldn't be induced to lend me your daughter for an hour or so. I will do
+my best to entertain her."
+
+"Indeed, yes, Lady Hamilton; and I think you will find her quite ready to
+be borrowed. You seemed to cast a magic spell over her, even before she
+knew your name."
+
+"I must confess that I have been wanting to meet her; I have searched
+this room in vain for some mutual friend who might introduce us, but
+until I saw Mrs. Leigh over here, I could find no one. Then, to attract
+Mrs. Leigh's attention, in hope of her helping me, I sent over a signal
+of distress."
+
+"I took it as a flag of truce," said Patty, holding up the white rose as
+it trembled on its stem.
+
+"I thought it was a cipher message," said Nan, smiling. "Patty is so fond
+of puzzles and secret languages, I wasn't sure but it might mean 'All is
+discovered; fly at once!'"
+
+"It means 'all is well'," said Lady Hamilton, in her gracious way; "and
+now I must fly at once with my spoil."
+
+She took possession of Patty, and with a few words of adieu to the
+others, led her from the room. The lady in black rose from the table and
+followed them, and Patty entered the lift, blissfully happy, but a little
+bewildered.
+
+"We'll have our coffee right here," said Lady Hamilton, as having reached
+her drawing-room, she proceeded to adjust some dainty gilt cups that
+stood on a small table. "That is, if you are allowed to have coffee at
+night. From your roseleaf cheeks, I fancy you drink only honeydew or
+buttercup tea."
+
+"No, indeed; I'm far too substantial for those things," said Patty, as
+she dropped into the cosy chair Lady Hamilton had indicated; "and for
+over a year now, I've been allowed to have after-dinner coffee."
+
+"Dear me! what a grown-up! Miss Fairfield, this is Mrs. Betham, my very
+good friend, who looks after me when I get frisky and try to scrape
+acquaintance across a public dining-room."
+
+If Lady Hamilton was lovely when she was silent, she was doubly
+bewitching when she talked in this gay strain. Little dimples came and
+went in her cheeks, so quickly that they had scarcely disappeared before
+they were back again.
+
+Mrs. Betham bowed and spoke politely to Patty, but her voice was quick
+and sharp, and her manner, though courteous, was not attractive.
+
+"I doubt the coffee's hot," she said, as a waiter, who had just brought
+it in, was filling the tiny cups.
+
+"It's steaming," said Lady Hamilton, gaily, and Patty saw at once that
+whatever it was that made her new friend sorrowful, it was not the
+grumbling tones of Mrs. Betham.
+
+"It's quite too hot, Julia," she went on; "unless you're careful, you'll
+steam your throat."
+
+"Not I," growled Mrs. Betham. "I'm not such a stupid as that. But I must
+say I like my coffee at a table like a Christian, and not setting my cup
+in my lap, or holding it up in the air."
+
+"Dear me, Julia," said Lady Hamilton, with great solicitude expressed on
+her face; "dear me, your gout must be very bad to-night. It makes you
+quite cross. Poor dear!"
+
+Mrs. Betham sniffed at this, but a grim smile came into her eyes, and
+Patty concluded she was not quite so grumpy as she seemed.
+
+After the coffee was finished, and the tray taken away, Mrs. Betham
+excused herself and went off to her own room.
+
+"The way it began," said Lady Hamilton, as if to explain her interest in
+Patty, "was one day when I went through the corridors and passed your
+drawing-room, and the door was a little mite ajar, and I heard you
+singing. I am very fond of just that high, sweet kind of voice that you
+have, and I paused a few moments to listen to you. Then afterward I saw
+you in the dining-room two or three times at luncheon or dinner, and I
+took a fancy to know you, for I felt sure I should like you. Do you mind
+coming to see me once in a while, my dear? I am very lonely."
+
+"Mind! No, indeed!" cried Patty, impetuously throwing her arms around her
+new friend. "I loved you the first time I ever saw you. But why do you
+say you are lonely? You, a great lady."
+
+"I will tell you my story in a few words," said Lady Hamilton. "For I
+suppose you would hear it from others, and I would rather tell it you
+myself. I am the daughter of Sir Otho Markleham. Of course, if you were a
+Londoner, you would know all this, but as you're not, I'll tell you.
+Well, I am Sir Otho's only daughter, and four years ago, when I was just
+eighteen, I ran away from home and married Lord Cecil Hamilton. He was a
+good man, but he had quarrelled with my father on a point of politics,
+and my father disapproved of the match. He disowned me as his daughter,
+though he said he would always continue the allowance I had had as a
+girl. I was glad of this, not only because Lord Hamilton, though a man of
+good fortune, was not a wealthy man, but also because it seemed to show
+my father had not entirely cast me off. But he forbade us to go to his
+house, and we went to Paris and lived there for a year. After one year of
+happy married life Cecil died, and since then my only aim in life has
+been to be reconciled to my father. But he will not have it, or at least
+he won't have it unless I make the first overtures toward peace."
+
+"And won't you?" cried Patty, in astonishment.
+
+"Not I! I am not to blame. The two men quarrelled, and now that Cecil is
+gone, why should my father hold the feud against me? It is not my place
+to ask his pardon; I've done nothing wrong."
+
+"You ran away from home," said Patty, thinking only of the justice of the
+case, and quite forgetting that she was seeming to censure a titled
+English lady.
+
+"Yes, but that was not wrong. Father knew that Cecil was a fine,
+honourable man, of an old family. He had no right to forbid my marriage
+because of a foolish personal disagreement."
+
+"Your mother?" said Patty.
+
+"My mother died when I was a child," said Lady Hamilton, and at once
+Patty felt a new bond of companionship.
+
+"I lived alone with my father, in our great house in London, and I had a
+happy and uneventful life, until Cecil came. Since his death, I've longed
+so to go home to my father, and be at peace with him, but though many
+kind friends have tried to bring about a reconciliation, they haven't
+been able to do so."
+
+"And so you live here alone at the Savoy?"
+
+"Yes, with Mrs. Betham, who is really an old dear, though sometimes she
+grumbles terribly."
+
+"And do you go into society?"
+
+"I've begun to go a little, of late. Cecil made me promise I'd never wear
+black dresses, so I've worn white only, ever since he died, and I suppose
+I always shall. That is, in the house. I have black street gowns. But I
+can't seem to care for gay parties as I used to. I want father, and I
+want my home."
+
+"Is your father in London?"
+
+"Oh, yes; he's a Member of Parliament. But he's of a stubborn and
+unyielding nature."
+
+"And so are you?"
+
+"And so am I. Now, let's drop the subject of myself for the present,
+while you sing for me. Will you?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Patty, warmly; "with more pleasure than I ever sang
+for any one else."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A FLORAL OFFERING
+
+
+As the days went by, Patty and Lady Hamilton became close friends. Mr.
+and Mrs. Fairfield approved of the intimacy, for the elder woman's
+influence was in every way good for Patty, and in return the girl brought
+sunshine and happiness into Lady Hamilton's life.
+
+They went together to concerts and picture exhibitions, but Patty could
+rarely persuade her friend to go to a social affair.
+
+"It's absurd, Lady Hamilton," said Patty, one day, "to shut yourself up
+as you do! All London wants you, and yet you won't go 'round and play
+pretty with them."
+
+Ignoring this outburst, Lady Hamilton only smiled, and said: "Do you
+know, Patty, I think it's time you dropped my formal title, and called me
+by my first name. I'd love to have you do so."
+
+"I've often wondered what your first name is, but I haven't the slightest
+idea. Tell me."
+
+"No, guess. What name do you think suits me?"
+
+Patty considered.
+
+"Well," she said, at last, "I think it must be either Ethelfrida or
+Gwendolyn Gladys."
+
+Lady Hamilton laughed merrily. "Prepare yourself for a sudden shock," she
+said. "I was named for my grandmother, Catharine."
+
+"Catharine! What an absurd name for you! You're not even a Kate. But you
+are Lady Kitty, and I'll call you that, if I may."
+
+"Indeed you may. Father used to call me Kitty, when I was a child, but as
+I grew older, I preferred my full name."
+
+"Lady Kitty is just right for you, and when you're in the mood you're a
+saucy puss. Now, listen, the reason for my invasion of your premises this
+morning is that I want you to go with me this afternoon to a tea on the
+Terrace of Parliament House."
+
+Patty's tones were very persuasive, and she looked so daintily attractive
+in her fresh morning gown that few could have refused any request she
+might make.
+
+Lady Hamilton in a soft, frilly white negligee, was sipping her coffee
+and looking over her letters when Patty had interrupted the process. She
+looked at her eager young guest with a slow, provoking smile, and said
+only:
+
+"Nixy."
+
+"But why not?" said Patty, smiling too, for she knew the Englishwoman had
+learned the slangy word from herself. "You'd have a lovely time. It's so
+beautiful there, and the people are always so cordial and pleasant."
+
+"But I don't want to go."
+
+"But you _ought_ to want to. You're too young to give up the pomps and
+vanities of this world. How can I _make_ you go?"
+
+"You can't."
+
+"I know it! That's just the trouble with you. I never saw such a
+stubborn, self-willed, determined----"
+
+"Pigheaded?"
+
+"Yes! and stupidly obstinate thing as you are! So, there now!"
+
+They both laughed, and then Lady Hamilton said more seriously, "Shall I
+tell you why I won't go?"
+
+"Yes, do, if you know, yourself."
+
+"I know perfectly. I won't go to the Terrace because I'm afraid I'll meet
+my father there."
+
+"For goodness' sake! Is that the real reason? But you _want_ to be
+reconciled to him!"
+
+"Yes, but you don't understand. We couldn't have a 'Come home and all
+will be forgiven' scene on the Terrace, in sight of hundreds of people,
+so if I did see him, I should have to bow slightly, or cut him dead; it
+would depend on his attitude toward me which I did. _Then_ the episode
+would merely serve to widen the breach, and it would break me up for
+days."
+
+"I can't understand such conditions," said Patty, earnestly. "Why, if I
+were at odds with my father, and I can't even imagine such a thing, I'd
+rush at him and fling myself into his arms and stay there till everything
+was all right."
+
+"That's just because you're of a different temperament, and so is your
+father. My father is an austere, unbending man, and if I were on the
+Terrace and were to fling myself into his arms, he'd very likely fling me
+into the Thames."
+
+"You'd probably be rescued," said Patty, gravely; "there's always so much
+traffic."
+
+"Yes, but father wouldn't jump in to rescue me, so I'd only spoil my gown
+for nothing. Give it up, dear, it's a case outside your experience.
+Father and I are both too proud to make the first advance, and yet I
+really believe he wants me as much as I want him. He must be very lonely
+in the great house, with only the servants to look after him."
+
+"Perhaps he'll marry again," said Patty, thoughtfully; "my father did."
+
+"I wish he would, but I've no hope of that. Now, never mind about my
+troubles, tell me of your own. Who's taking you to the tea?"
+
+"Mrs. Hastings. But she isn't giving it. We're to sit at some Member's
+table; I don't know whose. The Merediths will be there, too. Tom and
+Grace, you know. I like them very much."
+
+"Yes, they're nice children. I know them slightly. Patty, some day I'll
+give a party for you, here in my rooms. How would you like that?"
+
+"Oh, Lady Kitty, I'd love it! You'd have to come to that, wouldn't you?"
+
+"Yes, indeed, you couldn't drive me away. Let's have a children's party.
+All dress as children, I mean; little children, or babies."
+
+"Just the thing! I always wanted to see a party like that. I've only
+heard of them. Can we have it soon?"
+
+"Next week, I think. I'll consult Mrs. Betham, and I think I can coax her
+'round to it; though she's bound to wet-blanket it at first."
+
+"Oh, yes, you can coax her, I know. How good you are to me! I do have
+beautiful times. Really too many for one girl. Honestly, Lady Kitty, do
+you think it's right for me to lead such a butterfly life? I just fly
+about from one entertainment to another; and even if I'm at home, or
+alone, I always have a good time. Sometimes I think I'm a very useless
+member of this busy world."
+
+Lady Hamilton smiled kindly. "How old are you?" she said.
+
+"I'll be eighteen next month."
+
+"And you haven't set the Thames on fire, or won the Victoria Cross yet?
+But you're just at the age when your type of happy girlhood is often
+beset with over-conscientious scruples. Don't give way to them, Patty. It
+is not your lot to do definite, physical good to suffering humanity, like
+a Red Cross nurse, or the Salvation Army. Nor is it necessary that you
+should work to earn your bread, like a teacher or a stenographer. But it
+is your duty, or rather your privilege, to shed sunshine wherever you go.
+I think I've never known any one with such a talent for spontaneous and
+unconscious giving-out of happiness. It is involuntary, which is its
+chiefest charm, but whoever is with you for a time is cheered and
+comforted just by the influence of your own gladness. This is honest
+talk, my child, and I want you to take it as I mean it. Don't _try_ to do
+this thing, that would spoil it all; but just remember that you _do_ do
+it, and let that satisfy your desire to be a useful member of this busy
+world."
+
+"You're such a dear," said Patty, as she caressed her friend's hand
+affectionately; "if that's all true, and of course it is, since you say
+so, I'm very glad. But can't I do something more definite, more
+voluntary?"
+
+"Of course there are always opportunities for doing good,--organised
+charities and those things that everybody takes part in. But if you want
+to widen your own field of benefaction, simply know more people. Whether
+you know them socially or as casual acquaintances, you will almost
+invariably add happiness to their lives, though it be in the merest
+trifles. Now, I'm assuming that you have sense enough not to overdo this
+thing, and thrust yourself upon people who don't want you."
+
+"Madam," said Patty, in mock indignation, "you may trust me. I am an
+American!"
+
+"You are indeed; and you have what is known as Yankee good sense, if you
+are a mere infant."
+
+"Eighteen is pretty old, _I_ think; and you're not so very ancient,
+yourself," retorted Patty; "but I'm willing to sit at your feet and
+acquire wisdom."
+
+When dressed to go out that afternoon, Patty stopped at Lady Hamilton's
+door to say good-bye.
+
+"Come in, and let me see if you'll pass muster. Yes, that frilly,
+flowered muslin is just right for the Terrace; and that hat with long
+streamers is truly pastoral."
+
+"What's pastoral about the Terrace, pray?"
+
+"Nothing but the ladies' clothes, and the lamb-like demeanour of the
+M.P.'s."
+
+"I may see your father there."
+
+"You may. But he'll be an exception to the lamb-like ones. Here, let me
+put these valley lilies in your belt. They rather suit your costume."
+
+"Oh, thank you; they're beautiful. If I see your father, I'll give him a
+spray and say you sent it."
+
+"Very well; he'll then pitch you and the flowers all in the Thames
+together." "Well, at least we'll cause a sensation among the lambs.
+Good-by, Kitty lady."
+
+"Good-bye, little one. Have a good time, and come in to tell me about it
+when you return."
+
+The tea on the Terrace was a new delight. Patty had been through the
+Houses of Parliament before, but this was her first experience of that
+unique function known as the Terrace Tea.
+
+The broad, beautiful space was crowded with tables, and the tables were
+crowded with people. Merry, chatting, laughing Londoners, Americans, and
+foreigners mingled in groups and drank tea together.
+
+Mrs. Hastings and Patty were met by their host, Mr. Pauncefote, and
+escorted to a table, already surrounded by several people.
+
+Patty felt greatly pleased when she found herself seated between Grace
+and Tom Meredith, and listened with interest as they designated various
+celebrated people who were strolling by.
+
+"But, after all," she said, at last, "Dukes and Duchesses don't look very
+different from ordinary people."
+
+"Of course they don't. Why should they? They aren't any different," said
+Tom. "Indeed, Miss Fairfield, I've vanity enough to believe you'd find me
+more interesting than some of the Dukes."
+
+"I'm sure you are," laughed Patty, "but if I were introduced to a real
+Duke, I'd be so scared I wouldn't know what to say."
+
+"Now I call that too bad," declared Tom, with an aggrieved look. "And,
+pray, why aren't you scared when in my august society?"
+
+"I am," said Patty, dimpling, as she smiled at him, "only I'm
+successfully striving not to show my quaking fright."
+
+"That's better. I hope the longer you know me, the more awed you'll be of
+my,--of my----"
+
+"Of your what?" calmly inquired his sister.
+
+"'Pon my word, I don't know," confessed Tom, good-naturedly; "of my
+awesomeness, I suppose."
+
+"How do you like London?" said a loud voice, in the tones that are
+sometimes called stentorian, and Patty suddenly realised that her host
+was addressing her.
+
+A bit embarrassed at finding the eyes of all at the table upon her, she
+answered, shyly: "I love it; it is so--so kind to me."
+
+"Bravo! Pretty good for an American," shouted Mr. Pauncefote, who seemed
+unable to moderate his voice. "And which do you like best, the people or
+the show-places?"
+
+"The people," said Patty, her embarrassment lost sight of in a flash of
+mischief. "I like the Members of Parliament better than Parliament
+House."
+
+"Good! Good!" cried the portly M.P., striking the table with his fist
+until the cups rattled; "that's true Yankee cleverness. You're a good
+sort, my child. Are they all like you in America?"
+
+"Yes, I think so," said Patty, demurely; "are they all like you in
+England?"
+
+Patty's innocent air of inquiry robbed the speech of all effect of
+pertness, and the genial Mr. Pauncefote roared with delight.
+
+"Ha, ha!" he cried; "all like me in England? No, my child, no! Heaven be
+praised, there are very few after my pattern."
+
+"That's too bad," said Patty. "I think your pattern is a good one."
+
+"It is," said Tom Meredith. "If we had more statesmen after Mr.
+Pauncefote's pattern, the House of Commons would be better off."
+
+This speech called forth applause from the other guests, and the host
+said, loudly: "Pshaw, pshaw!" but he looked greatly pleased.
+
+When the tea was over and the party rose from the table, Mr. Pauncefote
+detained Patty for a moment's chat, while the others broke up into
+smaller groups or wandered away.
+
+"I want you to meet my daughter," he was saying; "the young lady in gray
+over there, talking to Sir Otho."
+
+"Sir Otho who?" said Patty, quickly, forgetting to respond in regard to
+Miss Pauncefote.
+
+"Sir Otho Markleham; see the large gentleman with gold-rimmed glasses.
+She is my youngest daughter, and I know she'd be glad to meet you."
+
+"I'd be delighted," said Patty, but her attention centred on Sir Otho.
+
+Could it be that was Lady Hamilton's severe father? He did not look so
+obstinate as she had imagined him, but as she drew nearer, she observed
+the firm set of his square jaw and reversed her opinion.
+
+Sir Otho was very tall and big, and his smoothly brushed hair was light
+brown without a trace of gray.
+
+He wore closely-trimmed whiskers, of the style known as "mutton-chop,"
+and his cold gray eyes almost glittered as he looked through his glasses.
+The introduction to Miss Pauncefote implied also an introduction to Sir
+Otho, and in a moment Patty found herself chatting in a group of which
+Lady Kitty's father was one.
+
+There was something about the big man that awed her, and she naturally
+fell into conversation with Miss Pauncefote, while the two gentlemen
+talked together. But as they were all about to separate, and even after
+Sir Otho had said good-afternoon, Patty hesitated irresolutely for a
+second, and then turned back toward him again.
+
+"Sir Otho," she said, timidly.
+
+"Well, ma'am, what is it?" was the response as he turned in surprise to
+look at her.
+
+"I am very glad to meet you," said Patty, and as soon as the words were
+uttered, she realised how absurd they were.
+
+"Thank you, ma'am," said the puzzled gentleman. He was very unresponsive,
+and showed in his face that he thought little of this exhibition of
+American forwardness.
+
+"Especially so," Patty went on, "because I know your daughter, Lady
+Hamilton."
+
+"Bless my soul!" ejaculated Sir Otho Markleham, the red blood dyeing his
+large face crimson, and his eyes fairly snapping with anger.
+
+"Yes, I do," went on Patty, resolved now to plunge in desperately, "and
+she sent you these flowers."
+
+Patty had previously detached two or three of the prettiest sprays of the
+lilies of the valley, and now held them out, with the air of one
+fulfilling a trust.
+
+For a moment Sir Otho Markleham looked as if he would really like to
+pitch the American girl and her flowers into the river, and then, almost
+mechanically, he took the blossoms from Patty's hand.
+
+Then, with a straight, cold stare at her, he said, in a hard voice: "I
+have no daughter," and after a stiff, formal bow, he walked away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+MISS YANKEE DOODLE
+
+
+"You didn't, really!" exclaimed Lady Hamilton, as Patty gleefully
+described giving the flowers to Sir Otho Markleham.
+
+"But I did, Kitty, and truly, he _was_ mad enough to pitch me into that
+yellow muddy old river. I greatly admire his self-control in not really
+doing it. But what eyes he has! So gray and steely, they cut right
+through me! And he just said, tragically, 'I have no daughter,' and
+stalked away. But--and this is the main thing--he kept the flowers!"
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"I watched him. I fully expected he'd fling them straight over Parliament
+House, but he didn't. He didn't even throw them on the stone floor of the
+Terrace, and gr-r-rind them 'neath his iron heel! I can't say that he put
+them in his button-hole, for his back was toward me, but I _know_ he kept
+them."
+
+"Oh, Patty, you are a silly! You think you've gone far toward healing the
+family feud of the Marklehams. But you haven't. My father gave the whole
+episode no thought at all, unless it was to think of you as an
+impertinent child."
+
+"Well, it was a wedge," said Patty, doggedly, "and if I ever get another
+chance at him, I'll hammer it in."
+
+"No, don't, Patty dear; you mean well, I know, but you don't know
+father's disposition. If he thought you were an intermediary, he'd be
+more stubborn than ever."
+
+"Huh!" said Patty, more expressively than politely; "I'm not going to
+make any trouble. Trust your Aunt Patty for that!"
+
+Lady Hamilton laughed, as she always did at Patty's funny American
+phrases, and the subject of Sir Otho was dropped.
+
+"Better not mix yourself up in other people's quarrels," said Mr.
+Fairfield, when Patty told him about it. "Your motive is a good one, but
+an Englishman is not apt to brook interference from an outsider,
+especially an American."
+
+"Oh, pshaw, Fred; Patty won't do any harm," said Nan. "Patty's tact is a
+match for any English temper, and if she could bring about a
+reconciliation, I'd be so glad for that sweet Lady Hamilton."
+
+"All right; I give in. When you two are against me, I hold up my hands."
+
+"We're not against you, Daddy," said Patty, smiling fondly at her father.
+"You're on our side, only you don't quite realise it."
+
+"I told you she had tact," laughed Nan, "and she grows cleverer every
+day; don't you, Stepdaughter?"
+
+"Yes, Stepmother," replied Patty, gazing at Nan in mock adoration; "since
+I have you for a model, how could I do otherwise?"
+
+"You're a pair of sillies," said Mr. Fairfield, laughing at their
+nonsense, "and in a vain endeavour to improve your minds, I think I'll
+read aloud to you."
+
+"Oh, goody!" cried Patty, for they both loved to hear Mr. Fairfield read.
+"And mayn't I ask Lady Kitty to come in? She'll sit still as a mouse, I
+know."
+
+"Certainly, my child; ask any one you like. If you see any people in the
+corridors, bring them back with you. Perhaps the elevator man will come."
+
+"'Deed he won't be asked," said Patty, indignantly. "I just want my
+sweet, lovely Lady Kitty."
+
+The sweet, lovely lady was pleased to come, and did indeed sit still as a
+mouse, listening to Mr. Fairfield's fine reading.
+
+Then Patty sang one or two of her newest songs, and then Nan declared
+they must all go down to the Grill Room for a Welsh Rabbit.
+
+This plan enchanted Patty, and after a moment's hesitation, Lady Hamilton
+agreed. So the evening proved a merry little festivity, and Patty went to
+bed healthily tired, but healthily happy.
+
+Bob Hartley did not forget his promise to ask Patty to the Garden Party
+at Regent's Park, and Patty gladly accepted the invitation.
+
+"The only thing that bothers me," she said to Nan, "is that the Hartleys
+don't seem to have much money, and at a Charity Garden Party there are so
+many ways to spend, that I fear I'll be a burden to them. It makes me
+awfully uncomfortable, and yet I can't offer to pay for myself. And with
+those young men present, I can't offer to pay for the whole party."
+
+"No," agreed Nan. "But you might do something yourself. Invite them all
+to be your guests at some especial side-show, or booth. There are often
+such opportunities."
+
+"I hope there will be. The Hartleys are a funny kind of poor. They have a
+good apartment in London, and their country place is fine. They have old
+servants, and keep a carriage, and all that, and yet they never seem to
+have spending money."
+
+"English people are often like that. The keeping up of an establishment
+comes first with them, and little personal comforts afterward."
+
+"That isn't my idea of economy," said Patty, decidedly; "I'd rather spend
+all I want on flowers and books and pretty hats, and go without a butler
+and a footman and even a team of horses."
+
+"You can't judge, because you've always had whatever you want."
+
+"Of course; because father is indulgent and has plenty of money. But if
+he hadn't, I'd be just as happy, living in a plainer way."
+
+"Yes, Patty, I believe you would," and Nan looked at the girl
+affectionately. "Well, do your best to help the Hartleys financially this
+afternoon without offending them."
+
+"Ah, that's just the trouble. They're so dreadfully proud they won't
+accept so much as a glass of lemonade from one who is their guest."
+
+"Try it, and see. It may not be so difficult as you think."
+
+So Patty went gaily off to the Garden Party. Mrs. Hartley called for her
+in her carriage. Mabel was with her, and they were to meet the boys at
+the park.
+
+It was a beautiful drive, in the open victoria, along the busy streets of
+the city, and then on out to the green slopes of Regent's Park.
+
+The portion of the park devoted to the Garden Party was gay with booths
+and flower-stands, tents and arbours, and catch-penny shows of all sorts.
+
+Sinclair and Robert were awaiting them, and also another young
+Englishman, whom Bob introduced as Mr. Lawton. The latter was a typical
+Briton, with a slight drawl, and a queer-looking monocle in his right
+eye.
+
+"Awfully jolly to meet you," he exclaimed, as he shook Mrs. Hartley's
+hand, and bowed formally to the girls.
+
+He fascinated Patty, he was so exactly like the young Englishmen pictured
+in _Punch_, and she waited to hear him say "Bah Jove!" But he didn't say
+it, he contented himself with "My word!" by way of expletive, and though
+it didn't seem to mean anything, it was apparently useful to him.
+
+"You must jolly well let me be your guide," he declared; "Mrs. Hartley
+and I will lead and the rest of you will follow wherever we go. First, we
+make the grand tour."
+
+This meant joining a long procession that were sauntering along a board
+walk, on either side of which were settees filled with people.
+
+Patty, with Sinclair, followed the leaders, and Mabel and Bob followed
+them.
+
+But their progress was slow, for continually some of the party recognised
+friends seated alongside, and stopped to speak to them. Patty was
+introduced so often that she became bewildered, and soon stopped trying
+to remember who was who.
+
+"You're getting jolly well fagged," said Mr. Lawton, suddenly noticing
+her expression. "Now, we'll stop this merry-go-round and adjourn to the
+tea tent."
+
+This they did, and were soon comfortably seated round a tea table.
+
+"Great show, isn't it?" said Bob, enthusiastically. "And you haven't seen
+half of it yet. There's fortune-telling, and Punch and Judy, and the
+hat-trimming contest, and I don't know what beside."
+
+Sinclair adroitly paid the tea bill, before Mr. Lawton could do so,
+though the latter tried.
+
+"Never mind, old fellow," he cried, "I'll get even with you! I hereby
+invite you all to supper at six o'clock."
+
+"We're pleased to accept," said Patty, promptly; "and I hereby invite you
+all to the play, or whatever it is, given by the Stagefright Club. I
+think that's such a lovely name for a dramatic club. Can't we go at
+once?"
+
+Mrs. Hartley looked a little disturbed at Patty's invitation, but did not
+demur, and tea being over, they all went toward the tent where the play
+was to be given. Patty managed to walk ahead with Mr. Lawton, this time,
+and when they reached the big tent, she offered him her little gold
+chain-purse, saying, quietly, "Won't you see to the tickets, please?"
+
+"Trust me," said Mr. Lawton, and taking Patty's purse, he bought seats
+for them all. It was gracefully done, and they all went in in gay spirits
+and without a trace of embarrassment, thanks to Patty's tact.
+
+The play was very funny. Though only a trifling farce, it was written by
+professionals, for the benefit of the charity, and was played by the
+clever amateurs who had chosen such an odd name for their club. The
+situations in the play were screamingly funny, and Patty shook with
+laughter as she listened to the jokes and the merry by-play.
+
+"Hist, she comes!" declared a weird figure in a sepulchral voice, as he
+waited in the middle of the stage.
+
+"Hist, she comes!"
+
+But nobody came.
+
+"That's her cue," he muttered; "what can be the matter? I say," he
+cleared his throat and spoke louder: "Hist, she comes!" As the expected
+entrance was still delayed, he only said: "Well, she ought to be hissed
+when she does come!" And calmly sat down to wait for her, amid the
+applause of the audience.
+
+The short playlet soon came to an end, and still shaking with laughter,
+the party went out again into the beautiful atmosphere which is found on
+a spring day in Regent's Park.
+
+"Now, my children," said Mrs. Hartley, "I simply cannot walk about any
+more. I'm going to sit in one of those chairs yonder, for I see some
+people I know over there. You can amuse yourselves with Punch and Judy,
+or Ring Toss or whatever you like, and come back to me in an hour or so.
+Sinclair, look after the little ones, won't you?"
+
+It was a great joke that Sinclair, the oldest Hartley boy, should look
+after the others. He had reached the age of twenty, and was much more
+grave and dignified than Bob and Grace. Mrs. Hartley often declared she
+could even trust him to match samples for her, so careful was he. So the
+young people wandered away and spent a delightful hour looking at the
+beautiful or grotesque sights that adorned the fair.
+
+Patty could not do much financially, but under cover of giving to
+charity, she bought pretty souvenirs for Mabel and Mrs. Hartley, and
+laughingly invited the group to be photographed by a Camera Fiend.
+
+This personage was clothed in red, and with black horns and Mephistophelean
+countenance was made to look as much like a fiend as possible. With
+outlandish hoots and yells, he posed the group and took several snapshots,
+which they were to call for later.
+
+As they concluded it was nearly time to drift back to Mrs. Hartley, Patty
+noticed a gentleman who stood at a little distance, looking at her
+intently.
+
+"Who's your friend, Patty?" asked Mabel. "Do you know him?"
+
+"Yes," said Patty, slowly. "He's Sir Otho Markleham."
+
+"So he is," said Bob. "I've seen him often, but I don't know him
+personally."
+
+Sir Otho, still looking at Patty, took a few steps toward her, and then
+paused irresolutely.
+
+"Please excuse me," said Patty to the others, "I think I'll go speak to
+him for a minute."
+
+"Do," said Mr. Lawton; "we'll wait for you right here."
+
+Following an impulse, Patty walked directly toward Sir Otho, who looked
+as if he would like to run away.
+
+"How do you do?" she said, pleasantly, as they met.
+
+"Quite well," he said, but there was no responsiveness in his manner. "Do
+you wish to speak to me?"
+
+Now after he had first advanced toward Patty, this was a strange
+question, but she bravely took up the burden of conversation.
+
+"Well, yes," she said, smiling at him prettily; "I want to ask you how
+you are enjoying the Garden Party."
+
+"I never enjoy anything," he returned, but his face was sad now, rather
+than angry.
+
+"Oh, what a pity!" said Patty, involuntarily, "and you have such powers
+of enjoyment, too."
+
+"How do you know that, Miss Yankee Doodle?"
+
+Patty didn't altogether like the name, or rather the tone in which it was
+said, but she was determined not to get piqued. So she said:
+
+"Oh, because you're such a big, healthy, hearty-looking man; you ought to
+laugh most of the time."
+
+"Ought I, indeed? But you see I never have anything to laugh at."
+
+At this Patty laughed outright.
+
+"Why, the world is full of things to laugh at,--and you're not blind."
+
+"No, but I don't feel like laughing."
+
+"Don't you ever even feel like smiling?"
+
+"Not often."
+
+"Didn't you feel like smiling just a little bit of a happy smile, when I
+gave you those flowers the other day? Those flowers--from Kitty."
+
+Sir Otho's face grew dark.
+
+"How dare you mention her name to me?" he cried. "You are a saucy minx!
+Go away!"
+
+"I won't be sent away like that," declared Patty, looking haughty now.
+"I'm no child to be scolded for nothing. How dare you speak to me like
+that? What do you think I am?"
+
+Sir Otho turned red with rage. He choked and stammered and looked like a
+choleric old gentleman, as indeed he was.
+
+"I think you're an impertinent Yankee. What do you think I am?"
+
+Patty looked him squarely in the eye. Her chance had come, and she did
+not flinch.
+
+"I think," she said, looking steadfastly at him, "I think you're an
+obstinate, stubborn, selfish, cruel old--Pighead!"
+
+She confessed, afterward, that at that moment she fully expected the
+irate old man to strike her. But he did not. Instead, he looked at her
+just a moment in amazement, and then burst into peals of laughter.
+
+Surprised beyond measure, but unable to resist the infectious merriment,
+Patty laughed too.
+
+"Oh, Miss Yankee Doodle," said Sir Otho, wiping his eyes, "you are most
+astonishing. The strange part is, you are quite right. I _am_ a stubborn
+old Pighead, but how did you know it? Do I wear my heart on my sleeve to
+that extent?"
+
+"Have you a heart?" asked Patty, so gravely that Sir Otho again roared
+with laughter.
+
+"And yet," said Patty, thoughtfully, seeing that frankness pleased the
+old man, "and yet, no one with such a sense of humour as you seem to have
+can be wholly bad."
+
+"Oh, thank you! So I'm not wholly bad? Well, that's a comfort; I always
+thought I was. But your friends are looking this way. I think they want
+you to rejoin them."
+
+"In a moment," said Patty. "Sir Otho,--won't you--please--send a flower
+back to my friend, Lady Hamilton?"
+
+"I would do much for any friend of yours," said the strange old man, very
+gravely, and taking a few steps to a nearby flower stand, he bought a
+bunch of sweet peas, and said, carelessly, "Give her those, if you like."
+
+Then formally escorting Patty back to her friends, he raised his hat, and
+walked quickly away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+HERENDEN HALL
+
+
+"There, Kitty lady," said Patty, as she reached the Savoy on her return
+from the Garden Party, "there's a nosegay from your affectionate father."
+
+Lady Hamilton stared at the bunch of sweet peas that Patty held out to
+her.
+
+"My word!" she exclaimed, "you are the most amazing child! I suppose he
+sent them to me just about as much as I sent him those valley lilies you
+took to him the other day."
+
+Lady Kitty guessed so near the truth that Patty felt a little
+crestfallen.
+
+"It was more than that," she said. "I asked him to send some flowers to
+you, and he bought these purposely."
+
+"Did he select sweet peas, himself?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That means something, then, Patty dear; for father well knows my
+fondness for these flowers. Well, you're a dear, good little girl to try
+to heal the breach, but I can't feel much encouragement. Father is too
+old and too obstinate ever to forgive me."
+
+"And you're too young and too obstinate to go and beg his forgiveness!"
+
+"Indeed I am! Fancy my meekly returning, like a prodigal daughter, when I
+haven't done anything wrong!"
+
+"You don't deserve a reconciliation," cried Patty; "you're a hard-hearted
+little thing,--for all you look so soft and amiable."
+
+"Yes," said Lady Kitty, demurely; "I inherited my father's disposition."
+
+"Indeed, you did; and you'll grow more like him every day you live, if
+you don't try to be more forgiving."
+
+"I believe you're right, Patty; and perhaps some day I will try. But now
+let me tell you what's been happening. While you were away, I had a call
+from that very charming stepmother of yours. And this was the burden of
+her visit. It seems that she and your father are invited to spend the
+week-end at a country house, and the question was, where to pack you away
+for safe-keeping while they're gone."
+
+"And they're going to let me stay with you!" exclaimed Patty, clasping
+her hands and assuming an ecstatically happy expression.
+
+"Well, Mrs. Nan seemed to think that I could keep you in order, though
+I'm not so sure of it myself. But the strange part is, I also am invited
+for this same week-end to a most delightful country house, and I have
+already accepted."
+
+Patty's face fell.
+
+"What is to become of poor little me?" she said. "I don't want to stay
+with Mrs. Betham."
+
+"No; I've a plan for you. And it's this. I want to take you with me to
+Herenden Hall, where I'm going, and,--Mrs. Nan says I may."
+
+"Oh, Kitty! You duck! How perfectly lovely!" Patty flew at her friend,
+and nearly strangled her in a spasmodic embrace.
+
+"You see," went on Lady Hamilton, when she had regained her breath, "I'm
+so well acquainted with the Herendens, that I can ask an invitation for
+you; and though you're not really 'out' yet, it will give you a glimpse
+of the nicest kind of English country-house life."
+
+"It's great!" declared Patty. "I'm wild with excitement. But I care more
+about being with you than I do about the house-party."
+
+"You won't when you get there. They're really charming people, and the
+Hall is one of the finest old estates in England."
+
+"Shall I have to have some new frocks?"
+
+"We'll look over your wardrobe, and see. I fancy the ones you already
+have will do. You know you'll be looked upon as scarcely more than a
+schoolgirl, and you must wear simple, frilly muslins and broad-leafed
+hats."
+
+"I can even live through that! I don't care what I wear if I'm with you.
+Three whole days! Will it be three days, Kitty?"
+
+"Three days or more. If they politely ask us to remain a day or two
+longer we might do so. They're old friends of mine, do you see? And I
+haven't been there for years, so they'll be glad to see us."
+
+"To see you, you mean. They don't know me, so how can they be glad to see
+me?"
+
+"Oh, you must,--what is your idiotic American phrase? You must 'make
+good'!"
+
+"I will," said Patty, laughing to hear the phrase from an Englishwoman,
+and then she ran away to her own apartment, to talk over affairs with
+Nan.
+
+"It's a great piece of good fortune," said Nan, "that you're such good
+friends with Lady Hamilton, for Fred and I couldn't take you with us, and
+what would have become of you?"
+
+"Oh, I always land on my feet," returned Patty, "I must have been born
+under a lucky star."
+
+"I believe you were, Pattykins."
+
+"And won't I have the time of my life at Herenden Hall----"
+
+"Oh, Patty, Patty, you must stop using slang. They'll never ask you to
+Herenden Hall again if you behave like a wild Indian."
+
+"But you see, Stepmother, they look upon me as an infant anyhow, so I may
+as well have some fun."
+
+"But don't be a hoyden, and do remember that American slang isn't admired
+over here."
+
+"Yas'm; I'll be good. And I'll say 'Really?' and 'Only fancy!' till
+they'll think I'm the daughter of a hundred Earls."
+
+"I'm not at all worried about your manners," said Nan, serenely. "You
+usually behave pretty well, but you will talk American instead of
+English."
+
+"Well, I'll try to make myself understood, at all events. And you're
+going to have a lovely time, too, aren't you? Isn't it fun! I do like to
+have all my friends as happy as I am. I suppose you and father will be
+like two young turtle-doves off on your honeymoon trip."
+
+"Oh, we're always that, even when there's a great, big girl like you
+around to make us seem old."
+
+"Well, if you behave as well as you look, I won't be ashamed of you."
+Patty gazed critically at Nan, and then added, "Though your nose does
+seem to turn up more than it used to."
+
+Whereupon Nan threw a sofa-pillow at her, which Patty caught and stuffed
+behind her own curly head.
+
+The Saturday of their departure was a beautiful, bright day, and it was
+about noon when Patty and Lady Hamilton, accompanied by the latter's
+maid, took the train from Victoria Station.
+
+It was a long ride to their destination in Kent, and not an especially
+interesting one, but Patty, in the companionship of her dear friend, was
+entirely happy. They chatted gaily as the train rolled from one English
+town to another. At Robertsbridge they had to change to a funny little
+railroad, which had the strangest cars Patty had ever seen.
+
+They were almost like freight cars, with benches along the sides. There
+were no tickets, and presently the guard came in to collect their fares,
+as if in a street-car.
+
+Moreover the luggage had been tumbled in without check or paster, and
+Patty wondered if anybody ever could pick out their own again.
+
+"Your regular first-class coaches are funny enough," she said to Lady
+Hamilton, "but they are comfortable. This box we're in is like a cattle
+pen."
+
+"Oh, no," laughed Lady Hamilton; "this isn't bad at all. You see it's
+only a tiny branch road, running to some little hamlets, and it's not
+much used. There are only about two trains each way every day."
+
+This gave Patty a different idea of the little railroad, and she began to
+feel a more personal interest in it. They rolled slowly through the
+hop-growing country, and though the scenery was not grand, it was
+picturesque. Patty said it was like a panorama of "The Angelus." They
+reached their station at about five o'clock, and found a fine open
+barouche awaiting them, and a wagon for their trunks.
+
+The footman greeted them deferentially, and asked them to pick out their
+luggage from the lot that had been dumped on the station platform.
+
+"I can't see either of my trunks," said Patty. "So I suppose I'd better
+take the ones I like best of these others."
+
+"Nonsense," said Lady Hamilton; "yours must be here somewhere. Look
+around, Marie; you know Miss Fairfield's boxes."
+
+"Yes, my Lady; but they are not here."
+
+Sure enough, they weren't there, and as Patty was certain they had been
+put on the train, she concluded they had been carried on.
+
+"What can I do?" she cried. "Can we telephone to the next station and
+have them sent back?"
+
+But in that small station, merely a tiny box, there was no telephone.
+
+The impassive coachman and footman from Herenden Hall seemed to have no
+advice to offer, so there was nothing to do but to proceed to the house.
+
+Patty was distressed at the outlook.
+
+"Oh, Kitty," she said; "I can't go to dinner at all! Of course I couldn't
+appear in this travelling costume, and I'll have to put on one of your
+negligees, and eat dinner all alone in my room!"
+
+The prospect was appalling, but neither of them could think of any help
+for it.
+
+"Has Lady Herenden any daughters about my age?" Patty asked, after a few
+moments' thought.
+
+"No, indeed. She and Lord Herenden have no children. But if there are any
+young girls there as guests, you might borrow a frock for to-night.
+Surely they'll get your things by to-morrow."
+
+They drove into the park, through great gates, and past various lodges.
+The wonderful old trees waved above their heads; the marvellous lawns
+stretched away in rolling slopes; and the well-kept road wound along, now
+over a bridge, now under an arch until they paused at the noble old
+entrance of Herenden Hall.
+
+Liveried servants seemed to appear, as if by magic, from all directions
+at once. Dogs came, barking a noisy welcome, and, following Lady Hamilton
+across the terrace and into the great entrance hall, Patty found herself
+being presented to a lovely young woman, almost as beautiful as Lady
+Hamilton herself.
+
+"You must be the greatest chums," Lady Hamilton was saying, "for Miss
+Fairfield is one of my dearest friends, and I want you to adore each
+other."
+
+"We will!" said Lady Herenden and Patty, at the same moment, and then
+they all laughed, and the guests were at once shown to their rooms.
+
+After a bewildering route through several branching halls, Patty found
+that to her had been assigned a large and pleasant room, which looked out
+upon the rose-garden. On one side it communicated with Lady Hamilton's
+room, and on the other opened into a dainty dressing-room and bath. It
+was all enchanting, and Patty's gaze rested admiringly upon the chintz
+draperies and Dresden ornaments, when she heard a tap at her door.
+Answering, she found a trim maid, who courtesied and said: "I'm Susan,
+Miss. Will you give me the keys of your boxes, and I'll unpack them."
+
+Patty almost laughed at this casual request, in the face of what seemed
+to her a tragedy.
+
+"Susan," she said, "here are the keys, but you can't unpack my boxes for
+they haven't come."
+
+"Lor', Miss; they must be downstairs. I'll have them sent up."
+
+"No--wait, Susan; they're not downstairs. They didn't come on the train."
+
+"Lor', Miss, whatever will you do?"
+
+The girl's eyes grew big and troubled. Here was a dreadful situation
+indeed! Already Susan felt drawn toward the pretty young American girl,
+and she was aghast at the outlook of a dinner party with no party frock.
+
+"I can't go to dinner at all, Susan," said Patty, dejectedly. "You must
+bring me a tray up here--though I don't feel like eating."
+
+"Not go to dinner, Miss? Oh, what a pity! It's a grand dinner to-night.
+The Earl of Ruthven is here, and it's one of her ladyship's greatest
+dinners of the season."
+
+The good Susan looked so concerned, and her face was so anxious, that it
+went straight to Patty's heart. To her mind there came a vivid and
+tantalising remembrance of her exquisite dinner frock, of white
+chiffon, embroidered with tiny sprays of blossoms--a soft sash and
+shoulder-knots--one of the loveliest dresses she had ever had, and with a
+sob she threw herself on to the couch and indulged in a few foolish but
+comforting tears.
+
+"There, there, Miss," said Susan, sympathisingly, "don't ee take on so.
+Maybe we can find summat for ee."
+
+When Susan was excited or troubled, she lapsed into her old dialect,
+which she was striving to outgrow.
+
+"You can't find anything, I know," said Patty, sitting up, and looking
+the picture of woe. "There are no very young ladies in the house, are
+there, Susan?"
+
+"No, Miss, none so young as yourself, nor near it."
+
+"And I can't wear this," went on Patty, looking at the silk blouse that
+was part of her travelling gown.
+
+"Lor' no, Miss; not to a dinner!"
+
+"Then what?"
+
+"Then what, indeed, Miss!"
+
+Patty and Susan faced each other, at last in a full realisation of the
+hopelessness of the situation, when, after a light tap at the door, Lady
+Hamilton came in.
+
+She laughed outright at the tragic attitude of the two, and knew at once
+what they were troubled about.
+
+"Listen to me, Pattypet," she said. "Am I your fairy godmother, or am I
+not?"
+
+"You are," said Patty, with an air of conviction, and feeling sure that
+Lady Hamilton was about to help her out of her troubles, somehow.
+
+"Well, I've carefully considered the case. I've sent Marie to canvass the
+house for clothes suitable for a mademoiselle of seventeen."
+
+"Nearly eighteen," murmured Patty.
+
+"It doesn't matter. There isn't what's known as a 'misses' costume'
+beneath this roof. Now, I simply refuse to let you be absent from this
+dinner. It will be both a pleasure and an education to you to see this
+especial kind of a formal function, and probably you'll not often have a
+chance. They've sent a man and a wagon over to the next station, several
+miles away for your boxes; that's the way they do things here. But he
+can't get back until long after the dinner hour. So listen, to my
+command, dictum, fiat--call it what you please, but this is what you're
+to do."
+
+"I'll do anything you say, Kitty Lady, if it's to go to bed at once, and
+sleep soundly till morning."
+
+"Nothing of the sort. You must and shall attend this dinner. And--you're
+going to wear one of my gowns!"
+
+"Yours?"
+
+"Yes. We're so nearly the same size that it will fit you quite well
+enough. I've picked out the simplest one, a white Irish point. It's cut
+princess, but all my gowns are. I'm sure Marie can make it fit you
+perfectly, with a few pins or a stitch here and there."
+
+"Oh, it will fit well enough, but, Kitty, won't I be the grown-up! I've
+never worn a real train in my life!"
+
+"Of course it's a lot too old for you, and truly, I hate to have you
+appear in a gown like that. But what else can we do? I won't let you miss
+the dinner--and after all, it doesn't matter so much. After this visit I
+doubt if you'll ever see these people again, and let them think you're
+five or six years older than you are. Who cares?"
+
+"I don't," said Patty, gleefully. "I think it will be fun. I'll have my
+hair piled high on my head. Can you do it for me, Sarah?"
+
+"Oh, yes, Miss. I'm a hair-dresser and I'm that glad you're going to
+dinner."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY
+
+
+Sarah was indeed an expert hair-dresser, and she piled up Patty's hair in
+soft coils, and twisted the curly tendrils into fluffy puffs, and though
+the result was beautiful, it made Patty look like her own older sister. A
+jewelled ornament of Lady Hamilton's crowned the coiffure, and this gave
+an added effect of dignity. The lace gown was easily made to fit its new
+wearer. Marie pinned it, and sewed it, and patted it into place, till
+nobody would suspect it had not been made for Patty. But the long lines
+of the Princess pattern took away all of Patty's usual simple girlish
+appearance, and transformed her at once into a beautiful, queenly young
+woman. The decolletee corsage, and the sleeves, which were merely
+frills of lace, were very becoming; and the long train, which billowed
+into a frou-frou of chiffon ruffles took away the last semblance of a
+girl of eighteen. Notwithstanding her softly-curved cheeks and throat,
+and her exquisite, fresh complexion, Patty looked quite the young woman
+of society and could easily have been adjudged about twenty-four years
+old.
+
+Her eyes danced, as she walked sedately through the open door and into
+Lady Hamilton's room.
+
+"My word, Patty!" exclaimed that lady, "you're simply stunning in that
+gown! You look as if you'd been 'out' for two or three seasons. Your
+people would never forgive me if they knew how I've dressed you up."
+
+"It was the only thing to do," said Patty, airily, as she began to draw
+on her arms a pair of Lady Hamilton's long white gloves. "The wonder is
+that you had plenty of all sorts of things to fit me out, and also that
+they do fit so well. These gloves are just right, though I confess the
+slippers pinch me just a speck."
+
+"'Pretty never hurts,' you know," said Lady Hamilton, laughing. "Marie,
+isn't Miss Fairfield a picture?"
+
+"_Mais oui!_ She is _charmante_. It is amazing how the gown suits her.
+She is _tres-belle!_"
+
+With the grown-up clothes, Patty had quite unconsciously assumed a
+grown-up air. She nonchalantly flung aside her train with just the same
+gesture Lady Hamilton was wont to use, and she carried herself with a
+dignity and graciousness of manner which would have been absurd when
+wearing her own simple frocks.
+
+[Illustration: "Marie pinned it and sewed it"]
+
+"Gracious, goodness, child!" cried Lady Hamilton. "Come down off that
+pedestal! You walk like a Duchess. It won't do, you know, really."
+
+"I don't mean to," said Patty; "you know I'm a sort of chameleon. This
+gown makes me feel as if I belonged in an opera-box, or had an audience
+with the Queen."
+
+"Oh, you goose! Stop your nonsense, and we'll go down to dinner. Mind,
+now, none of those airs, or I'll send you back to your room."
+
+Patty honestly tried to be her own simple-minded self, and would have
+succeeded all right, if Herenden Hall had not been so lavishly provided
+with mirrors. On the grand staircase she came face to face with a radiant
+creature, and was about to step aside when she discovered it was herself!
+Involuntarily she gazed at the reflection of the white-gowned lady, and
+unconsciously an air of serenity, almost hauteur, replaced her usual
+merry smile, and with a gracious mien she passed on down the stairs.
+
+Lady Herenden awaited them in the drawing-room.
+
+A brilliant assemblage was already there, for Patty's unusual costuming
+had caused her some delay. After the first few introductions, Lady
+Hamilton and Patty became separated, and the guests stood about
+conversing in small groups.
+
+Patty chanced to fall in with some very entertaining people, among whom
+was the Earl of Ruthven.
+
+The Earl was a handsome man, tall, and of an imposing presence.
+
+When presented to Patty, he gazed at her with frank, though quite
+deferential admiration. "So pleased to meet you, Miss Fairfield," he
+said; "I adore American ladies."
+
+Patty really felt a little in awe of an Earl, as she had never met one
+before, and was about to make a shy response, when a slight movement of
+her head showed her her own reflection in a nearby mirror.
+
+Realising afresh that she was masquerading as a society lady, a spirit of
+mischief suddenly took possession of her, and she determined to throw
+herself into the role. So, with a pretty little toss of her head, and a
+charming smile, she said:
+
+"Thank you, Lord Ruthven; I adore Englishmen, too, but I know so few of
+them."
+
+"You've not been here long, then?"
+
+"No, only a few weeks. And there's so much I want to learn."
+
+"Let me teach you," said his Lordship, eagerly. "I do not think you would
+prove a dull pupil."
+
+Patty's eyes smiled. "No Americans are dull," she said.
+
+"That's true; my experience has already proved it. I've met six, I think,
+including yourself. But what sort of things do you want to learn?"
+
+"The language, principally. I just want to learn to say 'only fancy'
+occasionally, and 'd'y' see?' in the middle of every sentence."
+
+"It's not easy," said Lord Ruthven, thoughtfully, "but I think I can
+teach you in, say, about ten lessons. When shall we begin the course?"
+
+Patty looked at him reproachfully. "If you knew the American nature at
+all," she said, "you'd know that we always begin things the moment the
+plan occurs to us."
+
+"Good! there's no time like the present."
+
+But just then their conversation was interrupted by the announcement of
+dinner.
+
+Patty hoped she would sit at table next the Earl, but it was not so. The
+nobleman was accorded the seat of honour at the right of his hostess,
+while Patty, as a minor guest, was far away across the table. But she
+found herself between two affable and pleasant-mannered young Englishmen,
+and instantly forgot all about her titled friend.
+
+Indeed, the bewildering beauty of the scene claimed her attention, and
+she fairly held her breath as she looked about her. The great oval room
+was lighted only by wax candles in crystal chandeliers and candelabra.
+This made a soft, mellow radiance quite different from gas or
+electricity. On one side of the room long French windows opened on to the
+terrace, through which came the scent of roses and the sound of plashing
+fountains. On the other side, only slender pillars and arches divided the
+dining-room from a conservatory, and a riotous tangle of blossoms and
+foliage fairly spilled into the room, forming almost a cascade of
+flowers.
+
+The great round table was a bewildering array of gold plate, gilded
+glass, and exquisite china, while on the delicate lace of the tablecloth
+lay rare blossoms that seemed to have drifted from the circular mound of
+flowers which formed the low centrepiece.
+
+Twenty-four guests sat round the board, in chairs of gilded wicker, and
+as the silent, black-garbed waiters served the viands, the scene became
+as animated as it was beautiful.
+
+Patty forgot all else in her absolute enjoyment of the fairy-like
+spectacle, and was only brought back to a sense of reality by the sound
+of a voice at her side. Mr. Merivale was speaking--the young man who had
+escorted her out to dinner, and who now sat at her right hand.
+
+"You love beauty of detail," he was saying as he noted Patty's
+absorption.
+
+"Oh, isn't it great!" she exclaimed, and then suddenly realised that the
+expression was not at all in keeping with the dignity of her Princess
+gown.
+
+But Mr. Merivale seemed amused rather than shocked.
+
+"That's American for 'ripping,' isn't it?" he said, smiling. "But
+whatever the adjective, the fact is the same. Lady Herenden's dinners are
+always the refinement of the spectacular."
+
+Patty realised the appropriateness of this phrase, and cudgelled her
+brain for an appropriate reply. She began to think that playing grown-up
+was a more difficult game than she had supposed. Had she had on her own
+simple little frock, Mr. Merivale would not have talked to her like that.
+
+"Don't you remember last season," he went on, "when Lady Herenden had a
+real pond, with gold fish in the middle of the table, and ferns and water
+lilies round the edge?"
+
+"I wasn't here last season," said Patty. "I have never been in England
+until this summer."
+
+"Indeed? I know you are an American, but you have really an English
+manner."
+
+"It's acquired," said Patty, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "I
+find my American manner isn't admired over here, so I assume London
+airs."
+
+"Ah, you wish to be admired?"
+
+"Of all things!" declared naughty Patty, with a roguish glance at the
+jesting young man.
+
+"You'll probably get your wish," he replied. "I'm jolly well ready to do
+my share."
+
+This brought the colour to Patty's cheeks, and she turned slightly away,
+toward the man on her other side.
+
+He was a slightly older man than Mr. Merivale and was the squire of an
+adjoining estate. He was quite ready to talk to his American neighbour,
+and began the conversation by asking her if she had yet seen Lady
+Herenden's rose-orchard.
+
+"No, Mr. Snowden," said Patty, "I only arrived a few hours ago, and I've
+not been round the place at all."
+
+"Then let me show it to you, please. I'll come over to-morrow morning for
+a stroll. May I?"
+
+"I don't know," said Patty, hesitatingly, for she was uncertain what she
+ought to do in the matter. "You see, I'm with Lady Hamilton, and whatever
+she says----"
+
+"Oh, nonsense! She'll spare you from her side for an hour or two. There's
+really a lot to see."
+
+Again poor Patty realised her anomalous position. But for her piled-up
+hair and her trained gown, the man would never have dreamed of asking her
+to go for a walk unchaperoned. Patty had learned the ethics of London
+etiquette for girls of eighteen, but she was not versed in the ways of
+older young women.
+
+"We'll see about it," she said, non-committally, and then she almost
+laughed outright at the sudden thought of Mr. Snowden's surprise should
+he see her next day in one of her own simple morning frocks of light
+muslin. Lady Hamilton's morning gowns were Paris affairs, with trailing
+frills and long knotted ribbons.
+
+"It seems to amuse you," said Mr. Snowden, a trifle piqued at her
+merriment.
+
+"You'll be amused, too," she said, "if you see me to-morrow."
+
+Then something in the man's pleasant face seemed to invite confidence,
+and she said, impulsively:
+
+"I may as well tell you that I'm masquerading. I'm not a grown-up lady at
+all. I'm not much more than a schoolgirl--not quite eighteen years old.
+But--but my box didn't come, and--and I had to wear Lady Hamilton's gown.
+It makes me seem a lot older, I know, but I had to do it, or stay away
+from dinner."
+
+Mr. Snowden looked first amazed, and then he burst into laughter.
+
+"I beg your pardon, I'm sure," he said, "but I had no idea! And so Lady
+Hamilton is your chaperon? I see. Of course. Well, we'll have the stroll
+just the same, if you will, and we'll ask her to go with us."
+
+"Isn't she the dearest thing?" exclaimed Patty, looking at Lady Kitty
+across the table, and feeling much more at her ease now that she had
+confessed her position.
+
+"She is a beautiful and charming woman," agreed Mr. Snowden.
+
+And then it was time for Patty to turn back to Mr. Merivale, for she had
+learned that one must divide the time fairly between dinner neighbors.
+
+"I didn't offend you, did I?" said young Merivale, eagerly. "You turned
+so quickly--and--and you--er--blushed, you know, and so I was
+afraid--er----"
+
+But Patty was of no mind to confess the fewness of her years to
+everybody, and her mischievous spirit returned as she determined to chaff
+this amusing young man.
+
+"What!" she said, reproachfully, "an Englishman, and afraid!"
+
+"Afraid of nothing but a fair lady's displeasure. All true Englishmen
+surrender to that."
+
+"I'm not displeased," said Patty, dimpling and smiling; "in fact, I've
+even forgotten what you said."
+
+"That's good! Now we can start fresh. Will you save a lot of dances for
+me to-night?"
+
+"Oh, will there be dancing?" exclaimed Patty, delighted at the prospect.
+
+"Yes, indeed; in the big ballroom. Will you give me all the waltzes?"
+
+Patty looked at him in amazement. "You said you were going to 'start
+fresh,'" she said, "and now you've certainly done so!"
+
+But the American phrase was lost on the Englishman, who only proceeded to
+repeat his request.
+
+Meantime, Mr. Snowden was asking Patty for a dance.
+
+"Certainly," she said, "I shall be pleased to dance with you."
+
+"You'll give me more than one dance or you needn't give me any," grumbled
+young Merivale.
+
+"All right," said Patty, quickly. "Mr. Snowden, I've just had a dance
+'returned with thanks,' so you can have that, if you wish it."
+
+"I do indeed," he replied, enthusiastically, and Mr. Merivale relapsed
+into a sulky silence.
+
+Then Lady Herenden rose from the table, and the ladies all rose and
+followed her up to one of the beautiful salons, where coffee was served
+to them. Patty managed to secure a seat on a divan beside Lady Hamilton.
+
+"You quite take my breath away, little Patty," said her friend, in a low
+voice. "You are already a favourite, and in a fair way to become the
+belle of the ball."
+
+"I try not to act too old, Kitty," said Patty, earnestly, "but truly
+everybody thinks I'm a society lady. They don't even look on me as a
+debutante."
+
+"Never mind, dearie; have all the fun you can. Enjoy the dancing, and
+don't care what anybody thinks."
+
+Encouraged by Lady Hamilton's approval, Patty ceased to think about her
+demeanour and proceeded to enjoy the conversation of those about her.
+
+Lady Herenden was especially kind to her, and singled out the young
+American for her special favour and attention.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE EARL OF RUTHVEN
+
+
+After a time the men came from the dining-room and rejoined the ladies.
+
+Patty was chatting with a group of young women, and when she glanced
+around, it was to see Lord Ruthven standing at her side.
+
+"I was miles away from you at dinner," he said, "but now there is an
+opportunity, let us begin our lessons in English at once."
+
+"Do," said Patty, smiling; "where shall be our classroom?"
+
+"We'll pre-empt this sofa," said Lord Ruthven, indicating, as he spoke, a
+gold-framed Louis XIV. tete-a-tete. "We'll pretend that it is a real
+schoolroom, with four walls hung with maps and charts--just such as you
+used to have when you were a little girl."
+
+Patty smiled at this reference to her far-away school-days, but fell in
+with his mood.
+
+"Yes," she said, "and you must be the stern schoolmaster, and I the
+stupid pupil who has been kept in after school."
+
+But their merry game was interrupted by Lady Herenden's invitation to the
+ballroom.
+
+Escorted by Lord Ruthven, Patty followed the others to the great hall
+where they were to dance.
+
+It was a resplendent apartment, with balconies and boxes, from which the
+spectators could look down upon the dancers. A fine orchestra furnished
+the music, and Patty, who loved to dance, found her feet involuntarily
+keeping time to the harmonious strains.
+
+"Shall we have a try?" said Lord Ruthven, and in a moment they were
+gliding over the smooth floor.
+
+Patty already knew that English dancing is not like the American steps,
+but she was so completely mistress of the art, that she could adapt
+herself instantly to any variation.
+
+"I won't compliment your dancing," said the Earl, as the waltz was
+finished, "for you must have been told so often how wonderfully well you
+dance. But I must tell you what a pleasure it is to dance with you."
+
+Patty thought this a very pretty speech, and graciously gave his lordship
+some other dances for which he asked, and then, leaving her with Lady
+Herenden, he excused himself and went away. Then Patty was besieged with
+would-be partners. Her dancing had called forth the admiration of
+everybody, and the young men crowded about, begging to see her
+dance-card.
+
+Only Mr. Merivale stood aloof. He was still sulky, and he looked so like
+a cross schoolboy that Patty took pity on him.
+
+She slightly nodded her head at him by way of invitation, and he came
+slowly toward her.
+
+"Which two do you want?" she said, demurely.
+
+Merivale's face lighted up. "You are indeed kind," he said, in a low
+voice. "I will take any you will give me. My card is blank as yet."
+
+So Patty arranged the dances, and the young man went away looking much
+happier. The evening was all too short. Patty whirled through dance after
+dance, and between them was restored to Lady Herenden or Lady Hamilton,
+only to be claimed the next minute by another partner.
+
+"What a belle it is!" said Lady Herenden, patting the girl's shoulder
+affectionately. "You have made a real sensation, Miss Fairfield."
+
+"But I'm Cinderella, to-night," she said, gaily.
+
+"Wait till to-morrow, and see all my popularity vanish."
+
+Lady Herenden did not understand, but took it as merry chaff and paid no
+heed.
+
+Then Lord Ruthven came for the last dance.
+
+"This is an extra, Miss Fairfield," he said; "will you give it to me?"
+
+Patty agreed, but as they walked away, his Lordship said:
+
+"You look really tired; would you not rather sit on the terrace than
+dance?"
+
+"I am tired," said Patty, honestly; "I think it's carrying this heavy
+train around. I've never before danced in a long gown."
+
+"Then you shall rest. Let us sit on the terrace, and I'll send for an ice
+for you."
+
+Lord Ruthven was very kind and courteous. He found a delightful corner of
+the terrace unoccupied, and he arranged two wicker easy-chairs, where
+they might be just out of the way of the promenaders. He asked a footman
+to bring the ices, and then seated himself beside Patty.
+
+"Is it not beautiful," he said, "the rose garden in the moonlight? One
+can almost fancy the roses opening beneath the moon's light as in daytime
+by the sun's warm rays."
+
+"Yes," said Patty, falling in with his fanciful mood, "and I think,
+perhaps, at night, the white roses and the pale yellow ones bloom. Then
+at daybreak, the pink or blush roses open, and at midday the deep red
+ones."
+
+"You have the mind of a poet, Miss Fairfield. Where do you get those
+graceful conceits?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know," said Patty, carelessly; "I think they are the result
+of this beautiful moonlight night, and these picturesque surroundings."
+
+"Yes, I am sure that is true. You have a soul that responds to all beauty
+in art or nature. Let us take a short turn in the rose garden, and get a
+view of this noble old house with the moonlight full upon it."
+
+"But I want my ice cream," objected Patty, who still had her schoolgirl
+appetite.
+
+"We'll stay but a moment, and we'll return to find it awaiting us,"
+gently insisted Lord Ruthven, and Patty amiably went down the terrace
+steps and along the garden path with him.
+
+Near a clump of cedars, only a short distance away, they turned to look
+at the beautiful old house. Herenden Hall was always a splendid picture,
+but especially at night, backgrounded by a gray sky full of racing
+clouds, and touched at every gable by the silver moonlight, it was
+enchanting.
+
+"Oh," said Patty, drawing a sigh, "it is the most wonderful effect I ever
+saw. See that great, quiet roof sloping darkly away, and beneath, the gay
+lights of the terrace, and the laughter of happy people."
+
+"It is a beautiful picture," said Lord Ruthven, looking steadily at
+Patty, "but not so beautiful as another one I see. A lovely face framed
+in soft, shining curls, against a background of dark cedar trees."
+
+His tone, even more than his words, alarmed Patty. She was not used to
+such speeches as this, and she said, gravely: "Take me back to the house,
+please, Lord Ruthven."
+
+"Not just yet," pleaded the nobleman. "Dear Miss Fairfield, listen to me
+a moment. Let me tell you something. Let me justify myself. I oughtn't to
+talk to you like this, I know--but the fact is--oh, the fact is you've
+completely bowled me over."
+
+"What?" said Patty, not at all comprehending his meaning.
+
+"Yes; I'm done for--and at first sight! And by an American! But it's a
+fact. I adore you, Miss Fairfield--I'm so desperately in love with you
+that I can't down it. Oh, I know I oughtn't to be talking to you like
+this. I ought to see your father, and all that. And I will, as soon as I
+can, but--oh, I say, Patty, tell me you like me a little!"
+
+It suddenly dawned on Patty that she was having a proposal! And from an
+English Earl! And all on account of her grown-up gown! The absurdity of
+it impressed her far more than the romantic side of it, and though a
+little frightened, she couldn't help smiling at the Earl's tragic tones.
+
+"Nonsense, Lord Ruthven," she said, though her cheeks were pink; "don't
+talk like that. Please cut me that lovely cluster of roses, and then take
+me back to Lady Hamilton."
+
+The Earl drew a penknife from his pocket, and cut the flowers she asked
+for. Then he stood, trimming off the thorns, and looking down at her.
+
+Patty had never looked so winsome. Her garb made her seem a grown woman,
+and yet the situation alarmed her, and her perplexed face was that of a
+troubled child.
+
+"Tell me," he repeated, "that you like me a little."
+
+"Of course I like you a little," returned Patty, in a matter-of-fact
+voice. "Why shouldn't I?"
+
+"That's something," said the Earl, in a tone of satisfaction, "and now
+will you accept these flowers as a gift from me? As, for the moment, I've
+nothing else to offer."
+
+Patty took the flowers in both hands, but Lord Ruthven still held them,
+too, saying: "And will you let them mean----?"
+
+"No," cried Patty, "they don't mean anything--not anything at all!"
+
+Lord Ruthven clasped Patty's two hands, roses and all, in his own.
+
+"They do," he said quietly; "they mean I love you. Do you understand?"
+
+He looked straight into the troubled, beseeching eyes that met his own.
+
+"Please let me go, Lord Ruthven--_please!_" said Patty, her hands
+trembling in his own.
+
+"You may go, if you will first call me by some less formal name. Patty,
+dearest, say Sylvester--just once!"
+
+This desperate request was too much for Patty's sense of humour.
+
+"Why can't I say it twice?" she said in a low tone, but her voice was
+shaking with laughter.
+
+"You little witch!" exclaimed the Earl, and his clasp tightened on her
+hands. "Now you shan't go until you _have_ said it twice!"
+
+"Sylvester--Sylvester--there!" said Patty, her eyes twinkling with fun,
+and her lips on the verge of laughter. Then, gently disengaging her hands
+from his, she gathered up her long white train, and prepared to run away.
+
+The Earl laid a detaining hand on her arm. "Miss Fairfield," he said,
+"Patty, I won't keep you now, but to-morrow you'll give me an
+opportunity, won't you? to tell you----"
+
+"Wait till to-morrow, my lord," said Patty, really laughing now. "You
+will probably have changed your mind."
+
+"How little you know me!" he cried, reproachfully, and then they had
+reached the terrace, and joined the others.
+
+Soon after the guests all retired to their own rooms, and the moonlight
+on Herenden Hall saw no more the gay scene on the terrace.
+
+Patty, passing through her own room, discovered that her two trunks had
+arrived and had been unpacked. She went straight on and tapped at Lady
+Hamilton's door. "Get me out of this gown, please, Marie; I've had quite
+enough of being a grown-up young woman!"
+
+"What's the matter, Patty?" said Lady Kitty, looking round. "Didn't you
+have a good time this evening?"
+
+"The time of my life!" declared Patty, dropping into her own graphic
+speech, as she emerged from the heap of lace and silk. "I'll see you
+later, Kitty," and without further word she returned to her own room.
+
+And later, when Marie had been dismissed, Patty crept back to Lady
+Hamilton, a very different Patty, indeed. Her hair fell in two long
+braids, with curly tails; a dainty dressing-gown enveloped her slight
+figure; and on her bare feet were heelless satin slippers. She found Lady
+Kitty in an armchair before the wood fire, awaiting her.
+
+Patty threw a big, fat sofa pillow at her friend's feet, and settled
+herself cosily upon it.
+
+"Well, girlie," said Lady Hamilton, "come to the story at once. What
+happened to you as a grown-up?"
+
+"What usually happens to grown-ups, I suppose," said Patty, demurely;
+"the Earl of Ruthven proposed to me."
+
+"What!" cried Lady Hamilton, starting up, and quite upsetting Patty from
+her cushion.
+
+"Yes, he did," went on Patty, placidly; "shall I accept him?"
+
+"Patty, you naughty child, tell me all about it at once! Oh, what shall I
+say to your father and mother?"
+
+Patty grinned. "Yes, it was all your fault, Kitty. If I hadn't worn your
+gown, he would never have dreamed of such a thing."
+
+"But, Patty, it _can't_ be true. You must have misunderstood him."
+
+"Not I. It's my first proposal, to be sure; but I know what a man means
+when he says he loves me and begs me to call him by his first name. And I
+did--twice."
+
+Patty went off in shrieks of laughter at the remembrance of it, and she
+rocked back and forth on her cushion in paroxysms of mirth.
+
+"Patty, behave yourself, and tell me the truth. I've a mind to shake
+you!"
+
+"I _am_ shaking," said Patty, trying to control her voice. "And I _am_
+telling you the truth. His first name is Sylvester. Lovely name!"
+
+"Where did this occur?"
+
+"In the rose garden. Oh, right near the terrace. Not a dozen yards away
+from you all. I'm sure if you'd been listening, you could have heard me
+say, 'Sylvester--_Sylvester!_'"
+
+Again Patty went off in uncontrollable merriment at this recollection,
+and Lady Kitty had to laugh too.
+
+"What did you tell him?"
+
+"I told him to wait till to-morrow, and he'd probably change his mind.
+And I see my trunks have come, so he surely will. You see he proposed to
+that long-tailed gown and jewelled tiara I had on----"
+
+"It wasn't a tiara."
+
+"Well, it looked something like one. I'm sure he thought it was. He
+doubtless wants a dignified, stately Lady Ruthven, and he thought I was
+_it_. Oh, Kitty! if you could have heard him."
+
+"I don't think it's nice of you, to take him that way."
+
+"All right, I won't. But I'm not going to take him at all. Why, Kitty,
+when he sees me to-morrow in my own little pink muslin, he won't know me,
+let alone remembering what he said to me."
+
+"Patty, you're incorrigible. I don't know what to say to you. But I hope
+your parents won't blame me for this."
+
+"Of course they won't, Kitsie. You see it was an accident. A sort of case
+of mistaken identity. I don't mind it so much now that it's over, but I
+was scared stiff at the time. Only it was all so funny that it swallowed
+up my scare. Now I'll tell you the whole story."
+
+So Patty told every word that the Earl had said to her during the
+evening, in the ballroom and on the terrace. And Lady Hamilton listened
+attentively.
+
+"You were not a bit to blame, dear," she said, kindly, when the tale was
+finished. "I don't think you even flirted with him. But it's truly
+extraordinary that he should speak so soon."
+
+"It was on the spur of the moment," declared Patty, with conviction. "You
+know, moonlight and roses and a summer evening have a romantic influence
+on some natures."
+
+"What do you know of a romantic influence, you baby. Hop along to bed,
+now, and get up in the morning your own sweet, natural self--without a
+thought of Earls or moonlight."
+
+"I will so," said Patty; "I didn't like it a bit, except that it was all
+so funny. Won't Nan howl?"
+
+"She may, but I'm afraid your father will be annoyed. You know you're in
+my care, Patty."
+
+"Don't you worry. I'll tell Daddy all about it. And I rather guess it
+will make him laugh."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT
+
+
+It was the custom at Herenden Hall to serve morning tea to the guests in
+their rooms.
+
+When Patty's tray was brought, she asked to have it taken into Lady
+Hamilton's room, and the two friends chatted cosily over their toast and
+teacups.
+
+Lady Kitty, with a dainty dressing-jacket round her shoulders, was still
+nestled among her pillows, while Patty, in a blue kimono, curled up,
+Turk-fashion on the foot of the bed.
+
+"It's a gorgeous day," observed Patty, stirring her tea, which she was
+trying to sip, though she hated it. "I'll be glad to explore that lovely
+rose garden without horrid old moonlit Earls."
+
+"It's a wonderfully fine place, Patty; you really must go over the
+estate. I'll show you round myself."
+
+"Thank you," said Patty, airily, "but I believe I have an engagement. Mr.
+Snowden, or Snowed on, or Snowed under, or whatever his name is, kindly
+offered to do that same."
+
+"Yes, and he'll kindly withdraw his offer when he sees you in your own
+rightful raiment. I've a notion to put you in a pinafore, and give you a
+Teddy Bear to carry. There's no keeping you down any other way."
+
+"Oh, don't be alarmed. I've no designs on the young men. I like the boys
+better, anyhow. That Jack Merivale is a chummy kind of a youth. That's
+the sort I like. Rest assured I won't trouble that wretched Earl. I won't
+even speak to him, and I'll make over to you whatever interest he may
+deign to show in me."
+
+"As one Humpty Dumpty said, 'I'd rather see that on paper.'"
+
+"So you shall," said Patty, and setting down her unfinished tea, she flew
+to the writing table.
+
+Perching herself on the corner of the desk chair, she laid out a sheet of
+Lady Herenden's crested note paper, and took up a pen. "Shall I write the
+agreement as I please?" she said, "or will you dictate it?"
+
+"I'll dictate," said Lady Kitty, smiling lazily at the foolery. But as
+she paused between sentences, Patty put in parentheses of her own, and
+when finished the remarkable document read thus:
+
+  "I, the undersigned, being of (fairly) sound mind, do hereby of my
+  own free will (coerced by one Lady Hamilton) relinquish all interest
+  or concern in the (illustrious) personage known as Sylvester, Earl
+  of Ruthven (but I do think he has a lovely name), and should he show
+  any interest in me, personally, I promise (gladly) to refer him to
+  (the aforesaid) Lady Hamilton (though what she wants of him, I don't
+  know!), and I hereby solemnly promise and agree, not to seek or
+  accept any further acquaintance or friendship with the (Belted)
+  gentleman above referred to.
+
+  "Furthermore, I (being still of sound mind, but it's tottering)
+  promise not to talk or converse with the (Sylvester! _Sylvester!_)
+  Earl of Ruthven, beyond the ordinary civilities of the day (whatever
+  that may mean!), never to smile at him voluntarily (I can't help
+  laughing at him), and _never_ to wave my eyelashes at him across the
+  table. (_Why_ does she think I'd do that?)
+
+                   "Witness my hand and seal,
+
+                                     "PATRICIA FAIRFIELD."
+
+("Lady Patricia would sound great! Wouldn't it?")
+
+"There, Kitty Cat," said Patty, tossing the paper to Lady Hamilton,
+"there's your agreement, and now, my dreams of glory over, I'll go and
+'bind my hair and lace my bodice blue.' I always wondered how people bind
+their hair. Do you suppose they use skirt braid?"
+
+But Lady Kitty was shaking with laughter over Patty's foolish "document"
+and offered no reply.
+
+An hour or so later, Patty presented herself for inspection.
+
+She wore a pale blue dimity, whose round, full blouse was belted with a
+soft ribbon. The skirt, with its three frills edged with tiny lace, came
+just to her instep, and disclosed dainty, patent-leather oxfords.
+
+Her golden braids, crossed and recrossed low at the back of her head,
+were almost covered by a big butterfly bow of wide white ribbon. In fact,
+she was perfectly garbed for an American girl of eighteen, and the
+costume was more becoming to her pretty, young face than the trained gown
+of the night before.
+
+Lady Hamilton was still at her dressing table.
+
+"I feel quite at ease about you now," she said, looking up. "Nobody will
+propose to you in that rig. They'll be more likely to buy you a doll. I'm
+not nearly ready yet, but don't wait. Run along downstairs, you'll find
+plenty of people about."
+
+Slowly Patty descended the great staircase, looking at the pictures and
+hanging rugs as she passed them.
+
+"For mercy's sake, who is that?" was Lady Herenden's mental exclamation
+as the girl neared the lower floor.
+
+"Good-morning, Lady Herenden," cried Patty, gaily, as she approached her
+hostess. "Don't look so surprised to see me, and I'll tell you all about
+it."
+
+"Why, it's Miss Fairfield!" exclaimed the elder lady, making room for
+Patty on the sofa beside her.
+
+"Yes, and I really owe you an explanation. You see, my boxes didn't come
+last night, and I had to wear one of Lady Hamilton's gowns at dinner. I
+couldn't tell you so, before all the guests, and so you didn't know me
+this morning in my own frock."
+
+"It's astonishing what a difference it makes! You look years younger."
+
+"I am. I'm not quite eighteen yet, and I wish you'd call me Patty, won't
+you?"
+
+"I will, indeed," said Lady Herenden, answering the pretty smile that
+accompanied the request. "I knew Kitty Hamilton said you weren't out yet,
+and so, when I saw you last night, I just couldn't understand it. But I
+do now. Have you breakfasted, dearie?"
+
+"Yes, thank you. And now, I want to go out and see the flowers, and the
+dogs. May I?"
+
+"Yes, indeed. Run around as you like. You'll find people on the terrace
+and lawn, though there are no girls here as young as yourself."
+
+"That doesn't matter. I like people of all ages. I've friends from four
+to forty."
+
+"I'm not surprised. You're a friendly little thing. Be sure to go through
+the rose orchard; it's back of the rose garden, and you'll love it."
+
+Hatless, Patty ran out into the sunshine, and, strolling through the rose
+garden, soon forgot all else in her delight at the marvellous array of
+blossoms.
+
+As she turned a corner of a path, she came upon two men talking together.
+They were Lord Ruthven and Lord Herenden's head gardener.
+
+"Yes," his lordship was saying, "you've done a good thing, Parker, in
+getting that hybrid. And this next bush is a fine one, too. Is it a
+Baroness Rothschild?"
+
+"No," said Patty, carelessly joining in the conversation, "it's a
+Catherine Mermet."
+
+"So it is, Miss," said the gardener, turning politely toward her, but
+Lord Ruthven, after a slight glance, paid no attention to the girl.
+
+"Are you sure, Parker?" he said. "The Mermets are usually pinker."
+
+"He doesn't know me! What larks!" thought Patty, gleefully. "I'll try
+again."
+
+"Where is the rose orchard, Parker?" she asked, turning her full face
+toward the gardener, and leaving only the big white bow to greet the
+Earl.
+
+Something in her voice startled Lord Ruthven, and he wheeled quickly
+about. "It is--it can't be--Miss Fairfield?"
+
+"Good-morning, my lord," said Patty, with cool politeness. "This, of
+course," she thought to herself, "is the civility of the day."
+
+"I will show you the rose orchard," went on the Earl. "Come with me."
+
+"No, thank you," said Patty, turning again to the gardener. She was
+absurdly placed, and she felt a little embarrassed. But, on the other
+hand, she had pledged her word, and a silly performance it was! But she
+would keep it, at least until Lady Hamilton released her from her
+promise. Patty's ideas of honour were, perhaps, a little strained, but
+she took the promise of that burlesque document as seriously as if it had
+been of national importance. And now she was in a dilemma. To refuse to
+walk with the Earl was so rude, and yet to talk with him was to break her
+pledged word.
+
+The gardener went on about his work, and the other two stood silent. For
+the first time in her life, Patty had a really difficult situation to
+cope with. If she could have laughed and talked naturally, it would have
+been easy to explain matters. But that absurd paper sealed her lips. Oh,
+why had she been so foolish?
+
+She did not look at the Earl, but he gazed fixedly at her.
+
+"I don't understand," he said. "Why are you so changed from last
+evening?"
+
+Patty thought hard. She was allowed the "civilities of the day," so she
+must depend on those.
+
+"Isn't it a charming morning?" she said, without, however, turning toward
+the man at her side.
+
+"It is indeed. But why are you such an enigma? Are all Americans so
+puzzling?"
+
+"And isn't the rose garden wonderful?" went on Patty, still looking off
+in the distance.
+
+"Wonderful, of course. Please look at me. I believe, after all, you're
+Miss Fairfield's younger sister! Ah, I have guessed you at last!"
+
+Patty still looked straight ahead, but an irrepressible smile dimpled the
+corners of her mouth.
+
+"Do you think it will rain?" she said.
+
+"By Jove, I won't stand this!" cried the Earl, impetuously. "I know you
+are yourself--the Miss Fairfield I talked with last night--but why you're
+masquerading as a schoolgirl, I don't know!"
+
+At this Patty could restrain her mirth no longer, and her pretty laughter
+seemed to appease the Earl's irritation.
+
+"Am I not fit to be looked at, or spoken to?" he said, more gently; "and
+if not, you must at least tell me why."
+
+"I can't tell you why," said Patty, stifling her laughter, but still
+gazing at the far-away hills.
+
+"Why can't you? Have you promised not to?" The Earl meant this as a jest,
+little thinking it was the truth, but Patty, now nearly choking with
+merriment, said demurely, "Yes, sir."
+
+"Nonsense! I'm not going to eat you! Look at me, child."
+
+"I can't," repeated Patty, in a small voice, and holding her wilful,
+golden head very straight, as she stared firmly ahead.
+
+"Whom did you promise?"
+
+"You have no right to ask."--"That," said Patty to herself, "is an
+ordinary _incivility_, but I can't help it!"
+
+"I have a right to ask! And I don't care whether I have or not. You're a
+mischief, and I won't stand any more of your chaff. Who made you promise
+not to speak to me, or look at me?"
+
+The Earl, quietly, but with a decided air, moved around until he faced
+Patty, and the laughing blue eyes were so full of fun that he laughed
+too.
+
+"You ridiculous baby!" he cried; "what are you, anyway? One night, a
+charming young woman, the next day, a naughty child."
+
+"I'm _not_ naughty! Nobody made me promise. I did it of my own free
+will."
+
+"But whom did you promise?"
+
+"Lady Hamilton," said Patty, remembering all at once that the matter was
+to be referred to her.
+
+"Oho! Well, now, see here. You just break that promise, as quick as you
+can, and I'll make it square with Lady Hamilton."
+
+"Will you?" said Patty, drawing a long sigh of relief. "And will you blot
+out last evening, and pretend it never was, and begin our acquaintance
+from now?"
+
+"I will," said the Earl, looking at her, curiously, "if you will tell me
+why you seem to have a dual personality."
+
+Then Patty explained her appearance at dinner in Lady Hamilton's gown,
+and to her pleased surprise, the Earl laughed long and loudly.
+
+"Best joke ever!" he declared; "a baby like you giving an imitation of
+the 'belle of the ball'!"
+
+"I'm not so infantile," said Patty, pouting a little, for the Earl now
+treated her as if she were about twelve.
+
+"You are!" he declared. "You ought to be in the schoolroom eating bread
+and jam."
+
+"I'd like the bread and jam well enough, for I'm getting hungrier every
+minute."
+
+"Well, it's an hour yet to luncheon time; come along and I'll show you
+the rose orchard. It may make you forget your gnawing pangs of hunger."
+
+On pleasant terms, then, they went through the gate in the high hedge
+that surrounded the enclosure. The rose orchard was unique. It had
+originally been a fruit orchard, and as most of the trees were dead, and
+many of them fallen, roses had been trained over their trunks and
+branches. The gorgeous masses of bloom covered the old gnarled wood, and
+the climbing roses twined lovingly around branches and boughs. Here and
+there were rustic seats and arbours; and there were many bird-houses,
+whose tiny occupants were exceedingly tame and sociable. Several other
+guests were walking about, and Patty and the Earl joined a group which
+included their host and hostess.
+
+"How do you like it?" said Lady Herenden, drawing Patty's arm through her
+own.
+
+"It's the most beautiful place since the Garden of Eden," said Patty, so
+enthusiastically that everybody laughed.
+
+Then Mr. Snowden sauntered up, and reminded Patty of her promise to go
+walking with him.
+
+"You haven't seen the deer park yet," he said, "nor the carp pond; though
+I believe the carp are merely tradition. Still, the pond is there."
+
+"Run along, child!" said Lady Herenden. "You'll just about have time for
+a pleasant stroll before luncheon."
+
+Patty was greatly relieved when Mr. Snowden made no reference to her age
+or her costume. He treated her politely and chatted gaily as he led her
+around to see all the picturesque bits of woodland and meadow. The
+magnificent old place showed its age, for it had not been unduly
+renovated, though everything was in good order.
+
+They went into the old church, which was on the estate, they visited the
+farmhouses and stables, and Patty found Mr. Snowden a kind and
+entertaining guide.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+A MOMENTOUS INTERVIEW
+
+
+The rest of their stay at Herenden Hall passed off delightfully. Patty
+fitted into her own niche, and everybody liked the natural, unaffected
+young girl.
+
+She and Jack Merivale became good chums, and went fishing together, and
+rowing on the pond like old cronies.
+
+It was Patty's nature to make friends quickly, and during her stay in
+Kent, she had a royal good time. Lord Ruthven talked over the matter with
+Lady Hamilton, and as he chose to consider it all a great joke on
+himself, she also took his view of it. As for Patty, she was so engrossed
+with other people that she nearly forgot all about the moonlight episode.
+
+Only sometimes, when she chanced to catch sight of Lord Ruthven, she
+would say to herself, "Sylvester, _Sylvester!_" and then turn away to
+hide her laughter.
+
+They stayed over until Tuesday, and then took the noon train back to
+London, Lady Herenden expressing an earnest wish that Patty would visit
+her again. Lady Kitty and Patty reached the Savoy duly, and Mr. Fairfield
+invited the returned travellers to dinner in the great Restaurant. This
+was a treat in itself, and Patty gleefully ran up to her room to dress
+for dinner.
+
+"Lend me one of your gowns to wear, Kitty?" she said, roguishly, looking
+in at her friend's door.
+
+"Go away, you bad child. You're not in my care, now. I shall confess all
+to your father to-night at dinner, and then I've done with you."
+
+"You've chosen a wise time," said Patty, sagely. "Father's always
+especially good-natured at dinner."
+
+"Let us hope he will be," said Lady Hamilton, who was really a little
+anxious about it all. But she need not have been, for when the story was
+told, both Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield looked upon it as a huge joke.
+
+Nan, especially, was almost convulsed with laughter at the account Patty
+gave of the moonlight scene, and her tragic repetition in a stage whisper
+of "Sylvester, _Sylvester!_" was truly funny of itself.
+
+"It couldn't be helped," said Mr. Fairfield, "and it was in no way your
+fault, Lady Hamilton. It would have been a pity to shut Patty in her room
+on such a gala occasion, and no one could foresee that she was going to
+throw herself at the Earl's head!"
+
+"Father!" exclaimed Patty, "I didn't do any such thing! He threw himself
+at my feet, if you please."
+
+"Well, it's all right, chickabiddy, but don't let it happen again. At
+least, not for many years, yet. I suppose some time, in the far future, I
+shall be asked to be a father-in-law to a Duke or a Count, but let's put
+it off as long as possible."
+
+"Then Nan will be Dowager Duchess," cried irrepressible Patty, "won't
+that be fun!"
+
+"I can do it," said Nan, with an air of self-satisfaction that made them
+all laugh.
+
+"I'm glad you exonerate me," said Lady Hamilton, with a sigh of relief.
+"And since I let Patty appear too old, I'm going to average matters in
+this way. Next week is the child's birthday, and I want to give her a
+children's party, if I may. You and your husband may come, Mrs.
+Fairfield, if you'll both dress as children of tender years."
+
+"We'll do it," cried Mr. Fairfield. "This is an inspiration of yours,
+Lady Hamilton, and will, as you say, quite even things up."
+
+Then plans were speedily made for the children's party. It was only a
+week to Patty's birthday, but Lady Kitty said that was long enough ahead
+to send invitations to an afternoon affair.
+
+For the party was to be held from three to six, and each guest was asked
+to dress as a small child. Patty put considerable thought on her own
+costume, for she said her eighteenth birthday was an important occasion,
+and she must do it honour.
+
+She finally decided on a quaint little Kate Greenaway dress, and
+big-brimmed hat of dark green velvet with white feathers tumbling over
+its brim. The frock was ankle length and short-waisted and she wore
+old-fashioned little slippers, with crossed ribbons, and black lace
+mitts. A shirred silk workbag hung at her side, and she carried a tiny
+parasol.
+
+A few days before the party, Patty had an inspiration. It came to her
+suddenly, as most inspirations do, and it was so startling that it almost
+took her breath away.
+
+"I _can't_ do it," she said to herself, one minute; and "I _will_ do it,"
+she said to herself the next.
+
+Not daring to think long about it lest she lose her determination, she
+started that very afternoon on her surprising errand.
+
+She had the carriage to herself, for she had been to tea with a friend,
+and on her way home she asked the coachman to stop at a house in Carlton
+Terrace.
+
+Reaching the house, Patty sent her card in by the footman, and awaited
+results with a beating heart.
+
+The footman returned to the carriage door, saying, Sir Otho Markleham
+would be pleased to see Miss Fairfield, and resolutely crushing down her
+timidity, Patty went in.
+
+She was ushered into a large and formal drawing-room, and waited there a
+few moments alone.
+
+She wished she had been asked into a library, or some more cosy room, for
+the stiff hangings, and massive furniture were oppressive. But she had no
+time for further thought, for Sir Otho entered the room.
+
+He bowed with exceeding courtesy, but with a surprised air, which was
+indeed only natural.
+
+Frightened almost out of her wits, Patty extended her hand, and though
+she tried to conquer her embarrassment, her voice trembled, as she said:
+"How do you do, Sir Otho? I've come to see you."
+
+She tried to speak jauntily, but there was a queer little break in her
+voice.
+
+"So I perceive," said Sir Otho, coldly. "May I ask why I have this
+honour?"
+
+This was too much for Patty. Her nerves were strained almost to the
+breaking point, and when Sir Otho spoke so repellently, she realised how
+foolish her little plan had been, and how hopeless was her dream of
+reconciling this dreadful old man and his daughter. Partly, then, because
+of her overwrought nerves, and partly because of the downfall of her
+cherished hopes, Patty burst into tears.
+
+She rarely cried, almost never, unless at some injustice or undeserved
+unkindness. But when she did cry, it was done as she did everything else,
+with a whole-souled enthusiasm.
+
+Utterly unable to control herself, for a few moments she sobbed, and
+shook in paroxysms of emotion.
+
+The old gentleman fairly danced around.
+
+"Bless my soul!" he exclaimed; "what is the matter? What does this mean?
+Did you come into my house for the purpose of having a fit of hysterics?"
+
+Now Patty wasn't a bit hysterical; it was merely a sudden blow of
+disappointment, and she would have been over it in a moment, but that Sir
+Otho made matters worse by storming at her.
+
+"Stop it, do you hear? I won't have such goings on in my house! You are a
+madwoman!"
+
+As Patty's sobs grew quieter, and she sat softly weeping into an already
+soaked handkerchief, her host's mood seemed to change also.
+
+"When I consented to see Miss Patricia Fairfield," he said, quoting her
+name as it appeared on the card she had sent in, "I didn't know I was to
+be subjected to this extraordinary treatment."
+
+"I d-didn't know it e-either," said Patty, wiping her eyes, and trying to
+smile. Then, as she saw Sir Otho's hard old face beginning to soften a
+little, she smiled at him through her tears.
+
+"There, there, my dear, don't cry," he said, with a clumsy imitation of
+gentleness. "Shall I ring for a maid? Will you have some sal volatile?"
+
+"No," said Patty, trying hard to check her sobs; "no, I will go away."
+
+"But what's it all about?" said the bewildered old man. "What made you
+cry?"
+
+"You did," said Patty, with such suddenness that he nearly fell over.
+
+"I? Bless my soul! What did I do?"
+
+"You were so c-cross," said Patty, weeping afresh at the remembrance of
+his cold looks.
+
+"Well, never mind, child, I won't be cross again. Tell me all about it."
+
+Surely Sir Otho was melting! Patty sagaciously believed he was touched by
+her tears, so made no desperate effort to stop them.
+
+"I c-can't tell you now. You're not in a k-kind m-mood."
+
+"Yes, I am; try to tell me, my dear child."
+
+Patty thought she had never known any one who could turn from anger to
+kindness so suddenly, but she resolved to strike while the iron was hot.
+
+"It's about K-Kitty," she said, still sobbing, but peeping out from
+behind her handkerchief to see how he took this broadside.
+
+"I supposed so," he said, with a sigh. "Well, what about her?"
+
+"She's your daughter, you know," went on Patty, growing more daring, as
+she slyly watched the old gentleman's expression.
+
+"Is she, indeed? I'd forgotten the fact."
+
+This, though in a sarcastic tone, was better than his usual disavowal of
+the relationship.
+
+"And did you stop in here, and treat me to this absurd scene, just to
+inform me concerning my family tree?"
+
+"N-no," said Patty, resorting to tears again. "I stopped in, to--to ask
+you s-something."
+
+"Well, out with it! Are you afraid of me?"
+
+This nettled Patty.
+
+"No," she said, starting to her feet. Her tears had stopped now, and her
+eyes were blazing. "No! I am not afraid of you! I'm sorry I broke down. I
+was foolishly nervous. But I'm over it now. I came in here, Sir Otho
+Markleham, to ask you to make peace with your daughter, and to propose to
+you a pleasant way to do so. But you have been so cross and ugly, so
+sarcastic and cruel, that I see the utter hopelessness of trying to
+reconcile you two. I was foolish even to think of it! Lady Kitty is
+gentle and sweet in many ways, but she has inherited your obstinate,
+stubborn----"
+
+"Pigheaded," suggested Sir Otho, politely.
+
+"Yes! Pigheaded disposition, and though, as the older, you ought to make
+the advance, you'll never do it--and she never will--and--so----"
+
+Patty broke down again, this time from sheer sadness of heart at the
+irrevocable state of things.
+
+Her face buried in her handkerchief, to her great surprise she felt a
+kindly touch on her shoulder.
+
+"Don't condemn me too soon, little one; and don't condemn me unheard.
+Suppose I tell you that some of my ideas have undergone a change since
+Miss Yankee Doodle has taken it upon herself to scold me."
+
+"Oh!" said Patty, rendered almost breathless with amazement at the kind
+tone and the gentle touch.
+
+"But suppose it's very hard for an old man like me to uproot some
+feelings that have grown and strengthened with the passing years."
+
+"But if they're bad and unworthy feelings, you _want_ to uproot them!"
+cried Patty.
+
+"Yes," said Sir Otho, "I do. And though my irascible and taciturn nature
+won't let me admit this to any one else, I'll confess to you, Miss Yankee
+Doodle, I do want to pull them up, root and branch."
+
+Sir Otho looked so brave and manly as he made this confession, which was
+truly difficult for him, that Patty grasped his hand in both hers, and
+cried: "Oh, what a _splendid_ man you are! I'll _never_ be afraid of you
+again!"
+
+"You _weren't_ afraid of me, child. That's why your words had weight with
+me. You fearlessly told me just what I was, and I had the grace to be
+ashamed of myself."
+
+"Never mind that now," said Patty, eagerly. "Do you want to be friends
+again with Kitty?"
+
+"More than anything on earth."
+
+"Well, then, let me manage it; and do it the way I want you to, will
+you?"
+
+Patty's voice and smile were very wheedlesome, and Sir Otho smiled in
+response, as he said:
+
+"You've surely earned the right to manage it. How shall it be done? Will
+Kitty meet me halfway?"
+
+"I think she will," said Patty, slowly. "But she's not very tractable,
+you know. Indeed, Sir Otho, she's such a contrary-minded person, that if
+she knew you wanted to be kind to her, she'd likely run away."
+
+"Miss Patricia," said Sir Otho, gravely, "you can't tell me anything
+about my daughter Catharine that I don't already know. And she is,
+indeed, contrary-minded, on occasion. As you so justly observed, she
+inherits my obstinate and cross-grained disposition."
+
+"And yet she's so lovely to look at," sighed Patty.
+
+"Ah, well, she didn't get her good looks from me, I'll admit."
+
+"I think she did," said Patty, looking critically at the fine old face,
+with a thoughtful gaze that was very amusing.
+
+"Well, are you going to detail to me the plan of this rather difficult
+campaign?"
+
+"Yes, I am. And I hope you'll see it as I do."
+
+"If I don't, I have little doubt but you can change my views. Will you
+have time to drink a cup of tea with me? We can plan so much more cosily
+over the teacups."
+
+"Yes, I will," said Patty, consulting her watch.
+
+"Then let us have it served in the library, and not in this depressing
+room, which you must associate with stormy outbursts of woe."
+
+Patty laughed, and followed the stately old gentleman into the library,
+where tea was soon served.
+
+[Illustration: "'How _much_ pleasanter this is than squabbling'"]
+
+"One lump?" said Patty, holding the sugar-tongs poised over a teacup,
+while she put her head on one side and smiled at her host.
+
+"Two, please. It's delightful to have some one make my tea for me, and
+you do it very prettily."
+
+"But, alas!" said Patty, in mock despair, "I'll soon be supplanted here,
+by that 'obstinate, cross-grained' Lady Kitty."
+
+"Why are you so sure she'll come back here to live?"
+
+"Just give her the chance, and see," said Patty, wagging her head
+sagaciously, as she poured her own tea.
+
+"How _much_ pleasanter this is than squabbling," she observed, glancing
+happily at her host.
+
+"Yes, or crying," said he, a bit teasingly, and Patty blushed.
+
+"That's past history," she said; "and _now_ I'll tell you my plan."
+
+The details of the plan kept them both talking for some time, and then
+Patty had to hurry away to reach home at her appointed hour.
+
+"Now, I won't see you again until then," she said, as they parted at the
+door. "But I know you won't fail me."
+
+"Not I!" said Sir Otho, and with his hand on his heart, he made a
+profound bow, and Patty drove homeward in the happiest mood she had known
+for many a day.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
+
+
+Patty's birthday party was a great success.
+
+As a rule, young people love a "dress-up" party, and the guests all
+entered into the spirit of the thing.
+
+Lady Hamilton was in her element.
+
+For the occasion, she had engaged a large salon, and aside from the
+pretty floral decorations, there were dolls and Teddy Bears and rocking
+horses, and all sorts of children's toys and games. On the walls hung
+bright-colored prints, intended for nursery use, and little, low chairs
+and ottomans stood about.
+
+Of course, Lady Hamilton, as hostess, did not dress like a child, but
+wore one of her own lovely, trailing white house-gowns.
+
+When the guests arrived they were shown to dressing-rooms, where
+white-capped nurses awaited them, and assisted them to lay aside their
+wraps.
+
+Then led to the salon by these same nurses, the guests were presented to
+Lady Hamilton and Patty. Such shouts of laughter as arose at these
+presentations! The young people, dressed as tiny children, came in with a
+shy air (not always entirely assumed), and made funny little, bobbing
+curtseys. Some, finger in mouth, could find nothing to say; others of
+more fertile brain, babbled childishly, or lisped in baby-talk.
+
+Before many had arrived, Patty and Lady Kitty were in such roars of
+laughter they could scarcely welcome the rest.
+
+Tom Meredith was a dear. Though a boy nearly six feet tall, he had a
+round, cherubic face, and soft, curly hair. He wore a white dress of
+simple "Mother Hubbard" cut, the fulness hanging from a yoke, and ending
+just below his knees, in lace-edged frills. White stockings, and white
+kid pumps adorned his feet, and his short curls were tied at one side
+with an immense white bow. He was such a smiling, good-natured chap, and
+looked so girlish and sweet in his white frock, that Patty at once called
+him Baby Belle, and the name exactly suited him.
+
+"Did you come all alone?" asked Lady Hamilton.
+
+"Yeth, ma'am," replied Tom, rolling up his eyes in pretended diffidence.
+"My nurthie went to a ball game, tho I had to come all by mythelf. But
+I'th a big dirl, now!"
+
+"You are indeed," said Patty, glancing at his stalwart proportions, "but
+you're surely the belle of this ball."
+
+Grace Meredith was a little Dutch girl, and was charming in the
+picturesque Holland headgear, and a tight-waisted, long-skirted blue
+gown, that just cleared the tops of her clattering wooden sabots. She
+talked a Dutch dialect, or rather, what she imagined was such, and if not
+real Hollandese, it was at least, very amusing and funny.
+
+Mabel Hartley looked very sweet as Little Red Riding-Hood, and she
+carried a little basket on her arm, which contained a real pat of butter.
+
+Sinclair and Bob Hartley were the Princes in the Tower, and the black
+velvet suits and white lace collars were exceedingly becoming to them.
+They wore wigs of long flaxen hair, and often fell into the pose of the
+celebrated picture, to the delight of all who saw them. But when not
+posing as a tableau, they were so full of antics that Patty told them
+they were more like Court Jesters than Princes.
+
+"Clowns, you mean," said Bob, as with a flash of his black satin legs he
+leap-frogged over Sinclair's back.
+
+"Behave yourselves, Princes!" admonished Patty, and in a second, the two
+stood motionless, side by side, as in the great painting.
+
+"You certainly must be photographed like that," exclaimed Lady Hamilton;
+and then a brilliant idea came to her and she sent a message at once to a
+well-known photographer to send one of his men and a camera at once.
+
+And so, the regular programme of the party was suspended while
+photographs of the guests were taken. Singly and in groups they were
+snapped off as fast as the camera could be adjusted, and Lady Hamilton
+promised to send copies to their homes later.
+
+Some of the young people had hired very elaborate costumes and
+represented celebrated works of art.
+
+Gainsborough's "Blue Boy," and Velasquez' "Maria Teresa," were truly
+beautiful, while Van Dyck's "Baby Stuart," made a lovely picture. But
+equally interesting were the less pretentious characters and costumes.
+
+Simple Simon was a favourite with all. A faded blue smock frock, and a
+battered old hat formed his characteristic garb, and long, straight
+yellow locks, and a stupid, open-mouthed expression of face made him look
+like the traditional Simon. He was a boy of much original wit, and his
+funny repartee proved him, in reality, far from simple-minded.
+
+Little Miss Muffet was present, and Struwelpeter, and "Alice," and a
+merry brother and sister had to cut up many roguish antics before they
+were recognised as "The Heavenly Twins."
+
+Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, wore a pretty Dolly Varden costume, and
+carried a watering-pot, while Little Boy Blue shyly blew his horn at her.
+There were several Lord Fauntleroys, and Buster Browns and Rollos, and
+also a great many who represented nobody in particular, but just a dear
+little child.
+
+Mr. Fairfield and Nan, though they had said they would come to the party
+dressed as children, had changed their minds, and arrived later than the
+others, wearing the garb of elderly people.
+
+They said they were the grandparents, come to look at the children enjoy
+themselves.
+
+Nan made a very sweet old lady, with white wig, and gold glasses, while
+Mr. Fairfield pretended to be an old man, cross and gouty. But so funny
+was his ferocious crustiness that nobody felt in awe of him.
+
+Led by Lady Hamilton, the boys and girls played all sorts of merry
+children's games.
+
+"Ring Around a Rosy," "London Bridge is Falling Down," "Hide the
+Thimble," and other such infantile entertainments proved exceedingly
+mirth-provoking. The big babies were continually crying over fancied
+woes, and sometimes even the historic characters grew humorously
+quarrelsome.
+
+At half-past four supper was served. The children were formed in pairs
+for a grand march. To the strains of "The Baby's Opera" they marched to
+another room, where a long table was set for them.
+
+At each place was a bread-and-milk set, and a mug which was lettered in
+gilt, "For a Good Child."
+
+The mugs were especially pretty ones, and were to be taken home as
+souvenirs. At each place was a bib with strings, and when these were tied
+around their necks, the big "children" looked absurd indeed.
+
+In keeping with their assumed roles, their table manners were not
+impeccable, and many fists pounded on the table, while babyish voices
+said: "Me wants me thupper," or "Div me some beddy-butter!" But though
+the bowls and mugs betokened infantile fare, the supper really served
+included dainty salads and sandwiches, followed by ices, jellies and
+cakes, and was fully enjoyed by the healthy appetites which belong to
+young people of eighteen or thereabouts.
+
+After supper, they returned to the drawing-room for a dance.
+
+Delightful music was played, and it was a pretty sight to see the fancy
+costumes gracefully flit about in the dance.
+
+When it was nearly time to go home, one of the "nurses" came to Lady
+Hamilton saying that a belated guest had arrived.
+
+"Who is it?" asked Lady Hamilton, surprised that any one should arrive so
+late.
+
+"He says he is Peter Pan," answered the maid.
+
+"Show him in, at once," said Lady Hamilton, "we surely want to see Peter
+Pan--the boy who never _could_ grow up."
+
+And then through the doorway came a figure that unmistakably represented
+Peter Pan.
+
+The well-known costume of russet browns and autumn-leaf tints, the small,
+close cap with its single feather, and the fierce-looking dagger were all
+there. To be sure, it was a much _larger_ Peter Pan than any of them had
+seen in the play, but otherwise it was surely Peter.
+
+At first, Lady Hamilton looked completely bewildered, and then, as she
+realised that it was really her own father, she turned pale and then very
+pink.
+
+Patty stood near her, and though she didn't know what might happen, she
+felt sure Lady Hamilton would be quite able to cope with the situation.
+
+And so she was. After the first dazed moment, she stepped forward, and
+offering her hand, said cordially:
+
+"Welcome, Peter Pan! We are indeed glad to see you. We're sorry you
+couldn't come earlier, but pray fall right into place with the rest of
+our little guests."
+
+It was the nature of Sir Otho Markleham to do thoroughly whatever he did
+at all.
+
+So, now, throwing himself into the spirit of the moment, he made friends
+with the young people at once. He entertained them with stories of his
+thrilling adventures with the pirates; he told them how he lost his
+shadow, he explained all about Fairies, and soon the other guests were
+all crowded about him, listening breathlessly to his talk.
+
+Lady Hamilton, standing a little to one side of the listening group,
+looked at her father. She realised at once what it all meant. She knew
+that Patty had persuaded him to come, and that it meant complete
+reconciliation between father and daughter. The whole matter could be
+discussed later, if they chose, but the mere presence of her father
+beneath her roof meant forgiveness and peace between them.
+
+Softly Patty came up beside her and clasped her hand. "You're a witch,"
+whispered Lady Hamilton, as she warmly returned the pressure. "How did
+you ever accomplish this?"
+
+"Never mind that, now," said Patty, her eyes shining. "Are you glad?"
+
+"Glad! Yes, only that's a short word to express my joy and my gratitude
+to you. But you took a risk! Suppose I had fainted, or done something
+foolish in my great surprise."
+
+"Oh, I knew you better than that," returned Patty. "Isn't he a dear in
+that Peter Pan suit? And, only think, he took off his beloved
+'sideboards,' so he'd look the character better."
+
+"They'll soon grow again," said Lady Hamilton, carelessly; "but what I
+can't understand is why he came at all."
+
+"Because he loves you," whispered Patty, "and you love him. And you've
+both been acting like silly geese, but now that's all over."
+
+"Yes, it is!" And Lady Hamilton gave a soft sigh of relief. Then,
+following her father's example, she devoted herself to her young guests,
+and the time passed pleasantly until their departure.
+
+Of course, these young people knew nothing of the state of affairs
+between "Peter Pan" and his hostess, though they soon discovered the
+identity of Sir Otho.
+
+Soon after six, the "children" went away, declaring that it had been the
+event of the season, and they had never enjoyed a party more. The three
+Fairfields took leave at the same time, and Lady Hamilton was left alone
+with her father.
+
+Exactly what was said in the next half hour neither of them ever told,
+but when it was past, the two were entirely reconciled, and Lady Kitty
+had consented to return to her father's house to live. Then she sent a
+note to the Fairfields, asking them all to dine with herself and her
+father that evening.
+
+"And meantime, Kitty," said Sir Otho, "I'll go and get out of this
+foolish toggery."
+
+"Yes, but save that suit to be photographed in. I must have your picture
+to put with those of the other 'children.'"
+
+Sir Otho went away, enveloped in a long raincoat, and promising to return
+at the dinner hour. It was a merry dinner party that night.
+
+Patty had a new frock in honour of the occasion, and as she donned the
+pretty demi-toilette of pale green gauze, Nan said it was the most
+becoming costume she had ever worn.
+
+"Now that you're really eighteen, Patty," she said, "I think you might
+discard hair-ribbons."
+
+"No, thank you," said Patty, as Louise tied her big, white bow for her.
+"I'll wear them a little longer. At least as long as I'm in this country
+where Dukes and Earls run wild. When I get back to New York, I'll see
+about it."
+
+"Good-evening, Miss Yankee Doodle," said Sir Otho, as he met her again at
+dinner. "Once more the American has conquered the English, and I would be
+greatly honoured by your kind acceptance of this tiny memento of the
+occasion."
+
+As Sir Otho spoke, he handed Patty a small jeweller's box. She opened it
+and saw a dear little brooch in the form of an American flag. The Stars
+and Stripes were made of small sparkling brilliants of the three colours,
+and the twinkling effect was very beautiful.
+
+"It is lovely!" she exclaimed; "how can I ever thank you! This is one of
+my very choicest birthday gifts, and I have received a great many."
+
+"It is nothing," said Sir Otho, "compared to what you have given me," and
+he glanced affectionately toward his daughter.
+
+And this was all he ever said by way of expressing his gratitude to
+Patty, but it was enough, for the deep tone of his voice, and the
+suggestion of tears in his eyes, proved his inexpressible appreciation of
+Patty's achievement.
+
+Then the matter was dropped entirely, and the conversation became general
+and gay. Sir Otho proved to be as entertaining to older people as he had
+been to the children at the party, and Lady Kitty was in her most
+charming mood. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield quite did their share toward the
+general entertainment, but Patty was queen of the feast. She enjoyed it
+all, for she dearly loved a festivity of any sort, but to-night she was
+specially happy to think that her plan had succeeded, and that she had
+given to her dear friend Kitty what she most wanted in all the world.
+
+"And I trust it will not be long," said Sir Otho, "before you will all
+accept an invitation to dine with me in Carlton Terrace, with Lady
+Hamilton presiding at my table."
+
+This invitation was delightedly accepted, and then they all went up to
+the Fairfields' drawing-room, and Patty sang songs, and they all sang
+choruses, and then, as a final surprise, came a great, beautiful birthday
+cake, with eighteen lighted candles.
+
+Then Patty cut the cake, and there were more congratulations and good
+wishes all round, and for pretty nearly the eighteenth time in her life
+Patty declared it was the best birthday she had ever had.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+SUMMER PLANS
+
+
+"As usual," said Mr. Fairfield, smiling, "the question is, what is to be
+done with Patty?"
+
+"Yes," agreed Patty, complacently, "you and Nan are usually trying to
+dispose of me in some way. It's lucky I'm good-natured and don't mind
+being left behind."
+
+"That's a pretty speech!" exclaimed Nan, "after we've begged and coaxed
+you to go with us!"
+
+"So you have, my pretty little Stepmother--so you have; and I'm just
+ungrateful enough not to want to go."
+
+It was about a week after the birthday party, and the Fairfields were
+making their plans for the summer. The elders wanted to travel in
+Switzerland and Germany. Patty did not want to go with them, but her
+dilemma was, which of several delightful invitations to accept.
+
+"You see," she went on, "I'm invited to spend June in five separate
+places, each one lovelier than the other. Now I can't chop myself up into
+five pieces."
+
+"You can chop June up into five pieces," suggested Nan.
+
+"Yes, but if I go to a country house to make a good long visit, I want to
+stay about a month. A week here and then a week there is so unsatisfactory.
+However, after much thoughtful brooding over the question, I've cut out
+three, and that brings my quandary down to only two places to decide
+between."
+
+"Lady Hamilton's being one," observed her father.
+
+"Yes, Kitty's is one; and Mabel Hartley's is the other. Of course, if I
+spend June with Kitty, we'll be right here in London all the time, and
+though I love it, yet I love the country too. Now, if I go to Mabel's,
+I'll have a beautiful experience of real English country life."
+
+"You would enjoy it, I'm sure," said Nan; "and I think you'd better
+decide to go to Cromarty Manor, and then, if for any reason, you don't
+like it, come back, and put in the rest of your time with Lady Kitty."
+
+"Nan, that's an inspiration!" cried Patty, running across the room, and
+clasping Nan in one of her rather strenuous embraces.
+
+"Look out! You'll break her!" cried Mr. Fairfield, in great pretence of
+fear.
+
+"No, indeed!" said Patty, "she's too substantial. And anyway, such a
+clever suggestion deserves ample recognition."
+
+Patty sat on the arm of Nan's chair, and amused herself by twisting Nan's
+curly hair into tight little spirals.
+
+"Stop that, Patty," said her father; "you make Nan look like a
+pickaninny."
+
+"No matter what she looks like, if it's becoming," said Patty, serenely.
+"But truly, Nan, you ought to wear your hair like that; it's awfully
+effective!"
+
+The spirals now stood out all round Nan's face, like a spiky frame, but
+the good-natured victim only laughed, as she said, "Never mind me, let's
+get these great questions settled."
+
+So, after some more talk and discussion, it was settled that Patty should
+accept the Hartleys' urgent invitation to Cromarty Manor, for, at least,
+a part of June, and then, if she cared to, stay also a time with Lady
+Hamilton.
+
+"It may sound silly," said Patty, thoughtfully, "but I can't help feeling
+that Mabel not only wants me to visit her this summer, but she needs me.
+Now, I don't mean to be conceited, but, don't you know, you can tell when
+people seem to need you, if only in a trivial way."
+
+"I understand," said Nan, quickly; "and you're not conceited a bit,
+Patty. Mabel does need you. She is a sweet girl, but sometimes she seems
+to me the least bit morbid; no, not quite that, but verging that way. She
+adores you, and I'm perfectly sure that your companionship will do her a
+world of good."
+
+"I hope so," said Patty; "I love Mabel, but there is something about her
+I can't quite understand."
+
+"You'll probably find out what it is, when you're staying with her," said
+her father, "and I know, Patty, you'll do all in your power to brighten
+her up. The Merediths live near them, don't they?"
+
+"Yes; only a mile or two away. And the Merediths are gay enough for
+anybody. If they're at home this summer, there'll be plenty of fun going
+on, I'm sure."
+
+"Lady Hamilton will miss you a lot," said Nan; "what does she say to your
+going?"
+
+"Oh, she says she'll miss me," said Patty, "and so she will, some, but
+it's not like it was when she was here, alone. Now that she's settled in
+her father's house again, she has so much to occupy her time and
+attention she's never lonely. Of course, she's just as fond of me, and I
+am of her, but since she's gone away from here, I don't see so much of
+her. And, truly, she doesn't need me, and Mabel does. So I'll go to
+Mabel's first, and I shouldn't be surprised if I stay there until you
+people come back from your trip. Mrs. Hartley asked me for the whole
+summer, you know, but you won't be gone more than a month or six weeks,
+will you?"
+
+"Not more than two months," answered her father, "and you know,
+chickabiddy, if ever you want to join us, I'll send for you, or come for
+you myself, whenever you say the word. Just telegraph me, and I'll
+respond at once."
+
+"All right; I will if I want to. But there's too much fun for me in
+civilization to want to go wandering off to the ends of the earth."
+
+"And you may decide to go to Herenden Hall for a time."
+
+"Yes, I may. I'd love to visit Lady Herenden again, if I thought that
+Earl gentleman wouldn't be there."
+
+"He probably won't be," said Nan. "I daresay you scared him away from
+there forever."
+
+"Even so, I didn't scare him as much as he scared me," returned Patty,
+"but I do hope there won't be any Earls at Cromarty. I like plain, big
+boys better."
+
+"Those Hartley boys are fine fellows," observed Mr. Fairfield. "Young
+Meredith has more fun and jollity, but the Hartleys are of a sterling
+good sort. I like the whole family, and I'm glad, Patty girl, that you've
+decided to go there. I'll willingly leave you in Mrs. Hartley's care, and
+I'm sure you'll have a good time."
+
+"Of course I shall, Daddy, and I'll write you every day, if you want me
+to."
+
+"Not quite so often, my dear. Twice a week, will be all you'll find time
+for, I'm certain."
+
+"Quite likely," said Patty, who was not very fond of writing letters.
+
+Only a week later, Patty was to go away with the Hartleys. And a week was
+not a very long time for her preparations. There was shopping to do, and
+calling, and, as Nan and Mr. Fairfield were leaving at the same time,
+they were to give up their hotel apartment for the present.
+
+But Lady Hamilton insisted that Patty must look upon Sir Otho's big house
+in Carlton Terrace as her own home. If she cared to run up to London for
+a few days at any time, she would be more than welcome at Lady Kitty's.
+Or she could leave there any trunks or other belongings that she wished.
+This greatly pleased Mr. Fairfield, for he felt more comfortable at
+leaving Patty, to know that she had a foothold in London, and somebody to
+look after her, should she care to leave Cromarty before her parents'
+return.
+
+At last the day of departure came, and Mr. Fairfield accompanied Patty to
+the station to meet the Hartleys for the journey.
+
+It was with a homesick heart that Patty bade her father good-bye.
+Somehow, she suddenly felt that she was leaving her own people to go away
+with strangers. But she knew she must not be foolish, so she bravely kept
+back the tears and said good-bye with a tender, if not a gay, smile.
+
+"It is the loveliest thing," said Mabel, after they were settled in the
+train, "to think that you're really going with us. I wanted you to, so
+dreadfully, but I didn't urge it very much, for fear you wouldn't enjoy
+yourself with us."
+
+"I always enjoy myself," said Patty, "but I know I shall be happy with
+you."
+
+"We'll try to make you so, Miss Fairfield," said Bob, earnestly, and
+Patty smiled at him, and said:
+
+"Then the first thing you can do toward it, is to drop that formal name,
+and call me Patty. I'm not really grown-up enough for the other."
+
+"No, I don't think you are," said Bob, as he looked at her critically.
+"So, as we're all to live under one roof for a time, we'll be first
+namers all round."
+
+"Good!" said Sinclair, "that suits me; and now, Mater, when you're ready,
+we'll go in to luncheon."
+
+Patty thought luncheon in the dining car was great fun. Only four could
+sit at a table, but as Mrs. Hartley had a slight headache and did not
+care to talk, she and Grandma Cromarty sat at another table, and left the
+four young people to chatter by themselves.
+
+Everything interested Patty, from the unusual things she found on the
+menu to the strange sights she saw from the window.
+
+This was her first trip in this direction, for they were travelling
+toward Leicester, and the scenes were all new to her.
+
+The boys were full of fun and nonsense, and Mabel was so gay and jolly
+that Patty began to think she had imagined the girl was of a sad nature.
+They all told funny stories, and made absurd jokes, and poked fun at each
+other, and Patty concluded she was likely to have a very jolly summer
+with the Hartleys. Back they went after luncheon to their funny parlour
+car, which had double seats facing each other, with a small table
+between.
+
+"Just the place for a game," said Sinclair, as the four took their seats,
+two on either side of the table.
+
+"What sort of a game?" asked Patty.
+
+"Oh, I don't know; I'll make one up." The boy took a bit of chalk from
+his pocket, and marked off the table into various sections, with a circle
+in each corner, and crosses here and there.
+
+"Now," he explained, as he offered each player a coin, "this isn't money,
+you know. They're merely counters, for the time being. But when the game
+is over you must all give them back to me, because they'll be money again
+then."
+
+"But what do we do with them?" asked Patty, who was greatly interested in
+any game.
+
+"I'll show you. These places are homes, and these are wilderness. If
+you're in the wilderness you may be captured, but if you're at home, you
+can't be."
+
+The game was really a mix-up of parcheesi, halma, and some others; to
+which were added some original rules out of Sinclair's own head. Patty
+and Bob were partners against the other two, and soon the quartette were
+deeply absorbed in the game.
+
+"You are the cleverest boy, to make this up!" cried Patty, as her side
+won, and they prepared to begin over again.
+
+"Oh, he often makes up games," said Mabel. "We all do, only Sinclair's
+are always the best."
+
+"Mine are very good, though," observed Bob, modestly.
+
+"Good enough, yes," said Sinclair; "only usually they're so difficult
+that nobody can win but yourself."
+
+Bob made a profound bow at this compliment, and then the game went on. It
+seemed impossible that they had been about five hours on the train, when
+it was time to get out. They had reached Leicester, and from there were
+to drive to Cromarty Manor.
+
+Two vehicles met them at the station.
+
+Into one of these, a comfortable victoria, Sinclair assisted the four
+ladies, and in the other, the boys rode up with the luggage. The drive
+was beautiful, and Patty warmly expressed her gratitude to Mrs. Hartley,
+for inviting her to this delightful experience of English country life.
+
+"It is beautiful," said Mrs. Hartley, looking about her. "I'm always glad
+to get back from London to the restful quiet of these great trees and the
+far-away, peaceful hills."
+
+Mabel's mood had changed. She no longer laughed and jested, and though
+sweet and gentle as ever, the hint of sadness had again crept into her
+face, and her speech was slow and quiet. Patty adapted her mood to the
+other's, and it was almost in silence they drove along the country roads.
+
+It was a long ride, and it was nearly dusk when at last they arrived at
+Cromarty Manor.
+
+An old servant came out from the Porter's Lodge to open the high iron
+gates for them.
+
+He gave them a warm greeting, which seemed a heart-felt welcome, and not
+merely the speech of a paid dependant, and then they drove on toward the
+house.
+
+The whole effect was so beautiful that it almost took Patty's breath
+away. It was not a bit like Herenden Hall, it was more like an old feudal
+castle. The picturesque house was of gray stone, with towers and turrets
+almost entirely covered with ivy. From the ivy the birds flew in and out,
+and the darkness of the surrounding trees and tall shrubbery gave the
+place a weird and fairly mysterious appearance.
+
+"You feel the charm of it, don't you?" said Mrs. Hartley, kindly, as she
+looked at Patty's rapt face and serious eyes.
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Patty, softly; "I can't explain it, but it casts a
+spell over me. Oh, I don't wonder you love it!"
+
+But the darkness of the outer world was soon dispelled by a broad gleam
+of light, as the great front doors were thrown open. An old, gray-haired
+butler stood on the threshold, and greeted them with rather pompous
+respect and punctilious deference. The interior was quite in keeping with
+the outside view of the house. But though the old carved rafters and
+wainscoting were dark and heavy, cheerful lamps were in abundance, and in
+the halls and drawing-rooms, wax candles were lighted also.
+
+At the first view on entering there seemed to be an interminable vista of
+rooms, that opened one from another; this was partly the effect of the
+elaborate old architecture, and partly because of many long mirrors in
+various positions.
+
+The furniture, tapestries and ornaments were all of an epoch two
+centuries back, and the whole picture fascinated Patty beyond all words.
+
+"It's a wonderful place," she said at last; "and after a week or two, I'm
+going to examine it in detail. But at first I shall be satisfied just to
+bask in its atmosphere."
+
+"You'll do!" cried Bob, who had just arrived. "If you hadn't appreciated
+Cromarty, we were going to pack you straight back to London; but you've
+acquitted yourself nobly. Nobody could make a better speech than you did,
+and I'll wager you didn't learn it beforehand either."
+
+"I couldn't," said Patty, "because I didn't know what the place was like.
+What few remarks you made about it seem like nothing, now that I've begun
+to see it for myself."
+
+"Yes, and you've only begun," said Sinclair. "To-morrow, when you get
+further into the heart of it, you'll surrender to its charm as we all
+do."
+
+"I'm sure I shall," agreed Patty, "and, indeed, I think I have already
+done so."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+CROMARTY MANOR
+
+
+Life at Cromarty Manor was very pleasant indeed.
+
+Although Patty had not definitely realised it, she was thoroughly tired
+out by her London gaieties, and the peaceful quiet of the country brought
+her a rest that she truly needed.
+
+Also, the Hartleys were a delightful family to visit. There is quite as
+much hospitality in knowing when to leave guests to themselves as there
+is in continually entertaining them.
+
+And while the Hartleys planned many pleasures for Patty, yet there were
+also hours in the morning or early afternoon, when she was free to follow
+her own sweet will.
+
+Sometimes she would roam around the historic old house, pausing here and
+there in some of the silent, unused rooms, to imagine romances of days
+gone by.
+
+Sometimes she would stroll out-of-doors, through the orchards and woods,
+by ravines and brooks, always discovering some new and beautiful vista or
+bit of scenery.
+
+And often she would spend a morning, lying in a hammock beneath the old
+trees, reading a book, or merely day-dreaming, as she watched the
+sunlight play hide-and-seek among the leaves above her head.
+
+One morning, after she had been at Cromarty Manor for about a week, Patty
+betook herself to her favourite hammock, carrying with her a book of
+Fairy Tales, for which she had never outgrown her childish fondness.
+
+But the book remained unopened, for Patty's mind was full of busy
+thoughts.
+
+She looked around at the beautiful landscape which, as far as the eye
+could reach included only the land belonging to the Cromarty estate.
+There were more than a thousand acres in all, much of which was
+cultivated ground, and the rest woodland or rolling meadows. Patty looked
+at the dark woods in the distance; the orchards nearer by; and, in her
+immediate vicinity, the beautiful gardens and terraces.
+
+The latter, of which there were two, known as the Upper and Lower
+Terrace, were two hundred feet long and were separated by a sloping bank
+of green lawn, dotted with round flower beds.
+
+[Illustration: "Often she would spend a morning lying in a hammock
+beneath the old trees"]
+
+Above the terraces rose the old house itself. The Manor was built of a
+grayish stone, and was of Elizabethan architecture.
+
+More than two hundred years old, it had been remodelled and added to by
+its various successive owners, but much of its fine old, original plan
+was left.
+
+Ivy clung to its walls, and birds fluttered in and out continually.
+
+There was a tower on either side the great entrance, and Patty loved to
+fancy that awful and mysterious deeds had been committed within those
+frowning walls.
+
+But there was no legend or tradition attached to the mansion, and all its
+history seemed to be peaceful and pleasant.
+
+Even the quaint old yew-tree walk, with its strangely misshapen
+shrubbery, was bright and cheerful in the morning sunlight, and the lake
+rippled like silver, and gave no hint of dark or gloomy depths.
+
+And yet, Patty couldn't help feeling that there was some shadow hanging
+over the Hartley family. They were never sad or low-spirited, but
+sometimes Mrs. Hartley would sigh, or Grandma Cromarty would look
+anxious, as if at some unrelievable sorrow.
+
+The boys were always light-hearted and gay, but Mabel often had moods of
+despondency, which, while they never made her cross or irritable, were so
+pathetic that it worried Patty's loving heart.
+
+And so she lay in her hammock, gazing at the beauty all about her, and
+wondering what was the secret grief that harassed her dear friends. It
+never occurred to her that it was none of her affair, for Patty was
+possessed of a healthy curiosity, and moreover she was innately of a
+helpful nature, and longed to know what the trouble was, in a vague hope
+that she might be of some assistance.
+
+"I know they're not rich," she said to herself, "for the whole place
+shows neglect and shabbiness; but there's something besides lack of money
+that makes Madam Cromarty sad."
+
+The place was indeed in a state of unrepair. Though there were many
+servants, there were not enough to do all that should have been done. The
+two gardeners did their best to keep the flowers in order, but the
+elaborate conventional gardens, laid out in geometric designs, and
+intricate paths, called for a complete staff of trained workers, and in
+the absence of these, became overgrown at their borders and untidy in
+appearance.
+
+It was the same indoors. The handsome old furniture, covered with silk
+brocades and tapestries, was worn and sometimes ragged in appearance.
+Some of the decorations showed need of regilding, and though the
+magnificent old carved woodwork, and tessellated floors could not be
+marred by time, yet many of the lesser appointments called for renovation
+or renewal. The Great Hall, as it was called, had best withstood the
+ravages of time, as it was wainscoted and ceiled in massive old oak.
+
+It was a noble apartment, with recessed windows and panelled walls, and
+across one end was a raised platform from the back of which rose a
+wonderfully carved chimney-piece.
+
+This apartment, in the palmier days of the Manor House, had been the
+Banqueting Hall, but as there was a smaller and more appropriate
+dining-room, the Hartleys used the Great Hall as a living room, and had
+gathered in it their dearest treasures and belongings. Grandma Cromarty
+had her own corner, with her knitting basket. In another corner was a
+grand piano, and many other musical instruments. In one north bay window
+was Mabel's painting outfit, and so large was the recess that it formed a
+good-sized studio. On the walls, hobnobbing with the ancient antlers and
+deers' heads, trophies of the chase, were the boys' tennis rackets, and
+in the outstretched arm of a tall figure in armour, a lot of golfsticks
+rested against the quartered shield.
+
+"I suppose," Mabel had said, when they first showed this room to Patty,
+"a great many people would consider it desecration to fill up this fine
+old place with all our modern stuff. But we're modern, and so we make the
+carving and tapestries give way to us."
+
+"They like it," Patty had replied. "They feel sorry for other houses
+where the carvings and tapestries have to stay back in their own old
+times. Now hear these old rafters ring to modern music," and seating
+herself at the piano, Patty began some rollicking songs that were of
+decidedly later date than the old rafters.
+
+Opening from the old Banqueting Hall was the library. This had been left
+just as it was, and the shelves full of old books were a never-failing
+delight to Patty's browsing nature. A gallery ran round all four sides,
+which was reached by spiral iron staircases, and the deep-seated windows,
+with their old leather cushions, made delightful nooks in which to pore
+over the old volumes. There were many unused rooms in the Manor House.
+Many unexpected alcoves and corridors, and in these the old furniture was
+worn and decayed. The rooms that were lived in were kept in comfortable
+order, but Patty knew, had there been more house-servants, these other
+apartments would have been thrown open to light and air.
+
+Surely, Patty decided, the Hartleys were pinched for money, but just as
+surely, she thought, that could not have the effect of casting that
+indefinite gloom over them which was now and then observable. And as she
+idly swung in her hammock, she made up her mind to ask about it.
+
+"If they don't want to tell me, they needn't," she said to herself, "but
+they surely know me well enough now to know that I'm honestly interested
+in their life, and not merely trying to pry into their secrets."
+
+But she could not quite decide which one of the family to ask about it.
+She would have preferred to ask Grandma Cromarty, but the old lady had a
+certain reserve, which, at times, was forbidding, and Patty stood a
+little in awe of her.
+
+Mrs. Hartley was kindly and responsive, but Patty rarely saw her except
+when the whole family was present. In the morning Mrs. Hartley was busy
+with household duties, and afternoons Patty and Mabel were usually
+together. Patty felt sure she could never ask Mabel, for though the two
+girls were confidential friends, there was a sensitiveness in Mabel's
+disposition that made Patty shrink from touching on what she felt might
+be a painful subject. Then there were the boys. Bob, at home on his
+vacation from college was Patty's chum and merry comrade, but she
+imagined he would cleverly evade a serious question. He was always
+chaffing, and while Patty was always glad to meet him on this ground, she
+almost knew he wouldn't talk seriously on family subjects. This left only
+Sinclair. Patty really liked Sinclair Hartley. A young man of about
+twenty, he was studying law in a nearby town, where he went every
+morning, returning in mid-afternoon.
+
+He was kindly and courteous, and though often grave, was always
+appreciative of a joke, and quite ready to join in any fun. But he had a
+serious side, and Patty had enjoyed many long talks with him on subjects
+that never would interest Mabel or Bob.
+
+And so she concluded that at the first opportunity, she would ask
+Sinclair what was the nature of the mystery that seemed to hang over the
+House of Hartley.
+
+"Ah, there, Pitty-Pat!" called a gay voice, and looking around, Patty saw
+Bob strolling toward her across the lawn. "Want to go out on the lake and
+fish for pond-lilies?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Patty, twisting herself out of the hammock. "What are
+you going to do with them?"
+
+"Oh, just for the lunch table. Mabel's so everlastingly fond of them, you
+know."
+
+Patty thought it was nice of Bob to remember his sister's tastes, and she
+willingly went with him toward the lake.
+
+"How beautiful it all is!" she said as they went down the terrace steps
+and along the lake path which led through a pergola and around a curved
+corner called "The Alcove."
+
+This delightful nook was a small open court of marble, adorned with
+pillars and statues, and partly surrounding a fountain.
+
+"Yes, isn't it?" exclaimed Bob, enthusiastically. "You know, Patty, this
+old place is my joy and my despair. I love every stick and stone of it,
+but I wish we could keep it up in decent order. Heigh-ho! Just wait until
+I'm out of college. I'll do something then to turn an honest shilling,
+and every penny of it shall go to fix up the dear old place."
+
+"What are you going to be, Bob?"
+
+"An engineer. There's more chance for a fellow in that than in any other
+profession. Old Sinclair's for being a lawyer, and he'll be a good one,
+too, but it's slow work."
+
+"You ought to go to America, Bob, if you want to get rich."
+
+"I would, like a shot, if I could take the old house with me. But I'm
+afraid it's too big to uproot."
+
+"I'm afraid it is. I suppose you wouldn't like to live in a brown-stone
+front on Fifth Avenue?"
+
+"Never having seen your brown-stone Avenue, ma'am, I can't say; but I
+suppose a deer park and lake and several thousand acres of meadow land
+are not included with each house."
+
+"No; not unless you take the whole of Manhattan Island."
+
+"Even that wouldn't do; unless I had taken it a few hundred years ago,
+and started the trees growing then."
+
+"No, America wouldn't suit you," said Patty, thoughtfully, "any more than
+English country life would suit most of our American boys."
+
+"But you like this life of ours?"
+
+"I love it; for a time. And just now I am enjoying it immensely. Oh, what
+gorgeous lilies!"
+
+They had reached the lake, and the quiet, well-behaved water was placidly
+rippling against the stone coping.
+
+Bob untied the boat.
+
+"It's an old thing," he said, regretfully; "but it's water-tight, so
+don't be afraid."
+
+Patty went down the broad marble steps, and seated herself in the stern
+of the boat, while Bob took the rowing seat.
+
+A few of his strong pulls, and they were out among the lily pads.
+
+"Row around a bit before we gather them," suggested Patty, and Bob with
+long, slow strokes sent the boat softly and steadily along.
+
+"Isn't it perfect?" said Patty, dreamily. "It seems as if nothing could
+stir me up on a day like this."
+
+"Is that so?" said Bob, and with mischief in his eyes, he began to rock
+the boat from side to side.
+
+"You villain!" cried Patty, rudely stirred from her calm enjoyment; "take
+that!"
+
+She dashed light sprays of water at him from over the side of the boat,
+and he returned by cleverly sprinkling a few drops on her from the blade
+of his oar.
+
+"Why did you want to kick up a bobbery, when everything was so nice and
+peaceful?" she said, reproachfully.
+
+"I shall always kick up a bobbery," he returned, calmly, "when you put on
+that romantic, sentimental air."
+
+"I didn't put on any sentimental air! I was just enjoying the dreamy
+spirit of the lake."
+
+"Thank you! That's the same as saying my society makes you sleepy."
+
+"Nothing of the sort. And anyway, the dreamy mood has passed."
+
+"Yes, I intended it should. Now, let's sing."
+
+"All right; what?"
+
+"The 'Little Kibosh,' I think. That's a good song to row by."
+
+The young people at Cromarty Manor had already composed several songs
+which seemed to them choicest gems of musical composition.
+
+As a rule Patty and Bob made up the words, while Mabel and Sinclair
+arranged the tunes.
+
+Sometimes the airs were adapted from well-known songs, and sometimes they
+were entirely original.
+
+"The Little Kibosh" was one of their favourite nonsense songs, and now
+Patty and Bob sang it in unison as they rowed slowly about on the lake.
+
+              "It was ever so many years ago,
+                On a prairie by the sea;
+              A little Kibosh I used to know
+                By the name of Hoppity Lee.
+              His hair was as green as the driven snow,
+                And his cheeks were as blue as tea.
+
+              "'Twas just about night, or nearly noon
+                When Hoppity Lee and I
+              Decided to go for a sail to the moon,
+                At least, as far as the sky.
+              But instead of taking the Big Balloon,
+                sailed in a pumpkin pie.
+
+              "Dear little Hoppity Lee and I
+                Were happy and glad and gay;
+              But the Dog Star came out as we passed by,
+                And began to bark and bay.
+              And the little Kibosh fell out of the pie,
+                And into the Milky Way!
+
+              "I fished and fished for a year and a week
+                For dear little Hoppity Lee;
+              And at last I heard a small faint squeak
+                From the place where he used to be;
+              And he said, 'Go home, and never more seek,
+                Oh, never more seek for me!'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+UNCLE MARMADUKE
+
+
+That very same evening Patty had a chance to speak to Sinclair alone.
+
+It was just after dinner, and the lovely English twilight was beginning
+to cast long, soft shadows of the tall cypresses across the lawn. The
+various members of the family were standing about on the terrace, when
+Sinclair said, "You need some exercise, Patty; let's walk as far as the
+alcove."
+
+Patty assented, and the two strolled away, while Mabel called after them,
+"Don't be gone long, for we're all going to play games this evening."
+
+They all loved games, so Patty promised to return very soon.
+
+"I never saw anything like this alcove before in my life," said Patty, as
+they reached the picturesque spot and sat down upon the curving marble
+seat.
+
+"They are often found in the gardens of old English homes. Any arched or
+covered seat out of doors is called an alcove. But this is rather an
+elaborate one. The marble pillars are of fine design, and the whole thing
+is beautifully proportioned."
+
+"Is it very old?"
+
+"Yes, older than the house. You know the Cromartys have lived on this
+estate for several hundred years. But the original house was destroyed by
+fire, or nearly so, and the present house was built on the old
+foundations about the middle of the seventeenth century. If you're
+interested in these things, there are lots of books in the library,
+telling all about the history of the place."
+
+"Indeed I am interested, and I shall look up the books, if you'll tell me
+what they are. Is there any legend or tradition connected with the
+place?"
+
+"No. We have no ghosts at Cromarty Manor. We've always been a peaceful
+sort, except that my great uncle quarrelled with my grandfather."
+
+"Mrs. Cromarty's husband?"
+
+"Yes. He was Roger Cromarty--grandfather was, I mean--and he had a
+brother Marmaduke. They were both high-tempered, and Marmaduke after an
+unusually fierce quarrel left home and went to India. But have you never
+heard the story of the Cromarty Fortune?"
+
+"No, I never have. Is it a sad story? Would you rather not tell me?"
+
+"Why, no; it isn't a sad story, except that the conditions are rather sad
+for us. But there's no reason in the world why you shouldn't hear it, if
+you care to. Indeed, I supposed Mabel had already told it you."
+
+"No, she never did. Will you?"
+
+"Yes. But not here. Let us go in, and get the family all together, and
+we'll give you a dramatic recital of the Great Cromarty Mystery."
+
+"Oh, is it a mystery story? How delightful. I love a mystery."
+
+"I'm glad you do, but I assure you I wish it wasn't a mystery."
+
+"Will it never be solved?"
+
+"I fear not, now. But let us go back to the house, and tell the tale as
+it should be told."
+
+They found that the others had already gone into the house, and were
+gathered round the big table that stood in the middle of the living room.
+As they joined the group, Sinclair said:
+
+"Before we play games this evening, we are going to tell Patty the story
+of Uncle Marmaduke's money."
+
+Patty was surprised to note the different expressions on her friends'
+faces. Mabel seemed to shrink into herself, as if in embarrassment or
+sensitiveness. Mrs. Cromarty looked calmly proud, and Mrs. Hartley smiled
+a little.
+
+But Bob laughed outright, and said:
+
+"Good! I'll help; we'll all help, and we'll touch up the tale until it
+has all the dramatic effect of a three-volume novel."
+
+"It won't need touching up," said Sinclair. "Just the plain truth is
+story enough of itself."
+
+"You begin it, Grandy," said Bob, "and then, when your imagination gives
+out, I'll take a hand at it."
+
+The old lady smiled.
+
+"It needs no imagination, Robert," she said; "if Patty cares to hear of
+our family misfortune, I'm quite willing to relate the tale."
+
+"Oh, I didn't know it was a misfortune," cried Patty. "I thought it was a
+mystery story."
+
+"It's both," said Mrs. Cromarty, "but if the mystery could be solved, it
+would be no misfortune."
+
+"That sounds like an enigma," observed Patty.
+
+"It's all an enigma," said Bob. "Go ahead, Grandy."
+
+"The story begins," said Mrs. Cromarty, "with my marriage to Roger
+Cromarty. I was wed in the year 1855. My husband and I were happy during
+the first few years of our married life. He was the owner of this
+beautiful place, which had been in his family for many generations. My
+daughter, Emmeline, was born here, and when she was a child she filled
+the old house with her happy laughter and chatter. My husband had a
+brother, Marmaduke, with whom he was not on good terms. Before my
+marriage, this brother had left home, and gone to India. My husband held
+no communication with him, but we sometimes heard indirectly from him,
+and reports always said that he was amassing great wealth in some Indian
+commerce."
+
+"Is that his portrait?" asked Patty, indicating a painting of a
+fine-looking man in the prime of life.
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Cromarty. "But the picture represents him as looking
+amiable, whereas he was always cross, grumpy, and irritable."
+
+"Like me," commented Bob.
+
+"No," said his mother, "I'm thankful to say that none of you children
+show the slightest signs of Uncle Marmaduke's disposition. I was only
+fifteen years old when he died, but I shall never forget his scowling
+face and angry tones."
+
+"Was he always cross?" asked Patty, amazed that any one could be
+invariably ill-tempered.
+
+"Always," said Mrs. Cromarty. "At least, whenever he was here. I never
+saw him elsewhere."
+
+"Go back, Grandy; you're getting ahead of your story."
+
+"Well, I tried my best to bring about a reconciliation between the two
+brothers, but both were proud and a bit stubborn. I could not persuade my
+husband to write to Marmaduke, and though I wrote to him myself, my
+letters were torn up, and the scraps returned to me."
+
+"Lovely old gentleman!" commented Bob. "I'm glad my manners are at least
+better than that!"
+
+"At last, my husband, Mr. Roger Cromarty, became very ill. I knew he
+could not recover, and wrote Marmaduke to that effect. To my surprise, I
+received a grim, but fairly polite letter, saying that he would leave
+India at once, and hoped to reach his brother's bedside in time for a
+reconciliation."
+
+"And did he?" asked Patty, breathlessly.
+
+"Yes, but that was all. My husband was dying when his brother came. They
+made peace, however, and arranged some business matters."
+
+"Oh," cried Patty, "how glad you must have been that he did not come too
+late. What a comfort all these years, to know that they did make up their
+quarrel."
+
+"Yes, indeed," assented Mrs. Cromarty. "But I have talked all I can.
+Emmeline, you may take up the narrative."
+
+"I'll tell a little," said Mrs. Hartley, smiling; "but I shall soon let
+Sinclair continue. We all know this tale by heart, but only Sinclair can
+do full justice to the mysterious part of it. I was only ten years old
+when my father died, and Uncle Marmaduke came here to live. It changed
+the whole world for me. Where before all had been happiness and love, now
+all was unkindness and fear. None of us dared cross Uncle Marmaduke, for
+his fiery anger was something not to be endured. And beside being
+bad-tempered, he was erratic. He did most peculiar things, without any
+reason in them whatever. Altogether, he was a most difficult man to live
+with. But at my father's death he owned this estate, and we had to live
+with him or go homeless. He had plenty of money, and he repaired and
+restored much about the place. But even in this he was erratic. He would
+have masons in to renew the crumbling plaster and brickwork in the
+cellars, while the drawing-room furniture could go ragged and forlorn. He
+spent his money freely for anything he wanted himself, but was niggardly
+toward mother and myself. However, he always told us that at his death we
+should inherit his wealth. The estate, also, he willed to mother. He
+lived with us for about five years, and then was killed by a fall from
+his horse. I was a girl of fifteen then, and when he was brought in,
+mangled and almost dead, he called for me. I went to his bedside,
+trembling, for even then I feared he was going to scold me. But he could
+only speak in hesitating, disjointed sentences. It was with difficulty I
+gathered that he was trying to give me some information about his
+fortune. I wish now I had tried to help him tell me; but at that time it
+seemed heartless to think of such things when the poor man was dying, and
+I soothed him, and begged him not to try to talk, when it was such an
+exertion."
+
+"Oh, Mother," wailed Bob, "if you'd only listened, instead of talking
+yourself!"
+
+Mrs. Hartley smiled, as if she were used to such comments at this part of
+the story.
+
+"Well," she said, "I think Sinclair may take up the recital here. That
+is, if you're interested, Patty?"
+
+"If I'm interested! Indeed I am! It's very exciting, and I want it all
+now; no 'continued in our next.'"
+
+"We don't know the end, ourselves," said Mabel, with such a wistful look
+in her eyes that Patty went over and sat by her, and with her arm round
+her listened to the rest of the story.
+
+"Well, then," said Sinclair, in his grave, kindly voice, "Uncle Marmaduke
+tried very hard to communicate to mother and Grandy something about his
+fortune. But his accident had somehow paralysed his throat, and he could
+scarcely articulate. But for an hour or more, as he lay dying, he would
+look at them with piercing glances, and say what sounded like dickens!
+gold!"
+
+"Did he mean gold money?" asked Patty, impulsively.
+
+"They didn't know, then. But they thought at the time that dickens! was
+one of his angry expletives, as he was given to such language. The gold,
+they felt sure, referred to his fortune, which he had always declared he
+would leave to Grandmother. Then he died, without being able to say any
+other except those two words, gold and dickens."
+
+"He might have meant Charles Dickens," suggested Patty, who dearly loved
+to guess at a puzzle.
+
+"As it turned out, he did," said Sinclair, serenely; "but that's ahead of
+the story."
+
+"And, too," said Mrs. Hartley, "the way in which he finally articulated
+the word, by a great effort, and after many attempts, was so--so
+explosive, that it sounded like an ejaculation far more than like a noted
+author."
+
+"Years went by," continued Sinclair, "and Grandy and mother were left
+with the old Cromarty estate, and nothing to keep it up with."
+
+"We had a small income, my boy," said his grandmother.
+
+"Yes, but not enough to keep the place as it should be kept. However, no
+trace could be found of Uncle Marmaduke's money. He was generally
+supposed to have brought a large fortune home from India, but it seemed
+to have vanished into thin air. His private papers and belongings showed
+no records of stocks or bonds, no bank books, and save for a small amount
+of ready money he had by him, he seemed to be penniless. Of course, he
+wasn't; the way he had lived, and the money he had spent indicated that
+he had a fortune somewhere; and, too, there was his promise to leave it
+to Grandy. Of course, the conclusion was that he had hidden this
+fortune."
+
+"A hidden fortune!" exclaimed Patty, blissfully. "Oh, what a lovely
+mystery! Why, you couldn't have a better one!"
+
+"I think a discovered fortune would be far better," said Mabel, and Patty
+clasped her friend's hand in sympathy.
+
+"At last," said Sinclair, "a _very_ bright lawyer had a glimmering of an
+idea that Uncle Marmaduke's last words had some meaning to them. He
+inquired of the ladies of the house, and learned that the late Mr.
+Marmaduke had been exceedingly fond of reading Dickens, and that he was
+greatly attached to his own well-worn set of the great author's works.
+'Ah, ha!' said the very bright lawyer. 'Between those well-thumbed pages,
+we will find many Bank of England notes, or certificates of valuable
+stocks!' They flew to the library, and thoroughly searched all the
+volumes of the set. And what do you think they found?"
+
+"Nothing," said Patty, wagging her head solemnly.
+
+"Exactly that! Save for a book-marker here and there, the volumes held
+nothing but their own immortal stories. 'Foiled again!' hissed the _very_
+bright lawyer. But he kept right on being foiled, and still no hoard of
+securities was found."
+
+"But what about the gold?" said Patty. "They didn't expect to find gold
+coins in Dickens' books?"
+
+"No, but they fondly hoped they'd find a mysterious paper in cryptogram,
+like the 'Gold Bug,' you know, telling them to go out in the dark of the
+moon, and dig north by northwest under the old apple tree."
+
+"Don't try to be funny, Clair," put in Bob; "go on with the yarn. You're
+telling it well to-night."
+
+"And then," said Sinclair, looking from one to another of his interested
+hearers, "and then the years rolled by until the fair maiden, Emmeline
+Cromarty, was of sufficient age to have suitors for her lily-white hand.
+As we can well believe, after a mere glance in her direction, she was the
+belle of the whole countryside. Brave gallants from far and near came
+galloping into the courtyard, and dismounting in feverish, haste, cried,
+'What ho! is the radiant Emmeline within?' Then the old warden with his
+clanking keys admitted them, and they stood in rows, that the coquettish
+damsel might make a selection."
+
+"How ridiculous you are, Sinclair!" said his mother, smiling. "Can't you
+omit that part?"
+
+"Nay, nay, fair lady. And so, it came to pass, that among the shoals of
+suitors was one who was far more brave and strong and noble than all the
+rest. Edgar Hartley----"
+
+Sinclair's voice broke a little as he spoke the name of his revered
+father. But hiding his emotion, he went on.
+
+"Edgar Hartley wooed and won Emmeline Cromarty, and in the beautiful June
+of 1880 they were wed and merrily rang the bells. Now while Edgar Hartley
+was by no means wealthy, he had a fair income, and the fortunes of
+Cromarty Manor improved. The young couple took up their abode here, and
+the Dowager Duchess of Cromarty lived with them."
+
+"I'm not a Duchess," interposed Mrs. Cromarty, in her calm way.
+
+"You ought to have been, Grandy," declared Bob. "You look the part, and
+I'm sure there's a missing title somewhere that belongs to you. Perhaps
+Uncle Marmaduke concealed it with the rest of his fortune."
+
+"No, dear boy; we are not titled people. But the Cromartys are an old
+family, and much beloved and respected by all the country round."
+
+"We are so!" declared Bob, with great enthusiasm.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+PUZZLING RHYMES
+
+
+"As I was saying," continued Sinclair, "Mr. and Mrs. Hartley lived
+happily at Cromarty Manor. Three beautiful children were born to them,
+who have since grown to be the superior specimens of humanity you see
+before you. I am the oldest, and, as I may modestly remark, the flower of
+the family."
+
+"Oh, I don't know," commented Patty, looking affectionately at Mabel.
+
+"Well, anyway, as was only natural, the search for that hidden fortune
+went on at times. Perhaps a visitor would stir up the interest afresh,
+and attempts would be made to discover new meaning in Uncle Marmaduke's
+last words. And it was my father who succeeded in doing this. He sat in
+the library one day, looking over the old set of Dickens' works, which
+always had a fascinating air of holding the secret. He had not lived here
+long then, and was not very familiar with the books on the library
+shelves, but looking about he discovered another set of Dickens, a much
+newer set, and the volumes were bound in cloth, but almost entirely
+covered by a gilded decoration. Wait, I'll show you one."
+
+Sinclair rose, and going into the library, returned in a moment with a
+copy of "Barnaby Rudge." It was bound in green cloth, but so ornate was
+the gold tooling that little green could be seen.
+
+"Dickens--gold----" murmured Patty, her eyes shining as she realised the
+new meaning in the words.
+
+"Yes; and, sure enough that was what Uncle Marmaduke meant. Just think!
+For fifteen years that set of books had stood untouched on the shelves,
+while people nearly wore out the older set, hunting for a clue to the
+fortune!"
+
+"It's great!" declared Patty; "go on!"
+
+"Well, this set of Dickens proved extremely interesting. Between the
+leaves of the books were papers of all sorts. Bills, deeds, banknotes,
+memoranda, and even a will."
+
+"Then you had the fortune, at last?"
+
+"No such luck. The banknotes and the few securities in the books amounted
+to a fair sum, which was gratefully appreciated by my parents, but as to
+the bulk of the fortune, it only made matters more tantalising than
+ever."
+
+"Why?" asked Patty.
+
+"One of the papers was a will, properly executed and witnessed, leaving
+all the fortune of which Uncle Marmaduke died possessed, to my mother.
+Then, instead of a definite statement of where this money was deposited,
+were some foolish jingles hinting where to find it. These rhymes would be
+interesting as an old legend, or in a story book, but to find them
+instead of a heap of money, was, to say the least, disappointing."
+
+"And did you never find the money?"
+
+"Never. And, of course, now we never will. Remember all this happened
+twenty years ago. I mean the discovery of the papers. Of course, the
+money was hidden more than thirty-five years ago."
+
+"And do you mean to say that you people are living here, in your own
+house, and your own money is hidden here somewhere, and you can't find
+it?"
+
+"Exactly as you state it."
+
+"Well! _I'd_ find it, if I had to tear the whole house down."
+
+"Wait a minute, Miss Impetuosity. We don't think it's in the house."
+
+"Oh, out of doors?"
+
+"You're good at puzzles, I know, but just wait until you hear the
+directions that came with the package, and I think you'll admit it's a
+hopeless problem."
+
+"May she see them, Mother?" said Mabel. "Will you get them out for us?"
+
+"Not to-night, dear. I'll show the old papers to Patty, some other time;
+but now Sinclair can tell her the lines just as well."
+
+"Of all the papers in the books," Sinclair went on, "only two seemed to
+be directions for finding the money, although others vaguely hinted that
+the fortune was concealed. And still others gave the impression that
+Uncle Marmaduke meant to tell mother all about it; but as his death came
+upon him so suddenly, of course he could not do this. On these two papers
+are rhymes, which we children have known by heart all our lives. One is:
+
+                  "'Great treasure lieth in the poke
+                  Between the fir trees and the oak.'
+
+"You see uncle was a true poet."
+
+"What does the poke mean?" asked Patty.
+
+"Oh, a poke is a pocket; or a hiding-place of any sort. Of course, this
+information sent father to digging around every fir tree and oak tree on
+the place. As you know, there are hundreds of both kinds of trees, so the
+directions can't be called explicit."
+
+"But," said Patty, wrinkling her brow, "it says 'between the fir trees
+and the oak,' as if it meant a clump of firs and only one big oak."
+
+"Yes; that's what has been surmised. And many a separate oak tree that
+stands near a group of firs has been thoroughly investigated. But wait;
+there's another clue. On a separate paper these words are written:
+
+                  "'Above the stair, across the hall,
+                    Between the bedhead and the wall,
+                  A careful searching will reveal
+                    The noble fortune I conceal.'
+
+"There, could anything be plainer than that?"
+
+"Then the money is _in_ the house!" exclaimed Patty.
+
+"Take your choice. There are the two declarations. It may be he concealed
+the money in one place, and then transferred it to another. Or it may be
+he put part in the ground, and part in the house."
+
+"But, 'between the bedhead and the wall,' is so definite. There are not
+so very many bedrooms, you know."
+
+"True enough. And of course, when my father found that paper, he went
+directly upstairs, crossed the hall, and so reached Uncle Marmaduke's own
+bedroom. The furniture had been moved about, but Grandy remembered where
+the head of the bed stood in Uncle's time. They searched thoroughly, took
+up flooring, took down wainscoting, and all that, to no avail."
+
+"Of course, they tried other 'bedheads'?"
+
+"Yes, tell her about it, Grandy."
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Cromarty, placidly. "All the bedrooms in the house, even
+the servants' rooms, were subjected to most careful scrutiny. Although so
+many years had elapsed, I could remember where the various beds stood
+when Marmaduke was with us. Behind each, we had the walls sounded, and in
+some cases, broken into. We even looked for pockets or receptacles of
+some sort on the backs of the headboards themselves, but never a trace of
+anything could we find."
+
+"It's very exciting!" said Patty; "how can you all be so calm about it? I
+should think you'd be searching every minute!"
+
+"You must remember, dear," said Mrs. Hartley, "it's an old story to us.
+At first, we were indeed excited. For several years we searched almost
+continuously. Then hope began to fail, and our investigations became
+intermittent. Every now and then we would make a fresh attempt, but
+invariably repeated failures dampened our enthusiasm."
+
+"It's _so_ interesting," sighed Patty. "Can't we get up a little of the
+old enthusiasm, and do some searching while I'm here?"
+
+"Indeed, we can," cried Bob. "Would you prefer an excavating party, with
+picks and spades, or an indoor performance in the old bedrooms?"
+
+"Both," declared Patty. "Of course I know how absurd it is to go over the
+ground that has already been worn threadbare, but--but, oh! if we _could_
+find it!"
+
+Grandma Cromarty smiled.
+
+"Forgive me, dearie," she said, "but I've heard those sentiments from all
+my guests to whom we have told the story, for the past thirty-five years;
+and though I don't want to seem ungrateful for your interest, I feel it
+my duty to warn you there is no hope."
+
+"Oh, yes there is _hope_, Grandy," said Sinclair, "but there is nothing
+else. There's no probability, scarcely a possibility, but we'll _never_
+give up hope."
+
+"Never!" agreed Bob; but Mabel's expression plainly showed that she
+hadn't the faintest glimmering of a hope.
+
+"It does seem so strange," said Patty, thoughtfully, "to have the two
+directions, and both so explicit. No, not explicit, they're not that, but
+both so definite."
+
+"Hardly definite, either," said Bob, "except that they seem to reveal the
+fact that there _is_ a fortune concealed about the place. Oh! it makes me
+frantic! I feel so helpless."
+
+"There's no use storming about it, Bob, my boy," said his mother. "And,
+Patty, you mustn't set us down as too mercenary in this matter. But I
+think you know that we, as a family, long for the means which would
+enable us to keep up this dear old place as it should be, and not let its
+beautiful parks and gardens go uncared for and neglected."
+
+"I do know!" cried Patty; "and it makes me furious to think that the
+money--your own money--is perhaps within your reach, and yet--you can't
+get it! Oh, why didn't Mr. Marmaduke say just where he put it!"
+
+"He did," said Bob, smiling.
+
+"Yes, so he did. Well, I'd tear up every square foot of ground on the
+whole estate, then."
+
+"Remember, Patty," said Sinclair, in his quiet way, "there are nearly ten
+thousand acres in all; and except for meadowlands and water, there are
+oaks and firs on nearly every acre. The fortune itself would scarcely pay
+for all that labour."
+
+"Well, then, I'd tear the house to pieces."
+
+"Oh, no you wouldn't," said Mrs. Hartley; "and beside, that has almost
+been done. My husband had so much of the woodwork and plaster removed,
+that I almost feared he would bring the house down about our ears. And it
+is such a big, rambling old place, it is hopeless to think of examining
+it really thoroughly."
+
+Patty glanced around at the great hall she was in. The groined ceiling,
+with its intricate carvings at the intersections; the cornice carved in
+deep relief, with heraldic bosses, and massive patterns; the tall columns
+and pilasters; all seemed part of an old monument which it would be
+desecration to break into.
+
+"I wonder where it is," she said; "indoors or out."
+
+"I think it's out of doors," said Sinclair. "I think uncle hid it in the
+house first, and then wrote his exquisite poem about the poke. Perhaps it
+was merely a pocket of leather or canvas, that hung behind the headboard
+of his own bed. In that case all prying into the walls would mean
+nothing. Then, I think, as that was only a temporary hiding-place, he
+later buried it in the ground between some special oak tree and fir tree,
+or trees. I think, too, he left, or meant to leave some more of his
+poetry to tell which trees, but owing to his sudden taking off, he didn't
+do this."
+
+"Sinclair," said Bob, "as our American friend, Mr. Dooley, says, 'Yer
+opinions is inthrestin', but not convincin'.' As opinions, they're fine;
+but I wish I had some facts. If uncle had only left a cryptogram or a
+cipher, I'd like it better than all that rhymed foolishness."
+
+"Perhaps it isn't foolishness," said Patty; "I think, with Sinclair, it's
+likely Mr. Marmaduke wrote the indoor one first, and then changed the
+hiding-place and wrote the other. But how could he do all this hiding and
+rehiding without being seen?"
+
+"I went up to London every season," said Mrs. Cromarty; "and, of course,
+took Emmeline with me. Marmaduke always stayed here, and thus had ample
+opportunity to do what he would. Indeed, he usually had great goings-on
+while we were away. One year, he had the Italian garden laid out. Another
+year, he had a new porter's lodge built. This was done the last year of
+his life, and as he had masons around so much at that time, repairing the
+cellars and all that, we thought later, that he might have had a
+hiding-place arranged in the wall behind the head of his bed. But, if so,
+we never could find it."
+
+"And have you dug under the trees much?" persisted Patty, who could not
+accept the hopelessness of the others.
+
+"Dug!" exclaimed Bob, "I've blistered my hands by the hour. I've viewed
+fir trees and oaks, until I know every one on the place by heart. I've
+trudged a line from oaks to firs, and starting in the middle, I've dug
+both ways. But I'm nearly ready to give up. Not quite, though. I'm making
+a thorough search of all the books in the library, on the chance of
+finding some other message. But there are such a lot of books! I've been
+at it for three years now, off and on, and I'm only three-quarters way
+round. And not a paper yet, except a few old letters and bills."
+
+"I'll help you, Bob," said Patty; "oh, I'd love to do something toward
+the search, even if I don't find a thing. I'll begin to-morrow. You tell
+me what books you've done."
+
+"I will, indeed. I'll be jolly glad to have help. And you can do as much
+as you like, before your young enthusiasm wears off."
+
+"I'll do it, gladly," said Patty, and then they discovered that the
+evening had flown away, and it was bedtime.
+
+As they went upstairs, Mabel followed Patty to her room and sat down for
+a little good-night chat.
+
+Patty's eyes were shining with excitement, and as she took off her hair
+ribbon, and folded it round her hand, she said:
+
+"Even if we don't find anything, you'll be no worse off, and it's such
+fun to hunt."
+
+"They didn't tell you all, Patty," said Mabel, in a pathetic tone, and
+Patty turned quickly to her friend.
+
+"Why, what do you mean?"
+
+"I mean this. Of course, we've never been rich, and we've never been able
+to do for the place what ought to be done for it; but we have been able
+to live here. And now--now, if we can't get any more money, we--we can't
+stay here! Oh, Patty!"
+
+Patty's arms went round Mabel, as the poor child burst into tears.
+
+"Yes," she said, sobbing, "some of mother's business interests have
+failed--it's all come on lately, I don't entirely understand it--but,
+anyway, we may soon have to leave Cromarty, and oh, Patty, how _could_ we
+live anywhere else? and what's worse, how _could_ we have any one else
+living here?"
+
+"Leave Cromarty Manor! Where you've all lived so long--I mean your
+ancestors and all! Why, Mabel, you can't do that!"
+
+"But we'll have to. We haven't money enough to pay the servants--or, at
+least, we won't have, soon."
+
+"Are you sure of all this, dear? Does Mrs. Cromarty expect to go away?"
+
+"It's all uncertain. We don't know. But mother's lawyer thinks we'd
+better sell or let the place. Of course we won't sell it, but it would be
+almost as bad to let it. Think of strangers here!"
+
+"I can't think of such a thing! It seems impossible. But perhaps matters
+may turn out better than you think. Perhaps you won't have to go."
+
+"That's what Sinclair says--and mother. But I'm sure the worst will
+happen."
+
+"Now, Mabel, stop that! I won't let you look on the dark side. And,
+anyway, you're not to think any more about it to-night. You won't sleep a
+wink if you get nervous and worried. Now put it out of your mind, and
+let's talk about the croquet party to-morrow at Grace Meredith's. How are
+we going over?"
+
+"You and I are to drive in the pony cart, and the others will go in the
+carriage."
+
+"That will be lovely. Now, what shall we wear?"
+
+Thus, tactfully, Patty led Mabel's thoughts away from her troubles, for
+the time, at least, and when the two friends parted for the night, they
+both went healthily and happily to sleep.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+THE CROQUET PARTY
+
+
+The next afternoon the two girls started in the pony cart for the
+Merediths.
+
+Patty loved to play croquet, and though it greatly amused her to hear the
+English people pronounce the word as if it were spelled _croky_, yet not
+to appear peculiar, she spoke it that way too.
+
+The party was a large one, and the games were arranged somewhat after the
+fashion of a tournament.
+
+Patty's partner was Tom Meredith, and as he played a fairly good game
+they easily beat their first opponents.
+
+But later on they found themselves matched against Mabel Hartley and a
+young man named Jack Stanton. Mr. Stanton was an expert, and Mabel played
+the best game Patty had ever seen a girl play.
+
+"It's no use," said Patty, good-naturedly, as they began the game, "Tom
+and I never can win against you two."
+
+"Don't despair," said Tom, encouragingly, "There's many a slip, you
+know."
+
+The game progressed until, when Tom and Patty were about three-quarters
+of the way around, Mabel was passing through her last wicket and Mr.
+Stanton was a "rover."
+
+"Be careful, now," said Mr. Stanton, as Mabel aimed to send her ball
+through the arch. "It's a straight shot, and a long shot, and you're
+liable to touch the post."
+
+And that's just what happened. As Mabel's swift, clear stroke sent the
+ball straight through the wicket, it went spinning on and hit squarely
+the home stake.
+
+"Jupiter! that's bad luck!" exclaimed Jack Stanton. "They'll jolly well
+beat us now. But never mind, perhaps I can slip through yet."
+
+But he couldn't. The fact that they had two plays to his one, gave Patty
+and Tom a great advantage.
+
+Tom was a clever manager, and Patty followed his directions implicitly.
+So they played a defensive game, and spent much time keeping Stanton's
+ball away from the positions he desired. The result was that Tom and
+Patty won, but their success was really owing to Mabel's mistake in going
+out.
+
+The test was to win two games out of three, so with one game in favor of
+Patty's side they began the next.
+
+Patty was considered a good croquet player in America, but in England the
+rules of the game, as well as the implements, were so different that it
+seriously impeded her progress.
+
+The wickets were so narrow that the ball could barely squeeze through if
+aimed straight, and a side shot through one was impossible.
+
+But all this added to the zest, and it was four very eager young people
+who strove for the victory.
+
+The second game went easily to Mabel and Jack Stanton, and then the
+third, the decisive one, was begun. According to the laws of the
+tournament, this was the final game. The opponents had already vanquished
+all the other contestants, and now, pitted against each other, were
+playing for the prize.
+
+Patty knew in her heart she would be glad to have Mabel win it, and yet,
+so strong was her love of games, and so enthusiastic her natural desire
+to succeed, that she tried her best to beat the third game.
+
+All played conservatively. The partners kept together, and progressed
+evenly. Toward the last Jack and Mabel began to creep ahead. Tom saw
+this, and said to Patty: "This is our last chance; if we plod on like
+this, they'll calmly walk out and leave us. Unless we can make a
+brilliant dash of some sort, we are beaten."
+
+"I don't believe I can," said Patty, looking doubtfully at her ball.
+"It's my turn, and unless I can hit Mabel's ball, clear across the
+grounds, I can't do anything."
+
+"That's just it. You _must_ hit Mabel's ball."
+
+So Patty aimed carefully, and sent her ball spinning over the ground
+toward Mabel's, and missed it by a hair's breadth!
+
+"Goody!" cried Mabel, and hitting Patty's ball, she roqueted it back
+where it had come from.
+
+"Now here's our very lastest chance," said Tom, with a groan of despair.
+"And I'm sure, Patty, I won't do any better than you did."
+
+Nor did he. Although not far from Jack's ball, at which he aimed, there
+was a wicket in the way, which sent his own ball glancing off at an
+angle, and he did not hit his opponent.
+
+A minute more, and Jack skilfully sent Mabel's ball and then his own
+against the home stake, and the game was over.
+
+The onlookers crowded up and congratulated the winners, and offered
+condolence to Patty and Tom. Patty smiled, and responded merrily. She did
+not try to lay the blame on the unusual shaped wickets, or short, heavy
+mallets. She declared that the best players had won, and that she was
+satisfied. And indeed she was.
+
+When she saw the lovely prize that was given to Mabel, she was deeply
+thankful that she hadn't won it. It was a white parasol, of silk and
+chiffon, with a pearl handle. A really exquisite, dainty affair, and just
+the very thing Mabel had wanted, but couldn't afford to buy. As for Patty
+herself, she had several parasols, and so was delighted that Mabel had
+won.
+
+But though she truly preferred that Mabel should have the prize, she felt
+a little chagrined at losing the contest, for like all people who are
+fond of games and sports, Patty loved to win.
+
+These feelings, though, she successfully concealed, and gave Mabel very
+sincere and loving congratulations. Mr. Stanton's prize was a pretty
+scarf pin, and Tom Meredith loudly bewailed his own misfortune in losing
+this. Though, really, as the tournament was at his own home, he would not
+have taken the prize had he won it, but would have passed it on to the
+one with the next highest record.
+
+The victors were cheered and applauded, and were then led in triumph to
+the pretty tent where tea was being served.
+
+If Patty had had a shadow of regret that she had not been the honoured
+one, it was lost sight of in her gladness that it fell to Mabel's lot.
+
+"You're a plucky one," said Tom Meredith, who was observing her closely.
+"You're a good loser, aren't you?"
+
+"I don't know," said Patty, thoughtfully. "I want to be, but do you know,
+I just love to win contests or games. And when I lose--I'm ashamed to say
+it--but I do feel put out."
+
+"Of course you do! That's only natural. And that's why I say you're a
+good loser. If you didn't care tuppence whether you won or not, it
+wouldn't be much to your credit to look smiling and pleasant when you
+lose. But since you _do_ care, a whole lot, you're a jolly plucky girl to
+take it so well. Now, what can I get for you? An ice?"
+
+"Yes, please," said Patty, really gratified at Tom's appreciative words.
+
+"How long are you staying with the Hartleys?" Tom asked, as, returning
+with ices, he found cosy seats at a small table for himself and Patty.
+
+"Two or three weeks longer, I think. But I shall hate to go away, for
+I've become so interested in their 'mystery,' that I can't stop trying to
+solve it."
+
+"Oh, you mean that old affair of the hidden fortune. I don't believe
+there's any at all. I think the old man who pretended to hide it was
+merely guying them."
+
+"Oh, no! That can't be. Why, it all sounds so real and natural. The story
+of the hiding, I mean."
+
+"Yes, but why should he want to hide it? Why not bank it decently, like
+other people?"
+
+"Oh, because he was eccentric. People who are naturally queer or freakish
+are always hiding things. And I know it's silly of me, but I'm going to
+try to find that money."
+
+"I've lots of faith in your energy and perseverance, but I can't think
+you'll succeed in that job. Better try something easier."
+
+"I don't think I can say I expect to succeed. But I'm going to
+try--and--who can tell what might happen?"
+
+"Who, indeed? But you know, of course, that the Cromarty people have been
+hunting it for nearly forty years."
+
+"Yes," said Patty, and her eyes fairly blazed with determination,
+"yes--but I am an American!"
+
+Tom Meredith shouted with laughter.
+
+"Good for you, little Stars and Stripes!" he cried. "I've always heard of
+the cleverness of the Yankees, but if you can trace the Cromarty fortune,
+I'll believe you a witch, for sure. Aren't there witches in that New
+England of yours?"
+
+"I believe there used to be. And my ancestors, some of them, were Salem
+people. That may be where I get my taste for divination and solving
+problems. I just love puzzles of all sorts, and if the old Cromarty
+gentleman had only left a cipher message, it would have been fun to
+puzzle it out."
+
+"He did leave messages of some sort, didn't he? Maybe they are more
+subtle than you think."
+
+"I've been wondering about that. They might mean something entirely
+different from what they sound like; but I can't see any light that way.
+'The headboard of a bed against a wall,' is pretty practical, and doesn't
+seem to mean anything else. And the oak trees and fir trees are there in
+abundance. But that's the trouble with them, there are so many."
+
+"Go on, and do all you can, my child. You'll get over it the sooner, if
+you work hard on it at first. We've all been through it. Nearly everybody
+in this part of the country has tried at one time or another to guess the
+Cromarty riddle."
+
+"But I'm the first American to try," insisted Patty, with a twinkle in
+her eye.
+
+"Quite so, Miss Yankee Doodle Doo; and I wish you success where my own
+countrymen have failed."
+
+Tom said this with such a nice, kindly air that Patty felt a little
+ashamed of her own vaunting attitude. But sometimes Patty showed a
+decided tendency to over-assuredness in her own powers, and though she
+tried to correct it, it would spring up now and again. Then the Hartley
+boys joined them, and all discussion of the missing fortune was dropped.
+
+It was soon time to take leave, and as it was already twilight, Sinclair
+proposed that he should drive Patty home in the pony cart, and Mabel
+should return in the carriage.
+
+Mabel quite agreed to this, saying that after her croquet, she did not
+care to drive. The road lay through a lovely bit of country, and Patty
+enjoyed the drive home with Sinclair. She always liked to talk with him,
+he was so gentle and kindly. While not so merry as Bob or as Tom
+Meredith, Sinclair was an interesting talker, and Patty always felt that
+she was benefited by his conversation.
+
+He told her much about the country as they drove along, described the
+life and work of the villagers, and pointed out buildings or other
+objects of interest.
+
+They passed several fine estates, whose towering mansions could be seen
+half hidden by trees, or boldly placed on a summit.
+
+"But no place is as beautiful as Cromarty," said Sinclair, and Patty
+entirely agreed with them.
+
+"Is it true that you may have to leave it?" she asked, thinking it wiser
+to refer to it casually.
+
+Sinclair frowned.
+
+"Who's been talking to you?" he said; "Mabel, I suppose. Well, yes, there
+is a chance that we'll have to let it for a term of years. I hope not,
+but I can't tell yet. But even if so, it will be only temporary. As soon
+as I get fairly established in my career, I hope to make money enough to
+take care of it all. A few years hence, when I'm on my feet, and Bob's
+through college, it will be easier all round. But if some business
+troubles that are now impending don't blow over, there'll be no income to
+keep things going, and we'll have to--to----But that _shan't_ happen!"
+
+Sinclair spoke almost desperately, and Patty saw his fingers clench
+around the reins he was holding.
+
+"I wonder," said Patty slowly, for she was not quite sure how what she
+was about to say would be received. "I wonder, Sinclair, if we're not
+good friends enough, you and I, for me to speak plainly to you."
+
+The young man gave her a quick, earnest glance.
+
+"Go on," he said, briefly.
+
+"It's only this," said Patty, still hesitating, "my father has lots of
+money--couldn't you--couldn't he lend you some?"
+
+Sinclair looked at her squarely now, and spoke in low, stern tones.
+
+"Never suggest such a thing again. The Cromartys do not borrow."
+
+"Not even from a friend?" said Patty, softly.
+
+"Not even from a friend," repeated Sinclair, but his voice was more
+gentle. "You don't understand, I suppose," he went on, "but we would
+leave Cromarty for ever before we would stay on such terms."
+
+"No," said Patty, "I don't understand. I should think you'd be as glad to
+accept a friend's help as he would be to offer it."
+
+"If you'd do me a real kindness, Patty, you'll never even mention such an
+idea again. I know you mean well and I thank you, but it's absolutely
+impossible."
+
+"Then there's only one other way out of the difficulty," said Patty, with
+an effort at lightness; "and that's to find your buried fortune."
+
+"Ah, that would be a help," cried Sinclair, also assuming a gayer tone.
+"If you'll help us to do that, I'll set up a memorial tablet to your
+cleverness."
+
+"Where will you set it? Between the fir trees and the oak?"
+
+"Yes, if you find the fortune there."
+
+"But if I find it behind the headboard, that's no sort of a place for a
+tablet!"
+
+"You can choose your own spot for your Roll of Fame, and I'll see to it
+that the memorial is a worthy one."
+
+"And will you put fresh flowers on it every day?"
+
+"Yes, indeed; for if--I mean _when_, you find the fortune for us, the
+gardens will have immediate attention."
+
+"Then I must set to work at once," said Patty, with pretended gravity,
+but in her heart she registered a mental vow to try in earnest to fulfil
+the promise given in jest.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE GRIFFIN AND THE ROSE
+
+
+Although the Hartleys had practically given up all hope of ever finding
+the hidden money, they couldn't help being imbued with Patty's
+enthusiasm.
+
+Indeed, it took little to rouse the sleeping fires of interest that never
+were entirely extinguished.
+
+But though they talked it over by the hour there seemed to be nothing to
+do but talk.
+
+One day, Patty went out all by herself, determined to see if she couldn't
+find some combination of an oak tree and a group of firs that would
+somehow seem especially prominent.
+
+But after looking at a score or more of such combinations, she realised
+that task was futile.
+
+She looked at the ground under some of them, but who could expect a mark
+of any kind on the ground after nearly forty years? No. Unless Mr.
+Marmaduke Cromarty had marked his hiding-place with a stone or iron
+plate, it would probably never be found by his heirs. Search in the house
+was equally unsatisfactory. What availed it to scan a wall or a bedstead
+that had been scrutinised for years by eager, anxious eyes? And then
+Patty set her wits to work. She tried to think where an erratic old
+gentleman would secrete his wealth. And she was forced to admit that the
+most natural place was in the ground on his estate, the location to be
+designated by some obscure message. And surely, the message was obscure
+enough!
+
+She kept her promise to help Bob in his self-appointed task of going
+through all the books in the library. This was no small piece of work,
+for it was not enough to shake each book, and let loose papers, if any,
+drop out. Some of the old papers had been found pinned to leaves, and so
+each book must be run through in such a way that every page could be
+glanced at.
+
+Nor was this a particularly pleasant task. For Mrs. Hartley had made it a
+rule that when her own children went over the old books, they were to
+dust them as they went along. Thus, she said, at least some good would be
+accomplished, though no hidden documents might be found.
+
+Of course, she did not request Patty to do this, but learning of the
+custom, Patty insisted on doing it, and many an hour she spent in the old
+library, clad in apron and dust-cap. Her progress was rather slow, for
+book-loving Patty often became absorbed in the old volumes, and dropping
+down on the window-seat, or the old steps to the gallery, would read
+away, oblivious to all else till some one came to hunt for her.
+
+At last, one day, her patient search met a reward. In an old book she
+found several of what were beyond all doubt Mr. Marmaduke Comarty's
+papers.
+
+Without looking at them closely, Patty took the book straight to Mrs.
+Cromarty.
+
+"Dear me!" said the old lady, putting on her glasses. "Have we really
+found something? I declare I'm quite nervous over it. Emmeline, you read
+them."
+
+Mrs. Hartley was a bit excited, too, and as for Patty and Mabel, they
+nearly went frantic at their elders' slowness in opening the old and
+yellow papers.
+
+There were several letters, a few bills, and some hastily-scribbled
+memoranda. The letters and bills were of no special interest, but on one
+of the small bits of paper was another rhymed couplet that seemed to
+indicate a direction.
+
+It read:
+
+                    "Where the angry griffin shows,
+                    Ruthless, tear away the rose."
+
+"Oh," exclaimed Patty, "it's another direction how to get the fortune!
+Oh, Mabel, it will be all right yet! Oh, where is the angry griffin? Is
+it over a rosebush? You're only to pull up the rosebush, and there you
+are!"
+
+Mabel looked bewildered. So did the older ladies.
+
+"Speak, somebody!" cried Patty, dancing about in excitement. "Isn't there
+any angry griffin? There must be!"
+
+"That's the trouble," said Mrs. Hartley; "there are so many of them. Why,
+there are angry griffins on the gates, over the lodge doors, on the
+marbles in the gardens, and all over the house."
+
+"Of course there are," said Mabel. "You must have noticed them, Patty.
+There's one now," and she pointed to a bit of wood carving over the door
+frame of the room they were in.
+
+"I don't care! It means something, I know it does," declared Patty.
+"We'll work it out yet. I wish the boys were home."
+
+"They'll soon be here," said Mrs. Cromarty. "I can't help thinking that
+it does mean something--Marmaduke was very fond of roses, and it would be
+just like him to plant a rosebush over his buried treasure."
+
+"That's it," cried Patty. "Now, where is there a rosebush growing, and
+one of the angry griffins near it?"
+
+"There probably are some in the rose garden," said Mrs. Cromarty. "I
+don't remember any, though."
+
+"Come on, Mabel," said Patty, "let's go and look. I can't wait another
+minute!"
+
+Away flew the two girls, and for the next hour they hovered about the
+rosebushes with more energy than is often shown by the busiest of bees.
+
+"I wish old Uncle Marmaduke had been less of a poet," said Mabel, as they
+sat down a moment to rest, "and more of a--a----"
+
+"More straightforward," suggested Patty. "If he'd only written a few
+words of plain prose, and left it with his lawyer, all this trouble
+needn't have been."
+
+"Well, I suppose he did intend to make it plain before he died, but he
+went off so suddenly. Oh, here are the boys."
+
+Sinclair and Bob came bounding down toward the rose garden, followed more
+sedately by their mother and grandmother.
+
+"Not a sign of a griffin a-sniffin' of a rose," said Patty, disconsolately.
+
+"Oh, you haven't looked all round yet," said Bob. "It's such fun to have
+something to look for besides fir trees and beds, I'm going to make a
+close search."
+
+"Of course," said Sinclair, "the same rose bush wouldn't be here now that
+was here thirty or forty years ago."
+
+"But it would have been renewed," said Mrs. Cromarty. "We've always tried
+to keep the flowers as nearly as possible the same."
+
+"Then here goes to interview every griffin on the place," declared Bob.
+"Jolly of old uncle to mark the spot with a rosebush and a griffin.
+That's what I call decent of him. And you're a wonder, Patty, to find the
+old paper."
+
+"Oh, that's nothing," said Patty. "I just followed your orders about the
+books. If you'd kept at it yourself, you'd have found the same book."
+
+"I s'pose so. But I'm glad you helped the good work along. Oh, dear! no
+rosebush seems to be near a griffin; and the griffins seem positively
+afraid of the rosebushes." And try as they would, no angry griffin could
+they find, with a rosebush near it. Griffins there were in plenty; both
+angry and grinning. Also were there plenty of roses, but they were
+arranged in well-laid-out beds, and in no case were guarded or menaced by
+angry griffins.
+
+"Never mind," said Sinclair, as they returned to the house for dinner,
+"it's something to work on. I shall stay at home to-morrow and try to
+find that particular rosebush, or the place where it used to be."
+
+"Maybe it's a stone rose," said Patty, as she touched a rose carved in
+stone that was part of an ornamental urn whose handles were the heads of
+angry griffins. Sinclair stared at her.
+
+"You're right," he said, slowly, as if grasping a great thought. "It's
+much more likely to be a rose of stone or marble, and when that's
+ruthlessly torn away the secret will be revealed. Oh, mother, there _is_
+hope!"
+
+Patty had never seen the placid Sinclair so excited, and they all went to
+their rooms to get ready for dinner, with a feeling that something was
+going to happen. Conversation at dinner was all on the engrossing
+subject.
+
+Everybody made suggestions, and everybody recalled various partly-forgotten
+griffins in odd nooks and corners, each being sure that was "just the place
+uncle would choose!"
+
+After dinner, the young people were anxious to go out and search more,
+but it had begun to rain, so they all went into the library and again
+scrutinised the old papers Patty had found.
+
+They looked through more books, too, but found nothing further of
+interest.
+
+At last, wearied with the hunt, Patty threw herself into a big armchair
+and declared she would do no more that night.
+
+"I should say not," said Bob. "You've done quite enough in giving us this
+new start."
+
+Although, as Patty had said, the looking through all the old books was
+Bob's plan, he generously gave her the credit of this new find. Sinclair
+threw himself on a long leather couch, and began to sing softly some of
+their nonsense songs, as he often did when tired out. The others joined,
+and for a time the fortune was left to take care of itself.
+
+Very pleasant were the four fresh young voices, and the elders listened
+gladly to their music.
+
+In the middle of a song, Patty stopped, and sat bolt upright, her eyes
+staring at a door opposite her as if she had never seen it before.
+
+"Gracious, goodness! Patty," said Mabel, "what is the matter?"
+
+"What is it, little one?" said Sinclair, still humming the refrain of the
+interrupted song.
+
+Patty pointed to the door, or rather to the elaborately carved door
+frame, and said slowly, "I've been reading a lot in the old architecture
+books--and they often used to have secret hiding places in the walls. And
+look at that door frame! There's an angry griffin on one jamb, and a
+smiling griffin on the other, and under each is a rose. That is it's a
+five-leafed blossom, a sort of conventional flower that they always call
+a rose in architecture."
+
+"Though I suppose," said Sinclair, "by any other name it would look as
+sweet. Patty, my child, you're dreaming. That old carving is as solid as
+Gibraltar and that old griffin isn't very angry anyway. He just looks
+rather purse proud and haughty."
+
+"But it's the only griffin that's near a rose," persisted Patty. "And he
+is angry, compared to the happy-looking griffin opposite to him."
+
+"I believe the girl is right," said Bob, who was already examining the
+carvings in question. "The rose doesn't look movable, exactly, but it is
+not quite like this other rose. It's more deeply cut."
+
+By this time all had clustered about the door frame, and one after
+another poked and pushed at the wooden rose.
+
+"There's something in it," persisted Bob. "In the idea, I mean. If
+there's a secret hiding-place in that upright carved beam, that rose is
+the key to it. See how deeply it's cut in, compared to the other; and I
+can almost see a crack all round it, as if it could be removed. May I try
+to get it out, Grandy?"
+
+"Certainly, my boy. We mustn't leave a stone unturned."
+
+"A rose unturned, you mean. Clair, what shall we ruthlessly tear it away
+with? I hate to take a chisel to this beautiful old door."
+
+"Try a corkscrew," said Mabel.
+
+"You mean a gimlet," said Bob. "That's a good idea."
+
+Fetching a gimlet, he bored a hole right in the centre of the carved
+blossom, but though it turned and creaked a little it wouldn't come out.
+
+"It must come," said Sinclair. "It turns, so that proves it's meant to be
+movable. It probably has some hinge or spring that is rusted, and so it
+doesn't work as it ought to. We'll have to take hammer and chisel; shall
+we, Grandy?"
+
+The boys were deferential to Mrs. Cromarty, for they well knew that she
+was tired of having the old house torn up to no avail. But surely this
+was an important development.
+
+"Yes, indeed, boys. If your uncle's words mean anything, they mean that
+it must be ruthlessly torn away, if removed at all."
+
+For quite ten minutes the two boys worked away with their tools,
+endeavouring to mar the carving as little as might be, but resolved to
+succeed in their undertaking. At last the wooden rose fell out in their
+hands, leaving a round opening.
+
+Peering in, Sinclair saw a small iron knob, which seemed to be part of a
+rusty spring.
+
+Greatly excited, he tried to push or turn it, but couldn't move it.
+
+"Anyway, we're getting warm," he cried, and his glowing face corroborated
+his words.
+
+The boys took turns in working at the stubborn spring, trying with
+forceps and pincers to move it, until at last something seemed to give
+way, and the whole front of the door jamb fell out as one panel.
+
+Behind it was a series of small pigeon holes one above the other, all
+filled with neatly piled papers.
+
+Though yellow with age, the papers were carefully folded, labelled, and
+dated.
+
+"Patty!" cried Mabel, as she embraced her friend, "you've found our
+fortune for us!"
+
+"Don't be too sure," said Patty, laughing, and almost crying at the same
+time, so excited was she. "Your Uncle Marmaduke was of such uncertain
+ways I shouldn't wonder if these were merely more files of his immortal
+verse."
+
+"They're bills," declared Sinclair, as he ran over a packet he took from
+a shelf.
+
+"Let's look them all over systematically," said Bob. "Let's all sit round
+the table, and one of us read out what the paper is about. Then if we
+come to anything important, we'll all know it at once."
+
+This plan was adopted, and Sinclair, as the oldest, was chosen to read.
+He sat at the head of the long library table, and the others were at
+either side.
+
+But the packets of bills, though interesting in a general way, had no
+bearing on the great question of the fortune. The papers were all bills.
+
+"Not even a bit of poetry," sighed Patty, as Sinclair laid aside one
+after another of the receipted bills for merchandise, household goods,
+clothing, and labour.
+
+"These might interest a historian," said Sinclair, "as they throw some
+light on the prices of goods at that time. But we'll keep on, we may come
+to something of interest yet."
+
+"I hope so," said Bob. "I'm so anxious, that nothing less than a straight
+direction to the fortune would satisfy me."
+
+"Well, here's something," said Sinclair, "whatever it may mean."
+
+The paper he had just unfolded was a mason's bill, containing only one
+item. The bill was made out in due form, by one Martin Campbell, and was
+properly receipted as paid. And its single item read:
+
+"To constructing one secret pocket.... Three Guineas."
+
+"Oh!" cried Patty, breathless with excitement. "Then there is a secret
+pocket, or poke as your exasperating uncle calls it."
+
+"There must be," said Sinclair; "and now that we know that, we're going
+to find it. Of course, we assumed there was one, but we had only that
+foolish doggerel to prove it. Now this regular bill establishes it as a
+fact beyond all doubt. Do you know this Martin Campbell, Grandy?"
+
+"I know there was a mason by that name, who worked here several times for
+your uncle. He came down from Leicester, but of course I know nothing
+more of him."
+
+"We'll find him!" declared Bob. "We'll make him give up the secret of the
+pocket."
+
+"Maybe he's dead by this time," said Sinclair. "Was he an old man,
+Grandy?"
+
+"I don't know, my dear. I never saw him. He worked here when I was away
+in London. I fear, however, he is not alive now."
+
+"Oh, perhaps he is. It was only about thirty-five years ago, or forty,
+that he built this 'secret pocket.' Thirty-eight, to be exact. The date
+on the bill proves that."
+
+"Well, to-morrow you must go to see him," said Mrs. Hartley, rising. "But
+now, my children, you must go to bed. You can't learn any more to-night,
+and to-morrow we will pick up the broken thread. Patty, my dear child,
+you are doing a great deal for us."
+
+"It isn't anything yet," said Patty, "but oh, if it only leads to
+something, I shall be so glad!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE OLD CHIMNEY-PIECE
+
+
+But Sinclair's search for the old mason in Leicester was absolutely
+unsuccessful. He learned that Martin Campbell had died many years ago,
+and had left no direct descendants. A cousin of the old mason told
+Sinclair all this, and said, too, that there were no books or papers or
+accounts of the dead man left in existence.
+
+So Sinclair returned home, disappointed but not entirely discouraged.
+
+"We'll find it yet," he said to Patty. "We have proof of a hiding-place,
+now we must discover it."
+
+"We will!" declared Patty. "But it's so exasperating not to know whether
+the old mason built that 'pocket' indoors or out."
+
+"Out, I think," said Sinclair. "It's probably a sunken bin or vault of
+brick, made water-tight, and carefully concealed."
+
+"Yes, it's certainly carefully concealed," Patty agreed.
+
+Sinclair was entitled to a fortnight's vacation from his law studies, and
+he arranged to take it at this time. For now that the interest was
+revived, all were eager to make search all the time.
+
+"Let's be systematic about it," said Bob, "and divide the estate up into
+sections. Then let's examine each section in turn."
+
+This sounded well, but it was weary work. In the wooded land, especially,
+it was hopeless to look for any indicatory mark beneath the undergrowth
+of forty years. But each morning the four young people started out with
+renewed determination to keep at it, at any rate.
+
+On rainy days they searched about the house. Having found one secret
+panel, they hoped for more, and the boys went about tapping the walls or
+carved woodwork here and there, listening for a hollow sound.
+
+Bob and Patty went on searching the books. But though a number of old
+papers were found they were of no value. Incidentally, Patty was
+acquiring a store of information of various sorts. Though too eager in
+her work to sit down and read any book through, she scanned many pages
+here and there, and learned much that was interesting and useful.
+Especially did she like books that described the old castles and abbeys
+of England. There were many of these books, both architectural and
+historical, and Patty lingered over the illustrations, and let her eyes
+run hastily over the pages of description.
+
+One afternoon she sat cross-legged, in Turk fashion, on the library
+floor, absorbed in an account of the beautiful old mansion known as
+"Audley End." The description so interested her that she read on and on,
+and in her perusal she came to this sentence:
+
+"There are other curious relics, among them the chair of Alexander Pope,
+and the carved oak head of Cromwell's bed, converted into a chimney-piece."
+
+Anything in reference to the headboard of a bedstead caught Patty's
+attention, and she read the paragraph over again.
+
+"Sinclair," she called, but he had gone elsewhere, and did not hear her.
+
+Patty looked around at the mantel or chimney-piece in the library, but it
+was so evidently a part of the plan of wall decoration, that it could not
+possibly have been anything else.
+
+Patty sighed. "It would have been so lovely," she thought to herself, "if
+it only had been a bedhead, made into a mantel, for then that bothering
+old man could easily have tucked his money between it and the wall."
+
+And then, though Patty's thoughts came slowly, they came surely, and she
+remembered that in the great hall, or living-room, the mantel was a
+massive affair of carved oak.
+
+Half bewildered, Patty dropped the book, jumped up, and went to the door
+of the hall. No one was there, and the girl was glad of it, for if she
+really was on the eve of a great discovery she wanted to be alone at
+first.
+
+As she entered the room, the lines came to her mind:
+
+                   "Above the stair, across the hall,
+                   Between the bedhead and the wall,"
+
+and she noticed that the chimney-piece stood on a sort of wide platform,
+which extended across that whole end of the hall. Could it be that Mr.
+Marmaduke had meant above this platform, calling it a stair, which ran
+across the great hall? For years they had taken the direction to mean "up
+the staircase," and "across the corridor," or hall which led to the
+bedrooms.
+
+Slowly, almost as if afraid, Patty crossed the hall, stepped up on the
+platform, and examined the old chimney-piece. She couldn't tell,
+positively, but surely, surely it looked as if it _might_ once have been
+the headboard of an ancient bed. It certainly was different in its
+workmanship from the wood carving that decorated the apartment.
+
+The top of it was well above her head, but might it not be that the old
+rhyme meant between _this_ bedhead and the wall?
+
+Here they had never looked. It must be that it was not generally known
+that this mantel was, or had been, a bedhead.
+
+Still, as if in a daze, Patty went and sat in a chair facing the old
+chimney-piece, and wondered. She intended to call the others in a moment,
+but first she wanted to enjoy alone the marvel of her own discovery.
+
+As she sat there, scrutinising every detail of the room, the lines kept
+repeating themselves in her brain:
+
+_"Above the stair, across the hall, Between the bedhead and the wall."_
+
+If the secret pocket was between that bedhead and the wall, it was
+certainly above the stair across the hall! Why had that stair or platform
+been built across the hall? It was a peculiar arrangement.
+
+This question Patty gave up, but she thought it might well have been done
+when the bedhead was set up there, in order to make the chimney-piece
+higher and so more effective.
+
+Patty had learned something of architecture in her library browsings.
+
+Above the high mantel was a large painting. It was a landscape and showed
+a beautiful bit of scenery without buildings or people. In the foreground
+were several distinct trees of noble proportions.
+
+"They're firs," said Patty to herself, for she had become thoroughly
+familiar with fir trees.
+
+And then, like a flash, through her brain came the words:
+
+_"Great treasure lieth in the poke Between the fir trees and the oak."_
+
+The secret was revealed! Patty knew it!
+
+Beside the bedhead evidence, it was clear to her mind that "Between the
+fir trees and the oak," meant between these painted fir trees and the old
+carved oak mantel. Grasping the arms of her chair, she sat still a minute
+trying to take it all in, and then looked about for something to stand on
+that she might examine the top of the old mantel-shelf.
+
+But her next quick thought was, that that was not her right. Those to
+whom the fortune belonged must make the investigation themselves.
+
+"Sinclair," called Patty, again; "Mabel, Mrs. Hartley, where are you
+all?"
+
+Bob responded first, and seeing by Patty's excited face that she had
+discovered something important, he went in search of the others.
+
+At last they were all gathered in the great hall, and Patty's sense of
+the dramatic proved too strong to allow her to make her announcement
+simply.
+
+"People," she said, "I have made a discovery. That is, I think I have. If
+I am right, the Cromarty fortune is within your grasp. If I am
+wrong--well, in that case, we'll begin all over again."
+
+"Tell us about your new find," said Sinclair, selecting a comfortable
+chair, and sitting down as if for a long session. "Is it another mason's
+bill?"
+
+Nobody minded being chaffed about searching or finding, for the subject
+was treated jocosely as well as seriously.
+
+Patty stood on the platform in front of the carved oak chimney-piece, and
+addressed her audience, who listened, half laughing, half eager.
+
+"What is this on which I stand?" she demanded.
+
+"A rug," replied Mabel, promptly.
+
+"I mean beneath the rug?"
+
+"The floor."
+
+"No, it isn't! What is this--this construction across the room?"
+
+"A platform," put in Bob, willing to help her along.
+
+"Yes. But what else could it be called? I'm in earnest."
+
+"A step," suggested Sinclair.
+
+"Yes, a step; but couldn't it be called a stair?"
+
+"It _could_ be," said Bob, "but I don't believe it is one."
+
+"But suppose your erratic uncle chose to call it that."
+
+"Oh," laughed Bob, "you mean the stair in the poem."
+
+"I do. I mean the stair across the hall."
+
+"What! Oh, I say, Patty, now you're jumbling up the sense."
+
+"No, I'm not. I'm straightening out the sense. Suppose Mr. Marmaduke
+meant 'above the stair across the hall,' and meant this stair and this
+hall."
+
+"Yes, but go on," said Sinclair; "next comes the bedhead."
+
+"That's my discovery!" announced Patty, with what was truly forgivable
+triumph.
+
+"This carved oak chimney-piece is, I have reason to believe, the
+headboard of some magnificent, ancient bed."
+
+"Patty Fairfield!" cried Sinclair, jumping up, and reaching her side with
+two bounds. "You've struck it! What a girl you are!"
+
+"Wait a minute," said Patty, pushing him back; "I'm entitled to a
+hearing. Take your seat again, sir, until I unfold the rest of the tale."
+
+Patty was fairly quivering with excitement. Her cheeks glowed, and her
+eyes shone, and her voice trembled as she went on.
+
+Mabel, with clasped hands, just sat and looked at her. The elder ladies
+were plainly bewildered, and Bob was trying hard to sit still.
+
+"I read in an old book," Patty went on, "how somebody else used a carved
+headboard for a chimney-piece, and I wondered if this mightn't be one.
+And it surely looks like it. And then I wondered if 'above the stair
+across the hall' mightn't mean this platform across this hall. And I
+think it does. But that's not all. My really important discovery is
+this."
+
+Patty's voice had sunk to a thrilling whisper, and she addressed herself
+to Mrs. Cromarty, as she continued.
+
+"I think the other rhyme, the one that says the fortune is concealed
+'between the fir trees and the oak,' refers to this same place, and means
+between the painting of fir trees, which hangs over the mantel, and--the
+oak mantel itself!"
+
+With a smiling bow, Patty stepped down from the platform, and taking a
+seat by old Mrs. Cromarty, nestled in that lady's loving arms. The two
+boys made a spring for the mantel, but paused simultaneously to grasp
+both Patty's hands in theirs and nearly shake her arms off. Then they
+left the heroine of the hour to Mabel and Mrs. Hartley and began to
+investigate the chimney piece.
+
+"'Between the fir trees and the oak'!" exclaimed Bob. "Great, isn't it!
+And here for thirty-five years we Cromarty dubs have thought that meant
+real trees! To think it took a Yankee to tell us! Oh, Patty, Patty, we'll
+take down that historic painting and put up a tablet to the honour of
+Saint Patricia. For you surely deserve canonisation!"
+
+"'Between the bedhead and the wall,'" ruminated Sinclair. "Well, here
+goes for finding an opening."
+
+Clambering up on stools, both boys examined the place where the mantel
+shelf touched the wall. The ornate carvings of the mantel left many
+interstices where coins or notes might be dropped through, yet they were
+by no means conspicuous enough to attract the attention of any one not
+looking for them.
+
+"Crickets!" cried Bob. "There's a jolly place for the precious poke to be
+located. I'm going down cellar to see if I can find traces of that
+mason's work. Come on, Clair."
+
+The two boys flew off, and the ladies remained discussing the wonderful
+discovery, and examining the old chimney-piece.
+
+"I can see it was a bedhead now," said Mabel; "but I never suspected it
+before. What a splendid mantel it makes. Didn't you ever hear its
+history, Grandy?"
+
+"No, dear. It must have been put there when the house was built, I think.
+Though, of course, it may have been added later. But it was all before my
+time. I married your grandfather Cromarty and came here to live in 1855.
+The building and decorations then were all just as they are now, except
+for such additions as Marmaduke made. He may have had that mantel set up
+in earlier years--I don't know. He was very fond of antique carvings."
+
+Back came the boys from the cellar.
+
+"The whole chimney is bricked up," Sinclair explained. "We couldn't get
+into it without tearing it all down. And do you know what I think,
+Grandy? I think it would be wiser to take away the chimney-piece up here,
+and do our investigating from this end. Then, if we find anything, it
+will all be in this room, and not in the cellar, where the servants can
+pry about."
+
+"I quite agree with you," said Mrs. Cromarty, "and I put the whole matter
+in your hands. You and Robert are the sons of the house, and it is your
+right to manage its affairs."
+
+"Then I say, tear it down at once," cried Bob. "We needn't damage the
+carving itself, and all that we break away of plaster or inner woodwork
+can easily be repaired, whatever our success may be."
+
+"Shall we begin now?" asked Sinclair, doubtfully. He was not so impetuous
+as Bob, and would have been quite willing to study over the matter first.
+
+"Yes, indeed!" cried his impatient brother. "I'm not going to waste a
+minute. I'm glad I'm a bit of a carpenter. Though not an expert, I can
+tear down if I can't build up."
+
+"But we must take it down carefully," said Sinclair. "These screws must
+come out first." But Bob had already gone for tools, and soon returned
+with screw-drivers, chisels, gimlets, and all the paraphernalia of a
+carpenter's well-appointed tool-chest.
+
+"Here goes!" he cried, as he put the big screw-driver in the first screw.
+"Good luck to the Cromartys and three cheers for Uncle Marmaduke and
+Patty Fairfield!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+THE DISCOVERY
+
+
+The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task. If the Hartley
+boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have
+succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall. But they did do it,
+and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost
+fortune!
+
+Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old
+bedhead and the main wall. It was really built in the chimney itself,
+though not in the flue. But this chimney-place, with its wonderfully
+carved mantel, was never used for fires, and the fortune had remained
+undisturbed in its hiding-place.
+
+As the boys lifted away the portion of the heavy oak that covered the
+secret pocket, a rough wall of plaster was seen, and by tapping on it,
+Sinclair learned that it was hollow.
+
+"Shall we break through?" he said. "I feel sure the money is there."
+
+"Break through, of course," cried Bob; "but wait a moment till I lock the
+doors. This is no time for intruders."
+
+Bob fastened the doors, and then with a hatchet they broke through the
+plaster.
+
+And even as the old mortar crumbled beneath their blows, out fell a
+shower of glittering gold coins and tightly folded banknotes!
+
+The sight was too much for the strained nerves of the watchers. Mabel
+burst into tears, and Mrs. Cromarty trembled like a leaf.
+
+The boys broke into shouts of joy, and Patty scarcely knew whether to
+laugh or cry. But in a moment they were all congratulating each other and
+showering praises on Patty for her cleverness in the matter.
+
+"It's ours! It's ours!" cried Bob. "It's Grandy's, to be sure, but it
+belongs to old Cromarty Manor, and we're all Cromartys. Patty, you're
+hereby adopted and made one of us."
+
+"What shall we do with it?" asked the more practical Sinclair. "I mean,
+just at present. We must take care of it, at once, you know. We can't
+leave it long like this."
+
+"There's the old Spanish chest," said Mrs. Hartley, indicating a
+good-sized affair that stood nearby. "Put it in that."
+
+"Just the thing," said Bob. "Lend a hand, Clair."
+
+It was a strange proceeding. The old coins, many of them still bright,
+though of far back dates; represented a great deal of money. How much,
+they could not guess as yet, but it was surely a large sum. Also there
+were Bank of England notes, folded small that they might be pushed
+through the openings in the carved oak, and well-preserved, as the pocket
+had been carefully made damp-proof.
+
+The boys took the money out in double handfuls and deposited it in the
+old Spanish chest.
+
+"It will be quite safe there until to-morrow," said Mrs. Hartley, "and
+then we must get it to the bank. But as no one yet knows of our
+discovery, there can be no danger of its being stolen to-night."
+
+"What ever made Uncle Marmaduke choose this way of concealing his
+fortune?" asked Bob, as he kept on transferring the money from its
+hiding-place to the chest.
+
+"He had a fear of banks or investments," said Mrs. Cromarty. "I've often
+heard him say he wouldn't trust any of them. He said he'd rather be sure
+of his principal, and go without his interest."
+
+"Crickets!" said Bob, "if all this _had_ been out at interest for forty
+years, think how it would have increased!"
+
+"Yes," said his mother, "but in that case it would not have been hidden,
+and before now, it might have all been spent."
+
+"Then I'm glad the old gentleman chose this way of banking. And I suppose
+he meant to leave full instructions where to find it."
+
+"Well," said Sinclair, "we found it without his instructions, thanks to
+our Patty."
+
+And then they all began again to bless and praise Patty, until she was
+really embarrassed at their overwhelming gratitude.
+
+"We'd offer you a share," said Bob, gaily, "but you already have more
+than you know what to do with."
+
+"Perhaps not quite that," said Patty, smiling, "but I have enough. And,
+oh! I am so glad that you have your own at last."
+
+"How much do you suppose there is?" asked Mabel, awestruck, as she
+watched the boys still carrying their precious handfuls across the room.
+
+"Enough to buy you some new frocks, sister," said Sinclair, "and enough
+to fix up dear old Cromarty as it should be fixed up."
+
+"There must be thousands of pounds," said Grandma Cromarty. "To think of
+Marmaduke exchanging all his securities and bonds for gold and notes! I
+suppose he did it while I was away in London. He was a most erratic man."
+
+"Well, you see," said Sinclair, thoughtfully, "once he had the place
+built, he could drop his money through whenever he received any. I can
+imagine the old chap, after every one else in the house was in bed,
+standing here and dropping in his coins one by one, and listening to them
+clink. Why, it's like a child's toy savings-bank, on a large scale."
+
+"It's a large scale!" said Bob. "Whew! I'm tired out. But it's nearly all
+in the chest now, and see, Grandy, the chest is nearly full! When shall
+we count it? And how _shall_ we get this mess cleared away? If the
+servants come in here, they'll know it all, at once. And I think we ought
+to keep the matter quiet until we can cart the gold away to the bank."
+
+"I think so too," said his mother. "Suppose we leave this room exactly as
+it is, and lock it all up until to-morrow. Then we can talk it over this
+evening, and decide what is best to do. I think we should consult with
+Lawyer Ashton, and let him advise us."
+
+So, after carefully securing the windows, and locking all the doors of
+the room, it was a merry-hearted family who went away to dress for
+dinner.
+
+"Let's put on our prettiest frocks, and make the dinner a sort of
+celebration feast," said Patty, who dearly loved an "occasion."
+
+"We will," said Mabel, "and Grandy must wear her black velvet."
+
+Mrs. Cromarty was easily persuaded, and the happy old lady looked almost
+regal as, in her trailing gown, she led the way to the dining-room. The
+dinner conversation was on the all-absorbing topic, and Patty realised
+afresh how dearly these people loved their old home, and how anxious they
+were to devote their newly-found fortune to restoring the glories of the
+place.
+
+"And now we can have the garden party!" exclaimed Mabel. "You know,
+Patty, we've had one every summer for years and years, and this summer we
+thought we couldn't afford it. What fun to have you here to it!"
+
+"Let's have it soon," said Sinclair. "Can you get ready in a week,
+mother?"
+
+"Give me a little longer than that, son. And we want to send out the
+invitations about ten days before the party."
+
+"We'll make the lists to-night. Let's invite everybody. I suppose, after
+we put the money safely away, there's no necessity for secrecy about it."
+
+"No, I think not. All our friends will rejoice with us, that we've found
+it at last."
+
+Later on, they all sat round the library table, and made plans for the
+garden party. Patty discovered that it would be a much larger and more
+important affair than she had imagined. The invitation list soon rose to
+about four hundred, and seemed literally to include everybody in all the
+country round.
+
+"I really ought to have a new frock for the party," said Mabel; "but
+we've so much going on that I won't have time to get one made."
+
+This gave Patty an idea, and she determined to give Mabel a little
+surprise. While they were making the plans for the fete, she was
+planning to write to Lady Hamilton and ask her to send down from London
+two new frocks for herself and Mabel to wear at the garden party. She
+felt sure she could secretly procure one of Mabel's old dresses to send
+for a pattern, and she meant that Mabel should not know of it until the
+new frock arrived.
+
+The evening was a merry one, indeed. The boys were so exuberant that they
+laughed and sang snatches of songs, and exclaimed over and over how much
+they appreciated the good turn Patty had done them.
+
+The two elder ladies were more quietly glad, and it did Patty's heart
+good to see that the sad, anxious expression was gone from Mabel's face.
+
+The days before the garden party flew by quickly, for there was much to
+be done. Extra servants had to be secured, some repairing done in house
+and gardens, and the caterer's orders attended to. The day before the
+party the dresses arrived from London. Lady Hamilton had chosen them,
+though Patty had given her a general idea of what she wanted.
+
+Though they were called white muslin frocks, they were made almost
+entirely of fine embroidery and lace. Mabel's was worn over a pink silk
+slip, and Patty's over blue. Frenchy knots of ribbon were placed here and
+there, and when the boxes were opened and the tissue papers torn away,
+Mabel gave a shriek of delight at the beautiful things.
+
+Patty had wanted to give Mabel a pretty frock, but had hesitated to do
+so, lest she wound her pride.
+
+But this seemed different, and Patty offered the gift so prettily, as a
+souvenir of the garden party, that Mabel accepted it in the spirit it was
+given.
+
+The day of the party was perfect. Just the right temperature, and not a
+cloud in the blue sky, except some fleecy little white ones that were as
+innocent as kittens.
+
+The party was from three till six, and promptly at three o'clock the
+guests began to arrive. There was a continuous stream of carriages and
+motor cars, and soon Patty was almost bewildered by the crowds of people.
+Although introduced to them as they arrived, she couldn't remember them
+all. But many of them she had met before, and after a time she and Mabel
+were excused from the receiving party, and were sent to mingle with the
+guests.
+
+The old place was looking its best. Though there had not been time for
+much work on the gardens, yet a deal of tidying up had been done. New
+flowers had been set out in the formal flower beds, the fountains had
+been repaired and put in working order, and the shrubs and hedges had
+been trimmed. Patty, looking very sweet in her lovely white dress,
+wandered around indoors and out, greeting old friends and making new
+ones.
+
+The house was thrown open, and of course the old chimney-piece, which had
+been replaced, was scrutinised with great interest. Patty was lionised
+until she became almost embarrassed at being made so prominent. But
+everybody was thoroughly glad that the Cromartys had come into their
+fortune at last. On the lawn was a band of musicians in gay scarlet and
+gold uniforms, who played popular music at intervals during the
+afternoon. The terraces and gardens were filled with groups of people
+pleasantly chatting, and the ladies' pretty summer costumes added to the
+brilliancy of the scene.
+
+At four o'clock tea was served in a great round tent, which had been put
+up for the purpose. Although called tea, the repast was a substantial
+supper of various and elaborate viands. Patty thought she had never seen
+so many sorts of salads and carefully constructed cold dishes. She sat at
+a small table with the Merediths and some other young people.
+
+"You're going to stay here all summer, aren't you?" asked Tom, who
+sincerely hoped she was.
+
+"I don't know," replied Patty. "I'd love to stay, for I'm happy every
+minute here. But my own people are writing me very urgently to join them
+in Switzerland. They're in such delightful quarters there, that they
+think I'd like it too."
+
+"Oh, don't go. Stay here with us. We're going to get up a croquet club,
+and we want you to be a member."
+
+"I'll be glad to, if I stay. But where are the people going now?"
+
+The guests had all risen, and were being led to a part of the grounds
+where a platform had been erected. On this were a troupe of entertainers
+called The Pierrots. They all wore funny white suits, with little black
+pompons bobbing all over them. They sang amusing songs, played on cymbals
+and other instruments, did some clever acrobatic work, and for a
+half-hour entertained the guests who stood about on the grass, or sat on
+camp chairs to watch them.
+
+At six o'clock the guests all took leave, and the great procession of
+vehicles again appeared on the driveway. Mrs. Cromarty and Mrs. Hartley
+received their good-byes, and Patty and Mabel invited a number of the
+young people to remain to dine and spend the evening.
+
+"Though I'm sure we can't eat any dinner, after that very satisfying
+tea," said Grace Meredith, as she accepted the invitation.
+
+In the evening they all went out on the lake for a moonlight row. Several
+new boats had been bought, and the young men rowed the girls about. The
+boats were hung with Chinese lanterns, which gave the lake the appearance
+of a regatta or a water festival.
+
+Then back to the house for a dance in the great hall. The musicians had
+remained, and to their inspiriting strains the young people glided about
+in merry measures.
+
+"Do give me another waltz," Tom Meredith begged of Patty.
+
+"I'd be glad to, Tom," said Patty, frankly; "but I can't do it without
+offending somebody else. I love to dance with you, but you've had three
+already, and I've promised all the rest."
+
+But Tom wheedled Mrs. Hartley into allowing one more extra, after the
+last dance, and he claimed Patty for that.
+
+"You're the best dancer I ever saw," said Tom, as they floated away.
+
+"You're the best English dancer I ever saw," laughed Patty, for she well
+knew English people do not dance like Americans. Good-natured Tom didn't
+mind her implication, and after the waltz was ended he led her out on the
+terrace to sit down for a bit and rest. There were several others there,
+the Hartley boys among them, and soon they began to sing songs.
+
+Others came and joined them, and the young voices rose in merry choruses
+and glees.
+
+"You have splendid songs in England," said Patty, after the men's voices
+had come out strong in "Hearts of Oak" and "Rule Britannia."
+
+"Yes, we have," agreed Tom. "But, Patty, won't you sing something alone?"
+
+"Do," chorused the rest, and Mabel said: "Sing that newest song that you
+and Sinclair made."
+
+"'The Moon's Song?'" asked Patty.
+
+"Yes; this is just the night for it."
+
+The moon was nearing the western horizon, and its soft light fell across
+the lake in silver ripples. Truly it was just the time and place to sing
+the pretty song of which Patty had composed the words, and Sinclair had
+set them to music. It was a simple air, but full of soft, lingering
+cadences, and without accompaniment Patty's really sweet voice sounded
+exquisite as it thrilled through the summer evening air.
+
+The song was called "The Minstrel Moon," and the words were these:
+
+               "I wonder if the moon could sing,
+               On a marvellous, mystical night in spring,
+               I wonder what the song would be
+               That the minstrel moon would sing to me.
+               And as I think, I seem to know
+               How the music of the moon would go.
+               It would be a mystic, murmuring strain
+               Like the falling of far-away fairy rain.
+               Just a soft and silvery song
+               That would swing and swirl along;
+                       Not a word
+                       Could be heard
+               But a lingering ding-a-dong.
+               Just a melody low and sweet,
+               Just a harmony faint and fleet,
+                       Just a croon
+                       Of a tune
+               Is the Music of the Moon."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+GOOD-BYES
+
+
+One beautiful morning, about a week after the garden party, Patty lay in
+her favourite hammock out under the trees. She liked this hammock
+especially, for from it she could see both terraces, the formal gardens,
+and the lake beyond.
+
+As she looked around this morning she could see the workmen busily
+engaged in restoring the gardens to their original symmetry and beauty.
+The Hartleys were by no means purse proud or ostentatious, and their
+sudden acquisition of a great fortune in no way changed their simple,
+pleasant attitude toward life. But they were now enabled to live in their
+dear old home, without financial anxieties, and moreover, were able to
+repair and restore its appointments.
+
+But though Patty loved to let her idle gaze roam over the attractive
+landscape, her thoughts just now were far away. She had in her hand a
+letter from her father, and its message was strongly in favour of her
+leaving Cromarty Manor and joining her parents in Switzerland.
+
+It was for Patty to make choice, but both Nan and Mr. Fairfield urged the
+plan they proposed. So Patty was thinking it over. She was very happy at
+Cromarty, and the life was quiet and pleasant, and interspersed with many
+little gaieties. But she thought, herself, it was a pity not to travel
+about and see sights and places when opportunity presented itself.
+
+As she lay, thinking, she saw a large motorcar coming along the drive
+through the park. She jumped out of the hammock and started toward the
+house, in order to greet the guests whoever they might be. As the car
+came nearer, she saw a lady and gentleman in the tonneau, but so
+concealed were they by their motor-clothes she could not recognise them.
+
+As they drew nearer, the lady waved her hand, and seeing the familiar
+gesture, Patty at once realised that it was Lady Hamilton.
+
+Her father was with her, and Patty ran to meet them, and reached the
+steps of the great entrance of Cromarty just as the car swung round the
+last curve of the road.
+
+"Oh, Kitty!" cried Patty; "I'm _so_ glad to see you! Where did you come
+from? Why didn't you tell me you were coming? How do you do, Sir Otho.
+This is indeed a surprise."
+
+"How are you, my dear child?" said Sir Otho Markleham, after Patty had
+released Lady Kitty from her enthusiastic embrace, and turned to shake
+hands with her father.
+
+"Come in," said Patty, dancing about in her excited glee. "Come right in.
+You are welcome to Cromarty Manor, and in a moment the family will also
+tell you so."
+
+"What a delightful house!" said Lady Hamilton, pausing to admire the
+stately old portal.
+
+"Yes, isn't it? You know the Hartleys, don't you?"
+
+"Slightly. I'll be glad to see them again. But, of course, we came to see
+you."
+
+"And it's a lovely surprise. Are you staying near here?"
+
+"Only for a day or two," said Sir Otho. "We're taking a little jaunt
+about, and as Kitty wanted to see you especially, we came in this
+direction."
+
+The chauffeur and the big touring car were put in charge of the Cromarty
+coachman, and Patty ushered her guests into the house.
+
+The ladies soon appeared and with hospitable welcome insisted that Sir
+Otho and his daughter should remain for a few days. This they were unable
+to do, but it was finally decided that they should stay the night, and
+resume their trip the next day.
+
+"And," said Sir Otho, "it may seem a rather sudden proceeding, but we
+want to take Patty with us."
+
+"Take Patty!" exclaimed Mabel, aghast; "for how long?"
+
+"You tell her," said Sir Otho, smiling at his daughter. "I haven't the
+courage."
+
+"I'll explain later," said Lady Hamilton. "But now, I want to enjoy the
+beauties of this grand old place. Is this the celebrated apartment where
+the fortune was hidden?"
+
+"Yes," said Patty, who had written to Lady Kitty about the matter. "And
+here is the old chimney-piece."
+
+"You can imagine, Lady Hamilton," said Mrs. Hartley, "the deep debt of
+gratitude we are under to our dear Patty."
+
+"You must be, indeed. But I know Patty is quite as glad that she made the
+discovery as you are yourselves."
+
+The rest of the morning was devoted to showing the visitors about the
+place. Sir Otho was greatly interested in the plans for the restoration
+of the gardens, and both he and Lady Kitty were enraptured with the
+historic treasures of the old house. After luncheon, Lady Hamilton
+unfolded her plans to Patty.
+
+"I have been in correspondence with Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield," she said,
+"and we've concluded that we must have Patty back with us again. She has
+been very happy here, I know, but she has made you a long visit, and I've
+really been sent down here to kidnap her."
+
+Patty smiled, but the others didn't. Mrs. Cromarty and Mrs. Hartley
+looked truly sorry, and Mabel had to struggle to keep her tears back.
+
+"You are right," said Mrs. Cromarty, at last. "We have enjoyed having
+Patty here more than I can tell you. But we must not be selfish. I know
+her parents have been writing for her to go to them, and it is wrong for
+us to urge her to stay here."
+
+"But I don't want Patty to go away," said Mabel, and now she was really
+crying.
+
+"I know you don't, dearie," said her mother. "But I see it as Grandma
+does, and I think we must let her go. Perhaps some time she'll come
+again."
+
+"Oh, I hope so," said Patty, smiling through the tears that had gathered
+in her own eyes. "You've all been so good to me, and I've had such lovely
+times."
+
+The question once settled, Lady Hamilton went on to say that she proposed
+to take Patty away the next day. Of course this redoubled Mabel's woe,
+but Lady Kitty was firm.
+
+"It would be just as hard to spare her a week hence," she said. "And
+then, who would take her to London? If she goes with us to-morrow, we
+will keep her with us for the rest of our motor tour--about a week--and
+then reach London about the first of July. After that Patty and I will
+join Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield in Switzerland, and go on to do some further
+travelling."
+
+Although Patty was sorry to leave Cromarty, this plan did sound
+delightful, and she was glad that it was all settled for her, and she had
+no further responsibility in the matter.
+
+Lady Hamilton had a genius for despatch, and she superintended the
+packing of Patty's clothes and belongings that same afternoon. Except for
+the luggage needed on the motor-tour, everything was to be sent to Lady
+Kitty's home in London, and Patty had to smile, as she realised that her
+present temporary home was the great house where she had so daringly
+braved the irascible Sir Otho.
+
+There was a daintily furnished room in the Markleham house that had been
+set aside for Patty's very own, and whenever she cared to she was invited
+to occupy it.
+
+When the boys came home that afternoon and heard the news, they set up a
+wail of woe that was both genuine and very noisy.
+
+No one could help admiring Lady Kitty, but Sinclair and Bob felt as if
+she were robbing their household, and it required all their good manners
+to hide their feeling of resentment.
+
+But they rose nobly to the occasion, and Bob said: "Well, since Patty
+must go, we'll have to send her off in a blaze of glory. Let's make a
+party, mother, a few people to dinner, and some more for the evening."
+
+Mrs. Hartley quickly realised that this would be the best way to tide
+over a sad occasion, and she agreed. The Merediths and a few others were
+sent for to come to dinner, and a dozen or more young people asked for a
+little dance in the evening. Notwithstanding her unwelcome errand, Lady
+Kitty fitted right into the house party, and both she and her father were
+so affable and pleasant that the Hartleys forgave them for stealing Patty
+away.
+
+The tourists had luggage with them, so were able to don attire suitable
+to the party. Lady Hamilton wore one of her beautiful trailing lace
+gowns, which had won for her Patty's name of "The White Lady."
+
+Patty, too, wore a white frock, of ruffled organdie, with touches of pale
+green velvet. In her pretty hair was a single pink rose, and as she
+arranged it, she felt a pang as she thought that might be the last flower
+she would ever wear from the dear old Cromarty rose garden. The dinner
+was a beautiful feast, indeed. The table sparkled with the old silver and
+glass that had belonged to the Cromarty ancestors. Flowers were
+everywhere, and the table and dining-room were lighted entirely by wax
+candles, with the intent of abiding by the old traditions of the manor.
+
+At Patty's plate was a multitude of gifts. How they managed it on such
+short notice, she never knew, but every one of the family and most of the
+guests gave her a parting souvenir.
+
+Grandma Cromarty gave her a valuable old miniature that had long been in
+her historic collection. Mrs. Hartley gave her an exquisite fan, painted
+by a celebrated artist. Mabel gave her a ring set with a beautiful pearl,
+and the boys together gave her a splendid set of Dickens' works in
+elaborately gilded binding. Grace Meredith brought her a bangle, and Tom
+a quaint old-fashioned candlestick; and many other guests brought pretty
+or curious trifles.
+
+Patty was overwhelmed at this unexpected kindness, and opened parcel
+after parcel in a bewilderment of delight.
+
+Everybody was gay and merry, yet there was an undercurrent of sadness, as
+one after another remembered this was the last time they would see pretty
+Patty.
+
+After dinner they all assembled on the terrace, and the other guests,
+arriving later, joined them there.
+
+But the soft beauty of the summer evening seemed to intensify the spirit
+of sadness, and all were glad to hear the strains of a violin coming from
+the great hall.
+
+Bob had sent for two or three musicians, and soon the young people were
+spinning around in the dance, and merriment once more reigned.
+
+Always a popular partner, Patty was fairly besieged that night.
+
+"I can't," she said laughingly, as the young men gathered around to beg
+her favours; "I've halved every dance already; I can't do more than
+that."
+
+"Don't halve this one," said Tom Meredith, as he led her away for a
+waltz. "I must have all of it. Unless you'll sit it out with me on the
+terrace."
+
+"No, thank you," said Patty. "I'd rather dance. I don't suppose I'll find
+another dancer as good as you all summer."
+
+"I hate to think of your going away," said Tom. "You almost promised me
+you'd stay here all summer."
+
+"I know. But I'm not mistress of my own plans. They're made for me."
+
+"And you're glad of it," said Tom, almost angrily. "You're glad you're
+going away from here--to go motoring in Switzerland, and all sorts of
+things."
+
+"Don't be so savage. It isn't surprising that I'm glad to go away from
+any one as cross as you are."
+
+Tom had to smile in return for Patty's laughing tones, and he said more
+gently:
+
+"I don't mean to be bearish, but I wish you weren't going. I--I like you
+an awful lot, Patty. Truly I do."
+
+"I'm glad of it," said Patty, heartily, "and I like you too. After
+Sinclair and Bob, you're the nicest boy in England."
+
+"There's luck in odd numbers," said Tom, a little ruefully, "so I'm glad
+I'm number three. But I'd like to be number one."
+
+"Well, you're a number one dancer," said Patty, as the music ceased, and
+with that Tom had to be content.
+
+And now the hour was getting late and the young people began to go home.
+
+It was really an ordeal for Patty to say good-bye, for she had many
+friends among them, and they all seemed truly regretful to part with her.
+
+But after they had gone, and only those staying in the house remained,
+another surprise was in waiting for Patty. They were gathered in the
+great hall, talking over for the last time the mystery of the hidden
+fortune, and Patty's clever solution of it.
+
+"And now," said Sinclair, "I've a little speech to make."
+
+He went and stood on the "stair across the hall," in front of the old
+chimney-piece, and so, just beneath the picture of the fir trees. The
+painting was a fine one, and represented a landscape with firs in the
+foreground. It had hung there since the days of the earlier Cromartys,
+and was a valuable work of art.
+
+Patty had always loved the picture, even before the added interest of
+learning the truth about the fir trees, and they all knew it was one of
+her favourites among the many art treasures of the old house.
+
+"I was going to make this speech when the party was here," proceeded
+Sinclair, "but I didn't, partly because I feared it might embarrass
+Patty, and partly because I like it better to have only our own people
+here. But the speech itself is this: We, the Cromartys of Cromarty Manor,
+realising that we can never liquidate the great debt of gratitude we owe
+to our beautiful and beloved friend, Miss Patty Fairfield, wish, at
+least, to give her a token of our affection and a memento of her noble
+deed. We, therefore, one and all of the household of Cromarty, offer her
+this picture of fir trees, this painting by Hobbema, and we trust that
+she will accept it in the spirit it is tendered."
+
+Sinclair bowed and sat down, and Patty sat for a moment in awestruck
+silence.
+
+Then, "The Hobbema!" she cried, "I won't take it! The idea of giving me
+that painting! Why, it's one of the gems of the house!"
+
+"That's why we want you to have it, Patty dear," said Grandma Cromarty,
+gently. "It is one of our treasures, and for that very reason it is
+worthy to be presented as a souvenir to one who so gloriously deserves
+it."
+
+"Hear! Hear!" cried Bob. "Grandy makes a better speech than you, Clair."
+
+Patty's scruples were lovingly overcome, and she was made to realise that
+she was the owner of a real masterpiece of art, that would be to her a
+lifelong delight.
+
+"But what will take its place?" she said. "It has hung there so many
+years."
+
+"It hung there," said Mrs. Hartley, "until its mission was fulfilled. Now
+that there is nothing to be searched for 'between the fir trees and the
+oak,' it need hang there no longer. It is fitting that we retain the
+'oak' and you possess the 'fir trees,' thus assuring an everlasting bond
+of union between the fir trees and the oak."
+
+"Bravo, Mater!" cried Bob. "You're coming out strong on speechifying,
+too. Mabel, we must look out for our laurels."
+
+But Mabel was too near the verge of tears to trust her voice, so she
+slipped her hand in Patty's, knowing that she would understand all that
+could not be said.
+
+"Well," went on Bob, "I'm not much of an orator, but I'll take it for my
+part to see that the Fir Trees are properly packed and sent to your home,
+Patty. Where shall I send the box?"
+
+"I hate to have it go to New York now," said Patty, "for I want it with
+me while I'm over here."
+
+So it was arranged to send the picture to Sir Otho's house in London,
+there to remain until the Fairfields returned to America.
+
+The departure from Cromarty was made next morning directly after
+breakfast. It was fortunate that the last details of luggage
+preparations, and the packing of luncheon and so forth, made a bustle and
+hurry that left little time for actual farewells. And, too, they were all
+too sensible to mar Patty's last memory of Cromarty with futile regrets.
+
+So after good-byes were said, and the party stowed away in the big car,
+Sinclair started one of their favourite nonsense songs.
+
+The others joined in, and Patty sang too, and handkerchiefs were waved,
+and as the car slid out of sight among the trees, those who were left
+could still hear Patty's high, sweet soprano ringing back to them.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Patty's Friends, by Carolyn Wells
+
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