Patty's Suitors

by Carolyn Wells

  CHAPTER V

  THREE PICTURES

  It was Tuesday morning that Patty had sent the pictures, and that sameevening she was invited to dine and go to the opera with Mrs. VanReypen.

  Patty was a great favourite with the aristocratic old lady, and wasfrequently asked to the Van Reypen home. It is needless to say thatMrs. Van Reypen's nephew, Philip, usually managed to be present at anyof his aunt's affairs that were graced by Patty's presence. And,indeed, it was an open secret that Mrs. Van Reypen would be greatlypleased if Patty would smile on the suit of her favourite and belovednephew.

  But Patty's smiles were uncertain. Sometimes it would suit her capriceto smile on Philip, and again she would positively snub him to such anextent that the young man was disgruntled for days at a time.

  "But," as Patty remarked to herself, "if I'm nice to him, he takes toomuch for granted. So I have to discipline him to keep him where hebelongs."

  The dinner at the Van Reypen mansion was, as always, long andelaborate, and perhaps a trifle dull.

  Mrs. Van Reypen's affection for Patty was of a selfish sort, and itnever occurred to her to invite guests of Patty's age, or who could beentertaining to the girl.

  And so to-night the other guests were an elderly couple by the name ofBellamy and a rather stupid, middle-aged bachelor,--Mr. Crosby. Thesewith the two Van Reypens and Patty made up the whole party.

  Patty found herself assigned to walk out to dinner with Mr. Crosby,but, as Philip sat on her other side, she had no fear of being toogreatly bored.

  But to her surprise the elderly bachelor turned out to be exceedinglyinteresting. He had travelled a great deal, and talked well about hisexperiences, and it was soon discovered that he and Patty had mutualfriends in Paris, where Patty had spent the winter several years before.

  "I do love to hear you talk," Patty declared, ingenuously, after Mr.Crosby had given her a thrilling and picturesque description of anincident in his trip to the Orient.

  "Oh, thank you," Mr. Crosby returned, a little bewildered by thisoutright compliment, for he was unaccustomed to talking to young girls.

  "But, you see," Patty went on, "I mustn't monopolise you. You know,it's etiquette to talk fifteen minutes to your neighbour on one sideand then turn to your neighbour on the other."

  "Bless my soul! you're quite right,--quite right!" and Mr. Crosbystared at Patty over his glasses. "How do you know so much, and yousuch a young thing?"

  "Oh, I'm out," returned Patty, smiling, "and of course, when a girlcomes out, she has to learn the rules of the game."

  So Mr. Crosby turned to talk to the lady on his other side, and Pattyturned to Philip, who looked a trifle sulky.

  "Thought you were going to talk to that chap all evening," he growled,under his breath.

  "I should like to," said Patty, sweetly, "he's SO interesting. But Ican't monopolise him, you know. As I don't want to talk to a growlybear, I think, if you'll excuse me from polite conversation, I'llmeditate for awhile."

  "Meditate on your sins; it'll do you good!"

  Patty opened her blue eyes wide and stared at the speaker. "Why," shesaid, "to meditate, one must have something to meditate on!"

  "And you think you haven't any sins! Oh, would some power the giftiegi'e us!"

  "To see ourselves as ithers see us," Patty completed the rhyme. "Butyou see, Philip, as I don't see any sins in myself, I can't meditate onthe sins that ithers see in me, if I don't know what they are."

  "Well, I'll tell you a big, black one! You simply ignored me for halfan hour, while you jabbered to that duffer on the other side! Nowmeditate on THAT!"

  Patty obediently cast down her eyes, and assumed a mournful expression.She continued to sit thus without speaking; until Philip exclaimed:

  "Patty, you little goose, stop your nonsense! What's the matter withyou to-night, anyway?"

  "Honestly, Philip," said Patty, very low, "your aunt's parties alwaysmake me want to giggle. They're heavenly parties, and I simply ADORE tobe at them, but her friends are so--well, so aged, you know, and theyseem to--well, to be so interested in their dinner."

  "_I_'m my aunt's guest, and _I_'m not a bit interested in my dinner."

  "Well, you may as well be, for I'm going to talk to Mr. Crosby now."

  Seeing that Mr. Crosby's attention was unclaimed for the moment, Pattyturned to him, saying, with great animation: "Oh, Mr. Crosby, MAY I askyou something? I'm AWFULLY ignorant, you know, and you're so wise."

  "Yes, yes, what is it?" And the great Oriental scholar looked benignlyat her over his glasses.

  Now naughty Patty hadn't any question to ask, and she had only turnedto her neighbour to tease Philip, so she floundered a little as shetried to think of some intelligent enquiry.

  "What is it. Miss Fairfield?" prompted Mr. Crosby.

  Patty cast a fleeting glance toward Philip, as if appealing for help,and that young man, though engaged in a desultory conversation,whispered under his breath, "Ask him about the Aztecs."

  "Oh, yes, Mr. Crosby," said Patty, "it's about the--the Aztecs,--youknow."

  "Ah, yes, the Aztecs,--a most interesting race, MOST interesting,indeed. And what do you want to know about them, Miss Fairfield?"

  Patty was tempted to say ALL about them, for her knowledge of theancient people was practically nothing.

  "Did they--did they--"

  "Eat snails," said Philip, in a whisper.

  "Did they eat snails, Mr. Crosby?" And Patty's big blue eyes wereinnocent of anything, save an intense desire to know about the Aztecdiet.

  "Snails?--snails?--well, bless my soul! I don't believe I know.Important, too,--most important. I'll look it up, and let you know.Snails--queer I DON'T know. I made a study of the Aztecs, and they aremost interesting,--but as to snails--"

  Apparently Mr. Crosby's mind was wrestling with the question.

  "He's gone 'way back and sat down with the Aztecs," Philip murmured toPatty, "so you ask questions of me."

  "You don't know anything that I want to know."

  "Then _I_'ll ask a question of YOU."

  Philip's voice was full of meaning, so Patty said hastily: "No, no; itisn't polite to ask questions in society; one should make observations."

  "All right, observe me. That's what I'm here for. Observe me early andoften, and I'll be only too well pleased."

  "But that isn't what _I_'m here for. Your aunt invited me to be apleasant dinner guest and so I have to make myself entertaining to myAztec friend."

  And then Patty turned again to Mr. Crosby, and by a few skilful hintsshe soon had him started on another description of his travellingexperiences, and this time it proved so thrilling that all at the tablewere glad to listen to it.

  After dinner the whole party went to the opera and occupied Mrs. VanReypen's box.

  Patty was passionately fond of music, and never talked during aperformance. Between the acts, she was a smiling chatterbox, but whilethe curtain was up, she behaved in most exemplary fashion. Mrs. VanReypen knew this, or she would not have asked her, for that lady wasold-fashioned in her ways, and had no patience with people whochattered while the great singers were pouring forth their marvellousnotes.

  After dinner the whole party went to the opera]

  When the final curtain fell, Mrs. Van Reypen invited her guests toreturn to her house for supper, but Patty declined.

  "Very well, my dear," said her hostess, "I think, myself, you're tooyoung to be out any later than this. We will set you down at your owndoor, and you must hop right into bed and get your beauty sleep. Youngthings like you can't stay young unless you take good care of yourpinky cheeks."

  "But I don't want Patty to go home," Philip grumbled, to his aunt.

  "Your wishes are not consulted, my boy; this is my party. You're merelymy guest, and, if you don't behave yourself, you won't get invitedagain."

  "That scares me dreadfully," and Philip lightly pinched his aunt'scheek. "I will be good, so I'll be asked again."

  The big limousine sto
pped at Patty's door, and Philip escorted her upthe steps.

  "I think you might have come to supper," he said, reproachfully, as hetouched the bell.

  "It's too late," said Patty, decidedly; "and, besides, I have otherplans for the rest of the evening."

  And with this enigmatical announcement Philip was forced to be content,for Patty said good-night and vanished through the doorway.

  "And, indeed, I HAVE other plans," Patty said, to herself. "I'm simplyconsumed with curiosity to know which of those three beauties thatridiculous Kit man likes the best. I'm going to call him up and see. Iwish he could call me up,--it would suit me far better. But I supposenobody can call anybody else up if nobody knows anybody else's name."

  "Do you want any supper, Miss Patty?" asked Louise, as she unhookedPatty's frock.

  "No, thank you, I'm not a bit hungry. You might bring me a cup of milkand a biscuit, and then give me a kimono. I'm not going to bed justyet."

  So Louise arranged everything just as Patty wanted it, and finally wentaway.

  "May as well be comfortable," said Patty, as she tucked herself into afavourite big chair, with the telephone on a little stand beside her."I suppose I'll run up a fine bill for extra time, but, after all, it'sless extravagant than a good many other things. Wonder how much theycharge for overtime. I must ask Daddy."

  With a smile of anticipation Patty picked up the telephone.

  "Hello!" said Mr. Cameron's eager voice. "I thought you'd never come.I've been waiting since ten."

  "I've been to the opera," said Patty, nonchalantly. "And you've NOreason to sit and wait for me! I'm not a dead certainty, like thesunrise or the postman."

  "You're more welcome than either."

  "Now that's a real pretty speech. Are you a poet?"

  "Only to you."

  "Did you get the pictures?" Patty was unable longer to restrain herimpatience.

  "Of course I got the pictures. I knew yours at once! You needn't thinkyou can fool ME."

  "Which was mine? The girl with the black curls?"

  "Mercy, no! I know you're not THAT type. She looks like an actress, andhasn't a brain in her silly head. And you're not that lackadaisicallily-like one, either. Oh, I know YOU! You're that delightful,sensible, really brainy girl with the smooth black hair."

  "Oh, I AM, am I?"

  "Yes; and I'm SO glad you're not a rattle-pated beauty! What's a prettyface compared to real mind and intellect!"

  Patty was furious. She didn't aspire to nor desire this great mind andintellect, and she was quite satisfied with the amount of brains in herpretty, curly head.

  "I don't think much of your taste!" she exclaimed.

  "Why! you don't want me to be disappointed because you're not pretty,do you?"

  "But I AM pretty."

  "Yes; as I said, the beauty of deep thought and education shines fromyour clear eyes. That is far better than dimples and curls."

  Patty shook her curls at the telephone and her dimples came and wentwith her varying emotions.

  "Why, I shouldn't like you half as well if you were pretty," Mr.Cameron went on. "The only things I consider worth while areseriousness and scholarship. These you have in abundance, as I can seeat once from your picture."

  "And how do you like the way I dress?"

  "It suits your type exactly. That large black-and-white check denotes amind far above the frivolities of fashion, and that stiff white collar,to my mind, indicates a high order of mentality."

  "I think you're perfectly horrid!" And this exclamation seemed wrungfrom the depths of Patty's soul.

  A ringing laugh answered her--a laugh so hearty and so full of absoluteenjoyment that Patty listened in astonishment.

  "Poor little Princess Poppycheek! It's a shame to tease her! WAS shemaligned by a bad, horrid man that she doesn't even know? There, LittleGirl, don't cry! I know perfectly well that stiff old schoolmarm isn'tyou! Now, will you tell me who you are, and what you really look like?"

  Patty had to think quickly. She had supposed that Cameron meant what hesaid, but after all he was fooling her. And she had thought she fooledhim!

  "Which is me, then?" she said, in a small, low voice.

  "None of 'ern! You goosie! To think you could fool ME. In the firstplace, I knew you wouldn't send your own photograph; and when I sawthose three charming specimens, in out-of-date clothes, I knew you hadransacked your album to find them. However, I took the whole bunch downto Marie, and she vowed she had never laid eyes on one of them before.So there, now!"

  "Then we're just back where we started from," said Patty, cheerfully.

  "Yes; but, if you'll come to the musicale on Friday night, we can makegreat progress in a short time."

  "I told you I'd go, if you would persuade Marie to invite me."

  "Nonsense! I believe she HAS invited you. I believe you're MissCurtiss. SHE has dark hair."

  "Why not that other singer, Miss Fairfield?"

  "Oh, Marie says she's a blonde. The 'raving beauty' sort. I detest thatkind. I know she's vain."

  "Yes, she is. I hate to speak against another girl, but I know thatPatty Fairfield, and she IS vain."

  "Well, never mind about Patty Fairfield She doesn't interest me a bit.But what about you? Will you come to the party? Oh, DO-ee,DO-ee,--now,--as my old Scotch nurse used to say. Come to your waitingknight!"

  Kit's voice was very wheedlesome, and Patty was moved to encourage hima little.

  "Do you know,--I almost think--that maybe--possibly--perhaps, I WILLgo."

  "Really? Oh, Poppycheek, I'm SO glad! I do want to see My Girl!"

  "YOUR girl, indeed!"

  "Yes; mine by right of discovery."

  "But you haven't discovered me yet."

  "But I will,--on Friday night. You'll TRULY come, WON'T you?"

  "Honest, I've never been where I wasn't invited--"

  "But this is different----"

  "Yes,--it IS different----"

  "Oh, then you will come! Goody, GOODY! I'm so glad!"

  "Don't break the telephone with your gladness! Suppose I DO come, howwill you know me? How will you know that it is I?"

  "Oh, I'll know! 'I shall know it, I shall feel it, something subtlewill reveal it, for a glory round thee hovers that will lighten up thegloom.'"

  "Oh, you ARE a poet."

  "I am a poet, but I didn't write that. However, it was only because theother fellow got ahead of me."

  "Who was he? Who wrote it?"

  "I'll tell you Friday night. Come early, won't you?" "No; I always getto a party late."

  "Don't be too late. I want to play to you. And will you sing?"

  "Mercy, gracious! I might go to a party without being invited, but Ican't SING without being asked. You tell Marie I'm coming, will you?"

  "You bet I will. What shall you wear?"

  "What's your favourite colour?"

  "Red."

  "Red is becoming to brunettes; but I haven't any red evening gown. Howabout yellow?"

  "All right, wear yellow. I shall adore you in any colour."

  "Well; perhaps I'll come, and perhaps I won't. Good-night."

  Patty hung up the receiver with a sudden click, and Mr. Kit Cameron wasleft very much in doubt as to whether the whole thing was a joke or not.