CHAPTER V
A DINNER PARTY
As Patty expressed it afterward, she felt as limp as a jelly-fish withthe grippe when she saw Susan at the head of Mona's table! Mrs.Hastings herself seemed in no way appalled at the sparkling array ofglass and silver, of lights and flowers, but she was secretly alarmedlest her ignorance of etiquette should lead her into blunders thatmight shame Miss Patty.
But Jack Pennington proved himself a trump. Without attractingattention, he touched or indicated which spoon or fork Mrs. Hastingsshould use. Or he gave her valuable advice regarding the viands.
"I say," he whispered, "you'd better duck the artichoke Hollandaise.You mightn't manage it just right. Or--well--take it, but don't attemptto eat it. You'd sure get into trouble."
Irish Susan had both quick wit and a warm heart, and she appreciatedgratefully the young man's good-natured assistance, and adroitlyfollowed his instructions. But Jack was a daring rogue, and thetemptation to have a little fun was too strong to resist.
"Are you fond of motoring, Mrs. Hastings?" he asked, innocently, whilePatty, on his other side, felt her heart beat madly and her cheeks growred.
But Susan wasn't caught napping this time.
"Oh, I like it," she said, "but I'm not fair crazy about it, likesome." She smiled benignly at Patty, and the few guests who overheardthe remarks thought nothing of it.
But naughty Jack went on.
"Oh, then you know of Miss Fairfield's fad. I didn't know you knew herso well. I thought you had just arrived here. Have you been to SpringBeach before?"
Susan looked at Jack with twinkling eyes. She well knew he was sayingthese things to tease Patty, and she looked kindly at the embarrassedgirl as she replied:
"Oh, my niece, Mona, has told me so much about her friend, MissFairfield, that I feel as if I had known her a long time."
Patty gasped. Surely Susan could take care of herself, after thatastounding speech!
Jack chuckled silently, and as the game promised rare sport, he kept on.
"Are you fond of bridge, Mrs. Hastings?"
Susan looked at him. So far all had gone well, but she didn't know howlong she could match his banter. So she favoured him with a deliberategaze, and said, "Bridge, is it? I'm fond of the game, but I play onlywith expayrienced players,--so don't ask me."
"Ho! ho! Jack, that's a good one on you!" said Guy Martin, who satwithin hearing. "You're right, Mrs. Hastings; he's no sort of a player,but I'm an expert. May I hope for a game with you some time?"
"We'll see about it, young sir," said Susan, with cold dignity, andthen turned her attention to her plate.
In response to a desperate appeal from Patty, Jack stopped teasing, andmade general conversation, which interested the young people, to theexclusion of Susan.
Then, supper over, he escorted the chaperon from the table, talking toher in low tones.
"I hope I didn't bother you," he said. "You see, I know all about it,and I think it's fine of you to help the girls out in this way."
"You helped me far more than you bothered me, sir," Susan replied witha grateful glance. "Will it soon be over now, sir?"
"Well, they'll have a few more dances, and probably they'll sing alittle. They'll go home before midnight. But, I say, Mrs. Hastings, Iwon't let 'em trouble you. You sit in this cosy corner, and if you'lltake my advice, you'll nod a bit now and then,--but don't go really tosleep. Then they'll let you alone."
Susan followed this good counsel, and holding her knitting carelesslyin her lap, she sat quietly, now and then nodding, and opening her eyeswith a slight start. The poor woman was really most uncomfortable, butPatty had ordered this performance and she would have done her best hadthe task been twice as hard.
"You were a villain to tease poor Susan so at the table," said Patty toJack, as they sauntered on the veranda between dances.
"She came through with flying colours," he replied, laughing at therecollection.
"Yes, but it was mean of you to fluster the poor thing."
"Don't you know why I did it?"
"To tease me, I suppose," and Patty drew down the corners of her mouthand looked like a much injured damsel.
"Yes; but, incidentally, to see that pinky colour spread all over yourcheeks. It makes you look like a wild rose."
"Does it?" said Patty, lightly. "And what do I look like at othertimes? A tame rose?"
"No; a primrose. Very prim, sometimes."
"I have to be very prim when I'm with you," and Patty glanced saucilyfrom beneath her long lashes; "you're so inclined to--"
"To what?"
"To friskiness. I NEVER know what you're going to do next."
"Isn't it nicer to be surprised?"
"Well,--that depends. It is if they're nice surprises."
"Oh, mine always are! I'm going to surprise you a lot of times thissummer. Are you to be here, at Mona's, all the rest of the season?"
"I shall be here two months, anyway."
"That's time enough for a heap of surprises. Just you wait! But,--Isay,--I suppose--oh, pshaw, I know this sounds horrid, but I've got tosay it. I suppose everything you're invited to, Mona must be also?"
Patty's eyes blazed at what she considered a very rude implication.
"Not necessarily," she said, coldly. "You are quite at liberty toinvite whom you choose. Of course, I shall accept no invitations thatdo not include Mona."
"Quite right, my child, quite right! Just what I was thinking myself."
Patty knew he was only trying to make up for his rudeness, and shelooked at him severely. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself," she said.
"I am! Oh, I AM! deeply, darkly, desperately ashamed. But I'vesucceeded in making your cheeks turn that peculiar shade of brick-redagain!"
"They aren't brick-red!"
"No? Well, a sort of crushed strawberry shading to magenta, then!"
Patty laughed, in spite of herself, and Jack smiled back at her.
"Am I forguv?" he asked, in a wheedling voice.
"On condition that you'll be particularly nice to Mona all summer. Andit's not much to your credit that I have to ASK such a thing of you!"
"You're right, Patty," and Jack looked honestly penitent. "I'm agood-for-nothing brute! A boor without any manners at all! Not a mannerto my name! But if you'll smile upon me, and let me,--er--surprise youonce in a while, I'll,--oh, I'll just tie myself to Mona's apronstrings!"
"Mona doesn't wear aprons!"
"No, I know it," returned Jack, coolly, and they both laughed.
But Patty knew she had already gained one friend for Mona, forheretofore, Jack Pennington had ignored the girl's existence.
"What are you doing to-morrow, Patty?" asked Dorothy Dennison, as sheand Guy Martin came up to the corner where Patty and Jack were sitting.It was a pleasant nook, a sort of balcony built out from the mainveranda, and draped with a few clustering vines. The veranda waslighted with Japanese lanterns, whose gayer glow was looked down uponby the silvery full moon.
"We're going to the Sayres' garden party,--Mona and I," said Patty.
"Oh, good gracious!" rejoined Dorothy. "I suppose Mona will have to beasked everywhere, now you're staying with her!"
"Not to YOUR parties, Dorothy, for I'm sure neither of us would care tocome!"
It was rarely that Patty spoke crossly to any one, and still morerarely that she flung out such a bitter speech as that; but she wasgetting tired of combating the prevalent attitude of the young peopletoward Mona, and though she had determined to overcome it, she began tothink it meant real warfare. Dorothy looked perfectly amazed. She hadnever heard gentle, merry Patty speak like that before.
Guy Martin looked uncomfortable, and Jack Pennington shook withlaughter.
"Them cheeks is now a deep solferino colour," he observed, and Patty'sflushed face had to break into smiles.
"Forgive me, Dorothy," she said; "I didn't mean what I said, andneither did you. Let's forget it."
Glad of this easy escape from a difficult s
ituation, Dorothy broke intoa merry stream of chatter about other things, and the quartette weresoon laughing gaily.
"You managed that beautifully, Patty," said Jack, as a little later,they returned to the house for the last dance. "You showed fine tact."
"What! In speaking so rudely to Dorothy?"
"Well, in getting out of it so adroitly afterward. And she had herlesson. She won't slight Mona, I fancy. Look here, Patty. You're abrick, to stand up for that girl the way you do, and I want to tell youthat I'll help you all I can."
"Oh, Jack, that's awfully good of you. Not but what I think you OUGHTto be kind and polite to her, but of course you haven't the same reasonthat I have. I'm her guest, and so I can't stand for any slight orunkindness to her."
"No, of course not. And there are lots of ways that I can--"
"That you can surprise Mona," interrupted Patty, laughing.
Jack smiled appreciation, and to prove it went straight to Mona andasked for the favour of the final dance. Mona was greatly elated, forhandsome Jack Pennington had never asked her to dance before. She wasnot a good dancer, for she was heavy, physically, and self-conscious,mentally; but Jack was skilful, and guided her lightly across theshining floors.
"I'll see you to-morrow at the Sayres'," he said, as the dance ended.
"Yes," said Mona, smiling. "We're going to the garden fete. The Sayreshave a house party, you know. I've always longed to have a house party."
"This would be a fine place for one," said Jack, glancing at the largeand numerous rooms.
"Yes, it would. Do you suppose I COULD have one?"
"Easy as pie!" declared Jack. "Why don't you?"
"Perhaps I will, after Aunt Adelaide comes. This,--this chaperonto-night is only temporary, you know."
"Yes, I know," said Jack, but he said no more. The discovery of Susanwas his secret with Patty, not with Mona. Then the young peopleprepared to depart, and Patty and Mona stood either side of Mrs.Hastings to assist her, if necessary, in receiving their good-nights.
Jack stood near, too, for he thought he might be of some slight help.
"Good-night, Mrs. Hastings," said Beatrice Sayre. "The girls are comingto my garden party to-morrow, and as my mother also expects guests, I'msure she'd be glad if you would come."
Susan, much bewildered at being thus addressed, looked about herhelplessly, and murmured uncertainly, "Thank you, Miss," when Jackinterrupted by saying, "Such a pity, Bee, but Mrs. Hastings goes awayto-morrow. Another aunt of Mona's is coming to play chaperon at 'RedChimneys.'"
"Oh," said Beatrice, carelessly; "then this is good-bye as well asgood-night, Mrs. Hastings. I've SO enjoyed meeting you."
These conventional phrases meant nothing on Beatrice's part, but italmost convulsed Patty to hear Susan thus addressed. However, she knewshe must play the game a few moments longer, and she did so, watchingthe thoughtless young guests as they shook hands with the masqueradingCOOK!
Jack Pennington was the last to go. "I say," he whispered to Patty,"it's been a great success! I don't see how you ever had the nerve totry it, but it worked all right!" Then he went away, and Patty and Monasank limply into chairs and shook with laughter. Susan instantlyreturned to her role of servant, and stood before Patty, as if waitingfor further orders.
"You were fine, Susan, just fine," Patty said, still giggling as shelooked at the satin clad figure.
"I did me best, Miss Patty. I made some shlips, sure, but I thried thathard, ye wuddent belave!" In her earnestness, Susan lapsed into herbroadest brogue, and the girls laughed afresh to see the silverheaddress wag above Susan's nodding head.
"You were all right, Susan," declared Mona. "Now you can trot off homeas fast as you like, or you can stay here over night, as you prefer."
But Susan wanted to go, as her duty was done, so, changing back to herown costume, she went away, gladdened by Mona's generous douceur.
"And now for bed," said Patty, and the two girls started upstairs. Butafter getting into a kimono, Mona came tapping at Patty's door. Shefound that young person in a white negligee, luxuriously curled upamong the cushions of a wide window seat, gazing idly out at the blackocean.
"Patty, you're a wonder!" her hostess remarked, with conviction. "Canyou ALWAYS do EVERYTHING you undertake? But I know you can. I never sawany one like you!"
"No," said Patty, complacently. "They don't catch 'em like me veryoften. But, I say, Mona, wasn't Susan just a peach? Though if JackPennington hadn't helped, I don't know how she would have behaved atthe supper table."
"Isn't he a nice young man, Patty?"
"Lovely. The flower of chivalry, and the glass of form, or whatever itis. But he's a waggish youth."
"Well, he's kind. Patty, I'm going to have a house party, and he'sgoing to help me!"
"You DON'T say! My dear Mona, you ARE blossoming out! But you haven'tasked MY permission yet."
"Oh, I know you'll agree to anything Jack Pennington favours."
"Sure, I will! But he seems to favour you, and I don't always agreewith you!"
"Well, anyway, Patty, it will be perfectly lovely,--and we'll have agorgeous time!"
"Where do I come in? Providing cooks for chaperons?"
"Nonsense! Aunt Adelaide will come to-morrow, and she'll do thechaperon act. Now, I'll tell you about the house party."
"Not to-night, Lady Gay. It's time for you to go beddy, and I, too,need my beauty sleep."
"You need nothing of the sort,--you're too beautiful as it is!"
"Oh, Mona,--Monissima! DON'T say those things to me! I'm but aweak-minded simpleton, and I MIGHT think you meant them, and growconceited! Hie thee away, fair maiden, and hie pretty swiftly, too. Andcall me not to breakfast foods until that the sun is well toward thezenith."
"You needn't get up till you choose, Patty. You know you are mistresshere."
"No, you're that. I'm merely the adviser-in-chief. And what I say goes!"
"Indeed it does! Good-night, Patty."
"Good-night, Mona. Scoot!"