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diff --git a/25865-h/25865-h.htm b/25865-h/25865-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e974b21 --- /dev/null +++ b/25865-h/25865-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10279 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Patty's Summer Days, by Carolyn Wells</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.4em} + h3.pg {text-align:center; font-weight: bold; font-size: 110%} + div.ce p {text-align: center; margin: auto 0;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + .caption {font-size:.8em} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + hr.tb {width: 35%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; color: silver; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + hr.silver {width: 100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.6em} + + h1 { text-align: center; } + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Patty's Summer Days, by Carolyn Wells</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Patty's Summer Days</p> +<p>Author: Carolyn Wells</p> +<p>Release Date: June 21, 2008 [eBook #25865]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY'S SUMMER DAYS***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/frontis.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.8em; margin-top:1em;'>Patty’s</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.8em; margin-bottom:1em;'>Summer Days</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em;'>By CAROLYN WELLS</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:1.5em;'>Author of “Idle Idylls,” “Patty in the City,” etc.</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-emb.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> + +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.0em; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em;'>ILLUSTRATED</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p style=' font-size:1.0em;'>NEW YORK</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>DODD, MEAD & COMPANY</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.0em; margin-bottom:1em;'>1909</p> +</div> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:1em;'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Copyright, 1906, By<br />Dodd, Mead & Company</span></p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'><i>Published, September, 1906</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.0em; margin-top:1em;'>To</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.0em; margin-bottom:1em;'>ELEANOR SHIPLEY HALSEY</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>CONTENTS</p> +</div> + +<table border='0' width='400' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td> + <td></td> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>I </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Gay Household </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I_A_GAY_HOUSEHOLD'>1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>II </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Wedding Bells </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II_WEDDING_BELLS'>13</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>III </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Atlantic City </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III_ATLANTIC_CITY'>27</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>IV </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Lessons Again </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV_LESSONS_AGAIN'>40</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>V </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A New Home </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V_A_NEW_HOME'>53</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>VI </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Busy Days </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI_BUSY_DAYS'>66</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>VII </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Rescue </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII_A_RESCUE'>79</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>VIII </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Commencement Day </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII_COMMENCEMENT_DAY'>92</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>IX </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Play </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IX_THE_PLAY'>105</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>X </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Motor Trip </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#X_A_MOTOR_TRIP'>118</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XI </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Dick Phelps </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XI_DICK_PHELPS'>130</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XII </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Old China </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XII_OLD_CHINA'>143</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XIII </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Stormy Ride </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIII_A_STORMY_RIDE'>155</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XIV </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Pine Branches </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIV_PINE_BRANCHES'>169</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XV </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Miss Aurora Bender </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XV_MISS_AURORA_BENDER'>182</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XVI </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Quilting Party </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVI_A_QUILTING_PARTY'>195</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XVII </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Summer Christmas </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVII_A_SUMMER_CHRISTMAS'>208</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XVIII </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>At Sandy Cove </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVIII_AT_SANDY_COVE'>221</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XIX </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Rosabel </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIX_ROSABEL'>234</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XX </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Rolands </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XX_THE_ROLANDS'>246</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XXI </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Crusoes </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXI_THE_CRUSOES'>259</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XXII </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Bazaar Of All Nations </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXII_THE_BAZAAR_OF_ALL_NATIONS'>271</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XXIII </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The End Of The Summer </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIII_THE_END_OF_THE_SUMMER'>287</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>ILLUSTRATIONS</p> +</div> + +<table border='0' width='400' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Illustrations' style='margin:1em auto'> +<col style='width:80%;' /> +<col style='width:20%;' /> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Patty fairly reveled in Nan’s beautiful trousseau”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_1'>8</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“‘There, you can see for yourself, there ain’t no chip or crack into it’”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_2'>148</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Although a successful snapshot was only achieved after many attempts”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_3'>178</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Patty arrayed herself in a flowered silk of Dresden effect”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_4'>206</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“In a few minutes Patty was feeding Rosabel bread and milk”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_5'>238</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_1' name='page_1'></a>1</span></div> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.8em;'>Patty’s Summer Days</p> +</div> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='I_A_GAY_HOUSEHOLD' id='I_A_GAY_HOUSEHOLD'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>A GAY HOUSEHOLD</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Isn’t Mrs. Phelps too perfectly sweet! +That is the loveliest fan I ever laid eyes +on, and to think it’s mine!” +</p> +<p>“And <i>will</i> you look at this? A silver coffee-machine! +Oh, Nan, mayn’t I make it work, +sometimes?” +</p> +<p>“Indeed you may; and oh, see this! A +piece of antique Japanese bronze! Isn’t it +<i>great?</i>” +</p> +<p>“I don’t like it as well as the sparkling, shiny +things. This silver tray beats it all hollow. +Did you ever see such a brightness in your +life?” +</p> +<p>“Patty, you’re hopelessly Philistine! But +that tray is lovely, and of an exquisite design.” +</p> +<p>Patty and Nan were unpacking wedding +presents, and the room was strewn with boxes, +tissue paper, cotton wool, and shredded-paper +packing. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_2' name='page_2'></a>2</span></p> +<p>Only three days more, and then Nan Allen +was to marry Mr. Fairfield, Patty’s father. +</p> +<p>Patty was spending the whole week at the +Allen home in Philadelphia, and was almost +as much interested in the wedding preparations +as Nan herself. +</p> +<p>“I don’t think there’s anything so much fun +as a house with a wedding fuss in it,” said +Patty to Mrs. Allen, as Nan’s mother came +into the room where the girls were. +</p> +<p>“Just wait till you come to your own wedding +fuss, and then see if you think it’s so much +fun,” said Nan, who was rapidly scribbling +names of friends to whom she must write notes +of acknowledgment for their gifts. +</p> +<p>“That’s too far in the future even to think +of,” said Patty, “and besides, I must get my +father married and settled, before I can think +of myself.” +</p> +<p>She wagged her head at Nan with a comical +look, and they all laughed. +</p> +<p>It was a great joke that Patty’s father should +be about to marry her dear girl friend. But +Patty was mightily pleased at the prospect, and +looked forward with happiness to the enlarged +home circle. +</p> +<p>“The trouble is,” said Patty, “I don’t know +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_3' name='page_3'></a>3</span> +what to call this august personage who insists +on becoming my father’s wife.” +</p> +<p>“I shall rule you with a rod of iron,” said +Nan, “and you’ll stand so in awe of me, that +you won’t dare to call me anything.” +</p> +<p>“You think so, do you?” said Patty saucily. +“Well, just let me inform you, Mrs. Fairfield, +that is to be, that I intend to lead you a +dance! You’ll be responsible for my manners +and behaviour, and I wish you joy of your +undertaking. I think I shall call you <i>Stepmamma</i>.” +</p> +<p>“Do,” said Nan placidly, “and I’ll call you +Stepdaughter Patricia.” +</p> +<p>“Joking aside,” said Patty, “honestly, Nan, +I am perfectly delighted that the time is coming +so soon to have you with us. Ever since +last fall I have waited patiently, and it seemed +as if Easter would never come. Won’t we have +good times though after you get back from your +trip and we get settled in that lovely house in +New York! If only I didn’t have to go to +school, and study like fury out of school, too, +we could have heaps of fun.” +</p> +<p>“I’m afraid you’re studying too hard, +Patty,” said Mrs. Allen, looking at her young +guest. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span></p> +<p>“She is, Mother,” said Nan, “and I wish +she wouldn’t. Why do you do it, Patty?” +</p> +<p>“Well, you see, it’s this way. I found out +the first of the year that I was ahead of my +class in some studies, and that if I worked extra +hard I could get ahead on the other studies, +and,—well, I can’t exactly explain it, but it’s +like putting two years’ work into one; and then +I could graduate from the Oliphant school this +June, instead of going there another year, as +I had expected. Then, if I do that, Papa says +I may stay home next year, and just have masters +in music and French, and whatever +branches I want to keep up. So I’m trying, +but I hardly think I can pass the examinations +after all.” +</p> +<p>“Well, you’re not going to study while +you’re here,” said Mrs. Allen, “and after we +get Nan packed off on Thursday, you and I are +going to have lovely times. You must stay +with me as long as you can, for I shall be dreadfully +lonesome without my own girl.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, dear Mrs. Allen, I am very +happy here, and I love to stay with you; but of +course I can stay only as long as our Easter vacation +lasts. I must go back to New York the +early part of next week.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span></p> +<p>“Well, we’ll cram all the fun possible into +the few days you are here then,” and Patty’s +gay little hostess bustled away to look after her +household appointments. +</p> +<p>Mrs. Allen was of a social, pleasure-loving +nature. Indeed, it was often said that she cared +more for parties and festive gatherings than +did her daughter Nan. +</p> +<p>Nobody was surprised to learn that Nan +Allen was to marry a man many years older +than herself. The surprise came when they +met Mr. Fairfield and discovered that that gentleman +appeared to be much younger than he +undoubtedly was. +</p> +<p>For Patty’s father, though nearly forty years +old, had a frank, ingenuous manner, and a smile +that was almost boyish in its gaiety. +</p> +<p>Mrs. Allen was in her element superintending +her daughter’s wedding, and the whole affair +was to be on a most elaborate scale. Far +more so than Nan herself wished, for her tastes +were simple, and she would have preferred a +quieter celebration of the occasion. +</p> +<p>But as Mrs. Allen said, it was her last opportunity +to provide an entertainment for her +daughter, and she would not allow her plans to +be thwarted. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span></p> +<p>So preparations for the great event went +busily on. Carpenters came and enclosed the +wide verandas, and decorators came and hung +the newly made walls with white cheese cloth, +and trimmed them with garlands of green. The +house was invaded with decorators, caterers, +and helpers of all sorts, while neighbours and +friends of Mrs. Allen and of Nan flew in and +out at all hours. +</p> +<p>The present-room was continually thronged +by admiring friends who never tired of looking +at the beautiful gifts already upon the tables, +or watching the opening of new ones. +</p> +<p>“There’s the thirteenth cut-glass ice-tub,” +said Nan, as she tore the tissue paper wrapping +from an exquisite piece of sparkling glass. “I +should think it an unlucky number if I didn’t +feel sure that one or two more would come yet.” +</p> +<p>“What are you going to do with them all, +Nan?” asked one of her girl friends; “shall +you exchange any of your duplicate gifts?” +</p> +<p>“No indeed,” said Nan, “I’m too conservative +and old-fashioned to exchange my wedding +gifts. I shall keep the whole thirteen, and then +when one gets broken, I can replace it with +another. Accidents will happen, you know.” +</p> +<p>“But not thirteen times, and all ice-tubs!” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span> +said Patty, laughing. “You’ll have to use them +as individuals, Nan. When you give a dinner +party of twelve, each guest can have a separate +ice-tub, which will be very convenient.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t care,” said Nan, taking the jest +good-humouredly, “I shall keep them all, no +matter how many I get. And I always did like +ice-tubs, anyway.” +</p> +<p>Another great excitement was when Nan’s +gowns were sent home from the dressmaker’s. +Patty was frankly fond of pretty clothes, and +she fairly revelled in Nan’s beautiful <i>trousseau</i>. +To please Patty, the bride-elect tried them all +on, one after another, and each seemed more +beautiful than the one before. When at last +Nan stood arrayed in her bridal gown, with +veil and orange blossoms complete, Patty’s +ecstacy knew no bounds. +</p> +<p>“You are a picture, Nan!” she cried. “A +perfect dream! I never saw such a beautiful +bride. Oh, I am so glad you’re coming to live +with us, and then I can try on that white satin +confection and prance around in it myself.” +</p> +<p>They all laughed at this, and Nan exclaimed, +in mock reproach: +</p> +<p>“I’d like to see you do it, Miss! Prance +around in my wedding gown, indeed! Have +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span> +you no more respect for your elderly and antiquated +Stepmamma than that?” +</p> +<p>Patty giggled at Nan’s pretended severity, +and danced round her, patting a fold here, and +picking out a bow there, and having a good +time generally. +</p> +<p>The next day there was a luncheon, to which +Mrs. Allen had invited a number of Nan’s +dearest girl friends. +</p> +<p>Patty enjoyed this especially, for not only +did she dearly love a pretty affair of this sort, +but Mrs. Allen had let her help with the preparations, +and Patty had even suggested some +original ideas which found favour in Mrs. +Allen’s eyes. +</p> +<p>Over the table was suspended a floral wedding +bell, which was supplied with not only one +clapper, but a dozen. These clappers were ingenious +little contrivances, and from each hung +a long and narrow white ribbon. After the +luncheon, each ribbon was apportioned to a +guest, and at a given signal the ribbons were +pulled, whereupon each clapper sprang open, +and a tiny white paper fluttered down to the +table. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +<img src='images/illus1.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +“Patty fairly reveled in Nan’s beautiful trousseau” +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span></div> +<p>These papers each bore the name of one of +the guests, and when opened were found to +contain a rhymed jingle foretelling in a humorous +way the fate of each girl. Patty had written +the merry little verses, and they were read +aloud amid much laughter and fun. +</p> +<p>As Patty did not know these Philadelphia +girls very well, many of her verses which foretold +their fates were necessarily merely graceful +little jingles, without any attempt at special +appropriateness. +</p> +<p>One which fell to the lot of a dainty little +golden-haired girl ran thus: +</p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Your cheeks are red, your eyes are blue;</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Your hair is gold, your heart is too.</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p>Another which was applied to a specially +good-humoured maiden read thus: +</p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>The longer you live the sweeter you’ll grow;</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Your fair cup of joy shall have no trace of woe.</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p>But some of the girls had special hopes or +interests, and these Patty touched upon. An +aspiring music lover was thus warned: +</p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>If you would really learn to play,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Pray practice seven hours a day,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>And then perhaps at last you may.</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span></div> +<p>And an earnest art student received this +somewhat doubtful encouragement: +</p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>You’ll try to paint in oil,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>And your persistent toil,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Will many a canvas spoil.</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p>Patty’s own verse was a little hit at her dislike +for study, and her taste in another direction: +</p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Little you care to read a book,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>But, goodness me, how you can cook!</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p>Nan’s came last of all, and she read it aloud +amid the gay laughter of the girls: +</p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Ere many days shall pass o’er your fair head,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Your fate is, pretty lady, to be wed;</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Yet scarcely can you be a happy wife,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>For Patty F. will lead you such a life!</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p>The girls thought these merry little jingles +great fun, and each carefully preserved her +“fortune” to take home as a souvenir of the +occasion. +</p> +<p>Bumble Barlow was at this luncheon, for the +Barlows were friends and near neighbours of +the Allens. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span></p> +<p>Readers who knew Patty in her earlier years, +will remember Bumble as the cousin who lived +at the “Hurly-Burly” down on Long Island. +</p> +<p>Although Bumble was a little older, and insisted +on being called by her real name of +Helen, she was the same old mischievous fly-away +as ever. She was delighted to see Patty +again, and coaxed her to come and stay with +them, instead of with the Allens. But Mrs. +Allen would not hear of such an arrangement, +and could only be induced to give her consent +that Patty should spend one day with the Barlows +during her visit in Philadelphia. +</p> +<p>The short time that was left before the wedding +day flew by as if on wings. So much was +going on both in the line of gaiety and entertainment, +and also by way of preparation for +the great event, that Patty began to wonder +whether social life was not, after all, as wearing +as the more prosaic school work. +</p> +<p>But Mrs. Allen said, when this question was +referred to her, “Not a bit of it! All this +gaiety does you good, Patty. You need recreation +from that everlasting grind of school +work, and you’ll go back to it next week refreshed, +and ready to do better work than +ever.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span></p> +<p>“I’m sure of it,” said Patty, “and I shall +never forget the fun we’re having this week. +It’s just like a bit of Fairyland. I’ve never had +such an experience before.” +</p> +<p>Patty’s life had been one of simple pleasures +and duties. She had a great capacity for enjoyment, +but heretofore had only known fun +and frolic of a more childish nature. This +glimpse into what seemed to be really truly +grown-up society was bewildering and very enjoyable, +and Patty found it quite easy to adapt +herself to its requirements. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='II_WEDDING_BELLS' id='II_WEDDING_BELLS'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>WEDDING BELLS</h3> +</div> + +<p>At last the wedding day arrived, and a +brighter or more sunshiny day could +not have been asked for by the most +exacting of brides. +</p> +<p>It was to be an evening wedding, but from +early in the morning there was a constant succession +of exciting events. The last touches +were being put to the decorations, belated presents +were coming in, house guests were arriving, +messengers coming and going, and through +it all Mrs. Allen bustled about, supremely +happy in watching the culminating success of +her elaborate plans. Patty looked at her with +a wondering admiration, for she always admired +capability, and Mrs. Allen was exhibiting +what might almost be called generalship in +her house that day. +</p> +<p>Of course, Patty had no care or responsibility, +and nothing to do but enjoy herself, so she +did this thoroughly. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span></p> +<p>In the morning Marian and Frank Elliott +came. They were staying at the Barlows’, and +Mr. Fairfield was staying there too. +</p> +<p>It sometimes seemed to Patty that her father +ought to have played a more prominent part in +all the preliminary festivities, but Mrs. Allen +calmly told her, in Mr. Fairfield’s presence, +that a bridegroom had no part in wedding affairs +until the time of the ceremony itself. +</p> +<p>Mr. Fairfield laughed good-humouredly, and +replied that he was quite satisfied to be left out +of the mad rush, until the real occasion came. +</p> +<p>Like Nan, Mr. Fairfield would have preferred +a quiet wedding, but Mrs. Allen utterly +refused to hear of such a thing. Nan was her +only daughter, and this her only chance to arrange +an entertainment such as her soul delighted +in. Mr. Allen was willing to indulge +his wife in her wishes, and was exceedingly +hospitable by nature. Moreover, he took great +pride in his charming daughter, and wanted +everything done that could in any way contribute +to the success or add to the beauty of her +wedding celebration. +</p> +<p>Patty fluttered around the house in a sort +of inconsequent delight. Now in the present-room, +looking over the beautiful collection, now +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +chatting with her cousins, or other friends, now +strolling through the great parlours with their +wonderful decorations of banked roses and garland-draped +ceilings. +</p> +<p>Dinner was early that night, as the ceremony +was to be performed at eight o’clock, and after +dinner Patty flew to her room to don her own +beautiful new gown. +</p> +<p>This dress delighted Patty’s beauty-loving +heart. It was a white tulle sprinkled with silver, +and its soft, dainty glitter seemed to Patty +like moonlight on the snow. Her hair was done +low on her neck, in a most becoming fashion, +and her only ornament was a necklace of pearls +which had belonged to her mother, and which +her father had given her that very day. The +first Mrs. Fairfield had died when Patty was a +mere baby, so of course she had no recollection +of her, but she had always idealised the personality +of her mother, and she took the beautiful +pearls from her father with almost a feeling of +reverence as she touched them. +</p> +<p>“I’m so glad it’s Nan you’re going to marry, +Papa,” she said. “I wouldn’t like it as well if +it were somebody who would really try to be a +stepmother to me, but dear old Nan is more +like a sister, and I’m so glad she’s ours.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span></p> +<p>“I’m glad you’re pleased, Patty, dear, and I +only hope Nan will never regret marrying a +man so much older than herself.” +</p> +<p>“You’re not old, Papa Fairfield,” cried +Patty indignantly; “I won’t have you say such +a thing! Why, you’re not forty yet, and Nan +is twenty-four. Why, that’s hardly any difference +at all.” +</p> +<p>“So Nan says,” said Mr. Fairfield, smiling, +“so I dare say my arithmetic’s at fault.” +</p> +<p>“Of course it is,” said Patty, “and you +don’t look a bit old either. Why, you look as +young as Mr. Hepworth, and he looks nearly +as young as Kenneth, and Kenneth’s only two +years older than I am.” +</p> +<p>“That sounds a little complicated, Patty, but +I’m sure you mean it as a compliment, so I’ll +take it as such.” +</p> +<p>A little before eight o’clock, Patty, in her +shimmering gown, went dancing downstairs. +</p> +<p>The rooms were already crowded with +guests, and the first familiar face Patty saw +was that of Mr. Hepworth, who came toward +her with a glad smile of greeting. +</p> +<p>“How grown-up we are looking to-night,” +he said. “I shall have to paint your portrait +all over again, and you must wear that gown, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +and we will call it, ‘A Moonlight Sonata,’ and +send it to the exhibition.” +</p> +<p>“That will be lovely!” exclaimed Patty; +“but can you paint silver?” +</p> +<p>“Well, I could try to get a silvery effect, at +least.” +</p> +<p>“That wouldn’t do; it must be the real +thing. I think you could only get it right by +using aluminum paint like they paint the letter-boxes +with.” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mr. Hepworth, “that would +be realistic, at least, but I see a crowd of your +young friends coming this way, and I feel quite +sure they mean to carry you off. So won’t you +promise me a dance or two, when the time +comes for that part of the programme?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, indeed,” said Patty, “and there is +going to be dancing after the supper.” +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth looked after Patty, as, all +unconscious of his gaze, she went on through +the rooms with the young friends who had +claimed her. +</p> +<p>Gilbert Hepworth had long realised his +growing interest in Patty, and acknowledged to +himself that he loved the girl devotedly. But +he had never by word or look intimated this, +and had no intention of doing so until she +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +should be some years older. He, himself, was +thirty-four, and he knew that must seem old +indeed to a girl of seventeen. So he really had +little hope that he ever could win her for his +own, but he allowed himself the pleasure of her +society whenever opportunity offered, and it +pleased him to do for her such acts of courtesy +and kindness as could not be construed into special +attentions, or indication of an unwelcome +devotion. +</p> +<p>Among the group that surrounded Patty was +Kenneth Harper, a college boy who was a good +chum of Patty’s and a favourite with Mr. Fairfield. +Marian and Frank were with them, also +Bob and Bumble, the Barlow Twins, and a +number of the Philadelphia young people. +</p> +<p>This group laughed and chatted merrily +until the orchestra struck up the wedding +march, and an expectant hush fell upon the +assembly. +</p> +<p>At Nan’s special request, there were no +bridesmaids, and when the bride entered with +her father, she was, as Patty had prophesied, a +perfect picture in her beautiful wedding gown. +</p> +<p>Mr. Fairfield seemed to think so too, and +his happy smile as he came to meet her, gave +Patty a thrill of gladness to think that this happiness +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +had come to her father. His life had +been lonely, and she was glad that it was to be +shared by such a truly sweet and lovely woman +as Nan. +</p> +<p>Patty was the first to congratulate the +wedded pair, and Mr. Hepworth, who was an +usher, escorted her up to them that she might +do so. Patty kissed both the bride and the +bridegroom with whole-hearted affection, and +after a few merry words turned away to give +place to others. +</p> +<p>“Come on, Patty,” said Kenneth, “a whole +crowd of us are going to camp out in one of +those jolly cozy corners on the verandah, and +have our supper there.” +</p> +<p>So Patty went with the merry crowd, and +found that Kenneth had selected a conveniently +located spot near one of the dining-room +windows. +</p> +<p>“I’m so glad it’s supper time,” she said, as +they settled themselves comfortably in their +chosen retreat. “I’ve been so busy and excited +to-day that I’ve hardly eaten a thing, and I’m +starving with hunger. And now that I’ve got +my father safely married, and off my hands, I +feel relieved of a great responsibility, and can +eat my supper with a mind at rest.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span></p> +<p>“When I’m married,” said Helen Barlow, +“I mean to have a wedding exactly like this +one. I think it’s the loveliest one I ever saw.” +</p> +<p>“You won’t, though, Bumble,” said Patty, +laughing. “In the first place, you’ll forget to +order your wedding gown until a day or two +before the occasion, and of course it won’t be +done. And then you’ll forget to send out the +invitations, so of course you’ll have no guests. +And I’m sure you’ll forget to invite the minister, +so there’ll be no ceremony, anyway.” +</p> +<p>Bumble laughed good-naturedly at this, for +the helter-skelter ways of the Barlow family +were well known to everybody. +</p> +<p>“It would be that way,” she said, “if I +looked after things myself, but I shall expect +you, Patty, to take entire charge of the occasion, +and then everything will go along like +clockwork.” +</p> +<p>“Are you staying long in Philadelphia, Miss +Fairfield?” asked Ethel Banks, a Philadelphia +girl, who lived not far from the Allens. +</p> +<p>“A few days longer,” said Patty. “I have +to go back to New York next Tuesday, and +then no more gaiety for me. I don’t know how +I shall survive such a sudden change, but after +this mad whirl of parties and things, I have to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +come down to plain everyday studying of lessons,—but +we won’t talk about that now; it’s +a painful subject to me at any time, but especially +when I’m at a party.” +</p> +<p>“Me, too,” said Kenneth. “If ever I get +through college, I don’t think I’ll want to see a +book for the next twenty years.” +</p> +<p>“I didn’t know you hated your lessons so, +Kenneth,” said Marian. “I thought Patty +was the only one of my friends who was willing +to avow that she was like that ‘Poor little Paul, +who didn’t like study at all.’” +</p> +<p>“Yes, I’m a Paul too,” said Kenneth, “and +I may as well own up to it.” +</p> +<p>“But you don’t let it interfere with your +work,” said Patty; “you dig just as hard as if +you really enjoyed it.” +</p> +<p>“So do you,” said Kenneth, “but some day +after we have both been graduated, I suppose +we’ll be glad that we did our digging after +all.” +</p> +<p>A little later, Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield went +away, amid showers of <i>confetti</i>, and after that +there was an hour of informal dancing. +</p> +<p>Patty was besieged with partners asking for +a dance, and as there was no programme, she +would make no promises, but accepted whoever +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +might ask her first at the beginning of each +dance. She liked to dance with Kenneth, for +his step suited hers perfectly, and her cousin +Bob was also an exceptionally good dancer. +</p> +<p>But Patty showed no partiality, and enjoyed +all the dances with her usual enthusiasm. +</p> +<p>Suddenly she remembered that she had +promised Mr. Hepworth a dance, but he had +not come to claim it. Wondering, she looked +around to see where he might be, and discovered +him watching her from across the room. +</p> +<p>There was an amused smile on his face, and +Patty went to him, and asked him in her direct +way, why he didn’t claim his dance. +</p> +<p>“You are so surrounded,” he said, “by +other and more attractive partners, that I hated +to disturb you.” +</p> +<p>“Nonsense,” said Patty, without a trace of +self-consciousness or embarrassment. “I like +you better than lots of these Philadelphia boys. +Come on.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you for the compliment,” said Mr. +Hepworth, as they began to dance, “but you +seemed to be finding these Philadelphia boys +very agreeable.” +</p> +<p>“They’re nice enough,” said Patty, carelessly, +“and some of them are good dancers, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +but not as good as you are, Mr. Hepworth. +Do you know you dance like a—like a—will-o’-the-wisp.” +</p> +<p>“I never met a will-o’-the-wisp, but I’m sure +they must be delightful people, to judge from +the enthusiastic tone in which you mention +them. Do you never get tired of parties and +dancing, Patty?” +</p> +<p>“Oh, no, indeed. I love it all. But you see +I haven’t had very much. I’ve never been to +but two or three real dancing-parties in my life. +Why, I’ve only just outgrown children’s parties. +I may get tired of it all, after two or +three seasons, but as yet it’s such a novelty to +me that I enjoy every speck of it.” +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth suddenly realised how many +social seasons he had been through, and how +far removed he was from this young débutante +in his views on such matters. He assured himself +that he need never hope she would take +any special interest in him, and he vowed she +should never know of his feelings toward her. +So he adapted his mood to hers, and chatted +gaily of the events of the evening. Patty told +him of the many pleasures that had been +planned for her, during the rest of her visit at +Mrs. Allen’s, and he was truly glad that the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +girl was to have a taste of the social gaiety that +so strongly appealed to her. +</p> +<p>“Miss Fairfield,” said Ethel Banks, coming +up to Patty, as the music stopped, “I’ve been +talking with my father, and he says if you and +Mr. and Mrs. Allen will go, he’ll take us all +in the automobile down to Atlantic City for the +week-end.” +</p> +<p>“How perfectly gorgeous!” cried Patty, +her eyes dancing with delight. “I’d love to go. +I’ve never been in an automobile but a few +times in my life, and never for such a long trip +as that. Let’s go and ask Mrs. Allen at once.” +</p> +<p>Without further thought of Mr. Hepworth, +save to give him a smiling nod as she turned +away, Patty went with Ethel to ask Mrs. Allen +about the projected trip. +</p> +<p>Mrs. Allen was delighted to go, and said she +would also answer for her husband. So it was +arranged, and the girls went dancing back to +Mr. Banks to tell him so. Ethel’s father was a +kind-hearted, hospitable man, whose principal +thought was to give pleasure to his only child. +Ethel had no mother, and Mrs. Allen had often +before chaperoned the girl on similar excursions +to the one now in prospect. +</p> +<p>As Mr. Banks was an enthusiastic motorist, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +and drove his own car, there was ample room +for Mr. and Mrs. Allen and Patty. +</p> +<p>Soon the wedding guests departed, and Patty +was glad to take off her pretty gown and tumble +into bed. +</p> +<p>She slept late the next morning, and awoke +to find Mrs. Allen sitting on the bed beside her, +caressing her curly hair. +</p> +<p>“I hate to waken you,” said that lady, “but +it’s after ten o’clock, and you know you are to +go to your Cousin Helen’s to spend the day. I +want you to come home early this evening, as I +have a little party planned for you, and so it’s +only right that you should start as soon as possible +this morning. Here is a nice cup of cocoa +and a bit of toast. Let me slip a kimono +around you, while you breakfast.” +</p> +<p>In her usual busy way, Mrs. Allen fluttered +about, while she talked, and after putting a +kimono round her visitor, she drew up beside +her a small table, containing a dainty breakfast +tray. +</p> +<p>“It’s just as well you’re going away to-day,” +Mrs. Allen chattered on, “because the house +is a perfect sight. Not one thing is in its place, +and about a dozen men have already arrived to +try to straighten out the chaos. So, as you may +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +judge, my dear, since I have to superintend all +these things, I’ll really get along better without +you. Now, you get dressed, and run right +along to the Barlows’. James will take you +over in the pony cart, and he’ll come for you +again at eight o’clock this evening. Mind, now, +you’re not to stay a minute after eight o’clock, +for I have invited some young people here to +see you. I’ll send the carriage to-night, and +then you can bring your Barlow cousins back +with you.” +</p> +<p>As Mrs. Allen rattled on, she had been fussing +around the room getting out Patty’s clothes +to wear that day, and acting in such a generally +motherly manner that Patty felt sure she must +be missing Nan, and she couldn’t help feeling +very sorry for her, and told her so. +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mrs. Allen, “it’s awful. I’ve +only just begun to realise that I’ve lost my girl; +still it had to come, I suppose, sooner or later, +and I wouldn’t put a straw in the way of Nan’s +happiness. Well, I shall get used to it in time, +I suppose, and then sometimes I shall expect +Nan to come and visit me.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='III_ATLANTIC_CITY' id='III_ATLANTIC_CITY'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>ATLANTIC CITY</h3> +</div> + +<p>Patty’s day at the Barlows’ was a decided +contrast to her visit at Mrs. +Allen’s. +</p> +<p>In the Allen home every detail of housekeeping +was complete and very carefully looked +after, while at the Barlows’ everything went +along in a slipshod, hit-or-miss fashion. +</p> +<p>Patty well remembered her visit at their summer +home which they called the Hurly-Burly, +and she could not see that their city residence +was any less deserving of the name. Her Aunt +Grace and Uncle Ted were jolly, good-natured +people, who cared little about system or method +in their home. The result was that things often +went wrong, but nobody cared especially if they +did. +</p> +<p>“I meant to have a nicer luncheon for you, +Patty,” said her aunt, as they sat down at the +table, “but the cook forgot to order lobsters, +and when I telephoned for fresh peas the grocer +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +said I was too late, for they were all sold. +I’m so sorry, for I do love hothouse peas, don’t +you?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t care what I have to eat, Aunt +Grace. I just came to visit you people, you +know, and the luncheon doesn’t matter a bit.” +</p> +<p>“That’s nice of you to say so, child. I remember +what an adaptable little thing you were +when you were with us down in the country, +and really, you did us quite a lot of good that +summer. You taught Bumble how to keep her +bureau drawers in order. She’s forgotten it +now, but it was nice while it lasted.” +</p> +<p>“<i>Helen</i>, Mother, I do wish you would call +me Helen. Bumble is such a silly name.” +</p> +<p>“I know it, my dear,” said Mrs. Barlow, +placidly, “and I do mean to, but you see I +forget.” +</p> +<p>“I forget it, too,” said Patty. “But I’ll try +to call you Helen if you want me to. What +time does Uncle Ted come home, Aunt +Grace?” +</p> +<p>“Oh, about five o’clock, or perhaps six; and +sometimes he gets here at four. I never know +what time he’s coming home.” +</p> +<p>“It isn’t only that,” said Bob; “in fact, +father usually comes home about the same time. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +But our clocks are all so different that it depends +on which room mother is in, as to what +time she thinks it is.” +</p> +<p>“That’s so,” said Helen. “We have eleven +clocks in this house, Patty, and every one of +them is always wrong. Still, it’s convenient in +a way; if you want to go anywhere at a certain +time, no matter what time you start, you can +always find at least one clock that’s about where +you want it to be.” +</p> +<p>“I’m sure I don’t see why the clocks don’t +keep the right time,” said Mrs. Barlow. “A +man comes every Saturday on purpose to wind +and set them all.” +</p> +<p>“We fool with them,” confessed Bob. +“You see, Patty, we all like to get up late, and +we set our clocks back every night, so that we +can do it with a good grace.” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Helen, “and then if we want +each other to go anywhere through the day,—on +time, you know,—we go around the house, +and set all the clocks forward. That’s the only +possible way to make anybody hurry up.” +</p> +<p>Patty laughed. The whole conversation was +so characteristic of the Barlows as she remembered +them, and she wondered how they could +enjoy living in such a careless way. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span></p> +<p>But they were an especially happy family, +and most hospitable and entertaining. Patty +thoroughly enjoyed her afternoon, although +they did nothing in particular for her entertainment. +But Aunt Grace was very fond of her +motherless niece, and the twins just adored +Patty. +</p> +<p>At five o’clock tea was served, and though +the appointments were not at all like Mrs. +Allen’s carefully equipped service, yet it was an +hour of comfortable enjoyment. Uncle Ted +came home, and he was so merry and full of +jokes, that he made them all laugh. Two or +three casual callers dropped in, and Patty +thought again, as she sometimes did, that +perhaps she liked her Barlow cousins best of +all. +</p> +<p>Dinner, not entirely to Patty’s surprise, +showed some of the same characteristics as +luncheon had done. The salad course was lacking, +because the mayonnaise dressing had been +upset in the refrigerator; the ice cream was +spoiled, because by mistake the freezer had +been set in the sun until the ice melted, and the +pretty pink pyramid was in a state of soft +collapse. +</p> +<p>But, as Aunt Grace cheerfully remarked, if +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +it hadn’t been that, it would have been something +else, and it didn’t matter much, anyway. +</p> +<p>It was this happy philosophy of the Barlow +family that charmed Patty so, and it left no +room for embarrassment at these minor accidents, +either on the part of the family or their +guest. +</p> +<p>“Now,” said Patty, after dinner, “if necessary, +I’m going to set all the clocks forward, +for, Helen, I do want you to be ready when +Mrs. Allen sends for us. She doesn’t like to be +kept waiting, one bit.” +</p> +<p>“Never mind the clocks, Patty,” said Helen +good-naturedly. “I’ll be ready.” She scampered +off to dress, and sure enough was entirely +ready before the carriage came. +</p> +<p>“You see, Patty,” she said, “we <i>can</i> do +things on time, only we’ve fallen into the habit +of not doing so, unless there’s somebody like +you here to spur us up.” +</p> +<p>Patty admitted this, but told Bumble that +she was sorry her influence was not more +lasting. +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> + +<p>On Saturday they started with the Banks’s +on the automobile trip. Mrs. Allen provided +Patty with a long coat for the journey, and a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +veil to tie over her hat. Not being accustomed +to motoring, Patty did not have appropriate +garments, and Mrs. Allen took delight in fitting +her out with some of Nan’s. +</p> +<p>Mr. Banks’s motor-car was of the largest and +finest type. It was what is called a palace touring +car, and represented the highest degree of +comfort and luxury. +</p> +<p>Patty had never been in such a beautiful machine, +and when she was snugly tucked in the +tonneau between Mrs. Allen and Ethel, Mr. +Banks and Mr. Allen climbed into the front +seat, and they started off. +</p> +<p>The ride to Atlantic City was most exhilarating, +and Patty enjoyed every minute of it. +There was a top to the machine, for which +reason the force of the wind was not so uncomfortable, +and the tourists were able to converse +with each other. +</p> +<p>“I thought,” said Patty, “that when people +went in these big cars, at this fearful rate of +speed, you could hardly hear yourself think, +much less talk to each other. What’s the name +of your car, Mr. Banks?” +</p> +<p>“The Flying Dutchman,” was the reply. +</p> +<p>“It’s a flyer, all right,” said Patty, “but I +don’t see anything Dutch about it.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span></p> +<p>“That’s in honour of one of my ancestors, +who, they tell me, came over from Holland +some hundreds of years ago.” +</p> +<p>“Then it’s a most appropriate name,” said +Patty, “and it’s the most beautiful and comfortable +car I ever saw.” +</p> +<p>They went spinning on mile after mile at +what Patty thought was terrific speed, but +which Mr. Banks seemed to consider merely +moderate. After a while, seeing how interested +Patty was in the mechanism of the car, +Mr. Allen offered to change seats with her, and +let her sit with Mr. Banks, while that gentleman +explained to her the working of it. +</p> +<p>Patty gladly made the change, and eagerly +listened while Mr. Banks explained the steering +gear, and as much of the motor apparatus as he +could make clear to her. +</p> +<p>Patty liked Mr. Banks. He was a kind and +courteous gentleman, and treated her with a +deference that gave Patty a sudden sense of importance. +It seemed strange to think that she, +little Patty Fairfield, was the honoured guest of +the well-known Mr. Banks of Philadelphia. +She did her best to be polite and entertaining in +return, and the result was very pleasant, and +also very instructive in the art of motoring. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span></p> +<p>They reached Atlantic City late in the afternoon, +and went at once to a large hotel, where +Mr. Banks had telegraphed ahead for rooms. +</p> +<p>Patty and Ethel had adjoining rooms, and +the Allens and Mr. Banks had rooms across the +hall from them. +</p> +<p>Patty had begun to like Ethel before this +trip had been planned, and as she knew her +better she liked her more. Ethel Banks, though +the only daughter of a millionaire, was not in +the least proud or ostentatious. She was a +sweet, simple-minded girl, with friendly ways, +and a good comradeship soon developed between +her and Patty. +</p> +<p>She was a little older than Patty, and had +just come out in society during the past winter. +</p> +<p>As Patty was still a schoolgirl, she could not +be considered as “out,” but of course on occasions +like the present, such formalities made +little or no difference. +</p> +<p>“Now, my dear,” said Mr. Banks to Ethel, +“if you and Miss Fairfield will hasten your +toilettes a little, we will have time for a ride +on the board walk before dinner.” This pleased +the girls, and in a short time they had changed +their travelling clothes for pretty light-coloured +frocks, and went downstairs to find Mr. Banks +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +waiting for them on the verandah. He explained +that the Allens would not go with them +on this expedition, so the three started off. As +their hotel faced the ocean, it was just a step to +the wide and beautiful board walk that runs for +miles along the beach at Atlantic City. +</p> +<p>In all her life Patty had never seen such a +sight as this before, and the beauty and wonder +of it all nearly took her breath away. +</p> +<p>The board walk was forty feet wide, and was +like a moving picture of gaily-dressed and +happy-faced people. +</p> +<p>Although early in April, it seemed like summer +time, so balmy was the air, so bright the +sunshine. Patty gazed with delight at the blue +ocean, dotted with whitecaps, and then back to +the wonderful panorama of the gay crowd, the +music of the bands, and the laughter of the +children. +</p> +<p>“The best way to get an idea of the extent +of this thing,” said Mr. Banks, “is to take a +ride in the wheeled chairs. You two girls hop +into that double one, and I will take this single +one, and we’ll go along the walk for a mile +or so.” +</p> +<p>The chairs were propelled by strong young +coloured men, who were affable and polite, and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +who explained the sights as they passed them, +and pointed out places of interest. Patty said +to Ethel that she felt as if she were in a perambulator, +except that she wasn’t strapped in. +But she soon became accustomed to the slow, +gentle motion of the chairs, and declared that +it was indeed an ideal way to see the beautiful +place. On one side was an endless row of small +shops or bazaars, where wares of all sorts were +offered for sale. At one of these, a booth of +oriental trinkets, Mr. Banks stopped and +bought each of the girls a necklace of gay-coloured +beads. They were not valuable ornaments, +but had a quaint, foreign air, and were +very pretty in their own way. Patty was greatly +pleased, and when they passed another booth +which contained exquisite Armenian embroideries, +she begged Ethel to accept the little gift +from her, and picking out some filmy needle-worked +handkerchiefs, she gave them to her +friend. +</p> +<p>On they went, past the several long piers, +until Mr. Banks said it was time to turn around +if they would reach the hotel in time for dinner. +</p> +<p>So back they went to the hotel, and, after +finding the Allens, they all went to the dining-room. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span></p> +<p>Privately, Patty wondered how these people +could spend so much time eating dinner, when +they might be out on the beach. At last, to her +great satisfaction, dinner was over, and Mr. +Allen proposed that they all go out for a short +stroll on the board walk. +</p> +<p>Although it had been a gay scene in the +afternoon, that was as nothing to the evening +effect. Thousands,—millions, it seemed to +Patty,—of electric lights in various wonderful +devices, and in every possible colour, made the +place as light as day, and the varied gorgeousness +of the whole scene made it seem, as Patty +said, like a big kaleidoscope. +</p> +<p>They walked gaily along, mingling with the +good-natured crowd, noticing various sights or +incidents here and there, until they reached the +great steel pier, where Mr. Allen invited them +to go with him to the concert. So in they went +to listen to a band concert. This pleased Patty, +for she was especially fond of a brass band, but +Mrs. Allen said it was nothing short of +pandemonium. +</p> +<p>“Your tastes are barbaric, Patty,” she said, +laughing. “You love light and colour and +noise, and I don’t believe you could have too +much of any of the three.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span></p> +<p>“I don’t believe I could,” said Patty, laughing +herself, as the music banged and crashed. +</p> +<p>“And that gewgaw you’ve got hanging +around your neck,” went on Mrs. Allen; +“your fancy for that proves you a true barbarian.” +</p> +<p>“I think it’s lovely,” said Patty, looking at +her gay-coloured beads. “I don’t care if I do +like crazy things. Ethel likes these beads, +too.” +</p> +<p>“That’s all right,” said Mrs. Allen. “Of +course you like them, chickadees, and they look +very pretty with your light frocks. It’s no +crime, Patty, to be barbaric. It only means you +have youth and enthusiasm and a capacity for +enjoyment.” +</p> +<p>“Indeed I have,” said Patty. “I’m enjoying +all this so much that I feel as if I should +just burst, or fly away, or something.” +</p> +<p>“Don’t fly away yet,” said Ethel. “We +can’t spare you. There are lots more things +to see.” +</p> +<p>And so there were. After the concert they +walked on, and on, continually seeing new and +interesting scenes of one sort or another. Indeed, +they walked so far that Mr. Allen said +they must take chairs back. So again they got +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +into the rolling chairs, and rolled slowly back +to the hotel. +</p> +<p>Patty was thoroughly tired out, but very +happy, and went to sleep with the music of the +dashing surf sounding in her ears. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IV_LESSONS_AGAIN' id='IV_LESSONS_AGAIN'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>LESSONS AGAIN</h3> +</div> + +<p>But all this fun and frolic soon came to +an end, and Patty returned to New +York to take up her studies again. +</p> +<p>Grandma Elliott was waiting for her in the +pretty apartment home, and welcomed her +warmly. +</p> +<p>Mrs. Elliott and Patty were to stay at The +Wilberforce only about a fortnight longer. +Then Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield were to return +and take Patty away with them to the new +home on Seventy-second Street. Then the +apartment in The Wilberforce was to be given +up, and Grandma Elliott would return to Vernondale, +where her son’s family eagerly +awaited her. +</p> +<p>“I’ve had a perfectly beautiful time, Grandma,” +said Patty, as she took off her wraps, +“but I haven’t time to tell you about it now. +Just think, school begins again to-morrow, and +I haven’t even looked at my lessons. I thought +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +I would study some in Philadelphia, but goodness +me, there wasn’t a minute’s time to do anything +but frivol. The wedding was just gorgeous! +Nan was a dream, and papa looked +like an Adonis. I’ll tell you more at dinner +time, but now I really must get to work.” +</p> +<p>It was already late in the afternoon, but +Patty brought out her books, and studied away +zealously until dinner time. Then making a +hasty toilette, she went down to the dining-room +with grandma, and during dinner gave +the old lady a more detailed account of her +visit. +</p> +<p>After dinner, Lorraine Hamilton and the +Hart girls joined them in the parlour. But +after chatting for a few moments with them, +Patty declared she must go back to her studies. +</p> +<p>“It’s awfully hard,” she said to Lorraine, +as they walked to school next morning, “to settle +down to work after having such a gay vacation. +I do believe, Lorraine, that I never was +intended for a student.” +</p> +<p>“You’re doing too much,” said Lorraine. +“It’s perfectly silly of you, Patty, to try to +cram two years’ work into one, the way you’re +doing.” +</p> +<p>“No, it isn’t,” said Patty, “because then I +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +won’t have to go to school next year, and that +will be worth all this hard work now.” +</p> +<p>“I’m awfully sorry you’re going away from +The Wilberforce,” said Lorraine. “I shall +miss you terribly.” +</p> +<p>“I know it, and I’ll miss you, too; but Seventy-second +Street isn’t very far away, and you +must come to see me often.” +</p> +<p>The schoolgirls all welcomed Patty back, +for she was a general favourite, and foremost in +all the recreations and pleasures, as well as the +classes of the Oliphant school. +</p> +<p>“Oh, Patty,” cried Elise Farrington, as she +met her in the cloakroom, “what do you think? +We’re going to get up a play for commencement. +An original play, and act it ourselves, +and we want you to write it, and act in it, and +stage-manage it, and all. Will you, Patty?” +</p> +<p>“Of course I will,” said Patty. “That is, +I’ll help. I won’t write it all alone, nor act it +all by myself, either. I don’t suppose it’s to be +a monologue, is it?” +</p> +<p>“No,” said Elise, laughing. “We’re all to +be in it, and of course we’ll all help write it, but +you must be at the head of it, and see that it all +goes on properly.” +</p> +<p>“All right,” said Patty, good-naturedly, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +“I’ll do all I can, but you know I’m pretty busy +this year, Elise.” +</p> +<p>“I know it, Patty, and you needn’t do much +on this thing. Just superintend, and help us +out here and there.” +</p> +<p>Then the girls went into the class room and +the day’s work began. +</p> +<p>Patty had grown very fond of Elise, and +though some of the other girls looked upon her +as rather haughty, and what they called stuck-up, +Patty failed to discern any such traits in her +friend; and though Elise was a daughter of a +millionaire, and lived a petted and luxurious +life, yet, to Patty’s way of thinking, she was +more sincere and simple in her friendship than +many of the other girls. +</p> +<p>After school that day Elise begged Patty to +go home with her and begin the play. +</p> +<p>“Can’t do it,” said Patty. “I must go home +and study.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, just come for a little while; the other +girls are coming, and if you help us get the +thing started, we can work at it ourselves, you +know.” +</p> +<p>“Well, I’ll go,” said Patty, “but I can only +stay a few minutes.” +</p> +<p>So they all went home with Elise, and settled +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +themselves in her attractive casino to compose +their great work. +</p> +<p>But as might be expected from a group of +chattering schoolgirls, they did not progress +very rapidly. +</p> +<p>“Tell us all about your fun in Philadelphia, +Patty,” said Adelaide Hart. +</p> +<p>And as Patty enthusiastically recounted the +gaieties of her visit, the time slipped away until +it was five o’clock, and not a word had been +written. +</p> +<p>“Girls, I must go,” cried Patty, looking at +her watch. “I have an awful lot of studying +to do, and I really oughtn’t to have come here +at all.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, wait a little longer,” pleaded Elise. +“We must get the outline of this thing.” +</p> +<p>“No, I can’t,” said Patty, “I really can’t; +but I’ll come Saturday morning, and will work +on it then, if you like.” +</p> +<p>Patty hurried away, and when she reached +home she found Kenneth Harper waiting for +her. +</p> +<p>“I thought you’d never come,” he said, as +she arrived. “Your school keeps very late, +doesn’t it?” +</p> +<p>“Oh, I’ve been visiting since school,” said +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +Patty. “I oughtn’t to have gone, but I haven’t +seen the girls for so long, and they had a plan +on hand that they wanted to discuss with me.” +</p> +<p>“I have a plan on hand, too,” said Kenneth. +“I’ve been talking it over with Mrs. Elliott, +and she has been kind enough to agree to it. A +crowd of us are going to the matinée on Saturday, +and we want you to go. Mrs. Morse has +kindly consented to act as chaperon, and there’ll +be about twelve in the party. Will you go, +Patty?” +</p> +<p>“Will I go!” cried Patty. “Indeed I will, +Ken. Nothing could keep me at home. Won’t +it be lots of fun?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, it will,” said Kenneth, “and I’m so +glad you will go. I was afraid you’d say those +old lessons of yours were in the way.” +</p> +<p>Patty’s face fell. +</p> +<p>“I oughtn’t to go,” she said, “for I’ve +promised the girls to spend Saturday morning +with them, and now this plan of yours means +that I shall lose the whole day, and I have so +much to do on Saturday; an extra theme to +write, and a lot of back work to make up. Oh, +Ken, I oughtn’t to go.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, come ahead. You can do those things +Saturday evening.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span></p> +<p>Patty sighed. She knew she wouldn’t feel +much like work Saturday evening, but she +couldn’t resist the temptation of the gay party +Saturday afternoon. So she agreed to go, and +Kenneth went away much pleased. +</p> +<p>“What do you think, grandma?” said she. +“Do you think I ought to have given up the +matinée, and stayed at home to study?” +</p> +<p>“No, indeed,” said Grandma Elliott, who +was an easy-going old lady. “You’ll enjoy the +afternoon with your young friends, and, as +Kenneth says, you can study in the evening.” +</p> +<p>So when Saturday came Patty spent the +morning with Elise. The other girls were +there, and they really got to work on their play, +and planned the scenes and the characters. +</p> +<p>“It will be perfectly lovely!” exclaimed +Adelaide Hart. “I’m so glad for our class to +do something worth while. It will be a great +deal nicer than the tableaux of last year.” +</p> +<p>“But it will be an awful lot of work,” said +Hilda Henderson. “All those costumes, +though they seem so simple, will be quite troublesome +to get up, and the scenery will be no +joke.” +</p> +<p>“Perhaps Mr. Hepworth will help us with +the scenery,” said Patty. “He did once when +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +we had a kind of a little play in Vernondale, +where I used to live. He’s an artist, you know, +and he can sketch in scenes in a minute, and +make them look as if they had taken days to do. +He’s awfully clever at it, and so kind that I +think he’ll consent to do it.” +</p> +<p>“That will be regularly splendid!” said +Elise, “and you’d better ask him at once, Patty, +so as to give him as much time as possible.” +</p> +<p>“No, I won’t ask him quite yet,” said Patty, +laughing. “I think I’ll wait until the play is +written, first. I don’t believe it’s customary to +engage a scene painter before a play is scarcely +begun.” +</p> +<p>“Well, then, let’s get at it,” said Hilda, who +was practical. +</p> +<p>So to work they went, and really wrote the +actual lines of a good part of the first act. +</p> +<p>“Now, that’s something like,” said Patty, +as, when the clock struck noon, she looked with +satisfaction on a dozen or more pages, neatly +written in Hilda’s pretty penmanship. “If we +keep on like that, we can get this thing done in +five or six Saturday mornings, and then I’ll ask +Mr. Hepworth about the scenery. Then we +can begin to rehearse, and we’ll just about be +ready for commencement day.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span></p> +<p>While Patty was with the girls, her interest +and enthusiasm were so great that the play +seemed the only thing to be thought of. But +when she reached home and saw the pile of untouched +schoolbooks and remembered that she +would be away all the afternoon, she felt many +misgivings. +</p> +<p>However, she had promised to go, so off she +went to the matinée, and had a thoroughly +pleasant and enjoyable time. Mrs. Morse invited +her to go home to dinner with Clementine, +saying that she would send her home safely +afterward. +</p> +<p>Clementine added her plea that this invitation +might be accepted, but Patty said no. Although +she wanted very much to go with the +Morses, yet she knew that duty called her home. +So she regretfully declined, giving her reason, +and went home, determined to work hard at her +themes and her lessons. But after her merry +day with her young friends, she was not only +tired physically, but found great difficulty in +concentrating her thoughts on more prosaic subjects. +But Patty had pretty strong will-power, +and she forced herself to go at her work in earnest. +Grandma Elliott watched her, as she +pored over one book after another, or hastily +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +scribbled her themes. A little pucker formed +itself between her brows, and a crimson flush +appeared on her cheeks. +</p> +<p>At ten o’clock Mrs. Elliott asserted her authority. +</p> +<p>“Patty,” she said, “you must go to bed. +You’ll make yourself ill if you work so hard.” +</p> +<p>Patty pushed back her books. “I believe +I’ll have to, grandma,” she said. “My head’s +all in a whirl, and the letters are dancing jigs +before my eyes.” +</p> +<p>Exhausted, Patty crept into bed, and though +she slept late next morning, Grandma Elliott +imagined that her face still bore traces of worry +and hard work. +</p> +<p>“Nonsense, grandma,” said Patty, laughing. +“I guess my robust constitution can stand a +little extra exertion once in a while. I’ll try to +take it easier this week, and I believe I’ll give +up my gymnasium work. That will give me +more time, and won’t interfere with getting my +diploma.” +</p> +<p>But though Patty gained a few extra half +hours by omitting the gymnasium class, she +missed the daily exercise more than she would +admit even to herself. +</p> +<p>“You’re getting round-shouldered, Patty,” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +said Lorraine, one day; “and I believe it’s +because you work so hard over those old +lessons.” +</p> +<p>“It isn’t the work, Lorraine,” said Patty, +laughing. “It’s the play. I had to rewrite the +whole of that garden scene last night, after I +finished my lessons.” +</p> +<p>“Why, what was the matter with it?” +</p> +<p>“It was all wrong. We didn’t think of it at +the time, but in one place Elise has to go off at +one side of the stage, and, immediately after, +come on at the other side, in different dress. +Now, of course, that won’t do; it has to be arranged +so that she will have time to change her +costume. So I had to write in some lines for +the others. And there were several little things +like that to be looked after, so I had to do over +pretty nearly the whole scene.” +</p> +<p>“It’s a shame, Patty! We make you do all +the hardest of the work.” +</p> +<p>“Not a bit of it. I love to do it; and when +we all work together and chatter so, of course +we don’t think it out carefully enough, and so +these mistakes creep in. Don’t say anything +about it, Lorraine. The girls will never notice +my little changes and corrections, and I don’t +want to pose as a poor, pale martyr, growing +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +round-shouldered in her efforts to help her fellow-sisters!” +</p> +<p>“You’re a brick, Patty, but I will tell them, +all the same. If we’re all going to write this +play together, we’re going to do it all, and not +have you doing our work for us.” +</p> +<p>Lorraine’s loyalty to Patty was unbounded, +and as she had, moreover, a trace of stubbornness +in her character, Patty knew that no +amount of argument would move her from her +determination to straighten matters out. So +she gave up the discussion, only saying, “You +won’t do a bit of good, Lorraine; and anyway, +somebody ought to revise the thing, and if I +don’t do it, who will?” +</p> +<p>Patty said this without a trace of egotism, +for she and Lorraine both knew that none of +the other girls had enough constructive talent +or dramatic capability to put the finishing +touches on the lines of the play. That was +Patty’s special forte, just as Clementine Morse +was the one best fitted to plan the scenic effects, +and Elise Farrington to design the costumes. +</p> +<p>“That’s so,” said Lorraine, with a little +sigh, “and I suppose, Patty, you’ll just go on +in your mad career, and do exactly as you +please.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span></p> +<p>“I suppose I shall,” said Patty, laughing at +Lorraine’s hopeless expression; “but I do want +this play to be a success, and I mean to help all +I can, in any way I can.” +</p> +<p>“It’s bound to be a success,” said Lorraine +with enthusiasm, “because the girls are all so +interested, and I think we’re all working hard +in our different ways. Of course I don’t have +anything to do except to look after the incidental +music, but I do hope that will turn out +all right.” +</p> +<p>“Of course it will, Lorraine,” said Patty. +“Your selections are perfect so far; and you do +look after more than that. Those two little +songs you wrote are gems, and they fit into the +second act just exactly right. I think you’re a +real poet, Lorraine, and after the play is over +I wish you’d get those little songs published. +I’m sure they’re worth it.” +</p> +<p>“I wish I could,” said Lorraine, “and I do +mean to try.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='V_A_NEW_HOME' id='V_A_NEW_HOME'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>A NEW HOME</h3> +</div> + +<p>Great was the rejoicing and celebration +when Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield returned +from their wedding trip. They +came to the apartment to remain there for a +few days before moving to the new house. +</p> +<p>Patty welcomed Nan with open arms, and it +was harder than ever for her to attend to her +studies when there was so much going on in the +family. +</p> +<p>The furnishing of the new house was almost +completed, but there remained several finishing +touches to be attended to. As Patty’s time was +so much occupied, she was not allowed to have +any hand in this work. Mrs. Allen had come +on from Philadelphia to help her daughter, +and Grandma Elliott assisted in dismantling the +apartment, preparatory to giving it up. +</p> +<p>So when Patty started to school one Friday +morning, and was told that when the session +was over she was to go to her new home to stay, +she felt as if she were going to an unexplored +country. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span></p> +<p>It was with joyful anticipations that she put +on her hat and coat, after school, and started +home. +</p> +<p>Her father had given her a latch-key, and as +she stepped in at the front door, Nan, in a +pretty house dress, stood ready to welcome her. +</p> +<p>“My dear child,” she said, “welcome home. +How do you like the prospect?” +</p> +<p>“It’s lovely,” said Patty, gazing around at +as much as she could see of the beautiful house +and its well-furnished rooms. “What a lot of +new things there are, and I recognise a good +many of the old ones, too. Oh, Nan, won’t we +be happy all here together?” +</p> +<p>“Indeed we will,” said Nan. “I think it’s +the loveliest house in the world, and mother +and Fred have fixed it up so prettily. Come up +and see your room, Patty.” +</p> +<p>A large, pleasant front room on the third +floor had been assigned to Patty’s use, and all +her own special and favourite belongings had +been placed there. +</p> +<p>“How dear of you, Nan, to arrange this all +for me, and put it all to rights. I really couldn’t +have taken the time to do it myself, but it’s just +the way I want it.” +</p> +<p>“And this,” said Nan, opening a door into +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +a small room adjoining, “is your own little +study, where you can be quiet and undisturbed, +while you’re studying those terrific lessons of +yours.” +</p> +<p>Patty gave a little squeal of delight at the +dainty library, furnished in green, and with her +own desk and bookcases already in place. +</p> +<p>“But don’t think,” Nan went on, “that we +shall let you stay here and grub away at those +books much of the time. An hour a day is all +we intend to allow you to be absent from our +family circle while you’re in the house.” +</p> +<p>“An hour a day to study!” exclaimed Patty. +“It’s more likely that an hour a day is all I +can give you of my valuable society.” +</p> +<p>“We’ll see about that,” said Nan, wagging +her head wisely. “You see I have some authority +now, and I intend to exercise it.” +</p> +<p>“Ha,” said Patty, dramatically, “I see it +will be war to the knife!” +</p> +<p>“To the knife!” declared Nan, as she ran +away laughing. +</p> +<p>Patty looked about her two lovely rooms +with genuine pleasure. She was like a cat in +her love of comfortable chairs and luxurious +cushions, and she fully appreciated the special +and individual care with which Nan and her +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +father had considered her tastes. Had she not +been so busy she would have preferred to have +a hand in the arranging of her rooms herself, +but as it was, she was thankful that someone +else had done it for her. +</p> +<p>Hastily throwing off her hat and coat, she +flung herself into a comfortable easy chair by +her library table, and was soon deep in her +French lesson. +</p> +<p>A couple of hours later Nan came up and +found her there. +</p> +<p>“Patty Fairfield!” she exclaimed. “You +are the worst I ever saw! Get right up and +dress for dinner! Your father will be home in +a few minutes, and I want you to help me receive +properly the master of the house.” +</p> +<p>Patty rubbed her eyes and blinked, as Nan +pulled the book away from her, and said, +“Why, what time is it?” +</p> +<p>“Time for you to stop studying, and come +out of your shell and mingle with the world. +Wake up!” and Nan gave Patty a little shake. +</p> +<p>Patty came to herself and jumped up, saying, +“Indeed, I’m glad enough to leave my horrid +books, and I’m hungry enough to eat any dinner +you may set before me. What shall I wear, +Nan?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span></p> +<p>“Put on that pretty light blue thing of +yours, with the lace yoke. This is rather a festival +night, and we’re going to celebrate the +first dinner in our new home.” +</p> +<p>So Patty brushed her curly hair and tied on +a white ribbon bow of such exceeding size and +freshness that she looked almost as if wings +were sprouting from her shoulders. Then she +donned her light blue frock, and went dancing +downstairs, to find that her father had already +arrived. +</p> +<p>“Well, Pattikins,” he said, “can you feel at +home in this big house, after living so long in +our apartment?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, indeed,” said Patty, “any place is +home where you and Nan are.” +</p> +<p>The dinner passed off gaily enough. Only +the three were present, as Nan did not want any +guests the first night. +</p> +<p>Although the dining-room appointments +were those that had furnished the Fairfields’Vernondale home, yet they were so augmented +by numerous wedding gifts of Nan’s that Patty +felt as if she were at a dinner party of unusual +splendour. +</p> +<p>“It’s lovely to live in a house with a bride,” +she said, “because there are such beautiful silver +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +and glass things on the table, and on the +sideboard.” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Nan, glancing around her with +satisfaction. “I intend to use all my things. I +think it’s perfectly silly to pack them away in a +safe, and never have any good of them.” +</p> +<p>“But suppose burglars break in and steal +them,” said Patty. +</p> +<p>“Well, even so,” said Nan, placidly, “they +would be gone, but it wouldn’t be much different +from having them stored away in a safe deposit +company.” +</p> +<p>“Nan’s principle is right,” said Mr. Fairfield. +“Now, here’s the way I look at it: what +you can’t afford to lose, you can’t afford to buy. +Remember that, Patty, and if ever you are +tempted to invest a large sum of money in a +diamond or silver or any portable property, +look upon that money as gone forever. True, +you might realise on your possession in case of +need, but more likely you could not, and, too, +there is always the chance of losing it by carelessness +or theft. So remember that you can’t +afford to buy what you can’t afford to lose.” +</p> +<p>“That’s a new idea to me, papa,” said Patty, +“but I see what you mean and I know you are +right. However, there’s little chance of my +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +investing in silver at present, for I can just as +well use Nan’s.” +</p> +<p>“Of course you can,” said Nan, heartily; +“and whenever you want to have company, or +a party of any kind, you’ve only to mention it, +and not only my silver, but my servants and my +own best efforts are at your disposal.” +</p> +<p>“That’s lovely,” said Patty, “and I would +love to have parties and invite the schoolgirls +and some of the boys, but I can’t take the time +now. Why, I couldn’t spare an evening from +my studies to entertain the crowned heads of +Europe.” +</p> +<p>“Nonsense,” said Mr. Fairfield, “you +mustn’t work so hard, Puss; and anyway you’ll +have to spare this evening, for I asked Hepworth +to drop in, and I think two or three +others may come, and we’ll have a little informal +housewarming.” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Patty, dubiously, “and Kenneth +said he would call this evening, and Elise and +Roger may come in. So, as it’s Friday evening, +I’ll see them, of course; but after this I must +study every evening except Fridays.” +</p> +<p>A little later on, when a number of guests +had assembled in the Fairfields’ drawing-room, +Patty looked like anything but a bookworm, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +or a pale-faced student. Her eyes danced, and +the colour glowed in her pretty face, for she +was very fond of merry society, and always +looked her prettiest when thus animated. +</p> +<p>She and Elise entertained the others by quoting +some bits from the school play, Nan sang +for them, and Kenneth gave some of his clever +and funny impersonations. +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth declared that he had no parlour +tricks, but Patty asserted that he had, and +she ran laughing from the room, to return with +several large sheets of paper and a stick of +drawing charcoal. Then she decreed that Mr. +Hepworth should draw caricature portraits of +all those present. After a little demurring, the +artist consented, and shrieks of laughter arose +as his clever pencil swiftly sketched a humorous +portrait of each one. +</p> +<p>“It’s right down jolly,” said Kenneth to +Patty, “your having a big house of your own +like this. Mayn’t I come often to see you? +Mrs. Nan is so kind, she always has a welcome +for me.” +</p> +<p>“You may come and accept her welcome +whenever you like,” said Patty, “but I can’t +promise to see you, Ken, except Friday evenings. +Honestly, I don’t have one minute to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +myself. You see, we rehearse the play afternoons, +and evenings I have to study, and Saturday +is crammed jam full.” +</p> +<p>“But she will see you, Kenneth,” said Nan, +who had heard these remarks. “We’re not +going to let her retire from the world in any +such fashion as she proposes; so you come to +see us whenever you like, and my word for it, +Patty will be at home to you.” +</p> +<p>Nan passed on, laughing, and Patty turned +to Kenneth with an appealing glance. +</p> +<p>“You know how it is, don’t you, Ken? I +just have to stick to my work like everything, +or I won’t pass those fearful examinations, and +now that I’ve made up my mind to try for +them, I <i>do</i> want to succeed.” +</p> +<p>“Yes, I know, Patty, and I fully sympathise +with your ambitions. Stick to it, and you’ll +come out all right yet; and if I should call +sometimes when you’re studying, just say you’re +too busy to see me, and it will be all right.” +</p> +<p>“What an old trump you are, Ken. You +always seem to understand.” +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> + +<p>But as the days passed on, Patty found that +other people did not understand. Her study +hours were continually interrupted. There +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +were occasional callers in the afternoon, and +when Nan presented herself at the study door, +and begged so prettily that Patty would come +down just this once, the girl hadn’t the heart +to refuse. Then there was often company in +the evenings, and again Patty would be forced +to break through her rules. Or there were +temptations which she really couldn’t resist,—such +as when her father came home to dinner, +bringing tickets for the opera, or for some especially +fine play. +</p> +<p>Then, Nan had a day each week on which +she received her friends, and on these Thursdays +Patty was supposed also to act as hostess. +Of course this pleasant duty was imperative, +and Patty always enjoyed the little receptions, +though she felt guilty at losing her Thursday +afternoons. Almost invariably, too, some of the +guests accepted Nan’s invitation to remain to +dinner, and that counted out Thursday evening +as well. +</p> +<p>Altogether, poor Patty was at her wits’ end +to find any time to herself. She tried rising very +early in the morning and studying before breakfast, +but she found it difficult to awaken early, +and neither Nan nor her father would allow +her to be called. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span></p> +<p>So she was forced to resort to sitting up late, +and studying after the rest of the household had +retired. As her room was on the third floor, +she had no difficulty in pursuing this plan without +anyone being aware of it, but burning the +midnight oil soon began to tell on her appearance. +</p> +<p>One morning at breakfast, her father said, +“Patty, child, what is the matter with you? +Your eyes look like two holes burnt in a blanket! +You weren’t up late last night?” +</p> +<p>“Not very,” said Patty, dropping her eyes +before her father’s searching gaze. +</p> +<p>Nothing more was said on the subject, but +though Patty hated to do anything secretly, yet +she felt she must continue her night work, as it +was really her only chance. +</p> +<p>So that night as she sat studying until +nearly midnight, her door slowly opened, and +Nan peeped in. She wore a kimono, and her +hair was in a long braid down her back. +</p> +<p>“Patty Fairfield,” she said, “go to bed at +once! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, to +sit up so late when you know your father +doesn’t want you to.” +</p> +<p>“Now, look here, Nan,” said Patty, talking +very seriously, “I <i>have</i> to sit up late like this, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +because I can’t get a minute’s time through the +day. You know how it is. There’s always +company, or something going on, and I can’t +wake up early in the morning, and I have to sit +up late at night, even if it does make me tired +and sleepy and good for nothing the next day. +Oh, Nan, instead of hindering and making fun +of me, and bothering me all you can, I think +you might try to help me!” +</p> +<p>Patty threw herself on her knees, and burying +her face in Nan’s lap, burst into a convulsive +flood of tears. +</p> +<p>Nan was thoroughly frightened. She had +never before seen Patty cry, and this was more +than crying. It was almost hysterical. +</p> +<p>Then, like a flash, Nan saw it all. Overwork +and worry had so wrought on Patty’s +nerves that the girl was half sick and wholly +irresponsible for her actions. +</p> +<p>With a ready tact, Nan patted the golden +head, and gently soothed the excited child. +</p> +<p>“Never mind, Patty, darling,” she said, +“and try to forgive me, won’t you? I fear I +have been rather blind to the true state of the +case, but I see more plainly now, and I will help +you, indeed I will. I will see to it that you +shall have your hours for study just as you want +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +them, and you shall not be interrupted. Dear +little girl, you’re all tired out, and your nerves +are all on edge, and no wonder. Now, hop +along to bed, and you’ll see that things will go +better after this.” +</p> +<p>As she talked, Nan had gently soothed the +excited girl, and in a quiet, matter-of-fact way, +she helped her prepare for bed, and finally +tucked her up snugly under her down coverlet. +</p> +<p>“Good-night, dearie,” she said; “go to +sleep without a bother on your mind, and remember +that after this Nan will see to it that +you shall have other times to study than the +middle of the night.” +</p> +<p>“Good-night,” said Patty, “and I’m sorry +I made such a baby of myself. But truly, Nan, +I’m bothered to death with those old lessons +and the play and everything.” +</p> +<p>“That’s all right; just go to sleep and dream +of Commencement Day, when all the bothers +will be over, and you’ll get your diploma and +your medal, and a few dozen bouquets besides.” +</p> +<p>And with a final good-night kiss, Nan left +the worn-out girl and returned thoughtfully to +her own room. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VI_BUSY_DAYS' id='VI_BUSY_DAYS'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>BUSY DAYS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Nan was as good as her word. Instead +of trying to persuade Patty not to +study so hard, she did all she could +to keep the study hours free from interruption. +</p> +<p>Many a time when Nan wanted Patty’s company +or assistance, she refrained from telling +her so, and unselfishly left the girl to herself +as much as possible. +</p> +<p>The result of this was that Patty gave herself +up to her books and her school work to +such an extent that she allowed herself almost +no social recreation, and took little or no exercise +beyond her walks to and from school. +</p> +<p>This went on for a time, but Patty was, after +all, of a sensitive and observing nature, and she +soon discovered, by a certain wistful expression +on Nan’s face, or a tone of regret in her voice, +that she was often sacrificing her own convenience +to Patty’s. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span></p> +<p>Patty’s sense of proportion rebelled at this, +and she felt that she must be more obliging to +Nan, who was so truly kind to her. +</p> +<p>And so she endeavoured to cram more duties +into her already full days, and often after a +hard day’s work in school, when she would have +been glad to throw on a comfortable house +gown and rest in her own room, she dressed +herself prettily and went out calling with her +stepmother, or assisted her to receive her own +guests. +</p> +<p>Gay-hearted Nan was not acutely observant, +and it never occurred to her that all this meant +any self-sacrifice on Patty’s part. She accepted +with pleasure each occasion when Patty’s plans +fell in with her own, and the more this was the +case, the more she expected it, so that poor +Patty again found herself bewildered by her +multitude of conflicting duties. +</p> +<p>“I have heard,” she thought to herself one +day, “that duties never clash, but it seems to +me they never do anything else. Now, this +afternoon I’m sure it’s my duty to write my +theme, and yet I promised the girls I’d be at +rehearsal, and then, Nan is so anxious for me +to go shopping with her, that I honestly don’t +know which I ought to do; but I believe I’ll +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +write my theme, because that does seem the +most important.” +</p> +<p>“Patty,” called Nan’s voice from the hall, +“you’ll go with me this afternoon, won’t you? +I have to decide between those two hats, you +know, and truly I can’t take the responsibility +alone.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, Nan,” said Patty, “it really doesn’t +matter which hat you get, they’re both so +lovely. I’ve seen them, you know, and truly +I think one is just as becoming as the other. +And honest, I’m fearfully busy to-day.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, pshaw, Patty. I’ve let you alone +afternoons for almost a week now, or at least +for two or three days, anyhow. I think you +might go with me to-day.” +</p> +<p>Good-natured Patty always found it hard to +resist coaxing, so with a little sigh she consented, +and gave up her whole afternoon to +Nan. +</p> +<p>That meant sitting up late at night to study, +but this was now getting to be the rule with +Patty, and not the exception. +</p> +<p>So the weeks flew by, and as commencement +day drew nearer, Patty worked harder and her +nerves grew more strained and tense, until a +breakdown of some sort seemed imminent. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span></p> +<p>Mr. Fairfield at last awoke to the situation, +and told Patty that she was growing thin and +pale and hollow-eyed. +</p> +<p>“Never mind,” said Patty, looking at her +father with an abstracted air, “I haven’t time +now, Papa, even to discuss the subject. Commencement +day is next week, to-morrow my examinations +begin, and I have full charge of the +costumes for the play, and they’re not nearly +ready yet.” +</p> +<p>“You mustn’t work so hard, Patty,” said +Nan, in her futile way. +</p> +<p>“Nan, if you say that to me again, I’ll throw +something at you! I give you fair warning, +people, that I’m so bothered and worried that +my nerves are all on edge, and my temper is +pretty much the same way. Now, until after +commencement I’ve got to work hard, but if I +just live through that, I’ll be sweet and amiable +again, and will do anything you want me to.” +</p> +<p>Patty was half laughing, but it was plain to +be seen she was very much in earnest. +</p> +<p>Commencement was to occur the first week in +June, and the examinations, which took place +the week before, were like a nightmare to poor +Patty. +</p> +<p>Had she been free to give her undivided attention, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +she might have taken them more +calmly. But her mind was so full of the troubles +and responsibilities consequent on the play, +that it was almost impossible to concentrate her +thoughts on the examination work. And yet +the examinations were of far more importance +than the play, for Patty was most anxious to +graduate with honours, and she felt sure that +she knew thoroughly the ground she had been +over in her studies. +</p> +<p>At last examinations were finished, and +though not yet informed of her markings, +Patty felt that on the whole she had been fairly +successful, and Friday night she went home +from school with a heart lighter than it had +been for many weeks. +</p> +<p>“Thank goodness, it’s over!” she cried as +she entered the house, and clasping Nan around +the waist, she waltzed her down the hall in a +mad joy of celebration. +</p> +<p>“Well, I am glad,” said Nan, after she had +recovered her breath; “now you can rest and +get back your rosy cheeks once more.” +</p> +<p>“Not yet,” said Patty gaily; “there is commencement +day and the play yet. They’re fun +compared to examinations, but still they mean +a tremendous lot of work. To-morrow will be +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +my busiest day yet, and I’ve bought me an +alarm clock, because I have to get up at five +o’clock in order to get through the day at all.” +</p> +<p>“What nonsense,” said Nan, but Patty only +laughed, and scurried away to dress for dinner. +</p> +<p>When the new alarm clock went off at five +the next morning, Patty awoke with a start, +wondering what in the world had happened. +</p> +<p>Then, as she slowly came to her senses, she +rubbed her sleepy eyes, jumped up quickly, and +began to dress. +</p> +<p>By breakfast time she had accomplished +wonders. +</p> +<p>“I’ve rewritten two songs,” she announced +at the breakfast table, “and sewed for an hour +on Hilda’s fairy costume, and cut out a thousand +gilt stars for the scenery, and made two +hundred paper violets besides!” +</p> +<p>“You are a wonder, Patty,” said Nan, but +Mr. Fairfield looked at his daughter anxiously. +Her eyes were shining with excitement, and +there was a little red spot on either cheek. +</p> +<p>“Be careful, dear,” he said. “It would be +pretty bad if, after getting through your examinations, +you should break down because of this +foolish play.” +</p> +<p>“It isn’t a foolish play, Papa,” said Patty +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +gaily; “it’s most wise and sensible. I ought to +know, for I wrote most of it myself, and I’ve +planned all the costumes and helped to make +many of them. One or two, though, we have +to get from a regular costumer, and I have to +go and see about them to-day. Want to go +with me, Nan?” +</p> +<p>“I’d love to go,” said Nan, “but I haven’t +a minute to spare all day long. I’m going to +the photographer’s, and then to Mrs. Stuart’s +luncheon, and after that to a musicale.” +</p> +<p>“Never mind,” said Patty, “it won’t be +much fun. I just have to pick out the costumes +for Joan of Arc and Queen Elizabeth.” +</p> +<p>“Your play seems to include a variety of +characters,” said Mr. Fairfield. +</p> +<p>“Yes, it does,” said Patty, “and most of the +dresses we’ve contrived ourselves; but these two +are beyond us, so we’re going to hire them. +Good-bye, now, people; I must fly over to see +Elise before I go down town.” +</p> +<p>“Who’s going with you, Patty, to the costumer’s?” +asked her father. +</p> +<p>“Miss Sinclair, Papa; one of the teachers in +our school. I am to meet her at the school at +eleven o’clock. We are going to the costume +place, and then to the shops to buy a few things +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +for the play. I’ll be home to luncheon, Nan, at +one o’clock.” +</p> +<p>Patty flew away on her numerous errands, +going first to Elise Farrington’s to consult on +some important matters. Hilda and Clementine +were there, and there was so much to be +decided that the time passed by unnoticed, until +Patty exclaimed, “Why, girls, it’s half-past +eleven now, and I was to meet Miss Sinclair at +eleven! Oh, I’m so sorry! I make it a point +never to keep anybody waiting. I don’t know +when I ever missed an engagement before. +Now, you must finish up about the programmes +and things, and I’ll scurry right along. She +must be there waiting for me.” +</p> +<p>The school was only two blocks away, and +Patty covered the ground as rapidly as possible. +But when she reached there Miss Sinclair had +gone. Another teacher who was there told +Patty that Miss Sinclair had waited until +twenty minutes after eleven, and then she had +concluded that she must have mistaken the appointment, +and that probably Patty had meant +she would meet her at the costumer’s. So she +had gone on, leaving word for Patty to follow +her there, if by any chance she should come to +the school looking for her. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span></p> +<p>Patty didn’t know what to do. The costumer’s +shop was a considerable distance away, +and Patty was not in the habit of going around +the city alone. But this seemed to her a special +occasion, and, too, there was no time to hesitate. +</p> +<p>She thought of telephoning to Nan, but +of course she had already gone out. She +couldn’t call her father up from down town, +and it wouldn’t help matters any to ask Elise +or any of the other girls to go with her. So, +having to make a hasty decision, Patty determined +to go alone. +</p> +<p>She knew the address, and though she didn’t +know exactly how to reach it, she felt sure she +could learn by a few enquiries. But, after leaving +the Broadway car, she discovered that she +had to travel quite a distance east, and there +was no cross-town line in that locality. Regretting +the necessity of keeping Miss Sinclair waiting, +Patty hurried on, and after some difficulty +reached the place, only to find that the costumer +had recently moved, and that his new address +was some distance farther up town. +</p> +<p>Patty did not at all like the situation. She +was unfamiliar with this part of the town, she +felt awkward and embarrassed at being there +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +alone, and she was extremely sorry not to have +kept her engagement with Miss Sinclair. +</p> +<p>All of this, added to the fact that she was +nervous and overwrought, as well as physically +tired out, rendered her unable to use her really +good judgment and common sense. +</p> +<p>She stood on a street corner, uncertain what +to do next; and her uncertainty was distinctly +manifest on her countenance. +</p> +<p>The driver of a passing hansom called out, +“Cab, Miss?” And this seemed to Patty a +providential solution of her difficulty. +</p> +<p>Recklessly unheeding the fact that she had +never before been in a public cab alone, she +jumped in, after giving the costumer’s number +to the driver. As she rode up town she thought +it over, and concluded that, after all, she had +acted wisely, and that she could explain to her +father how the emergency had really necessitated +this unusual proceeding. +</p> +<p>It was a long ride, and when Patty jumped +out of the cab and asked the driver his price, +she was a little surprised at the large sum he +mentioned. +</p> +<p>However, she thought it was wiser to pay it +without protest than to make herself further +conspicuous by discussing the matter. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span></p> +<p>She opened the little wrist-bag which she +carried, only to make the startling discovery +that her purse was missing. +</p> +<p>Even as she realised this, there flashed across +her memory the fact that her father had often +told her that it was a careless way to carry +money, and that she would sooner or later be +relieved of her purse by some clever pickpocket. +</p> +<p>Patty could not be sure whether this was +what had happened in the present instance, or +whether she had left her purse at home. As +she had carried change for carfare in her coat +pocket, she had not expected to need a large +sum of money, and her confused brain refused +to remember whether she had put her purse in +her bag or not. +</p> +<p>She found herself staring at the cabman, who +was looking distrustfully at her. +</p> +<p>“I think I have had my pocket picked,” she +said slowly, “or else I left my purse at home. +I don’t know which.” +</p> +<p>“No, no, Miss, that won’t go down,” said +the cabman, not rudely, but with an uncomfortable +effect of being determined to have his fare. +“Pay up, now, pay up,” he went on, “and +you’ll save yourself trouble in the end.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span></p> +<p>“But I can’t pay you,” said Patty. “I +haven’t any money.” +</p> +<p>“Then you didn’t ought to ride. It ain’t the +first time I’ve knowed a swell young lady to try +to beat her way. Come, Miss, if you don’t +pay me I’ll have to drive you to the station +house.” +</p> +<p>“What!” cried Patty, her face turning +white with anger and mortification. +</p> +<p>“Yes, Miss, that’s the way we do. I s’pose +you know you’ve stole a ride.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, wait a minute,” said Patty; “let me +think.” +</p> +<p>“Think away, Miss; perhaps you can remember +where you’ve hid your money.” +</p> +<p>“But I tell you I haven’t any,” said Patty, +her indignation rising above her fear. “Now, +look here, I have a friend right in here at this +address; let me speak to her, and she’ll come +out and pay you.” +</p> +<p>“No, no, Miss; you can’t ketch me that way. +I’ve heard of them friends before. But I’ll tell +you what,” he added, as Patty stood looking at +him blankly, “I’ll go in there with you, and if +so be’s your friend’s there and pays up the cash, +I’ve nothing more to say.” +</p> +<p>The hansom-driver climbed down from his +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +seat and went with Patty into the costumer’s +shop. +</p> +<p>A stolid-looking woman of Italian type met +them and enquired what was wanted. +</p> +<p>“Is Miss Sinclair here?” asked Patty +eagerly. +</p> +<p>“No, Miss, there’s nobody here by way of +a customer.” +</p> +<p>“But hasn’t a lady been here in the last hour, +to look at costumes for a play?” +</p> +<p>“No, Miss, nobody’s been here this whole +morning.” +</p> +<p>“You see you can’t work that game,” said +the cabman. “I’m sorry, Miss, but I guess +you’ll have to come along with me.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VII_A_RESCUE' id='VII_A_RESCUE'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>A RESCUE</h3> +</div> + +<p>Perhaps it was partly owing to Patty’s +natural sense of humour, or perhaps her +overwrought nerves made her feel a +little hysterically inclined, but somehow the situation +suddenly struck her as being very funny. +To think that she, Patty Fairfield, was about to +be arrested because she couldn’t pay her cab +fare, truly seemed like a joke. +</p> +<p>But though it seemed like a joke, it wasn’t +one. As Patty hesitated, the cabman grew +more impatient and less respectful. +</p> +<p>Patty’s feeling of amusement passed as +quickly as it came, and she realised that she +must do something at once. Nan was not at +home, her father was too far away, and, curiously, +the next person she thought of as one +who could help her in her trouble was Mr. +Hepworth. +</p> +<p>This thought seemed like an inspiration. Instantly +assuming an air of authority and dignity, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +she turned to the angry cabman and said, +“You will be the one to be arrested unless you +behave yourself more properly. Come with me +to the nearest public telephone station. I have +sufficient money with me to pay for a telephone +message, and I will then prove to your satisfaction +that your fare will be immediately paid.” +</p> +<p>Patty afterward wondered how she had the +courage to make this speech, but the fear of +what might happen had been such a shock to +her that it had reacted upon her timidity. +</p> +<p>And with good results, for the cabman at +once became meek and even cringing. +</p> +<p>“There’s a telephone across the street, +Miss,” he said. +</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Patty; “come with me.” +</p> +<p>“There’s a telephone here, Miss,” said the +Italian woman, “if you would like to use it.” +</p> +<p>“That’s better yet,” said Patty; “where’s +the book?” +</p> +<p>Taking the telephone book, Patty quickly +turned the leaves until she found Mr. Hepworth’s +studio number. +</p> +<p>She had an aversion to speaking her own +name before her present hearers, so when Mr. +Hepworth responded she merely said, “Do you +know who I am?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span></p> +<p>Of course the others listening could not hear +when Mr. Hepworth responded that he +did know her voice, and then called her by +name. +</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Patty, still speaking with +dignity, “I have had the misfortune to lose my +purse, and I am unable to pay my cab fare. Will +you be kind enough to answer the cabman over +this telephone right now, and inform him that +it will be paid if he will drive me to your address, +which you will give him?” +</p> +<p>“Certainly,” replied Mr. Hepworth politely, +though he was really very much amazed +at this message. +</p> +<p>Patty turned to the cabman and said, somewhat +sternly, “Take this receiver and speak to +the gentleman at the other end of the wire.” +</p> +<p>Sheepishly the man took the receiver and +timidly remarked, “Hello.” +</p> +<p>“What is your number?” asked Mr. Hepworth, +and the cabman told him. +</p> +<p>“Where are you?” was the next question, +and the cabman gave the address of the costumer, +which Patty had not remembered to do. +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth’s studio was not very many +blocks away, and he gave the cabman his name +and address, saying, “Bring the young lady +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +around here at once, as quickly as you can. I +will settle with you on your arrival.” +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth hung up his own receiver, +much puzzled. His first impulse was to go to +the address where Patty was, but as it would +take some time for him to get around there by +any means, he deemed it better that she should +come to him. +</p> +<p>As Patty felt safe, now that she was so soon +to meet Mr. Hepworth, she gave her remaining +change to the Italian woman, who had been +kind, though stolidly disinterested, during the +whole interview. +</p> +<p>The cabman, having given his number to +Mr. Hepworth, felt a responsibility for the +safety of his passenger, and assisted her into +the cab with humble politeness. +</p> +<p>A few moments’ ride brought them to the +large building in which was Mr. Hepworth’s +studio, and that gentleman himself, hatted and +gloved, stood on the curb awaiting them. +</p> +<p>“What’s it all about?” he asked Patty, +making no motion, however, to assist her from +the cab. +</p> +<p>But the reaction after her fright and embarrassment +had made Patty so weak and nervous +that she was on the verge of tears. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span></p> +<p>“I didn’t have any money,” she said; “I +don’t know whether I lost it or not, and if you’ll +please pay him, papa will pay you afterward.” +</p> +<p>“Of course, child; that’s all right,” said Mr. +Hepworth. “Don’t get out,” he added, as +Patty started to do so. “Stay right where you +are, and I’ll take you home.” He gave Patty’s +address to the driver, swung himself into the +cab beside Patty, and off they started. +</p> +<p>“I wasn’t frightened,” said Patty, though +her quivering lip and trembling hands belied +her words; “but when he said he’d arrest me, +I—I didn’t know what to do, and so I telephoned +to you.” +</p> +<p>“Quite right,” said Hepworth, in a casual +tone, which gave no hint of the joy he felt in +being Patty’s protector in such an emergency. +“But I say, child, you look regularly done up. +What have you been doing? Have you had +your luncheon?” +</p> +<p>“No,” said Patty, faintly. +</p> +<p>“And it’s after two o’clock,” said Hepworth, +sympathetically. “You poor infant, I’d +like to take you somewhere for a bite, but I suppose +that wouldn’t do. Well, here’s the only +thing we can do, and it will at least keep you +from fainting away.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span></p> +<p>He signalled the cabman to stop at a drug +shop, where there was a large soda fountain. +Here he ordered for Patty a cup of hot bouillon. +He made her drink it slowly, and was +rejoiced to see that it did her good. She felt +better at once, and when they returned to the +cab she begged Mr. Hepworth to let her go on +home alone, and not take any more of his valuable +time. +</p> +<p>“No, indeed,” said that gentleman; “it may +not be according to the strictest rules of etiquette +for me to be going around with you in a +hansom cab, but it’s infinitely better than for +you to be going around alone. So I’ll just take +charge of you until I can put you safely inside +your father’s house.” +</p> +<p>“And the girls are coming at two o’clock +for a rehearsal!” said Patty. “Oh, I shall be +late.” +</p> +<p>“The girls will wait,” said Mr. Hepworth, +easily, and then during the rest of the ride he +entertained Patty with light, merry conversation. +</p> +<p>He watched her closely, however, and came +to the conclusion that the girl was very nervous, +and excitable to a degree that made him fear +she was on the verge of a mental illness. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span></p> +<p>“When is this play of yours to come off?” +he enquired. +</p> +<p>“Next Thursday night,” said Patty, “if we +can get ready for it, and we must; but oh, there +is so much to do, and now I’ve wasted this +whole morning and haven’t accomplished a +thing, and I don’t know where Miss Sinclair is, +and I didn’t see about the costumes, after all, +and now I’ll be late for rehearsal. Oh, what +shall I do?” +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth had sufficient intuition to +know that if he sympathised with Patty in her +troubles she was ready to break down in a fit of +nervous crying. +</p> +<p>So he said, as if the matter were of no moment, +“Oh, pshaw, those costumes will get +themselves attended to some way or another. +Why, I’ll go down there this afternoon and +hunt them up, if you like. Just tell me what +ones you want.” +</p> +<p>This was help, indeed. Patty well knew that +Mr. Hepworth’s artistic taste could select the +costumes even better than her own, and she +eagerly told him the necessary details. +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth also promised to look after +some other errands that were troubling +Patty’s mind, so that when she finally reached +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +home she was calm and self-possessed once +more. +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth quickly settled matters with +the cabman, and then escorted Patty up the +steps to her own front door, where, with a bow +and a few last kindly words, he left her and +walked rapidly away. +</p> +<p>The girls who had gathered for rehearsal +greeted her with a chorus of reproaches for +being so late, but when Patty began to tell her +exciting experiences, the rehearsal was forgotten +in listening to the thrilling tale. +</p> +<p>“Come on, now,” said Patty, a little later, +“we must get to work. Get your places and +begin your lines, while I finish these.” +</p> +<p>Patty had refused to go to luncheon, and the +maid had brought a tray into the library for +her. So, with a sandwich in one hand and a +glass of milk in the other, she directed the rehearsal, +taking her own part therein when the +time came. +</p> +<p>So the days went on, each one becoming more +and more busy as the fateful time drew near. +</p> +<p>Also Patty became more and more nervous. +She had far more to do than any of the other +girls, for they depended on her in every emergency, +referred every decision to her, and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +seemed to expect her to do all the hardest of the +work. +</p> +<p>Moreover, the long strain of overstudy she +had been through had left its effects on her system, +and Patty, though she would not admit it, +and no one else realised it, was in imminent +danger of an attack of nervous prostration. +</p> +<p>The last few days Nan had begun to suspect +this, but as nothing could be done to check +Patty’s mad career, or even to assist her in the +many things she had to do, Nan devoted her +efforts to keeping Patty strengthened and stimulated, +and was constantly appearing to her +with a cup of hot beef tea, or of strong coffee, +or a dose of some highly recommended nerve +tonic. +</p> +<p>Although these produced good temporary +effects, the continued use of these remedies +really aggravated Patty’s condition, and when +Thursday came she was almost a wreck, both +physically and mentally, and Nan was at her +wits’ end to know how to get the girl through +the day. +</p> +<p>At the summons of her alarm clock Patty +rose early in the morning, for there was much +to do by way of final preparation. Before +breakfast she had attended to many left-over +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +odds and ends, and when she appeared at the +table she said only an absent-minded “good-morning,” +and then knit her brows as if in deep +and anxious thought. +</p> +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield looked at each other. +They knew that to say a word to Patty by way +of warning would be likely to precipitate the +breakdown that they feared, so they were careful +to speak very casually and gently. +</p> +<p>“Anything I can do for you to-day, Puss?” +said her father, kindly. +</p> +<p>“No,” said Patty, still frowning; “but I +wish the flowers would come. I have to make +twenty-four garlands before I go over to the +schoolroom, and I must be there by ten o’clock +to look after the building of the platform.” +</p> +<p>“Can’t I make the garlands for you?” asked +Nan. +</p> +<p>“No,” said Patty, “they have to be made a +special way, and you’d only spoil them.” +</p> +<p>“But if you showed me,” urged Nan, patiently. +“If you did two or three, perhaps I +could copy them exactly; at any rate, let me +try.” +</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Patty, dully, “I wish you +could do them, I’m sure.” +</p> +<p>The flowers were delayed, as is not unusual +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +in such cases, and it was nearly ten when they +arrived. +</p> +<p>Patty was almost frantic by that time, and +Nan, as she afterward told her husband, had +to “handle her with gloves on.” +</p> +<p>But by dint of tact and patience, Nan succeeded +in persuading Patty, after making two +or three garlands, to leave the rest for her to +do. Although they were of complicated design, +Nan was clever at such things, and could easily +copy Patty’s work. And had she been herself, +Patty would have known this. But so upset +was she that even her common sense seemed +warped. +</p> +<p>When she reached the schoolroom there were +a thousand and one things to see to, and nearly +all of them were going wrong. +</p> +<p>Patty flew from one thing to another, +straightening them out and bringing order from +confusion, and though she held herself well in +hand, the tension was growing tighter, and +there was danger of her losing control of herself +at any minute. +</p> +<p>Hilda Henderson was the only one who realised +this, and, taking Patty aside, she said to +her, quietly, “Look here, girl, I’ll attend to +everything else; there’s not much left that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +needs special attention. And I want you to go +right straight home, take a hot bath, and then +lie down and rest until time to dress for the +afternoon programme. Will you?” +</p> +<p>Patty looked at Hilda with a queer, uncomprehending +gaze. She seemed scarcely to understand +what was being said to her. +</p> +<p>“Yes,” she said, but as she turned she half +stumbled, and would have fallen to the floor if +Hilda had not caught her strongly by the arm. +</p> +<p>“Brace up,” she said, and her voice was stern +because she was thoroughly frightened. “Patty +Fairfield, don’t you dare to collapse now! If +you do, I’ll—I don’t know <i>what</i> I’ll do to you! +Come on, now, I’ll go home with you.” +</p> +<p>Hilda was really afraid to let Patty go alone, +so hastily donning her hat and coat she went +with her to her very door. +</p> +<p>“Take this girl,” she said to Nan, “and put +her to bed, and don’t let her see anybody or say +anything until the programme begins this afternoon. +I’ll look after everything that isn’t finished, +if you’ll just keep her quiet.” +</p> +<p>Nan was thoroughly alarmed, but she only +said, “All right, Hilda, I’ll take care of her, +and thank you very much for bringing her +home.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span></p> +<p>Patty sank down on a couch in a limp heap, +but her eyes were big and bright as she looked +at Hilda, saying, “See that the stars are put on +the gilt wands, and the green bay leaves on the +white ones. Lorraine’s spangled skirt is in +Miss Oliphant’s room, and please be sure,—” Patty +didn’t finish this sentence, but lay back +among the cushions, exhausted. +</p> +<p>“Run along, Hilda,” said Nan; “do the +best you can with the stars and things, and I’ll +see to it that Patty’s all right by afternoon.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VIII_COMMENCEMENT_DAY' id='VIII_COMMENCEMENT_DAY'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>COMMENCEMENT DAY</h3> +</div> + +<p>Nan was a born nurse, and, moreover, +she had sufficient common sense and +tact to know how to deal with nervous +exhaustion. Instead of discussing the situation +she said, cheerily, “Now everything will +be all right. Hilda will look after the stars and +wands, and you can have quite a little time to +rest before you go back to the schoolroom. +Don’t try to go up to your room now, just stay +right where you are, and I’ll bring you a cup +of hot milk, which is just what you need.” +</p> +<p>Patty nestled among the cushions which Nan +patted and tucked around her, and after taking +the hot milk felt much better. +</p> +<p>“I must get up now, Nan,” she pleaded, +from the couch where she lay, “I have so many +things to attend to.” +</p> +<p>“Patty,” said Nan, looking at her steadily, +“do you want to go through with the commencement +exercises this afternoon and the play to-night +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +successfully, or do you want to collapse +on the stage and faint right before all the +audience?” +</p> +<p>“I won’t do any such foolish thing,” said +Patty, indignantly. +</p> +<p>“You will,” said Nan, “unless you obey me +implicitly, and do exactly as I tell you.” +</p> +<p>Nan’s manner more than her words compelled +Patty’s obedience, and with a sigh, the +tired girl closed her eyes, saying, “All right, +Nan, have your own way, I’ll be good.” +</p> +<p>“That’s a good child,” said Nan, soothingly, +“and now first we’ll go right up to your own +room.” +</p> +<p>Then Nan helped Patty into a soft dressing +gown, made her lie down upon her bed, and +threw a light afghan over her. +</p> +<p>Then sitting beside her, Nan talked a little +on unimportant matters and then began to sing +softly. In less than half an hour Patty was +sound asleep, and Nan breathed a sigh of relief +at finding her efforts had been successful. +</p> +<p>But there was not much time to spare, for +the commencement exercises began at three +o’clock. +</p> +<p>So at two o’clock Patty found herself gently +awakened, to see Nan at her bedside, arranging +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +a dainty tray of luncheon which a maid had +brought in. +</p> +<p>“Here you are, girlie,” said the cheery voice, +“sit up now, and see what we have for you +here.” +</p> +<p>Patty awoke a little bewildered, but soon +gathered her scattered senses, and viewed with +pleasure the broiled chicken and crisp salad before +her. +</p> +<p>Exhaustion had made her hungry, and while +she ate, Nan busied herself in getting out the +pretty costume that Patty was to wear at commencement. +</p> +<p>But the sight of the white organdie frock with +its fluffy ruffles and soft laces brought back +Patty’s apprehensions. +</p> +<p>“Oh, Nan,” she cried in dismay, “I’m not +nearly ready for commencement! I haven’t +copied my poem yet, and I haven’t had a minute +to practice reading it for the last two weeks. +What shall I do?” +</p> +<p>“That’s all attended to,” said Nan,—“the +copying, I mean. You’ve been so busy doing +other people’s work, that of course you haven’t +had time to attend to your own, so I gave your +poem to your father, and he had it typewritten +for you, and here it is all ready. Now, while +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +you dress, I’ll read it to you, and that will bring +it back to your memory.” +</p> +<p>“Nan, you are a dear,” cried Patty, jumping +up and flying across the room to give her stepmother +a hearty caress. “Whatever would I do +without you? I’m all right now, and if you’ll +just elocute that thing, while I array myself in +purple and fine linen, I’m sure it will all come +back to me.” +</p> +<p>So Nan read Patty’s jolly little class poem +line by line, and Patty repeated it after her as +she proceeded with her toilette. +</p> +<p>She was ready before the appointed time, and +the carriage was at the door, but Nan would +not let her go. +</p> +<p>“No, my lady,” she said, “you don’t stir out +of this house until the very last minute. If you +get over there ahead of time, you’ll begin to +make somebody a new costume, or build a +throne for the fairy queen, or some foolish trick +like that. Now you sit right straight down in +that chair and read your poem over slowly, +while I whip into my own clothes, and then we’ll +go along together. Fred can’t come until a +little later anyway. Sit still now, and don’t +wriggle around and spoil that pretty frock.” +</p> +<p>Patty obeyed like a docile child, and Nan +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +flew away to don her own pretty gown for the +occasion. +</p> +<p>When she returned in a soft grey crêpe de +chine, with a big grey hat and feathers, she was +such a pretty picture that Patty involuntarily +exclaimed in admiration. +</p> +<p>“I’m glad you like it,” said Nan, “I want to +look my best so as to do you credit, and in return +I want you to do your best so as to do me +credit.” +</p> +<p>“I will,” said Patty, earnestly, “I truly will. +You’ve been awfully good to me, Nan, and but +for you I don’t know what I should have done.” +</p> +<p>Away they went, and when they reached the +schoolroom, and Patty went to join her classmates, +while Nan took her place in the audience, +she said as a parting injunction, “Now mind, +Patty, this afternoon you’re to attend strictly to +your own part in the programme. Don’t go +around helping other people with their parts, +because this isn’t the time for that. You’ll have +all you can do to manage Patty Fairfield.” +</p> +<p>Patty laughed and promised, and ran away +to the schoolroom. +</p> +<p>The moment she entered, half a dozen girls +ran to her with questions about various details, +and Nan’s warning was entirely forgotten. Indeed +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +had it not been for Hilda’s intervention, +Patty would have gone to work at a piece of +unfinished scenery. +</p> +<p>“Drop that hammer!” cried Hilda, as Patty +was about to nail some branches of paper roses +on to a wobbly green arbour. “Patty Fairfield, +are you crazy? The idea of attempting carpenter +work with that delicate frock on! Do +for pity’s sake keep yourself decent until after +you’ve read your poem at least!” +</p> +<p>Patty looked at Hilda with that same peculiar +vacantness in her glance which she had +shown in the morning, and though Hilda said +nothing, she was exceedingly anxious and kept +a sharp watch on Patty’s movements. +</p> +<p>But it was then time for the girls to march +onto the platform, and as Patty seemed almost +like herself, though unusually quiet, Hilda +hoped it was all right. +</p> +<p>The exercises were such as are found on most +commencement programmes, and included class +history, class prophecy, class song and all of the +usual contributions to a commencement programme. +</p> +<p>Patty’s class poem was near the end of the +list, and Nan was glad, for she felt it would give +the girl more time to regain her poise. Mr. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +Fairfield had arrived, and both he and Nan +waited anxiously for Patty’s turn to come. +</p> +<p>When it did come, Patty proved herself quite +equal to the occasion. +</p> +<p>Her poem was merry and clever, and she read +it with an entire absence of self-consciousness, +and an apparent enjoyment of its fun. She +looked very sweet and pretty in her dainty white +dress, and she stood so gracefully and seemed +so calm and composed, that only those who +knew her best noticed the feverish brightness +of her eyes and a certain tenseness of the muscles +of her hands. +</p> +<p>But this was not unobserved by one in the +audience. Mr. Hepworth, though seated far +back, noted every symptom of Patty’s nervousness, +however little it might be apparent to +others. +</p> +<p>Although she went through her ordeal successfully, +he knew how much greater would be +the excitement and responsibility of the evening’s +performance and he wished he could help +her in some way. +</p> +<p>But there seemed to be nothing he could do, +and though he had sent her a beautiful basket +of roses, it was but one floral gift among so +many that he doubted whether Patty even knew +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +that he sent it; and he also doubted if she would +have cared especially if she had known it. +</p> +<p>Like most of the graduates, Patty received +quantities of floral tributes. As the ushers +came again and again with clusters or baskets +of flowers, the audience heartily applauded, and +Patty, though embarrassed a little, preserved a +pretty dignity, and showed a happy enjoyment +of it all. +</p> +<p>As soon as the diplomas were awarded, and +Patty had her cherished roll tied with its blue +ribbon, Nan told Mr. Fairfield that it was imperative +that Patty should be made to go +straight home. +</p> +<p>“If she stays there,” said Nan, “she’ll get +excited and exhausted, and be good for nothing +to-night. I gave her some stimulants this noon, +although she didn’t know it, but the effects are +wearing off and a reaction will soon set in. She +must come home with us at once.” +</p> +<p>“You are right, Mrs. Fairfield,” said Mr. +Hepworth, who had crossed the room and +joined them just in time to hear Nan’s last +words. “Patty is holding herself together by +sheer nervous force, and she needs care if she +is to keep up through the evening.” +</p> +<p>“That is certainly true,” said Nan. “Kenneth,” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +she added, turning to young Harper, who +stood near by, “you have a good deal of influence +with Patty. Go and get her, won’t you? +Make her come at once.” +</p> +<p>“All right,” said Kenneth, and he was off +in a moment, while Mr. Hepworth looked after +him, secretly wishing that the errand might have +been entrusted to him. +</p> +<p>But Kenneth found his task no easy one. Although +Patty willingly consented to his request, +and even started toward the dressing-room to +get her wraps, she paused so many times to +speak to different ones, or her progress was +stopped by anxious-looking girls who wanted +her help or advice, that Kenneth almost despaired +of getting her away. +</p> +<p>“Can’t you make her come, Hilda?” he said. +</p> +<p>“I’ll try,” said Hilda, but when she tried, +Patty only said, “Yes, Hilda, in just a minute. +I want to coach Mary a little in her part, and I +want to show Hester where to stand in the third +act.” +</p> +<p>“Never mind,” said Hilda, impatiently. +“Let her stand on the roof, if she wants to, but +for goodness’ sake go on home. Your people +are waiting for you.” +</p> +<p>Again Patty looked at her with that queer +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +vacant gaze, and then Lorraine Hart stepped +forward and took matters in her own hands. +</p> +<p>“March!” she said, as she grasped Patty’s +arm, and steered her toward the dressing-room. +“Halt!” she said after they reached it, and +then while Patty stood still, seemingly dazed, +Lorraine put her cloak about her, threw her +scarf over her head, wheeled her about, and +marched her back to where Kenneth stood +waiting. +</p> +<p>“Take her quick,” she said. “Take her right +to the carriage; don’t let her stop to speak to +anybody.” +</p> +<p>So Kenneth grasped Patty’s arm firmly and +led her through the crowd of girls, out of the +door, and down the walk to the carriage. Ordinarily, +Patty would have resented this summary +treatment, but still in a half-dazed way +she meekly went where she was led. +</p> +<p>Once in the carriage, Nan sat beside her and +Mr. Fairfield opposite, and they started for +home. No reference was made to Patty herself, +but the others talked lightly and pleasantly +of the afternoon performance. +</p> +<p>On reaching home, Nan put Patty to bed at +once, and telephoned for the Doctor. +</p> +<p>But when Dr. Martin came, Nan met him +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +downstairs, and told him all about the case. +They then decided that the Doctor should not +see Patty, as to realise the fact that she was in +need of medical attendance might prove a +serious shock. +</p> +<p>“And really, Doctor,” said Nan, “if the +girl shouldn’t be allowed at least to try to go +through with the play this evening, I wouldn’t +like to answer for the consequences.” +</p> +<p>“I understand,” said Dr. Martin, “and +though I think that with the aid of certain prescriptions +I shall give you, she can probably get +through the evening, it would be far better if +she did not attempt it.” +</p> +<p>“I know it Doctor,” said Nan, “and with +some girls it might be possible to persuade them +to give it up, but I can’t help feeling that if we +even advised Patty not to go to-night, she would +fly into violent hysterics.” +</p> +<p>“Very likely,” said Dr. Martin, “and I +think, Mrs. Fairfield, you are right in your +diagnosis. If you will give her these drops exactly +as I have directed, I think she will brace +up sufficiently to go through her part all right.” +</p> +<p>Nan thanked the Doctor, and hurried back +to Patty’s room to look after her charge. She +found Patty lying quietly, but in a state of mental +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +excitement. When Nan came in, she began +to talk rapidly. +</p> +<p>“It’s all right, Nan, dear,” she said. “I’m +not ill a bit. Please let me get up now, and +dress so I can go around to the schoolroom a +little bit early. There are two or three things +I must look after, and then the play will go off +all right.” +</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Nan, humouring her, “if +you will just take this medicine it will brace you +up for the evening, and you can go through +with the play as successfully as you did your part +this afternoon.” +</p> +<p>Patty agreed, and took the drops the Doctor +had left, without a murmur. +</p> +<p>Soon their soothing effect became apparent, +and Patty’s nervous enthusiasm quieted down +to such an extent that she seemed in no haste +to go. +</p> +<p>She ate her dinner slowly, and dawdled over +her dressing, until Nan again became alarmed +lest the medicine had been too powerful. +</p> +<p>Poor Nan really had a hard time of it. Patty +was not a tractable patient, and Nan was frequently +at her wits’ end to know just how to +manage her. +</p> +<p>But at last she was ready, and they all +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +started for the school again. Although Patty’s +own people, and a few of her intimate girl +friends knew of her overwrought state, most of +the class and even the teachers had no idea how +near to a nervous breakdown she was. For her +demeanour was much as usual, and though she +would have moments of dazed bewilderment, +much of the time she was unusually alert and +she flew about attending to certain last details +in an efficient and clear-headed manner. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IX_THE_PLAY' id='IX_THE_PLAY'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>THE PLAY</h3> +</div> + +<p>The play went through beautifully. +Every girl did her part wonderfully +well, but Patty surpassed them all. +Buoyed up by excitement, she played her part +with a dash and sprightliness that surprised even +the girls who had seen her at rehearsal. She +was roguish, merry and tragic by turns, and she +sang her solos with a dramatic effect that +brought down the house. She looked unusually +pretty, which was partly the effect of her intense +excitement, and though Nan and Mr. Fairfield +could not help admiring and applauding with +the rest, they were very anxious and really +alarmed, lest she might not be able to keep up +to these emotional heights until the end of the +play. +</p> +<p>Without speaking his thoughts to anyone +else, Mr. Hepworth, too, was very much concerned +for Patty’s welfare. He realised the +danger she was in, and noted every evidence of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +her artificial strength and merriment. Seeing +Dr. Martin in a seat near the back of the room, +he quietly rose and went and sat beside the old +gentleman. +</p> +<p>“Doctor,” he said, “I can’t help fearing that +a collapse of some sort will follow Miss Fairfield’s +performance.” +</p> +<p>“I am sure of it,” said the Doctor, looking +gravely at Mr. Hepworth. +</p> +<p>“Then don’t you think perhaps it would +be wise for you to go around behind the +scenes, presently, and be there in case of +emergency.” +</p> +<p>“I will gladly do so,” said Dr. Martin, “if +Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield authorise it.” +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth looked at his programme, +and then he looked at Patty. He knew the play +pretty thoroughly, and he knew that she was +making one of the final speeches. He saw too, +that she had nearly reached the limit of her +endurance, and he said, “Dr. Martin, I wish +you would go on my authority. The Fairfields +are sitting in the front part of the house, and it +would be difficult to speak to them about it +without creating a commotion. And besides, I +think there is no time to be lost; this is almost +the end of the play, and in my judgment, Miss +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +Fairfield is pretty nearly at the end of her self-composure.” +</p> +<p>Dr. Martin gave the younger man a searching +glance, and then said, “You are right, Mr. +Hepworth. It may be advisable that I should +be there when Miss Fairfield comes off the stage. +I will go at once. Will you come with me?” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mr. Hepworth, and the two +men quietly left the room, and hastened around +the building to the side entrance. +</p> +<p>As Mr. Hepworth had assisted with the +scenery for the play, and had been present at +one or two rehearsals, he knew his way about, +and guided Dr. Martin through the corridors +to the room where the girls were gathered, waiting +their cue to go on the stage for the final +tableau and chorus. +</p> +<p>Lorraine and Hilda looked at each other +comprehendingly, as the two men appeared, but +the other girls wondered at this apparent intrusion. +</p> +<p>Then as the time came, they all went on the +stage, and Dr. Martin and Mr. Hepworth, +watching from the side, saw them form the +pretty final tableau. +</p> +<p>Patty in a spangled dress and tinsel crown, +waving a gilt wand, stood on a high pedestal. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +Around her, on lower pedestals, and on the +floor, were the rest of the fairy maidens in their +glittering costumes. +</p> +<p>The last notes of the chorus rang out, and +amidst a burst of applause the curtain fell. The +applause continued so strongly that the curtain +was immediately raised again, and the delighted +audience viewed once more the pretty scene. +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth was nearer the stage than Dr. +Martin, in fact, in his anxiety, he was almost +edging on to it, and while the curtain was up, +and the audience was applauding, and the orchestra +was playing, and the calcium lights were +flashing their vari-coloured rays, his intense +watchfulness noticed a slight shudder pass over +Patty’s form, then she swayed slightly, and her +eyes closed. +</p> +<p>In a flash Mr. Hepworth had himself rung +the bell that meant the drop of the curtain, and +as the curtain came down, he sprang forward +among the bewildered girls, and reached the +tall pedestal just in time to catch Patty as she +tottered and fell. +</p> +<p>“She has only fainted,” he said, as he carried +her off the stage, “please don’t crowd +around, she will be all right in a moment.” +</p> +<p>He carried her to the dressing-room and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +gently laid her on a couch. Dr. Martin followed +closely, and Mr. Hepworth left Patty in +his charge. +</p> +<p>“You, Miss Hamilton, go in there,” he said +to Lorraine, at the door, “and see if you can help +Dr. Martin. I will speak to the Fairfields +and see that the carriage is ready. I don’t think +the audience knows anything about it, and there +need be no fuss or commotion.” +</p> +<p>Quick-witted Hilda grasped the situation, +and kept the crowd of anxious girls out of the +dressing-room, while Dr. Martin administered +restoratives to Patty. +</p> +<p>But it was not so easy to overcome the faintness +that had seized upon her. When at last she +did open her eyes, it was only to close them +again in another period of exhaustion. +</p> +<p>However, this seemed to encourage Dr. +Martin. +</p> +<p>“It’s better than I feared,” he said. “She +isn’t delirious. There is no threat of brain +fever. She will soon revive now, and we can +safely take her home.” +</p> +<p>And so when the Doctor declared that she +might now be moved, Mr. Fairfield supported +her on one side, and Kenneth on the other as +they took her to the carriage. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span></p> +<p>“Get in, Mrs. Fairfield,” said Kenneth, after +Patty was safely seated by her father, “and you +too, Dr. Martin. I’ll jump up on the box with +the driver. Perhaps I can help you at the +house.” +</p> +<p>So away they went, without a word or a +thought for poor Mr. Hepworth, to whose +watchfulness was really due the fact of Dr. +Martin’s opportune assistance. And too, if Mr. +Hepworth had not seen the first signs of Patty’s +loss of consciousness, her fall from the high +pedestal might have proved a serious accident. +</p> +<p>Although Dr. Martin told the family afterward +of Mr. Hepworth’s kind thoughtfulness, +it went unnoted at the time. But of this, Mr. +Hepworth himself was rather glad than otherwise. +His affection for Patty was such that +he did not wish the girl to feel that she owed +him gratitude, and he preferred to have no +claim of the sort upon her. +</p> +<p>When the party reached the Fairfield house, +Patty had revived enough to talk rationally, +but she was very weak, and seemed to have lost +all enthusiasm and even interest in the occasion. +</p> +<p>“It’s all over, isn’t it?” she asked of her +father in a helpless, pathetic little voice. +</p> +<p>“Yes, Puss,” said Mr. Fairfield, cheerily, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span> +“it’s all over, and it was a perfect success. Now +don’t bother your head about it any more, but +just get rested, and get a good sleep, and then +we’ll talk it over.” +</p> +<p>Patty was quite willing not to discuss the subject, +and with Nan’s assistance she was soon in +bed and sound asleep. +</p> +<p>Dr. Martin stood watching her. “I don’t +know,” he said to Nan, “whether this sleep will +last or not. If it does all will be well, but she +may wake up soon, and become nervous and +hysterical. In that case give her these drops, +which will have a speedy effect. I will be around +again early to-morrow morning.” +</p> +<p>But the doctor’s fears were not realised. +Patty slept deeply all through the night, and +had not waked when the doctor came in the +morning. +</p> +<p>“Don’t waken her,” he said, as he looked +at the sleeping girl. “She’s all right. There’s +no fear of nervous prostration now. The stress +is over, and her good constitution and healthy +nature are reasserting themselves and will conquer. +She isn’t of a nervous temperament, and +she is simply exhausted from overwork. Don’t +waken her, let her sleep it out.” +</p> +<p>And so Patty slept until afternoon, and then +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +awoke, feeling more like her old self than she +had for many days. +</p> +<p>“Nan,” she called, and Nan came flying in +from the next room. +</p> +<p>“I’m awful hungry,” said Patty, “and I am +pretty tired, but the play is over, isn’t it, Nan? +I can’t seem to remember about last night.” +</p> +<p>“Yes, it’s over, Patsy, and everything is all +right, and you haven’t a thing to do but get +rested. Will you have your breakfast now, or +your luncheon?—because you’ve really skipped +both.” +</p> +<p>“Then I’ll have them both,” said Patty with +decision. “I’m hungry enough to eat a house.” +</p> +<p>Later, Patty insisted on dressing and going +downstairs for dinner, declaring she felt perfectly +well, but the exertion tired her more than +she cared to admit, and when Dr. Martin came +in the evening, she questioned him directly. +</p> +<p>“I’m not really ill, am I, Dr. Martin? I’ll +be all right in a day or two, won’t I? It’s so +silly to get tired just walking downstairs.” +</p> +<p>“Don’t be alarmed,” said the old doctor, +“you will be all right in a day or two. By day +after to-morrow you can walk downstairs, or +run down, if you like, without feeling tired +at all.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span></p> +<p>“Then that’s all right,” said Patty. “I suppose +I did do too much with my school work, +and the play, and everything, but I couldn’t +seem to help it, and if I get over it in a week +I’ll be satisfied. In fact, I shan’t mind a bit, +lounging around and resting for a few days.” +</p> +<p>“That’s just the thing for you to do,” agreed +Dr. Martin, “and I’ll give you another prescription. +After a week or two of rest, you +need recreation. You must get out of the city, +and go somewhere in the country. Not seashore +or the mountains just yet, but away into +the country, where you’ll have plenty of fresh +air and nothing to do. You mustn’t look at a +book of any sort or description for a month or +two at least. Will you promise me that?” +</p> +<p>“With great pleasure,” said Patty, gaily, “I +don’t think I shall care to see a book all summer +long; not a schoolbook anyway. I suppose +I may read storybooks.” +</p> +<p>“Not at present,” said the doctor. “Let +alone books of all sorts for a couple of months, +and after that I’ll see about it. What you want +is plenty of fresh air and outdoor exercise. +Then you’ll get back the roses in your cheeks, +and add a few pounds of flesh to your attenuated +frame.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span></p> +<p>“Your prescription sounds attractive,” said +Patty, “but where shall I go?” +</p> +<p>“We’ll arrange all that,” said Mr. Fairfield. +“I think myself that all you need is recreation +and rest, with a fair proportion of each.” +</p> +<p>“So do I,” said Patty; “I don’t want to go +to an old farmhouse, where there isn’t a thing +to do but walk in the orchard; I want to go +where I’ll have some fun.” +</p> +<p>“Go ahead,” said the doctor, “fun won’t +hurt you any as long as it’s outdoor sports or +merry society. But don’t get up any plays, or +any such foolishness, where fun is only a mistaken +name for hard work.” +</p> +<p>Patty promised this, and Dr. Martin went +away without any doubts as to the speedy and +entire recovery of his patient. +</p> +<p>Mr. Fairfield and Nan quite agreed with the +doctor’s opinion that Patty ought to go away for +a rest and a pleasant vacation. The next thing +was to decide where she should go. It was out +of the question, of course, to consider any +strange place for her to go alone, and as Mr. +Fairfield could not begin his vacation until July, +and Nan was not willing to leave him, there +seemed to be no one to accompany Patty. +</p> +<p>The only places, therefore, that Mr. Fairfield +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +could think of, were for her to go to Vernondale +and visit the Elliotts, or down to the +Hurly-Burly where the Barlows had already +gone for their summer season. +</p> +<p>But neither of these plans suited Patty at all, +for she said that Vernondale would be no rest +and not much fun. She was fond of her Elliott +cousins, but she felt sure that they would treat +her as a semi-invalid and coddle her until she +went frantic. +</p> +<p>The Hurly-Burly, she said, would be just the +opposite. They would have no consideration +down there for the fact that she wanted a rest, +but would make her jog about hither and thither, +taking long tramps and going on tiresome picnics +whether she wanted to or not. +</p> +<p>So neither of these plans seemed just the +thing, and Nan’s proposal that Patty go to +Philadelphia and spend June with Mrs. Allen +wasn’t quite what Patty wanted. Indeed, Patty +did not know herself exactly what she wanted, +which was pretty good proof that she was not +so far from the borders of Nervous Land as they +had believed. +</p> +<p>And so when Elise came over one afternoon, +and brought with her an invitation for Patty, +that young woman showed no hesitation in announcing +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +at once that it was exactly what she +wanted. The invitation was nothing more nor +less than to go on a long motor-car trip with the +Farringtons. +</p> +<p>“It will be perfectly splendid,” said Elise, +“if you’ll only go, Patty.” +</p> +<p>“Go!” said Patty, “I should think I would +go! It’s perfectly splendid of you to invite +me. Who are going?” +</p> +<p>“Just father and mother, and Roger and +myself,” said Elise, “and you will make five. +Roger can run the car, or father can, either, for +that matter, so we won’t take a man, and father +has had a new top put on his big touring-car +and we can pile any amount of luggage up on +it, so you can take all the frocks you want to. +We’ll stop at places here and there, you know, +to visit, and of course, we’ll always stop for +meals and to stay over night.” +</p> +<p>“But perhaps they wouldn’t want me,” said +Patty, “where you go to visit.” +</p> +<p>“Nonsense, of course they will. Why, I +wrote to Bertha Warner that I wanted to bring +you, and she said she’d love to have you come.” +</p> +<p>“How could she say so? she doesn’t know me.” +</p> +<p>“Well, I told her all about you, and she’s +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +fully prepared to love you as I do. Oh, do you +suppose your people will let you go?” +</p> +<p>“Of course they will. They’ll be perfectly +delighted to have me go.” +</p> +<p>Patty was right. When she told her father +and Nan about the delightful invitation, they +were almost as pleased as she was herself, and +Mr. Fairfield gave ready permission. +</p> +<p>The projected trip entirely fulfilled Dr. +Martin’s requisites of fresh air, out-of-door exercise, +and a good time, and when he was told +of the plan he also expressed his entire approval. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='X_A_MOTOR_TRIP' id='X_A_MOTOR_TRIP'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>A MOTOR TRIP</h3> +</div> + +<p>Preparations began at once. It was +now the first of June and they were to +start on the sixth. +</p> +<p>There were delightful shopping excursions +for the replenishing of Patty’s wardrobe, and +Nan gladly assisted Patty to get everything in +order for her trip. +</p> +<p>At last the day of starting came, and a more +beautiful day could not be imagined. It was +typical June weather, and the sun shone pleasantly, +but not too warmly, from a clear blue sky. +</p> +<p>Patty’s only experience in motoring had been +her trip to Atlantic City, but that was only a +short ride compared to the contemplated tour +of the Farringtons. +</p> +<p>Mr. Farrington’s huge car seemed to be furnished +with everything necessary for a long +journey. Although they would usually take +their meals at hotels in the towns through +which they passed, Mrs. Farrington explained +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +they might occasionally wish to have tea or even +luncheon on the road, so the car was provided +with both tea-basket and luncheon-kit. The +novelty of this paraphernalia was fascinating to +Patty, and she peeped into the well-appointed +baskets with chuckles of delight at the anticipated +pleasure of making use of them. +</p> +<p>Patty’s trunk was put up on top among the +others, her hand-luggage was stowed away in +its place, and with affectionate good-byes to Nan +and her father, she took her seat in the tonneau +between Mrs. Farrington and Elise, and away +they started. +</p> +<p>Mr. Farrington and Roger, who sat in front, +were in the gayest of spirits and everything was +promising for a happy journey. +</p> +<p>As they threaded their way through the +crowded city streets, Patty rejoiced to think that +they would soon be out in the open country +where they would have wide roads with comparatively +few travellers. +</p> +<p>“What is the name of your machine, Mr. +Farrington?” she asked, as they whizzed along. +</p> +<p>“I may as well own up,” that gentleman answered, +laughing. “I have named it ‘The +Fact.’” +</p> +<p>“‘The Fact,’” repeated Patty, “what a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +funny name. Why do you call it that? You +must have some reason.” +</p> +<p>“I have,” said Mr. Farrington, in a tone of +mock despair. “I call it The Fact because it is +a stubborn thing.” +</p> +<p>Patty laughed merrily at this. “I’m afraid +it’s a libel,” she said, “I’m sure I don’t see anything +stubborn about the way it acts. It’s going +beautifully.” +</p> +<p>“Yes, it is,” said Mr. Farrington, “and I +hope it will continue to do so, but I may as well +warn you that it has a most reprehensible habit +of stopping now and then, and utterly refusing +to proceed. And this, without any apparent reason, +except sheer stubbornness.” +</p> +<p>“How do you finally induce it to move?” +asked Patty, interested by this trait. +</p> +<p>“We don’t induce it,” said Elise, “we just +sit and wait, and when the old thing gets ready +to move, it just draws a long breath and humps +itself up and down a few times, and turns a +couple of somersaults, and moves on.” +</p> +<p>“What an exciting experience,” said Patty. +“When do you think it will begin any such performance +as that?” +</p> +<p>“You can’t tell,” said Mr. Farrington. “It’s +as uncertain as the weather.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span></p> +<p>“More so,” said Roger. “The weather +sometimes gives you warning of its intentions, +but The Fact just selects a moment when you’re +the farthest possible distance from civilisation +or help of any kind, and then it just sits down +and refuses to get up.” +</p> +<p>“Well, we won’t cross that bridge until we +come to it,” said Mr. Farrington. “Sometimes +we run a week without any such mishap.” +</p> +<p>And truly there seemed no danger at present, +for the big car drove ahead as smoothly and +easily as a railroad train, and Patty lay back +in the luxurious tonneau, feeling that at last +she could get rested and have a good time both +at once. +</p> +<p>The wonderful exhilaration of the swift motion +through the soft June air, the delightful +sensation of the breeze which was caused by +the motion of the car, and the ever-changing +natural panorama on either side of her, gave +Patty the sensation of having suddenly been +transported to some other country than that in +which she had been living the past few weeks. +</p> +<p>And so pleasantly friendly were her relations +with Mrs. Farrington and Elise that it did not +seem necessary to make remarks for the sake +of keeping up the conversation. There was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +much pleasant chat and discussion as they +passed points of interest or diverting scenes, +but then again there were occasional pauses +when they all gave themselves up to the enjoyment +of the delightful motion of the car. +</p> +<p>Patty began to realise what was meant by +the phrase, “automobile elation.” She seemed +to feel an uplifting of her spirit, and a strange +thrill of exquisite happiness, while all trace of +nervousness or petty worry was brushed away +like a cobweb. +</p> +<p>Her lungs seemed filled with pure air, and +further, she had a whimsical sense that she was +breathing the very blue of the sky. +</p> +<p>She said this to Mrs. Farrington, and that +lady smiled as she answered, “That’s right, +Patty; if you feel that way, you are a true motorist. +Not everyone does. There are some who +only look upon a motor-car as a machine to +transport them from one place to another, but +to me it is the very fairyland of motion.” +</p> +<p>Patty’s eyes shone in sympathy with this idea, +but Roger turned around laughingly, and said, +“You’d better be careful how you breathe the +blue sky, Patty, for there’s a little cloud over +there that may stick in your throat.” +</p> +<p>Patty looked at the tiny white cloud, and responded, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +“If you go much faster, Roger, I’m +afraid we’ll fly right up there, and run over that +poor little cloud.” +</p> +<p>“Let’s do it,” said Roger. “There’s no +fine for running over a cloud, is there, Dad?” +</p> +<p>As he spoke, Roger put on a higher speed, +and then they flew so fast that Patty began to be +almost frightened. But her fear did not last +long, for in a moment the great car gave a kind +of a groan, and then a snort, and then a wheeze, +and stopped; not suddenly, but with a provokingly +determined slowness, that seemed to imply +no intention of moving on again. After a +moment the great wheels ceased to revolve, and +the car stood stubbornly still, while Mr. Farrington +and Roger looked at each other, with +faces of comical dismay. +</p> +<p>“We’re in for it!” said Mr. Farrington, in +a resigned tone. +</p> +<p>“Then we must get out for it!” said Roger, +as he jumped down from his seat, and opened +the tool-chest. +</p> +<p>Mrs. Farrington groaned. “Now, you see, +Patty,” she said, “how the car lives up to its +name. I hoped this wouldn’t happen so soon.” +</p> +<p>“What is the matter?” asked Patty. “Why +doesn’t it go?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span></p> +<p>“Patty,” said Elise, looking at her solemnly, +“I see you have yet to learn the first lesson of +automobile etiquette. Never, my child, whatever +happens, <i>never</i> inquire why a car doesn’t +go! That is something that nobody ever knows, +and they wouldn’t tell if they did know, and, besides, +if they did know, they’d know wrong.” +</p> +<p>Mrs. Farrington laughed at Elise’s coherent +explanation, but she admitted that it was pretty +nearly right, after all. Meanwhile, Mr. Farrington +and Roger, with various queer-looking +tools, were tinkering at the car here and there, +and though they did not seem to be doing any +good, yet they were evidently not discouraged, +for they were whistling gaily, and now and then +made jesting remarks about the hopelessness of +ever moving on again. +</p> +<p>“I think there’s water in the tubes,” said +Roger, “but Dad thinks it’s a choked carburetter. +So we’re going to doctor for both.” +</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Mrs. Farrington, calmly; +“as there’s no special scenery to look at about +here, I think I shall take a little nap. You girls +can get out and stroll around, if you like.” +</p> +<p>Mrs. Farrington settled herself comfortably +in her corner, and closed her eyes. Elise and +Patty did get out, and walked up and down the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +road a little, and then sat down on the bank by +the roadside to chat. For the twentieth time +or more they talked over all the details of commencement +day, and congratulated themselves +anew on the success of their entertainment. +</p> +<p>At last, after they had waited nearly two +hours, Roger declared that there was no earthly +reason why they shouldn’t start if they cared to. +</p> +<p>It was part of Roger’s fun, always to pretend +that he could go on at any moment if he +desired to, and when kept waiting by the misconduct +of the car, he always made believe that +he delayed the trip solely for his own pleasure. +</p> +<p>Likewise, if under such trying circumstances +as they had just passed through, he heard other +automobiles or wagons coming, he would drop +his tools, lean idly against the car, with his +hands in his pockets, whistling, and apparently +waiting there at his own pleasure. +</p> +<p>All this amused Patty very much, and she +began, as Elise said, to learn the rules of automobile +etiquette. It was not difficult with the +Farringtons, for they all had a good sense of +humour, and were always more inclined to laugh +than cry over spilled milk. +</p> +<p>When Roger made this announcement, Elise +jumped up, and crying, “Come on, Patty,” ran +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +back to the car and jumped in, purposely waking +her mother as she did so. +</p> +<p>Mrs. Farrington placidly took in the situation, +and remarked that she was in no hurry, +but if they cared to go on she was quite ready. +</p> +<p>And so with laughter and gay chatter they +started on again, and the car ran as smoothly +as it had before the halt. +</p> +<p>But it was nearly sundown, and there were +many miles yet to travel before they reached the +hotel where they had expected to dine and stay +over night. +</p> +<p>“Shall we go on, Mother?” said Mr. Farrington. +“Can you wait until nine o’clock or +thereabouts for your dinner? Or shall we stop +at some farmhouse, and so keep ourselves from +starvation?” +</p> +<p>“I would rather go on,” said Mrs. Farrington, +“if the girls don’t mind.” +</p> +<p>The girls didn’t mind, and so they plunged +ahead while the sun set and the darkness fell. +There was no moon, and a slight cloudiness hid +the stars. Roger lighted the lamps, but they +cast such weird shadows that they seemed to +make the darkness blacker than ever. +</p> +<p>Patty was not exactly afraid, but the experience +was so new to her that she felt she would +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +be glad when they reached the hotel. Perhaps +Mr. Farrington discerned this, for he took especial +pains to entertain his young guest, and +divert her mind from thoughts of possible +danger. So he beguiled the way with jokes and +funny stories, until Patty forgot her anxiety, and +the first thing she knew they were rolling up the +driveway to the hotel. +</p> +<p>Floods of light streamed from the windows +and the great doors, and strains of music could +be heard from within. +</p> +<p>“Thank goodness we’re here!” said Mrs. +Farrington. “Jump out, girlies, and let us seek +shelter at once.” +</p> +<p>Roger remained in the car to take it away to +the garage, and Mr. Farrington accompanied +the ladies into the hotel. +</p> +<p>Much as she had enjoyed the ride, Patty felt +glad to get into the warm, lighted house, and +very soon the party were shown to their rooms. +</p> +<p>Patty and Elise shared a large room whose +twin beds were covered with spreads of gaily-flowered +chintz. Curtains of the same material +hung at the windows, and draped the dressing-table. +</p> +<p>“What a pleasant, homelike room,” said +Patty, as she looked about. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span></p> +<p>“Yes,” said Elise, “this is a nice old country +hotel. We’ve been here before. Hurry, Patty, +let’s dress for dinner quickly.” +</p> +<p>But Patty was surveying herself in the long +pierglass that hung between two windows. +</p> +<p>Nan had selected her motoring outfit, and +she had donned it that morning so hastily that +she hadn’t really had an opportunity to observe +herself. But now, as she looked at the rather +shapeless figure in the long pongee coat, and +the queer shirred hood of the same material, and +as she noted the voluminous chiffon veil with +its funny little front window of mica, she concluded +that she looked more like a goblin in a +fairy play than a human being. +</p> +<p>“Do stop admiring your new clothes, Patty, +and get dressed,” said Elise, who was on her +knees before an open suitcase, shaking out +Patty’s skirt and bodice. “Get off those togs, +and get ready to put these on. This is a sweet +little Dresden silk; I didn’t know you had it. +Is it new?” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Patty, “Nan bought it for me. +She said it wouldn’t take much room in the suitcase, +and would be useful for a dinner dress.” +</p> +<p>“It’s lovely,” said Elise. “Now get into it, +and I’ll hook you up.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span></p> +<p>So Patty got out of what she called her goblin +clothes, but was still giggling at them as she +hung them away in the wardrobe. +</p> +<p>Less than half an hour later the two girls, +spick and span in their dainty dresses, and with +fresh white bows on their hair, went together +down the staircase. They found Mr. and Mrs. +Farrington awaiting them, and soon Roger appeared, +and they went to the dining-room for a +late dinner. +</p> +<p>Then Patty discovered what automobile hunger +was. +</p> +<p>“I’m simply ravenous,” she declared, “but +I didn’t know it until this minute.” +</p> +<p>“That’s part of the experience,” said Mrs. +Farrington, “the appetite caused by motoring +is the largest known variety, and that’s why I +wanted to push on here, where we could get +a good dinner, instead of taking our chances at +some farmhouse.” +</p> +<p>They were the only guests in the dining-room +at that late hour, and so they made a merry meal +of it, and after dinner went back to the large +parlours, to sit for a while listening to the music. +But they did not tarry long, for as Patty discovered, +another consequence of a motor ride +was a strong inclination to go to bed early. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XI_DICK_PHELPS' id='XI_DICK_PHELPS'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>DICK PHELPS</h3> +</div> + +<p>The travellers did not rise early the next +morning, and ten o’clock found them +still seated at the breakfast table. +</p> +<p>“I do hate to hurry,” said Mrs. Farrington, +comfortably sipping her coffee. “So many people +think that an automobile tour means getting +up early, and hustling off at daybreak.” +</p> +<p>“I’m glad those are your sentiments,” said +Patty, “for I quite agree with you. I’ve done +enough hustling the last month or two, and I’m +delighted to take things more slowly for a +change.” +</p> +<p>“I think,” said Mr. Farrington, “that as it +is such a pleasant day, it would be a good plan +to take some luncheon with us and picnic by the +roadside. We could then get to the Warners’in time for dinner, though perhaps a little late.” +</p> +<p>“Lovely!” cried Elise, “I’m perfectly crazy +to use that new luncheon-kit. It’s great, Patty! +It has the cunningest alcohol stove, and every +little contraption you could possibly think of.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span></p> +<p>“I know it,” said Patty. “I peeped inside +yesterday, and the array of forks and spoons +and plates and bottles was perfectly fascinating.” +</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Mrs. Farrington to her +husband, “ask them to fill the kit properly, and +I think myself we will enjoy a little picnic.” +</p> +<p>So Mr. Farrington went to see about the provisions, +and Roger to get the car ready, while +the ladies sauntered about the piazza. +</p> +<p>The route of their journey lay along the shore +of Long Island Sound, and the hotel where they +had stayed over night was not far from New +Haven, and quite near the water’s edge. +</p> +<p>Patty was very fond of the water, and gazed +with delight at the sparkling Sound, dotted with +white steamers and various sorts of fishing-craft. +For her part she would have been glad to stay +longer at this hotel, but the Warners, whom they +were going to visit, were expecting them to +dinner that evening. These people, Patty knew, +lived in a beautiful country place called “Pine +Branches,” which was near Springfield in Massachusetts. +Patty did not know the Warners, +but Elise had assured her that they were delightful +people and were prepared to give her a +warm welcome. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span></p> +<p>When the car came to the door the ladies +were all ready to continue the journey. They +had again donned their queer-looking motor-clothes, +and though Patty was beginning to get +used to their appearance, they still seemed to +her like a trio of brownies or other queer beings +as they took their seats in the car. +</p> +<p>Roger climbed to his place, touched a lever +by his side, and swung the car down the drive +with an air of what seemed to Patty justifiable +pride. The freshly cleaned car was so daintily +spick and span, the day was so perfect, and the +merry-hearted passengers in such a gay and festive +mood, that there was indeed reason for a +feeling of general satisfaction. +</p> +<p>Away they went at a rapid speed, which Patty +thought must be beyond the allowed limit, but +Roger assured her to the contrary. +</p> +<p>For many miles their course lay along a fine +road which followed the shore of the Sound. +This delighted Patty, as she was still able to +gaze out over the blue water, and at the same +time enjoy the wonderful motion of the car. +</p> +<p>But soon their course changed and they +turned inland, on the road to Hartford. Patty +was surprised at Roger’s knowledge of the way, +but the young man was well provided with road +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +maps and guidebooks, of which he had made +careful study. +</p> +<p>“How beautifully the car goes,” said Patty. +“It doesn’t make the least fuss, even on the upgrades.” +</p> +<p>“You must learn the vocabulary, Patty,” +said Roger. “When a machine goes smoothly +as The Fact is doing now, the proper expression +is that it runs sweetly.” +</p> +<p>“Sweetly!” exclaimed Patty. “How silly. +It sounds like a gushing girl.” +</p> +<p>“That doesn’t matter,” said Roger, serenely. +“If you go on motor trips, you must learn to +talk motor-jargon.” +</p> +<p>“All right,” said Patty, “I’m willing to +learn, and I do think the way this car goes it is +just too sweet for anything!” +</p> +<p>They all laughed at this, but their gaiety was +short-lived, for just then there was a peculiar +crunching sound that seemed to mean disaster, +judging from the expressions of dismay on the +faces of the Farrington family. +</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked Patty, forgetting that +she had been told never to ask questions on such +occasions. +</p> +<p>“Patty,” said Roger, making a comical face +at her, “my countenance now presents an expression +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +typical of disgust, irritation, and impatience. +I now wave my right hand thus, which +is a Delsarte gesture expressing exasperation +with a trace of anger. I next give voice to my +sentiments, merely to remark in my usual calm +and disinterested way, that a belt has broken +and the mending thereof will consume a portion +of time, the length of which may be estimated +only after it has elapsed.” +</p> +<p>Patty laughed heartily at this harangue, but +gathered from Roger’s nonsense the interesting +fact that an accident had occurred, and that a +delay was inevitable. Nobody seemed especially +surprised. Indeed, they took it quite as a matter +of course, and Mrs. Farrington opened a +new magazine which she had brought with her, +and calmly settled herself to read. +</p> +<p>But Elise said, “Well, I’m already starving +with hunger, and I think we may as well open +that kit of provisions, and have our picnic right +here, while Roger is mending the belt.” +</p> +<p>“Elise,” said her father jestingly, “you sometimes +show signs of almost human intelligence! +Your plan is a positive inspiration, for I confess +that I myself feel the gnawings of hunger. +Let us eat the hard-boiled eggs and ham sandwiches +that we have with us, and then if we like, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +we can stop at Hartford this afternoon for a +more satisfying lunch, as I begin to think we will +not reach Pine Branches until sometime later +than their usual dinner hour.” +</p> +<p>They all agreed to this plan, and Roger, with +his peculiar sensitiveness toward being discovered +with his car at a disadvantage, said seriously: +“I see a racing machine coming, and +when it passes us I hope you people will act as +if we had stopped here only to lunch, and not +because this ridiculous belt chose to break itself +just now.” +</p> +<p>This trait of Roger’s amused Patty very +much, but she was quite ready to humour her +friend, and agreed to do her part. +</p> +<p>She looked where Roger had indicated, and +though she could see what looked like a black +speck on a distant road, she wondered how +Roger could know it was a racing machine that +was approaching. However, she realised that +there were many details of motoring of which +she had as yet no idea, and she turned her attention +to helping the others spread out the +luncheon. The beautifully furnished basket was +a delight to Patty. She was amazed to see how +cleverly a large amount of paraphernalia could +be stowed in a small amount of space. The kit +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +was arranged for six persons, and contained +half-dozens of knives, forks, spoons, and even +egg-spoons; also plates, cups, napkins, and everything +with which to serve a comfortable meal. +There were sandwich-boxes, salad-boxes, butter-jars, +tea and coffee cans, salt, pepper, and all +necessary condiments. Then there was the +alcohol stove, with its water-kettle and chafing +dish. At the sight of all these things, which +seemed to come out of the kit as out of a magician’s +hat, Patty’s eyes danced. +</p> +<p>“Let me cook,” she begged, and Mrs. Farrington +and Elise were only too glad to be +relieved of this duty. +</p> +<p>There wasn’t much cooking to do, as sandwiches, +cold meats, salad, and sweets were lavishly +provided, but Patty made tea, and then +boiled a few eggs just for the fun of doing it. +</p> +<p>Preparations for the picnic were scarcely +under way when the racing-car that Roger had +seen in the distance came near them. There was +a whirring sound as it approached, and Patty +glanced up from her alcohol stove to see that it +was occupied by only one man. He was slowing +speed, and evidently intended to stop. Long +before he had reached them, Roger had hidden +his tools, and though his work on the broken +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +belt was not completed, he busied himself with +the luncheon preparations, as if that was his +sole thought. +</p> +<p>The racing-car stopped and the man who was +driving it got out. +</p> +<p>At sight of him Patty with difficulty restrained +her laughter, for though their own garb +was queer, it was rational compared to the appearance +of this newcomer. +</p> +<p>A racing suit is, with perhaps the exception of +a diver’s costume, the most absurd-looking dress +a man can get into. The stranger’s suit was of +black rubber, tightly strapped at the wrists and +ankles, but it was his head-gear which gave the +man his weird and uncanny effect. It was a +combination of mask, goggles, hood, earflaps, +and neckshield which was so arranged with +hinges that the noseguard and mouthpiece +worked independently of each other. +</p> +<p>At any rate, it seemed to Patty the funniest +show she had ever seen, and she couldn’t help +laughing. The man didn’t seem to mind, however, +and after he had bowed silently for a +moment or two with great enjoyment of their +mystification, he pulled off his astonishing head-gear +and disclosed his features. +</p> +<p>“Dick Phelps!” exclaimed Mr. Farrington, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +“why, how are you, old man? I’m right down +glad to see you!” +</p> +<p>Mr. Phelps was a friend of the Farrington +family, and quite naturally they invited him to +lunch with them. +</p> +<p>“Indeed I will,” said the visitor, “for I +started at daybreak, and I’ve had nothing to +eat since. I can’t tarry long though, as I must +make New York City to-night.” +</p> +<p>Mr. Phelps was a good-looking young man +of about thirty years, and so pleased was he with +Patty’s efforts in the cooking line, that he ate +all the eggs she had boiled, and drank nearly +all the tea, besides making serious inroads on +the viands they had brought with them. +</p> +<p>“It doesn’t matter if I do eat up all your +food,” said the young man, pleasantly, “for you +can stop anywhere and get more, but I mustn’t +stop again until I reach the city, and I probably +won’t have a chance to eat then, as I must push +on to Long Island.” +</p> +<p>The Farringtons were quite willing to refresh +the stranger within their gates, and they all enjoyed +the merry little picnic. +</p> +<p>“Where are you bound?” asked Mr. Phelps +as he prepared to continue his way. +</p> +<p>“To Pine Branches first,” said Mrs. Farrington, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +“the country house of a friend. It’s near +Springfield, and from there we shall make short +trips, and later on, continue our way in some +other direction,—which way we haven’t yet +decided.” +</p> +<p>“Good enough,” said Mr. Phelps, “then I’ll +probably see you again. I am often a guest at +Pine Branches myself, and shall hope to run +across you.” +</p> +<p>As every motorist is necessarily interested +in his friend’s car, Mr. Phelps naturally turned +to inspect the Farrington machine before getting +into his own. +</p> +<p>And so, to Roger’s chagrin, he was obliged +to admit that he was even then under the necessity +of mending a broken belt. +</p> +<p>But to Roger’s relief, Mr. Phelps took almost +no notice of it, merely saying that a detail defect +was liable to happen to anybody. He looked +over the vital parts of the motor, and complimented +Roger on its fine condition. This pleased +the boy greatly, and resuming his work after +Mr. Phelps’ departure, he patched up the belt, +while the others repacked the kit, and soon they +started off again. +</p> +<p>Swiftly and smoothly they ran along over the +beautiful roads, occasionally meeting other touring-parties +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +apparently as happy as they were +themselves. Sometimes they exchanged merry +greetings as they passed, for all motorists belong +to one great, though unorganised, fraternity. +</p> +<p>“I’ve already discovered that trifling accidents +are a part of the performance, and I’ve +also discovered that they’re easily remedied and +soon over, and that when they are over they are +quickly forgotten and it seems impossible that +they should ever occur again.” +</p> +<p>“You’ve sized it up pretty fairly, Patty,” said +Roger, “and though I never before thought it +out for myself, I agree with you that that is the +true way to look at it.” +</p> +<p>On they went, leaving the miles behind them, +and as Roger was anxious to make up for lost +time he went at a slightly higher speed than he +would have otherwise done. He slowed down, +however, when they passed horses or when they +went through towns or villages. +</p> +<p>Patty was greatly interested in the many small +villages through which they rode, as nearly +every one showed quaint or humorous scenes. +Dogs would come out and bark at them, children +would scream after them, and even the +grown-up citizens of the hamlets would stare at +them as if they had never seen a motor-car before, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +though Patty reasoned that surely many +of them must have travelled that same road. +</p> +<p>“When you meet another village, Roger,” +she said, “do go through it more slowly, for +I like to see the funny people.” +</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Roger, “you may stop and +get a drink at the town pump, if you like.” +</p> +<p>“No, thank you,” said Patty, “I don’t want +to get out, but I would like to stop a minute or +two in one of them.” +</p> +<p>Roger would willingly have granted Patty’s +wish, but he was deprived of this privilege by +the car itself. Just as they neared a small settlement +known as Huntley’s Corners, another +ominous sound from the machine gave warning. +</p> +<p>“That belt again!” exclaimed Roger. +“Patty, the probabilities are that you’ll have all +the time you want to study up this village, and +even learn the life history of the oldest inhabitant.” +</p> +<p>“What an annoying belt it is,” said Mrs. +Farrington in her pleasant way. “Don’t you +think, Roger dear, that you had better get a +new belt and be done with it?” +</p> +<p>“That’s just what I do think, Mother, but +somehow I can’t persuade myself that they keep +them for sale at this corner grocery.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span></p> +<p>The car had reached the only store in the +settlement, and stopped almost in front of it. +</p> +<p>Patty was beginning to learn the different +kinds of stops that a motor-car can make, and +she felt pretty sure that this was not a momentary +pause, but a stop that threatened a considerable +delay. +</p> +<p>She said as much to Roger, and he replied, +“Patty, you’re an apt pupil. The Fact has +paused here not for a day, but for all time, unless +something pretty marvellous can be done +in the way of belt mending!” +</p> +<p>Patty began to think that accidents were of +somewhat frequent occurrence, but Elise said, +cheerfully, “This seems to be an off day. Why, +sometimes we run sweetly for a week, without a +word from the belt. Don’t we, Roger?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, indeed,” said Roger, “but Patty may +as well get used to the seamy side of motoring, +and learn to like it.” +</p> +<p>“I do like it,” declared Patty, “and if we +are going to take up our abode here for the +present, I’m going out to explore the town.” +</p> +<p>She jumped lightly from the car, and, accompanied +by Elise, strolled down the main, +and, indeed, the only street of the village. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XII_OLD_CHINA' id='XII_OLD_CHINA'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>OLD CHINA</h3> +</div> + +<p>A few doors away from the country store +in front of which the automobile stood, +the girls saw a quaint old house, with a +few toys and candies displayed for sale in a +front window. +</p> +<p>“Isn’t it funny?” said Elise, looking in at +the unattractive collection. “See that old-fashioned +doll, and just look at that funny jumping-jack!” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Patty, whose quick eye had +caught sight of something more interesting, +“but just look at that plate of peppermint +candies. The plate, I mean. Why, Elise, it’s +a Millennium plate!” +</p> +<p>“What’s that?” said Elise, looking blank. +</p> +<p>“A Millennium plate? Why, Elise, it’s about +the most valuable bit of old china there is in +this country! Why, Nan would go raving crazy +over that. I’d rather take it home to her than +any present I could buy in the city shop. Elise, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +do you suppose whoever keeps this little store +would sell that plate?” +</p> +<p>“No harm in trying,” said Elise, “there’s +plenty of time, for it will take Roger half an +hour to fix that belt. Let’s go in and ask +her.” +</p> +<p>“No, no,” said Patty, “that isn’t the way. +Wait a minute. I’ve been china hunting before, +with Nan, and with other people, and you +mustn’t go about it like that. We must go in +as if we were going to buy some of her other +goods, and then we’ll work around to the plate +by degrees. You buy something else, Elise, and +leave the plate part to me.” +</p> +<p>“Very well, I think I’ll buy that rag doll, +though I’m sure I don’t know what I’ll ever do +with it. No self-respecting child would accept +it as a gift.” +</p> +<p>“Well, buy something,” said Patty, as they +went in. +</p> +<p>The opening of the door caused a big bell to +jingle, and this apparently called an old woman +in from the back room. She was not very tidy, +but she was a good-natured body, and smiled +pleasantly at the two girls. +</p> +<p>“What is it, young ladies?” she asked, “can +I sell you anything to-day?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span></p> +<p>“Yes,” said Elise, gravely, “I was passing +your window, and I noticed a doll there,—that +one with the blue gingham dress. How much is +it, please?” +</p> +<p>“That one,” said the old lady, “is fifty cents. +Seems sorter high, I know, but that ’ere doll +was made by a blind girl, that lives a piece up +the road; and though the sewin’ ain’t very good, +it’s a nine-days’ wonder that she can do it at all. +And them dolls is her only support, and land +knows she don’t sell hardly any!” +</p> +<p>“I’ll give you a dollar for it,” said Elise, +impulsively, for her generous heart was touched. +“Have you any more of them?” +</p> +<p>“No,” said the woman, in some amazement. +“Malviny, she don’t make many, ’cause they +don’t sell very rapid. But be you goin’ her way? +She might have one to home, purty nigh +finished.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” said Elise, “where does +she live?” +</p> +<p>“Straight along, on the main road. You +can’t miss it, an old yaller house, with the back +burnt off.” +</p> +<p>It was Patty’s turn now, and she said she +would buy the peppermint candies that were in +the window. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span></p> +<p>“All of ’em?” asked the storekeeper, in +surprise. +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Patty, “all of them,” and as +the old woman lifted the plate in from the +window, Patty added, “And if you care to part +with it, I’ll buy the plate too.” +</p> +<p>“Land, Miss, that ’ere old plate ain’t no +good; it’s got a crack in it, but if so be’s you admire +that pattern, I’ve got another in the keeping-room +that’s just like it, only ’tain’t cracked. +’Tain’t even chipped.” +</p> +<p>“Would you care to part with them both?” +asked Patty, remembering that this phrase was +the preferred formula of all china hunters. +</p> +<p>“Laws, yes, Miss, if you care to pay for ’em. +Of course, I can’t sell ’em for nothin’, for there’s +sometimes ladies as comes here, as has a fancy +to them old things. But these two plates is +so humbly, that I didn’t have the face to show +’em to anybody as was lookin’ for anteeks.” +</p> +<p>Patty’s sense of honesty would not allow her +to ignore the old woman’s mistake. +</p> +<p>“They may seem homely to you,” she said, +“but I think it only right to tell you that these +plates are probably the most valuable of any +you have ever owned.” +</p> +<p>“Well, for the land o’ goodness, ef you ain’t +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +honest! ’Tain’t many as would speak up like +that! Jest come in the back room, and look at +the other plate.” +</p> +<p>The girls followed the old woman as she +raised a calico curtain of a flowered pattern, and +let them through into the “keeping-room.” +</p> +<p>“There,” she said with some pride as she +took down a plate from the high mantel. +“There, you can see for yourself, there ain’t +no chip or crack into it.” +</p> +<p>Sure enough, Patty held in her hand a perfect +specimen of the Millennium plate, so highly +prized by collectors, and there was also the one +she had seen in the window, which though +slightly cracked, was still in fair condition. +</p> +<p>“How much do you want for them?” asked +Patty. +</p> +<p>The old woman hesitated. It was not difficult +to see that, although she wanted to get as +high a price as possible for her plates, yet she +did not want to ask so much that Patty would +refuse to take them. +</p> +<p>“You tell me,” she said, insinuatingly, +“’bout what you think them plates is worth.” +</p> +<p>“No,” said Patty, firmly, “I never buy things +that way. You tell me your price, and then I +will buy them or not as I choose.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span></p> +<p>“Well,” said the old woman, slowly, “the +last lady that I sold plates to, she give me fifty +cents apiece for three of ’em, and though I +think they was purtier than these here, yet you +tell me these is more vallyble, and so,” here the +old woman made a great show of firmness, “and +so my price for these plates is a dollar apiece.” +</p> +<p>As soon as she had said it, she looked at +Patty in alarm, greatly fearing that she would +not pay so much. +</p> +<p>But Patty replied, “I will give you five dollars +for the two,—because I know that is nearer +their value than the price you set.” +</p> +<p>“Bless your good heart, and your purty face, +Miss,” said the old woman, as the tears came +into her eyes. “I’m that obliged to you! I’ll +send the money straight to my son John. He’s +in the hospital, poor chap, and he needs it sore.” +</p> +<p>Elise had rarely been brought in contact with +poverty and want, and her generous heart was +touched at once. She emptied her little purse +out upon the table, and was rejoiced to discover +that it contained something over ten dollars. +</p> +<p>“Please accept that,” she cried, “to buy +things for your son, or for yourself, as you +choose.” +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +<img src='images/illus2.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +“‘There, you can see for yourself, there ain’t no chip or<br /> +crack into it’” +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span></div> +<p>The old woman was quite overcome at this +kindness, and was endeavouring brokenly to +express her thanks, when the bell on the shop +door jangled loudly. +</p> +<p>Patty being nearest to the calico curtain drew +it aside, to find Roger in the little shop, looking +very breathless and worried. +</p> +<p>“Well, of all things,” he exclaimed. “You +girls have given us a scare. We’ve hunted high +and low through the whole of this metropolis. +And if it hadn’t been that a little girl said she +saw you come in here, I suppose we’d now be +dragging the brook. Come along, quick, we’re +all ready to start.” +</p> +<p>“How could you get that belt mended so +quickly?” asked Elise. +</p> +<p>“Never mind that,” said Roger, “just come +along.” +</p> +<p>“Wait a minute,” said Patty, hastily gathering +up her precious plates, while the old woman +provided some newspaper wrapping. +</p> +<p>Roger hurried the two girls back to the +motor-car, saying as they went, “We’re not in +any hurry to start, but Mother thinks you’re +drowned, and I want to prove to her that she +is mistaken.” +</p> +<p>The sight of the car caused Patty to go off +into peals of laughter. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span></p> +<p>In front of the beautiful machine was an old +farm wagon, and in front of that were four +horses. On the seat of the wagon sat a nonchalant-looking +farmer who seemed to take little +interest in the proceedings. +</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t ask what’s the matter for anything,” +said Patty, looking at Roger, demurely, +“but I suppose I am safe in assuming that you +have those horses there merely because you +think they look well.” +</p> +<p>“That’s it,” said Roger. “Nothing adds +to the good effect of a motor-car like having a +few fine horses attached to it. Jump in, girls.” +</p> +<p>The girls jumped in, and the caravan started. +It was at a decidedly different rate of speed from +the way they had travelled before. But Patty +soon learned that Roger had found it impossible +to fix the belt without going to a repair shop, +and there was none nearer than Hartford. With +some difficulty, and at considerable expense, he +had persuaded the gruff old farmer to tow them +over the intervening ten miles. +</p> +<p>Patty would have supposed that this would +greatly humiliate the proud and sensitive boy, +but, to her surprise, Roger treated the affair as +a good joke. He leaned back in his seat, apparently +pleased with his enforced idleness, and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +chatted merrily as they slowly crawled along. +Occasionally he would plead with the old farmer +to urge his horses a trifle faster, and even hint +at certain rewards if they should reach Hartford +in a given time. But the grumpy old man +was proof against coaxing or even bribing, and +they jogged along, almost at a snail’s pace. +</p> +<p>Perceiving that there was no way of improving +the situation, Roger gave up trying, and +turning partly around in his seat, proceeded to +entertain the girls to the best of his ability. +</p> +<p>Patty hadn’t known before what a jolly, good-natured +boy Elise’s brother was, and she came +to the conclusion that he had a good sense of +proportion, to be able to take things so easily, +and to keep his temper under such trying circumstances. +</p> +<p>Only once did the surly old farmer address +himself to his employers. Turning around to +face the occupants of the motor-car he bawled +out: +</p> +<p>“Whar do ye wanter go in Hartford?” +</p> +<p>“To the largest repair shop for automobiles,” +answered Roger. +</p> +<p>“Thought ye wanted ter go ter the State Insane +Asylum,” was the response to this, and a +suppressed chuckle could be heard, as the old +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +man again turned his attention to his not over-speedy +steeds. +</p> +<p>Though not a very subtle jest, this greatly +amused the motor party, and soon they entered +the outskirts of the beautiful city of Hartford. +</p> +<p>Mr. Farrington looked at his watch. “I +suppose,” he said, “it will take the best part +of an hour to have the machine attended to, +for there are two or three little matters which +I want to have put in order, besides the belt. +I will stay and look after it, and the rest of you +can take your choice of two proceedings. One +is, to go to a hotel, rest and freshen yourselves +up a bit, and have some luncheon. The other +is, to take a carriage and drive around the city. +Hartford is a beautiful place, and if Patty has +never seen it, I am sure she will enjoy it.” +</p> +<p>“It doesn’t matter to me,” said Mrs. Farrington, +“which we do; but I’m quite sure I +don’t care to eat anything more just at present. +We had our picnic not so very long ago, you +know.” +</p> +<p>“I know,” said Mr. Farrington, “but consider +this. When we start from here with the +car in good order, I hope to run straight through +to Warner’s. But at best we cannot reach there +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +before ten o’clock to-night. So it’s really advisable +that you should fortify yourselves +against the long ride, for I should hate to delay +matters further by stopping again for dinner.” +</p> +<p>“Ten o’clock!” exclaimed Mrs. Farrington, +“why, they expect us by seven, at latest. It is +too bad to keep them waiting like that. Can’t +we telephone to them?” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mr. Farrington, “and I will +attend to that while I am waiting for the car +to be fixed. Now what would you people +rather do?” +</p> +<p>Both the girls declared they could not eat +another luncheon at present, and they thought +it would be delightful to drive around and see +the town. +</p> +<p>So Mrs. Farrington settled the matter by deciding +to take the drive. And then she said, +“We can leave the luncheon-kit at some hotel +to be filled, then we can pick it up again, and +take it along with us, and when we get hungry +we can eat a light supper in the car.” +</p> +<p>“Great head, Mother!” cried Roger, “you +are truly a genius!” +</p> +<p>An open landau was engaged, and Roger and +the three ladies started for the drive. They +spent a delightful hour viewing the points of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +interest in the city, which the obliging driver +pointed out to them. +</p> +<p>They smiled when they came to the Insane +Asylum, and though the grounds looked attractive, +they concluded not to go there to stay, +even though their old farmer friend had seemed +to think it an appropriate place for them. +</p> +<p>“It’s a strange thing,” said Roger, “that +people who do not ride in automobiles always +think that people who do are crazy. I’m sure +I don’t know why.” +</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t blame anybody for thinking Mr. +Phelps crazy, if they had seen him this morning,” +said Patty. +</p> +<p>“That’s only because you’re not accustomed +to seeing men in racing costume,” said Roger. +“After you’ve seen a few more rigs like that, +you won’t think anything of them.” +</p> +<p>“That’s so,” said Patty thoughtfully, “and +if I had never before seen a farmer in the queer +overalls, and big straw hat, that our old country +gentleman wore, I daresay I should have thought +his appearance quite as crazy as that of Mr. +Phelps.” +</p> +<p>“You have a logical mind, Patty,” said Mrs. +Farrington, “and on the whole I think you are +right.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIII_A_STORMY_RIDE' id='XIII_A_STORMY_RIDE'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>A STORMY RIDE</h3> +</div> + +<p>The time passed quickly and soon the +drive was over, and after calling for +their well-filled luncheon-basket, the +quartet returned to the repair shop to find Mr. +Farrington all ready to start. +</p> +<p>So into the car they all bundled, and Patty +learned that each fresh start during a motor +journey revives the same feeling of delight that +is felt at the beginning of the trip. +</p> +<p>She settled herself in her place with a little +sigh of contentment, and remarked that she +had already begun to feel at home in The Fact, +and she only wished it was early morning, and +they were starting for the day, instead of but +for a few hours. +</p> +<p>“Don’t you worry, my lady,” said Roger, +as he laid his hands lightly on the steering-wheel, +“you’ve a good many solid hours of travel +ahead of you right now. It’s four o’clock, and +if we reach Pine Branches by ten, I will pat this +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +old car fondly on the head, before I put her to +bed.” +</p> +<p>The next few hours were perhaps the pleasantest +they had yet spent. In June, from four +to seven is a delightful time, and as the roads +were perfect, and the car went along without +the slightest jar or jolt, and without even a hint +of an accident of any sort, there was really not +a flaw to mar their pleasure. +</p> +<p>As the sun set, and the twilight began to close +around them, Patty thought she had never seen +anything more beautiful than the landscape +spread out before them. A broad white road +stretched ahead like a ribbon. On either side +were sometimes green fields, darkening in the +fading light, and sometimes small groves of +trees, which stood black against the sky. +</p> +<p>Then the sunset’s colours faded, the trees +grew blacker and denser, and their shadows +ceased to fall across the darkening road. +</p> +<p>Roger lighted the lamps, and drew out extra +fur robes, for the evening air was growing chill. +</p> +<p>“Isn’t it wonderful!” said Patty, almost in +a whisper. “Motoring by daylight is gay and +festive, but now, to glide along so swiftly and +silently through the darkness, is so strange that +it’s almost solemn. As it grows darker and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +blacker, it seems as if we were gliding away,—away +into eternity.” +</p> +<p>“For gracious’ sake, child,” said Mrs. Farrington, +“don’t talk like that! You give me +the shivers; say something more lively, quick!” +</p> +<p>Patty laughed merrily. +</p> +<p>“That was only a passing mood,” she said. +“Really, I think it’s awfully jolly for us to be +scooting along like this, with our lamps shining. +We’re just like a great big fire-fly or a dancing +will-o’-the-wisp.” +</p> +<p>“You have a well-trained imagination, +Patty,” said Mrs. Farrington, laughing at the +girl’s quick change from grave to gay. “You +can make it obey your will, can’t you?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, ma’am,” said Patty demurely, “what’s +the use of having an imagination, if you can’t +make it work for you?” +</p> +<p>The car was comfortably lighted inside as +well as out, with electric lamps, and the occupants +were, as Mr. Farrington said, as cozy +and homelike as if they were in a gipsy waggon. +</p> +<p>Patty laughed at the comparison and said +she thought that very few gipsy waggons had +the luxuries and modern appliances of The Fact. +</p> +<p>“That may be,” said Mr. Farrington, “but +you must admit the gipsy waggon is the more +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +picturesque vehicle. The way they shirr that +calico arrangement around their back door, has +long been my admiration.” +</p> +<p>“It is beautiful,” said Patty, “and the way +the stove-pipe comes out of the roof,——” +</p> +<p>“And the children’s heads out ’most anywhere,” +added Elise; “yes, it’s certainly picturesque.” +</p> +<p>“Speaking of gipsy waggons makes me +hungry,” said Mrs. Farrington. “What time +is it, and how soon shall we reach the +Warners’?” +</p> +<p>“It’s after eight o’clock, my dear,” said her +husband, “and I’m sure we can’t get there before +ten, and then, of course, we won’t have +dinner at once, so do let us partake of a little +light refreshment.” +</p> +<p>“Seems to me we are always eating,” said +Patty, “but I’m free to confess that I’m about +as hungry as a full grown anaconda.” +</p> +<p>Without reducing their speed, and they were +going fairly fast, the tourists indulged in a picnic +luncheon. There was no tea making, but +sandwiches and little cakes and glasses of milk +were gratefully accepted. +</p> +<p>“This is all very well,” said Mrs. Farrington, +after supper was over, “and I wouldn’t for +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +a moment have you think that I’m tired or +frightened, or the least mite timid. But if I +may have my way, hereafter we’ll make no +definite promises to be at any particular place +at any particular time. I wish when you had +telephoned, John, you had told the Warners +that we wouldn’t arrive until to-morrow. Then +we could have stopped somewhere, and spent +the night like civilised beings, instead of doing +this gipsy act.” +</p> +<p>“It would have been a good idea,” said Mr. +Farrington thoughtfully, “but it’s a bit too late +now, so there’s no use worrying about it. But +cheer up, my friend, I think we’ll arrive shortly.” +</p> +<p>“I think we won’t,” said Roger. “I don’t +want to be discouraging, but we haven’t passed +the old stone quarry yet, and that’s a mighty +long way this side of Pine Branches.” +</p> +<p>“You’re sure you know the way, aren’t you, +Roger?” asked his mother, her tone betraying +the first trace of anxiety she had yet shown. +</p> +<p>“Oh, yes,” said Roger, and Patty wasn’t sure +whether she imagined it, or whether the boy’s +answer was not quite as positive as it was meant +to sound. +</p> +<p>“Well, I’m glad you do,” said Mr. Farrington, +“for I confess I don’t. We’re doubtless +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +on the right road, but I haven’t as yet seen any +familiar landmarks.” +</p> +<p>“We’re on the right road, all right,” said +Roger. “You know there’s a long stretch this +side of Pine Branches, without any villages +at all.” +</p> +<p>“I know it,” said Mrs. Farrington, “but it is +dotted with large country places, and farms. +Are you passing those, Roger? I can’t seem to +see any?” +</p> +<p>“I haven’t noticed very many, Mother, but +I think we haven’t come to them yet. Chirk up, +it’s quite some distance yet, but we’ll keep going +till we get there.” +</p> +<p>“Oh,” said Mrs. Farrington, “what if the +belt should break, or something give way!” +</p> +<p>“Don’t think of such things, Mother; nothing +is going to give way. But if it should, why, +we’ll just sit here till morning, and then we can +see to fix it.” +</p> +<p>Mrs. Farrington couldn’t help laughing at +Roger’s good nature, but she said, “Of course, +I know everything’s all right, and truly, I’m +not a bit frightened. But somehow, John, I’d +feel more comfortable if you’d come back here +with me, and let one of the girls sit in front in +your place.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span></p> +<p>“Certainly,” said her husband, “hop over +here, Elise.” +</p> +<p>“Let me go,” cried Patty, who somehow felt, +intuitively, that Elise would prefer to stay behind +with her parents. As for Patty herself, +she had no fear, and really wanted the exciting +experience of sitting up in front during this wild +night ride. +</p> +<p>Roger stopped the car, and the change was +soon effected. As Patty insisted upon it, she was +allowed to go instead of Elise, and in a moment +they were off again. +</p> +<p>“Do you know,” said Patty to Roger, after +they had started, “when I got out then, I felt +two or three drops of rain!” +</p> +<p>“I do know it,” said Roger, in a low tone, +“and I may as well tell you, Patty, that there’s +going to be a hard storm before long. Certainly +before we reach Pine Branches.” +</p> +<p>“How dreadful,” said Patty, who was awed +more by the anxious note in Roger’s voice, than +by the thought of the rain storm. “Don’t you +think it would be better,” she went on, hoping +to make a helpful suggestion, “if we should put +in to some house until the storm is over? Surely +anybody would give us shelter.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t see any houses,” said Roger, “and, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +Patty, I may as well own up, we’re off the road +somehow. I think I must have taken the wrong +turning at that fork a few miles back. And +though I’m not quite sure, yet I feel a growing +conviction that we’re lost.” +</p> +<p>Although the situation was appalling, for +some unexplainable reason Patty couldn’t help +giggling. +</p> +<p>“Lost!” she exclaimed in a tragic whisper, +“in the middle of the night! in a desolate +country region! and a storm coming on!” +</p> +<p>Patty’s dramatic summary of the situation +made Roger laugh too. And their peals of +gaiety reassured the three who sat behind. +</p> +<p>“What are you laughing at?” said Elise; +“I wish you’d tell me, for I’m ’most scared to +death, and Roger, it’s beginning to rain.” +</p> +<p>“You don’t say so!” said Roger, in a tone +of polite surprise, “why then we must put on +the curtains.” He stopped the car, and jumping +down from his place, began to arrange the +curtains which were always carried in case of +rain. +</p> +<p>Mr. Farrington helped him, and as he did so, +remarked, “Looks like something of a storm, +my boy.” +</p> +<p>“Father,” said Roger, in a low voice, “it’s +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +going to rain cats and dogs, and there may be +a few thunders and lightnings. I hope mother +won’t have hysterics, and I don’t believe she +will, if you sit by her and hold her hand. I +don’t think we’d better stop. I think we’d better +drive straight ahead, but, Dad, I believe +we’re on the wrong road. We’re not lost; I +know the way all right, but to go around the +way we are going, is about forty miles farther +than the way I meant to go; and yet I don’t +dare turn back and try to get on the other road +again, for fear I’ll really get lost.” +</p> +<p>“Roger,” said Mr. Farrington, “you’re a +first-class chauffeur, and I’ll give you a reference +whenever you want one, but I must admit that +to-night you have succeeded in getting us into +a pretty mess.” +</p> +<p>Roger was grateful enough for the light way +in which his father treated the rather serious +situation, but the boy keenly felt his responsibility. +</p> +<p>“Good old Dad,” he said, “you’re a brick! +Get in back now, and look after mother and +Elise. Don’t let them shoot me or anything, +when I’m not looking. Patty is a little trump; +she is plucky clear through, and I am glad to +have her up in front with me. Now I’ll do the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +best I can, and drive straight through the storm. +If I see any sort of a place where we can turn +in for shelter, I think we’d better do it, don’t +you?” +</p> +<p>“I do, indeed,” said his father. “Meantime, +my boy, go ahead. I trust the whole matter +to you, for you’re a more expert driver than +I am.” +</p> +<p>It was already raining fast as the two men +again climbed into the car. But the curtains +all around kept the travellers dry, and with its +cheery lights the interior of the car was cozy +and pleasant. +</p> +<p>In front was a curtain with a large window +of mica which gave ample view of the road +ahead. +</p> +<p>With his strong and well-arranged lights, +Roger had no fear of collision, and as they were +well protected from the rain, his chief worriment +was because they were on the wrong +road. +</p> +<p>“It’s miles and miles longer to go around +this way,” he confided to Patty. “I don’t know +what time we’ll ever get there.” +</p> +<p>“Never mind,” said Patty, who wanted to +cheer him up. “I think this is a great experience. +I suppose there’s danger, but somehow +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +I can’t help enjoying the wild excitement +of it.” +</p> +<p>“I’m glad you like it,” said Roger a little +grimly. “I’m always pleased to entertain my +guests.” +</p> +<p>The storm was increasing, and now amounted +to a gale. The rain dashed against the curtains +in great wet sheets, and finally forced its +way in at a few of the crevices. +</p> +<p>Mrs. Farrington, sitting between her husband +and daughter, was thoroughly frightened and +extremely uncomfortable, but she pluckily refrained +from giving way to her nervousness, +and succeeded in behaving herself with real +bravery and courage. +</p> +<p>Still the tempest grew. So wildly did it dash +against the front curtain that Patty and Roger +could see scarcely a foot before the machine. +</p> +<p>“There’s one comfort,” said Roger, through +his clenched teeth, “we’re not in danger of +running into anything, for no other fools would +be abroad such a night as this. Patty, I’m going +to speed her! I’m going to race the storm!” +</p> +<p>“Do!” said Patty, who was wrought up to +a tense pitch of excitement by the war of the +elements without, and the novelty of the situation +within. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span></p> +<p>Roger increased the speed, and they flew +through the black night and dashed into the +pouring rain, while Patty held her breath, and +wondered what would happen next. +</p> +<p>On they went and on. Patty’s imagination +kept pace with her experiences and through her +mind flitted visions of Tam O’Shanter’s ride, +John Gilpin’s ride and the ride of Collins +Graves. But all of these seemed tame affairs +beside their own break-neck speed through the +wild night! +</p> +<p>“Roger,” said his mother, “Roger, won’t +you please——” +</p> +<p>“Ask her not to speak to me just now, Patty, +please,” said the boy, in such a tense, strained +voice that Patty was frightened at last, but she +knew that if Roger were frightened, that was a +special reason for her own calmness and bravery. +Turning slightly, she said, “Please don’t speak +to him just now, Mrs. Farrington; he wants to +put all his attention on his steering.” +</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Mrs. Farrington, who had +not the slightest idea that there was any cause +for alarm, aside from the discomfort of the +storm. “I only wanted to tell him to watch +out for railroad trains.” +</p> +<p>And then Patty realised that that was just +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +what Roger was looking out for! She could +not see ahead into the blinding rain, but she +knew they were going down hill. She heard +what seemed like the distant whistle of a locomotive, +and suddenly realising that Roger could +not stop the car and must cross the track before +the train came, she thought at the same moment +that if Mrs. Farrington should impulsively +reach over and grasp the boy’s arm, or anything +like that, it might mean terrible disaster. +</p> +<p>Acting upon a quick impulse to prevent this, +she turned round herself, and with a voice whose +calmness surprised her, she said, “Please, Mrs. +Farrington, could you get me a sandwich out +of the basket?” +</p> +<p>“Bless you, no, child!” said that lady, her +attention instantly diverted by Patty’s ruse. +“That is, I don’t believe I can, but I’ll try.” +</p> +<p>Patty was far from wanting a sandwich, but +she felt that she had at least averted the possible +danger of Mrs. Farrington’s suddenly +clutching Roger, and as she turned back to face +the front, the great car whizzed across the slippery +railroad track, just as Patty saw the headlight +of a locomotive not two hundred feet away +from them. +</p> +<p>“Oh, Roger,” she breathed, clasping her +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +hands tightly, lest she herself should touch the +boy, and so interfere with his steering. +</p> +<p>“It’s all right, Patty,” said Roger in a breathless +voice, and as she looked at his white face, +she realised the danger they had so narrowly +escaped. +</p> +<p>Those in the back seat could not see the train, +and the roar of the storm drowned its noise. +</p> +<p>“Patty,” said Roger, very softly, “you +saved us! I understood just what you did. I +felt <i>sure</i> Mother was going to grab at me, when +she heard that whistle. It’s a way she has, +when she’s nervous or frightened, and I can’t +seem to make her stop it. But you saved the +day with your sandwich trick, and if ever we +get in out of the rain, I’ll tell you what I think +of you!” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIV_PINE_BRANCHES' id='XIV_PINE_BRANCHES'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>PINE BRANCHES</h3> +</div> + +<p>There were still many miles to cover +before they reached their destination, +but there were no more railroad tracks +to cross, and as there was little danger of meeting +anyone, Roger let the car fly along at a high +rate of speed. The storm continued and though +the party endeavoured to keep cheerful, yet the +situation was depressing, and each found it difficult +not to show it. +</p> +<p>Roger, of course, devoted his exclusive attention +to driving the car, and Patty scarcely +dared to breathe, lest she should disturb him in +some way. +</p> +<p>The three on the back seat became rather +silent also, and at last everybody was rejoiced +when Roger said, “Those lights ahead are at +the entrance gate of Pine Branches.” +</p> +<p>Then the whole party waxed cheerful again. +</p> +<p>Mr. Farrington looked at his watch. “It’s +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +quarter of two,” he said, “do you suppose we +can get in at this hour?” +</p> +<p>“Indeed we will get in,” declared Roger, +“if I have to drive this car smash through the +gates, and <i>bang</i> in at the front door!” +</p> +<p>The strain was beginning to tell on the boy, +who had really had a fearful night of it, and +he went dashing up to the large gates with a +feeling of great relief that the end of the journey +was at hand. +</p> +<p>When they reached the entrance, the rain +was coming down in torrents. Great lanterns +hung either side of the portal, and disclosed the +fact that the gates were shut and locked. +</p> +<p>Roger had expected this, for he felt sure the +Warners had long ago given up all thought of +seeing their guests that night. +</p> +<p>Repeated soundings of the horn failed to +bring any response from the lodge-keeper, and +Roger was just about to get out of the car, and +ring the bell at the large door, when Patty’s +quick eye discerned a faint light at one of the +windows. +</p> +<p>“Sure enough,” said Roger, as she called his +attention to this, and after a few moments the +large door was opened, and the porter gazed out +into the storm. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span></p> +<p>“All right, sir, all right,” he called, seeing +the car; and donning a great raincoat, he came +out to open the gates. +</p> +<p>“Well, well, sir,” he said, as Mr. Farrington +leaned out to speak with him, “this is a +night, sure enough! Mr. Warner, sir, he gave +up looking for you at midnight.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t wonder,” said Mr. Farrington, +“and now, my man, can you ring your people +up, and is there anybody to take care of the +car?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir, yes, sir,” said the porter, “just +you drive on up to the house, and I’ll go back +to the lodge and ring up the chauffeur, and as +soon as he can get around he’ll take care of your +car. I’ll ring up the housekeeper too, but she’s +a slow old body, and you’d best sound your horn +all the way up the drive.” +</p> +<p>Roger acted on this advice and The Fact +went tooting up the driveway, and finally came +to a standstill at the front entrance of Pine +Branches. +</p> +<p>They were under a <i>porte-cochère</i>, and as soon +as they stopped, Elise jumped out, and began a +vigorous onslaught on the doorbell. Roger +kept the horn sounding, and after a few moments +the door was opened by a somewhat +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +sleepy-looking butler. As they entered, Mr. +Warner, whose appearance gave evidence of a +hasty toilet, came flying down the staircase, +three steps at a time. +</p> +<p>“Well, well, my friends,” he exclaimed, +“I’m glad to see you, I am overjoyed to see +you! We were expecting you just at this particular +minute, and I am so glad that you arrived +on time. How do you do, Mrs. Farrington? +And Elise, my dear child, how you’ve grown +since I saw you last! This is Patty Fairfield, is +it? How do you do, Patty? I am very glad +to see you. Roger, my boy, you look exhausted. +Has your car been cutting up jinks?” +</p> +<p>As Mr. Warner talked, he bustled around +shaking hands with his guests, assisting them +out of their wraps, and disposing of them in +comfortable chairs. +</p> +<p>Meantime the rest of the family appeared. +</p> +<p>Bertha Warner, a merry-looking girl of about +Patty’s age, came flying downstairs, pinning her +collar as she ran. +</p> +<p>“How jolly of you,” she cried, “to come in +the middle of the night! Such fun! I’m so +glad to see you, Elise; and this is Patty Fairfield? +Patty, I think you’re lovely.” +</p> +<p>The impulsive Bertha kissed Patty on both +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +cheeks, and then turned to make way for her +mother. +</p> +<p>Mrs. Warner was as merry and as hearty in +her welcome as the others. She acted as if it +were an ordinary occurrence to be wakened from +sleep at two o’clock in the morning, to greet +newly arrived guests, and she greeted Patty +quite as warmly as the others. +</p> +<p>Suddenly a wild whoop was heard, and Winthrop +Warner, the son of the house, came running +downstairs. +</p> +<p>“Jolly old crowd!” he cried, “you wouldn’t +let a little thing like a tornado stop your progress, +would you? I’m glad you persevered and +reached here, even though a trifle late.” +</p> +<p>Winthrop was a broad-shouldered, athletic +young man, of perhaps twenty-four, and though +he chaffed Roger merrily, he greeted the ladies +with hospitable courtesy, and looked about to +see what he could do for their further comfort. +They were still in the great square entrance hall, +which was one of the most attractive rooms at +Pine Branches. A huge corner fireplace showed +the charred logs of a fire which had only recently +gone out, and Winthrop rapidly twisted up some +paper, which he lighted, and procuring a few +small sticks, soon had a crackling blaze. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span></p> +<p>“You must be damp and chilly,” he said, +“and a little fire will thaw you out. Mother, +will you get something ready for a feast?” +</p> +<p>“We should have waited dinner,” began +Mrs. Warner, “and we did wait until after ten, +and then we gave you up.” +</p> +<p>“It’s nearer time for breakfast than for dinner,” +said Elise. +</p> +<p>“I don’t want breakfast,” declared Roger, +“I don’t like that meal anyway. No shredded +whisk brooms for me.” +</p> +<p>“We’ll have a nondescript meal,” said Mrs. +Warner, gaily, “and each one may call it by +whatever name he chooses.” +</p> +<p>In a short time they were all invited to the +dining-room, and found the table filled with a +variety of delicious viands. +</p> +<p>Such a merry tableful of people as partook +of the feast! The Warners seemed to enjoy +the fact that their guests arrived at such an +unconventional hour, and the Farrington party +were so glad to have reached their destination +safely that they were in the highest of spirits. +</p> +<p>Of course the details of the trip had to be +explained, and Roger was unmercifully chaffed +by Winthrop and his father for having taken +the wrong road. But so good-naturedly did the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +boy take the teasing, and so successfully did he +pretend that he came around that way merely +for the purpose of extending a pleasant tour, +that he got the best of them after all. +</p> +<p>At last Mrs. Warner declared that people +who had been through such thrilling experiences +must be in immediate need of rest, and she gave +orders that they must all start for bed forthwith. +</p> +<p>It is needless to say that breakfast was not +early next morning. Nor did it consist as Roger +had intimated, of “shredded whisk brooms,” +but was a delightful meal, at which Patty became +better acquainted with the Warner family, +and confirmed the pleasant impressions she had +received the night before. +</p> +<p>After breakfast Mrs. Warner announced +that everybody was to do exactly as he or she +pleased until the luncheon hour, but she had +plans herself for their entertainment in the +afternoon. +</p> +<p>So Winthrop and Roger went off on some affairs +of their own, and Bertha devoted herself +to the amusement of the two girls. +</p> +<p>First, she suggested they should all walk +around the place, and this proved a delightful +occupation. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span></p> +<p>Pine Branches was an immense estate, covering +hundreds of acres, and there was a brook, +a grove, golf grounds, tennis court and everything +that could by any possibility add to the +interest or pleasure of its occupants. +</p> +<p>“But my chief and dearest possession,” said +Bertha, smiling, “is Abiram.” +</p> +<p>“A dog?” asked Patty. +</p> +<p>“No,” said Bertha, “but come, and I will +show him to you. He lives down here, in this +little house.” +</p> +<p>The little house was very like a large-sized +dog-kennel, but when they reached it, its occupant +proved to be a woolly black bear cub. +</p> +<p>“He’s a perfect dear, Abiram is,” said +Bertha, as she opened the door, and the fat +little bear came waddling out. He was fastened +to a long chain, and his antics were funny +beyond description. +</p> +<p>“He’s a real picture-bear,” said Bertha; +“see, his poses are just like those of the bears +in the funny papers.” +</p> +<p>And so they were. Patty and Elise laughed +heartily to see Abiram sit up and cross his paws +over his fat little body. +</p> +<p>“How old is he?” asked Patty. +</p> +<p>“Oh, very young, he’s just a cub. And of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +course, we can’t keep him long. Nobody wants +a big bear around. At the end of the summer, +Papa says, he’ll have to be sent to the Zoo. But +we have lots of fun looking at him now, and I +take pictures of him with my camera. He’s a +dear old thing.” Bertha was sitting down by +the bear, playing with him as with a puppy, and +indeed the soft little creature showed no trace +of wild animal habits, or even of mischievous +intent. +</p> +<p>“He’s just like a big baby,” said Patty. +“Wouldn’t it be fun to dress him up as one?” +</p> +<p>“Let’s do it,” cried Bertha, gleefully. “Come +on, girls, let’s fly up to the house, and get the +things.” +</p> +<p>Leaving Abiram sitting in the sun, the three +girls scampered back to the house. Bertha procured +two large white aprons and declared they +would make a lovely baby dress. +</p> +<p>And so they did. By sewing the sides together +nearly to the top, and tying the strings +in great bows to answer as shoulder straps, the +dress was declared perfect. A dainty sunbonnet, +with a wide fluffy ruffle, which was a +part of Bertha’s own wardrobe, was taken also, +and with a string of large blue beads, and +an enormous baby’s rattle which Bertha unearthed +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +from her treasure-chest, the costume +was complete. +</p> +<p>Bertha got her camera, and giving Elise a +small, light chair to carry, they all ran back +to Abiram’s kennel. +</p> +<p>They found the little bear peacefully sleeping +in the sun, and when Bertha shook him awake +he showed no resentment, and graciously allowed +himself to be put into the clothes they +had brought. His forepaws were thrust through +the openings left for the purpose, and the stiff +white bows sticking up from his black shoulders, +made the girls scream with laughter. The +ruffled sunbonnet was put on his head, and coquettishly +tied on one side, and the string of +blue beads was clasped around his fat neck. +</p> +<p>Although Abiram seemed willing to submit +to the greatness that was being thrust upon him, +he experienced some difficulty in sitting up in +the chair in the position which Bertha insisted +upon. +</p> +<p>However, by dint of Patty’s holding his head +up from behind, she herself being screened from +view by a tree trunk, they induced Abiram to +hold the rattle long enough for Bertha to get a +picture. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +<img src='images/illus3.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +“Although a successful snapshot was only achieved after<br /> +many attempts” +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span></div> +<p>Although a successful snapshot was only +achieved after many attempts, yet the girls had +great fun, and so silly and ridiculous did the +little bear behave that Patty afterward declared +she had never laughed so much in all her +life. +</p> +<p>After luncheon Mrs. Warner took her guests +for a drive, declaring that after their automobile +tour she felt sure that a carriage drive would +be a pleasant change. +</p> +<p>After the drive there was afternoon tea in +the library, when the men appeared, and everybody +chatted gaily over the events of the +day. +</p> +<p>Then they all dispersed to dress for dinner, +and Patty suddenly realised that she was living +in a very grown-up atmosphere, greatly in contrast +to her schoolgirl life. +</p> +<p>Bertha was a year or two older than Patty, +and though as merry and full of fun as a child, +she seemed to have the ways and effects of a +grown-up young lady. +</p> +<p>Elise also had lived a life which had accustomed +her to formality and ceremony, and +though only a year older than Patty in reality, +she was far more advanced in worldly wisdom +and ceremonious observances. +</p> +<p>But Patty was adaptable by nature, and when +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +in Rome she was quite ready to do as the +Romans did. +</p> +<p>So she put on one of her prettiest frocks for +dinner, and allowed Bertha to do her hair in a +new way which seemed to add a year or so to +her appearance. +</p> +<p>There were a few other guests at dinner, and +as Patty always enjoyed meeting strangers, she +took great interest in all the details of entertainment +at Pine Branches. +</p> +<p>At the table she found herself seated between +Bertha and Winthrop. This pleased her, for +she was glad of an opportunity to get better acquainted +with the young man, of whom she had +seen little during the day. +</p> +<p>Although frank and boyish in some ways, +Winthrop Warner gave her the impression of +being very wise and scholarly. +</p> +<p>She said as much to him, whereupon he explained +that he was a student, and was making +a specialty of certain branches of scientific lore. +These included ethnology and anthropology, +which names caused Patty to feel a sudden awe +of the young man beside her. +</p> +<p>But Winthrop only laughed, and said, +“Don’t let those long words frighten you. I +assure you that they stand for most interesting +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +subjects, and some day if you will come to my +study, I will promise to prove that to you. +Meantime we will ignore my scientific side, and +just consider that we are two gay young people +enjoying a summer holiday.” +</p> +<p>The young man’s affable manner and kind +smile put Patty quite at her ease, and she +chatted so merrily that when the dinner hour +was over she and Winthrop had become good +friends and comrades. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XV_MISS_AURORA_BENDER' id='XV_MISS_AURORA_BENDER'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>MISS AURORA BENDER</h3> +</div> + +<p>After a visit of a few days, it was decided +that Mr. and Mrs. Farrington and +Roger should continue the motor-trip on +to Boston, and to certain places along the New +England coast, while Patty and Elise should +stay at Pine Branches for a longer visit. +</p> +<p>The girls had expected to continue the trip +with the others, but Bertha had coaxed them to +stay longer with her, and had held out such +attractive inducements that they decided to +remain. +</p> +<p>Patty, herself, was pleased with the plan, because +she still felt the effects of her recent mental +strain, and realised that the luxurious ease +of Pine Branches would be far more of a rest +than the more exciting experiences of a motor +trip. +</p> +<p>So the girls were installed for a fortnight or +more in the beautiful home of the Warners, +and with so many means of pleasure at her disposal, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +Patty looked forward to a delightful +period of both rest and recreation. +</p> +<p>One morning, Bertha declared her intention +of taking the girls to call on Miss Aurora +Bender. +</p> +<p>“Who is she?” inquired Patty, as the three +started off in Bertha’s pony-cart. +</p> +<p>“She’s a character,” said Bertha, “but I +won’t tell you anything about her; you can see +her, and judge for yourself.” +</p> +<p>A drive of several miles brought them to a +quaint old-fashioned farmhouse. +</p> +<p>The house, which had the appearance of being +very old, was built of stone and painted a +light yellow, with white trimmings. Everything +about the place was in perfect repair and +exquisite order, and as they drove in around +the gravel circle that surrounded a carefully +kept bit of green lawn, Bertha stopped the cart +at an old-fashioned carriage-block, and the girls +got out. Running up the steps, Bertha clanged +the old brass knocker at what seemed to Patty +to be the kitchen door. It was opened by a tall, +gaunt woman, with sharp features and angular +figure. +</p> +<p>“Well, I declare to goodness, Bertha Warner, +if you aren’t here again! Who’s that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +you’ve got with you this time? City folks, I +s’pose. Well come in, all of you, but wipe your +feet first. As you’ve been riding, I s’pose they +ain’t muddy much, but it’s well to be on the +safe side. So wipe ’em good and then troop +in.” +</p> +<p>Miss Aurora Bender had pushed her heavy +gold-bowed glasses up on the top of her head, +and her whole-souled smile of welcome belied +the gruffness of her tone, and the seeming inhospitality +of her words. +</p> +<p>The girls took pains to wipe their dainty +boots on the gaily-coloured braided rug which +lay just outside the door. +</p> +<p>Then they entered a spacious low-ceiled room, +which seemed to partake of the qualities of both +kitchen and dining-room. At one end was an +immense fireplace, with an old-fashioned swinging +crane, from which depended many skillets +and kettles of highly polished brass or +copper. +</p> +<p>On either side of the room was a large dresser, +with glass doors, through which showed +quantities of rare old china that made Patty’s +eyes shine with delight. A quaint old settle and +various old chairs of Windsor pattern stood +round the walls. The floor was painted yellow, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +and here and there were braided mats of various +designs. +</p> +<p>“Sit down, girls, sit down,” said Miss Bender, +cordially, “and now Bertha, tell me these +young ladies’ names,—unless, that is to say, +you’d rather sit in the parlour?” +</p> +<p>“We would rather sit in the parlour, Miss +Bender,” said Bertha, quickly, and as if fearing +her hostess might not follow up her suggestion, +Bertha opened a door leading to the +front hall, and started toward the parlour, herself. +</p> +<p>“Well,” said Miss Bender, with a note of +regret in her voice, “I s’pose if you must, you +must; though for my part, I’m free to confess +that this room’s a heap more cozy and livable.” +</p> +<p>“That may be,” said Bertha, who had beckoned +to the girls to follow quickly, “but my +friends are from the city, as you suspected, and +they don’t often have a chance in New York to +see a parlour like yours, Miss Bender.” +</p> +<p>As Bertha had intended, this bit of flattery +mollified the old lady, and she followed her +guests along the dark hall. +</p> +<p>“Well, if you’re bound to have it so,” she +said, “do wait a minute, and let me get in there +and pull up the blinds. It’s darker than Japhet’s +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +coat pocket. I haven’t had this room opened +since Mis’ Perkins across the road had her last +tea fight. And I only did it then, ’cause I +wanted to set some vases of my early primroses +in the windows, so’s the guests might see ’em +as they came by. Seems to me it’s a little musty +in here, but land! a room will get musty if it’s +shut up, and what earthly good is a parlour except +to keep shut up?” +</p> +<p>As Miss Bender talked, she had bustled +about, and thrown open the six windows of the +large room, into which Bertha had taken the +girls. +</p> +<p>The sunlight streamed in, and disclosed a +scene which seemed to Patty like a wonderful +vision of a century ago. +</p> +<p>And indeed for more than a hundred years +the furniture of the great parlour had stood precisely +as they now saw it. +</p> +<p>The furniture was entirely of antique mahogany, +and included sofas and chairs, various kinds +of tables, bookcases, a highboy, a lowboy and +other pieces of furniture of which Patty knew +neither the name nor the use. +</p> +<p>The pictures on the wall, the ornaments, the +books and the old-fashioned brass candlesticks +were all of the same ancient period, and Patty +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +felt as if she had been transported back into the +life of her great-grandmother. +</p> +<p>As she had herself a pretty good knowledge +of the styles and varieties of antique furniture, +she won Miss Bender’s heart at once by her appreciation +of her Heppelwhite chairs and her +Chippendale card-tables. +</p> +<p>“You don’t say,” said Miss Bender, looking +at Patty in admiration, “that you really know +one style from another! Lots of people pretend +they do, but they soon get confused when I +try to pin ’em down.” +</p> +<p>Patty smiled, as she disclaimed any great +knowledge of the subject, but she soon found +that she knew enough to satisfy her hostess, +who, after all, enjoyed describing her treasures +even more than listening to their praises. +</p> +<p>Miss Aurora Bender was a lady of sudden +and rapid physical motion. While the girls +were examining the wonderful old relics, she +darted from the room, and returned in a moment, +carrying two large baskets. They were +of the old-fashioned type of closely-woven reed, +with a handle over the top, and a cover to lift +up on either side. +</p> +<p>Miss Bender plumped herself down in the +middle of a long sofa, and began rapidly to extract +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +the contents of the baskets, which proved +to be numerous fat rolls of gayly-coloured cotton +material. +</p> +<p>“It’s patchwork,” she announced, “and I +make it my habit to get all the help I can. I’m +piecing a quilt, goose-chase pattern, and while I +don’t know as it’s the prettiest there is, yet I +don’t know as ’tisn’t. If you girls expect to sit +the morning, and I must say you look like it, +you might lend a helping hand. I made the +geese smaller’n I otherwise would, ’cause I had +so many little pieces left from my rising-sun +quilt. Looks just as well, of course, but takes +a powerful sight of time to sew. And I must +say I’m sorter particular about sewing. However, +I don’t s’pose you young things of this +day and generation know much about sewing, +but if you go slow you can’t help doing it pretty +well.” +</p> +<p>As she talked, Miss Bender had hastily presented +each of the girls with a basted block of +patchwork, and had passed around a needle-cushion +and a small box containing a number of +old-fashioned silver thimbles. +</p> +<p>“Lucky I had a big family,” she commented, +“else I don’t know what I’d done for thimbles +to go around. I can’t abide brass things, that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +make your finger look like it had been dipped +in ink, but thanks to my seven sisters who are +all restin’ comfortably in their graves, I have +enough thimbles to provide quite a parcel of +company. Here’s your thread. Now sew away +while we talk, and we’ll have a real nice little +bee.” +</p> +<p>Although not especially fond of sewing, the +girls looked upon this episode as a good joke, +and fell to work at their bits of cloth. +</p> +<p>Elise was a dainty little needlewoman, and +overhanded rapidly and neatly; Patty did fairly +well, though her stitches were not quite even, +but poor Bertha found her work a difficult task. +She never did fancywork, and knew nothing of +sewing, so her thread knotted and broke, and +her patch presented a sorry sight. +</p> +<p>“Land o’ Goshen!” exclaimed Miss Aurora, +“is that the best you can do, Bertha Warner? +The town ought to take up a subscription to +put you in a sewin’ school. Here child, let me +show you.” +</p> +<p>Miss Bender took Bertha’s block and tried +to straighten it out, while Bertha herself made +funny faces at the other girls over Miss +Aurora’s shoulder. +</p> +<p>“I can see you,” said that lady calmly, “I +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +guess you forget that big mirror opposite. But +them faces you’re makin’ ain’t half so bad as +this sewin’ of yours.” +</p> +<p>The girls all laughed outright at Miss Bender’s +calm acceptance of Bertha’s sauciness, and +Bertha herself was in nowise embarrassed by the +implied rebuke. +</p> +<p>“There, child,” said Miss Aurora, smoothing +out the seams with her thumb nail, “now +try again, and see if you can’t do it some +better.” +</p> +<p>“Is your quilt nearly done, Miss Bender?” +asked Patty. +</p> +<p>“Yes, it is. I’ve got three hundred and +eighty-seven geese finished, and four hundred’s +enough. I work on it myself quite a spell every +day, and I think in two or three days I’ll have +it all pieced.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, Miss Bender,” cried Bertha, “then +won’t you quilt it? Won’t you have a quilting +party while my friends are here?” +</p> +<p>“Humph,” said Miss Aurora, scornfully, +“you children can’t quilt fit to be seen.” +</p> +<p>“Elise can,” said Bertha, looking at Elise’s +dainty block, “and Patty can do pretty well, +and as I would spoil your quilt if I touched it, +Miss Aurora, I’ll promise to let it alone; but I +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +can do other things to help you. Oh, do have +the party, will you?” +</p> +<p>“Why, I don’t know but I will. I kinder +calculated to have it soon, anyhow, and if so +be’s you young people would like to come to it, +I don’t see anything to hinder. S’pose we say +a week from to-day?” +</p> +<p>The date was decided on, and the girls went +home in high glee over the quilting party, for +Bertha told them it would be great fun of a +sort they had probably never seen before. +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> + +<p>The days flew by rapidly at Pine Branches. +Patty rapidly recovered her usual perfect health +and rosy cheeks. She played golf and tennis, +she went for long rides in the Warners’ motor-car +or carriages, and also on horseback. There +were many guests at the house, coming and going, +and among these one day came Mr. Phelps, +whom they had met on their journey out from +New York. +</p> +<p>This gentleman proved to be of a merry disposition, +and added greatly to the gaiety of the +party. While he was there, Roger also came +back for a few days, having left Mr. and Mrs. +Farrington for a short stay at Nantucket. +</p> +<p>One morning, as Patty and Roger stood in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +the hall, waiting for the other young people to +join them, they were startled to hear angry +voices in the music-room. +</p> +<p>This room was separated from them by the +length of the library, and though not quite distinct, +the voices were unmistakably those of +Bertha and Winthrop. +</p> +<p>“You did!” said Winthrop’s voice, “don’t +deny it! You’re a horrid hateful old thing!” +</p> +<p>“I didn’t! any such thing,” replied Bertha’s +voice, which sounded on the verge of tears. +</p> +<p>“You did! and if you don’t give it back to +me, I’ll tell mother. Mother said if she caught +you at such a thing again, she’d punish you as +you deserved, and I’m going to tell her!” +</p> +<p>Patty felt most uncomfortable at overhearing +this quarrel. She had never before heard a +word of disagreement between Bertha and her +brother, and she was surprised as well as sorry +to hear this exhibition of temper. +</p> +<p>Roger looked horrified, and glanced at Patty, +not knowing exactly what to do. +</p> +<p>The voices waxed more angry, and they +heard Bertha declare, “You’re a horrid old +telltale! Go on and tell, if you want to, and +I’ll tell what you stole out of father’s desk last +week!” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span></p> +<p>“How did you know that?” and Winthrop’s +voice rang out in rage. +</p> +<p>“Oh, I know all about it. You think nobody +knows anything but yourself, Smarty-cat! +Just wait till I tell father and see what he’ll +do to you.” +</p> +<p>“You won’t tell him! Promise me you +won’t, or I’ll,—I’ll hit you! There, take +that!” +</p> +<p>“That” seemed to be a resounding blow, and +immediately Bertha’s cries broke forth in angry +profusion. +</p> +<p>“Stop crying,” yelled her brother, “and stop +punching me. Stop it, I say!” +</p> +<p>At this point the conversation broke off suddenly, +and Patty and Roger stared in stupefied +amazement as they saw Bertha and Winthrop +walk in smiling, and hand in hand, from exactly +the opposite direction from which their quarrelsome +voices had sounded. +</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” said Bertha. “Why +do you look so shocked and scared to death?” +</p> +<p>“N-nothing,” stammered Patty; while Roger +blurted out, “We thought we heard you talking +over that way, and then you came in from this +way. Who could it have been? The voices +were just like yours.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span></p> +<p>Bertha and Winthrop broke into a merry +laugh. +</p> +<p>“It’s the phonograph,” said Bertha. “Winthrop +and I fixed up that quarrel record, just +for fun; isn’t it a good one?” +</p> +<p>Roger understood at once, and went off into +peals of laughter, but Patty had to have it explained +to her. +</p> +<p>“You see,” said Winthrop, “we have a big +phonograph, and we make records for it ourselves. +Bertha and I fixed up that one just for +fun, and Elise is in there now looking after it. +Come on in, and see it.” +</p> +<p>They all went into the music-room, and Winthrop +entertained them by putting in various +cylinders, which they had made themselves. +</p> +<p>Almost as funny as the quarrel was Bertha’s +account of the occasion when she fell into the +creek, and many funny recitations by Mr. Warner +also made amusing records. +</p> +<p>Patty could hardly believe that she had not +heard her friends’ voices really raised in anger, +until Winthrop put the same record in and let +her hear it again. +</p> +<p>He also promised her that some day she +should make a record for herself, and leave it at +Pine Branches as a memento of her visit. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVI_A_QUILTING_PARTY' id='XVI_A_QUILTING_PARTY'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>A QUILTING PARTY</h3> +</div> + +<p>Miss Aurora Bender’s quilting +party was to begin at three o’clock in +the afternoon, and the girls started +early in order to see all the fun. They were to +stay to supper, and the young men were to come +over and escort them home in the evening. +</p> +<p>When they reached Miss Bender’s, they +found that many and wonderful preparations +had been made. +</p> +<p>Miss Aurora had two house servants, Emmeline +and Nancy, but on this occasion she had +called in two more to help. And indeed there +was plenty to be done, for a quilting bee was to +Miss Bender’s mind a function of great importance. +</p> +<p>The last of a large family, Miss Bender was +a woman of great wealth but of plain and old-fashioned +tastes. Though amply able to gratify +any extravagant wish, she preferred to live as +her parents had lived before her, and she had in +no sense kept pace with the progress of the age. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span></p> +<p>When the three girls reached the old country +house, they were met at the front door by the +elderly Nancy. She courtesied with old-time +grace, and invited them to step into the bedroom, +and lay off their things. +</p> +<p>This bedroom, which was on the ground +floor, was a large apartment, containing a marvellously +carved four-post bedstead, hung with +old-fashioned chintz curtains and draperies. +</p> +<p>The room also contained two massive +bureaus, a dressing-table and various chairs of +carved mahogany, and in the open fireplace was +an enormous bunch of feathery asparagus, +flecked with red berries. +</p> +<p>“Oh,” cried Patty in delight, “if Nan could +see this room she’d go perfectly crazy. Isn’t +this house great? Why, it’s quite as full of +beautiful old things as Washington’s house at +Mt. Vernon.” +</p> +<p>“I haven’t seen that,” said Bertha, “but it +doesn’t seem as if anything could be more complete +or perfect in its way than this house is. +Come on, girls, are you ready?” +</p> +<p>The girls went to the parlour, and there found +the quilt all prepared for working on. Patty +had never before seen a quilt stretched on a +quilting-frame, and was extremely interested. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span></p> +<p>It was a very large quilt, and its innumerable +small triangles, which made up the goose-chase +pattern, were found to present a methodical +harmony of colouring, which had not been observable +before the strips were put together. +</p> +<p>The large pieced portion was uppermost, and +beneath it was the lining, with layers of cotton +in between. Each edge was pinned at intervals +to a long strip of material which was wound +round and round the frame. The four corners +of the frame were held up by being tied to the +backs of four chairs, and on each of the four +sides of the quilt were three more chairs for the +expected guests to occupy. +</p> +<p>Almost on the stroke of three the visitors arrived, +and though some of them were of a +more modern type than Miss Bender, yet three +or four were quite as old-fashioned and quaint-mannered +as their hostess. +</p> +<p>“They are native up here,” Bertha explained +to Patty. “There are only a few of the old +New England settlers left. Most of the population +here is composed of city people who have +large country places. You won’t often get an +opportunity to see a gathering like this.” +</p> +<p>Patty realised the truth of this, and was both +surprised and pleased to find that these country +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +ladies showed no trace of embarrassment or +self-consciousness before the city girls. +</p> +<p>It seemed not to occur to them that there was +any difference in their effects, and indeed Patty +was greatly amused because one of the old +ladies seemed to take it for granted that Patty +was a country girl, and brought up according to +old-time customs. +</p> +<p>This old lady, whose name was Mrs. Quimby, +sat next to Patty at the quilt, and after she had +peered through her glasses at the somewhat uneven +stitches which poor Patty was trying her +best to do as well as possible, she remarked: +</p> +<p>“You ain’t got much knack, have you? +You’ll have to practise quite a spell longer before +you can quilt your own house goods. How +old be you?” +</p> +<p>“Seventeen,” said Patty, feeling that her +work did not look very well, considering her +age. +</p> +<p>“Seventeen!” exclaimed Mrs. Quimby. +“Laws’ sake, I was married when I was sixteen, +and I quilted as good then as I do now. +I’m over eighty now, and I’d ruther quilt than +do anything, ’most. You don’t look to be +seventeen.” +</p> +<p>“And you don’t look to be eighty, either,” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +said Patty, smiling, glad to be able to turn the +subject by complimenting the old lady. +</p> +<p>The quilting lasted all the afternoon. Patty +grew very tired of the unaccustomed work, and +was glad when Miss Bender noticed it, and told +her to run out into the garden with Bertha. +Bertha was not allowed to touch the quilt with +her incompetent fingers, but Elise sewed away, +thoroughly enjoying it all, and with no desire +to avail herself of Miss Bender’s permission to +stop and rest. Patty and Bertha wandered +through the old-fashioned garden, in great delight. +The paths were bordered with tiny box +hedges, which, though many years old, were +kept clean and free from deadwood or blemish +of any sort, and were perfectly trimmed in +shape. +</p> +<p>The garden included quaint old flowers such +as marigolds, sweet Williams, bleeding hearts, +bachelors’ buttons, Jacob’s ladder and many +others of which Patty did not even know the +names. Tall hollyhocks, both single and double, +grew against the wall, and a hop vine hung in +green profusion. +</p> +<p>Every flower bed was of exact shape, and +looked as if not a leaf or a stem would dare to +grow otherwise than straight and true. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span></p> +<p>“What a lovely old garden,” said Patty, +sniffing at a sprig of lemon verbena which she +had picked. +</p> +<p>“Yes, it’s wonderful,” said Bertha. “I mean +to ask Miss Bender if I mayn’t bring my camera +over, and get a picture of it, and if they’re good, +I’ll give you one.” +</p> +<p>“Do,” said Patty, “and take some pictures +inside the house too. I’d like to show them to +Nan.” +</p> +<p>“Tell me about Nan,” said Bertha. “She’s +your stepmother, isn’t she?” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Patty, “but she’s only six years +older than I am, so that the stepmother part of +it seems ridiculous. We’re more like sisters, and +she’s perfectly crazy over old china and old furniture. +She’d love Miss Bender’s things.” +</p> +<p>“Perhaps she’ll come up while you’re here,” +said Bertha. “I’ll ask mother to write for +her.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you,” said Patty, “but I’m afraid +she won’t. My father can’t leave for his vacation +until July, and then we’re all going away +together, but I don’t know where.” +</p> +<p>Just then Elise came flying out to them, with +the announcement that supper was ready, and +they were to come right in, quick. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span></p> +<p>The table was spread in the large room which +Patty had thought was the kitchen. +</p> +<p>It probably had been built for that purpose, +but other kitchens had been added beyond it, +and for the last half century it had been used +as a dining-room. +</p> +<p>The table was drawn out to its full length, +which made it very long indeed, and it was +filled with what seemed to Patty viands enough +to feed an army. At one end was a young pig +roasted whole, with a lemon in his mouth, and +a design in cloves stuck into his fat little side. +At the other end was a baked ham whose crisp +golden-brown crust could only be attained by +the old cook who had been in the Bender family +for many years. +</p> +<p>Up and down the length of the table on either +side was a succession of various cold meats, alternating +with pickles, jellies and savories of +various sorts. +</p> +<p>After the guests were seated, Nancy brought +in platters of smoking-hot biscuits from the +kitchen, and Miss Aurora herself made the tea. +</p> +<p>The furnishings of the table were of old blue +and white china of great age and priceless value. +The old family silver too was a marvel in itself, +and the tea service which Miss Bender +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +manipulated with some pride was over a hundred +years old. +</p> +<p>Patty was greatly impressed at this unusual +scene, but when the plates were removed after +the first course, and the busy maid-servants prepared +to serve the dessert, she was highly entertained. +</p> +<p>For the next course, though consisting only of +preserves and cake, was served in an unusual +manner. The preserves included every variety +known to housewives and a few more. In addition +to this, Miss Aurora announced in a voice +which was calm with repressed satisfaction, that +she had fourteen kinds of cake to put at the +disposal of her guests. None of these sorts +could be mixed with any other sort, and the +result was fourteen separate baskets and platters +of cake. +</p> +<p>The table became crowded before they had +all been brought in from the kitchen, and quite +as a matter of course, the serving maids placed +the later supplies on chairs, which they stood +behind the guests, and the ladies amiably turned +round in their seats, inspected the cake, partook +of it if they desired, and gracefully pushed the +chair along to the next neighbour. +</p> +<p>This seemed to the city girls a most amusing +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +performance, but Patty immediately adapted +herself to what was apparently the custom of +the house, and gravely looked at the cake each +time, selected such as pleased her fancy and +pushed the chair along. +</p> +<p>Noticing Patty’s gravity as she accomplished +this performance, Elise very nearly lost her own, +but Patty nudged her under the table, and she +managed to behave with propriety. +</p> +<p>The conversation at the table was without a +trace of hilarity, and included only the most dignified +subjects. The ladies ate mincingly, with +their little fingers sticking out straight, or +curved in what they considered a most elegant +fashion. +</p> +<p>Miss Aurora was in her element. She was +truly proud of her home and its appointments, +and she dearly loved to entertain company at +tea. To her mind, and indeed to the minds of +most of those present, the success of a tea depended +entirely upon the number of kinds of +cake that were served, and Miss Bender felt that +with fourteen she had broken any hitherto known +record. +</p> +<p>It was an unwritten law that each kind of +cake must be really a separate recipe. To take +a portion of ordinary cup-cake batter, and stir +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +in some chopped nuts, and another portion and +mix in some raisins, by no means met the requirements +of the case. This Patty learned +from remarks made by the visitors, and also +from Miss Aurora’s own delicately veiled intimations +that each of her fourteen kinds was +a totally different and distinct recipe. +</p> +<p>Patty couldn’t help wondering what would +become of all this cake, for after all, the guests +could eat but a small portion of it. +</p> +<p>And it occurred to her also that the ways of +the people in previous generations, as exemplified +in Miss Bender’s customs, seemed to show +quite as great a lack of a sense of proportion +as many of our so-called modern absurdities. +</p> +<p>After supper the guests immediately departed +for their homes. Carriages arrived for the different +ones, and they went away, after volubly +expressing to their hostess their thanks for her +delightful entertainment. +</p> +<p>The girls expected Winthrop and Roger to +come for them in the motor-car, but they had +not told them to come quite so early as now +seemed necessary. In some embarrassment, they +told Miss Bender that they would have to trespass +on her hospitality for perhaps an hour +longer. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span></p> +<p>“My land o’ goodness!” she exclaimed, +looking at them in dismay, “why I’ve got to +set this house to rights, and I can’t wait an hour +to begin!” +</p> +<p>“Don’t mind us, Miss Bender,” said Bertha. +“Just shut us up in some room by ourselves, and +we’ll stay there, and not bother you a bit; unless +perhaps we can help you?” +</p> +<p>“Help me! No, indeed. There can’t anybody +help me when I’m clearin’ up after a +quiltin’, unless it’s somebody that knows my +ways. But I’d like to amuse you children, somehow. +I’ll tell you what, you can go up in the +front bedroom, if you like, and there’s a chest +of old-fashioned clothes there. Can’t you play +at dressin’ up?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, indeed,” cried Bertha. “Just the +thing! Give us some candles.” +</p> +<p>Provided with two candles apiece, the girls +followed Miss Aurora to a large bedroom on +the second floor, which also boasted its carved +four-poster and chintz draperies. +</p> +<p>“There,” said Miss Aurora, throwing open +a great chest, “you ought to get some fun out +of trying on those fol-de-rols, and peacocking +around; but don’t come downstairs to show off +to me, for you’ll only bother me out of my wits. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span> +I’ll let you know when your folks come for +you.” +</p> +<p>Miss Bender trotted away, and the girls, +quite ready for a lark, tossed over the quaint old +gowns. +</p> +<p>Beautiful costumes were there, of the period +of about a hundred years ago. Lustrous silks +and dainty dimities; embroidered muslins and +heavy velvets; Patty had never seen such a sight. +After looking them over, the girls picked out +the ones they preferred, and taking off their own +frocks proceeded to try them on. +</p> +<p>Bertha had chosen a blue and white silk of a +bayadere stripe, with lace ruffles at the neck and +wrists and a skirt of voluminous fulness. Elise +wore a white Empire gown that made her look +exactly like the Empress Josephine, while Patty +arrayed herself in a flowered silk of Dresden +effect with a pointed bodice, square neck, and +elbow sleeves with lace frills. +</p> +<p>In great glee, the girls pranced around, regretting +there was no one to whom they might +exhibit their masquerade costumes. But Miss +Bender had been so positive in her orders that +they dared not go downstairs. +</p> +<p>Suddenly they heard the toot of an automobile. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +<img src='images/illus4.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +“Patty arrayed herself in a flowered silk of Dresden effect” +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span></div> +<p>“That’s our car,” cried Bertha. “I know +the horn. Let’s go down just as we are, for the +benefit of Winthrop and Roger.” +</p> +<p>In answer to Miss Bender’s call from below, +the girls trooped downstairs, and merrily presented +themselves for inspection. +</p> +<p>Mr. Phelps had come with the others, and if +the young men were pleased at the picture the +three girls presented, Miss Aurora herself was +no less so. +</p> +<p>“My,” she said, “you do look fine, I declare! +Now, I’ll tell you what I’ll do; I’ll +make each of you young ladies a present of the +gown you have on, if you care to keep it. I’ll +never miss them, for I have trunks and chests +full, besides those you saw, and I’m right down +glad to give them to you. You can wear them +sometimes at your fancy dress parties.” +</p> +<p>The girls were overjoyed at Miss Bender’s +gift, and Bertha declared they would wear them +home, and she would send over for their other +dresses the next day. +</p> +<p>So, donning their wraps, the merry modern +maids in their antique garb made their adieus +to Miss Aurora, and were soon in the big motor-car +speeding for home. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVII_A_SUMMER_CHRISTMAS' id='XVII_A_SUMMER_CHRISTMAS'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>A SUMMER CHRISTMAS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Although they had intended to stay +but a fortnight, Patty and Elise remained +with the Warners all through +the month of June, and even then Bertha +begged them to stay longer. +</p> +<p>But the day for their departure was set in +the first week of July, and Bertha declared that +they must have a big party of some kind as their +last entertainment for the girls. +</p> +<p>So Mrs. Warner invited a number of young +people for a house party during the last few +days of Patty’s stay. +</p> +<p>“I wish,” said Bertha, a few days before the +Fourth, “that we could have some kind of a +party on the Fourth of July that would be different +from just an ordinary party.” +</p> +<p>“Have an automobile party,” suggested +Roger, who was present. +</p> +<p>“I don’t mean that kind,” said Bertha, “I +mean a party in the house, but something that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +would be fun. There isn’t anything to do on +Fourth of July except have fireworks, and that +isn’t much fun.” +</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you what,” said Mr. Phelps, who +was at Pine Branches on one of his flying visits, +“have a Christmas party.” +</p> +<p>“A Christmas party on Fourth of July!” +exclaimed Bertha, “that’s just the thing! Mr. +Phelps, you’re a real genius. That’s just what +we’ll do, and we’ll have a Christmas tree, and +give each other gifts and everything.” +</p> +<p>“Great!” said Roger, “and we’ll have a +Yule log blazing, and we’ll all wear our fur +coats.” +</p> +<p>“No, not that,” said Bertha, laughing, +“we’d melt. But we’ll have all the Christmas +effects that we can think of, and each one must +help.” +</p> +<p>The crowd of merry young people who were +gathered at Pine Branches eagerly fell in with +Bertha’s plan, and each began to make preparations +for the festival. +</p> +<p>The girls made gifts which they carefully +kept secret from the ones for whom they were +intended, and many trips were made to the village +for materials. +</p> +<p>The boys also had many mysterious errands, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +and Mr. and Mrs. Warner, who entered heartily +into the spirit of the fun, were frequently consulted +under strict bonds of confidence. +</p> +<p>Fourth of July came and proved to be a +warm, though not a sultry summer day. +</p> +<p>Invitations had been sent out, and a large +party of young people were expected in the +evening; and during the day those who were +staying at Pine Branches found plenty to do by +way of preparation. +</p> +<p>A large Christmas tree had been cut down, +and was brought into the library. As soon as +it was set up, the work of decoration began, and +it was hung with strings of popcorn, and tinsel +filigree which Mrs. Warner had saved from +previous Christmas trees. Dozens of candles +too, were put on the branches, to be lighted at +night. +</p> +<p>The boys brought in great boughs of evergreen, +and cut them up, while the girls made +ropes and wreaths and stars, with which to +adorn the room. +</p> +<p>Mr. Phelps had sent to New York for a large +boxful of artificial holly, and this added greatly +to the Christmas effect. +</p> +<p>Patty was in her element helping with these +arrangements, for she dearly loved to make believe, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +and the idea of a Christmas party in midsummer +appealed very strongly to her sense of +humour. +</p> +<p>Her energy and enthusiasm were untiring, +and her original ideas called forth the hearty +applause of the others. She was consulted about +everything, and her decisions were always accepted. +</p> +<p>Mr. Phelps too, proved a clever and willing +worker. He was an athletic young man, and he +seemed to be capable of doing half a dozen different +things at once. He cut greens, and hung +wreaths, and ran up and down stepladders, and +even managed to fasten a large gilt star to the +very top branch of the Christmas tree. +</p> +<p>After the decorations were all completed, +everybody brought their gifts neatly tied up and +labelled, and either hung them on the tree or +piled them up around the platform on which it +stood. +</p> +<p>“Well, you children have done wonders,” +said Mrs. Warner, looking in at the library +door. “You have transformed this room until +I hardly can recognise it, and it looks for all +the world exactly like Christmas. It is hard to +believe that it is really Fourth of July.” +</p> +<p>“It seems too bad not to have any of the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span> +Fourth of July spirit mixed in with it,” said +Winthrop, “but I suppose it would spoil the +harmony. But we really ought to use a little +gunpowder in honour of the day. Come on, +Patty, your work is about finished, let’s go out +and put off a few firecrackers.” +</p> +<p>“All right,” said Patty, “just wait till I tack +up this ‘Merry Christmas’ motto, and I’ll be +ready.” +</p> +<p>“I’ll do that,” said Roger, “you infants run +along and show off your patriotism, and I’ll +join you in a few minutes.” +</p> +<p>“You must be tired,” said Winthrop to +Patty, as they sauntered out on the lawn. “You +worked awfully hard with those evergreen +things. Let’s go out on the lake and take our +firecrackers with us; that will rest you, and it +will be fun besides.” +</p> +<p>The lake, so called by courtesy, was really an +artificial pond, and though not large, it provided +a great deal of amusement. +</p> +<p>There were several boats, and selecting a +small cedar one, Winthrop assisted Patty in, +sprang in himself, and pushed off. +</p> +<p>“If it’s Christmas, we ought to be going +skating on the lake, instead of rowing,” said +Patty. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span></p> +<p>“It isn’t Christmas now,” said Winthrop, +“You get your holidays mixed up. We’ve come +out here to celebrate Independence Day. See +what I’ve brought.” +</p> +<p>From his pockets the young man produced +several packs of firecrackers. +</p> +<p>“What fun!” cried Patty, “I feel as if I +were a child again. Let me set some off. Have +you any punk?” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Winthrop, gravely producing +some short sticks of punk from another pocket; +and lighting one, he gave it to Patty. +</p> +<p>“But how can I set them off?” said Patty, +“I’m afraid to have them in the boat, and we +can’t throw them out on the water.” +</p> +<p>“We’ll manage this way,” said Winthrop, +and drawing one of the oars into the boat, he +laid a lighted firecracker on the blade and +pushed it out again. The firecracker went off +with a bang, and in great glee Patty pulled in +the other oar and tried the same plan. +</p> +<p>Then they set off a whole pack at once, and +as the length of the oar was not quite sufficient +for safety Winthrop let it slip from the row-lock +and float away on the water. As he had +previously tied a string to the handle so that he +could pull the oar back at will, this was a great +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +game, and the floating oar with its freight of +snapping firecrackers provided much amusement. +The noise of the explosions brought the +others running to the scene, and three or four +more boats were soon out on the lake. Firecrackers +went snapping in every direction, and +torpedoes were thrown from one boat to another +until the ammunition was exhausted. +</p> +<p>Then the merry crowd trooped back to the +house for luncheon. +</p> +<p>“I never had such a lovely Fourth of July,” +said Patty to her kind hostess. “Everything is +different from anything I ever did before. This +house is just like Fairyland. You never know +what is going to happen next.” +</p> +<p>After luncheon the party broke up in various +small groups. Some of the more energetic ones +played golf or tennis, but Patty declared it was +too warm for any unnecessary exertion. +</p> +<p>“Come for a little walk with me,” said +Roger, “we’ll walk down in the grove; it’s cool +and shady there, and we can play mumblety-peg +if you like.” +</p> +<p>“I’ll go to the grove,” said Patty, “but I +don’t want to play anything. This is a day just +to be idle and enjoy living, without doing anything +else.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span></p> +<p>They strolled down toward the grove, and +were joined on the way by Bertha and Mr. +Phelps, who were just returning from a call +on Abiram. +</p> +<p>“I think Abiram ought to come to the Christmas +party to-night,” said Bertha, “I know he’d +enjoy seeing the tree lighted up.” +</p> +<p>“He shall come,” said Dick Phelps, “I’ll +bring him myself.” +</p> +<p>“Do,” said Patty, “and we’ll tie a red ribbon +round his neck with a sprig of holly, and +I’ll see to it that there’s a present on the tree +for him.” +</p> +<p>The quartet walked on to the grove, and +sat down on the ground under the pine trees. +</p> +<p>“I feel very patriotic,” said Patty, who was +decorated with several small flags which she had +stuck in her hair, and in her belt, “and +I think we ought to sing some national anthems.” +</p> +<p>So they sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” +and other patriotic airs, until they were interrupted +by Winthrop and Elise who came toward +them singing a Christmas carol. +</p> +<p>“I asked you to come here,” said Roger +aside, to Patty, “because I wanted to see you +alone for a minute, and now all these other +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +people have come and spoiled my plan. Come +on over to the orchard, will you?” +</p> +<p>“Of course I will,” said Patty jumping up, +“what is the secret you have to tell me? Some +plan for to-night?” +</p> +<p>“No,” said Roger, hesitating a little, “that +is, yes,—not exactly.” +</p> +<p>They had walked away from the others, and +Roger took from his pocket a tiny box which +he offered to Patty. +</p> +<p>“I wanted to give you a little Christmas present,” +he said, “as a sort of memento of this +jolly day; and I thought maybe you’d wear it +to-night.” +</p> +<p>“How lovely!” cried Patty, as she opened +the box and saw a little pin shaped like a spray +of holly. “It’s perfectly sweet. Thank you +ever so much, Roger, but why didn’t you put it +on the tree for me?” +</p> +<p>“Oh, they are only having foolish presents +on the tree, jokes, you know, and all that.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, is this a real present then? I don’t +know as I ought to accept it. I’ve never had +a present from a young man before.” +</p> +<p>Roger looked a little embarrassed, but Patty’s +gay delight was entirely free from any trace of +self-consciousness. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span></p> +<p>“Anyway, I am going to keep it,” she said, +“because it’s so pretty, and I like to think that +you gave it to me.” +</p> +<p>Roger looked greatly gratified and seemed to +take the matter with more seriousness than Patty +did. She pinned the pretty little trinket on her +collar and thought no more about it. +</p> +<p>Dinner was early that night, for there was +much to be done in the way of final preparations +before the guests came to the Christmas party. +</p> +<p>The Christmas pretence was intended as a surprise +to those not staying in the house, and after +all had arrived, the doors of the library were +thrown open with shouts of “Merry Christmas!” +</p> +<p>And indeed it did seem like a sudden transition +back into the winter. The Christmas tree +with its gay decorations and lighted candles was +a beautiful sight, and the green-trimmed room +with its spicy odours of spruce and pine intensified +the illusion. +</p> +<p>Shouts of delight went up on all sides, and +falling quickly into the spirit of it all, the guests +at once began to pretend it was really Christmas, +and greeted each other with appropriate +good wishes. +</p> +<p>Mischievous Patty had slyly tied a sprig of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +mistletoe to the chandelier, and Dick Phelps by +a clever manœuvre had succeeded in getting +Mrs. Warner to stand under it. The good lady +was quite unaware of their plans, and when Mr. +Phelps kissed her soundly on her plump cheek +she was decidedly surprised. +</p> +<p>But the explanation amply justified his audacity, +and Mrs. Warner laughingly declared +that she would resign her place to some of the +younger ladies. +</p> +<p>The greatest fun came when Winthrop distributed +the presents from the tree. None of +them was expensive or valuable, but most of +them were clever, merry little jokes which good-naturedly +teased the recipients. +</p> +<p>True to his word Mr. Phelps brought +Abiram in, leading him by his long chain. Patty +had tied a red ribbon round his neck with a +huge bow, and had further dressed him up in a +paper cap which she had taken from a German +cracker motto. +</p> +<p>Abiram received a stick of candy as his gift, +and was as much pleased, apparently, as the rest +of the party. +</p> +<p>Many of the presents were accompanied by +little verses or lines of doggerel, and the reading +of these caused much merriment and laughter. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span></p> +<p>After the presentations, supper was served, +and here Mrs. Warner had provided her part +of the surprise. +</p> +<p>Not even those staying in the house knew of +their hostess’ plans, and when they all trooped +out to the dining-room, a real Christmas feast +awaited them. +</p> +<p>The long table was decorated with red ribbons +and holly, and red candles with red paper +shades. Christmas bells hung above the table, +and at each plate were appropriate souvenirs. +In the centre of the table was a tiny Christmas +tree with lighted candles, a miniature copy of +the one they had just left. +</p> +<p>Even the viands partook of the Christmas +character, and from roast turkey to plum pudding +no detail was spared to make it a true +Christmas feast. +</p> +<p>The young people did full justice to Mrs. +Warner’s hospitality, and warmly appreciated +the kind thoughtfulness which had made the +supper so attractive in every way. +</p> +<p>Then they adjourned to the parlour for informal +dancing, and wound up the party with +an old-fashioned Virginia reel, which was led +by Mr. and Mrs. Warner. +</p> +<p>Mr. Warner was a most genial host and his +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +merry quips and repartee kept the young people +laughing gaily. +</p> +<p>When at last the guests departed, it was with +assurances that they had never had such a delightful +Christmas party, even in midwinter, +and had never had such a delightful Fourth of +July party, even in midsummer. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVIII_AT_SANDY_COVE' id='XVIII_AT_SANDY_COVE'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>AT SANDY COVE</h3> +</div> + +<p>When the day came for Patty and +Elise to leave Pine Branches, everyone +concerned was truly sorry. Elise +had long been a favourite with the Warners, +and they had grown to love Patty quite as well. +</p> +<p>Roger was still there, and Mr. and Mrs. Farrington +came for the young people in their +motor-car. They were returning from a most +interesting trip, which had extended as far as +Portland. After hearing some accounts of it, +Patty felt sure that she would have enjoyed it; +but then she had also greatly enjoyed her visit +at Pine Branches, and she felt sure that it had +been better for her physically than the exertion +and excitement of the motor-trip. +</p> +<p>Besides this, the Farringtons assured her that +there would be many other opportunities for her +to go touring with them, and they would always +be glad to have her. +</p> +<p>So one bright morning, soon after the Fourth +of July, The Fact started off again with its +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +original party. They made the trip to New +York entirely without accident or mishap of any +kind, which greatly pleased Roger, as it demonstrated +that The Fact was not always a stubborn +thing. +</p> +<p>Patty was to spend the months of July and +August with her father and Nan, who had +rented a house on Long Island. The house was +near the Barlows’ summer home at Sandy Cove, +for Nan had thought it would be pleasant to be +near her friends, who were also Patty’s relatives. +</p> +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield had already gone to +Long Island, and the Farringtons were to take +Patty over there in the motor-car. +</p> +<p>So, after staying a day or two with Elise in +New York, Patty again took her place in the +car for the journey to her new home. Mr. Farrington +and Elise went with her, and after seeing +her safely in her father’s care, returned to +the city that same day. +</p> +<p>Patty was glad to see her father and Nan +again, and was delighted with the beautiful +house which they had taken for the summer. +</p> +<p>“How large it is!” she exclaimed, as she +looked about her. “We three people will be +lost in it!” +</p> +<p>“We’re going to have a lot of company,” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +said Nan, “I’ve invited nearly everyone I know, +and I shall expect you to help me entertain +them.” +</p> +<p>“Gladly,” said Patty; “there are no horrid +lessons in the way now, and you may command +my full time and attention.” +</p> +<p>The day after Patty’s return to her family, +she proposed that they go over to see the Barlows. +</p> +<p>“It’s an awful hot afternoon,” said Nan, +“but I suppose we can’t be any warmer there +than here.” +</p> +<p>So arraying themselves in fresh, cool white +dresses, Nan and Patty started to make their +call. +</p> +<p>The Barlows’ summer place was called the +Hurly-Burly, and as Nan and Patty both knew, +the name described the house extremely well. +</p> +<p>As Bob Barlow sometimes said, the motto of +their home seemed to be, “No place for nothin’, +and nothin’ in its place.” +</p> +<p>But as the family had lived up to this principle +for many years, it was not probable things +would ever be any different with them, and it +did not prevent their being a delightful family, +while their vagaries often proved extremely entertaining. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span></p> +<p>But when Nan and Patty neared the house +they saw no sign of anybody about. +</p> +<p>The doors and windows were all open and +the visitors walked in, looked in the various +rooms, and even went upstairs, but found nobody +anywhere. +</p> +<p>“I’ll look in the kitchen,” said Patty; “surely +old Hopalong, the cook, will be there. They +can’t all be away, and the house all open like +this.” +</p> +<p>But the kitchen too, was deserted, and Nan +said, “Well, let us sit on the front verandah a +while; it must be that somebody will come home +soon, and anyway I’m too warm and tired to +walk right back in the broiling sun.” +</p> +<p>So they sat on the verandah for half an hour, +and then Patty said, “Let’s give one more look +inside the house, and if we can’t find anybody +let’s go home.” +</p> +<p>“All right,” said Nan, and in they went, +through the vacant rooms, and again to the +kitchen. +</p> +<p>“Why, there’s Hopalong,” said Patty, as +she saw the old coloured woman busy about her +work, though indeed Hopalong’s slow movements +could not be accurately described by the +word busy. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span></p> +<p>“Hello, Hopalong,” said Patty, “where are +all the people?” +</p> +<p>“Bless yo’ heart Miss Patty, chile, how yo’done skeered me! And howdy, Miss Nan,—’scuse +me, I should say Missus Fairfield. De +ladies is at home, and I ’spects dey’ll be mighty +glad to see you folks.” +</p> +<p>“Where are they, then?” said Nan, looking +puzzled, “we can’t find them.” +</p> +<p>“Well yo’ see it’s a mighty hot day, and dem +Barlows is mighty fond of bein’ as comf’able as +possible. I’m makin’ dis yere lemonade for ’em, +kase dey likes a coolin’ drink. I’ll jest squeeze +in another lemon or two, and there’ll be plenty +for you, too.” +</p> +<p>“But where are they, Hopalong?” asked +Patty, “are they outdoors, down by the +brook?” +</p> +<p>“Laws no, Miss Patty, I done forgot to tell +yo’ whar dey am, but dey’s down in de cellah.” +</p> +<p>“In the cellar!” said Patty, “what for?” +</p> +<p>“So’s dey kin be cool, chile. Jes’ you trot +along down, and see for yourselfs.” +</p> +<p>Hopalong threw open the door that led from +the kitchen to the cellar stairs, and holding up +their dainty white skirts, Patty and Nan started +down the rather dark staircase. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span></p> +<p>“Look at those white shoes coming downstairs,” +they heard Bumble’s voice cry; “I do +believe it’s Nan and Patty!” +</p> +<p>“It certainly is,” said Patty, and as she +reached the last step, she looked around in astonishment, +and then burst into laughter. +</p> +<p>“Well, you do beat all!” she said, “We’ve +been sitting on the front verandah half an hour, +wondering where you could be.” +</p> +<p>“Isn’t it nice?” said Mrs. Barlow, after she +had greeted her guests. +</p> +<p>“It is indeed,” said Patty, “it’s the greatest +scheme I ever heard of.” +</p> +<p>The cellar, which had been recently white-washed, +had been converted into a funny sort of +a sitting-room. On the floor was spread a large +white floor-cloth, whose original use had been +for a dancing crash. +</p> +<p>The chairs and sofas were all of wicker, and +though in various stages of dilapidation, were +cool and comfortable. A table in the center +was covered with a white cloth, and the sofa +pillows were in white ruffled cases. +</p> +<p>Bumble explained that the intent was to have +everything white, but they hadn’t been able to +carry out that idea fully, as they had so few +white things. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span></p> +<p>“The cat is all right,” said Patty, looking at +a large white cat that lay curled up on a white +fur rug. +</p> +<p>“Yes, isn’t she a beautiful cat? Her name +is The Countess, and when she’s awake, she’s +exceedingly aristocratic and dignified looking, +but she’s almost never awake. Oh, here comes +Hopalong, with our lemonade.” +</p> +<p>The old negro lumbered down the steps, and +Bumble took the tray from her, and setting it +on the table, served the guests to iced lemonade +and tiny thin cakes of Hopalong’s concoction. +</p> +<p>“Now isn’t this nice?” said Mrs. Barlow, +as they sat chatting and feasting; “you see how +cool and comfortable it is, although it’s so warm +out of doors. I dare say I shall get rheumatism, +as it seems a little damp here, but when +I feel it coming on, I’m going to move my chair +over onto that fur rug, and then I think there +will be no danger.” +</p> +<p>“It is delightfully cool,” said Patty, “and +I think it a most ingenious idea. If we had only +known sooner that you were here, though, we +could have had a much longer visit.” +</p> +<p>“It’s so fortunate,” said Bumble, whom +Patty couldn’t remember to call Helen, “that +you chanced to be dressed in white. You fit +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +right in to the colour scheme. Mother and I +meant to wear white down here, but all our +white frocks have gone to the laundry. But if +you’ll come over again after a day or two, we’ll +have this place all fixed up fine. You see we +only thought of it this morning. It was so unbearably +hot, we really had to do something.” +</p> +<p>Soon Uncle Ted and Bob came in, and after +a while Mr. Fairfield arrived. +</p> +<p>The merry party still stayed in the cellar +room, and one and all pronounced it a most +clever idea for a hot day. +</p> +<p>The Barlows were delighted that the Fairfields +were to be near them for the summer, and +many good times were planned for. +</p> +<p>Patty was very fond of her Barlow cousins, +but after returning to her own home, which +Nan with the special pride of a young housekeeper, +kept in the daintiest possible order, +Patty declared that she was glad her father had +chosen a wife who had the proper ideas of managing +a house. +</p> +<p>Nan and Patty were congenial in their tastes +and though Patty had had some experience in +housekeeping, she was quite willing to accept +any innovations that Nan might suggest. +</p> +<p>“Indeed,” she said, “I am only too glad not +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span> +to have any of the care and responsibility of +keeping house, and I propose to enjoy an idle +summer after my hard year in school.” +</p> +<p>So the days passed rapidly and happily. +There were many guests at the house, and as the +Fairfields were rather well acquainted with the +summer people at Sandy Cove, they received +many invitations to entertainments of various +kinds. +</p> +<p>The Farringtons often came down in their +motor-car and made a flying visit, or took the +Fairfields for a ride, and Patty hoped that the +Warners would visit them before the summer +was over. +</p> +<p>One day Mr. Phelps appeared unexpectedly, +and from nowhere in particular. He came in +his big racing-car, and that day Patty chanced +to be the only one of the family at home. He +invited her to go for a short ride with him, saying +they could easily be back by dinner time, +when the others were expected home. +</p> +<p>Glad of the opportunity, Patty ran for her +automobile coat and hood, and soon they were +flying along the country roads. +</p> +<p>Part of the time they went at a mad rate of +speed, and part of the time they went slower, +that they might converse more easily. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span></p> +<p>As they went somewhat slowly past a piece +of woods, Patty gave a sudden exclamation, and +declared that she saw what looked like a baby +or a young child wrapped in a blanket and lying +on the ground. +</p> +<p>Her face expressed such horror-stricken anxiety, +as she thought that possibly the child had +been abandoned and left there purposely, that +Mr. Phelps consented to go back and investigate +the matter, although he really thought she was +mistaken in thinking it was a child at all. +</p> +<p>He turned his machine, and in a moment they +were back at the place. +</p> +<p>Mr. Phelps jumped from the car, and ran +into the wood where Patty pointed. +</p> +<p>Sure enough, under a tree lay a baby, perhaps +a year old, fairly well dressed and with a +pretty smiling face. +</p> +<p>He called to Patty and she joined him where +he stood looking at the child. +</p> +<p>“Why, bless your heart!” cried Patty, picking +the little one up, “what are you doing here +all alone?” +</p> +<p>The baby cooed and smiled, dimpling its little +face and caressing Patty’s cheeks with its +fat little hands. A heavy blanket had been +spread on the ground for the child to lie on, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +and around its little form was pinned a lighter +blanket with the name Rosabel embroidered on +one corner. +</p> +<p>“So that’s your name, is it?” said Patty. +“Well, Rosabel, I’d like to know where you belong +and what you’re doing here. Do you suppose,” +she said, turning an indignant face to +Mr. Phelps, “that anybody deliberately put this +child here and deserted it?” +</p> +<p>“I’m afraid that’s what has happened,” said +Mr. Phelps, who really couldn’t think of any +other explanation. +</p> +<p>They looked all around, but nobody was in +sight to whom the child might possibly belong. +</p> +<p>“I can’t go away and leave her here,” said +Patty, “the dear little thing, what shall we do +with her?” +</p> +<p>“It is a mighty hard case,” said Mr. Phelps, +who was nonplussed himself. He was a most +gentle-hearted man, and could not bear the +thought of leaving the child there alone in the +woods, and it was already nearing sundown. +</p> +<p>“We might take it along with us,” he said, +“and enquire at the nearest house.” +</p> +<p>“There’s no house in sight,” said Patty, looking +about. “Well, there are only two things +to choose from; to stay here in hope that somebody +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +will come along, who knows something +about this baby, or else assume that she really +has been deserted and take her home with us, +for the night at least. I simply won’t go off +and leave her here, and if there was anybody +here in charge of her they must have shown up +by this time.” +</p> +<p>Mr. Phelps could see no use in waiting there +any longer, and though it seemed absurd to +carry the child off with them, there really +seemed nothing else to do. +</p> +<p>So with a last look around, hoping to see +somebody, but seeing no one, Patty climbed into +the car and sitting in the front seat beside Mr. +Phelps, held the baby in her lap. +</p> +<p>“She’s awfully cunning,” she declared, “and +such a pretty baby! Whoever abandoned this +child ought to be fearfully punished in some +way.” +</p> +<p>“I can’t think she was abandoned,” said Mr. +Phelps, but as he couldn’t think of any other +reason for the baby being there alone, he was +forced to accept the desertion theory. +</p> +<p>Having decided to take the baby with them, +they sped along home, and drew up in front of +the house to find Nan and Mr. Fairfield on the +verandah. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span></p> +<p>“Why, how do you do, Mr. Phelps?” cried +Nan. “We’re very glad to see you. Come in. +For gracious goodness’ sake, Patty, what have +you got there?” +</p> +<p>“This is Rosabel,” said Patty, gravely, as +she held the baby up to view. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIX_ROSABEL' id='XIX_ROSABEL'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>ROSABEL</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Rosabel who?” exclaimed Nan, as +Patty came up on the verandah with the +baby in her arms. +</p> +<p>“I don’t know, I’m sure. You may call her +Rosabel anything you like. We picked her up +by the wayside.” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Dick Phelps, who had followed +Patty up the steps. “Miss Rosabel seemed +lonely without anyone to talk to, so we brought +her back here to visit you.” +</p> +<p>“You must be crazy!” cried Nan, “but what +a cunning baby it is! Let me take her.” +</p> +<p>Nan took the good-natured little midget and +sat down in a verandah rocker, with the baby +in her arms. +</p> +<p>“Tell a straight story, Patty,” said her +father, “is it one of the neighbour’s children, +or did you kidnap it?” +</p> +<p>“Neither,” said Patty, turning to her father; +“we found the baby lying right near the edge +of a wood, in plain sight from the road. And +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +there was nobody around, and Papa, I just +know that the child’s wretch of a mother deserted +it, and left it there to die!” +</p> +<p>“Nonsense,” said her father. “Mothers +don’t leave their little ones around as carelessly +as that.” +</p> +<p>“Well, what else could it be?” said Patty. +“There was the baby all alone, smiling and +talking to herself, and no one anywhere near, +although we waited for some time.” +</p> +<p>“It does seem strange,” said Mr. Fairfield, +“perhaps the mother did mean to desert the +child, but if so, she was probably peeping from +some hiding-place, to make sure that she approved +of the people who took it.” +</p> +<p>“Well,” said Mr. Phelps, “she evidently +thought we were all right; at any rate she made +no objection.” +</p> +<p>“But isn’t it awful,” said Nan, “to think of +anybody deserting a dear little thing like this. +Why, the wild animals might have eaten her +up.” +</p> +<p>“Of course they might,” said Mr. Phelps, +gravely, “the tigers and wolves that abound on +Long Island are of the most ferocious type.” +</p> +<p>“Well, anyway,” said Patty, “something +dreadful might have happened to her.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span></p> +<p>“It may yet,” said Mr. Phelps cheerfully, +“when we take her back to-morrow and put her +in the place we found her. For I don’t suppose +you intend to keep Miss Rosabel, do you?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” said Patty, “but I know one +thing, we certainly won’t put her back where we +found her. What shall we do with her, Papa?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t know, my child, she’s your find, and +I suppose it’s a case of ‘findings is keepings.’” +</p> +<p>“Of course we can’t keep her,” said Patty, +“how ridiculous! We’ll have to put her in an +orphan asylum or something like that.” +</p> +<p>“It’s a shame,” said Nan, “to put this dear +little mite in a horrid old asylum. I think I +shall adopt her myself.” +</p> +<p>Little Rosabel had begun to grow restless, +and suddenly without a word of warning she +began to cry lustily, and not a quiet well-conducted +cry either, but with ear-splitting shrieks +and yells, indicative of great discomfort of some +sort. +</p> +<p>“I’ve changed my mind,” said Nan, abruptly. +“I don’t want to adopt any such noisy young +person as that. Here, take her, Patty, she’s your +property.” +</p> +<p>Patty took the baby, and carried her into the +house, fearing that passers-by would think they +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +must be torturing the child to make her scream +like that. +</p> +<p>Into the dining-room went Patty, and on to +the kitchen, where she announced to the astonished +cook that she wanted some milk for +the baby and she wanted it quick. +</p> +<p>“Is there company for dinner, Miss Patty?” +asked the cook, not understanding how a baby +could have arrived as an only guest. +</p> +<p>“Only this one,” said Patty, laughing, “what +do you think she ought to eat?” +</p> +<p>“Bread and milk,” said the cook, looking at +the child with a judicial air. +</p> +<p>“All right, Kate, fix her some, won’t you?” +</p> +<p>In a few moments Patty was feeding Rosabel +bread and milk, which the child ate eagerly. +</p> +<p>Impelled by curiosity, Nan came tip-toeing to +the kitchen, followed by the two men. +</p> +<p>“I thought she must be asleep,” said Nan, +“as the concert seems to have stopped.” +</p> +<p>“Not at all,” said Patty, calmly, “she was +only hungry, and the fact seemed to occur to +her somewhat suddenly.” +</p> +<p>Little Rosabel, all smiles again, looked up +from her supper with such bewitching glances +that Nan cried out, “Oh, she is a darling! Let +me help you feed her, Patty.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span></p> +<p>In fact they all succumbed to the charm of +their uninvited guest. During dinner Rosabel +sat at the table, in a chair filled with pillows, +and was made happy by being given many +dainty bits of various delicacies, until Nan declared +the child would certainly be ill. +</p> +<p>“I don’t believe she is more than a year old,” +said Nan, “and she’s probably unaccustomed to +those rich cakes and bonbons.” +</p> +<p>“I think she’s more than a year,” said Patty, +sagely, “and anyway, I want her to have a good +time for once.” +</p> +<p>“She seems to be having the time of her life,” +said Dick Phelps, as he watched the baby, who +with a macaroon in one hand, and some candied +cherries in the other, was smiling impartially +on them all. +</p> +<p>“She’s not much of a conversationalist,” remarked +Mr. Fairfield. +</p> +<p>“Give her time,” said Patty, “she feels a +little strange at first.” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mr. Phelps, “I think after +two or three years she’ll be much more talkative.” +</p> +<p>“Well, there’s one thing certain,” said Patty, +“she’ll have to stay here to-night, whatever we +do with her to-morrow.” +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_5' id='linki_5'></a> +<img src='images/illus5.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +“In a few minutes Patty was feeding Rosabel bread and milk” +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span></div> +<p>After dinner they took their new toy with +them to the parlour, and Miss Rosabel treated +them all to a few more winning smiles, and then +quietly, but very decidedly fell asleep in Patty’s +arms. +</p> +<p>“I can’t help admiring her decision of character,” +said Patty, as she shook the baby to make +her awaken, but without success. +</p> +<p>“Don’t wake her up,” said Nan. “Come, +Patty, we’ll take her upstairs, and put her to +bed somewhere.” +</p> +<p>This feat being accomplished, Nan and Patty +rejoined the men, who sat smoking on the front +verandah. +</p> +<p>“Now,” said Patty, “we really must decide +what we’re going to do with that infant; for I +warn you, Papa Fairfield, that if we keep that +dear baby around much longer, I shall become +so attached to her that I can’t give her up.” +</p> +<p>“Of course,” said Mr. Fairfield, “she must +be turned over to the authorities. I’ll attend +to it the first thing in the morning.” +</p> +<p>A little later Mr. Fairfield and Nan strolled +down the road to make a call on a neighbour, +and Patty and Dick Phelps remained at home. +</p> +<p>Patty had declared she wouldn’t leave the +house lest Rosabel should waken and cry out, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +so promising to make but a short call, Mr. Fairfield +and Nan went away. +</p> +<p>Soon after they had gone, a strange young +man came walking toward the house. He turned +in at the gate and approached the front steps. +</p> +<p>“Is this Mr. Richard Phelps?” he asked, +addressing himself to Dick. +</p> +<p>“It is; what can I do for you?” +</p> +<p>“Do you own a large black racing automobile?” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied Mr. Phelps. +</p> +<p>“And were you out in it this afternoon,” +continued the stranger, “driving rapidly between +here and North Point?” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mr. Phelps again, wondering +what was the intent of this peculiar interview. +</p> +<p>“Then you’re the man I’m after,” declared +the stranger, “and I’m obliged to tell you, sir, +that you are under arrest.” +</p> +<p>“For what offence?” enquired Mr. Phelps, +rather amused at what he considered a good +joke, and thinking that it must be a case of mistaken +identity somehow. +</p> +<p>“For kidnapping little Mary Brown,” was +the astonishing reply. +</p> +<p>“Why, we didn’t kidnap her at all!” exclaimed +Patty, breaking into the conversation. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +“The idea, to think we would kidnap a baby! +and anyway her name isn’t Mary, it’s Rosabel.” +</p> +<p>“Then you know where the child is, Miss,” +said the man, turning to Patty. +</p> +<p>“Of course I do,” said Patty, “she’s upstairs +asleep. But it isn’t Mary Brown at all. +It’s Rosabel,—I don’t know what her last name +is.” +</p> +<p>Mr. Phelps began to be interested. +</p> +<p>“What makes you think we kidnapped a +baby, my friend?” he said to their visitor. +</p> +<p>The man looked as if he had begun to think +there must be a mistake somewhere. “Why, +you see, sir,” he said, “Mrs. Brown, she’s just +about crazy. Her little girl, Sarah, went out +into the woods this afternoon, and took the baby, +Mary, with her. The baby went to sleep, and +Sarah left it lying on a blanket under a tree, +while she roamed around the wood picking blueberries. +Somehow she strayed away farther than +she intended and lost her way. When she finally +managed to get back to the place where she left +the baby, the child was gone, and she says she +could see a large automobile going swiftly away, +and the lady who sat in the front seat was holding +little Mary. Sarah screamed, and called +after you, but the car only went on more and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +more rapidly, and was soon lost to sight. I’m +a detective, sir, and I looked carefully at the +wheel tracks in the dust, and I asked a few questions +here and there, and I hit upon some several +clues, and here I am. Now I’d like you +to explain, sir, if you didn’t kidnap that child, +what you do call it?” +</p> +<p>“Why, it was a rescue,” cried Patty, indignantly, +without giving Mr. Phelps time to reply. +“The dear little baby was all alone in the wood, +and anything might have happened to her. Her +mother had no business to let her be taken care +of by a sister that couldn’t take care of her any +better than that! We waited for some time, +and nobody appeared, so we picked up the child +and brought her home, rather than leave her +there alone. But I don’t believe it’s the child +you’re after anyway, for the name Rosabel is +embroidered on the blanket.” +</p> +<p>“It is the same child, Miss,” said the man, +who somehow seemed a little crestfallen because +his kidnapping case proved to be only in his own +imagination. “Mrs. Brown described to me the +clothes the baby wore, and she said that blanket +was given to her by a rich lady who had a +little girl named Rosabel. The Browns are poor +people, ma’am, and the mother is a hard-working +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +woman, and she’s nearly crazed with grief +about the baby.” +</p> +<p>“I should think she would be,” said Patty, +whose quick sympathies had already flown to +the sorrowing mother. “She oughtn’t to have +left an irresponsible child in charge of the little +thing. But it’s dreadful to think how anxious +she must be! Now I’ll tell you what we’ll do; +Mr. Phelps, if you’ll get out your car, I’ll just +bundle that child up and we’ll take her right +straight back home to her mother. We’ll stop +at the Ripleys’ for Papa and Nan, and we’ll +all go over together. It’s a lovely moonlight +night for a drive, anyway, and even if it were +pitch dark, or pouring in torrents, I should want +to get that baby back to her mother just as +quickly as possible. I don’t wonder the poor +woman is distracted.” +</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Mr. Phelps, who would +have driven his car to Kamschatka if Patty had +asked him to, “and we’ll take this gentleman +along with us, to direct us to Mrs. Brown’s.” +</p> +<p>Mr. Phelps went for his car, and Patty flew +to bundle up the baby. She did not dress the +child, but wrapped her in a warm blanket, and +then in a fur-lined cape of her own. Then making +a bundle of the baby’s clothes, she presented +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +herself at the door, just as Mr. Phelps drove up +with his splendid great car shining in the moonlight. +</p> +<p>A few moments’ pause was sufficient to gather +in Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield, and away they all +flew through the night, to Mrs. Brown’s humble +cottage. +</p> +<p>They found the poor woman not only grieving +about the loss of her child, but angry and +revengeful against the lady and gentleman in +the motor-car, who, she thought, had stolen it. +</p> +<p>And so when the car stopped in front of her +door, she came running out followed by her +husband and several children. +</p> +<p>Little Sarah recognised the car, which was +unusual in size and shape, and cried out, +“That’s the one, that’s the one, mother! and +those are the people who stole Mary!” +</p> +<p>But the young detective, whose name was Mr. +Faulks, sprang out of the car and began to explain +matters to the astonished family. Then +Patty handed out the baby, and the grief of +the Browns was quickly turned to rejoicing, +mingled with apologies. +</p> +<p>Mr. Fairfield explained further to the somewhat +bewildered mother, and leaving with her +a substantial present of money as an evidence of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +good faith in the matter, he returned to his +place in the car, and in a moment they were +whizzing back toward home. +</p> +<p>“I’m glad it all turned out right,” said Patty +with a sigh, “but I do wish that pretty baby had +been named Rosabel instead of Mary. It really +would have suited her a great deal better.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XX_THE_ROLANDS' id='XX_THE_ROLANDS'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>THE ROLANDS</h3> +</div> + +<p>“There’s a new family in that house +across the road,” said Mr. Fairfield +one evening at dinner. +</p> +<p>“The Fenwick house?” asked Nan. +</p> +<p>“Yes; a man named Roland has taken it for +August. I know a man who knows them, and +he says they’re charming people. So, if you +ladies want to be neighbourly, you might call +on them.” +</p> +<p>Nan and Patty went to call and found the +Roland family very pleasant people, indeed. +Mrs. Roland seemed to be an easy-going sort of +lady who never took any trouble herself, and +never expected anyone else to do so. +</p> +<p>Miss Roland, Patty decided, was a rather inanimate +young person, and showed a lack of +energy so at variance with Patty’s tastes that +she confided to Nan on the way home she certainly +did not expect to cultivate any such lackadaisical +girl as that. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span></p> +<p>As for young Mr. Roland, the son of the +house, Patty had great ado to keep from laughing +outright at him. He was of the foppish +sort, and though young and rather callow, he +assumed airs of great importance, and addressed +Patty with a formal deference, as if she were a +young lady in society, instead of a schoolgirl. +</p> +<p>Patty was accustomed to frank, pleasant comradeship +with the boys of her acquaintance; and +the young men, such as Mr. Hepworth and Mr. +Phelps, treated Patty as a little girl, and never +seemed to imply anything like grown-up attentions. +</p> +<p>But young Mr. Roland, with an affected +drawl, and what were meant to be killing +glances of admiration, so conducted himself that +Patty’s sense of humour was stirred, and she +mischievously led him on for the fun of seeing +what he would do next. +</p> +<p>The result was that young Mr. Roland was +much pleased with pretty Patty, and fully believed +that his own charms had made a decided +impression on her. +</p> +<p>He asked permission to call, whereupon Patty +told him that she was only a schoolgirl, and did +not receive calls from young men, but referred +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span> +him to Mrs. Fairfield, and Nan being in an +amiable mood, kindly gave him the desired permission. +</p> +<p>“Well,” said Patty, as they discussed the +matter afterward, “if that young puff-ball rolls +himself over here, you can have the pleasure of +entertaining him. I’m quite ready to admit that +another season of his conversation would affect +my mind.” +</p> +<p>“Nonsense,” said Nan, carelessly, “you can’t +expect every young man to be as interesting as +Mr. Hepworth, or as companionable as Kenneth +Harper.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t,” said Patty, “but I don’t have to +bore myself to death talking to them, if I don’t +like them.” +</p> +<p>“No,” said Nan, “but you must be polite +and amiable to everybody. That’s part of the +penalty of being an attractive young woman.” +</p> +<p>“All right,” said Patty, “since that’s the way +you look at it, you surely can’t have any objection +to receiving Mr. Roland if he calls, for I +warn you that I shan’t appear.” +</p> +<p>But it so happened that when a caller came +one afternoon, Nan was not at home, and Patty +was. +</p> +<p>The maid brought the card to Patty, who was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span> +reading in her own room, and when she looked +at it and saw the name of Mr. Charles Roland +upon it, she exclaimed in dismay. +</p> +<p>“I don’t want to go down,” she said, “I wish +he hadn’t come.” +</p> +<p>“It’s a lady, Miss Patty,” said the girl. +</p> +<p>“A lady?” said Patty, wonderingly, “why +this is a gentleman’s card.” +</p> +<p>“Yes, ma’am, I know it, but it’s a lady that +called. She’s down in the parlour, waiting, and +that’s the card she gave me. She’s a large lady, +Miss Patty, with greyish hair, and she seems +in a terrible fluster.” +</p> +<p>“Very mysterious,” said Patty, “but I’ll go +down and see what it’s all about.” +</p> +<p>Patty went down to the parlour, and found +Mrs. Roland there. She did indeed look bewildered, +and as soon as Patty entered the room +she began to talk volubly. +</p> +<p>“Excuse my rushing over like this, my dear,” +she said, “but I am in such trouble, and I wonder +if you won’t help me out. We’re neighbours, +you know, and I’m sure I’d do as much +for you. I asked for Mrs. Fairfield, but she +isn’t at home, so I asked for you.” +</p> +<p>“But the card you sent up had Mr. Charles +Roland’s name on it,” said Patty, smiling. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span></p> +<p>“Oh, my dear, is that so? What a mistake +to make! You see I carry Charlie’s cards +around with my own, and I must have sent the +wrong one. I’m so nearsighted I can’t see anything +without my glasses, anyway, and my +glasses are always lost.” +</p> +<p>Patty felt sorry for the old lady, who seemed +in such a bewildered state, and she said, “No +matter about the card, Mrs. Roland, what can +I do for you?” +</p> +<p>“Why it’s just this,” said her visitor. “I +want to borrow your house. Just for the night, +I’ll return it to-morrow in perfect order.” +</p> +<p>“Borrow this house?” repeated Patty, wondering +if her guest were really sane. +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mrs. Roland; “now wait, and +I’ll tell you all about it. I’m expecting some +friends to dinner and to stay over night, and +would you believe it, just now of all days in the +year, the tank has burst and the water is dripping +down all through the house. We can’t +seem to do anything to stop it. The ceilings +had fallen in three rooms when I came away, +and I dare say the rest of them are down by this +time. And my friends are very particular people, +and awfully exclusive. I wouldn’t like to +take them to the hotel; and I don’t think it’s +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span> +a very nice hotel anyway, and so I thought if +you’d just lend me this house over night, I could +bring my friends right here, and as they leave +to-morrow morning, it wouldn’t be long, you +know. And truly I don’t see what else I can +do.” +</p> +<p>“But what would become of our family?” +said Patty, who was greatly amused at the unconventional +request. +</p> +<p>“Why, you could go to our house,” said Mrs. +Roland dubiously; “that is, if any of the ceilings +will stay up over night; or,” she added, her +face brightening, “couldn’t you go to the hotel +yourselves? Of course, it isn’t a nice place to +entertain guests, but it does very well for one’s +own family. Oh, Miss Fairfield, please help +me out! Truly I’d do as much for you if the +case were reversed.” +</p> +<p>Although the request was unusual, Mrs. Roland +did not seem to think so, and the poor +lady seemed to be in such distress, that Patty’s +sympathies were aroused, and after all it was +a mere neighbourly act of kindness to borrow +and lend, even though the article in question was +somewhat larger than the lemon or the egg +usually borrowed by neighbourly housekeepers. +</p> +<p>So Patty said, “What about the servants, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span> +Mrs. Roland? Do you want to borrow them +too?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t care,” was the reply, “just as it +suits you best. You may leave them here; or +take them with you, and I’ll bring my own. +Oh, please, Miss Fairfield, do help me somehow.” +</p> +<p>Patty thought a minute. It was a responsibility +to decide the question herself, but if she +waited until Nan or her father came home, +it would be too late for Mrs. Roland’s purpose. +</p> +<p>Then she said, “I’ll do it, Mrs. Roland. +You shall have the house and servants at your +disposal until noon to-morrow. You may bring +your own servants also, or not, just as you +choose. We won’t go to your house, thank you, +nor to the hotel. But Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield +and myself will go over to my aunt, Mrs. Barlow’s, +to dine and spend the night. They can +put us up, and they won’t mind a bit our coming +so unexpectedly.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, my dear, how good you are!” said +Mrs. Roland in a burst of gratitude. “I cannot +tell you how I appreciate your kindness! +Are you sure your parents won’t mind?” +</p> +<p>“I’m not at all sure of that,” said Patty, +smiling, “but I don’t see as they can help themselves; +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span> +when they come home, you will probably +be in possession, and your guests will be here, +so there’ll be nothing for my people to do but +to fall in with my plans.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, how good you are,” said Mrs. Roland. +“I will surely make this up to you in some way, +and now, will you just show me about the house +a bit, as I’ve never been here before?” +</p> +<p>So Patty piloted Mrs. Roland about the +house, showed her the various rooms, and told +the servants that they were at Mrs. Roland’s +orders for that night and the next morning. +</p> +<p>After Mrs. Roland had gone back home, +made happy by Patty’s kindness, Patty began to +think that she had done a very extraordinary +thing, and wondered what her father and Nan +would say. +</p> +<p>“But,” she thought to herself, “I’m in for +it now, and they’ll have to abide by my decision, +whatever they think. Now I must pack +some things for our visit. But first I must telephone +to Aunt Grace.” +</p> +<p>“Hello, Auntie,” said Patty, at the telephone, +a few moments later. “Papa and Nan +and I want to come over to the Hurly-Burly to +dinner, and to stay all night. Will you have +us?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span></p> +<p>“Why, of course, Patty, child, we’re glad to +have you. Come right along and stay as long +as you like. But what’s the matter? Has +your cook left, or is the house on fire?” +</p> +<p>“Neither, Aunt Grace, but I’ll explain when +I get there. Can you send somebody after me +in a carriage? Papa and Nan have gone off +in the cart, and I have two suit cases to bring.” +</p> +<p>“Certainly, Patty, I’ll send old Dill after you +right away, and I’ll make him hurry, too, as +you seem to be anxious to start.” +</p> +<p>“I am,” said Patty, laughing. “Good-bye.” +</p> +<p>Then she gathered together such clothing +and belongings as were necessary for their visit, +and had two suit cases ready packed when her +aunt’s carriage came for her. +</p> +<p>Patty looked a little dubious as she left the +house, but she didn’t feel that she could have +acted otherwise than as she had done, and, too, +since their own trusty servants were to stay +there, certainly no harm could come to the +place. +</p> +<p>So, giggling at the whole performance, Patty +jumped into the Barlow carriage and went to +the Hurly-Burly. +</p> +<p>“Well, of all things!” said her Aunt Grace, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span> +after Patty had told her story. “I’ve had a +suspicion, sometimes, that we Barlows were an +unconventional crowd, but we never borrowed +anybody’s house yet! It’s ridiculous, Patty, +and you ought not to have let that woman have +it!” +</p> +<p>“I just couldn’t help it, Aunt Grace, she was +in such a twitter, and threw herself on my mercy +in such a way that I felt I had to help her +out.” +</p> +<p>“You’re too soft-hearted, Patty; you’d do +anything for anybody who asked you.” +</p> +<p>“You needn’t talk, Aunt Grace, you’re just +the same yourself, and you know that if somebody +came along this minute and wanted to borrow +your house you’d let her have it if she +coaxed hard enough.” +</p> +<p>“I think very likely,” said Aunt Grace, placidly. +“Now, how are you going to catch your +father and Nan?” +</p> +<p>“Why, they’ll have to drive past here on +their way home,” said Patty, “and I mean to +stop them and tell them about it. We can put +the horse in your barn, I suppose.” +</p> +<p>“Yes, of course. And now we’ll go out on +the verandah, and then we can see the Fairfield +turn-out when it comes along.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_256' name='page_256'></a>256</span></p> +<p>The Fairfields were waylaid and stopped as +they drove by the house, which was not astonishing, +as Patty and Bumble and Mrs. Barlow +watched from the piazza, while Bob was +perched on the front gate post, and Uncle Ted +was pacing up and down the walk. +</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” cried Mr. Fairfield, +as he reined up his horse in response to their +various salutations. +</p> +<p>“The matter is,” said Patty, “that we +haven’t any home of our own to-night, and so +we’re visiting Aunt Grace.” +</p> +<p>“Earthquake swallowed our house?” inquired +Mr. Fairfield, as he turned to drive in. +</p> +<p>“Not quite,” said Patty, “but one of the +neighbours wanted to borrow it, so I lent it to +her.” +</p> +<p>“That Mrs. Roland, I suppose,” said Nan; +“she probably mislaid her own house, she’s so +careless and rattle-pated.” +</p> +<p>“It was Mrs. Roland,” said Patty, laughing, +“and she’s having a dinner-party, and +their tank burst, and most of the ceilings fell, +and really, Nan, you know yourself such things +do upset a house, if they occur on the day of a +dinner-party.” +</p> +<p>Fuller explanations ensued, and though the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_257' name='page_257'></a>257</span> +Fairfields thought it a crazy piece of business, +they agreed with Patty, that it would have been +difficult to refuse Mrs. Roland’s request. +</p> +<p>And it really didn’t interfere with the Fairfields’comfort at all, and the Barlows protested +that it was a great pleasure to them to entertain +their friends so unexpectedly, so, as Mr. +Fairfield declared, Mrs. Roland was, after all, +a public benefactor. +</p> +<p>“You’d better wait,” said Nan, “until you +see the house to-morrow. I know a little about +the Rolands, and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised +to find things pretty much upside down.” +</p> +<p>It was nearly noon the next day when Mrs. +Roland telephoned to the Hurly-Burly and +asked for Mrs. Fairfield. +</p> +<p>Nan responded, and was told that the Rolands +were now leaving, and that the Fairfields +might again come into their home. +</p> +<p>Mrs. Roland also expressed voluble thanks +for the great service the Fairfields had done her, +and said that she would call the next day to +thank them in person. +</p> +<p>So the Fairfields went back home, and happily +Nan’s fears were not realised. Nothing seemed +to be spoiled or out of order, and the servants +said that Mrs. Roland and her family and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_258' name='page_258'></a>258</span> +friends had been most kind, and had made no +trouble at all. +</p> +<p>“Now, you see,” said Patty, triumphantly, +“that it does no harm to do a kind deed to a +neighbour once in a while, even though it isn’t +the particular kind deed that you’ve done a +hundred times before.” +</p> +<p>“That’s true enough, Patty,” said her father, +“but all the same when you lend our home +again, let it be our own house, and furnished +with our own things. I don’t mind owning up, +now that it’s all over, that I did feel a certain +anxiety arising from the fact that this is a +rented house, and almost none of the household +appointments are our own.” +</p> +<p>“Goodness, gracious me!” said Patty. “I +never once thought of that! Well, I’m glad +they didn’t smash all the china and bric-a-brac, +for they’re mortal homely, and I should certainly +begrudge the money it would take to +replace them.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXI_THE_CRUSOES' id='XXI_THE_CRUSOES'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_259' name='page_259'></a>259</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> +<h3>THE CRUSOES</h3> +</div> + +<p>Plans were on foot for a huge fair and +bazaar to be held in aid of the Associated +Charities. Everybody in and around +Sandy Cove was interested, and the fair, which +would be held the last week in August, was expected +to eclipse all previous efforts of its +kind. +</p> +<p>All three of the Fairfields were energetically +assisting in the work, and each was a member +of several important committees. +</p> +<p>The Barlows, too, were working hard, and +the Rolands thought they were doing so, though +somehow they accomplished very little. As the +time drew near for the bazaar to open, Patty +grew so excited over the work and had such a +multitude of responsibilities, that she flew around +as madly as when she was preparing for the play +at school. +</p> +<p>“But I’m perfectly well, now,” she said to +her father when he remonstrated with her, “and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_260' name='page_260'></a>260</span> +I don’t mind how hard I work as long as I +haven’t lessons to study at the same time.” +</p> +<p>Aside from assisting with various booths and +tables, Patty had charge of a gypsy encampment, +which she spared no pains to make as gay and +interesting as possible. +</p> +<p>The “Romany Rest” she called the little +enclosure which was to represent the gypsies’home, and Patty not only superintended the furnishing +and arranging of the place, but also +directed the details of the costumes which were +to be worn by the young people who were to +represent gypsies. +</p> +<p>The Fairfields’ house was filled with guests +who had come down for the fair. +</p> +<p>Patty had invited Elise and Roger Farrington, +and Bertha and Winthrop Warner. Mr. Hepworth +and Kenneth Harper were there, too, +and the merry crowd of young people worked +zealously in their endeavours to assist Patty and +Nan. +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth, of course, was especially +helpful in arranging the gypsy encampment, +and designing the picturesque costumes for the +girls and young men who were to act as gypsies. +The white blouses with gay-coloured scarfs and +broad sombreros were beautiful to look at, even +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_261' name='page_261'></a>261</span> +if, as Patty said, they were more like Spanish +fandangoes than like any gypsy garments she +had ever seen. +</p> +<p>“Don’t expose your ignorance, my child,” +said Mr. Hepworth, smiling at her. “A +Romany is not an ordinary gypsy and is always +clothed in this particular kind of garb.” +</p> +<p>“Then that’s all that’s necessary,” said Patty. +“I bow to your superior judgment, and I feel +sure that all the patrons of the fair will spend +most of their time at the ‘Romany Rest.’” +</p> +<p>The day on which the fair was to open +was a busy one, and everybody was up betimes, +getting ready for the grand event. +</p> +<p>A fancy dress parade was to be one of the +features of the first evening, and as a prize was +offered for the cleverest costume, all of the contestants +were carefully guarding the secret of +the characters their costumes would represent. +Although Roger had given no hint of what his +costume was to be, he calmly announced that +he knew it would take the prize. The others +laughed, thinking this a jest, and Patty was of +a private opinion that probably Mr. Hepworth’s +costume would be cleverer than Roger’s, as the +artist had most original and ingenious ideas. +</p> +<p>The fair was to open at three in the afternoon, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_262' name='page_262'></a>262</span> +and soon after twelve o’clock Patty rushed +into the house looking for somebody to send on +an errand. She found no one about but Bertha +Warner, who was hastily putting some finishing +touches to her own gypsy dress. +</p> +<p>“That’s almost finished, isn’t it, Bertha?” +began Patty breathlessly. +</p> +<p>“Yes; why? Can I help you in any way?” +</p> +<p>“Indeed you can, if you will. I have to go +over to Black Island for some goldenrod. It +doesn’t grow anywhere else as early, at least I +can’t find any. I’ve hunted all over for somebody +to send, but the boys are all so busy, and +so I’m just going myself. I wish you’d come +along and help me row. It’s ever so much +quicker to go across in a boat and get it there, +than to drive out into the country for it.” +</p> +<p>“Of course I will,” said Bertha, “but will +there be time?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, if we scoot right along.” +</p> +<p>The girls flew down to the dock, jumped into +a small rowboat and began to row briskly over +to Black Island. It was not very far, and they +soon reached it. They scrambled out, pulled +the boat well up onto the beach, and went after +the flowers. +</p> +<p>Sure enough, as Patty had said, there was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_263' name='page_263'></a>263</span> +a luxuriant growth of goldenrod in many parts +of the island. Patty had brought a pair of +garden shears, and by setting to work vigorously, +they soon had as much as they could carry. +</p> +<p>“There,” said Patty, triumphantly, as she +tied up two great sheaves, “I believe we +gathered that quicker than if we had brought +some boys along to help. Now let’s skip for +home.” +</p> +<p>The island was not very large, but in their +search for the flowers they had wandered farther +than they thought. +</p> +<p>“It’s nearly one o’clock,” said Patty, looking +at her watch, and carrying their heavy cargo +of golden flowers, they hastened back to where +they had left their boat. +</p> +<p>But no boat was there. +</p> +<p>“Oh, Bertha,” cried Patty, “the boat has +drifted away!” +</p> +<p>“Oh, pshaw,” said Bertha, “I don’t believe +it. We pulled it ever so far up on the sand.” +</p> +<p>“Well, then, where is it?” +</p> +<p>“Why, I believe Winthrop or Kenneth or +somebody came over and pulled it away, just +to tease us. I believe they’re around the corner +waiting for us now.” +</p> +<p>Patty tried to take this view of it, but she +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_264' name='page_264'></a>264</span> +felt a strange sinking of her heart, for it wasn’t +like Kenneth to play a practical joke, and she +didn’t think Winthrop would, either. +</p> +<p>Laying down her bundle of flowers, Bertha +ran around the end of the island, fully expecting +to see her brother’s laughing face. +</p> +<p>But there was no one to be seen, and no sign +of the boat. +</p> +<p>Then Bertha became alarmed, and the two +girls looked at each other in dismay. +</p> +<p>“Look off there,” cried Patty, suddenly, +pointing out on the water. +</p> +<p>Far away they saw an empty boat dancing +along in the sunlight! +</p> +<p>Bertha began to cry, and though Patty felt +like it, it seemed really too babyish, and she +said, “Don’t be a goose, Bertha, we’re not lost +on a desert island, and of course somebody will +come after us, anyway.” +</p> +<p>But Patty was worried more than she would +admit. For no one knew where they had gone, +and the empty boat was drifting away from +Sandy Cove instead of toward it. +</p> +<p>At first, the girls were buoyed up by the excitement +of the situation, and felt that somebody +must find them shortly. But no other +boat was in sight, and as Patty said, everybody +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_265' name='page_265'></a>265</span> +was getting ready for the fair and no one was +likely to go out rowing that day. +</p> +<p>One o’clock came, and then half-past one, +and though the girls had tried to invent some +way out of their difficulty they couldn’t think +of a thing to do, but sit still and wait. They +had tied their handkerchiefs on the highest +bushes of the island, there being no trees, but +they well knew that these tiny white signals +were not likely to attract anybody’s attention. +</p> +<p>They had shouted until they were hoarse, and +they had talked over all the possibilities of the +case. +</p> +<p>“Of course they have missed us by this time,” +said Patty, “and of course they are looking for +us.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t believe they are,” said Bertha disconsolately, +“because all the people at the house +will think we’re down at the fair grounds, and +all the people there will think we’re up at the +house.” +</p> +<p>“That’s so,” Patty admitted, for she well +knew how everybody was concerned with his or +her own work for the fair, and how little +thought they would be giving to one another +at this particular time. +</p> +<p>And yet, though Patty would not mention it, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_266' name='page_266'></a>266</span> +and would scarcely admit the thought to herself, +she couldn’t help feeling sure that Mr. Hepworth +would be wondering where she was. +</p> +<p>“The only hope is,” she said to Bertha, “if +somebody should want to see me especially, +about some of the work, and should try to hunt +me up.” +</p> +<p>“Well,” said Bertha, “even if they did, it +never would occur to them that we are over +here.” +</p> +<p>“No, they’d never think of that; even if +they do miss us, and try to hunt for us. They’ll +only telephone to different houses, or something +like that. It will never occur to them that +we’re over here, and why should it?” +</p> +<p>“I’m glad I came with you,” said Bertha, +affectionately. “I should hate to think of you +over here all alone.” +</p> +<p>“If I were here alone,” said Patty, laughing, +“you wouldn’t be thinking of me as here alone. +You’d just be wondering where I was.” +</p> +<p>“So I would,” said Bertha, laughing, too; +“but oh, Patty, do let’s do <i>something!</i> It’s +fearful to sit here helpless like this.” +</p> +<p>“I know it,” said Patty, “but what can we +do? We’re just like Robinson Crusoe and his +man Friday, except that we haven’t any goat.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_267' name='page_267'></a>267</span></p> +<p>“No, and we haven’t any raft, from which +to select that array of useful articles that he +had at his disposal. Do you remember the +little bag, that always held everything that +could possibly be required?” +</p> +<p>“Oh, that was in ‘Swiss Family Robinson,’” +said Patty; “your early education is getting +mixed up. I hope being cast on a desert island +hasn’t affected your brain. I don’t want to be +over here with a lunatic.” +</p> +<p>“You will be, if this keeps up much longer,” +said poor Bertha, who was of an emotional +nature, and was bravely trying hard not to +cry. +</p> +<p>“We might make a fire,” said Patty, “if we +only had some paper and matches.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t know what good a fire would do. +Nobody would think that meant anything especial. +I wish we could put up a bigger signal of +some sort.” +</p> +<p>“We haven’t any bigger signal, and if we +had, we haven’t any way of raising it any higher +than these silly low bushes. I never saw an +island so poorly furnished for the accommodation +of two young lady Crusoes.” +</p> +<p>“I never did, either. I’m going to shout +again.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_268' name='page_268'></a>268</span></p> +<p>“Do, if it amuses you, but truly they can’t +hear you. It’s too far.” +</p> +<p>“What do you think will happen, Patty? Do +you suppose we’ll have to stay here all night?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” said Patty, slowly. “Of +course when it’s time for the fair to open, and +we’re not there, they’ll miss us; and of course +papa will begin a search at once. But the +trouble is, Bertha, they’ll never think of searching +over here. They’ll look in every other +direction, but they’ll never dream that we came +out in the boat.” +</p> +<p>So the girls sat and waited, growing more +and more down-hearted, with that peculiar despondency +which accompanies enforced idleness +in a desperate situation. +</p> +<p>“Look!” cried Patty, suddenly, and startled, +Bertha looked where Patty pointed. +</p> +<p>Yes, surely, a boat had put out from the +shore, and was coming toward them. At least +it was headed for the island, though not directly +toward where they sat. +</p> +<p>“They’re going to land farther down,” cried +Patty, excitedly, “come on, Bertha.” +</p> +<p>The two girls rushed along the narrow rough +beach, wildly waving their handkerchiefs at the +occupants of the boat. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_269' name='page_269'></a>269</span></p> +<p>“It’s Mr. Hepworth,” cried Patty, though +the knowledge seemed to come to her intuitively, +even before she recognised the man who held +the stroke oar. +</p> +<p>“And Winthrop is rowing, too,” said Bertha, +recognising her brother, “and I think that’s +Kenneth Harper, steering.” +</p> +<p>By this time the boat was near enough to +prove that these surmises were correct. +</p> +<p>Relieved of her anxiety, mischievous Patty, +in the reaction of the moment, assumed a saucy +and indifferent air, and as the boat crunched its +keel along the pebbly beach she called out, gaily, +“How do you do, are you coming to call on +us? We’re camping here for the summer.” +</p> +<p>“You little rascals!” cried Winthrop Warner. +“What do you mean by running away in +this fashion, and upsetting the whole bazaar, +and driving all your friends crazy with anxiety +about you?” +</p> +<p>“Our boat drifted away,” said Bertha, “and +we couldn’t catch it, and we thought we’d have +to stay here all night.” +</p> +<p>“I didn’t think we would,” said Patty. “I +felt sure somebody would come after us.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t know why you thought so,” said +Winthrop, “for nobody knew where you were.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_270' name='page_270'></a>270</span></p> +<p>“I know that,” said Patty, smiling, “and +yet I can’t tell you why, but I just felt sure that +somebody would come in a boat, and carry us +safely home.” +</p> +<p>“Whom did you expect?” asked Kenneth, +“me?” +</p> +<p>Patty looked at Kenneth, and then at Mr. +Hepworth, and then dropping her eyes demurely, +she said: +</p> +<p>“I didn’t know <i>who</i> would come, only I just +knew <i>somebody</i> would.” +</p> +<p>“Well, somebody did,” said Kenneth, as he +stowed the great bunches of goldenrod in the +bow of the boat. +</p> +<p>“Yes, somebody did,” said Patty, softly, +flashing a tiny smile at Mr. Hepworth, who said +nothing, but he smiled a little, too, as he bent to +his oars. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXII_THE_BAZAAR_OF_ALL_NATIONS' id='XXII_THE_BAZAAR_OF_ALL_NATIONS'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_271' name='page_271'></a>271</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> +<h3>THE BAZAAR OF ALL NATIONS</h3> +</div> + +<p>“How did you know where we were?” +said Bertha to her brother. +</p> +<p>“We didn’t know,” said Winthrop, +“but after we had hunted everywhere, and put +a squad of policemen on your track, and got out +the fire department, and sent for an ambulance, +Hepworth, here, did a little detective work on +his own account.” +</p> +<p>“What did you do?” asked Patty. +</p> +<p>“Why, nothing much,” said Mr. Hepworth, +“I just tried to account for the various boats, +and when I found one was missing, I thought +you must have gone on the water somewhere. +And so I got a field glass and looked all around, +and though I thought I saw your white flags +fluttering. I wasn’t sure, but I put over here on +the chance.” +</p> +<p>“Seems to me,” said Kenneth, “Hepworth +is a good deal like that man in the story. A +horse had strayed away and several people had +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_272' name='page_272'></a>272</span> +tried to find it, without success. Presently, a +stupid old countryman came up leading the +horse. When asked how he found it he only +drawled out, ‘Wal, I jest considered a spell. I +thought ef I was a horse whar would I go? And +I went there,—and he had!’ That’s a good +deal the way Hepworth did.” +</p> +<p>They all laughed at Kenneth’s funny story, +but Patty said, “It was a sort of intuition, but +all the same I object to having Mr. Hepworth +compared to a stupid old countryman.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t care what I’m compared to,” said +Mr. Hepworth, gaily, “as long as we’ve found +you two runaways, and if we can get you back in +time for the opening of the fair.” +</p> +<p>The time was very short indeed, and as soon +as they landed at the dock, Patty and Bertha +started for the house to don their costumes as +quickly as possible. +</p> +<p>The Fair, or “Bazaar of all Nations,” as it +was called, was really arranged on an elaborate +scale. It was held on the spacious grounds of +Mr. Ashton, one of the wealthiest of the summer +residents of Sandy Cove. +</p> +<p>So many people had interested themselves in +the charity, and so much enthusiasm had they +put into their work, that when it was time to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_273' name='page_273'></a>273</span> +throw the gates open to the public, it was a +festive and gorgeous scene indeed. +</p> +<p>The idea of representing various nations had +been picturesquely, if not always logically, +carried out. +</p> +<p>A Japanese tea-booth had been built with +some regard to Japanese fashion, but with even +more effort at comfort and attractive colour +effects. The young ladies who attended it wore +most becoming Japanese costumes, and with +slanting pencilled eyebrows, and Japanese +headdresses, they served tea in Oriental splendour. +</p> +<p>In competition with them was an English +dairy, where the rosy-cheeked maids in their +neat cotton dresses and white aprons dispensed +cheese cakes and Devonshire cream to admiring +customers. +</p> +<p>The representatives of other countries had +even more elaborate results to show for their +labours. +</p> +<p>Italy’s booth was a beautiful pergola, which +had been built for the occasion, but which Mr. +Ashton intended to keep as a permanent decoration. +Over the structure were beautiful vines +and climbing plants, and inside was a gorgeous +collection of blossoms of every sort. Italian +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_274' name='page_274'></a>274</span> +girls in rich-coloured costumes and a profuse +array of jewelry sold bouquets or growing +plants, and were assisted in their enterprise by +swarthy young men who wore the dress of +Venetian gondoliers, or Italian nobles, with +a fine disregard of rank or caste. +</p> +<p>Spain boasted a vineyard. Mr. Hepworth +had charge of this, and it truly did credit to his +artistic ability. Built on the side of a hill, it +was a clever imitation of a Spanish vineyard, +and large grape vines had been uprooted +and transplanted to complete the effect. To be +sure, the bunches of grapes were of the hothouse +variety, and were tied on the vines, but +they sold well, as did also the other luscious +fruits that were offered for sale in arbours at +either end of the grapery. The young Spaniards +of both sexes who attended to the wants of their +customers were garbed exactly in accordance +with Mr. Hepworth’s directions, and he himself +had artistically heightened the colouring of +their features and complexions. +</p> +<p>Germany offered a restaurant where <i>delicatessen</i> +foods and tempting savories were served +by <i>Fräuleins</i>. Helen Barlow was one of the +jolliest of these, and her plump prettiness and +long flaxen braids of hair suited well the white +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_275' name='page_275'></a>275</span> +kerchief and laced bodice of her adopted +country. +</p> +<p>The French girls, with true Parisian instinct, +had a millinery booth. Here were sold lovely +feminine bits of apparel, including collars, belts, +laces and handkerchiefs, but principally hats. +The hats were truly beautiful creations, and +though made of simple materials, light straw, +muslin, and even of paper, they were all dainty +confections that any summer girl might be glad +to wear. The little French ladies who exhibited +these goods were voluble and dramatic, and in +true French fashion, and with more or less true +French language, they extolled the beauty of +their wares. +</p> +<p>In a Swiss châlet the peasants sold dolls and +toys; in a Cuban construction, of which no one +knew the exact title, some fierce-looking native +men sold cigars, and in a strange kind of a hut +which purported to be an Eskimo dwelling, ice +cream could be bought. +</p> +<p>The Stars and Stripes waved over a handsome +up-to-date soda-water fountain, as the +authorities had decided that ice-cream soda was +the most typical American refreshment they +could offer to their patrons. But an Indian +encampment also claimed American protection, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_276' name='page_276'></a>276</span> +and a group of Western cowboys took pride in +their ranch, and even more pride in their swaggering +costumes. +</p> +<p>Altogether the Bazaar was a great show, and +as it was to last for three days, nobody expected +to exhaust all its entertainments in one visit. +</p> +<p>The Romany Rest was one of the prettiest +conceits, and though an idealised gypsy encampment, +it proved a very popular attraction. +</p> +<p>Half a dozen girls and as many young men +wore what they fondly hoped looked enough +like gypsy costumes to justify the name, but at +any rate, they were most becoming and beautiful +to look upon. +</p> +<p>Patty was the gypsy queen, and looked like +that personage as represented in comic opera. +Seated on a queerly constructed, and somewhat +wobbly throne, she told fortunes to those who +desired to know what the future held for them. +</p> +<p>Apparently there was great curiosity in this +respect, for Patty was kept steadily busy from +the time she arrived at her place. +</p> +<p>Other gypsies sold gaily coloured beads, +amulets and charms, and others stirred a queer-looking +brew in a gypsy kettle over a real fire, +and sold cupfuls of it to those who wished in +this way to tempt fate still further. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_277' name='page_277'></a>277</span></p> +<p>It was a perfect day, and the afternoon was +progressing most satisfactorily. +</p> +<p>Bertha was one of the Swiss peasants, and by +dint of much hurrying, she and Patty had been +able to get ready in time to join the parade of +costumed attendants as they marched to their +various stations. +</p> +<p>Though had it not been for Mr. Phelps and +his swift motor-car, they could scarcely have +reached the fair grounds in time. +</p> +<p>Elise was one of the Italian flower girls, and +Kenneth also wore the garb of Italy. +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth and Roger Farrington were +ferocious-looking Indians, and brandished their +tomahawks and tossed their feathered heads in +fearsome fashion. +</p> +<p>Dick Phelps was a cowboy, and his Herculean +frame well suited the picturesque Western +dress. And Charlie Roland flattered himself +that arrayed as a Chinaman he was too funny +for anything. +</p> +<p>Although Patty had become better acquainted +with young Mr. Roland, she had not learned +to like him. His conceited ways and pompous +manner seemed to her silly and artificial beside +the frank comradeship of her other friends. +</p> +<p>He came early to have his fortune told by +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_278' name='page_278'></a>278</span> +the gypsy queen, and though, of course, Patty +was in no way responsible for the way in which +the cards fell, and though she told the fortunes +strictly according to the instructions in a printed +book, which she had learned by heart, she was +not especially sorry when Mr. Roland’s fortune +proved to be not altogether a desirable one. +</p> +<p>But the young man was in nowise disconcerted. +</p> +<p>“It doesn’t matter,” he said, cheerfully, +“I’ve had my fortune told lots of times, and +things always happen just contrary to what is +predicted. But I say, Miss Romany, can’t you +leave your post for a few minutes and go with +me to the Japanese tea place, for a cup of their +refreshing beverage?” +</p> +<p>“Thank you ever so much,” said Patty, “but +I really can’t leave here. There’s a whole string +of people waiting for their fortunes, and I must +stand by my post. Perhaps I can go later,” she +added, for though she did not care for Charlie +Roland’s attentions, she was too good-natured +to wish to hurt his feelings. +</p> +<p>“I consider that a promise,” said Mr. +Roland, as he moved away to make place for the +next seeker after knowledge. +</p> +<p>Patty turned to her work, and thought no +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_279' name='page_279'></a>279</span> +more of Charlie Roland and his undesirable +invitation. +</p> +<p>Soon Kenneth came to have his fortune told, +for it had been arranged that each booth should +have plenty of attendants, in order that they +might take turns in leaving their posts and +promenading about the grounds. This was +supposed to advertise their own particular +nation, besides giving all a chance to see the +sights. +</p> +<p>Kenneth’s fortune proved to be a bright and +happy one, but he was not unduly elated over +it, for his faith in such things was not implicit. +</p> +<p>“Thank you,” he said gravely, as Patty finished +telling of the glories which would attend +his future career. “I don’t think there’s anything +omitted from that string of good luck, +unless it’s being President, and I’m not quite +sure I want to be that.” +</p> +<p>“Yes, you do,” said Patty, “every good +American ought to want that, if only as a matter +of patriotism.” +</p> +<p>“Well, I’m patriotic enough,” said Kenneth, +“and I’ll want it if you want me to want it. +And now, Patty, you’ve worked here long +enough for the present. Let somebody else +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_280' name='page_280'></a>280</span> +take your place, and you come with me for a +walk about the grounds. I’ll take you to the +pergola, and we’ll buy some flowers from +Elise.” +</p> +<p>“I’d love to go, Ken, but truly I ought to +stay here a while longer. Lots of people want +their fortune told, and nobody can do it but me, +because I learnt all that lingo out of a book. +No, I can’t go now. Run along,—I’m busy.” +</p> +<p>Patty spoke more shortly than she meant to, +for the very reason that she wanted to go with +Kenneth, but she felt it her duty to remain at +her post. +</p> +<p>Kenneth appreciated the principle of the +thing, but he thought that Patty might have +been a little kinder about it. His own temper +was a little stirred by the incident, and rising +quickly, he said, “All right, stay here, then!” +And turning on his heel, he sauntered carelessly +away. +</p> +<p>Patty looked after him, thinking what a handsome +boy he was, and how well his Italian suit +became him. Kenneth’s skin was naturally +rather dark, and his black eyes and hair and +heavy eyebrows were somewhat of the Italian +type. His white linen blouse was slightly turned +in at the throat and he wore a crimson silk tie, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_281' name='page_281'></a>281</span> +and sash to match, knotted at one side. A +broad-brimmed hat of soft grey felt sat jauntily +on his head, and as he swung himself down the +path, Patty thought she had never seen him look +so well. +</p> +<p>Soon after this, Charlie Roland came back +again. +</p> +<p>“I’ve brought someone to help you out,” he +said, as he introduced a young girl who accompanied +him. “This is Miss Leslie and she knows +fortune telling from the ground up. Give her +a red sash, and a bandana handkerchief to tie +around her head, and let her take your place, if +only for a short time; and you come with me +to buy some flowers. Do you know, your costume +really calls for some scarlet blossoms in +your hair, and over in the pergola they have +some red geraniums that are simply great. +Come on, let’s get some.” +</p> +<p>Patty did want some red flowers, and had +meant to have some, but she dressed in such a +hurry that there was no time to find any. Moreover, +she had never known Charlie Roland to +appear to such good advantage. He seemed to +have dropped his pompous manner with his +civilised dress, and in his comical Chinaman’s +costume, he seemed far more attractive than in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_282' name='page_282'></a>282</span> +his own everyday dress. And since he had provided +her with a substitute, Patty saw no reason +for refusing his invitation. +</p> +<p>So together they left the Romany Rest, and +walked about the Fair, chatting with people +here and there, until they reached the pergola. +</p> +<p>Elise was delighted to see them, and while the +Italian girls besought Mr. Roland to buy their +flowers, the Italian young men clustered around +Patty, and with merry laugh and jest, presented +her with sundry floral offerings. +</p> +<p>There was one exception, however; Kenneth +stood aloof. For the first time in his life, he +felt that Patty had intentionally slighted him. +He had asked her to come to the pergola for +flowers, and she had refused. Then a few +minutes later she had accepted a similar invitation +from that stupid young Roland. Kenneth +was obliged to admit to himself that young +Roland did not look stupid just at present, for +he had some talent as a comedian, and was acting +the part of a funny Chinaman with success. +But that didn’t make any difference to Kenneth, +and he looked reproachfully at Patty, as she +accepted the flowers and gay compliments from +her attendant cavalier. +</p> +<p>Patty had intended to explain to Kenneth why +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_283' name='page_283'></a>283</span> +it had been possible for her to leave the gypsy +camp in charge of another fortune teller, but +when she saw the boy’s moody expression and +sulky attitude her sense of humour was touched, +and she giggled to herself at the idea of Kenneth +being angry at such a trifle. +</p> +<p>She thought it distinctly silly of him, and +being in a mischievous mood, she concluded he +ought to be punished for such foolishness. So +instead of smiling at him, she gave him only a +careless glance, and then devoted her attention +to the others. +</p> +<p>Patty was a general favourite, and her happy, +sunny ways made friends for her wherever she +went. She was therefore surrounded by a crowd +of merry young people, some of whom had just +been introduced to her, and others whom she +had known longer; and as she laughed and chatted +with them, Kenneth began to think that he +was acting rather foolishly, and longed to join +the group around the gypsy queen. +</p> +<p>But the boy was both sensitive and proud, +and he could not quite bring himself to overlook +what he considered an intentional unkindness on +the part of Patty. +</p> +<p>So, wandering away from the pergola, he +visited other booths, and chatted with other +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_284' name='page_284'></a>284</span> +groups, determined to ignore Patty and her +perversities. +</p> +<p>Patty, not being an obtuse young person, saw +through all this, and chose to be amused by it. +</p> +<p>“Dear old Ken,” she thought to herself, +“what a goose he is! I’ll get Nan to ask him to +have supper with us all in the English Dairy, +and then I expect he’ll thaw out that frozen +manner of his.” +</p> +<p>Feeling that she ought to return to her own +post, Patty told her Chinaman so, and together +they went back to the Romany Rest; but as +Patty was about to take her place again at the +fortune teller’s table, Mr. Phelps came along +and desired her to go with him, and have her +photograph taken. At first Patty demurred, +though she greatly wanted to go, but Miss Leslie +said she was not at all tired of fortune telling, +and would gladly continue to substitute for Patty +a while longer. +</p> +<p>“Come on, then,” said Dick Phelps, “there’s +no reason why you shouldn’t, since Miss Leslie +is kind enough to fill your place.” +</p> +<p>Patty still hesitated, for she thought that Kenneth +would be still more offended if he saw her +walking around with Mr. Phelps, after having +told him that she could not leave the gypsy camp. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_285' name='page_285'></a>285</span></p> +<p>But Dick Phelps was of an imperious nature. +He was accustomed to having his own way, and +was impatient at Patty’s hesitation. +</p> +<p>“Come on,” he said. “March!” And taking +her by the arm, he led her swiftly down the +path toward the photograph booth. +</p> +<p>As he strode along, cowboy fashion, Patty +said, meekly, “Let go of my arm, please, Mr. +Phelps. I think you’ve broken two bones +already! And <i>don’t</i> walk so fast. I’m all out +of breath!” +</p> +<p>“Forgive me,” said Dick Phelps, suddenly +checking his speed, and smiling down at the girl +beside him, “you see this cowboy rig makes me +feel as if I were back on the plains again, and I +can’t seem to adjust myself to civilised conditions.” +</p> +<p>Mr. Phelps looked very splendid as a cowboy, +and Patty listened with interest, as he told her of +an exciting episode which had occurred during +his ranch life, in a distant western territory. +</p> +<p>So engrossed did they become in this conversation +that the photographs were forgotten for +the moment, and they strolled along past the +various booths, unheeding the numerous invitations +to enter. +</p> +<p>Of course Kenneth saw them, and from a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_286' name='page_286'></a>286</span> +trifling offence, Patty’s conduct seemed to him +to have grown into a purposed rudeness. +</p> +<p>As they passed him, Patty smiled pleasantly, +and paused, saying, “We’re all going to have +supper in the Dairy, and of course you’ll be with +us, Ken?” +</p> +<p>“Of course I won’t!” said Kenneth, and +deliberately turning on his heel, he walked the +other way. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXIII_THE_END_OF_THE_SUMMER' id='XXIII_THE_END_OF_THE_SUMMER'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_287' name='page_287'></a>287</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> +<h3>THE END OF THE SUMMER</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Whew!” said Dick Phelps, in his +straightforward way, “he’s mad at +you, isn’t he?” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Patty, “and it’s so silly! All +about nothing at all. I wish you’d take me back +to him, Mr. Phelps, and leave us alone, and I +think I can straighten matters out in two +minutes.” +</p> +<p>“Indeed, I’ll do nothing of the sort,” +returned Mr. Phelps, in his masterful way; “you +promised to go to the photograph place, and +that’s where we’re going. I don’t propose to +give you up to any young man we chance to +meet!” +</p> +<p>Patty laughed, and they went on. At the +photograph booth they found many of the gaily +dressed young people, anxious to have pictures +of themselves in their pretty costumes. Patty +and Mr. Phelps had to wait their turn, but +finally succeeded in getting a number of pictures. +Patty had some taken alone, and some in which +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_288' name='page_288'></a>288</span> +she was one of a gay group. Some were successful +portraits, and others were not, but all +were provocative of much laughter and fun. By +a rapid process of development, the photographers +were enabled to furnish the completed pictures +in less than a half hour after the cameras +did their work, and as a consequence, this booth +was exceedingly popular and promised handsome +returns for the benefit of charity. +</p> +<p>Mr. Phelps and Patty loitered about, waiting +for their pictures, when Patty caught sight of +Nan, and running to her she said, “For goodness’ +sake, Nan, do help me out! Kenneth’s as +mad as hops, and all about nothing! Now I +want you to ask him to come to supper with our +crowd, and you must <i>make</i> him come!” +</p> +<p>“I can’t make him come, if he doesn’t want +to. You’ve been teasing him, Patty, and you +must get out of your own scrapes.” +</p> +<p>“Ah, Nan, dear,” coaxed Patty, “do be +good, and truly, if you’ll just persuade him to +come to supper with us, I’ll do the rest.” +</p> +<p>“I’ll try,” said Nan as she walked away, +“but I won’t promise that I’ll succeed.” +</p> +<p>She did succeed, however, and some time later +Mr. Fairfield gathered the large party whom he +had invited to supper, in the English Dairy. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_289' name='page_289'></a>289</span></p> +<p>The supper was to be a fine one, far exceeding +the bounds of Dairy fare, and Mr. Fairfield +had reserved a long table for his guests. +</p> +<p>As they trooped in, laughing and talking, and +seated themselves for the feast, Patty was +relieved to see that Kenneth was among them, +after all. +</p> +<p>He took a seat between Elise and Helen Barlow, +and knowing Bumble’s good nature, Patty +went directly to her, and asked her if she +wouldn’t move, as she wanted to sit there herself. +</p> +<p>“Of course I will,” said Bumble, and jumping +up, she ran around to the other side of the +table. +</p> +<p>Then Patty deliberately sat down by Kenneth, +who couldn’t very well get up and walk +away, himself, though he looked at her with no +expression of welcome in his glance. +</p> +<p>Without a word, Patty leaned over and +selected from a dish of olives on the table one +which had a stem to it. +</p> +<p>With a tiny bit of ribbon she tied the olive +to a little green branch she had brought in with +her, and then demurely held the token toward +Kenneth. +</p> +<p>For a moment the boy looked rather blank, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_290' name='page_290'></a>290</span> +and then realising that Patty was offering him +the olive branch of peace, and that she had gone +to some trouble to do this, and that moreover +she had done it rather cleverly, the boy’s face +broke into a smile, and he turned toward Patty. +</p> +<p>“Thank you,” he said, as he took the little +spray, and attached it to the rolling collar of +his blouse. “I accept it, with its full meaning.” +</p> +<p>“You’re such a goose, Kenneth!” said Patty, +her eyes dancing with laughter. “There was +nothing to get huffy about.” +</p> +<p>“Well,” said Kenneth, feeling his grounds +for complaint slipping away from him, “you +pranced off with that Roland chap, after you +had just told me you couldn’t leave your gypsy +queen business.” +</p> +<p>“I know it,” said Patty, “but Ken, he +brought a nice lady to fill my place, and besides, +he asked me to go to get red flowers and I +really wanted red flowers.” +</p> +<p>“I asked you to go for flowers too,” said +Kenneth, not yet entirely mollified. +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Patty, “but you didn’t say <i>red</i> +flowers. How did I know but that you’d buy +pink or blue ones, and so spoil my whole gypsy +costume?” +</p> +<p>Kenneth had to laugh in spite of himself, at +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_291' name='page_291'></a>291</span> +this bit of audacity. “And then right afterwards +you went off again with Dick Phelps,” he +continued. +</p> +<p>“Kenneth,” said Patty, looking at him with +an expression of mock terror, “I couldn’t help +myself that time! Honest, I couldn’t. Mr. +Phelps is a fearful tyrant. He’s an ogre, and +when he commanded me to go, I just had to go! +He’s a man that makes you do a thing, whether +you want to or not. Why, Kenneth, he just +marched me off!” +</p> +<p>“All right,” said Kenneth, “I’ll take a leaf +out of his book. After this, when I want you +to go anywhere, <i>I’ll</i> just march you off.” +</p> +<p>“You can try,” said Patty, saucily, “but I’m +not sure you can do it. It takes a certain type +of man to do that sort of thing successfully, and +I don’t know anybody but Dick Phelps who’s +just that kind.” +</p> +<p>But peace was restored, for Kenneth realised +that Patty’s explanation was a fair one, and that +he had been foolishly quick to take offence. +</p> +<p>After supper they all went to the grand stand +to see the parade of fancy costumes. +</p> +<p>These were quite separate from the booth +attendants, and a prize had been offered for the +cleverest conceit, most successfully carried out. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_292' name='page_292'></a>292</span></p> +<p>When at last the grand march took place, it +showed a wonderful array of thoroughly ingenious +costumes. +</p> +<p>Of course there were many clowns, historical +characters, fairies, and queer nondescript +creatures, but there were also many characters +which were unique and noteworthy. +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth, who was in the parade, had +chosen to represent the full moon. +</p> +<p>How he did it, no one quite knew; but all +that was visible was an enormous sphere, of +translucent brightness and a luminous yellow +color. +</p> +<p>Mr. Fairfield declared that the medium must +be phosphorus, but all agreed that it was a +wonderful achievement, and many thought it +would surely take the prize. +</p> +<p>The sphere was hollow, and made of a light +framework, and Mr. Hepworth walked inside +of it, really carrying it along with him. It so +nearly touched the ground that his feet were +scarcely observable, and the great six foot globe +made a decided sensation, as it moved slowly +along. +</p> +<p>Patty remembered that Roger had declared +he was going to take the prize, and as she had +knowledge of the boy’s ability along these lines, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_293' name='page_293'></a>293</span> +she felt by no means sure that it wouldn’t eclipse +Mr. Hepworth’s shining orb. +</p> +<p>And sure enough, when Roger appeared, it +was in the character of a Christmas tree! +</p> +<p>The clever youth had selected just the right +kind of a tree, and cutting away enough twigs +and branches near the trunk on one side, he had +made a space in which he could thrust the whole +of his tall slender self. +</p> +<p>To protect his face and hands from the +scratchy foliage, and also to render himself +inconspicuous, he wore a tight-fitting robe of +dark brown muslin, which concealed even his +face and arms, though eyeholes allowed him to +see where he was going. +</p> +<p>In a word, the boy himself almost constituted +the trunk of the tree, and by walking slowly, it +looked as if the tree itself was moving along +without assistance. +</p> +<p>The tree was gaily hung with real Christmas +trinkets and decorations, and lighted with +candles. +</p> +<p>The idea was wonderfully clever, and though +it had been hard work to arrange the boughs to +conceal him entirely, Roger had accomplished +it, and the gay decorations hid all defects. +</p> +<p>The judges awarded the prize to Roger, who +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_294' name='page_294'></a>294</span> +calmly remarked to Patty, afterward, “I told +you I’d get it, didn’t I?” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Patty, “and so then of course +I knew you would.” +</p> +<p>It was a rather tired party that went back to +the Fairfields’ house at the close of the evening. +</p> +<p>Nan and Mr. Fairfield issued strict orders +that everybody must go to bed at once, as there +were two more strenuous days ahead, and they +needed all the rest they could get. +</p> +<p>But next morning they reappeared, quite +ready for fresh exertions, and Patty declared +that for her part she’d like to be a gypsy all the +year round. +</p> +<p>“Well I never want to be a Christmas tree +again,” said Roger, “in spite of my precautions, +I’m all scratched up!” +</p> +<p>“Never mind,” said his sister consolingly, +“you took the prize, and that’s glory enough +to make up for lots of scratches.” +</p> +<p>The second and third days of the Fair were +much like the first, except that the crowds of +visitors continually increased. +</p> +<p>The fame of the entertainment spread rapidly, +and people came, even from distant parts of +Long Island, to attend the festivities. +</p> +<p>But at last it was all over, and the Fairfield +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_295' name='page_295'></a>295</span> +verandah was crowded with young people, +apparently of all nations, who were congratulating +each other on the wonderful success. +</p> +<p>“Of course,” said Patty, “the greatest thing +was that we had such perfect weather. If it +had rained, the whole thing would have been +spoiled.” +</p> +<p>“But it didn’t rain,” said Nan, “and everything +went off all right, and they must have +made bushels of money.” +</p> +<p>“Well, it was lovely,” said Patty with a little +sigh, “and I enjoyed every minute of it, but I +don’t want to engage in another one right away. +I think I shall go to bed and sleep for a week!” +</p> +<p>“I wish I were a bear,” said Kenneth, “they +can go to sleep and sleep all winter.” +</p> +<p>“You’d make a good bear,” said Patty, in +an aside to him, “because you can be so cross.” +</p> +<p>But the merry smile that accompanied her +words robbed them of any unpleasant intent, +and Kenneth smiled back in sympathy. +</p> +<p>“Just to think,” said Nan, “a week from +to-day we’ll all be back in the city, and our +lovely summer vacation a thing of the past.” +</p> +<p>“It has been a beautiful summer,” said Patty, +her thoughts flying backward over the past season. +“I’ve never had such a happy summer in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_296' name='page_296'></a>296</span> +my life. It’s been just one round of pleasure +after another. Everybody has been so good to +me and the whole world seems to have connived +to help me have a good time.” +</p> +<p>“In so far as I’m part of the whole world, +allow me to express my willingness to keep right +on conniving,” said big Dick Phelps, in his +funny way. +</p> +<p>“Me, too,” said Kenneth, in his hearty, boyish +voice. +</p> +<p>Mr. Hepworth said nothing, but he smiled at +Patty from where he sat at the other end of the +long verandah. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY'S SUMMER DAYS***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 25865-h.txt or 25865-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/8/6/25865">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/8/6/25865</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>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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