CHAPTER XVIII
A SAILING PARTY
After Aunt Isabel had gone home, Patty devoted herself to theentertainment of her young cousins. And they seemed to require a greatdeal of entertainment--both Ethelyn and Reginald wanted something donefor their pleasure all the time. They did not hesitate to express veryfreely their opinions of the pleasures planned for them, and as they weresophisticated young persons, they frequently scorned the simple gaietiesin which Patty and her Vernondale companions found pleasure. However,they condescended to be pleased at the idea of a sailing party, for, asthere was no water near their own home, a yacht was a novelty to them. Atfirst Ethelyn thought to appear interesting by expressing timid doubts asto the safety of the picnic party, but she soon found that theVernondale young people had no foolish fears of that sort.
Fourth of July was a bright, clear day, warm, but very pleasant, with agood stiff breeze blowing. Patty was up early, and when Ethelyn camedownstairs, she found her cousin, with the aid of Mancy and Pansy,packing up what seemed to be luncheon enough for the whole party.
"Doesn't anybody else take anything?" she inquired.
"Oh, yes," said Patty, "they all do. I'm only taking cold chicken andstuffed eggs. You've no idea what an appetite sailing gives you."
Ethelyn looked very pretty in a yachting suit of white serge, whilePatty's sailor gown was of more prosaic blue flannel, trimmed withwhite braid.
"That's a sweet dress, Ethelyn," said Patty, "but I'm awfully afraidyou'll spoil it. You know we don't go in a beautiful yacht, all whitepaint and polished brass; we go in a big old schooner that's roomy andsafe but not overly clean."
"Oh, it doesn't matter," said Ethelyn; "I dare say I shall spoil it, butI've nothing else that's just right to wear."
"All aboard!" shouted a cheery voice, and Kenneth Harper's laughing faceappeared in the doorway.
"Oh, good-morning!" cried Patty, smiling gaily back at him; "I'm so gladto see you. This is my cousin, Miss St. Clair. Ethelyn, may I presentMr. Harper?"
Immediately Ethelyn assumed a coquettish and simpering demeanour.
"I've met Mr. Harper before," she said; "though I dare say he doesn'tremember me."
"Oh, yes, indeed I do," said Kenneth gallantly. "We met at a reception inthe city, and I am delighted to see you again, especially on such a jollyoccasion as I feel sure to-day is going to be."
"Do you think it is quite safe?" said Ethelyn, with what she considereda charming timidity. "I've never been sailing, you know, and I'm notvery brave."
"Oh, pshaw! of course it's safe, barring accidents; but you're alwaysliable to those, even in an automobile. Hello! here comes Hepworth. Gladto see you, old chap."
Mr. Hepworth received a general storm of glad greetings, was presented tothe strangers, and announced himself as ready to carry baskets, boxes,rugs, wraps, or whatever was to be transported.
Mr. Fairfield, as general manager, portioned out the luggage, and then,each picking up his individual charge, they started off. On the way theymet the Elliott family similarly equipped and equally enthusiastic, andthe whole crowd proceeded down to the wharf. There they found aboutthirty young people awaiting them. All the girls of the Tea Club werethere; and all the boys, who insisted on calling themselves honorarymembers of the club.
"It's a beautiful day," said Guy Morris, "but no good at all for sailing.The breeze has died down entirely, and I don't believe it will come upagain all day."
"That's real cheerful, isn't it?" said Frank Elliott. "I should beinclined to doubt it myself, but Guy is such a weatherwise genius, and healmost never makes a mistake in his prognostications."
"Well, it remains to be seen what the day will bring forth," said UncleCharley; "but in the meantime we'll get aboard."
The laughing crowd piled themselves on board the big schooner, stowedaway all the baskets and bundles, and settled themselves comfortably invarious parts of the boat; some sat in the stern, others climbed to thetop of the cabin, while others preferred the bow, and one or twoadventurous spirits clambered out to the end of the long bowsprit and satwith their feet dangling above the water. Ethelyn gave some affectedlittle cries of horror at this, but Frank Elliott reassured her bytelling her that it was always a part of the performance.
"Why, I have seen your dignified cousin Patty do it; in fact, shegenerally festoons herself along the edge of the boat in some precariousposition."
"Don't do it to-day, will you, Patty?" besought Ethelyn, with aridiculous air of solicitude.
"No, I won't," said Patty; "I'll be real good and do just as youwant me to."
"Noble girl!" said Kenneth Harper. "I know how hard it is for youto be good."
"It is, indeed," said Patty, laughing; "and I insist upon havingdue credit."
As a rule the Vernondale parties were exciting affairs. The route wasdown the river to the sound; from the sound to the bay; and, if theday were very favourable, out into the ocean, and perhaps aroundStaten Island.
Patty had hoped for this most extended trip today, in order that Ethelynand Reginald might see a sailing party at its very best.
But after they had been on board an hour they had covered only the fewmiles of river, and found themselves well out into the sound, but with noseeming prospect of going any farther. The breeze had died away entirely,and as the sun rose higher the heat was becoming decidedly uncomfortable.
Ethelyn began to fidget. Her pretty white serge frock had come in contactwith some muddy ropes and some oily screws, and several unsightly spotswere the result. This made her cross, for she hated to have her costumespoiled so early in the day; and besides she was unpleasantly consciousthat her fair complexion was rapidly taking on a deep shade of red. Sheknew this was unbecoming, but when Reginald, with brotherly frankness,informed her that her nose looked like a poppy bud, she lost her temperand relapsed into a sulky fit.
"I don't see any fun in a sailing party, if this is one," she said.
"Oh, this isn't one," said Guy Morris good-humoredly; "this is just afirst-class fizzle. We often have them, and though they're not as muchfun as a real good sailing party, yet we manage to get a good time out ofthem some way."
"I don't see how," said Ethelyn, who was growing very ill-tempered.
"We'll show you," said Frank Elliott kindly; "there are lots of things todo on board a boat besides sail."
There did seem to be, and notwithstanding the heat and the sunburn--yes,even the mosquitoes--those happy-go-lucky young people found ways to havea real good time. They sang songs and told stories and jokes, and showedeach other clever little games and tricks. One of the boys had a cameraand he took pictures of the whole crowd, both singly and in groups. Mr.Hepworth drew caricature portraits, and Kenneth Harper gave some of hisfunny impersonations.
Except for the responsibility of her cousin's entertainment, Pattyenjoyed herself exceedingly; but then she was always a happy little girl,and never allowed herself to be discomfited by trifles.
Everybody was surprised when Aunt Alice announced that it was time forluncheon, and though all were disappointed at the failure of the sail,everybody seemed to take it philosophically and even merrily.
"What is the matter?" said Ethelyn. "Why don't we go?"
"The matter is," said Mr. Fairfield, "we are becalmed. There is nobreeze and consequently nothing to make our bonny ship move, so shestands still."
"And are we going to stay right here all day?" asked Ethelyn.
"It looks very much like it, unless an ocean steamer comes along andgives us a tow."
Aunt Alice and the girls of the party soon had the luncheon ready, andthe merry feast was made. As Frank remarked, it was a very differentthing to sit there in the broiling sun and eat sandwiches and devilledeggs, or to consume the same viands with the yacht madly flying along inrolling waves and dashing spray.
The afternoon palled a little. Youthful enthusiasm and determined goodtemper could make light of several hours of discomfort, but toward threeo'clock the sun's rays grew unbearably
hot, the glare from the water wasvery trying, and the mosquitoes were something awful.
Guy Morris, who probably spent more of his time in a boat than any of theothers, declared that he had never seen such a day.
Mr. Fairfield felt sorry for Ethelyn, who had never had such anexperience before, and so he exerted himself to entertain her, but sheresisted all his attempts, and even though Patty came to her father'sassistance, they found it impossible to make their guest happy.
Reginald was no better. He growled and fretted about the heat and otherdiscomforts and he was so pompous and overbearing in his manner that itis not surprising that the boys of Vernondale cordially disliked him.
"As long as we can't go sailing," said Ethelyn, "I should think wewould go home."
"We can't get home," said Patty patiently. She had already explained thisseveral times to her cousin. "There is no breeze to take us anywhere."
"Well, what will happen to us, then? Shall we stay here forever?"
"There ought to be a breeze in two or three days," said Kenneth Harper,who could not resist the temptation to chaff this ill-tempered youngperson. "Say by Tuesday or Wednesday, I should think a capful of windmight puff up in some direction."
"It is coming now," said Frank Elliott suddenly; "I certainly feela draught."
"Put something around you, my boy," said his mother, "I don't want youto take cold."
"Let me get you a wrap," said Frank, smiling back at his mother, who wasfanning herself with a folded newspaper.
"The wind is coming," said Guy Morris, and his serious face was a sharpcontrast to the merry ones about him, "and it's no joke this time. Withinten minutes there'll be a stiff breeze, and within twenty a howling gale,or I'm no sailor."
As he spoke he was busily preparing to reef the mainsail, and heconsulted hurriedly with the sailors.
At first no one could believe Guy's prophecies would come true, but in afew moments the cool breeze was distinctly felt, the sun went under acloud, and the boat began to move. It was a sudden squall, and the cloudsthickened and massed themselves into great hills of blackness; the waterturned dark and began to rise in little threatening billows, the windgrew stronger and stronger, and then without warning the rain came.Thunder and lightning added to the excitement of the occasion, and inless than fifteen minutes the smooth sunny glare of water was at themercy of a fearful storm.
The occupants of the boat seemed to know exactly how to behave in thesecircumstances. Mrs. Elliott and the girls of the party went down into thelittle cabin, which held them all, but which was very crowded.
Guy Morris took command, and the other boys, and men, too, for thatmatter, did exactly as he told them.
Ethelyn began to cry. This was really not surprising, as the girl hadnever before had such an experience and was exceedingly nervous as wellas very much frightened.
Mrs. Elliott appreciated this, and putting her arm around the sobbingchild, comforted her with great tact and patience.
The storm passed as quickly as it came. There had been danger, both realand plentiful, but no bad results attended, except that everybody wasmore or less wet with the rain.
The boys were more and the girls less, but to Ethelyn's surprise, theyall seemed to view the whole performance quite as a matter of course, andaccepted the situation with the same merry philosophy that they had shownin the morning.
The thermometer had fallen many degrees, and the cold wind against dampclothing caused a most unpleasant sensation.
"It's an ill wind that blows nobody good," said Guy. "This breeze willtake us home, spinning."
"I'm glad of it," said Ethelyn snappishly; "I've had quite enough of thesailing party."
Frank confided to Patty afterward that he felt like responding that thesailing party had had quite enough of her, but instead he said politely:
"Oh, don't be so easily discouraged! Better luck next time."
To which Ethelyn replied, still crossly, "There'll be no next time forme."