CHAPTER XVI
THE SPIRIT OF THE SEA
The night of the Pageant was as beautiful as the most exacting youngperson could desire. There was no moon, but there seemed to be an extrabright scattering of stars to make up for it. A soft, cool ocean breezestirred the air, there was no dampness, and everybody pronounced theevening as perfect as if specially made for the occasion.
An early dinner was served at "Red Chimneys," and then the guestsdispersed to don their carnival costumes.
With her usual promptness, Patty was ready first, and coming down tothe drawing-room, found nobody there. So she took opportunity to admireher own effects in the multitude of mirrors.
It was an exquisite reflection that faced her. She had not adoptedDaisy's idea of fishnet, as that seemed to her too heavy. LaurenceCromer had approved of her own suggestions, and together they haddesigned her costume. It was of pale green chiffon, trailing away inlong, wavy lines. Over it, hung from the shoulders a tunic-like draperyof white chiffon. This was frosted, here and there, with broken,shimmering lines of silver, and the whole effect hinted of moonlight onthe sea.
Patty's wonderful hair fell in curling, tumbling masses over hershoulders and far down her back. In it were twined a few strands ofseaweed,--beautifully coloured French work, which Laurence Cromer hadprocured from somewhere by a very special order. Across the top of herhead a silver band confined the riotous curls, and from it, in thecentre, rose an upright silver star.
Though simple, the whole costume was harmonious and picturesque, andsuited Patty's fair beauty to perfection. Her bare arms and throat weresoft and rounded as a baby's, and her lovely face had a pink glow ofhappiness, while her eyes were like two starlit violets.
She peacocked about the room, frankly delighted at her own reflectionin the mirrors, and practised the pose she was to assume on the Float.
In the mirror she saw that a majestic figure was entering the room, andwheeling swiftly about, she beheld Father Neptune himself smiling ather.
Farnsworth had sent to a theatrical costumer in the city for his garb,and very handsome he looked in a dark green velvet robe that hung inclassic folds. He wore a snow-white wig and long white beard, and agold and jewelled crown that was dazzlingly regal. He carried atrident, and in all respects, looked the part as Neptune is so oftenpictured. Patty gazed at him a moment in silent admiration, and thensprang to her pose, lightly poised forward, her weight on one foot, andher arms gracefully outspread.
Big Bill held his breath. Always lithe and graceful, to-night Pattylooked like a veritable spirit. Her floating draperies, her goldenhair, and her perfect face, crowned with the single silver star, seemedto belong to some super-human being, not to a mere mortal.
Big Bill walked slowly toward her.
"Patty!" he murmured, almost beneath his breath. "Apple Blossom! I wantyou so!"
A lovelier pink rose to Patty's cheeks, for it was impossible tomistake the earnestness in Bill's voice. She smiled at him, gently fora moment, and then roguishly, and her dimples flashed into view, as shedanced lightly away from him, calling back over her shoulder, "Catch mefirst!"
"You'll say that once too often yet, my lady!" declared Farnsworth, ashe stood with folded arms looking after her, but not following herdancing footsteps.
At the hall doorway, Patty turned and looked back, down the long room.Farnsworth stood where she had left him, and his majestic pose, as heheld his gilded trident, suited well his stalwart, magnificent physique.
"Come back here," he said, and his voice was not dictatorial, butquietly compelling.
Slowly Patty danced down the room, swaying, as if in rhythm withunheard music. As she came to a pause in front of Farnsworth, she madehim a sweeping, mocking courtesy.
"Father Neptune, god of the Sea!" she said, as if offering homage.
Farnsworth raised his hand, dramatically.
"Spirit of the Sea," he said, "Nymph of the silver-crested waves, kneelbefore me!"
Catching his mood, Patty sank gracefully on one knee, bowing her fairhead before the majestic sea-god.
"I crown thee," Neptune went on, "fairest of all nymphs, loveliest ofall goddesses. Spirit of the Sea, but also, maiden of the appleblossoms."
Patty felt a light touch on her bowed head, but did not move, until amoment later, Neptune held out his hand.
"Rise, Spirit of the Sea, crowned by Neptune, god of the Ocean!"
Patty rose, and in a nearby mirror saw her crown. It was a slenderwreath of wonderfully fine workmanship. Leaves of fairy-like silverfiligree, and tiny apple blossoms, of pink and white enamel. Light inweight, soft, yet sparkling in effect, it rested on her fair head, inno way interfering with the silver star that flashed above it. Indeed,it seemed the last touch needed to perfect the beauty of Patty'scostume, and her face was more than ever like an apple blossom as sheturned to thank Farnsworth for his gift.
But before she could do so, several people sprang in from the hall,where they had been watching the coronation ceremony.
"Hooray for you two!" cried Roger. "You show true dramatic genius!Patty, you're a peach to-night! Bill, you're a hummer!"
Only Daisy was unsmiling. A pang of jealousy thrilled her heart, as shesaw the exquisite picture Patty made, and saw, too, the lovely giftFarnsworth had given her. Daisy's costume was beautiful and exceedinglyartistic, but the grey, misty garb seemed tame beside Patty's clearcoloured draperies and bright, sea-weed tangled hair.
"Patty, you're wonderful!" Mona exclaimed. "If I weren't so weighteddown with this dragging train, I'd hug you!"
Mona looked regal in her Cleopatra costume. She had chosen a rich whiteand gold brocaded satin, and the gold lace on the train which hung fromher shoulders, made it heavy indeed. She was loaded with jewels, bothreal and paste, and her Egyptian headdress was both gorgeous andbecoming. Mona had never looked so well, and Roger, who was FatherNile, expressed his admiration frankly.
"I say, Mona," he declared, "if the real Cleo Pat looked like you, Idon't blame old Mark for flirting with her. Maybe I'll flirt with youbefore the evening is over."
"Ha! Minion! Methinks thou art presumptuous!" said Mona, marching abouttheatrically. But she smiled at Roger, for the two had become goodfriends.
Adele and Jim Kenerley were Dutch young people, and in blue and whitecotton costumes, looked as if they had just alighted from an old Delftplatter.
Laurence Cromer took no costume part, as he had to direct the posing ofthe characters and the scenic details of the parade.
Mrs. Parsons was enchanted with the gorgeousness of her party of youngpeople, and when Patty gave her a sprig of seaweed to tuck in herbodice, she felt as if she belonged to the water carnival.
Motors carried the laughing crowd to the Sayres' house, from where thefloats were to start.
Of course Old Ocean's Float led the parade. Though not very realistic,it was a theatrical representation of the sea, and the great billows,made of green muslin crested with cotton batting and stretched oversomewhat wabbly framework, tossed and swayed almost like the Atlanticbreakers. At the back end of the float was a great canopied throne, onwhich sat the gold-crowned Neptune holding his firmly planted trident.Before him seemed to dance the Spirit of the Sea, for Patty, now in onepose and now in another, was outlined against the dark billows withcharming effect. A bright electric light streaming from a point abovethe throne, illuminated both characters and threw into relief theshells and seaweed that decorated the sides of the float.
The other floats were equally well done,--some even better in artisticconception. Each received uproarious applause as it rolled slowly alongthe line of march. Hotels and cottages were all illuminated, and thewhole population of Spring Beach was out admiring the Pageant.
"Aren't you tired, Patty?" asked Farnsworth, gently, as she changed herpose.
"Yes, I am," she confessed; "but it isn't the posing,--it's thejolting. I had no idea the ocean was so rickety!"
"Poor little girlie! I wish I could do something for you. Bu
t we haveto go a couple of miles further yet. Can you stand it!"
"Yes; but I'd rather SIT it!"
"Do! Come and sit on this throne beside me. There's plenty of room."
"Oh, nonsense, I couldn't. What would the people think?"
"Do you want to KNOW what they'd think?" returned Farnsworth, promptly."They'd think that you were old Neptune's Queen, and that you meant tosit beside him all the rest of your life. Let them think that,Patty,--and, let it be true! Will you, my apple blossom girl?"
"No, Bill," said Patty, quietly, and changed her pose so that she didnot face him. His words had startled her. Above the rumbling of thefloat, she had heard him clearly, though, of course, they could not beoverheard by the laughing, chattering bystanders.
His earnest tones had left no room for doubt of his meaning, and afterPatty's first shock of surprise, she felt a deep regret that he shouldhave spoken thus. But in an instant her quick wit told her that shemust not think about it now. She must turn a laughing, careless face tothe passing audience.
"Nay, nay, Neptune," she said, facing him again, "I must play my ownpart. If a life on the ocean wave is not as easy as I had hoped, yetmust I brave it out to the end."
Farnsworth took his cue. He knew he ought not to have spoken soseriously at this time, but it was really involuntary. He had fallendeeply in love with the Eastern girl, and his Western whole-heartednessmade it difficult for him to conceal his feelings. He flashed a warm,sunny smile at her and said heartily:
"All right, Sea Sprite! I know your pluck and perseverance. You'll getthere, with bells on! Take the easiest pose you can, and hang on tothat foam-crested wave near you. It sways a bit, but it's firmlyanchored. I looked out for that, before I trusted you to thisramshackle old hay wagon!"
Patty smiled back, really helped by his hearty sympathy and strong,ringing voice.
"I HATE to be so,--so unable to stand things!" she exclaimed, pouting alittle.
"You're no Sandow girl," he replied; "but--one can't expect an appleblossom to be as strong as a--a cabbage!"
"Nor as strong as a great big Westerner," she returned, lookingadmiringly at the stalwart Neptune, and thereby pleasing him greatly,for Big Bill was honestly proud of his pounds and inches.
At last they reached the Country Club, which was their destination, andthe parade was over; though as the carnival was to conclude with asupper and a dance for the participators, the best part of the fun wasyet to come. Aunt Adelaide, who had reached the clubhouse a littleearlier, was waiting for her charges, and Bill promptly escorted Pattyto her.
"Look after this little girl, won't you, Mrs. Parsons?" he said."She'll be O. K. after a few moments' rest, but a seafaring life is ahard one, and this little craft is glad to get into port."
Patty gave him a grateful glance, and said:
"Nonsense, Aunt Adelaide, I'm not really tired, but I just want to sitdown a while. My feet have a headache!"
"I don't wonder!" declared Mona. "It was awful for you to perch on onetoe for a hundred million mile ride! And I reclined at ease on a Romantrident, or whatever you call it!" "Tripod, you mean," said Adele,laughing, "or is it trireme?"
"Dunno," said Mona, who was arranging Patty in a soft easy-chair in thedressing-room of the club. "Now, you sit there, you Sea Witch," shecommanded, "and I'll have a maid bring you a hot bouillon or a weaktea, whichever you prefer. You can't have coffee, it might spoil thatpinky-winky complexion of yours."
"Nothing can spoil that!" said Daisy, and though the remark soundedcomplimentary, it was prompted by a spirit of jealousy. Daisy had trulyappreciated Patty's generosity in the matter of the note but shecouldn't gracefully submit to having her own brunette beauty eclipsedby what she called a doll-face.
Patty's weariness was purely muscular, and so of short duration, andafter ten minutes' rest, she was feeling as fresh as ever.
"Now, what do we do?" she asked, shaking her draperies into place andadjusting the new wreath on her hair.
"Now comes the supper," said Mona, "and I'm glad of it. Come on, girls."
The long dining hall at the club was a pretty sight. The guests wereall in their Pageant costumes, and as the various float groups mingled,the contrasts were effective. A Venetian gondolier escorted a fishergirl of the Seine, or a bold buccaneer from the Spanish Main clankedhis sword in time with the clatter of the wooden sabots of a Hollandlass.
Neptune was waiting to escort the Spirit of the Sea to a table, but asPatty came through the dressing-room door, Captain Sayre bowed beforeher, and asked the honour of taking her to supper. As Farnsworth hadmade no engagement with Patty, merely taking it for granted that shewould go with him, she saw no reason to decline Captain Sayre'sinvitation, and went gaily away with him.
Farnsworth gazed after her with a look of dazed bewilderment.
"Had you asked her?" said an amused voice, and turning, he saw Mrs.Parsons at his elbow.
"No! I was too stupid to think of it!"
"Patty is so very popular, you know, it's difficult to secure herfavours. Have you engaged any dances?"
"No! What an idiot I am! You see, Mrs. Parsons, I'm not really a'society man,' and in these formal affairs, I'm a bit out of myelement. Will you do me the honour to go to supper with me?"
Aunt Adelaide looked at the towering figure in its regal velvet robes.
"I oughtn't to," she said, with a little laugh, "but I can't resist thetemptation. So I will! The idea of MY going with the king of the wholeshow!"
"Excepting Miss Fairfield, there's no one I'd rather have," said BigBill, honestly, and so Father Neptune strode majestically to his seatat the head of the table, and at his right sat primly, fluttering AuntAdelaide, instead of the witching sprite he had expected to place there.
Patty was really glad, for she didn't wish to appear too exclusivelywith Farnsworth, and yet she was a little disappointed, too, for as theSpirit of the Sea, her place was by Father Neptune.
But Captain Sayre made himself very entertaining, and as JackPennington was on her other side, she soon forgot all about LittleBillee, and gave herself up to the fun of the moment.
"I well remember your beautiful dancing," said the captain. "Will yougive me some waltzes?"
"I don't give them plurally," said Patty, smiling at him. "I'll giveyou one, perhaps; a half one, anyway."
"Not enough!" said Captain Sayre, decidedly. "I must have more thanthat, by fair means--or otherwise. Where is your card?"
"I haven't any yet; won't it be time enough to get one after supper?"
"Yes, if you let me see it before any one else. I find it's a trickwith the young men here to make dance engagements surreptitiously atthe supper table."
Patty glanced about, and saw more than one tasselled card appearing anddisappearing from hand to hand.
A moment later, she heard a voice behind her chair. "Apple Blossom," itwhispered, "I've brought you a dance card. Say 'Thank you, Bill.'"
"Thank you, Father Neptune," said Patty, flashing a smile at him, asshe took the card, and turned back to the captain.