CHAPTER XIII
A NEW FRIEND
"Patty," said her father, a week or two later, "Mr. Hepworth has invitedus to a tea in his studio in New York tomorrow afternoon, and if you careto go, I'll take you."
"Yes, I'd love to go; I've always wanted to go to a studio tea. It's verykind of Mr. Hepworth to ask us after the way he was treated here."
Mr. Fairfield laughed, but Patty looked decidedly sober. She still feltvery much crestfallen to think that the first guest her father broughthome should be obliged to dine at the hotel, or at a neighbour's. AuntAlice had invited them to dinner on that memorable Sunday, and though shesaid she had expected to ask the Fairfields anyway, still Patty feltthat, as a housekeeper, she had been weighed in the balances and foundsadly wanting.
According to arrangement, she met her father in New York the day of thetea, and together they went to Mr. Hepworth's studio.
It gave Patty a very grown-up feeling to find herself amongst suchstrange and unaccustomed surroundings.
The studio was a large room, on the top floor of a high building. It wasfinished in dark wood and decorated with many unframed pictures and dustycasts. Bits of drapery were flung here and there, quaint old-fashionedchairs and couches were all about, and at one side of the room was araised platform. A group of ladies and gentlemen sat in one corner,another group surrounded a punch bowl, and many wise and learned-lookingpeople were discussing the pictures and drawings.
Patty was enchanted. She had never been in a scene like this before, andthe whole atmosphere appealed to her very strongly.
The guests, though kind and polite to her, treated her as a child, andPatty was glad of this, for she felt sure she never could talk orunderstand the artistic jargon in which they were conversing. But sheenjoyed the pictures in her own way, and was standing in delightedadmiration before a large marine, which was nothing but the varyingblues of the sea and sky, when she heard a pleasant, frank young voicebeside her say:
"You seem to like that picture."
"Oh, I do!" she exclaimed, and turning, saw a pleasant-faced boy of aboutnineteen smiling at her.
"It is so real," she said. "I never saw a realer scene, not even down atSandy Hook; why, you can fairly feel the dampness from it."
"Yes, I know just what you mean," said the boy; "it's a jolly picture,isn't it? They say it's one of Hepworth's best."
"I don't know anything about pictures," said Patty frankly, "and so Idon't like to express definite opinions."
"It's always wiser not to," said the boy, still smiling.
"That's true," said Patty, "I only did express an opinion once thisafternoon, and then that lady over there, in a greenish-blue gown, lookedat me through her lorgnette and said:
"Oh, I thought you were temperamental, but you're only animaginative realist."
"Now, what could she have meant by that?" said the boy, laughing. "Butyou're very imprudent. How do you know that lady isn't my--my sister, orcousin, or something?"
"Well, even if she is," said Patty, "I haven't said anythingunkind, have I?"
"No more you haven't; but as I don't see anyone just now at leisure tointroduce us, suppose we introduce ourselves? They say the roof is anintroduction, but I notice it never pronounces names very distinctly.Mine is Kenneth Harper."
"And mine is Patricia Fairfield, but I'm usually called Patty."
"I should think you would be, it suits you to a dot. Of course the boyscall me Ken. I'm a Columbia student."
"Oh, are you?" said Patty. "I've never known a college boy, and I'vealways wanted to meet one."
"Well, you see in me a noble specimen of my kind," said young Harper,straightening up his broad shoulders and looking distinctly athletic.
"You must be," said Patty; "you look just like all the pictures ofcollege boys I've ever seen."
"And I flattered myself that my beauty was something especial andindividual."
"You ought to be thankful that you're beautiful," said Patty, "and not beso particular about what kind of beauty it is."
"But some kinds of beauty are not worth having," went on young Harper;"look at that man over there with a lean pale face and long lank hair.That's beauty, but I must say I prefer a strong, brave, manly type, likethis good-looking chap just coming toward us."
"Oh, you do?" said Patty. "Well, as that good-looking chap happens to bemy father, I'll take pleasure in introducing you."
"I am glad to see you, sir," said Kenneth Harper, as Patty presented himto her father, "and I may as well own up that I was just making remarkson your personal appearance, which accounts for my blushingembarrassment."
"I won't inquire what they were," said Mr. Fairfield, "lest I, too,should become embarrassed. But, Patty, my girl, if we're going back toVernondale on the six-o'clock train, it's time we were starting."
"Oh, do you live in Vernondale?" inquired Kenneth. "I have anaunt there. I wonder if you know her. Her name is Daggett--MissRachel Daggett."
"Indeed I do know her," said Patty. "She is my next-door neighbour."
"Is she really? How jolly! And don't you think she's an old dear? I'mawfully fond of her. I run out to see her every chance I can get, thoughI haven't been much this winter, I've been digging so hard."
"She _is_ a dear," said Patty. "I've only seen her once, but I know Ishall like her as a neighbour."
"Yes, I'm sure you will, but let me give you a bit of confidentialadvice. Don't take the initiative, let her do that; and the game will befar more successful than if _you_ make the overtures."
Patty smiled. "Miss Daggett told me that herself," she said; "in fact,she was quite emphatic on the subject."
"I can well believe it," said Kenneth, "but I'm sure you'll win herheart yet."
"I'm sure she will too," said Mr. Fairfield, with an approving glance athis pretty daughter; "and whenever you are in Vernondale, Mr. Harper, Ihope you will come to see us."
"I shall be very glad to," answered the young man, "and I hope to run outthere soon."
"Come out when we have our play," said Patty; "it's going to bebeautiful."
"What play is that?"
"We don't know yet, we haven't decided on it."
"I know an awfully good play. One of the fellows up at college wrote it,and so it isn't hackneyed yet."
"Oh, tell me about it," said Patty. "Papa, can't we take the next latertrain home?"
"Yes, chick, I don't mind if you don't; or, better still, if Mr. Harpercan go with us, I'll take both of you children out to dinner in somegreat, glittering, noisy hotel."
"Oh, gorgeous!" cried Patty. "Can you go, Mr. Harper?"
"Indeed I can, and I shall be only too glad. College boys are notovercrowded with invitations, and I am glad to say I have no other forto-night."
"You'll have to telephone to Emancipation Proclamation, papa,"said Patty, "or she'll get out all the bell-ringers, and drag theriver for us."
"So she will," said Mr. Fairfield. "I'll set her mind at rest thefirst thing."
"That's our cook," explained Patty.
"It's a lovely name," observed Kenneth, "but just a bit lengthy forevery-day use."
"Oh, it's only for Sundays and holidays," said Patty; "other days wecontract it to Mancy."
Seated at table in a bright and beautiful restaurant, Patty and her newfriend began to chatter like magpies while Mr. Fairfield ordered dinner.
"Now tell me all about your friend's play," said Patty, "for I feel sureit's going to be just what we want"
"Well, the scene," said Kenneth, "is on Mount Olympus, and the charactersare all the gods and goddesses, you know, but they're brought up to date.In fact, that's the name of the play, 'Mount Olympus Up to Date.' Aurora,you know, has an automobile instead of her old-fashioned car."
"But you don't have the automobile on the stage?"
"Oh, no! Aurora just comes in in her automobile rig and talks about her'bubble.' Mercury has a bicycle; he's a trick rider, and does all sortsof stunts. And Venus is a summer girl, dressed up in a
stunning gown anda Paris hat. And Hercules has a punching-bag--to make himself stronger,you know. And Niobe has quantities of handkerchiefs, dozens and dozens ofthem; she's an awfully funny character."
"Oh, I think it would be lovely!" said Patty. "Where can we getthe book?"
"I'll send you one to-morrow, and you can see if you like it; and then ifyou do, you can get more."
"Oh, I'm sure the girls will all like it; and will you come out to seeit?"
"Yes, I'd be glad to. I was in it last winter. I was Mercury."
"Oh, can you do trick work on bicycles?"
"Yes, a little," said Kenneth modestly.
"I wish you'd come out and be Mercury in our play."
"Aren't you going ahead rather fast, Patty, child?" said her father."Your club hasn't decided to use this play yet."
"I know it, papa, and of course I mean if we _do_ use it; but anyway, I'mpresident of the club, and somehow, if I want a thing, the rest of thegirls generally seem to want it too."
"That's a fine condition of affairs that any president might be glad tobring about. You ought to be a college president."
"Perhaps I shall be some day," said Patty.
The dinner hour flew by all too quickly. Patty greatly enjoyed thesights and sounds of the brilliant, crowded room. She loved the lightsand the music, the flowers and the palms, and the throngs of gailydressed people.
Kenneth Harper enjoyed it too, and thought he had rarely met suchattractive people as the Fairfields.
When he took his leave he thanked Mr. Fairfield courteously for hispleasant evening, and promised soon to call upon them at Boxley Hall.
They reached home by a late train, and Patty went up to her prettybedroom, with her usual happy conviction that she was a very fortunatelittle girl and had the best father in the world.