Kitabı oku: «Patty's Fortune», sayfa 4
CHAPTER VII
THE FORTUNE TELLER
Next morning Patty and Maude had a cosy little breakfast in the latter’s apartment, and then, arrayed in her riding habit, Patty went down, to find Channing waiting for her on the veranda.
“Good morning, M’lle Farini,” he said gaily, “ready for a ride? Come along with us, won’t you, Maude?”
“No, thank you, Chick. I’m not altogether certain that Patty’s friends will forgive this performance and I’d be afraid to see them. But, oh, I can’t tell you both what it has meant to me, and I do hope you’ll have no cause to regret it.”
“Not a bit of it! I’ll fix it up all right,” and Chick looked very big and powerful. “If anybody goes for Patty, he’ll hear from me! See?”
“But I do want to see you again, Maude,” said Patty, as they bade farewell. “Shall you be here long?”
“Only two or three days, at most. I have another concert here tomorrow night, but I’m sure of my artists for that. Do ride over again, both of you.”
“We will,” promised Channing, and then the two cantered away.
“Here they come!” cried Daisy, as from the porch of Freedom Castle she spied the two equestrians.
Jim Kenerley was at the block to help Patty alight, and as she ran up the steps, Adele clasped her in a welcoming embrace.
“You dear child!” she said. “What an experience you have had. Sit down here and tell us all about it.”
So Patty told the whole story, exactly as it had happened, and Channing added details here and there.
Everybody was interested and asked all sorts of questions.
“Is it a nice hotel?” asked Mona. “Did you have any fun after the concert?”
“There was dancing,” said Patty, “but I was too scared, when people called me M’lle Farini, to enjoy it much. I wanted to get away. I’m glad I did it for Miss Kent, but – never again!”
“If she’s the Maude Kent I once knew, you had no business to have anything to do with her,” put in Farnsworth, in a gruff voice.
“She’s the Miss Kent Chick Channing knows, and that’s enough for me!” retorted Patty, and a little pink spot showed in either cheek, a sure sign that she was annoyed.
“Well, shall we go to the hermit’s?” said Elise, anxious to avert the impending scene. “What do you think, Patty, Kit has a toothache, and can’t go, after all.”
“Toothache!”
“Yes, a bad ulceration. He sent down word by Bobbink, that pet bellboy of his, that we were to go on without him. The boy will show us the way.”
“How ridiculous! Why not wait till tomorrow?”
“No, Kit says the hermit man expects us and we must go. You’ll go along, won’t you?”
“Yes, of course. Shall I change this rigging, – or go as I am?”
“Go as you are. It’s time we were off. Roger and Mona have gone on ahead, but as they went in the opposite direction, I am not sure they’ll get there before we do.”
“Those two have a fancy for going in the opposite direction,” laughed Patty; “ever notice it?”
“Not being stone blind, I have,” Elise admitted, and really the interest Roger and Mona had for each other became more apparent each day.
The Kenerleys declined to go on the hermit expedition, saying that they knew their “fortune,” and had no reason for questioning the future. So the others started.
Channing took possession of Patty, and merely saying “which way?” he led her across the wide lawn to the indicated path through the wood.
Elise followed, with Bob Peyton, who greatly admired the pretty New York girl. Farnsworth and Daisy Dow brought up the rear of the procession, and Bobbink, the ever useful courier, showed the way.
“Mr. Cameron says for you to do jes’ wot I says,” he announced, evidently greatly pleased at his position of power.
“Go ahead, Bobbink,” said Bill; “show us the way, but don’t talk too much.”
“Yassir. Dis way, ladies an’ gempmun.”
It was a beautiful walk, through the Autumn sunshine and forest shade. Now they crossed a tiny brook or paused to admire a misty waterfall, and again they found a long stretch of good State road.
And sooner than any one expected, they reached the shack.
“Dat’s de place,” announced Bobbink, and stood, pointing to the dilapidated shanty at the side of the road.
“Who’ll go in first?” asked Patty; “I’m scared.”
“I’m not,” and Daisy stepped nearer and peered curiously in at the door.
“Come in, woman!” said a strange, cracked old voice, and there followed a laugh like a cackle. “Come in, each and all.”
Daisy pushed in and Farnsworth stepped in, too, for he didn’t altogether like the sound of that laugh. Then they all crowded in and saw the old hermit, sitting in a hunched-up position on a pile of rugs in the corner of the hut.
“Which one first?” he muttered; “which pretty lady first? All have fortunes, wonderful fortunes coming to them.”
The old man’s garb was somewhat like that of a monk. A dingy robe was girdled with a hempen rope, and a cowl-shaped hood fell well over his brow. His face was brown and seamed and wrinkled with age, and he wore queer-looking dark glasses. On his hands were old gloves that had once been white, but were now a dingy grey, and he seemed feeble, and unable to move without difficulty.
But he was alert, doubtless spurred by the hope of getting well paid.
“You go first, Daisy,” said Patty; “then we’ll see how it works.”
“All right, I’m not afraid,” and Daisy extended her palm to the old man.
“Here, wait!” she cried; “don’t touch me with those dirty old gloves! Can’t I wrap my handkerchief round my hand?”
The hermit made no objection, and Daisy wound a fresh handkerchief about her fingers, leaving the palm exposed for the seer to read.
He began, in a droning voice:
“Pretty lady, your home is far away. You are not of this end of the country, but off toward the setting sun. You will return there soon, and there you will meet your fate. He awaits you there, a man of brain and brawn, – a man who has ambition to become the mayor of – ”
“Hush!” cried Daisy, snatching her hand away from his gloved fingers; “Don’t you say another word! That’s a secret! I don’t want any more fortune! That man’s a wizard!”
Daisy moved across the room, putting all the distance possible between her and the seer. With startled eyes, she gazed at him, as at a world wonder.
“Pooh! That was a chance shot, Daisy,” said Elise. “Let me try, I’ve no secrets that I’m afraid he’ll reveal.”
Nor was she afraid of the grimy old glove, but put her finger tips carelessly into the old fellow’s hand.
“Pretty lady heart-whole,” declared the hermit. “Some day pretty lady fall in love, but not today. Some ’nother day, too! Pretty lady marry twice, two times! Ha, ha!”
“Silly!” said Elise, blushing a little, as she withdrew her hand. “I hate fortune telling. Next.”
Patty, a little reluctantly, surrendered her hand to the seer, who took it lightly in his own. “Pretty lady all upset,” he began. “So many suitors, all want pretty lady. But the fates have decree! The lady must marry with the – ” he drew his hand across his eyes, – “I cannot see clearly! I see a cat! Ha, no! I have it! the pretty lady must marry with the Kit, ha, yes; the Kit!”
“Good gracious!” exclaimed Patty, laughing, “have I really got to marry Kit! Kit who?”
“That the wizard cannot tell. Only can I read the name Kit. It is written in the lady’s fate.”
“But s’pose I don’t want to? S’pose I don’t like Kit as much as somebody else?”
“That makes nothing! It is fate. It may not be denied.”
“Well, all right. But I don’t care so much about my future husband. He’s a long way off. Tell me what will happen to me before he arrives.”
“Many adventures. You will today receive a letter – ”
“Goodness, I get letters every day! Any particular letter?”
“Yes, a letter from one you love.”
“Ah, Daddy, I expect.”
“Nay, ’tis a younger man than your honourable parent. Then, soon the pretty lady will inherit fortune.”
“Now, that’s more interesting. Big fortune?”
“Oh, – my, yes! Large amount of moneys! And a journey, – a far journey.”
“I don’t care about the journey. Tell me more about the fortune. Who will leave it to me? Not my father, I hope.”
“Nay, no near relative.”
“That’s good; I don’t want my people to die. Well, anything more, Mister Hermit?”
“Beware of a dark lady – ”
“Now I know you’re the real thing!” and Patty laughed merrily. “I’ve been waiting for the ‘dark lady’ and the ‘light-complected gentleman’ who always figure in fortunes. Well, what about the dark lady?”
“If the pretty miss makes the fun, there is no more fortune for her,” said the hermit, sulkily.
“I don’t mind, so long as you don’t take the money away.”
“Tell mine, then,” said Channing, as Patty resigned her place.
“You, sir, are an acrobat. You were employed in the Big Circus, the Hop – Hippodrome. When they discharged you, it was but temporary. Do not fear, you will regain your position there.”
“Why, you old wiz! How did you know that!” and Channing stared in pretended amazement; “I thought that episode in my career was a dead secret!”
“No episodes are secrets to me,” declared the hermit. “Shall I tell further?”
“No, I guess that will be about all,” and Channing moved quickly away from the strange old man.
Bob Peyton declined to have his past exposed to the public gaze; and he said he didn’t care to know what the future held for him, he’d far rather be surprised at his life as it happened. So Bill Farnsworth was the next to test the wizard’s powers.
“Big man,” said the hermit, solemnly, as he scanned the broad palm Bill offered for inspection. “Big man, every way; body, heart, soul, – all.”
“Thanks,” said Farnsworth, “for the expansive if ambiguous compliment. Be a little more definite, please. What am I going to have for dinner today? Answer me that, and I’ll believe in your wizardry.”
“Big man is pleased to be sarcastic. The hermit does not waste his occult powers on foolish questions. In a few hours you will know what you will have for dinner. Why learn now?”
“Why, indeed? All right, old chap, tell me something worth while, then.”
“That will I, sir! I’ll tell you your fate in wedlock. You will yet wed a lovely lady, who, like your noble self, is of the Western birth. She is – ”
“Drop it, man! Never mind what she is! Let me tell you what you are! Friends, behold Mr. Kit Cameron!” With a swift movement, Farnsworth drew off the old gloves from the hand that held his, and exposed the unmistakable slim white hands of the musician, Kit.
“Oh, you fraud!” cried Patty. “I half suspected it all the time!”
“I didn’t,” exclaimed Daisy. “You fooled me completely!”
“Oh, my fortune!” wailed Elise. “Where are those two lovely fates of mine?”
“And all my money!” groaned Patty. “I feel as if you had misappropriated my funds, Kit.”
It had not been necessary further to remove Cameron’s disguise, it was enough to see his hands, and hear his merry laugh.
“Hist!” cried Peyton, who had looked out along the road. “Here come Roger and Mona. Let’s give them a song and dance.”
Kit drew on his old gloves again, and huddled into his crouched posture, just as the two came in at the hut’s door.
“Just in time!” said Channing. “We’ve all had our fortunes told and were just about to go home. Take your turn now.”
“I don’t like to,” said Mona, who was looking very happy and was blushing a little.
Keen-eyed Kit spied this. “Pretty lady,” he began, in his droning tones, and as he also had a slight knowledge of ventriloquism, he most effectually disguised his own voice, “give me your little hand.”
“Go on, Mona, we all did,” said Patty, and wonderingly, Mona held out her hand.
“Never saw I the future so plainly revealed!” declared the seer. “’Tis written as in letters of fire! Lady, thy fate is sealed. It is bound up with that of a true and noble knight, a loving soul, a faithful comrade. I see the blush that mantles your rosy cheek, I see the trembling of your lily hand, I see the drooped eyelashes that veil your dancing eyes, and I see, stretching far into the future, years of happiness and joy.”
Kit released Mona’s hand, and the girls crowded round her.
“What does he mean?” Daisy cried; “he spoke so in earnest.”
“Stay!” and the seer raised his hand. “Now will I tell the fortune of the noble gentleman who but now arrived. Your hand, fair sir.”
“Rubbish!” said Roger, disinclined for the performance.
“Go on, Farry,” said Farnsworth, smiling. “We all did. Go ahead.”
Roger gave over his hand, and the hermit rocked back and forth in glee. “Another clear writing of the fates!” he exclaimed. “I read of a happy future with the loved one. I read that only just now, within the hour, has the Fair said ‘yes’ to repeated pleadings, and the betrothal took place, – ”
“Oh, I say!” and Roger tried to pull his hand from the hermit’s grasp.
“’Tis a fair tale I read,” went on the wizard, holding fast the hand he read; “two young hearts, made for each other, plighted by the singing brook – in the balmy sunshine – in a bower of roses by Bendemeer’s stream – oh, hang it, old chap, let me be the first to congratulate you!”
Kit flung off his cowl with one hand, while with the other he gripped Roger’s in a man-to-man grasp, and shook it heartily.
Then there was a small-sized pandemonium! The girls fell on Mona, kissing her and asking questions, while the men joined hands in a sort of war dance round Roger. Then they all made a circle round the engaged pair, and sang “Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grows,” with the zest of a crowd of children.
“Perfectly gorgeous! I think,” cried Patty, as the excitement calmed down a little. “I sort of hoped it would be so, but I didn’t expect it quite so soon.”
“Neither did I,” said Mona, shyly: “but, you see – ”
“Oh, yes, we see,” said Kit. “The picturesque spot, – the murmuring brook, – the whispering trees, – why, of course, you couldn’t help it! Bless you, my children! and now, I want somebody to go out and get engaged to me. Who will volunteer?”
“Not today, Kit,” said Patty, laughing. “Let troubles come singly for once. Today for this, tomorrow for yours. Come on, people, I can’t wait to get home and tell Adele!”
CHAPTER VIII
A RIDE TOGETHER
Adele was duly surprised and pleased to learn that Mona and Roger were engaged and declared they should have an announcement dinner that very night.
“Let’s make it a real party,” said Patty, “with a dance afterward.”
“As if we didn’t dance every night,” said Elise, laughing. “But it will seem more like a party if we put on our best frocks.”
“And decorate the table,” added Daisy.
So the girls put their heads together to see what they could do in the way of effective and appropriate decoration.
“We might give her a shower,” suggested Marie, after Mona had left the room.
“What sort of a shower? What could we buy and where could we buy it?”
“There’s that little bazaar down in the village, but there’s nothing decent there,” said Patty.
“No,” agreed Marie, “and we don’t want to give Mona cheap little gimcracks.”
“Well, we can’t have a shower, that’s out of the question,” declared Daisy.
“But I want to have a shower,” persisted Patty; “it will be no fun at all to give her a shower after we get back to New York. I’m going to invent some way to give it to her here.”
“But there isn’t any way – ”
“Yes, there is, Daisy; now listen. Suppose we each give her some pretty trinket or thing of our own.”
“Huh! Worn out old things!”
“No, of course not! But I’ve a little pearl ring that Mona likes awfully well, and I care a lot for it myself, too. So I think it would be a nice gift, just because I do like it myself.”
“That’s a good idea, Patty,” said Adele; “I have a white and silver scarf that Mona just raves over. It’s Egyptian, you know, and of some value. I think she’d like these things that we have personally used, quite as well as new things. You know Mona can buy anything she wants, but this personal note would touch her, I’m sure.”
“Perhaps you’re right,” Daisy said, thoughtfully. “I’ve an exquisite lace handkerchief I’d like to give her. It’s one that was given to my mother by a French Princess.”
“Oh, Daisy, you don’t want to give that up.”
“Yes, I do. I’m fond of Mona, and I’m glad for her to have it.”
“I’ve a lovely fan,” Elise said, “do you think she’d care for it? It’s one of Duvelleroi’s, – signed.”
“Oh, she’d love it! We’ll have a wonderful shower. What have you, Marie?”
“I can’t think of anything worth while. Oh, yes, I have a centrepiece I’m embroidering for Christmas. It’s a beauty, and I can finish it this afternoon, or, if I don’t get it quite done, I can give it to her unfinished and put in the last stitches tomorrow.”
“Capital!” and Patty smiled at the success of her “shower” plan. “What do you think, Chick?” she went on, as that individual, never very far from Patty’s side, sauntered in, “we’ve the loveliest scheme!” And she told him of the shower. “I suppose you boys can’t be in it, for Mona wouldn’t want a jack-knife or pair of sleeve-links. And men don’t shower engaged girls anyway.”
“No, I suppose not. But what’s the matter with us men showering old Farrington? I’ll bet he’d love to be showered.”
“Oh, do!” and Patty clapped her hands. “Just the thing! Give him funny gifts, will you, Chick?”
“Of course I will. And I’ll make the others come across, too.”
Soon after luncheon, Patty had a telephone call which proved to be from Maude Kent. She begged Patty to come over to the hotel where she was, at once.
“Oh, I can’t,” said Patty. “We’re getting up a party for Mona, she’s just gone and got herself engaged to Roger Farrington, and we’ve got to do something about it.”
“Well, you can come over for a short time. Truly, it’s most important. Chick will whiz you over in a motor, and you can be back in two or three hours. What time is the party?”
“Oh, not till dinner time.”
“Then come on. I want you terribly, and you’d want to come if you knew what for. I can’t tell you on the telephone, it’s a secret.”
Chick was passing, and Patty beckoned to him. “Will you chauff me over to see Maude?” she asked, as she still held the receiver.
“To the ends of the earth, if you’ve the slightest desire to go there, my lady fair.”
“Well, all right, Maude. I’ll come, but only for a few minutes.”
“When do we start, queen of my heart?” and Channing bowed before her.
“In a few minutes. I’ll scoot and dress, and you meet me here at three sharp.”
“Your word is my bond. I’ll be on deck.”
Patty flew to her room and rang for the treasure of a Sarah. The girl was rapidly becoming a deft ladies’-maid, and when Patty merely said, “Rose Crêpe, Sarah,” she took from the wardrobe the pretty afternoon gown of rose-coloured crêpe de chine, and went at once to get silk stockings and slippers to match, as well as the right hat, veil, and accessories.
On time, Patty stood again in the hall. Channing appeared, and at the same time Kit Cameron strolled in.
“Oh, Kit,” said Patty, “however did you think of that crazy scheme of fortune telling?”
“My brain is full of nonsense, Patty, and sometimes it strikes out like that.”
“But about my fortune? Did you just make it all up out of the solid? Or was there any – ”
“Car’s ready, Patty,” interrupted Channing. “Leave that investigation till we come back.”
“I don’t want to,” and Patty looked from one of the men to the other. “I want to hear about it now. I say, Kit, you drive me, instead of Chick, won’t you?”
“Oh, now, that isn’t fair!” and Channing looked decidedly annoyed. “You promised me, Patty – ”
“No, I didn’t. I asked you. That’s quite different from promising. Now, don’t sulk, and I’ll give you an extra dance tonight.”
“Two?”
“Well, yes, two, then, you greedy boy. Now run away and play.”
“But is this all right?” said Kit, as he hesitated to take Channing’s place.
“It doesn’t seem so to me,” Chick retorted, “But what Miss Fairfield says, goes!”
He turned on his heel, very much out of sorts at Patty’s perverse ways, and as she saw the look on his face and the uncertainty on Kit’s countenance, Patty broke into a laugh.
“Where are you going, Patty?” said Farnsworth, coming out of the house.
“Over to Poland Spring House, if I can get anybody to drive me. These boys are both unwilling. You drive me, Little Billee?”
Farnsworth looked at her a moment, with the expression of one who can scarcely believe his own ears. Then, just as Kit began to exclaim in indignation Big Bill took his place beside her and started the car.
“What possessed your kind heart to give me this pleasure?” he said, and his voice was so gentle it took from the words all suggestion of sarcasm or satire.
“The others were so tiresome. I don’t think it’s such a favour to allow a man to drive a car for you. Do you?”
“It depends on the man and the one who grants the favour. To me this is a decided boon. Do you realise, little girl, I never get a word with you nowadays? You never allow it. You’re so wrapped up in Channing and Cameron, you’ve no eyes or ears for any one else.”
“Oh, Little Billee, what a taradiddle! But when people don’t believe what people say, people can’t expect people to – ”
“Wait! So many people get me all mixed up! And I do believe you, always. If I doubted your word about that telephone, it was because I was misinformed. You see – ”
“Yes, tell me how it was.”
Patty was thoroughly enjoying herself. She had Big Bill where she wanted him, apologising for his abominable disbelief in her veracity. “Tell me who told you stories about me.”
“Not stories, exactly. I wanted the long distance telephone that night, and when I went to the desk, the telephone clerk said you were using it, talking to a Mr. Van Reypen, and would I wait till you finished.”
“And of course you thought I called Phil, whereas he called me! All right, Billee Boy, you’re forguv.”
“And then, he called you again, last night. Is this a habit of his?”
“Oh, Billee, that’s just what I asked him. But how did you know he telephoned last night? Clerk again?”
“I was in the office, and as you weren’t home, and the New York call might have been from your father, I answered. It was Van Reypen, and as he wanted to know where you were, of course I told him. Patty, what did he want? Why does he telephone you every night?”
“Well, let me see what he did want. He telephoned last night, I believe, to apologise for telephoning the night before!”
“What nonsense!”
“Yes, he did! Don’t you disbelieve me again!”
“Of course, I won’t. All right, then, what did he say the first night, that he had to apologise for?”
“Oh, fiddlestrings, Billee, it was nothing of any consequence. I may as well tell you, though, he just wanted to be invited up here.”
“Oh, he did, did he?”
“Yes, he did, did he! And I told him, – ”
“Yes, Patty, what did you tell him?”
Patty turned her pretty head, and smiled full in Farnsworth’s face. Her blue eyes were sparkling, her golden curls were tossed by the wind, her red lips wore a roguish expression, as she said, “I just told him I didn’t want him.”
“Patty! Did you really?”
“I sure did, Little Billee, but it wasn’t quite true.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you see, really, I did want him, – a little oh, only a very little, – but I knew you didn’t and so I told him I didn’t.”
“Patty! what a torment you are!”
Patty’s eyes opened wide. “Well, I like that! A torment! Because I headed him off for the simple reason that you don’t want him! If that torments you, I’ll telephone him tonight to come on!”
“There, there, Blue Eyes, take it easy. I don’t want him, and you don’t want him, and we won’t have him! Now, let it go at that.”
Big Bill smiled down happily at the flower-face that at first looked up at him a little angrily, and then smiled back.
“And now, Peaches, the Van Reypen incident is closed. Next, will you kindly tell me why you went in so strong for the Kent lady’s concert?”
“Two reasons, Billee,” said Patty, calmly. “First, and I hope most, because I was sorry for her, and wanted to help her out in her trouble. And second, – ”
“Well?”
“Oh, because I’m a silly, vain thing, and I wanted to sing in public, and have people think I was Madame Thingamajig, and I like to have my voice praised, – and I’m just a little idiot!”
“You certainly are.”
“Why, Wil-yum Farns-worth! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”
“Not half so ashamed as you ought to be.”
“It isn’t a crime to be vain of your accomplishments, and I owned up I was silly. Do you hate silly people?”
“Sometimes, not always. But look here, Patty, seriously, you don’t want to be intimate with Maude Kent. She may be a nice girl, all right, but she has been an actress, and that is not the sort of people for you to associate with.”
“I guess you don’t know her very well, Bill; she is a noble self-sacrificing spirit, and she devotes her life to earning a living for herself and her mother and sister. I never knew a more devoted daughter and sister, than she is, and I adore her.”
Farnsworth sighed. “I feared you’d fly off like that, Patty. You’re so susceptible and impressionistic. But you must know that she is not the sort of girl you’ve been accustomed to know.”
“So much the worse for the sort of girl I know, then. Idle, unoccupied creatures, thinking of nothing but the fleeting pleasures of the hour! Maude Kent is worth a dozen of them, when it comes to nobility of purpose and energy of attainment. What do you know about her, Bill, that isn’t admirable?”
“Only that, Patty. That she has been on the vaudeville stage. I met her personally only two or three times, and I took little interest in her. But I hate to see you grow fond of her. Are you going to see her today?”
“I am. But you need not see her. You can wait for me in the hotel parlour. I’m sorry I brought you.”
“No, you’re not, you’re glad. And I’ll not wait in any parlour. I’m going with you all the way.”
As a matter of fact, Patty felt relieved, for she had no idea of what Maude wanted, and she feared it might be to sing again. This she had no intention of doing. Once was quite enough.
When they reached the hotel, they sent up their names, and Miss Kent came down. She received them in a small reception room, where they could be alone.
“You remember Mr. Farnsworth?” said Patty, after she had greeted Maude.
“Yes, indeed, very well. I’m so glad to see you again.”
Surely no one could criticise the gentle manner and soft voice, and Bill Farnsworth looked at her more kindly than he had intended to.
“And now, what’s it all about?” asked Patty, when they were seated. “For, Maude, I must not stay but a few minutes. It’s the night of the announcement party, and I’ve a lot to do for the affair.”
“Very well, I’ll tell you in a few words. Mr. Stengel, the manager, heard you sing here last night, and he wants an interview with you, with an idea of your going on the stage in light opera.”
“What!” and Patty looked amazed, while Farnsworth bit his lips to restrain what he wanted to say.
“Yes; he says you have a delightful voice, but more than that, you have charm and a decided ability to make good in the parts for which he should cast you.”
“Why, Maude, you must be crazy, to think for a minute that I’d consider such a proposition! I wouldn’t dream of it, and I couldn’t do it, anyway.”
“Yes, you could. And I knew you’d feel this way, at first, but after you think it over – ”
“Miss Kent,” and Farnsworth’s tones were cold and incisive, “I know Miss Fairfield and her people quite well enough to speak with authority in this matter, and I assure you it is worse than useless for you to suggest such a thing.”
“I knew it would strike you so at first, Mr. Farnsworth, and perhaps Patty’s parents also. But I feel sure that if it were properly put before them – ”
“Miss Kent,” and Farnsworth rose, “there is no way of properly putting it before them. They would not even listen. And now I must ask you to excuse us. Come, Patty.”
“But, Bill, – ”
“Come Patty, at once.”
“Must you obey him?” asked Miss Kent.
“She must,” said Farnsworth, sternly. “Come, Patty.”
“I must,” said Patty, and with a strange look in her eyes, she rose. “I’ll see you again about this, Maude,” she said.
“She’ll never see you again, about this, or anything else,” Farnsworth declared, and his face was set and his voice hard. “Good day, Miss Kent.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Farnsworth. Au revoir, Patty.”
The two started home in silence. Patty’s mind was full of conflicting emotions. The idea of going on the stage was so ridiculously unthinkable as to be of no importance, but the fact that she had been asked to do so filled her with a strange pride and satisfaction.
It was after a long time that Farnsworth said, gently, “Patty, you’re so many kinds of a fool.”
“Yes, sir,” and Patty sighed, partly from relief that he wasn’t going to scold and partly because she agreed with him.
“Now you see why I didn’t want you to have anything to do with that Kent woman.”
“Well, I don’t see as she has done me any harm.”
“You don’t? Why, she has put that fool idea into your head. And you’ll let it simmer and stew there until you begin to think that maybe it would be nice to go on the stage.”
“Oh, Billee, I wouldn’t do any such a thing!”
“No, not now, but after you mull over it, and especially if she ever gets hold of you again, which pray heaven, she never will.”
“Goodness me! Little Billee, how would I look on the stage? Why, I’d be lost among all the big girls they have nowadays.”
“You’d look all right, that’s the worst of it. Now, see here, Patty, make me a solemn promise, will you? Not that you won’t go on the stage, but that if you ever think of doing so, you’ll tell me first. Will you promise me that?”
And Patty promised.
