CHAPTER V
THAT AWFUL AZALEA
The car came along the driveway and stopped in front of the porch wherePatty sat.
Farnsworth stepped out, with a cheery "Here we are!" and Patty rose togreet the visitor.
Up the steps toward her flew a figure which, as Patty afterward describedit, seemed like a wild Indian! A slight, wiry figure, rather tall andvery awkward, and possessed of a nervous force that expressed itself inmuscular activity.
"Oh, how do you do?" the girl cried, explosively. "You're CousinPatty,--aren't you?" But even as she spoke, she stumbled on the steps,pitched forward, falling on Patty, and but for Farnsworth's quick actionwould have knocked her down.
"Jiminy crickets! Ain't I the tangle-foot! Guess I'm getting in bad atthe very start. Hope I didn't hurt you."
"Not at all," said Patty, recovering her poise, both mental and physical."You are very welcome, Azalea. Will you sit here a few minutes before wego in the house?"
"Sure! I'll spill myself right into this double-decker!"
She threw herself into a long wicker lounging-seat, of the steamer-chairtype, and stretched out her feet in evident enjoyment of the relaxation.
"Well, this is comfort, after travelling cross country for days and days!I say, Cousin, it was awful good of you to ask me."
"Think so?" and Patty tried to smile pleasantly. She avoided catchingBill's eye, for the poor man was overcome with shame and consternationthat his relative should be so impossible.
"Yep,--I do. My! this place of yours is swell. I never saw such a grandhouse--close to. You're rich, ain't you, Cousin William?"
"So, so," Farnsworth replied, gazing at the girl in a sort of horrifiedfascination. "You've changed since last we met," he went on, in anendeavour to make casual conversation.
"Well, yes, I s'pose so. They tell me I was a squalling young one whenyou were at the Corners. Was I a terror?"
"Not then!" Bill wanted to answer, but of course he didn't.
"Not at all," he said, pleasantly. "You were a pretty baby--"
"But greatly changed,--hey?"
The girl gave him a quick glance. She was not ill-looking, as to featuresand colouring, but her whole effect was unattractive,--even repelling.
She had flashing black eyes, which darted from one object to another in ajerky, inquisitive way. Her scarlet lips parted over white, even teeth,but her lower lip hung, and her half-open mouth gave her an air ofignorance, often accompanied by rude staring.
Her black hair was concealed by a coarse straw hat, untrimmed save forsome gaudy flowers embroidered on the straw with crude coloured wools.
"How do you like my hat?" Azalea asked suddenly. "Just the shape of ahorse's hat, isn't it? But it's all the go. This dress is, too,--hope youlike it,--I do."
The dress in question was a "sport suit" of a large-sized green and blackcheck. It was cheap material, and badly cut, and its ill-fitting coathung on Azalea's slim shoulders in baggy wrinkles. Her blouse was brightpink Georgette, beaded with scarlet beads, and altogether, perhaps hercostume could not have been worse chosen or made up,--at least, fromPatty's point of view.
She ignored the question about the hat, and asked the girl as to herjourney.
"O.K.," Azalea returned. "Had a bang-up time. Made friends all along theline. Some of 'em coming to see me. Hope you'll like 'em."
She stretched out luxuriously in the long chair, throwing her arms aboveher head, and crossing her feet, which were dressed with "gun metal"stockings and shoes. Her hat was pushed awry, and wisps of hair fellat either side of her face.
"Now, perhaps you'd like to go to your room," suggested Patty, at herwits' end what to do with such an unconventional person.
"Nixy; I'm too comfortable here! I'll chuck my hat, and just enjoymyself."
Off came the hat, and was pitched on the floor. Azalea ran her fingersthrough her hair, making it a little more disordered than before. It waspretty hair,--or, rather would have been, if it were better cared for.Dark, almost black, with a slight inclination to curl, it was bunchedinto a tousled knot that was far from picturesque.
"Oh, come," said Patty, jumping up, for she couldn't stand the girl'suncouth actions another minute. "Come along with me, Azalea. You mustdress for dinner soon,--and some one might come to call now. We'll havetea in your room, if you like."
"Tea! I never drink it. I like coffee,--for breakfast,--or cocoa. But seehere, Cousin, don't you make any difference for me. I ain't company, youknow,--just let me be one of the family, won't you?"
Many retorts flashed through Patty's mind, but she only said, "Certainly,Azalea. We want you to be one of us."
Farnsworth was silent. The man was really aghast. What had he brought onpoor little Patty! He didn't excuse himself with the thought that it wasPatty's doing, not his, that Azalea was there at all, but he feltpersonally to blame for having such a relative and for having her therein their home. He looked helplessly at Patty, with such despair in hiskind eyes, that she ran over and kissed him, in spite of the fact thatthey were not alone.
Azalea giggled. "That's right," she said, affably; "don't mind me! Justgo right on spoonin' even when I'm around. I don't mind. And I don'twonder you took to her, Cousin William. She's a peach, for fair,--ain'tshe?"
"She certainly is," said Farnsworth, forcing a polite smile, butconscious of a strong desire to choke his new-found relative.
His utterly discouraged face roused Patty to fresh efforts athospitality, and taking Azalea's arm, she persuaded her to get upfrom the lounging chair.
On her feet, the girl shook herself with a careless abandon of manner,unheeding the fact that a hairpin flew from her loosened hair, and shedropped the handkerchief, gloves and small bag that she had had in herlap.
"Oh, pshaw," she said, as Bill restored them, "ain't I awful! That'sme--dropping things all the time! But I can pick them up myself--don'tyou be bothering."
She stuffed gloves and handkerchief in the bag, slinging it onher arm. "My, what a vine!" she said, pulling down a branch of thewistaria,--and, incidentally, breaking it off.
"Oh, golly! Look what I done! Just like me! But you've got plenty left."She tossed the broken branch out on the lawn, and then turned to followPatty, already in the doorway.
"I'm coming!" she said, "lead the way, Cousin, I'll trail you. What a bighouse! Don't you ever get lost in it?"
"No," smiled Patty, "and you won't as soon as you're used to it. Thisway, Azalea."
"Hello! _Hello_! This my room?" The Western girl looked at the prettyyellow room as Patty ushered her in.
"Yes, if you like yellow,--if not--"
"Oh, yes, I like yellow good enough. Don't make any diff to me whatcolour a room is. Nice and big, ain't it? Say, do you care if I chucksome of the lace props into the discard?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why, these here, now, faddly-duds." And Azalea whisked off a little lacestand-cover, swept up an armful of lace pillows, and was about to jerkoff the lace bedspread, when Patty protested.
"Oh, wait a minute,--of course you needn't have anything you don'twant,--but Janet will take off the spread."
"'Fraid I'll muss it up, hey?" Azalea laughed, "Well. I s'pose I _am_ aterror! But honest to goodness I can't stand for those ticklers. They getin my ears!"
Patty sighed. She had grasped the situation the instant she firstlaid eyes on the girl, but somehow it seemed to be developing furtherdifficulties all the time.
"Now, Azalea," she began, "let me help you get your travelling dress offand put you into your kimono, and we'll chat over a cup of tea. Oh, youdon't like tea,--will you have lemonade?"
"Yep. Love it! Plenty of sugar, though."
Patty gave the order to Janet, who had appeared to look after thevisitor, and turned back at the sound of Azalea's loud, stridentlaughter.
"Kimono! At six P.M. That's good. Why, Cousin, I use my kim for adressing gown, I ain't going to bed,--am I?"
"No, dear. But we'll have a more cosy time, I think,
if you get off yourtravel things and have a refreshing bath."
"Oh, well, I'll take off this rig,--I want to be choice of it, anyway.You have dinner at night?"
"Yes, we always do."
"Well, don't make any change for me, as I said. I ain't accustomed to it,but I can stand it, I guess. Nothing fazes _me_!"
Azalea took off her dress and looked at the skirt with concern.
"Some dusty," she remarked, "but it'll brush off."
"Oh, yes; lay it on that chair. Janet will look after it."
"Brush it, you mean?"
"Yes; clean it and press it properly."
"My land! does your servant do that?"
"Certainly. And leave your street shoes out for her to attend to."
"Oh,--I see! She's a regular outfit! Well, I never had a maid,--but Iguess I can stand one."
Janet re-entered the room at this moment, and with an attempted air ofgrandeur, Azalea flung herself into a low chair, and stuck out her footto have her shoe removed.
Patty gasped. The girl changed so quickly from independence to apparenthelplessness, and yet her manner was so crude and overbearing, that itwas doubtful how the maid would take it.
However, Janet was not only a well-trained servant, but she adored hermistress and not for worlds would she have failed in her duty.
Quietly and respectfully she knelt before Azalea and took off her shoesand waited on her as she would have waited on any of Patty's morecultured friends.
"Yes, put on a kimono, Azalea," Patty said, this time in a decided tone,and Azalea obeyed.
Then the tea tray was brought and the two sat together for a time.
Patty was up against a crisis. She had been thinking deeply ever sinceAzalea's arrival, and she was still perplexed.
Should she try _now_ to reform the girl,--improve her manners, or atleast her general attitude,--or, should she leave her to her own ways fora time, and trust to her observation of other people to show her her ownfaults?
It was almost impossible not to correct some of Azalea's ignorantmistakes, but still more difficult to ignore her over readiness to adaptherself to what she thought was the proper behaviour toward servants.
On the latter point Patty permitted herself a word when they were alone.
"Be a little careful with Janet," she said, pleasantly. "She's a bitpeculiar as to disposition. A splendid maid, and a most capablegirl,--but she doesn't like to be ordered about too definitely. Yousee, she knows her duties so well, and is so efficient, that it's reallyunnecessary to give her directions."
"Oh, pooh, she's only a servant. You oughtn't to stand for her airs. Why,our girl at home,--she was a Tartar! But I tamed her. I've a way withthem--"
"Please, Azalea," and Patty smiled ingratiatingly, "remember, won't you,that this is my house and these are my servants. I have my own ways oftreating them, and I'm going to ask you to work with me,--not againstme."
"Dunno what you mean! I've no notion of working against you, Cousin. Anddon't you be high and mighty with _me_! We'll get along all right, if youmeet me half way, but--"
Patty saw her chance. "Good, Azalea! There's my hand on that! We'll meeteach other half way, and you consider my wishes and I'll consider yours."
The danger point was passed and Azalea smiled again.
"I want to see the baby," she said suddenly. "I love babies."
"To-morrow, please. She's asleep now."
"Well, I can look at her. I won't wake her. I'll be awful careful."
This interest in Fleurette touched Patty's mother heart, and sheconsented.
"Can I go this way?" said Azalea, looking at her kimono.
This garment was,--not entirely to Patty's surprise,--a horror of gailyflowered silkoline, but as they would see no one but the nurse, shesaid, "Yes; come along."
To the nursery they went and there, in her bassinette lay the baby,asleep. She looked like a lovely little flower, indeed, and Patty gazedwith adoring eyes at the flushed little face.
"Oh!" cried Azalea, aloud, "what an angel baby!"
"Hush!" whispered Patty, "don't wake her!" and Nurse Winnie stood aroundin a state of nervous apprehension.
"No, I won't," Azalea said, in such a loud whisper, that it was scarce awhisper at all,--rather a muffled shout.
And then she poked her forefinger into the baby's roseleaf cheek.
"Pretty!" she said, beaming at the child.
"Oh, don't touch her!" Patty cried out. "Come away, Azalea!" for shereally didn't know what the strange girl would do next.
"Pshaw! I didn't hurt her. If she's such a touch-me-not, she's no fun atall! But every-body's like that with their first baby! Silly! Fussy! Justridiculous!"
"I daresay," laughed Patty, determined not to show her annoyance."But it's time to dress for dinner,--or nearly. Come back to yourroom,--and--wouldn't you like to take a fifteen minute nap? It mightrefresh you."
"It would _not_! Take a nap in broad daylight! I never heard of such athing! Oh, well, if I can't speak to that kid let's go back to my room.I'll skittle into my frock and go down to that flowery, bowery piazzaagain. I like that."
"What shall you put on?" asked Patty, interestedly, as Azalea made a maddive into her trunk.
"Dunno. What say? This?" She held up a mussy looking white muslin,trimmed with coarse embroidery and some imitation lace.
"That will do nicely," Patty said, relieved that it was at least white,and not some of the flamboyant effects she saw still in the trunk. "Janetwill press it off for you,--it's rumpled from packing. And then youneedn't unpack, dear, Janet will do that for you."
"Oh, I thought you told me not to call on the servant for anything!"
"No," Patty said, discouraged, "I didn't quite say that,--here's Janetnow. Let her do your hair for you!"
"Do my hair! Mercy gracious! I should say not! I've never had that donefor me."
"But I'm sure you'll be pleased with the way she'd do it. Janet is anartist at hair-dressing."
"Nopy! nix on the barber act for little Zaly! I'll comb my own wig, thankyou!"
With a comb, she stood before the cheval glass, and twisted up the darkmop into a tidy but most unbecoming coil.
"Don't you _care_ how it looks?" cried Patty, in dismay. "Really, _don't_you? And you've such pretty hair!"
"Then if it's pretty hair, it doesn't need any fancy doing," and Azaleagave a whimsical smile. "There, that's done. Now for my frock."
Janet had whisked the white muslin away, and already had it back, pressedand freshened.
"Lovely!" Azalea exclaimed; "how ever did you do it so quick? Happen tohave an iron on the stove?"
"Electric iron," said Patty, briefly. "They're always handy, you know."
"Never saw one. No, Miss Janet,--not that way, it hooks in the back."
At last, Azalea was attired, and looked fairly presentable in her whitefrock; though having no white shoes and stockings she wore black ones.
"I'd like white ones," she said, apologetically, "but I could only havetwo pairs so I got black and the ones I wore here."
"Quite right," said Patty, appreciatively; "I'll be glad to get you somewhite ones. They'd be pretty with this frock."
"Oh, thank you. I'd love to have 'em. Where we going now?"
"Suppose you come to my room, while I dress," Patty suggested, thinkingan object lesson in the arts of the toilette might not be amiss.
"O.K.," and the visitor strode along by the side of her hostess.
They _were_ a contrast! Patty, dainty, graceful and sweet, was the veryantithesis of tall, gawky Azalea, with her countrified dress and badlymade black shoes. Her careless air, too, was unattractive,--for it wasnot the nonchalance of experience, but the unselfconsciousness of sheerignorance of urban ways and manners.
"My land! what a room," the country girl ejaculated, as they enteredPatty's boudoir. "How ever can you live in this fancy place! It's likea picture!"
"It is," agreed Patty, pleased at the comment. "But I love it. I'm afraidI'm too
fond of soft lights and pretty appointments, and delicatefragrance."
"Well, you've got it! My land! I'm afraid to move around! I don't want tobreak anything."
"You won't," laughed Patty. "Sit there, and we can talk while I get intomy gown. I do my own hair, too," and she shook down her mop of goldencurls, to Azalea's hearty admiration.
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