CHAPTER VIII
THE EARL OF RUTHVEN
After a time the men came from the dining-room and rejoined the ladies.
Patty was chatting with a group of young women, and when she glancedaround, it was to see Lord Ruthven standing at her side.
"I was miles away from you at dinner," he said, "but now there is anopportunity, let us begin our lessons in English at once."
"Do," said Patty, smiling; "where shall be our classroom?"
"We'll pre-empt this sofa," said Lord Ruthven, indicating, as he spoke, agold-framed Louis XIV. tete-a-tete. "We'll pretend that it is a realschoolroom, with four walls hung with maps and charts--just such as youused to have when you were a little girl."
Patty smiled at this reference to her far-away school-days, but fell inwith his mood.
"Yes," she said, "and you must be the stern schoolmaster, and I thestupid pupil who has been kept in after school."
But their merry game was interrupted by Lady Herenden's invitation to theballroom.
Escorted by Lord Ruthven, Patty followed the others to the great hallwhere they were to dance.
It was a resplendent apartment, with balconies and boxes, from which thespectators could look down upon the dancers. A fine orchestra furnishedthe music, and Patty, who loved to dance, found her feet involuntarilykeeping time to the harmonious strains.
"Shall we have a try?" said Lord Ruthven, and in a moment they weregliding over the smooth floor.
Patty already knew that English dancing is not like the American steps,but she was so completely mistress of the art, that she could adaptherself instantly to any variation.
"I won't compliment your dancing," said the Earl, as the waltz wasfinished, "for you must have been told so often how wonderfully well youdance. But I must tell you what a pleasure it is to dance with you."
Patty thought this a very pretty speech, and graciously gave his lordshipsome other dances for which he asked, and then, leaving her with LadyHerenden, he excused himself and went away. Then Patty was besieged withwould-be partners. Her dancing had called forth the admiration ofeverybody, and the young men crowded about, begging to see herdance-card.
Only Mr. Merivale stood aloof. He was still sulky, and he looked so likea cross schoolboy that Patty took pity on him.
She slightly nodded her head at him by way of invitation, and he cameslowly toward her.
"Which two do you want?" she said, demurely.
Merivale's face lighted up. "You are indeed kind," he said, in a lowvoice. "I will take any you will give me. My card is blank as yet."
So Patty arranged the dances, and the young man went away looking muchhappier. The evening was all too short. Patty whirled through dance afterdance, and between them was restored to Lady Herenden or Lady Hamilton,only to be claimed the next minute by another partner.
"What a belle it is!" said Lady Herenden, patting the girl's shoulderaffectionately. "You have made a real sensation, Miss Fairfield."
"But I'm Cinderella, to-night," she said, gaily.
"Wait till to-morrow, and see all my popularity vanish."
Lady Herenden did not understand, but took it as merry chaff and paid noheed.
Then Lord Ruthven came for the last dance.
"This is an extra, Miss Fairfield," he said; "will you give it to me?"
Patty agreed, but as they walked away, his Lordship said:
"You look really tired; would you not rather sit on the terrace thandance?"
"I am tired," said Patty, honestly; "I think it's carrying this heavytrain around. I've never before danced in a long gown."
"Then you shall rest. Let us sit on the terrace, and I'll send for an icefor you."
Lord Ruthven was very kind and courteous. He found a delightful corner ofthe terrace unoccupied, and he arranged two wicker easy-chairs, wherethey might be just out of the way of the promenaders. He asked a footmanto bring the ices, and then seated himself beside Patty.
"Is it not beautiful," he said, "the rose garden in the moonlight? Onecan almost fancy the roses opening beneath the moon's light as in daytimeby the sun's warm rays."
"Yes," said Patty, falling in with his fanciful mood, "and I think,perhaps, at night, the white roses and the pale yellow ones bloom. Thenat daybreak, the pink or blush roses open, and at midday the deep redones."
"You have the mind of a poet, Miss Fairfield. Where do you get thosegraceful conceits?"
"Oh, I don't know," said Patty, carelessly; "I think they are the resultof this beautiful moonlight night, and these picturesque surroundings."
"Yes, I am sure that is true. You have a soul that responds to all beautyin art or nature. Let us take a short turn in the rose garden, and get aview of this noble old house with the moonlight full upon it."
"But I want my ice cream," objected Patty, who still had her schoolgirlappetite.
"We'll stay but a moment, and we'll return to find it awaiting us,"gently insisted Lord Ruthven, and Patty amiably went down the terracesteps and along the garden path with him.
Near a clump of cedars, only a short distance away, they turned to lookat the beautiful old house. Herenden Hall was always a splendid picture,but especially at night, backgrounded by a gray sky full of racingclouds, and touched at every gable by the silver moonlight, it wasenchanting.
"Oh," said Patty, drawing a sigh, "it is the most wonderful effect I eversaw. See that great, quiet roof sloping darkly away, and beneath, the gaylights of the terrace, and the laughter of happy people."
"It is a beautiful picture," said Lord Ruthven, looking steadily atPatty, "but not so beautiful as another one I see. A lovely face framedin soft, shining curls, against a background of dark cedar trees."
His tone, even more than his words, alarmed Patty. She was not used tosuch speeches as this, and she said, gravely: "Take me back to the house,please, Lord Ruthven."
"Not just yet," pleaded the nobleman. "Dear Miss Fairfield, listen to mea moment. Let me tell you something. Let me justify myself. I oughtn't totalk to you like this, I know--but the fact is--oh, the fact is you'vecompletely bowled me over."
"What?" said Patty, not at all comprehending his meaning.
"Yes; I'm done for--and at first sight! And by an American! But it's afact. I adore you, Miss Fairfield--I'm so desperately in love with youthat I can't down it. Oh, I know I oughtn't to be talking to you likethis. I ought to see your father, and all that. And I will, as soon as Ican, but--oh, I say, Patty, tell me you like me a little!"
It suddenly dawned on Patty that she was having a proposal! And from anEnglish Earl! And all on account of her grown-up gown! The absurdity ofit impressed her far more than the romantic side of it, and though alittle frightened, she couldn't help smiling at the Earl's tragic tones.
"Nonsense, Lord Ruthven," she said, though her cheeks were pink; "don'ttalk like that. Please cut me that lovely cluster of roses, and then takeme back to Lady Hamilton."
The Earl drew a penknife from his pocket, and cut the flowers she askedfor. Then he stood, trimming off the thorns, and looking down at her.
Patty had never looked so winsome. Her garb made her seem a grown woman,and yet the situation alarmed her, and her perplexed face was that of atroubled child.
"Tell me," he repeated, "that you like me a little."
"Of course I like you a little," returned Patty, in a matter-of-factvoice. "Why shouldn't I?"
"That's something," said the Earl, in a tone of satisfaction, "and nowwill you accept these flowers as a gift from me? As, for the moment, I'venothing else to offer."
Patty took the flowers in both hands, but Lord Ruthven still held them,too, saying: "And will you let them mean----?"
"No," cried Patty, "they don't mean anything--not anything at all!"
Lord Ruthven clasped Patty's two hands, roses and all, in his own.
"They do," he said quietly; "they mean I love you. Do you understand?"
He looked straight into the troubled, beseeching eyes that met his own.
> "Please let me go, Lord Ruthven--_please!_" said Patty, her handstrembling in his own.
"You may go, if you will first call me by some less formal name. Patty,dearest, say Sylvester--just once!"
This desperate request was too much for Patty's sense of humour.
"Why can't I say it twice?" she said in a low tone, but her voice wasshaking with laughter.
"You little witch!" exclaimed the Earl, and his clasp tightened on herhands. "Now you shan't go until you _have_ said it twice!"
"Sylvester--Sylvester--there!" said Patty, her eyes twinkling with fun,and her lips on the verge of laughter. Then, gently disengaging her handsfrom his, she gathered up her long white train, and prepared to run away.
The Earl laid a detaining hand on her arm. "Miss Fairfield," he said,"Patty, I won't keep you now, but to-morrow you'll give me anopportunity, won't you? to tell you----"
"Wait till to-morrow, my lord," said Patty, really laughing now. "Youwill probably have changed your mind."
"How little you know me!" he cried, reproachfully, and then they hadreached the terrace, and joined the others.
Soon after the guests all retired to their own rooms, and the moonlighton Herenden Hall saw no more the gay scene on the terrace.
Patty, passing through her own room, discovered that her two trunks hadarrived and had been unpacked. She went straight on and tapped at LadyHamilton's door. "Get me out of this gown, please, Marie; I've had quiteenough of being a grown-up young woman!"
"What's the matter, Patty?" said Lady Kitty, looking round. "Didn't youhave a good time this evening?"
"The time of my life!" declared Patty, dropping into her own graphicspeech, as she emerged from the heap of lace and silk. "I'll see youlater, Kitty," and without further word she returned to her own room.
And later, when Marie had been dismissed, Patty crept back to LadyHamilton, a very different Patty, indeed. Her hair fell in two longbraids, with curly tails; a dainty dressing-gown enveloped her slightfigure; and on her bare feet were heelless satin slippers. She found LadyKitty in an armchair before the wood fire, awaiting her.
Patty threw a big, fat sofa pillow at her friend's feet, and settledherself cosily upon it.
"Well, girlie," said Lady Hamilton, "come to the story at once. Whathappened to you as a grown-up?"
"What usually happens to grown-ups, I suppose," said Patty, demurely;"the Earl of Ruthven proposed to me."
"What!" cried Lady Hamilton, starting up, and quite upsetting Patty fromher cushion.
"Yes, he did," went on Patty, placidly; "shall I accept him?"
"Patty, you naughty child, tell me all about it at once! Oh, what shall Isay to your father and mother?"
Patty grinned. "Yes, it was all your fault, Kitty. If I hadn't worn yourgown, he would never have dreamed of such a thing."
"But, Patty, it _can't_ be true. You must have misunderstood him."
"Not I. It's my first proposal, to be sure; but I know what a man meanswhen he says he loves me and begs me to call him by his first name. And Idid--twice."
Patty went off in shrieks of laughter at the remembrance of it, and sherocked back and forth on her cushion in paroxysms of mirth.
"Patty, behave yourself, and tell me the truth. I've a mind to shakeyou!"
"I _am_ shaking," said Patty, trying to control her voice. "And I _am_telling you the truth. His first name is Sylvester. Lovely name!"
"Where did this occur?"
"In the rose garden. Oh, right near the terrace. Not a dozen yards awayfrom you all. I'm sure if you'd been listening, you could have heard mesay, 'Sylvester--_Sylvester!_'"
Again Patty went off in uncontrollable merriment at this recollection,and Lady Kitty had to laugh too.
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him to wait till to-morrow, and he'd probably change his mind.And I see my trunks have come, so he surely will. You see he proposed tothat long-tailed gown and jewelled tiara I had on----"
"It wasn't a tiara."
"Well, it looked something like one. I'm sure he thought it was. Hedoubtless wants a dignified, stately Lady Ruthven, and he thought I was_it_. Oh, Kitty! if you could have heard him."
"I don't think it's nice of you, to take him that way."
"All right, I won't. But I'm not going to take him at all. Why, Kitty,when he sees me to-morrow in my own little pink muslin, he won't know me,let alone remembering what he said to me."
"Patty, you're incorrigible. I don't know what to say to you. But I hopeyour parents won't blame me for this."
"Of course they won't, Kitsie. You see it was an accident. A sort of caseof mistaken identity. I don't mind it so much now that it's over, but Iwas scared stiff at the time. Only it was all so funny that it swallowedup my scare. Now I'll tell you the whole story."
So Patty told every word that the Earl had said to her during theevening, in the ballroom and on the terrace. And Lady Hamilton listenedattentively.
"You were not a bit to blame, dear," she said, kindly, when the tale wasfinished. "I don't think you even flirted with him. But it's trulyextraordinary that he should speak so soon."
"It was on the spur of the moment," declared Patty, with conviction. "Youknow, moonlight and roses and a summer evening have a romantic influenceon some natures."
"What do you know of a romantic influence, you baby. Hop along to bed,now, and get up in the morning your own sweet, natural self--without athought of Earls or moonlight."
"I will so," said Patty; "I didn't like it a bit, except that it was allso funny. Won't Nan howl?"
"She may, but I'm afraid your father will be annoyed. You know you're inmy care, Patty."
"Don't you worry. I'll tell Daddy all about it. And I rather guess itwill make him laugh."