CHAPTER IX
A CALLER
It was quite late in the evening before the Elliotts left Boxley Hall;but after they had gone, Patty and her father still lingered in thelibrary for a bit of cosey chat.
"Isn't it lovely," said Patty, with a little sigh of extreme content, "tosit down in our own library, and talk over our own party? And, by theway, papa, how do you like our library; is it all your fancy painted it?"
"Yes," said Mr. Fairfield, looking around critically, "the library is allright; but, of course, as yet it is young and inexperienced. It remainsfor us to train it up in the way it should go; and I feel sure, under ourministrations and loving care, it will grow better as it grows older."
"We've certainly got good material to work on," said Patty, giving asatisfied glance around the pretty room. "And now, Mr. Man, tell me whatyou think of our first effort at hospitality? How did the dinner party gooff today?"
"It went off with flying colours, and you certainly deserve a great dealof credit for your very successful first appearance as a hostess. Ofcourse, if one were disposed to be critical--"
"One would say that one's elaborate dessert--"
"Was a very successful imitation of a complete failure," interrupted Mr.Fairfield, laughing. "And this is where I shall take an opportunity topoint a moral. It is not good proportion to undertake a difficult andcomplicated recipe for the first time, when you are expecting guests."
"No, I know it," said Patty; "and yet, papa, you wouldn't expect me tohave that gorgeous French mess for dinner when we're all alone, wouldyou? And so, when could we have it?"
"Your implication does seem to bar the beautiful confection from ourtable entirely; and yet, do you know, it wouldn't alarm me a bit to havethat dessert attack us some night when you and I are at dinner quitealone and unprotected."
"All right, papa, we'll have it, and I'm sure, after another trial, I canmake it just as it should be made."
"Don't be too sure, my child. Self-confidence is a good thing in itsplace, but self-assurance is a quality not nearly so attractive. I think,Patty, girl," and here Mr. Fairfield put his arm around his daughter andlooked very kindly into her eyes; "I think every New Year's day I shallgive you a bit of good advice by way of correcting whatever seems to me,at the time, to be your besetting sin."
Patty smiled back at her father with loving confidence.
"But if you only reform me at the rate of one sin per year, it will be along while before I become a good girl," she said.
"You're a good girl, now," said her father, patting her head. "You'rereally a very good girl for your age, and if I correct your faults at therate of one a year, I don't think I can keep up with the performance forvery many years. But, seriously, Pattikins, what I want to speak to youabout now is your apparent inclination toward a certain kind of filigreeelaborateness, which is out of proportion to our simple mode of living. Ihave noticed that you have a decided admiration for appointments andservices that are only appropriate in houses run on a really magnificentscale; where the corps of servants includes a butler and other trainedfunctionaries. Now, you know, my child, that with your present retinueyou cannot achieve startling effects in the way of household glories. AmI making myself clear?"
"Well, you're not so awfully clear; but I gather that you thought thatridiculous pudding I tried to make was out of proportion to Pansy Pottsas waitress."
"You have grasped my meaning wonderfully well," said her father; "but itwas not only the pudding I had in mind, but several ambitious attempts atan over-display of grandeur and elegance."
"Well, but, papa, I like to have things nice."
"Yes, but be careful not to have them more nice than wise. However,there is no necessity for dwelling on this subject. I see you understandwhat I mean; and I know, now that I have called your attention to it,your own sense of proportion will guide you right, if you remember tofollow its dictates."
"But do you imagine," said Patty roguishly, "that such a mild scolding asthat is going to do a hardened reprobate like me any good?"
"Yes," said her father decidedly, "I think it will."
"So do I," said Patty.
Next morning at breakfast Patty could scarcely eat, so enthusiastic wasshe over the delightful sensation of breakfasting alone with her fatherin their own dining-room.
Very carefully she poured his coffee for him, and very carefully PansyPotts carried the cup to its destination.
"I didn't ask Marian to stay last night," slid Patty, "because I wantedour first night and our first breakfast all alone by ourselves."
"You're a sentimental little puss," said her father.
"Yes, I think I am," said Patty. "Do you mind?"
"Not at all; if you keep your sentiment in its proper place, and don'tlet it interfere with the somewhat prosaic duties that have of late comeinto your life."
"Gracious goodness' sakes!" said Patty; "that reminds me. What shall Iorder from the butcher this morning?"
"Don't ask me," said Mr. Fairfield. "I object to being implicated inmatters so entirely outside my own domain."
"Oh, certainly," said Patty; "that's all right. I beg your pardon,I'm sure. And don't feel alarmed; I'll promise you shall have atip-top dinner."
"I've no doubt of it, and now good-bye, Baby, I must be off to catch mytrain. Don't get lonesome; have a good time; and forget that your fatherscolded you."
"As if I minded that little feathery scolding! Come home early, and bringme something nice from the city. Good-bye."
Left to herself, Patty began to keep house with great diligence. Sheplanned the meals for the day, made out orders for market, gave theflowers in the vases fresh water, and looking in at the conservatory, shefound Pansy Potts digging around the potted daisies with a hairpin.
"Pansy," she said kindly, "I'm glad to have you take care of the flowers;but you mustn't spend all your time in here. Have you straightened up inthe dining-room yet?"
"No, ma'am," said Pansy; "but these little daisies cried so loud to belooked after that I just couldn't neglect them another minute. See howthey laugh when I tickle up the dirt around their toes."
"That's all very well, Pansy," said Patty, laughing herself; "but I wantyou to do your work properly and at the right time; now leave the daisiesuntil the dining-room and bedrooms are all in order."
"Yes, Miss Patty," said Pansy, and, though she cast a lingering farewellglance at the beloved posies, she went cheerfully about her duties.
"Now," thought Pansy, "I'll telephone to Marian to come over thisafternoon and stay to dinner, and stay all night; then we can arrangeabout having the Tea Club to-morrow. Why, there's the doorbell; perhapsthat's Marian now. I don't know who else it could be, I'm sure."
In a few moments Pansy Potts appeared, and offered Patty a card on a verynew and very shiny tray.
"For goodness' sake, who is it, Pansy?" asked Patty, reading the card,which only said, "Miss Rachel Daggett."
"I don't know, Miss Patty, I'm sure. She asked for you, and I said you'dgo right down."
"Very well; I will," said Patty.
A glance in the mirror showed a crisp fresh shirt-waist, and neatlybrushed hair, so Patty ran down to the library to welcome her guest.
The guest proved to be a large, tall, and altogether impressive-lookinglady, who spoke with a great deal of firmness and decision.
"I am Miss Daggett," she said, "and I am your neighbour."
"Are you?" said Patty pleasantly. "I am very glad to meet you, and Ihope you will like me for a neighbour."
"I don't know whether I shall or not," said Miss Daggett; "it dependsentirely on how you behave."
Although Patty was extremely good-natured, she couldn't help feeling alittle inclined to resent the tone taken by her guest, and she returnedrather crisply:
"I shall try to behave as a lady and a neighbour."
"Humph!" said Miss Daggett. "You're promising a good deal. If youaccomplish what you've mentioned, I shall consider you the best neighbourI've ever
experienced in my life."
Patty began to think her strange guest was eccentric rather thanimpolite, and began to take a fancy to the somewhat brusque visitor.
"I live next-door," said Miss Daggett, "and I am by no means social in myhabits. Indeed, I prefer to let my neighbours alone; and I am not in thehabit of asking them to call upon me."
"I will do just as you like," said Patty politely; "call upon you ornot. It is not my habit to call on people who do not care to see me. But,on the other hand, I shall be happy to call upon such of my neighbours asask me to do so."
"Oh, people don't have to call upon each other merely because they areneighbours," said Miss Daggett; "and that's why I came in here to-day, tolet you understand my ideas on this matter. I have lived next-door tothis house for many years, and I have never cared to associate with thepeople who have lived in it. I have no reason to think that you willprove of any more interest to me that any of the others who have livedhere. Indeed, I have reason to believe that you will prove of lessinterest to me, because you are so young and inexperienced that I feelsure you will be a regular nuisance. And I would like you to understandonce for all, that you are not to come to me for advice or assistancewhen you make absurd and ridiculous mistakes, as you're bound to do."
At first Patty had grown indignant at Miss Daggett's conversation, butsoon she felt rather amused at what was doubtless the idiosyncrasy of aneccentric mind, and she answered:
"I will promise not to come to you for advice or warning, no matter howmuch I may need assistance."
"That's right," said Miss Daggett very earnestly; "and remember, please,that your cook is not to come over to my house to borrow anything; noteven eggs, butter, or lemons."
"I'll promise that, too," said Patty, trying not to laugh; though shecouldn't help thinking that her first caller was an extraordinary one.
"Well, you really behave quite well," said Miss Daggett; "I am very muchsurprised at you. I came over here partly to warn you against interferingwith myself and my household, but also because I wanted to see whatyou're like. I had heard that you were going to live in this house, andthat you were going to keep house yourself; and, though I was muchsurprised that your father would let you do such a thing, yet I can'thelp thinking that you're really quite sensible. Yet, I want you tounderstand that you are not to borrow things from my kitchen."
"I am glad that you think I'm sensible," said Patty, looking earnestly ather visitor, toward whom she felt somehow drawn in despite of her queermanners. "And I'll promise not to borrow anything from you under anycircumstances."
"That is all right," said Miss Daggett, rising; "and that is all I cameto say to you. I will now go home, and if I ever feel that I want you toreturn this call, I will let you know. Otherwise, please remember that Ido not care to have it returned."
Patty showed her guest to the door, and dismissed her with a polite"Good-bye."
"Well!" she exclaimed to herself, as Miss Daggett walked out of the frontgate with an air of stalwart dignity. "That's a delightful specimen of acaller, but I hope I won't have many more like that. She's a queer kindof a neighbour, but somehow I rather think if I saw her more I shouldlike her better."