CHAPTER II
THE DECISION
"Hooray for our side!" cried Frank, as Marian dropped into a chair afterher outburst of enthusiasm.
"Oh, I haven't finished yet," said Marian, jumping up again. "I want toremark further that not only is Patty going to live in Vernondale, butshe's going to have a house very near this one. I've picked it out," andMarian wagged her head with the air of a mysterious sibyl. "I won't tellyou where it is just yet, but it's a lovely house, and big enough toaccommodate Uncle Fred and Patty, and a guest or two besides. I'veselected the room that I prefer, and I hope you will furnish it in blue."
"The speaker is a bit hasty," said Patty as Marian sat down again; "wecan't furnish any rooms before this debate is concluded; and, though wedeeply regret it, Miss Elliott will be obliged to wait for her blue roomuntil the other speakers have had their speak."
But Patty smiled at Marian understandingly, and began to have a veryattractive mental picture of her cousin's blue room next her own.
"The next speaker," announced the judge, "will be Mrs. Elliott,Senior,--the Dowager Duchess. Your Grace, we would be pleased to hearfrom you."
"I don't know," said Grandma Elliott, looking rather seriously into thesmiling faces before her, "that I am entirely in favour of the countryhome. I think our Patty would greatly enjoy the city atmosphere. She is aschoolgirl now, but in a year or two she will be a young woman, and onewell deserving of the best that can be given to her. I am city-bredmyself, and though at my age I prefer the quiet of the country, yet for ayoung girl I well know the charm of a city life. Of course, we would allregret the loss of our Patty, who has grown to be a part of our dailylife, but, nevertheless, were I to vote on this matter, I shouldunhesitatingly cast my ballot in favour of New York."
"Bravo for grandma!" cried Frank. "Give me a lady who fearlessly speaksher mind even in the face of overwhelming opposition. All the same, Ihaven't spoken my piece yet, and I believe it is now my turn."
"It is," said Patty, "and we eagerly await your sapient andauthoritative remarks."
"Ahem!" said Frank pompously, as he arose. "My remarks shall be brief,but very much to the point. Patty's home must be in Vernondale because welive here. If ever we go to live in New York, or Oshkosh, or Kalamazoo,Patty can pick up her things and go along. Just get that idea firmlyfixed in your heads, my friends. Where we live, Patty lives; whither shegoeth, we goeth. Therefore, if Patty should go to New York, the Elliottswill take up bag and baggage, sell the farm, and go likewise to New York.Now I'm sure our Patty, being of proper common-sense and sound judgment,wouldn't put the Elliott family to such inconvenience,--for moving is alarge and fearsome proposition. Thus we see that as the Mountain insistson following Mahomet whithersoever she goest, the only decently politething for Mahomet to do is to settle in Vernondale. I regret exceedinglythat I am forced to express an opinion so diametrically opposed to theadvices of Her Grace, the Dowager Duchess, but I'm quite sure she didn'trealise what a bother it would be for the Elliotts to move. And now,having convinced you all to my way of thinking, I will leave the case inthe hands of our wise and competent judge."
"Wait," said Uncle Charley; "I believe the captains are usually allowed asort of summing-up speech, are they not?"
"They are in this case, anyway," said Patty. "Mr. Elliott will please goahead with his summing-up."
"Well," said Uncle Charley, "the sum of the whole matter seems to be thatwe all want Fred and Patty to live here because we want them to; but, ofcourse, it's only fair that they consult their own wishes in the matter,and if they conclude that they prefer New York, why,--we'll have anotherdebate, that's all."
Uncle Charley sat down, and Mr. Fairfield rose. "I have listened withgreat interest to the somewhat flattering remarks of my esteemed fellowmembers, and have come to the conclusion that, if agreeable to HerJudgeship, a compromise might be effected. It would seem to me that if adecision should be arrived at for the Vernondale home, the Fairfieldscould manage to reap some few of those mysterious advantages said to befound in city life, by going to New York and staying a few months everywinter. This, too, would give them an opportunity to receive visits fromthe Elliott family, which would, I'm sure, be a pleasure and profit toall concerned. With this suggestion I am quite ready to hear a positiveand final decision from Her Honour, the Judge."
"And it won't take her long to make up her mind, either," cried Patty. "Iknew you'd fix it somehow, papa; you are the best and wisest man! Solomonwasn't in it with you, nor Solon, nor Socrates, nor anybody! Thatarrangement is exactly what I choose, and suits me perfectly, I do wantto stay in New York sometimes, but I would much rather live inVernondale; so the judge hereby announces that, on the merits of thecase, the question is decided in the negative. The Fairfields will buy ahouse in Vernondale, and the judge hopes that they will buy it quick."
"Three cheers for Patty and Uncle Fred," cried Frank, and while they werebeing given with a will, Marian flew to the telephone, and, when thecheers subsided, she was engaged in a conversation of which the debatingclub heard only one side.
"Is this you, Elsie?"
"What do you think? Patty's going to stay in Vernondale!"
"Yes, indeed, perfectly gorgeous."
"Just this evening; just now."
"I guess I am! I'm so glad I don't know what to do!"
"Oh, yes, of course she'll keep on being president."
"No, they haven't decided yet, but I want them to take the Bigelowhouse."
"Yes; wouldn't it be fine!"
"Oh, it isn't very late."
"Well, come over early to-morrow morning, then."
"Good-by."
"Elsie Morris is delighted," said Marian, as she hung up the receiver,"and Polly Stevens will just dance jigs of joy when she hears about it.I'd call her up now, only I'm afraid she'd break the telephone trying toexpress her enthusiasm; she flutters so."
"You can tell her about it to-morrow," said Frank, "and now let'stalk about where the house shall be. Would you rather buy or build,Uncle Fred?"
"Perhaps it would be better to rent," said Mr. Fairfield. "Suppose myfickle daughter should change her mind, and after a visit in the citydecide that she prefers it for her home."
"I'm not fickle, papa," said Patty, "and it's all arranged all right justas it is; but I don't want a rented house, they won't let you drive tacksin the walls, or anything like that. Let's buy a house, and then, if youturn fickle and want to move away, we can sell it again."
"All right," said Mr. Fairfield obligingly, "what house shall we buy?"
"I know just the one," cried Marian; "guess where it is."
"Would you, by any chance, refer to the Bigelow house?" inquiredFrank politely.
"How did you know?" exclaimed Marian. "I only heard to-day that it is forsale, and I wanted to surprise you."
"Well, next time you have a surprise in store for us," said Frank, "don'tannounce it to Elsie Morris over the telephone."
"Oh, did you hear that?"
"As a rule, sister dear, unless you are the matron of a deaf and dumbasylum, you must expect those present to hear your end of a telephoneconversation."
"Of course," said Marian; "I didn't think. But, really, wouldn't theBigelow house be fine? Only a few blocks away from here, and such alovely house, with a barn and a conservatory, and a little arbour inthe garden."
Patty began to look frightened.
"Goodness, gracious me!" she exclaimed; "I don't believe I realise whatI'm coming to. I could take care of the little arbour in the garden; butI wonder if I could manage a house, and a barn, and a conservatory!"
"And go to school every day, besides," said her father, laughing. "Ithink, my child, that at least until your school days are over, we willengage the services of a responsible housekeeper."
"Oh, papa!" cried Patty, in dismay, "you said I could keep house foryou; and Aunt Alice has taught me lots about it; and she'll teach melots more; and you know I can make good pumpkin pies; and, of course,I can dust and fl
y 'round; and that's about all there is tohousekeeping, anyway."
"Oh, Patty," said Aunt Alice, "my lessons must have fallen on stonyground if you think that's all there is to housekeeping."
"That's merely a figure of speech, Aunt Alice," replied Patty. "You wellknow I am a thoroughly capable and experienced housekeeper; honest,steady, good-tempered, and with a fine reference from my last place."
"You're certainly a clever little housekeeper for your age," said heraunt, "but I'm not sure you could keep house successfully, and go toschool, and practice your music, and attend to your club all at thesame time."
"But I wouldn't do them all at the same time, Aunt Alice. I'd have a timefor everything, and everything in it place. I would go to school, andpractise, and housekeep, and club; all in their proper proportions--"Here Patty glanced at her father. "You see, if I had the proportionsright, all would go well."
"Well, perhaps," said Mr. Fairfield, "if we had a competent cook and atidy little waitress, we could get along without a professionalhousekeeper. I admit I had hoped to have Patty keep house for me andpreside at my table, and at any rate, it would do no harm to try it as anexperiment; then, if it failed, we could make some other arrangement."
"I guess I do want to sit at the head of our table, papa," said Patty;"I'd just like to see a housekeeper there! A prim, sour-faced old ladywith a black silk dress and dangling ear-rings! No, I thank you. If Ihave my way I will keep that house myself, and when I get into anytrouble, I will fly to Aunt Alice for rest and refreshment."
"We'll all help," said Marian; "I'll make lovely sofa-pillows for you,and I'm sure grandma will knit you an afghan."
"That isn't much towards housekeeping," said Frank. "I'll come over nextsummer and swing your hammock for you, and put up your tennis-net."
"And meantime," said Uncle Charley, "until the house is bought andfurnished, the Fairfield family will be the welcome guests of theElliotts. It's almost the middle of December now, and I don't think, MissPatty Fairfield, that you'll get your home settled in time to make avisit in New York _this_ winter; and now, you rattle-pated youngsters,run to bed, while I discuss some plans sensibly with my brother-in-lawand fellow townsman."