CHAPTER XIII.
THE OTHER NIECE.
Patricia sat down opposite her Aunt Jane. She still wore her hat andthe gray wrap.
"Well, here I am," she exclaimed, with a laugh; "but whether I oughtto be here or not I have my doubts."
Aunt Jane surveyed her critically.
"You're a queer little thing," she said, bluntly. "I wonder why I tookso much trouble to get you."
"So do I," returned Patsy, her eyes twinkling. "You'll probably besorry for it."
Lawyer Watson, who had remained standing, now broke in nervously.
"I explained to Miss Doyle," said he, "that you were ill, and wantedto see her. And she kindly consented to come to Elmhurst for a fewdays."
"You see," said Patsy, "I'd just got Daddy away on his vacation, tovisit his old colonel. I've wanted him to go this three years back,but he couldn't afford it until I got a raise this Spring. He'll havea glorious old time with the colonel, and they'll fish and hunt anddrink whiskey all day, and fight the war all over again every evening.So I was quite by myself when Mr. Watson came to me and wouldn't takeno for his answer."
"Why did you object to come here?" asked Aunt Jane.
"Well, I didn't know you; and I didn't especially want to know you.Not that I bear grudges, understand, although you've been little of afriend to my folks these past years. But you are rich and proud--and Isuspect you're a little cross, Aunt Jane--while we are poor and proudand like to live our lives in our own way."
"Are you a working girl?" enquired Miss Merrick.
"Surely," said Patsy, "and drawing a big lump of salary every Saturdaynight. I'm a hair-dresser, you know--and by the way, Aunt Jane, itpuzzles me to find a certain kink in your hair that I thought I'dinvented myself."
"Louise dressed my hair this way," said Miss Merrick, a bit stiffly.
"Your maid?"
"My niece, Louise Merrick."
Patsy whistled, and then clapped her hand over her mouth and lookedgrave.
"Is she here?" she asked, a moment later.
"Yes, and your other cousin, Elizabeth De Graf, is here also."
"That's just the trouble," cried Patsy, energetically. "That's why Ididn't want to come, you know."
"I don't understand you, Patricia."
"Why, it's as plain as the nose on your face, even if I hadn't pumpedMr. Watson until I got the truth out of him. You want us girls herejust to compare us with each other, and pick out the one you likebest."
"Well?"
"The others you'll throw over, and the favorite will get your money."
"Haven't I a right to do that?" asked the invalid, in an amazed tone.
"Perhaps you have. But we may as well understand each other rightnow, Aunt Jane. I won't touch a penny of your money, under anycircumstances."
"I don't think you will, Patricia."
The girl laughed, with a joyous, infectious merriment that was hard toresist.
"Stick to that, aunt, and there's no reason we shouldn't be friends,"she said, pleasantly. "I don't mind coming to see you, for it willgive me a bit of a rest and the country is beautiful just now. Morethan that, I believe I shall like you. You've had your own way a longtime, and you've grown crochetty and harsh and disagreeable; but thereare good lines around your mouth and eyes, and your nature's liable tosoften and get sunny again. I'm sure I hope so. So, if you'd like meto stay a few days, I'll take off my things and make myself at home.But I'm out of the race for your money, and I'll pay my way from nowon just as I have always done."
Silas Watson watched Aunt Jane's face during this speech with ananxious and half-frightened expression upon his own. No one buthimself had ever dared to talk to Jane Merrick as plainly as thisbefore, and he wondered how she would accept such frankness from ayoung girl.
But Patricia's manner was not at all offensive. Her big eyes wereas frank as her words, but they glistened with kindliness and goodnature, and it was evident the girl had no doubt at all of her aunt'sreply, for she straightway begun to take off her hat.
The invalid had kept her eyes sternly fastened upon her young nieceever since the beginning of the interview. Now she reached out a handand touched her bell.
"Misery," she said to the old housekeeper, "show my niece, MissPatricia, to the rose chamber. And see that she is made comfortable."
"Thank you," said Patsy, jumping up to go.
"Make yourself perfectly free of the place," continued Aunt Jane, inan even tone, turning to Patricia, "and have as good a time as youcan. I'm afraid it's rather stupid here for girls, but that can't behelped. Stay as long as you please, and go home whenever you like; butwhile you are here, if you ever feel like chatting with a harshand disagreeable old woman, come to me at any time and you will bewelcome."
Patsy, standing before her, looked down into her worn face with apitying expression.
"Ah! I've been cruel to you," she exclaimed, impulsively, "and Ididn't mean to hurt you at all, Aunt Jane. You must forgive me. It'sjust my blunt Irish way, you see; but if I hadn't been drawn to youfrom the first I wouldn't have said a word--good or bad!"
"Go now," replied Aunt Jane, turning in her chair rather wearily. "Butcome to me again whenever you like."
Patsy nodded, and followed the housekeeper to the rose chamber--theprettiest room old Elmhurst possessed, with broad windows openingdirectly upon the finest part of the garden.
Lawyer Watson sat opposite his old friend for some moments inthoughtful silence. "The child is impossible." he said, at last.
"You think so?" she enquired, moodily.
"Absolutely. Either of the others would make a better Lady ofElmhurst. Yet I like the little thing, I confess. She quite won my oldheart after I had known her for five minutes. But money would ruinher. She's a child of the people, and ought not to be raised from herproper level. Jane, Jane--you're making a grave mistake in all this.Why don't you do the only right thing in your power, and leaveElmhurst to Kenneth?"
"You bore me, Silas," she answered, coldly. "The boy is the mostimpossible of all."
It was the old protest and the old reply. He had hardly expectedanything different.
After a period of thought he asked;
"What is this I hear about John Merrick having returned from theWest?"
"He came yesterday. It was a great surprise to me."
"I never knew this brother, I believe."
"No; he had gone away before I became acquainted with either you orTom."
"What sort of a man is he?"
"Honest and simple, hard-headed and experienced."
"Is he independent?"
"I believe so; he has never mentioned his affairs to me. But he hasworked hard all his life, he says, and now means to end his dayspeacefully. John is not especially refined in his manner, nor did hehave much of an education; but he seems to be a good deal of a man,for all that. I am very glad he appeared at Elmhurst just at thistime."
"You had believed him dead?"
"Yes. He had passed out of my life completely, and I never knew whatbecame of him."
"He must be an eccentric person," said Mr. Watson, with a smile.
"He is." she acknowledged. "But blood is thicker than water, Silas,and I'm glad brother John is here at last."
A little later the lawyer left her and picked his way through thegardens until he came to Kenneth's wing and the stair that led tohis room. Here he paused a moment, finding himself surrounded by aprofound stillness, broken only by the chirping of the birds in theshrubbery. Perhaps Kenneth was not in. He half decided to retracehis steps, but finally mounted the stair softly and stood within thedoorway of the room.
The boy and a little stout man were playing chess at a table, and bothwere in a deep study of the game. The boy's back was toward him, butthe man observed the newcomer and gave a nod. Then he dropped his eyesagain to the table.
Kenneth was frowning sullenly.
"You're bound to lose the pawn, whichever way you play," said thelittle man quietly.
The
boy gave an angry cry, and thrust the table from him, sending thechess-men clattering into a corner. Instantly the little man leanedover and grasped the boy by the collar, and with a sudden jerk landedhim across his own fat knees. Then, while the prisoner screamed andstruggled, the man brought his hand down with a slap that echoedthroughout the room, and continued the operation until Master Kennethhad received a sound spanking.
Then he let the boy slip to the floor, from whence he arose slowly andbacked toward the door, scowling and muttering angrily.
"You broke the bargain, and I kept my word," said Uncle John, calmlytaking his pipe from his pocket and filling it. "The compact was thatif you raised a rough-house, like you did yesterday, and got unruly,that I'd give you a good thrashing. Now, wasn't it?"
"Yes," acknowledged the boy.
"Well, that blamed temper o' your'n got away with you again, andyou're well spanked for not heading it off. Pick up the board. Ken, mylad, and let's try it again."
The boy hesitated. Then he looked around and saw Lawyer Watson, whohad stood motionless by the doorway, and with a cry that was half asob Kenneth threw himself into his old friend's arms and burst into aflood of tears.
Uncle John struck a match, and lighted his pipe.
"A bargain's a bargain," he observed, composedly.
"He whipped me!" sobbed the boy. "He whipped me like a child."
"Your own fault," said Uncle John. "You wanted me to play a game withyou, and I agreed, providin' you behaved yourself. And you didn't.Now, look here. Do you blame me any?"
"No," said the boy.
"No harm's done, is there?"
"No."
"Then stop blubberin', and introduce me to your friend," continuedUncle John. "Name's Watson, ain't it."
"Silas Watson, sir, at your service," said the lawyer, smiling. "Andthis must be John Merrick, who I understand has arrived at Elmhurstduring my absence."
"Exactly," said Uncle John, and the two men shook hands cordially.
"Glad to welcome you to Elmhurst, sir," continued the lawyer. "I'veknown it ever since I was a boy, when it belonged to my dear friendThomas Bradley. And I hope you'll love it as much as I do, when youknow it better."
"Bradley must have been a fool to give this place to Jane," said UncleJohn, reflectively.
"He was in love, sir," observed the other, and they both smiled. Thenthe lawyer turned to Kenneth. "How are things going?" he asked. "Havethe girls bothered you much, as yet?"
"No," said the boy. "I keep out of their way."
"That's a good idea. By the bye, sir," turning to John Merrick. "I'vejust brought you a new niece."
"Patricia?"
"She prefers to be called Patsy. A queer little thing; half Irish, youknow."
"And half Merrick. That's an odd combination, but the Irish may beable to stand it," said Uncle John. "These nieces are more than Ibargained for. I came to see one relative, and find three more--andall women!"
"I think you'll like Patsy, anyhow. And so will you, Kenneth."
The boy gave an indignant roar.
"I hate all girls!" he said.
"You won't hate this one. She's as wild and impulsive as you are, butbetter natured. She'll make a good comrade, although she may box yourears once in a while."
The boy turned away sulkily, and began picking up the scatteredchess-men. The two men walked down the stair and strolled togetherthrough the garden.
"A strange boy," said Uncle John, presently.
"I'm glad to see you've made friends with him," replied the lawyer,earnestly. "Until now he has had no one to befriend him but me, and attimes he's so unmanageable that it worries me dreadfully."
"There's considerable character about the lad," said John Merrick;"but he's been spoiled and allowed to grow up wild, like a weed. He'sgot it in him to make a criminal or a gentleman, whichever way hisnature happens to develop."
"He ought to go to a military school," replied Lawyer Watson. "Propertraining would make a man of Kenneth; but I can't induce Jane to spendthe money on him. She gives him food and clothing and lodging--allof the simplest description--but there her generosity ends. Withthousands of dollars lying idle, she won't assist the only nephew ofTom Bradley to secure a proper education."
"Jane's queer, too," said that lady's brother, with a sigh. "In fact,Mr. Watson, it's a queer world, and the longer I live in it thequeerer I find it. Once I thought it would be a good idea to regulatethings myself and run the world as it ought to be run; but I gave itup long ago. The world's a stage, they say; but the show ain't alwaysamusing, by a long chalk, and sometimes I wish I didn't have areserved seat."