"much obliged, billee," patty said, at last, as she handed back a somewhat damp handkerchief, and farnsworth stuffed it in his pocket. "where are you taking me?"
"where do you want to go?"
"back where you brought me from, please."
"well, you can't go there. will you go home, or to the farringtons'?"
a quick side glance at the stern face beside her showed patty that there was no chance of her going back to the blaneys', so she said, with great dignity, "i'll go to elise's, then. but i want you to understand that i resent your treatment, that i detest you for using your strength to interfere with my pleasure, and that i absolutely sever all friendship or acquaintance with you, now and forever!"
"bad as that? well, well, you must be annoyed."
"annoyed! annoyed! why, i——"
"there now, posy face, quiet down a bit, we're almost at the house. you don't want to go in looking like a—a weeping willow! you'll spoil the effect of that red frock, if your eyes are red, too, and your cheeks all tear-stained. here, have a fresh handkerchief."
farnsworth produced another big white linen affair, and unfolding it with a flourish, held it up to patty's face.
"i never saw anybody have so many clean handkerchiefs! do you carry a dozen?"
"always glad to help ladies in distress. are you often so lachrymose?"
"oh little billee, don't be so everlasting good-natured, when i feel so cross. why did you bring me away from that place, when i was having such a good time? and the best part was just about to begin!"
"now, patty, listen—while the listening's good. here we are at elise's; i want you to go in, gay and smiling, and not cause any curious comment. so let the blaney discussion wait, and i'll tell you all about it, first chance we get. you don't want everybody to know that you left the cosmic club a—er,—a bit unintentionally, do you? then, forget it, for the moment, and put on a merry christmas manner. you'll be glad you did, afterward."
farnsworth's talk was sound sense, and patty knew it. she already felt a little relieved at getting away from sam blaney and back with her own crowd. so she shook off her petulance and her anger, and when she entered the farringtons' drawing-room, no smile that greeted her was brighter than her own in response.
"why, pattibelle," cried chick channing, "welcome home! i feared we had lost you to the high-geared highbrows. merry christmas and many of 'em! come sit by my side, little darling——"
"no, come sit by us," insisted elise, from the other side of the room.
"you're a dear, to come so early, patty. how did it happen?"
"oh, i just couldn't stay there any longer," said patty, very truthfully. "am i in time for the christmas tree?"
"indeed you are," returned elise; "also for the feast and the dancing and the mistletoe bough."
"good!" and patty joined the laughing group, of which she immediately became the centre. her red velvet gown, though unusual, was not so eccentric as to appear peculiar in this setting, and the girls began to express admiration.
nor were the men unappreciative.
"a real yuletide frock, patty," said phil van reypen, approvingly.
"didn't know you could wear that colour."
"i couldn't," laughed patty, "in daylight. but the electrics even things up, somehow, and my complexion takes on a harmonising tint of brick red."
"because you are a brick," put in channing. "did you get many
christmas gifts, patty? did you get my small votive offering?"
"did i get many gifts! my boudoir looks like a world's fair! yes, chick, i got your present. let me see, it was the padded calf emerson, wasn't it?"
"it was not! if you got that, it probably came from your cosmetic friends. i sent you—oh, if you didn't even open it——"
"but i did, chickadee. it was a heavenly jade hatpin, an exquisite bit of carving. i just adore it, and i shall never wear any other. so cheer up, life is still worth living!"
patty was in high spirits. it was partly reaction from the artificial atmosphere of the studio, and partly her real enjoyment of the festive occasion of elise's christmas party. the farrington parties were always on an elaborate scale, and this was no exception.
"i wish roger and mona were here," patty said, "i sort of miss them."
"so do i," chimed in daisy dow. "but the honeymoon shining on the sands at palm beach still holds them under its influence."
"they must be happy," observed kit cameron. "think of it! christmas and a bridal trip and the sunny south,—all at once."
"it is a large order," laughed patty. "but mona likes a lot of things at once. that girl has no sense of moderation. when are they coming home, elise?"
"don't know. no signs of it yet. come on, people, now we're going to have the tree!"
the orchestra played a march, and the crowd trooped into the great hall known as the casino. there awaited them a resplendent christmas tree, glittering with frosted decorations and glowing with electric lights.
van reypen had quietly taken possession of patty as a partner, and he guided her to a pleasant seat where she could see all the entertainment. for great doings had been arranged to please the guests, and a short program was carried out.
waits sang old english carols, mummers cut up queer antics, servitors brought in the boar's head and wassail bowl, and finally it was announced that all present would participate in the old-fashioned dance of sir roger de coverley.
patty enjoyed it all. she loved to see this sort of thing when it was well done, and in this instance every detail was faultless. van reypen quite shared her enthusiasm, and was vigorously clapping his hands over some jest of a mummer, when big bill farnsworth came up to patty, made a low bow, his hand on his breast, and whisked her off to the dance before she fairly realised what had happened.
"why—i can't!" she exclaimed, as she found herself standing opposite her smiling partner. "i'm—i'm engaged to philip!"
"i know you are," returned farnsworth, gravely, "but you can give me one dance."
patty blushed, furiously. "oh, i didn't mean engaged that way," she said, "i meant engaged for this dance."
"no," corrected farnsworth, still smiling, "you did mean you are engaged to him that way, but not for this dance."
"well, he hadn't actually asked me," said patty, doubtfully, "but i know he took it for granted——"
"it isn't wise to take too much for granted—there! see, he has just discovered your absence."
sure enough, van reypen, who had been engrossed with the mummer's chaff, turned back to where patty had sat, and his look of amazement at her absence was funny to see.
glancing about, he saw her standing in line, opposite farnsworth. at first, he looked wrathful, then accepting his position with a good grace, he smiled at them both.
"little deserter!" he said to her, as he sauntered past her, in search of another partner.
"deserter, yourself!" she returned. "you completely forgot my existence!"
"i didn't, but i am duly punished for seeming to do so. but i claim you for a supper partner, so make a memorandum of that!"
patty smiled an assent, and the dance began.
"don't you like this better than that smoky, incense-smelly atmosphere of the studio?" farnsworth said to patty, as they walked through the stately figures of the dance.
"this is a home of wealth and grandeur," said patty, "but wealth and grandeur are not the most desirable things in the world."
"what are?"
"brains and——"
"yes, brains and breeding. but your high-browed, lowbred——"
"billee, i've stood a lot from you tonight; now, i refuse to stand any more. you will please stop saying things that you know offend me."
"forgive me, patty, i forgot myself."
"then it's forgive and forget between us. i'll do the forgiving because you did the forgetting. but i've forgiven you all i'm going to. so don't make any more necessary."
"i'll try not to," and then the subject of the earlier evening was not mentioned again.
the dance concluded, farnsworth stood for a moment, still holding patty's hand after their last sweeping curtsey, and he said, "will you be my supper partner, too? please do."
"i can't," and patty laughed up at him. "i'm really engaged to phil."
"oh, are you, patty?" cried daisy, who was just passing, with kit cameron. "i said you'd announce it tonight! what fun! but why are you telling big bill all by himself first? you ought to tell all the crowd at once. i'll do it for you. come on, kit, let's spread the news! we've patty's own word for it."
the two ran off, laughing, and patty looked a bit dismayed. "kit's such a scamp," she said, ruefully, "he'll tell that all over the room——"
"isn't it true?"
"would you care if it were?"
"i care for anything that concerns you or your happiness."
"or any one else or any one else's happiness! oh, i know you, bill
farnsworth, you want everybody to be happy."
"of course i do!" and the big man laughed, heartily. "is that a crime?
but most of all i care to have one little foolish, petulant
blossom-girl happy."
"well, then, why don't you make her so? why aren't you kind and nice to her, instead of being horrid about her friends and her dancing, and acting like a great lord of something-or-other, frowning on her innocent amusements!"
"oh, patty, what an arraignment! but never mind that. may i take you to the supper room?"
"oh, here you are, light of my eyes!" and van reypen came up and offered his arm.
with a smile of farewell to farnsworth, patty accepted philip's escort and walked off.
"what's this report cameron and daisy dow are spreading?" asked van reypen, looking at her, quizzically, but with a glance full of meaning. "they say you and i are to announce our engagement tonight. i'm so delighted to hear it, i can't see straight; but i want your corroboration of the rumour. oh, patty, darling girl, you do mean it, don't you?"
philip had drawn her to one side, away from the crowd, and in a palm-screened alcove, he stood beside her, his handsome face glowing with eagerness, as he anticipated yet feared her reply.
"nonsense, phil. it happened that i told bill farnsworth i was engaged to you for supper, and daisy overheard, and she and kit tried to tease me, that's all."
"but since it happened that way,—since the report is current,—don't you think,—doesn't it seem as if this would be an awfully good chance to make it a true report?"
"no, sir! a girl can't get engaged all in a minute, and en route to a supper room, at that! besides, i'm hungry."
"you can't put me off that way! you may think to be hungry interferes with romance. not a bit of it! you say you'll marry me, and i'll get you all the supper you want, and, incidentally, eat a good square meal myself. there!"
van reypen had great charm. his great dark eyes were fixed on patty, and in their depths she could read his big, true love, unembarrassed by the place or the occasion. he knew only that he was pleading with the girl he loved, suing for his life's happiness, a happiness that lay in the little rosy palm of patty fairfield's hand.
"darling," he whispered, taking the little hand in both his own, "patty, darling, do say yes, at last. don't keep me in suspense. don't bother about learning to love me, and all that. just come to me,—tell me you will,—and i know you'll love me. you can't help it, dear, when i love you so. why, patty, i've got to have you! you don't know how i want you. you've so twined yourself into my heart that you seem part of me already. dear, dear little girl, my love, my sweetheart——"
philip's arm went round patty's shoulder, and he drew her to him.
"phil!" cried patty, starting back. "don't, please don't."
"i won't, dear,—i won't call you mine until you say i may,—but, oh,
patty!"
his voice was so full of deep feeling, his eves pleaded so longingly for her consent, that patty's heart went out to him. she was sorry for him, and she honestly longed to say the word that would give him joy and gladness forever. but that very feeling taught her the truth about herself. she knew, in one sudden, illuminating flash, that she didn't and couldn't love philip van reypen in the way she was sure she wanted to love and would love the man she should marry.
nor could she speak lightly or carelessly to him now. it was a crisis. a good, true man had offered her his love and his life. it was not a slight thing to be tossed aside as a trifle. if she accepted it, well; but if not, she must tell him so kindly, and must tell him why. and patty didn't know why. in fact, she wasn't sure she didn't want phil, after all. he was very big-hearted,—very splendid.
"what are you thinking of, girlie?" he asked, gently, as he watched the changing expressions on her face.
"i'm trying to be honest with myself, phil. i'm trying to think out why it is that i don't say yes to you at once. i suppose you think me heartless and cold to think it out like this, but, i'm in earnest——"
"so am i, dear, very much in earnest. and, i think, my own heart's dearest, that you're nearer to loving me now than you've ever been. nearer saying yes than ever before. and, so, i'm not going to let you answer now. this isn't the time or place. somebody may come looking for us at any moment. you have given me hope, patty—unconsciously, you've given me hope for the first time. i'll be satisfied with that, for now. and, i'll see you soon, in your own home, to hear the rest from your own lips. oh, patty, how can i wait? i can't! say yes, now,—say it, patty!"
"no, phil," and patty gave him a lovely smile, while her blue eyes shone like stars; "no, you were right, before. not here—not now. come, let us join the others,—and you come to see me at home—soon."
"your own sweet way is mine, patty," and van reypen kissed the trembling little hand he held. "now, brace up, dear; remember, they'll all be watching us, even chaffing us. can you meet them?"
"yes," and patty assumed her old mischievous smile. "carry things off with a high hand, phil. that's the way to meet them."
together they sauntered to the supper room, and, as they had expected, were met by a storm of chaff.
"where have you two been? 'fess up, now!"
"flirting," replied van reypen, coolly. "haven't we, patty?"
"yes, if you call such a mild affair worthy of the name," and patty's nonchalant air and unembarrassed manner gave no further inducement for teasing.
"let's sit here," phil went on, selecting seats at a small table, with some casual friends, and then his resources of conversation and patty's gay chatter did away with all chance for personal allusions.
