CHAPTER VI
MAUDE’S CONFIDENCES
Meantime, Patty, in Miss Kent’s parlour, was singing her best. Thescheme appealed to her very strongly. She was glad to assist the kindand beautiful lady, and moreover, she enjoyed an escapade of any sort,and this surely was one.
Miss Kent was delighted with her voice, and predicted an ovation forher. They selected several of Patty’s best songs, and had theaccompanist in to rehearse with her.
“What about dress?” said Patty, after it was positively settled that shewas to sing at the concert.
“I’ll ride over and get you whatever you want,” said Channing, anxiousto be of service.
“Oh, no,” said Miss Kent, “that would be a shame for you to go to allthat trouble. I have a little white tulle gown that can be made justright in a jiffy. I am a bit taller than Miss Fairfield, but a tuck willfix that. Now, here’s an important point. You see, the notices and theprogrammes all say M’lle Farini will sing. Shall we let it go at that? Imean, let Miss Fairfield impersonate M’lle Farini, or shall we have anannouncement made at the opening of the concert, that Miss Fairfield isacting as substitute?”
“I’d rather let it go without the use of my name,” said Patty. “I don’tknow as it would be quite right, but I’d love to let people think I wasthe Farini lady. It would be such fun.”
“Well,” said Miss Kent, “let’s just leave it. If we don’t say anythingof course the audience will take it for granted that you are M’lleFarini. And if any objections are raised, or if it comes out afterward,I can say that I had to substitute you at the last moment, and there wasno time to have new programmes printed.”
“That will be fine,” Patty declared; “I do love a joke, and this isreally a good one, I think. Yes, let me be M’lle Farini, for one nightonly, and if the real owner of that name objects, why, it will be allover then, and she’ll have to take it out in objecting. But I shan’tdisgrace her, even if I don’t sing as well as she does.”
“But you do, Miss Fairfield,” exclaimed Miss Kent; “she has a fuller,stronger voice, but yours has more melody and sweetness. You will remainhere over night, of course.”
“Oh, I never thought about that!” and Patty looked a little alarmed. “Idon’t know what Adele will say.”
“Oh, please do. You really must. I have two bedrooms in my suite, and Ican make you very comfortable.”
“Well,” and Patty hesitated; “I’ll have to talk this thing over withMrs. Kenerley. I’ll telephone her now, and if she is willing, I willstay here all night.”
So Patty called up Adele and told her the whole story.
Adele listened, and then she laughed, good-naturedly, and told Patty shecould do as she liked. “I think it’s a harum-scarum performance,” shesaid, “but Jim says, go ahead, if you want to. You stay with your newfriend all night. Of course you couldn’t come home after the concert. Isuppose Mr. Channing will stay at that hotel, too. And then he can bringyou home in the morning. What will you wear?”
Patty told her, and then she asked Adele not to tell the others what shewas up to. “I’m afraid they’ll come over,” she said; “and I can carry itthrough all right before strangers, but if all you people sat up infront of me, giggling, I couldn’t keep my face straight, I know; sodon’t tell them till after it’s over.”
“All right, girlie, I will keep your fateful secret locked in my hearttill you bid me speak. Have a good time, and sing your sweetest.”
“Now that’s all right,” and Patty looked enchanted at the prospect offun ahead. “I’m going to have the time of my life! You go away now,Chick, and Miss Kent and I will see about my frock. Shall we meet atdinner?”
“Yes, I want you two girls to dine with me. Do you know anybody, Maudie,to make a fourth?”
“No, wait, Chick. I don’t want to dine in public. Nor do I want MissFairfield to be bothered with a company dinner. I’ll tell you a betterplan. She and I will dine alone, here in my little parlour. You get yourdinner downstairs, by yourself, and then, after the concert is over, youcan invite us to supper and we can talk it over.”
Channing acquiesced, and then he went away, not to see them again untilsupper time.
“You are so good, Miss Fairfield——”
“Oh, do call me Patty. I like it so much better.”
“I’ll be glad to. And you must call me Maude. It is a perfect Godsend,your helping me out like this. May I tell you just a little bit aboutmyself?”
“I wish you would. And I’m so glad I can be of service to you.”
But first they must needs attend to the all-important matter of Patty’sfrock, and sure enough, a white tulle of Maude’s was easily and quicklyaltered till it just fitted Patty. It was new and modish, made with fullskirts and tiers of narrow frills. There was no lace or other trimming,save the soft tulle ruffles, and Maude decreed no jewelry of any sort,merely a few yellow roses at the belt,—the tiny mignon roses. These sheordered from the office, and by that time their dinner was served.
As they sat enjoying the few but well-chosen dishes that Maude hadselected, she told Patty somewhat of her life, and Patty listened withinterest.
“I have to support myself, my mother and a crippled sister,” Maude said,“and I had ambition to become a great actress. But after a fair trial, Ifound I could be at best only a mediocre actress. I found, however, thatI had talent for organizing and arranging entertainments, and Iconcluded I could make more money that way than on the stage. So I tookit up as a regular business, and I have succeeded. But this year has notbeen a very good one. I’ve had some misfortunes, and twice I didn’t getthe money due me, because of dishonest assistants. And, I tell youtruly, Patty, if I had lost five or six hundred dollars tonight, itwould have been a hard blow. You have saved me from that, and I blessand thank you. Do you realize, little girl, what you are doing for me?”
“I’m so glad I can. Tell me about your sister.”
“Clare? Oh, she is the dearest thing! She never has walked, but in spiteof her affliction she is the happiest, cheeriest, sweetest nature youever saw. I love her so, and I love to be able to get little delicaciesand comforts for her. See, here is her picture.”
Patty took the case and saw the portrait of a sweet-faced girl, littlemore than a child.
“She is a dear, Maude. I don’t wonder you love her. Oh, I’m so glad Ihappened over here today. Do you know Bill Farnsworth?”
“I met him once or twice the same winter I met Chick Channing. Mr.Farnsworth seemed very stiff and sedate. Chick is much more fun.”
“Chick is gayer, but Bill is an awfully nice man.”
“I was with a vaudeville troupe that year. It wasn’t very nice,—hardwork and small pay. It was my last attempt on the stage. If I couldn’tbe a big and fine actress I didn’t want to be any at all. So I’m glad Igave it up for this sort of work. This season is about over now, and Ishall have entertainments in New York this winter. I’ve lots ofinfluential patrons, and I hope for success. But I shall never forgetyour heavenly kindness in helping me out tonight. Now, perhaps, we hadbetter be getting dressed.”
Patty made a careful toilette, for she wanted to look her best, and shesucceeded. The soft dainty white tulle was exceedingly becoming, and shehad done her hair the prettiest way she knew. Maude’s slippers were theleast bit loose, but they looked all right, and Patty refused a loan ofa pair of long white gloves.
“They’re not wearing them with evening gowns this season,” she said,“and I hate them, anyhow.”
“You’re right,” and Maude surveyed her critically. “Your arms arelovely,—so soft and dimpled. You are more effective without gloves.”
Through the opening numbers of the concert, Patty sat in the ante-roomwaiting her turn. She was not nervous or apprehensive, and when the timecame, she walked out on the platform and bowed gracefully, with acordial little smile.
She was to sing almost exactly the selections of M’lle Farini. But sheh
ad substituted others in one or two instances, and, of course, forencores, she could make her own choice.
And there were plenty of encores. Patty’s sweet voice charmed by itssympathy and grace, rather than by volume. And it made a very decidedhit with the audience. They applauded continuously until Patty wasforced to respond a second and a third time, after each of her numbers.
Channing, sitting in the audience, heard people saying, “Who is thisFarini? I never heard of her before. Her voice is a little wonder!”
Miss Kent was delighted with Patty’s success. She had felt sure thehearers would like Patty’s music, but she did not expect such unanimousapproval nor such enthusiasm.
Four times Patty was announced to sing, and as each was encored at leastonce, it made a good many songs. At the last appearance she was verytired, but she bravely endeavoured not to show it. She went through thenumber beautifully, but the deafening applause made it impossible forher not to give them one more.
“I can’t,” said Patty, as Maude came to her with entreaties. “I’m allin, as the boys say. Oh, well, I’ll sing one more little thing. Noaccompaniment at all, please, Maude.”
Then Patty returned to the platform and when the enthusiastic welcomeceased, she sang very softly a little cradle song. The hauntingsweetness of the notes and the delicate languor of Patty’s tired voicemade an exquisite combination more effective even than her other work.She finished in a pure, fine minor strain, and with a little tired bow,walked slowly from the stage.
Then the house went wild. They clapped and shouted brava! and demandedmore. But the concert was over; Miss Kent made a little speech ofthanks, and the footlights went out. Reluctantly, the people rose fromtheir seats, but hung around, hoping to get a glimpse of M’lle Farini.
Patty’s sweet voice charmed by its sympathy]
“It isn’t so much her voice,” Chick overheard somebody say, “as the wayshe has with her. She’s charming, that’s what she is, charming!”
“We can’t have supper in the dining-room,” Maude said, laughingly, toChanning. “Patty would be mobbed. Those people are just lying in waitfor her.”
“But I want to,” cried Patty. “I’ve done the work, now I want the fun.Let’s have supper there. They won’t really come up and speak to me, whenthey don’t know me.”
“Won’t they!” said Maude. “But indeed you shall have supper wherever youlike. You deserve anything you want. Come on, Chick, it’s to be just asPatty says.”
So to the supper-room they went, and there Patty became the observed ofall. At first, she didn’t mind, and then it became most embarrassing.She could hear her name mentioned on all sides, and though it was alwayscoupled with compliments, it made her uncomfortable to be soconspicuous.
“Though of course,” she said gaily, “they’re not talking about me, butabout M’lle Farini. Well, I’m pretty hungry, Chick. Maude made me eat alight dinner, as I was going to sing. Now I want to make up. Can I havesome bouillon, and some chicken _à la_ king, and some salad, and someice cream?”
“Well, well, what a little gourmande! Why, you’d have nightmare afterall that!”
“No, I wouldn’t. I’m fearfully hungry. Honest I am.”
So Patty had her selection, and though she ate little of each course,she took small portions with decided relish.
“I feel like a new lady!” she declared when she had finished. “Is theredancing? Can I have a turn? I don’t want to go to bed yet.”
“Of course you can dance,” said Maude. “But you must remain M’lle Farinifor the evening. Can you remember?”
“’Course I can. It’ll be fun. Besides, I’m only going to have one trotwith Chick and then I’ll go by-by, like a good little girl.”
But, as might have been expected, after her one dance, Patty wasbesieged by would-be partners, clamouring for an introduction. Themanager of the hotel was bribed, cajoled, and threatened in the variousefforts of his guests to get introductions to Patty and to Miss Kent.
“Just one or two,” Patty whispered to Maude, and so two or three youngmen won the coveted presentation, and Patty was urged to dance.
But this she refused. She wanted to chat a little with these strangers,but she didn’t care to dance with men so lately made acquainted.
Channing acted as bodyguard, and his close inspection would have barredout any one he did not altogether approve of. But they were a nice classof men, polite and well-bred, and they were entertaining as well. Pattyhad a right down good time, and not the least part of the fun was themasquerading as another.
“You are staying here long, M’lle Farini?” asked Mr. Gaunt, anattractive man of musical tastes.
“No,” Patty replied, “I have to leave early in the morning. I’m due tosing at another hotel tomorrow night.”
“Ah, a near-by house?”
“Not very. Do you sing, Mr. Gaunt?”
“Yes, baritone. I’d like to sing with you. I’ve an idea our voices wouldblend.”
“I’m sure they would. I love to sing duets. But,” and pretty Pattylooked regretful, “it cannot be. We will never meet again.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I feel it. But tomorrow I’m going to have my fortune told. If the seersays anything about our future meeting, then I’ll look for you lateron.”
“If the seer is a true soothsayer, and no fake, he can’t help tellingyou we will meet again; because it is a foregone conclusion.”
“Then I shall expect you and look forward to the meeting,” and Pattyheld out her hand to say good-night, for it was after midnight, andMaude was making signs for her to come with her.
But just then a clerk came toward them with a puzzled face. “There’s atelephone call for a Miss Fairfield,” he said; “and the speaker saysshe’s here with Mr. Channing. Are you Mr. Channing, sir?”
“Yes,” said Chick. “It’s all right. M’lle Farini has occasion to usedifferent names in her profession. Which booth?”
“This way, sir.”
Channing, beckoning to Patty, followed the man, and whispered to her totake the message, as it must be from some of the Freedom Castle people.
Patty went into the booth, and to her surprise was greeted by Philip VanReypen.
“Well,” she exclaimed, a little annoyed, “is this a habit? Do you expectto call me up every night at midnight?”
“Now, Pattykins, don’t get mad. I called you up to apologize for what Isaid last night. I take this hour, ’cause I know you’re all wrapped upin people all day, and only at night do you have a moment to waste onme, and I _must_ tell you how sorry I am that I was rude to you.”
“Rude, how?”
“Why, telling you I was coming up there whether you asked me or not. Youdon’t want me to, do you?”
“No, Phil, since you ask me plainly, I _don’t_. Not but that _I’d_ liketo see you, but I’m here on Bill Farnsworth’s invitation, and since hedidn’t ask you,——”
“Yes, I know. And it’s all right. I don’t want to butt in where I’m notasked. And I’m sorry I called you up, if it bothered you. And——”
“All right, Phil. Now if you’ve any more to say, can’t you write it? ForI’m just going to bed. Good-night.” And Patty hung up the receiver.