CHAPTER II BUMBLE ARRIVES
“Hello! Patty Popinjay! Where are you?”
As a matter of fact, Patty was curled up in a big armchair near thelibrary fire, waiting for that very voice.
“Here I am!” she cried in return and jumped up to be grabbed in the armsof a handsome, jolly-looking girl who came flying into the room. “Oh,Bumble, I’m so glad to see you!”
The newcomer laughed.
“Bumble!” she exclaimed; “I haven’t heard that name for years. Let melook at you, Patty. My! you’re prettier than ever! Well, I just _had_ tocome. I couldn’t resist, when I heard of your engagement. Where’s theman? Show him to me at once!”
“Oh, he isn’t here, for the moment. But you’ll see him soon. I’m onlyafraid you’ll cut me out. Why, Bumble,—Helen, I mean, you’re utterlychanged from the little girl I remember.”
“Of course I am—in appearance,—but no other way.”
“Are you still the happy-go-lucky, hit-or-miss little rascal you used tobe?”
“Of course I am. Oh, Patty, doesn’t it seem long ago that you spent thatsummer with us? And to think I’ve scarcely seen you since! Not sinceNan’s wedding, anyway.”
“No; and you only in Philadelphia! It’s ridiculous. But, I’ve tried toget you over here time and again.”
“I know it. But I went out West to Stanford, and I was there so long, Ialmost lost track of all my Eastern people. Your Best Beloved isWestern, isn’t he? Oh, Patty, tell me all,—everything about him.”
“All in good time, Helen, honey. For now, I’ll just say that he’s thedearest and best man in the whole world, and that you’ll agree to thatwhen you see him. Now, come up to your room, and fix yourself up. Youlook as if you’d been through a whirlwind!”
“I always look like that,” and Helen Barlow laughed.
She was Patty’s cousin, and had come to New York for a visit. She hadoften been invited and several times had planned to come, but somethinghad prevented her, and as the Barlow family were of a most undependablesort in the matter of keeping engagements or appointments, it surprisednobody that Helen had not carried out her plans. Indeed the surprise wasthat she was really here at last, and Patty stared at her hard toreassure herself that her guest had positively appeared.
Helen Barlow was a pretty girl, about Patty’s own age. Her soft brownhair was curled round her ears, in the prevailing mode, but it showedvarious wisps out of place, and needed certain pats and adjustmentsbefore a mirror. Her hat, a brown velvet toque, was a little askew,—evenmore so than she meant it to be,—and the long fur stole, over her arm,dragged on the floor.
Without being positively unkempt, Helen was untidy, and Patty wellremembered that as a child she had been far more so.
The two girls went up to the room prepared for Helen, and soon her outergarments went flying. The hat was tossed on the bed, upside down; thestole slipped to the floor as the long cloth coat was wrenched open andone button pulled off by an impatient twitch.
“Never mind,” Helen said, “that old button was loose, anyway. Oh, Patty,how trim and tidy _you_ look!”
It was second nature to Patty to be well groomed, and she would havebeen sadly uncomfortable with a button missing or a ribbon awry, unlessintentionally so. For Patty was no prim young person, but she was by nomeans untidy.
She laughed at her cousin’s impetuous ways, and picked up the scatteredgarments, as fast as Helen flung them down.
“Don’t you have a maid, Patty? I supposed of course you did.”
“Oh, we have Jane. She maids Nan and me both, when we want her. But shedoes a lot of other things, too. We don’t have as many servants as weused to. Patriotism has struck this house, you know, and we’ve cut outmore or less of the luxuries.”
“Good for you! I’m patriotic, too. Do you knit?”
“Of course; who doesn’t? Now, Bumble,—oh, yes, I’m going to call you bythe old name if I want to,—do try to make yourself look tidy! Take downyour hair and do it over. Your hair is lovely,—if you’d take a littlemore pains with it.”
“To be sure! Anything to please!” and Helen shook down her short curlymop. “Let me see his picture,” she demanded as she brushed vigorouslyaway. “Quick! quick! I can’t wait a minute!”
Patty ran out of the room, laughing, and returned with a photograph ofFarnsworth.
“Stunning!” cried Helen, “he’s simply great! Wherever did you catch him?Are there any more at home like him? ’Deed I _will_ steal him away fromyou, if I possibly can. Oh, Patty, do you remember Chester Wilde? Well,he wants me to marry him, but I can’t see it! That’s one reason I ranaway from home, to escape his persistence.”
“I do believe you’re a belle, Bumble! You’re fascinating, I see. Mercygoodness, you’ll cut poor little me out with everybody!”
“As if you cared! Now that you’re wooed and won!”
“Of course I don’t care. You can have all the others,—and there areplenty,—only, so many of them are going or gone to war.”
“I know, all my best ones have, too. But you couldn’t like a man whodoesn’t _want_ to fight!”
“I should say _nixy_!”
“What’s your Bill do? Is he in camp?”
“Oh, no. You know, he’s an expert mining engineer, and he’s used,—Imean, his services are used by the government. I can’t tell you allabout it, because I don’t know all myself; and what I do know, I’m notallowed to tell, in detail. So don’t ask, Helen; just know my littleBillee is doing his full duty,—and then some!”
“Little! _Is_ he little? He doesn’t look so, from this picture.”
The photograph showed only the head and shoulders of Farnsworth, but ithinted a large man. However, Patty said, just for fun:
“You can’t tell from that. But I don’t mind how little he is,—he’s allthe world to me!”
She looked a trifle embarrassed, so, thinking Farnsworth must bedecidedly undersized, Helen dropped the subject.
Her trunk had arrived, and Jane appeared, to assist in unpacking.
“Get out a pretty frock,” Patty directed her guest, “and I’ll help youget into it, and then we’ll go down and see Nan, she’ll soon be home.”
“Where is she?”
“Chasing some committee, as usual. We’ve both lost our individualitynow, and we’re merged in committees. I’m a member of quite a number, butNan belongs to more than I do. Here, Helen, put on this bluet,Georgette, satinet thing.”
“Rather dressy?”
“Not too much so. It’s nearly tea time, and people often drop in and Iwant you to make a good impression. And for gracious’ sake, do your hairmore carefully than that! Here, let me do it,—or Jane.”
“All right,” and Helen dropped into a chair before the toilette table,while the deft and willing Jane quickly twisted up the brown locks.
“Now you’ll do,” said Patty, after a final critical examination. “Oh,wait, this sash end is loose.”
“I know, the snapper’s off. Never mind.”
“But I do mind! Helen Barlow, you’re as bumbly as ever! We used to callyou that because you were as heedless and careless as a bumblebee——”
“There was another reason,” Helen laughed.
“Yes, because you were so fat! You’ve pretty nearly gotten over that.”
“Thank you, lady, for dem kind woids! A little guarded, aren’t you? Knowthen, that my sole end, aim and ambition is to get thin, reallythin,—slim, slender, willowy,—merely a slip of a girl——”
“You haven’t quite achieved all that!” and Patty laughed. “But if you’retrying to, I’ll help you. No sweets, you know.”
“Gracious, Patty, I haven’t tasted candy for two years! And as a sugarconserver, I’m right there! Not a lump of it comes _my_ way!”
“Good for you! Then, with exercise, and not too much sleep, we’ll soonget you into condition!”
The girls went down stairs, and found Nan alre
ady there.
“My dear old Bumble!” she cried; “no, no Helen for me! I knew you toolong by the old name to change.”
“But, Nan, I don’t like it! Please don’t. Such a horrid name!”
“All right, then. I’ll try to say Helen, but if the other slips outsometimes, you must forgive me. Now, how’s everybody? Bob all right?”
“Fine! In camp, of course, but he gets home occasionally, or we go tosee him. Dad and Mother sent all sorts of messages and greetings,—andhoped I won’t make you too much trouble—as if I _could_!”
“Indeed you can’t!” cried Nan, warmly. “We’re just awfully glad to seeyou, and you must stay just as long as you possibly can. Has Patty beentelling you of her latest escapade?”
“She wrote me of it,—that’s mostly why I came. I thought the sight ofthe flirtatious, coquettish, altogether frivolous and fickle PattyFairfield tied down to one man, would be worth seeing!”
“Huh!” remarked Patty, “when you see the man, you’ll not wonder! Anybodywould be glad to be tied to him.”
“I’m going to cut Patty out, you know, Nan,” Helen declared, “but it’smore likely she’ll throw him over and fly to some newer flame,——”
“Oh, _very_ likely,” Patty mocked, her eyes dancing, “oh, ve-_ry_like-_ly_! When I throw him over, Bumble, you have my full permission topick him up. But until then,—hands off my property!”
The tea things appeared then, and Patty did the honours, remarking,“Yes, we do have tea, ’most every day, and we have sugar in it,—but weskimp it some and we don’t have really rich cakes.”
“I’m glad to get it,” and Helen accepted her cup. “I forgot to get anyluncheon, and I’ll just make up for it now.”
Whereupon she proceeded to devour cakes and biscuits, until Pattysilently despaired of ever helping her in a quest for slimness!
But Patty looked at her cousin affectionately. Helen was so jolly andgay-looking, so wholesome and smiling, and so sincerely glad to be withthem, that she made herself thoroughly welcome. Her dark eyes werebeaming with good nature, her round, plump face was alight with goodwill and her laughter bubbled forth like a child’s.
She put her little fat hand up to her lips. “Honest, I’m trying not togiggle so much,” she said, “but I just can’t help it! When I’m happy, Ihave to chuckle, and that’s all about it.”
“Giggle all you like, my dear,” said Nan, “I’m glad to hear it. There’sso much sadness in the world, that a truly merry laugh like yours isinfectious and does us all good. Now, make yourself at home, Helen, anddon’t mind it if I seem to neglect you. I’m not really going to do that,but I do have an awful lot to see to,——”
“Oh, I know, Nan. And Patty has, too. But I’ll be a help, not anuisance,—you see if I’m not. Why, Patty Fairfield! you said he waslittle!”
The original of the photograph she had seen, strode into the room andwhen Helen saw big Bill Farnsworth, she knew Patty had chaffed her.
Farnsworth went to Patty and grasped both her hands in his.
“All right?” he said, looking deep into her blue eyes.
“All right,” Patty returned, with an answering gaze, and so true was thesympathy between them, that a sort of telepathic message was exchangedand further words were unnecessary.
Then Farnsworth turned to greet Nan, and to be presented to Miss HelenBarlow.
“She told me you were little!” Helen exclaimed, looking at thebroad-shouldered giant who faced her.
“Not quite that, I think,” Bill smiled at her, “Patty probably called meLittle Billee, which is her pet name for her lord and master!”
“Future lord and master!” corrected Patty, “not yet, not yet, my child!”
“‘Serene I fold my hands, and wait,’” Farnsworth quoted, withundisturbed equanimity. “I’m very glad you’ve come, Miss Barlow. Perhapsyou can entertain Patty and keep her from getting _too_ impatient at thetime that must elapse before I can take her for keeps.”
“Vanity Box!” exclaimed Patty. “Me impatient, indeed! Just for that,Little Billee, I’ll put the date six months later.”
“Later than what? I didn’t know you’d decided on the date for the festaloccasion. You told me last night you hadn’t.”
“I’m living up to the reputation for fickleness Helen has just wished onme,” Patty laughed. “But I’ll give you some tea, Billee mine, if you’dlike it. Oh, what a lot of people! You make the tea, Nan!”
Patty left the table to welcome her new guests. Elise Farrington andDaisy Dow were followed by Chick Channing and Philip Van Reypen.
After introductions and greetings all round, Helen looked about her withan air of great satisfaction.
“This is as I thought it would be,” she said, contentedly; “I do loveafternoon tea, and we never have it at home. And I love people droppingin to it.”
“Into the tea?” asked Channing.
“Yes, in to the tea, of course. And such lovely people! I want to knowyou all at once, but I suppose I’d make better headway by taking you oneat a time.”
“Take me first,” begged Chick, who was much attracted by the sprightlynewcomer.
“No, me,” laughed Philip. “You can get acquainted with me in twominutes,—I’m the easiest of us all.”
“Then I’ll leave you till the last,” smiled Helen. “After all, I believeI’ll talk to the girls first. I want them to like me——”
“Oh, don’t you care about the boys liking you?” said Patty.
“They will, anyhow,” Helen retorted, and she sat down by Daisy andElise, ignoring all the others.
“Tea, please,” said Philip, sauntering over to Patty, who had returnedto the tea-table.
“One lump or two?” she asked, holding the sugar tongs.
“One and a smile,” he replied.
Gravely, Patty dropped one lump in his cup, equally gravely, she gavehim an idiotic smile, that was merely a momentary widening of her mouth.
“Very pretty,” commented Phil; “don’t see how you manage such a sweetsmile! The tea is ’most _too_ sweet, I think. Give me another bit oflemon.”
“Here you are,” said Patty, spearing the lemon with a little fork. “Now,Philip, listen to me. I want you to do all you can to make it pleasantfor Bumble,—I mean, Helen, while she’s here.”
“Of course I will. I’m always nice to your friends, you know that.”
“I do know it, but I want you to be _specially_ nice.”
“All right. Say, flowers tonight,—candy tomorrow,—opera invitation assoon as I can manage it,—a theatre party,——”
“There, there, now don’t overdo it! No; she doesn’t eat candy, but youmay send some flowers.”
“Some to you too.”
“No; not to me——”
“Then not to her.”
“Oh, Phil, you said you’d be nice!”
“Well, I will; to both of you. But not to Bumble—I mean, Helen, alone.”
“But you mustn’t send flowers to me, now that I’m engaged. Come here aminute, please, Little Billee.”
“Yours to command,” said Farnsworth, approaching.
“Tell Philip he can’t send me flowers.”
“Philip, you can’t send Patty flowers,” Farnsworth said, obediently.
There was a smile on his face, but in his voice there rang a note ofcommand that angered Van Reypen exceedingly.
“I can _send_ them,” he returned, defiantly, “she needn’t accept them.”
“Leave it that way, then,” Bill said, carelessly, as if the matter wereof no moment. “Patty, come out to the dining-room a minute, will you,dear?”
Jumping up, Patty left the room without a glance at Philip.
Farnsworth followed her, and they went into the dining-room.
They were alone there, and he took her gently in his arms.
“What is it, Patty?” he asked. “Van Reypen been kicking over thetraces?”
“Yes; he seems to think he—he likes me yet.”
/> “Of course he does. How can he help it? But, my darling, there’s to beno petty jealousy between us and him. I trust you, dear, too well, tothink for a minute that you’d listen to him if he says things that youdon’t want to hear. Now, never think it will bother me, for it won’t.You love me, don’t you, Patty?”
“Yes,” she returned, and the blue eyes that met his left no room fordoubt.
“Then, that’s all right. Don’t give him a thought. Darling, I’ve broughtyour ring.”
With a smile of pleasure, Farnsworth produced a lovely ring. It was setwith a single pearl, which he had told Patty suited her far better thana diamond.
“Do you like it?” he asked eagerly. “Oh, Patty Blossom, _do_ you?”
“I think it the most beautiful ring I ever saw!” she replied, her eyesglistening, as he slipped it on her finger.
“My pearl,” he whispered, close to her ear, “my Patty Pearl. This sealsour betrothal, and makes you mine forever.”
“Am I any more yours than I was before I had it?”
“No, you little goose! But this is the bond,—the sign manual——”
“Oh, Little Billee! _what_ a joke! But I accept my bond,—I glory in it!Oh, Billee, what a beauty pearl it is!”
“The purest and best I could find,—for my own Patty Blossom. Now, I’vebad news, darling.”
“Bad news soon told, Br’er Fox,” smiled Patty, quoting from herwell-beloved Uncle Remus. “What is it?”