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diff --git a/25847.txt b/25847.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..47dd02e --- /dev/null +++ b/25847.txt @@ -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 + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY'S FRIENDS *** + +***** This file should be named 25847.txt or 25847.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/8/4/25847/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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