CHAPTER XIV
A GREAT SUCCESS
Patty always declared afterward, that Chick hypnotised her, and thatshe _never_ would have done it, had she been in her right mind.
But, on the spur of the moment, carried away with the spirit of thething, knowing that it was then or never, and taunted by the “_dare_,”Patty stepped up on the low chair, and said, “People Dear” before sherealised what she was about. Then, like a flash, an acute realisation ofwhat she had done, came over her, followed with lightning-like swiftnessby the knowledge that she _must_ go on. To go on was the only possiblejustification for having gone so far. So, go on, she did.
“Dear People, listen a minute. This is unconventional and all that, Iknow,—but just hark. Here is a little girl, a beautiful and well-bornchild, for somebody’s adoption. Who wants her? Surely among all of youthere is some woman-heart who could love this dear baby enough to giveher a home. Look at her! Is she not charming? And as bright andaffectionate as she is pretty. Kiss your hand to the people, Milly.”
Milly always obeyed the slightest wish of her beloved Patty, and withthe most adorable smiles, and coy glances from her big, dark eyes, sheblew kisses from her tiny fingertips.
“Now love Mr. Chick,” went on Patty, shaking in her shoes, lest thismight try Channing’s endurance beyond its limit.
But he was game, and when Milly’s dimpled arms went round his neck andshe laid her soft cheek against his hair, and crooned a few little lovenotes, the audience applauded with delight.
“You see,” went on Patty, “this baby is homeless. I want to give her toa kind, wise and loving woman. No others need apply. I will say no morenow, but any one who is interested may speak to me about it either hereand now, or at my home. I will tell all particulars to any one who wantsthe baby, and will be the right mother for her.”
Flushed with the excitement of the moment, Patty made a deprecatinglittle bow, and stepped down from the low chair.
There was a moment’s silence, and then Milly’s high, thin little voicepiped out: “Me fink Patty booful!”
This disarmed criticism and everybody laughed, while a ripple ofapplause floated through the room. And then half a dozen of the ladiesmoved toward the end of the room where Patty and Milly were.
They were followed by others, for all wanted to see more closely theinteresting mite, and the unusual circumstance roused curiosity evenamong those who had no thought of taking the child.
But it seemed several did want her, or at least wanted to investigatethe matter.
Channing, by Patty’s side, helped to answer questions. He was aninvaluable aid, for his quick wit and pleasant personality made for aclear understanding of the case.
“Nonsense, Mrs. Fanning,” he said to a gay young matron, “you don’t wantanother olive branch! You’ve five at home, now!”
“I know it, but this is such a heavenly baby, and my youngest is eight.I’d love to have this cherub, though I don’t know what Mr. Fanning wouldsay——”
“Now, you musn’t be greedy,” said Chick, smiling; “be content with yourown little brood, and let somebody take Milly, who really needs an angelin the house.”
Milly did not become frightened at the amount of curious attention shereceived, but serene and sweet, smiled happily at all, and cuddled closeto Patty.
It was not difficult to discover who was really in earnest among theinquirers. Some were charmed by the baby’s attractions, but had nothought of taking her to keep. Others looked at her wistfully, but forone reason or another were unable to adopt her. But there were three whowere positive of their desire for the child, and each of the three wasdetermined to have her.
“I offered first,” argued Mrs. Chaffee, a haughty dame, whose dark eyesblazed angrily, as she noted Patty’s indifference to her claim. “I wishto have the child, and I can give her every advantage.”
“So can I,” said Miss Penrose, a delightful middle-aged spinster, whowanted an heir to her fortune and a pet to lavish her affection upon. “Iwant her very much. I can devote all my time and attention to her. Sheshall have the best of education and training, and my wealth shall allbe hers.”
Patty considered. Miss Penrose was of aristocratic family, and herprestige was undeniable. She would give all care and study to a mostcareful, correct bringing up of the baby, and Milly’s future would beassured. But, and Patty did not herself realise at first why sheobjected to Miss Penrose, until it suddenly dawned on her that it wasbecause the lady had no sense of humour! Patty was sure she would takethe upbringing of Milly so seriously that the sunny baby would become alittle automaton. This was instinctive on Patty’s part, for she knewMiss Penrose only slightly, but the earnestness of the lady was veryapparent.
Smilingly holding the question in abeyance, Patty listened to the pleaof the third applicant. This was Mrs. Colton, a sad-faced, sweet-eyedyoung widow. Two years before, a motor accident had snatched from herher husband and baby girl, and had left her for a time hovering betweenlife and death. Only of late, had she listened to her friends’ urging togo among people once more, and this tea was almost her first appearancein society since her tragic affliction.
With tears in her eyes, she said to Patty: “I _must_ have the baby. Sheis not unlike my little Gladys, and she would be to me a veritableGodsend. I have thought often of adopting a child, and this is the one Iwant. I love her already. Will you come to me, Milly?”
Milly eyed her. For a moment the two looked at each other intently.There was a breathless pause, and all who were near felt the dramaticintensity of the moment. Mrs. Colton smiled, and it may have been thatMilly read in that smile all the pent-up mother-love and longing, forshe dropped Patty’s hand and walked slowly toward the lady,—her littlearms outstretched. Reaching her, she threw her arms about her neck,exclaiming, “I fink you’s booful!”
This phrase was her highest praise, and as Mrs. Colton’s arms closedround the child, no one could doubt that these two hearts were foreverunited.
“I hope you _will_ take her, Mrs. Colton,” said Patty, earnestly; “youare made for each other.”
“Indeed, I will take her, if I may. In fact, I cannot let her go!” andthe tear-dimmed eyes, full of affection, gazed at the little cherub.
“But _I_ want her,” declared Mrs. Chaffee. “I asked for her first, and Ithink it most unfair——”
“I’m not auctioning the baby, Mrs. Chaffee,” said Patty, smiling at thedetermined lady; “it isn’t a question of who asked first. Milly and Mrs.Colton are too perfectly suited to each other to let me even considerany other mother for the child. Please give up all thought of it, for Ihave made up my mind.”
Miss Penrose was more acquiescent, and nonchalantly presumed she couldget an equally pretty baby from an asylum. To which Patty heartilyagreed.
It was arranged that Patty should take Milly home with her for a fewdays, till Mrs. Colton could prepare for her reception. Also, shepromised to call in her lawyer and see about the legal processes ofadoption in this most unusual case.
All unwitting of the plans for her destiny, Milly beamed impartially oneverybody, and went with Patty to make adieux to the hostess.
“I do apologise,” said Patty, smiling, “for this eccentric performance.But when you know me better, dear Mrs. Meredith, you will expect strangehappenings when I’m about. All my friends know this.”
The speech was a clever one, for Mrs. Meredith greatly desired to beclassed among the friends of Patty Fairfield, the society belle.
“It was charming of you,” she returned, “to choose my drawing-room foryour pretty project. I trust you will always feel free to avail yourselfof any opportunity I can offer.”
Milly made her dear little curtsey; Channing murmured polite phrases,and they went away.
“Well!” said Chick, as they whirled along homeward, “we came, we saw,and you bet we conquered! How about it?”
“I should say we did!” and Patty’s face glowed
with satisfaction andhappiness. “There’s nobody I’d rather give Milly to than Mrs. Colton.She’s a perfect dear, and her great sorrow has left her with an aching,hungry heart, that this little scrap of happiness can fill.”
“You were a brick, Patty! I didn’t think you’d dare do it.”
“I couldn’t have, if I’d stopped to think. But you dared me—and I nevercould refuse a dare!”
“Then I claim some of the credit of the success of our scheme.”
“All of it, Chick. I never should have dreamed of such an unheard ofperformance! What _will_ Nan say?”
“Let’s go in and see; may I come in?”
“Yes, do. I want you to back me up, if they jump on me.”
But they didn’t. Though Nan and Mr. Fairfield were utterly astounded atthe story they heard, they had only praise for the result.
“The very one!” declared Nan. “Mrs. Colton is a lovely woman, and herwealth and education and refined tastes will insure Milly exactly theright kind of a home for life. Oh, Patty, it’s fine! But what _did_ Mrs.Meredith think?”
“Oh,” said Patty, airily, “as it was the illustrious Me, she wasoverjoyed to have her house turned into an auction room! She would havebeen equally delighted if I’d made a bear garden of it.”
“You conceited little rascal,” said her father, shocked at thisself-esteem.
“No, it wasn’t _my_ idea. You all know _my_ overweening modesty. ButChick, here, said that the parvenu element in the lady’s soul would bekindly disposed toward,—well, let us say, toward the daughter ofFrederick Fairfield.”
This turning of the tables made them all laugh, but Channing said, “It’squite true. I know the Meredith type, and I was sure that to be madeconspicuous by an acknowledged social power, like our Patty, would beunction to her soul.”
“Well, it was a crazy piece of business,” said Mr. Fairfield, “but as itturned out so admirably, we can’t complain. It is right down splendid,to get the little one taken by such a fine woman as Mrs. Colton. I’msure it will be a most successful arrangement. And we owe you a vote ofthanks, Channing, for bringing it about.”
“Oh, I’m only accessory before the fact. Patty did it. I wish you couldhave seen her when she mounted that chair! It was as good as a play. Herdo-or-die expression, concealed beneath a society smile, was a wholeshow!”
“I don’t care, I accomplished my purpose,” and Patty beamed withsatisfaction; “but it was mostly because Chick dared me!”
“Let us hope I’ll always be present at any crisis in your life to dareyou!” said Channing. “It’s an easy way to achieve great results.”
* * * * *
When Patty’s friends heard of her episode, they bombarded her withtelephone messages and notes and calls concerning it. Some chaffed herand others praised, but all were agog over the matter. Even Mrs. VanReypen telephoned to know if the report she had heard were true.
“What did you hear?” asked Patty.
“That you went to a tea and auctioned off a baby.”
“No, that isn’t quite the true version of what happened. Now, I’ll tellyou.”
“No, don’t. I can’t bear to talk over the telephone. Come and see me,and bring that child along. I want to see it.”
Mrs. Van Reypen’s wish was usually looked upon as a command, and thenext afternoon Patty started off with Milly to call on her elderlyfriend.
“What a baby! Oh, _what_ a baby!” was the greeting the child received,for Mrs. Van Reypen was most enthusiastic. “Why didn’t you keep heryourself? How can you let her go? I never saw such a lovely baby!”
“She is,” agreed Patty, smiling, as Milly curtsied to Mrs. Van Reypenover and over again. “But I couldn’t keep her. I don’t want the care andresponsibility of a kiddy. Would you have liked to take her?”
“I believe I would, if you had offered me the chance. But no, I am tooold to train a baby now. Do you know, though, Patty, the care of orphanchildren has always appealed to me as one of the best of philanthropies.I sometimes think even yet I will start a home for such little waifs. Imean a real homelike sort of a place,—not the institution usuallyfounded for such a purpose.”
“It would be a splendid thing, Lady Van. Go ahead, and do it. I willhelp you, if I can.”
“Would you, Patty? Would you give of your time and interest to helpestablish the thing, and be one of the workers for it?”
“Yes, I would. I don’t want the entire responsibility of little Milly,but I am glad I’ve found a good home for her. And if there are othersimilar little unfortunates, and of course there are, I’d be more thanwilling to help you in a project to make them happy and cared for.”
“Well, I’ll remember that, and I think I’ll set about planning for it.I’m getting older all the time, and what I do, ought to be begun soon.Patty, you are very dear to me,—you know that?”
“It’s kind of you to say so, Lady Van, and I do appreciate and greatlyvalue your affection for me. I wish I could do something to show my lovein return, and if you decide to go into this scheme of yours, call on mefor any help I can give.”
“Thank you, dear. But, Patty, there is another way in which you couldgreatly please me,—if you—but I think you know.”
Patty did know what was coming, but she affected ignorance. “’Most anyway, Lady Van, I’m glad to please you, but I think this Orfling Homeplan the most feasible and practicable. When shall us begin?”
“But I’m not thinking of that just now. Patty, you dear girl,—don’tyou—_can’t_ you bring yourself to care for Philip?”
“Oh, I do care for Phil. I care for him a lot. We’re the greatest chums.He’ll help us with the new scheme, won’t he?”
“But I mean to care for him, especially. The way he cares for you.”
“Now, dear Lady Van, let’s not discuss that today. I’m so busy gettingthis matter of Milly fixed up, I can’t turn to other topics. Don’t youthink it would be nice for me to get a sort of wardrobe together forher, before she goes to Mrs. Colton’s?”
“No. I think it would be ridiculous! Mrs. Colton has plenty of means,and she has taste and knows what is right and proper for the child farbetter than you do. Give the baby a parting gift if you like—I’ll giveher one myself. I’ll give her a silver porringer. She’s ’most too bigfor a porringer, but she can keep it for an heirloom. The one I mean togive her is an old Dutch one of real value. But, Patty, as to Philip.”
“Not now, please, Lady Van, dear,” and Patty put her fingers to herears.
“Well, some other time, then. But, Patty, if you could learn to care formy boy, I’d—I’d make you my heir.”
“Oh, fie, fie, Lady Van! You’re trying to buy my young affections? Now,you mustn’t do that. And, too, don’t you know that the best way to makeme dislike Phil is to continually urge him upon me.”
Mrs. Van Reypen looked a little taken aback at this, and immediatelydropped the subject, for which Patty was devoutly thankful. She did likePhilip, but she did not want his aunt arranging affairs for her, forPatty was an independent nature, and especially so where her plans forher own future were concerned.
So she gladly turned the conversation back to the matter of theChildren’s Home, and soon realised that Mrs. Van Reypen was greatly inearnest about it, and that it might soon become a reality.