CHAPTER XIX
CHRISTINE COMES
With her usual tact and cleverness, Nan managed the whole mattersuccessfully. She wrote to the friends of Mr. Hepworth in the South whowere interested in Miss Farley, and they persuaded the girl to go Northfor a week and see if she could see her way clear to staying there.
As it turned out, Miss Farley had some acquaintances in New York, andwhen their invitation was added to that of Mrs. Fairfield, she decided tomake the trip.
Patty and Nan made ready for her with great care and kindness. A guestroom was specially prepared for her use, and Patty adorned it with someof her own pet pictures, a few good casts, and certain bits ofbric-a-brac that she thought would appeal to an "art student."
"If Mr. Hepworth hadn't said the girl had real talent I'd be hopeless ofthe whole thing," said Nan, "for I do think the most futile sort of youngwoman is the one who dabbles in Art, with a big A."
"Oh, Christine Farley isn't that sort," declared Patty. "I don't believeshe wears her hair tumbling down and a Byron collar with a big, blackribbon bow at her throat. I used to see that sort copying in the artgalleries in Paris, and they _are_ hopeless. But I imagine Miss Farley isa tidy little thing and her genius is too real for those near-arteffects."
"Well, then, I'll put this photograph of the Hermes in here in place ofthis fiddle-de-dee Art Calendar. She'll like it better."
"Of course she will. And I'm going to put a pretty kimono and slippers inthe wardrobe. Probably she won't have pretty ones, and I know she'll love'em."
"If you owned a white elephant, Patty, you'd get a kimono for it,wouldn't you?"
"'Course I would. I love kimonos--pretty ones. And besides, it would fitan elephant better than a Directoire gown would."
"Patty! What a goose you are! There, now the room looks lovely! Theflowers are just right--not too many and just in the right places."
"Yes," agreed Patty; "if she doesn't like this room I wash my hands ofher. But she will."
And she did. When the small, shy Southern girl arrived that afternoon,and Patty herself showed her up to her room, she seemed to respond atonce to the warm cosiness of the place.
"It's just such a room as I've often imagined, but I've never seen," shesaid, smiling round upon the dainty, attractive appointments.
"You dear!" cried Patty, throwing her arms round her guest and kissingher.
When she had first met Christine downstairs she was embarrassed herselfat the Southern girl's painful shyness.
When Miss Farley had tried to speak words of greeting a lump came intoher throat and she couldn't speak at all.
To put her more at her ease Patty had led her at once upstairs, and nowthe presence of only warm-hearted Patty and the view of the welcomingroom made her forget her embarrassment and seem more like her naturalself.
"I cannot thank you," she began. "I am a bit bewildered by it all."
"Of course you are," said Patty, cheerily. "Don't bother about thanks.And don't feel shy. Let's pretend we've known each other for years--longenough to use first names. May I take your hat off, Christine?"
Tears sprang to Christine Farley's eyes at this whole-souled welcome, andshe said:
"You make me ashamed of my stupid shyness. Really I'll try to overcomeit--Patty."
And soon the two girls were chatting cosily and veritably as if they hadbeen acquainted a long time.
Presently Nan came in. "If you prefer, Miss Farley," she said, "youneedn't come down to dinner to-night. I'll have a tray sent up here. Iknow you're tired with your journey."
"No, thank you, Mrs. Fairfield; I'm not tired--and I think I'll go down."
The girl would have greatly preferred to accept the offer of dining inher own room, but she felt it her duty to conquer the absurd timiditywhich made her dread facing strangers at dinner.
"I'll be glad if you will," said Nan, simply. "Mr. Fairfield will like towelcome you, and Mr. Hepworth will be the only other guest. You are notafraid of him?"
"Oh, no," said Christine, her face lighting up at thought of her kindfriend. "He has been so good to me. His criticisms of my work helped memore than any of my teachers'."
"Yes, he is an able artist and a man of true kindness and worth," agreedNan. "Very well, Miss Farley, we dine at seven."
"Now, Nan," began Patty, smiling, "that's the wrong tone. We're going tomake this girlie feel homelike and comfortable and omit all formality.We're going to call her by her first name, and we're going to treat heras one of ourselves. Now you just revise that little speech of 'We dineat seven, Miss Farley.'"
"All right," said Nan, quickly catching Patty's idea. "I'm glad to reviseit. How's this? Dinner's at seven, Christine, but you hop into yourclothes and come on down earlier."
"That's a lot better," said Patty, approvingly patting her stepmother'sshoulder, while Christine Farley, who was all unaccustomed to this sortof raillery, looked on in admiration.
"You see," she said, "I've only very plain clothes. I'm not at allfamiliar with the ways of society, or even of well-to-do people."
"Oh, pooh!" said Patty, emphatically, if not very elegantly. "Don't youbother about that in this house. Trot out your frocks and I'll tell youwhat to put on."
After some consideration she selected a frock of that peculiar shadeknown as "ashes of roses." It was of soft merino and made very simply,with long, straight lines.
"Do you like that?" said Christine, looking pleased. "That's my newestone, and I designed it myself. See, I wear this with it."
She took from her box a dull silver girdle and chatelaine of antique,carved silver, and a comb for her hair of similar style.
"Lovely!" cried Patty. "Oh, you're an artist, all right! Dress your hairlow--in a soft coil; but of course you know how to do that. I'll sendLouise to hook you up, and I'll come back for you when I'm dressed.Good-by for now."
Waving her hand gaily, laughing Patty ran away to her own room, andChristine sank down in a big chair to collect her senses.
It was all so new and strange to her. Brought up in the plainestcircumstances, the warmth and light and fragrance of this home seemed toher like fairyland.
And Nan and Patty, in their gay moods and their happy self-assuredness,seemed as if of a different race of beings from herself.
"But I'll learn it," she thought, with a determination which she hadrarely felt and scarce knew she possessed. Her nature was one that neededa spur or help from another, and then she was ready to do her part, too.
But she could not take the initiative. And now, realising thedisinterested kindness of these good people, her sense of gratitude madeher resolve to meet their kindness with appreciation.
"Yes," she said to herself, as she deftly dressed her hair in front ofthe mirror, "I'll conquer this silly timidity if it kills me! I'll takePatty Fairfield for a model, and I'll acquire that very same ease andgrace that she has."
Christine was imitative by nature, and it seemed to her now that shecould never feel stupidly embarrassed again.
But after Patty came to take her downstairs, and as they neared thedrawing-room door, the foolish shyness all returned, and she was whiteand trembling as she crossed the hall.
"Brace up," whispered Patty, understanding, "you're looking lovely,Christine. Now be gay and chattery."
"Chattery," indeed! Her tongue seemed paralysed, her very neck feltstrained and stiff, and she stumbled over the rug in her effort to stoptrembling. In her own room, alone with Patty and Nan, she had overcomethis, but now, in the brilliantly lighted drawing-room and the presenceof other people, the terrible timidity returned, and Christine made amost unsuccessful entrance.
But Mr. Fairfield ignored the girl's embarrassment, and said, cordiallybut quietly: "How do you do, Miss Farley? I am very glad to welcome youhere."
His kind handclasp reassured her even more than his pleasant words, andthen Mr. Hepworth greeted her.
"You did well to come," he said. "I am glad to see you in New York atlast."
But Christine
couldn't recover herself, and so, as the kindest thing todo, the rest rather let her alone and chatted on other subjects.
Gradually she grew less agitated, and as their merry chit-chat waxed gayand frivolous, her determination returned, that she, too, would acquirethis accomplishment.
Then dinner was announced, and, though outwardly calm, the Southern girlwas inwardly in great trepidation lest she commit some ignorant error inetiquette.
But she was of gentle birth and breeding, and innately refined, so sheknew intuitively regarding all points, save perhaps some modern triflesof conventional usage.
Nan, who was watching her, though unobserved, led the conversation aroundto subjects in which Christine might be likely to be interested, and wasrewarded at last by seeing the girl's face light up with an enjoymentunmarred by self-consciousness.
Gradually she was induced to take some part in their talk, and once shetold an anecdote of her own experience without seeming aware of herunusual surroundings.
"She'll do," thought Patty. "It isn't ignorance or inexperience that'sthe greatest trouble; it's just ingrowing shyness, and she's got to getover it; I'll see that she does, too!"
Mr. Hepworth read Patty's unspoken thoughts in her eyes and noddedapproval.
Patty nodded back with a dimpling smile, and Christine, seeing it, vowedafresh to gain the ability to do that sort of thing herself.
For all Southern girls have a touch of the coquette in their natures, butpoor Christine's was nearly choked out by the weeds of timidity andself-consciousness.
After dinner it was easier. They went to the cosy library, and theatmosphere seemed more informal.
Mr. Hepworth brought up the subject of Miss Farley's work, and she waspersuaded to fetch some sketches to show them.
Though not able to appreciate the fine points of promise as Mr. Hepworthdid, they were all greatly pleased with them, and Mr. Fairfield declaredthem wonderful.
In her own field Christine was fearless and quite sure of herself.
She talked intelligently about pictures, and many pleasant plans weremade for taking her to see several collections then on exhibition, aswell as to the Metropolitan and other art galleries.
Nan and Patty exchanged pleased glances as Christine talked eagerly, andwith shining eyes and pink cheeks, about her own aims and ambitions.
Mr. Hepworth was responsive, and advised her on some minor points, butthe great question of her art education in New York was not touched uponthat first evening.
Christine had grown almost gay in her chatter, when Kenneth wasannounced. Like a sensitive plant at a human touch, she lost all herpoise, her face turned white, and her lips quivered as she braced herselffor the ordeal of meeting a stranger.
"Oh!" thought Patty, almost disgusted at this foolishness, "she is thelimit!"
But Nan appreciated more truly the real state of the case, and knew thatChristine had borne just about all she could, and that owing to physicalfatigue and mental strain her nerves were just about ready to give way.
"How do you do, Kenneth?" said Nan, airily. "Too bad you didn't comeearlier. I am just taking our little guest away from this admiring crowd,who are tiring her all out with their admiration. She may just say'howdy' to you, and then I'm going to carry her off. Miss Farley, this isour Kenneth--Mr. Harper."
Stimulated by Nan's support and by the sudden chance for release,Christine managed to acknowledge the introduction prettily enough, andthen gladly let Nan take her upstairs to bed.
"I'm sorry I'm so horrid," said the girl, as Nan helped her take off hergown.
"Nonsense!" replied Nan, cheerily. "You weren't horrid a bit. You lookedlovely and behaved like a little lady. Your nerves are overwrought, and Idon't wonder. Just tumble into bed, dearie, and forget everything in allthe world, except that you're among warm friends."
Nan had most comforting ways, and soon Christine forgot her troubles in ahappy sleep.
Meantime, Kenneth was admiring her sketches. "Whew!" he said, "she's agenius all right. But such a shy little mouse never can succeed as anartist."
"Yes, she will!" declared Patty. "Her shyness will wear off in New York.I'm going to eradicate it from her make-up somehow, and then we're goingto make a famous artist of her."
"You can be a great help to her, Patty," said Mr. Hepworth. "If any onemakes Christine think she can do things, she can do them."
"Yes, I see that already," agreed Patty, "and I'm going to be the one tomake her think she can do them."
"Huh!" teased Kenneth. "You think you can make anybody think they thinkanything!"
"Sure!" said Patty, complacently.
"Well, don't teach Miss Farley to talk slang," said Mr. Fairfield,laughing, "for it would be too incongruous with that Madonna face ofhers."
"She is like a Madonna, isn't she?" said Patty, thoughtfully. "I've beentrying to think what her face reminded me of."
"Yes, she is," said Mr. Hepworth, "and as I feel pretty sure you can'tteach her to use slang, why don't you take this occasion to discontinuethe use of it yourself?"
"Can't do it," returned Patty. "There are times in my mad career whennothing expresses what I want to say so well as a mild bit of slang. Inever say anything very dreadful."
"Of course you don't," declared Kenneth, who loved to take Patty's partagainst Mr. Hepworth. "Why, you wouldn't be 'Our Patty' if you used onlydictionary English. All the slang Miss Farley gets from you will do hergood rather than harm. She needs it in her make-up."
"I agree with the spirit of that, if not the letter," said Mr. Hepworth,kindly; and Patty said:
"Yes, she needs to be jollied; and, you take it from me, she's going toget jollied!"
CHAPTER XX
A SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION
As Nan had surmised, Christine was worn out by her day of fatigue andexcitement, and the next morning found her possessed of better mentalpoise and a more placid manner.
And as more days went by the girl improved greatly in demeanour andbearing, and lost, to a great degree, her look of startled fear andpainful self-consciousness. Of course this was not accomplishedcompletely, or all at once, but helped by the kind gentleness of Nan andaffectionate chaffing of Patty, Christine grew more accustomed to thepleasant social atmosphere into which she had been so suddenly thrown.
They visited picture galleries and went to the shops, and went drivingand motoring, and though Christine could not be persuaded to go toafternoon teas, or to formal luncheons, yet she enjoyed the pleasures shehad and grew every day more at her ease in society.
Her own determination helped her greatly. She purposed to yet become asunaffected and un-self-conscious as Patty, and, though she knew she couldnever acquire Patty's inborn gaiety of spirit, she resolved to come asnear to it as she could with her naturally quiet disposition.
The two girls became fast friends, and, after a few days, Patty venturedto broach the subject of Christine's career.
To her surprise, Christine was quite ready to talk about it, and askedPatty's advice as to ways and means.
"I've already learned," she said, "that I have some talent and that Ineed the instruction and experience that I can get here and cannot get athome. When I once make up my mind to a thing I spare no effort to achieveit, and now I'm determined to get an art education by some manner ormeans!"
"Hooray for you!" cried Patty, for Christine's cheeks glowed and her eyessparkled with the force of her speech. "That's the way to talk!Christine, you do me proud! Now, go on; what have you in mind? Tell yourAunt Patty all about it."
Christine smiled at Patty's funny little ways, but she went on bravely:
"I want to stay in New York for a year, at least. I'm afraid ofit--desperately so. The very sound of the traffic scares me out of mywits. But I'm going to conquer that, and I'm going to conquer my shynessand timidity and all the foolish things that stand in my way."
"That's the ticket!" cried Patty, clapping her hands. "Good oldChristine! Go in and win!"
"Wait a bit, Patty. Tha
t's all very well so far as determination and willare concerned. And I can do it. My will is strong, and I know I'm startednow on the right track. But--there are many hard facts to face. There's asordid side to the question that can't be solved by will-power anddetermination. Mr. Hepworth thinks I can get a scholarship practicallywithout cost; but, in addition to that, I have to pay my board, you know,and I have very little money. My dear old father can send me a smallallowance, but we are a large family, and he is not rich. So I want toknow if you think I could earn enough by some work outside my classes topay my board--say, about fifteen dollars a week. Do you?"
Patty couldn't help it. This question from Christine was too much!
She was sitting on a couch, and she put her head down into a big, softpillow, and shook with laughter. Did _she_ think a girl could earnfifteen dollars a week? _Did_ she, indeed? With a strange sound between agurgle and a choke, she ran out of the room.
Not for worlds would she have Christine think she was laughing at her, soin a moment she had straightened her grinning face, smothered hergiggles, and returned, saying:
"Excuse me, please; I had a sudden choking spell. What were you saying?"
"You poor dear! Mayn't I get you a glass of water?"
"No, thanks; I'm all right now. As to your question--no, Christine, I do_not_ think you could earn fifteen dollars a week! No, nor fifteen centsa week, while you're occupied with your lessons."
Christine looked aghast. "Oh, Patty!" she said. "Then what am I to do? Ithought you'd say, yes, I could earn that sum easily."
Again Patty wanted to laugh. A month ago she would have said that verything.
"Christine," she said, gently, "listen to me. We Fairfields and Mr.Hepworth all take an interest in you and in your career. We all feel sureyou will yet be a great artist. Of course, our belief is founded on Mr.Hepworth's assertions, but we know he is capable of judging. Now you musthave that year of study, and by that time Mr. Hepworth feels sure you canearn quite a lot of money by illustrating, and whatever he thinks goes!"
"Well," said Christine, as Patty paused, uncertain how to proceed.
"Well, you see," went on Patty, suddenly deciding that the plain,outspoken facts were best, "father has offered to pay your board for ayear at some nice, pleasant boarding-house, and----Mercy! _What's_ thematter?"
For Christine had turned first a blazing, fiery red, and then as white aschalk, and seemed about to tumble off her chair.
"Brace up there!" cried Patty, shaking her by the shoulder. "Don't youfaint or do anything silly! I take it all back. Father wouldn't do such athing!"
"You misunderstand!" said Christine, smiling faintly through now rapidlyfalling tears. "I almost fainted from sheer gladness."
"Oh! I thought you were angry and offended and insulted and mad as hops,and everything like that!"
"Oh, no!" cried the other. "Why, Patty, it isn't charity; it's great,big, splendid kindness, and it's just a loan, you understand. I can payit back in a couple of years after I once begin to earn money. Patty, youdon't know how sure I am of my own ability now that I understand mylimitations. I can't explain it, but I see success ahead as surely as Isee the blue sky out of that window!"
Christine gazed out of the window with rapt eyes, as if she saw visionsof the fame and glory that were yet to be her portion.
"You duck!" cried Patty, embracing her. "You're just splendiferous!That's the loveliest way you could have taken father's offer. He isgreat, big, splendid kindness personified, and I'm so glad you see it."
That evening Mr. Fairfield ratified Patty's statements and definitelyoffered to pay Christine's board bills for a year.
To Patty's surprise, Christine showed no shyness or agitation as sheanswered him.
Only Nan understood that the girl's gratitude was too real and too deepfor any troublesome self-consciousness to disturb it.
"Mr. Fairfield," she said, "I accept your offer with unspeakablethankfulness. It means my whole career, and I assure you I shall reach mygoal. Of course, it is a financial loan, but after a year I shall be in aposition to begin to pay it back, and it shall be promptly paid. Do notthink I have unfounded faith in my success. I know what I alreadypossess, and what more I need, and though my progress to fame may beslow, and take many long years, yet after a year's tuition I shall beable to command a comfortable income in return for my work."
Christine's eyes shone with earnestness and steadfast purpose, and herface seemed to be fairly transfigured. Hers was no idle boasting. It wasclear to be seen she spoke from a positive knowledge of herself, andindeed she only corroborated what Mr. Hepworth had said of her.
"Put it that way if you like," said Mr. Fairfield, kindly; "we need nottalk now about repayment. Just go ahead and find a cosy, pleasantabiding-place, and then, ho, for brushes and mahl-stick! And hurrah forour artist!"
So genial were his words and manner that Christine caught his spirit ofvivacity, and responded:
"Hurrah for the Fairfields!"
So it was all settled, and Mr. Hepworth was more than delighted when helearned all about it.
Patty gave a little afternoon tea for Christine the last day of her stay,and though Christine would have greatly preferred not to be present, sheyielded to Patty's entreaties and did her best to overcome her shynessand be a satisfactory "guest of honour."
"She's a beauty, isn't she?" said Roger to Patty, as they stood lookingat Christine while the tea was in progress.
"Yes," said Patty, "when she is talking to her own sort of people. See,those are really big artists, and she isn't a bit afraid or embarrassed.But put some society girls near her and she crumples all up."
"She'll get over it," said Roger; "and I say, Patty, you did a big thinggetting her here. For of course it's all due to you and your pluckyperseverance in that foolish scheme of earning your living."
"Huh! it wasn't foolish since it succeeded," said Patty, airily.
"Well, the success isn't foolish, but your first attempts were."
"I don't care; it was good experience. I learned a lot, and I'm not sorryfor my part of it."
"Not even the part that made you acquainted with me?" said a merry voice,and Patty turned to see Philip Van Reypen holding out a hand in greeting.
"No!" cried Patty, as she cordially shook hands with the young man. "No,_especially_ not sorry for that part--for that was the Success!"
"I don't want to be over-confident," returned Philip, gaily, "but thatsounds as if meeting me were the success!"
"That wasn't what I meant," said Patty, smiling and dimpling, "but itremains to be seen. Perhaps we can make that a success also."
"Do let us try!" said Philip.
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