CHAPTER XIX
A FORCED MARCH
After luncheon they all strolled out on the verandas or through thegardens, and Patty and Mona slipped away to hold a council of war bythemselves.
"You're a darling, Patty," Mona said, "and I was perfectly amazed atthose wonderful messes you fixed up for luncheon."
"I don't approve of the term you apply to my confections!"
"Well, you know what I mean. They were all PERFECT, you fairly outdidFrancois."
"That's better. Now, Mona mine, we must acquire some servants, and thatright speedily."
"Yes, but how? I think I'd better telephone the dinner guests not tocome."
"I'd hate to do that. They're Adele's friends, and she's so anxious tohave them come here."
"I know it, but what can we do? I won't let you cook again."
"No, I don't want to cook dinner. Luncheon seems different, somehow.But I do believe if I take Camilla, and scour all the plains aroundSpring Beach, I can catch something that can cook."
"I'd hate to have a poor cook."
"Yes, I know; I mean a first-class cook, though, perhaps not a chef."
"Well, go ahead, Patty, but you'll have to start at once. Your cookought to be here by four, and it's almost three now."
"'I slip, I slide, I gleam, I glance,'--what comes next? Never mind,I'll just scoot."
Throwing on a white pongee dust cloak over her pretty frock, Pattydeclared herself ready to start, and Mona ordered an electric runaboutbrought from the garage.
But Miss Patricia Fairfield had no intention of going alone upon herquest. Walking up to a group of men talking on the veranda, she pausedin front of Farnsworth.
"I want you," she said, calmly.
"I am yours," he responded with equal calm, and throwing away hiscigar, turned to go with her.
"Don't you want me?" asked Captain Sayre, eagerly.
"And me?" added Cromer.
"I know you want me," put in Roger, "but you're too shy to say so."
"I want you all," said Patty, beaming on the group, "but I like you oneat a time, and this is Little Billee's turn."
"What's up, my lady?" said Farnsworth, as he started the swift littlecar.
"Why, just this. Turn toward the main road, please. We've simply got tofind a cook for Mona within an hour. I KNOW we can do it,--but, YOUtell ME how."
"Dead easy, child. We'll just go out and kidnap one."
"But cooks aren't found sitting in deserted baby carriages, to betempted with candy. Now be sensible. Can't you think of any plan?"
"Not a plan! Can you?"
"Well, all I can think of is to go to see Susan."
"Susan it is! Where does the lady reside?"
"Down this way two blocks, then turn to the right."
"She is won! We are gone! Over bank, bush and scar, They'll have fleet steeds that follow!" quoth young Lochinvar.'"
"I know Susan wouldn't come, but she may know of some one else," wenton Patty. "Here we are; stop at this house."
"No, Miss Patty," said Susan, when the case was laid before her, "Idon't rightly know of anny wan for the place. I'd go mesilf,--for I'm agood, fair cook,--but I can't be afther makin' them fiddly-faddlycontraptions Miss Galbraith has."
"Well, Susan, if we can find a cook, will you come as helper? Just fora few days, till Miss Galbraith can get some people down from New York."
"Yes, Miss Patty; I'll do that. Now, I'm bethinkin' me, there's theCartwrights' cook. She's a perfessional, and the family has gone awayfor three days, sure. Cuddent she do ye?"
"Fine!" cried Patty. "Where do the Cartwrights live?"
"Up the road a piece, an' thin down beyant a couple o' miles. Don't yeknow the big grey stone house, wid towers?"
"Oh, yes; I know where you mean. And is the cook there? What's hername?"
"Yes, she's there. An' her name is O'Brien. It's Irish she is, but sheknows more cookin' than manny Frinch jumpin'-jacks! If she'll go widyez, I'll go."
"Well, I'll tell you, Susan. You go on over to Miss Galbraith's now.Tell her I sent you, and that I'll bring Mrs. O'Brien in about half anhour. Then you go to the kitchen and get things started."
"My, it's the foine head ye have on ye, Miss Patty! That's a grandplan!"
Susan turned back to her sister's house, and the motor-car dartedforward.
"So far, so good," said Patty. "But now to get the O'Brien. Suppose shewon't come?"
"Don't borrow trouble, Apple Blossom. Let's suppose she WILL come, andmeanwhile let's enjoy our ride. It was dear of you to ask me to comewith you."
"Well, you see, I didn't know but it might require force to persuade acook to go back with us, and,--and you're so big, you know."
"Then I'm glad I'm so big, since brawn and strength win favour in mylady's sight."
"You ARE strong, aren't you?" and Patty looked at the giant beside her."I think," she went on slowly, "your strength must be as the strengthof ten."
"I hope so," and Farnsworth's voice took or a graver note, "and for theright reason."
Just then they came in sight of the Cartwright place.
"Good gracious!" cried Patty, as they drove in. "Here are four thousanddogs coming to meet us!"
Patty's estimate of their number was extravagant, but there WERE fiveor six dogs, and they were large and full-lunged specimens of theirkind.
"I'm frightened," said Patty. "They're watchdogs, you know, turnedloose because the people are away. Don't get out, Billee, they'll bityou! They're bloodhounds, I'm sure!"
"Then I'll play I'm Eliza crossing the ice, and you can sit here and beLittle Eva."
Patty had to laugh at his foolishness, but the dogs WERE fierce, andshe was glad when at last his repeated rings at the doorbell wereanswered.
"Nobody at home," said a voice, as the door opened only a narrow crack,and but part of a face could be seen.
"Is that so?" said Bill, pleasantly. "But you're at home, aren't you?And perhaps you're the very one I want to see. Are you Mrs. O'Brien?"
"Yes, I am," and the door opened just a trifle wider; "but the familyis away, an' me ordhers is to admit nobody at all, at all."
"Well, we don't want to be admitted, but won't you step outside amoment?"
Farnsworth emphasised his remarks by pushing the door wide open, and,partly out of curiosity, Mrs. O'Brien stepped outside. She was a smallwoman, but her face wore a look of grim determination, as if she wereafraid of nothing. She quieted the barking dogs, and turned to Patty.
"Don't be afraid, Miss," she said; "they won't hurt ye, now that theysee me a-talkin' to yez. Did ye want to see Mrs. Cartwright? She ain'thome, an' won't be till day after tomorrah."
"No," said Patty, "I don't know Mrs. Cartwright. I want to see you.Susan Hastings, my own cook, said your people were away, and so perhapsyou would go out to cook for a couple of days to oblige a neighbour."
"Oblige a neighbour, is it? Sure no lady would come afther anotherlady's cook, underhanded like, when the lady's away!"
Patty's face flushed with righteous indignation.
"It ISN'T underhanded!" she exclaimed, "You don't understand! I don'twant you PERMANENTLY, but only for a day, or two days at most,--becauseour cook has left."
"Arrah, ma'am, you said your cook was Susan Hastings! Yer a quareleddy, I'm thinkin', an' yer husband here, is another! Sthrivin' toentice away a cook as is satisfied wid her place, and who manes honestby her employers!"
Farnsworth was grinning broadly at the assumption of his and Patty'srelationship, but Patty was enraged at the implication ofunderhandedness.
"He ISN'T my husband!" she cried, "and I don't want a cook for myself,but for another lady!"
"Are ye runnin' an intilligence office, belike?"
"Here!" cried Bill, sharply. "Don't you speak like that to that lady!Now, you listen to me. We are both visitors at Miss Galbraith's. Hercook left suddenly, and we want you to come and cook for us, two daysif you will,--but one day ANYWAY! See? Do you understand that? You'reto g
o over to Miss Galbraith's now, with us, and cook dinner tonight.After dinner, you may do as you like about staying longer. We'll payyou well, and there's no reason whatever why you shouldn't oblige us."
At first the Irishwoman looked a little intimidated at Bill's mannerand his gruff tones, but in a moment she flared up.
"I'll do nothin' of the sort! I'm left here in charge of this place,an' here I'll shtay!"
"Is there no one else to guard the place?"
"Yis, there's the second gardener, an' the coachman. I cooks theirmeals for them. The other servants is away for two days."
"Well, the second coachman and third gardener, or whatever theirnumbers are, can cook for themselves to-night. You're going withus,--see? With US,--NOW!"
"I'll not go, sor--" began Mrs. O'Brien, but Big Bill picked the littlewoman up in his arms, as if she had been a child.
"This is a case of kidnapping a cook, Patty," he said. "I told you I'ddo it!"
Paying no attention to his struggling burden, Farnsworth pulled shutthe door of the Cartwrights' house, shook it to make sure it closedwith a snap lock, and then gently but firmly carried Mrs. O'Brien tothe motor-car.
"Take the driving seat, Patty," he directed, and, as she did so, hedeposited the cook in the seat beside her. Then he climbed into thesmall seat at the rear and remarked:
"Let her go, Patty; and unless you sit still and behave yourself, Mrs.O'Brien, you'll fall out and get damaged. Now be a nice cook, and makethe best of this. You're kidnapped, you see,--you can't helpyourself,--and so, what are you going to do about it?"
The cook sat bolt upright, her hard, unsmiling face looking straightahead, and she replied, between clenched teeth, "Wanst I get out, I'llgo straight back home, if it's a hundherd miles yez do be takin' me!"
"Oh, don't do that," and Patty's voice was sweet and coaxing. "Let metell you something, Mrs. O'Brien. You know Susan Hastings,--what a nicewoman she is. Well, once I was in a great emergency, worse even thanto-day, and knowing the warm, kind hearts of the Irish, I went to Susanand asked her to help me out. And she did,--splendidly! Now, I knowyou've got that same warm Irish heart, but for some reason you don'tWANT to help me out of my trouble. Won't you tell me WHAT that reasonis?"
Mrs. O'Brien turned and looked at her.
"Me heart's warrum enough," she said, "an' I'd be glad to sarve thelikes of such a pretty leddy as yersilf,--but, I won't shtand bein'carried off by kidnappers!"
"But listen," said Patty, who was beginning to hope she could cajolethe woman into a good humour; "you must realise that the gentleman is aWestern man. Now they do things very differently out there from whatmen do here. If they want anything or anybody they just TAKE them!"
"H'm, h'm," murmured Farnsworth, affirmatively over Patty's shoulder.
She paid no attention to his interruption, and went on, "So, you see,Mrs. O'Brien, you mustn't mind the rude and untutored manners of thesavage tribes. This gentleman is a--is an INDIAN!"
"You don't tell me, Miss!"
"Yes, he is. And though you're perfectly safe if you do just as hetells you, if you rebel, he might--he might TOMAHAWK you!"
"Lor', Miss, is he as bad as that?"
"Oh, he's AWFUL bad! He's terrible! He's--why, he's IRRESISTIBLE!"
Big Bill was shaking with laughter, but Mrs. O'Brien couldn't see him,and Patty herself looked half scared out of her wits.
"Now, I'll tell you what, Mrs. O'Brien," she went on, "you let me beyour friend; trust to me, and I'll see that no harm comes to you. Ifyou'll cook this dinner to-night, I'll promise to send you home safelyto-morrow morning, and Miss Galbraith will pay you well beside. SusanHastings will be with you as a helper, and--and if you only make yourmind up to it, you can have a real good time!"
Patty felt that she ended her speech rather lamely, but her eloquencehad given out. And the sound of Bill's chuckles, behind her, made itdifficult not to laugh herself.
But either Patty's friendliness or fear of Bill's ferocity seemed toconquer Mrs. O'Brien's rebellious spirit, and she sat calmly in herplace, though making no further observations.
Nor could Farnsworth and Patty converse, for as Bill sat behind, andthey were flying rapidly along, speech was inconvenient if notimpossible.
Farnsworth kept a sharp eye on his captive; though he knew she couldnot escape now, he wasn't sure what strange turn her temper might take.But Patty felt sure that if she could once get the cook into thekitchen at "Red Chimneys," and under the influence of Susan's commonsense and powers of persuasion, all would be well. She drove round tothe kitchen entrance, and as she stopped the car, Farnsworth jumpeddown to assist their passenger out.
Uncertain just how to show her unwillingness to do their bidding, Mrs.O'Brien sat still and refused to move. Whereupon, Patty jumped down andran into the kitchen.
"Susan," she cried, "here's the cook! Come out and make her behaveherself!"
Susan followed Patty out, and saw the new arrival.
"Is it yersilf, Ann O'Brien?" she cried, joyfully. "Come on in, now."
"I'll not come! These vilyans kidnapped me, and I'll cook no dinner ferthe likes o' thim!"
"Arrah now, it's yersilf is the vilyan! Ye ought to be proud to bekidnapped by Miss Patty, and Misther Bill! Get down here, ye gossoon,an' behave like a dacint woman!"
Susan's authoritative voice, and Farnsworth's apparent readiness toassist her, if she delayed, persuaded Mrs. O'Brien to leave the car.She went into the kitchen with Susan, and Patty turned a beaming faceto Bill.
"It's all right now," she said. "Susan will bring her around. But, oh,Billee, how DID you DARE to do such a thing?"
"I'd dare anything to get you what you want. And you said you wantedthat particular cook. So I got her."
"But you'll be arrested for kidnapping!"
"Oh, I think not. I'll telephone over to that second-rate gardener, andI fancy I can make it all right."
Then Bill and Patty sauntered round the house to the veranda.
"Where's your cook?" cried Mona.
"In the kitchen, where she belongs," replied Patty. "Do you want herhere?"
"No, but how did you get one?"
"Kidnapped her!" declared Patty, and then amid the laughter of theirhearers, they told the whole story.
"I never heard of such a thing!" said Aunt Adelaide, with adisapproving frown.
"But it was that, or no dinner," said Patty, plaintively.
"I think it's great!" said Roger. "And the end is not yet! In an hour,all sorts of police and detectives and weird things like that will comeup here and arrest us."
"They'll only take Patty and me," said Farnsworth, "and we can look outfor ourselves, can't we, A. B.?"
But Patty only smiled, and ran away to her own room.
CHAPTER XX
GOOD-BYE FOR NOW
It was the day of Farnsworth's departure. In fact, the whole houseparty was leaving. Roger had already gone, and the Kenerleys and DaisyDow were to go next day, while Cromer, who had become attached toSpring Beach, had concluded to transfer himself to a hotel and stay therest of the summer.
"I hate to have you all go," said Mona, dolefully. "Now that I've newservants, and such good ones, I'd like to have you all stay onindefinitely."
"There are others," suggested Jim Kenerley.
"I know, but I don't want others. This crowd has become so chummy andnice it's a pity to break it up. Aren't you sorry to go, Bill?"
"Haven't gone yet!" said Farnsworth, cheerfully.
"But your things are all packed, and you're to go this afternoon," saidMona.
"Well, it's morning now; why borrow trouble? Let's have some funinstead."
"Yes, let's!" and Mona brightened up. "Let's go on a picnic!"
"I hate picnics," said Daisy; "they're no fun. Let's motor over toLakeville."
"I hate Lakeville," said Patty. "Let's have a dress-up party of somekind."
"We can't get up a fancy dress party in a few hours," objected AdeleKenerley. "Let's have a contest of some
sort,--with prizes. Tennis,--orbasket ball."
"Oh, it's too warm for those things," said Laurence Cromer. "Let's dosomething quieter. I'll tell you what,--let's play Human Parcheesi!Just the thing."
"What IS Human Parcheesi?" asked Patty, interested at once.
"Oh, it's a new game," explained Cromer; "in fact, I just made it upthis instant."
"How do you play it?" asked Mona.
"I don't quite know myself yet. I haven't finished making it up.Anyway, you have to have more people. Let me see, we have seven here.Can you get some more, Mona? We won't play till after luncheon. It willtake the rest of the morning for me to finish making up the game. We'llplay on the west lawn. Oh, it's going to be lovely! I want four billionyards of red ribbon and cosy decorations and a lot of things! Skip tothe telephone, Mona, and invite enough people to make twenty of us alltogether. Tell 'em to come at three o'clock, I'll be ready then."
"Bill has to go away about six," said Mona, doubtfully.
"Well, make 'em come at two, then. The game won't take long, once weget started. Now, I'll select four players. Mona will be one, and DaisyDow, Jim Kenerley and I will be the others."
Mona was already at the telephone, and the other selected players drewaround Cromer to learn what they were to do.
"It's going to be the greatest fun ever," he declared. "If we can't getred ribbon, we'll take twine. Guess it'll be better, anyhow. Mona, willyou send a slave to the general store to buy a lot of balls of twine?"
"I'll attend to it," said Patty, "Mona's telephoning."
When Patty returned from this errand, the others were all out on thewest lawn. Farnsworth and Jim Kenerley were measuring off spaces, and agardener was driving in pegs.
When the twine arrived, it was stretched on these pegs, until the wholelawn was diagrammed like a parcheesi board. There were the four squaresin the corners, representing "Homes," there was a large square in thecentre, and the paths were marked into regular rectangles with a"Safety Spot" in every fifth space.
So carefully was the measuring done that at a short distance it lookedexactly like a parcheesi board, except the colouring.
"Now," said Cromer, when the ground was ready, "each of you four'Players' must fix up your corner 'Homes' with a different colour."
So Daisy chose pink, and Mona blue, and Mr. Kenerley yellow, andLaurence Cromer green.
Rugs of appropriate colours were brought from the house for these"Homes," and a few wicker chairs or campstools were placed in them.Then the spirit of emulation was roused, and the "Players" sought forlittle tables, vases of flowers, or potted palms to decorate their"Homes."
Mrs. Kenerley helped her husband, and Patty assisted Cromer, with theirfeminine tastes and ideas, and Patty prevailed on the head gardener tocut his choicest flowers to decorate the game.
"You see," Laurence said, "we COULD get this thing up beautifully, withcanopies and flags of the four colours, and turkey red strips downthese paths and all that. But this will do for a makeshift game."
The central square was prettily arranged with a set of furniturebrought from a veranda, a tea table, a stand of flowers, and a flagpoleand flag.
Comfortable seats were arranged here for Mrs. Parsons, and any one elsewho was merely a spectator of the game. Under Cromer's directions, thegirls made sixteen caps and sashes of cheesecloth, four of each colour.
The guests whom Mona invited all came, and soon after two o'clock thegame began. The four "Players," each decorated with his or her owncolour, went to their respective homes, and from there called out thenames of those whom they wished for "Counters." Mona called first, andpromptly chose Patty.
When Patty came to Mona's "Home" she was given a blue cap and sash,which she immediately donned.
Daisy was next, and she chose Farnsworth, who went forward to receivehis pink cap and sash.
After a time each "Player" had chosen four counters, and the caps andsashes were all proudly worn.
"Now we 'Players,'" Cromer directed, "stay here in our 'Homes,' and wesend out our 'Counters,' just as if we were playing real parcheesi.Daisy, you throw your dice first."
Daisy threw the dice which had been provided, and she threw a five anda three.
"Put a counter out with the five," said Cromer, "and let him marchthree squares for the three."
Amid much laughter and fun, Daisy sent Big Bill Farnsworth out first,and ordered him to march three spaces. This Farnsworth did, and stoodwaiting for his next move.
Then Jim Kenerley threw, but threw only a three and a four, so he hadto wait another turn.
The game proved to be great fun. A five thrown allowed another counterstarted out, and all other throws meant movements of the counters. Acounter on a "Safety Spot" was secure against invaders, but on anunprotected square one might be sent back "Home" to start all overagain.
Of course the great central square was the goal, and there refreshinglemonade or iced tea awaited the "Counters." Many were the amusingexigencies. Daisy had just triumphantly put out her last counter whentwo others were returned ignominiously "Home."
Counters chatted affably with other counters who chanced to be onadjoining squares, or gleefully sent them home, as they invaded thesame square.
Patty stood comfortably on a "Safety Spot," with Captain Sayre on thenext space but one.
"This is a great game," said she. "Isn't Mr. Cromer clever to inventit? Do you know I already see great possibilities in it. I'm going toget up a fine one for a charity or something."
"Yes, do; I'll help you. Make people pay to be 'Counters,' and thenhave prizes for those who get all the way around."
"Yes, and then have--"
But Captain Sayre had been moved four spaces away, and was out ofhearing distance, though he could still smile and wave his hand atPatty on her "Safety Spot."
As the game progressed, one after another reached the Central Square,but as Jim Kenerley got all four of his "Counters" in first he wasdeclared winner.
Then all ran into the Central Square and soon discovered that"Parcheesi" gave them a good appetite for tea and cakes.
Soon after five the Spring Beach guests went home, charmed with the newgame, and promising to play it again some day. The "Red Chimneys" partycongratulated Cromer heartily on his clever entertainment, and renewedtheir lamentations that the house party would be so soon only a memory.
"Let's all go over to the Country Club for a farewell dinner anddance," suggested Jim Kenerley.
"All right," agreed Patty, who was always ready for a dance.
"I can't go," said Farnsworth. "I have to take the six-thirtytrain,--but you others go on."
"Too bad, old fellow," said Kenerley; "wish you could go. But the restof you will, won't you?"
They all accepted the invitation, and went away to dress.
Patty hung back a moment to say good-bye to Bill, but Daisy forestalledher.
"Oh, Bill," she said, "walk with me as far as the rose garden. I wantto say my farewells to you."
Farnsworth couldn't well refuse, so he went off with Daisy, givingPatty a pleading look over his shoulder which she rightly read to meanthat he wanted to see her again before he left.
But Daisy prolonged her interview as much as possible, with the amiableintention of keeping Patty and Bill apart.
At last Bill said, as they stood on the terrace, "You ought to bedressing, Daisy. You'll be late for the club dinner party."
"No hurry," she said, shrugging her shoulders, "I can go over later."
"How?" asked Farnsworth, suddenly interested.
"Oh, Barker will take me over in a runabout."
"But Barker's to take me to the station. You'd better go with the rest,Daisy."
Something in Bill's tone made Daisy acquiesce, so she said, shortly,"Oh, very well," and turned toward the house.
She went to her room, and Farnsworth looked about for Patty. She wasnowhere to be seen, and all the first floor rooms were empty save for aservant here and there. Finally Bill said to a parlourmaid,
"Please goto Miss Fairfield and ask her if she will come down and see Mr.Farnsworth just a minute."
The maid departed, and a moment later Patty came down. She was alldressed for the dinner, in a soft, shimmering, pale blue chiffon, andshe wore Bill's wreath in her hair.
"Apple Blossom," he said, softly, and his voice choked in his throat.
"I've been trying to get you a moment alone all day," he said, "but Icouldn't. I believe you evaded me on purpose!"
"Why should I?" and Patty looked a little scared.
"I'll tell you why! Because you knew what I wanted to say to you!Because you KNOW--confound that butler! He's everywhere at once! Patty,come in the drawing-room."
"Jane's in there," said Patty, demurely, and smiling up at Bill fromunder her long lashes.
"Well, come,--oh, come anywhere, where I can speak to you alone aminute!"
"Just one minute," said Patty, "no more!"
"All right, but where can we go?"
"Here!" said Patty, and leading him through the dining-room, she openedthe door of the butler's pantry, a spacious and attractive room ofitself.
"James won't be in here to-night," she said, "as we are dining out. ButI'll only stay a minute."
"But, Patty, DARLING, I want to tell you,--you know I'm going away, andI won't see you again,--and I MUST tell you,--I must ASK you--"
"Patty--Pat-ty! Bill! Where ARE you both?"
Mona's voice rose high as she called, and it was joined by otherscalling the same two names.
"They're calling, we must go!" exclaimed Patty.
"Go! Nothing!" cried Big Bill, savagely. He glanced round,--he saw thedumb-waiter, built large and roomy in accordance with all the plans of"Red Chimneys."
In about three seconds he had picked Patty up, and before she knew it,she found herself sitting on the top shelf of that big dumb-waiter,and, moreover, she found herself being lowered, at first slowly, andthen rapidly.
She was about to scream when she heard Big Bill whisper softly, butcommandingly, "Not a word! Not a sound! I'll pull you up in a fewminutes."
She heard the doors above her close. She was in total darkness. She hadno desire to scream, but she was consumed with laughter.
Farnsworth had hidden her! Hidden her from Mona and the others, in thedumb-waiter! What a man he was! She had no idea what he intended to donext, but she was not afraid. It was an escapade, and of all thingsPatty loved an escapade!
After closing the doors, Bill put out the light in the butler's pantry,opened the door, slipped through the dimly lighted dining-room, andcame around by a side hall to the group in the main hall.
"Calling me?" he said. "I was just coming to say good-bye to you all.Where's Patty?"
"That's what we want to know," said Mona. "We thought she was with you."
"She isn't," said Bill, truthfully enough.
"Well, where CAN she be? I've looked everywhere! Even in the pantries."
"Hasn't one load already started?"
"Yes, Aunt Adelaide and the Kenerleys have gone."
"Didn't she go with them?"
"Why, she MUST have done so. Well, good-bye, dear old Bill, come andsee us again next summer, won't you?"
"I will so!" and Bill shook Mona's hand mightily, as an earnest of hiswords.
"And I'm sorry to go off and leave you, but you go to the station in afew minutes, don't you?"
"Yes, and Barker will look after me. Run along, Mona, I'll write you ina day or two, and tell you how much I've enjoyed my visit here."
Some further cordial good-byes were said, and then the car started offwith Daisy, Mona, and Cromer to the Country Club. Farnsworth flew backto the pantry.
"Hello," he said, as he drew up the dumb-waiter, "you WILL evade me,will you, you little bunch of perversity?"
Patty, who was still laughing at his daring deed, said, "Have they allgone?" "They sure have! You and I are here all alone."
"Oh, Bill!" and Patty's lip quivered a little. "How COULD you do that?What SHALL I do?"
"Now don't get ruffled, little one; my train goes in twenty minutes.You're going to the station to see me off, and then Barker will takeyou on to the Country Club to join the rest of them. You won't be halfan hour late!"
This wasn't a VERY dreadful outlook, so Patty smiled again.
"Why stay in this queer place?" she said. "Why not go out on theveranda?"
"No; there are eleven hundred servants bobbing up everywhere! Here Ican have you all to myself long enough to make you answer one question.Apple Blossom, will you marry me?"
"No, sir; thank you," and Patty blushed, but looked straight intoFarnsworth's eyes.
"You mean it, don't you?" he said, returning her gaze. "And why not,little girl?"
"Because, Billee, I don't want to marry anybody,--at least, not foryears and years. I like you AWFULLY,--and I appreciate all yourkindness, and your,--your liking for me----"
"Don't say liking, sweetheart; it's love,--deep, true, BIG love foryou,--you little sunbeam. Oh, Patty, CAN'T you?"
"No, Little Billee, I can't,--but,--but I DO like to have you love melike that!"
"Then I shall WAIT, dear!" and Bill's voice was full of triumphantgladness. "If you like to have me love you, I can hope and believe thatsome day you'll love me. You ARE too young, dear, you're just a littlegirl, I know."
"Why, I'm not even 'out,'" said Patty. "I'm to come out next winter,you know."
"Yes, and then you'll have lots of admirers, and they'll flatter you,but they won't spoil you. I know your sweet, simple, generous nature;it can't be spoiled, even by the foolishnesses of society." "Will YOUcome to my coming-out party, Bill?"
"I don't know, perhaps so. I may see you before then. And I'll write toyou, mayn't I, Apple Blossom?"
"Oh, yes, do! I love to get letters, and I know I'll love yours."
"DO love them, dear, and perhaps, through them, learn tolove,--Jiminetty Christmas, Apple Blossom, I've just ten minutes tocatch that train! Come on, dear, fly with me, at least to the railroadstation!"
They flew, and by speeding the car, Barker just managed to reach thestation in time. The ride was a silent one, but Farnsworth held Patty'shand in a close, warm pressure all the way. As they reached theplatform, he bent over her and whispered:
"Good-bye, sweetheart, DEAR little Apple Blossom. Some day I shall comeback and win you for my own. Until then, I shall just wait,--and loveyou."
A light kiss fell on the little hand he had been holding, and thenFarnsworth flung himself out of the motor-car, and on to the platformof the already moving train.
"To the Country Club, Barker," said Patty.
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