CHAPTER XI
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Patty soon returned, saying the country was saved, and now she wasready for her presents.
And then everybody began untying things, and soon the whole place wasknee-deep in tissue papers and ribbons.
All exclaimed with delight at their own gifts, and then exclaimed withdelight at the others' gifts.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenerley gave Patty one of those Oriental garments knownas a Mandarin coat. It was of pale blue silk, heavy with elaborateembroidery and gold braiding, and Patty was enchanted with it.
"Just what I wanted!" she exclaimed, "and I don't care if that _is_what everybody always says, _I_ mean it! I've wanted one a long time.They're so heavenly for party wraps or opera cloaks. Mona has abeauty, but this is handsomer still."
"Yes, it is," admitted Mona; "and now open that box, Patty. It's mygift to you, and I want to see if you like it."
"Oh, I know I shall like it, of course. Why, Mona Galbraith, if itisn't a lace scarf! Real Brussels point! You generous girl, it's _too_beautiful!"
"Isn't it lovely?" cried Daisy. "Now, this is mine to you, Patty. Itisn't nearly as handsome; it's just a bag."
"But what a grand one!" exclaimed Patty, as she unwrapped thebeautiful French confection. "I simply adore bags. I can't have toomany of them. My goodness! I'm getting as many presents as baby May!"
Sure enough, Patty was surrounded with gifts and trinkets of allsorts. Philip's present was a small but exquisite water-color in agilded frame. Roger gave her a glass and silver flower-basket.
"I gave each of you girls exactly the same thing," he said, "because Ididn't want you scrapping over me. Mrs. Kenerley, I included you, too,if you will accept one of them."
They were beautiful ornaments, and the four together were so effectivethat Adele declared she should use them that night for a dinner tabledecoration at their Christmas feast.
Hal Ferris gave each of the girls a beautiful book, and everybody hadso many presents of all sorts that it was almost impossible toremember who gave anything.
"What I need is a card catalogue," said Patty. "I never can rememberwhich is which, I know."
"And I know another thing," said Adele. "If you girls don't scamperoff and dress, you won't be ready for dinner at eight o'clock. Andthere are lots of guests coming. And more this evening for the countrydance. Now, disperse, all of you, and put on your prettiest frocks forChristmas Eve."
Patty had a new gown for the occasion, of an exquisite shade of pinkchiffon, which just matched her cheeks. She did up her hair simply,with a pink ribbon around it, and a pink rose tucked over one ear.
After she was all dressed, she flew to the nursery for a little confabwith Fraeulein, who was working away on the Turkey red.
"Will it be done?" asked Patty, anxiously.
"Oh, yes, indeed, Miss Patty; in ample time. And the crowns, too."
"Everything all right?" inquired a voice in the doorway, and HalFerris stepped into the nursery.
"Yes," said Patty, her eyes sparkling. "Fraeulein will have them allready by the time dinner's over. Oh, I do _love_ to dress up!"
"You can't look any sweeter than you do this way," said Ferris,glancing approvingly at the little pink dancing frock.
"You are so nice and complimentary," said Patty, flashing a smile athim, and then they went downstairs together.
Dinner was a real Christmas feast. The table was properly decoratedwith red ribbons and red candles and holly, and everybody hadsouvenirs and Christmassy sort of trinkets, and everybody was very gayand festive, and an air of Christmas jollity pervaded the atmosphere.
After dinner they all returned to the great hall, where the Christmastree was again lighted to add to the holiday effect.
Then Patty and Hal, who had let Adele into their secret, slipped awayfrom the crowd, and ran up to the nursery, where Fraeulein wasawaiting them.
The baby was asleep in the next room, so they must needs be carefulnot to awaken her, and they tiptoed about as Fraeulein helped them todon the robes she had made.
The Turkey red she had fashioned into a full-draped cloak, which sheadjusted around Hal's broad shoulders. It was trimmed with white fur,and was caught up on one shoulder, toga fashion, with a spray ofholly. A massive gilt pasteboard crown she put on his head, and gavehim a long wand or sceptre covered with gilt paper and topped with acap and bells.
"I wonder if they'll know I'm Lord of Misrule," whispered Hal, as hestalked up and down before the mirror, swishing his draperies about inregal fashion.
"If they don't, I'll tell 'em," said Patty. "I wonder if they'll knowwhat I am."
"You look like an angel," said Hal, as he gazed at her.
The garment Fraeulein had made for Patty was simply straight, flowingbreadths of the white illusion, which fell straight from hershoulders, her pink gown beneath giving it a faint rosy tinge. Fromher head the illusion rippled in a long veil, floating down behind,and there were long angel sleeves of the same material.
On her head was a small crown of gilt paper, with a large gilt star infront, and she carried a gilt wand with a star on the end.
But the masterpiece of the costume, and one that did great credit tothe ingenuity of Fraeulein, was a pair of wings that were fastened toPatty's shoulders. They were made of fine net, covered with fringedtissue paper, which had the effect of soft white feathers.
Altogether Patty was a lovely vision, and it is doubtful if "TheChristmas Spirit" was represented more beautifully anywhere on earththat Christmas Eve.
She floated about the room, delighted to be "dressed up."
Then, flying into the hall, she listened over the banister till sheheard Adele's signal from the piano.
Still listening, she heard Adele begin to sing softly a carol called"The Christmas Spirit."
Slowly, in time to the music, Patty came down the great staircase. Shepaused on the landing, which was but a few steps from the bottom, andstanding there, motionless as a picture, joined her voice to Adele's.
She sang the beautiful carol, Adele now singing alto, and the visionof the beautiful Christmas Spirit, and the tones of Patty's exquisitevoice, gave the guests assembled in the hall a Christmas memory thatthey could never forget.
As the last notes died away, there was a significant pause, and then astorm of applause broke out.
They insisted on another song, but Patty shook her head laughingly,and the next moment Adele played a merry, rollicking march on thepiano and the Lord of Misrule came bounding downstairs. He had a longtrumpet in his hand, upon which he sounded a few notes, and then wavedhis sceptre majestically.
"I'm the Lord of Misrule," he announced, "and I have come to directour Christmas revels. To-night my word is law; you are all mysubjects, and must obey my decrees!"
A shout of applause greeted this gay banter, and then as Adele playeda lively strain, the Lord of Misrule gave a clever clog dance on thestaircase landing.
Then he sprang down the steps, and clasping the Christmas Spirit, thetwo tripped away into a gay impromptu dance.
"Everybody dance!" shouted the Lord of Misrule, brandishing hissceptre aloft, and obedient to his orders, the others caught the gayspirit, and soon they were all dancing.
Later they had the country dances--Virginia reel, Sir Roger, andothers which Patty had never heard of before, but which she had nodifficulty in learning.
It was not long, however, before she laid aside her somewhatuncomfortable wings, and also the illusion draperies, which did notwell survive the intricacies of the figure dances.
So, once again in her pretty pink frock, she entered into the danceswith the zest she always felt for that amusement.
"I think it's my turn," said Roger, coming up to her at last.
"And I'm glad to be with a friend again, after all these strangers,"she said, as they danced away. "Though they're awfully nice men, andsome of them are very good dancers. You and Mona are all right, aren'tyou, Roger?"
Patty said this so sudd
enly that he was caught off his guard.
"Not all right," he said, "and never will be until she'll consent tocut the acquaintance of that Lansing!"
"She'll never do that!" and Patty wagged her head positively.
"Then she can get along without my friendship."
"Now, Roger, what's the use of acting like that? Mona has a right tochoose her friends."
"Patty, I believe you like that man yourself!"
"I don't dislike him; at least, not as much as you do. But I don't seeany reason for you to take the matter so seriously. At any rate, whileyou're up here, forget it, won't you, and be good to Mona."
"Oh, I'll be good to her fast enough, if she'll be good to me. I thinka heap of that girl, Patty, and I don't want to see her in theclutches of a bad man like Lansing."
"You don't know that he's a bad man."
"Well, he's a fortune-hunter,--that's bad enough."
"Pooh, every man that looks at a girl doesn't want to marry her forher money."
"But that man does."
"Then cut him out! Why, Roger, you're worth a dozen Lansings, and ifyou want to marry Mona, why don't you tell her so?"
"Oh, Patty, do you think I'd have the ghost of a chance?"
"I certainly do. That is, if Mona has a grain of sense in that prettyhead of hers."
"Well,--say, Patty,--this sounds queer, I know,--but you and I aresuch pals,--couldn't you just say a good word for----"
"Roger Farrington! the idea! I never supposed you were _bashful_!"
"I never was before,--but I'm a little afraid of Mona. She's so,--sodecided, you know."
"Very well. Make her decide in your favour. But, mark my words, youngman, you'll never win her by getting grumpy and sour just because shesmiles on another man. In fact, you'd better praise Mr. Lansing. Thatwould be the best way to make her lose interest in him."
"Patty Fairfield! I'm ashamed of you. I always knew you were a flirt,but anything like that would be downright deception."
"Oh, fiddle-de-dee! All's fair in love and war. You're toomatter-of-fact, Roger,--too staid and practical. Brace up and teaseMona. Get her guessing--and the game will be all in your own hands."
"How do you know these things, Patty? You're too young for suchworldly wisdom."
"Oh, women are born with a spirit of contrariness. And, anyway, it'shuman nature. Now, you jolly Mona up, and stop looking as if you'dlost your last friend,--and then see how the cat jumps. Why, what isHal Ferris doing?"
The Lord of Misrule had jumped up on a table, and was flourishing hissceptre, and announcing that he would now issue a few decrees, andthey must immediately be obeyed.
He said the audience wished to see some well-acted plays, and he wouldask some of the guests present to favour them.
"As these dramas are necessarily impromptu," he said, "you will pleasecome forward and do your parts as soon as your names are called. Anydelay, hesitation, or tardiness will be punished to the full extent ofthe Law of Misrule. The first play, ladies and gentlemen, will be arealistic representation of the great tragedy of 'Jack and Jill.' Itwill be acted by Mr. Van Reypen and Miss Fairfield. Ready! Time!"
Philip and Patty went forward at once, for though they had had nointimation of this act, they were quite ready to take their part inthe merriment.
Philip caught up one of the glass baskets which he had brought up forgifts, and declared that represented their pail.
"It isn't mine!" cried Daisy. "I don't want mine smashed!"
"No matter what happens," returned Philip, "we must be realistic."
"Here, take this instead," said Jim Kenerley, offering an antiquecopper bucket, which was one of his pet pieces.
"All right, it _is_ better. Now, the play begins. This is anillustrated ballad, you know. Will somebody with a sweet voice kindlyrecite the words?"
"I will," volunteered Hal, himself. "My voice is as sweet as taffy."
He began intoning the nursery rhyme, and Patty and Philip strolledthrough the hall, swinging the bucket between them, and acting liketwo country children going for water. They climbed the stairs,laboriously, as if clambering up a steep hill, and as they went up,Philip hastily whispered to Patty how they were to come down.
She understood quickly, and as the second line was drawled out theystood at the top of the stairs. Then when Hal said, "Jack felldown----" there was a terrific plunge and Philip tumbled, head overheels, all the way downstairs, with the big copper bucket rollingbumpety-bump down beside him. He was a trained athlete, and knew howto fall without hurting himself, but his mad pitching made it seementirely an accidental fall. In the screams of laughter, the last linecould scarcely be heard, but when Hal said, "And Jill came tumblingafter," Patty poised on the top step, leaning over so far that itseemed as if in a moment she must pitch headlong. Her fancy dancetraining enabled her to hold this precarious position, and as shestood, motionless, a beautiful tableau, everybody applauded.
"All over!" cried the Lord of Misrule, after a moment. "Curtain'sdown!"
There was only an imaginary curtain, so considering herself dismissed,Patty came tripping downstairs, and the broken-crowned Jack stoodwaiting to receive her.
"Good work!" he commented. "How could you stand in that breakneckposition?"
"How could you take that breakneck fall?" she queried back, and thenthey sought a nearby seat to witness the next "play."
"Now," said the Lord of Misrule, "we will have a thrilling drama byMiss Dow and--well, she may select her own company."
"I choose Jim Kenerley," said Daisy, suddenly remembering a littletrick they used to do in school. A whispered word was enough to recallit to Jim's mind, and in a twinkling he had snatched a gay silklamp-shade from an electrolier and clapped it on his head, and drapedaround him a Bagdad couch cover. Then he caught up a big bronze daggerfrom a writing-table, and he and Daisy went to the staircase landing,which was almost like a stage. Seemingly, Jim was a fearful bandit,dragging a lady, who hung back with moans and cries.
On the landing, he brandished the dagger fearsomely, and Daisy kneltbefore him, begging for mercy. At least, her attitude denoted that,but all she said was: "A B C D," in a low, pleading voice. "E F G!"shouted Jim, dancing about in a fierce fury.
Daisy threw out her arms and fairly grovelled at his feet, begging, "HI J K." "L M!" shouted Jim; "N O!"
Then Daisy's pretty hair became loosened from its pins, and fell, ashining mass, down her back.
Jim clutched it. "P Q R!" he yelled, as he waved the dagger aloft.
"S T!" moaned Daisy, swaying from side to side, as if in an agony offear.
"U! V! W!" and the blade of the dagger rested against the fair neck,as the dreadful brigand, with a fierce shout, attacked his victim.
"X Y!" Daisy shrieked, and then toppled over, as if killed, while Jim,with a frenzied yell of "Z!" towered, triumphant, above his slaincaptive.
How they all laughed; for it was good acting, though of course greatlyburlesqued. But both had a touch of dramatic genius, and they hadoften given this little exhibition in their old school days.
"Fine!" said Adele, who was shaking with laughter. "You never did itbetter, Daisy. You ought to go on the stage."
Daisy smiled and bowed at the applause, and began to twist up herhair.
"My beloved subjects," said the Lord of Misrule, "you are sure someactors! I didn't know I had so much talent concealed about my kingdom.I shall now aim for a higher touch of histrionic art. Let us stop atnothing! Let us give the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet. I willcommand Miss Galbraith to play the part of Juliet, and if no onevolunteers as Romeo, I'll modestly remark that I'm a ripping goodactor myself."
"Too late," said Roger, calmly; "I've already signed for the part,"and taking Mona's hand, he led her toward the staircase.
"I can't!" protested Mona. "I don't know a word of it!"
"Can't! Won't!" cried the Lord of Misrule, in stentorian tones. "Thosewords are not allowed in this my Court. Ha, maiden, dost desire thedungeon for thine?
Dost hanker after prison fare? Fie! Get to thyplace and take thy cue."
Mona flung her lace handkerchief on her head for a little Juliet cap,and accepting a large lace scarf which a lady offered her as shepassed, and an enormous bunch of roses, which Jim hastily took from avase and gave her, they all agreed she was perfectly costumed forJuliet.
Upstairs she went, and drawing a chair to the railing, looked over atRoger below. He had hastily opened a small cupboard, and caught up abroad black hat of Adele's, with a long, willowed ostrich plume. Heput it on, so that the feather hung straight down his face, and hekept blowing it out of his eyes. Daisy had offered him a gay, floweredchiffon scarf as he passed her, and he tied it round his waist like asash.
"'Oh, Romeo! Romeo! Romeo!'" began Mona.
"'Wherefore,'" prompted Roger in a stage whisper.
"'Wherefore,'" said Mona, obediently, "whence, whither, why----"
"Never mind," said Roger, calmly. "I'll say the lines you forget.'Wherefore art thou Romeo?' Now for the second act. I wish to goodnessI could be a glove upon that paw of yours."
"Why?" queried Mona.
"So you wouldn't give me the mitten. Pardon, good friends, merely aninterpolation. Back to work now. It was the nightingale and not a pollparrot that hit you in the ear."
"Oh, Romeo, Romeo," Mona broke in. "I'd like to cut you up into littlebits of stars, and decorate the sky with you."
"Call me but Star, and I'll be baptised all over again. Friends, aswe're a little shy on lines, the rest of this will be pantomime."
Roger then sneaked cautiously upstairs, motioned to Mona to make nosound, picked up various impedimenta, including books, vases, astatuette, and such things as he could find on the hall tables, addeda good-sized rug, and then, also picking Mona up in his arms, hestealthily made his way downstairs again, and the elopement wassuccessful.
"Roger, you strong giant!" cried Patty. "How _could_ you carry allthose things downstairs?"
"My warriors are all strong men!" said the Lord of Misrule. "They cancarry off anything, and carry on like everything."
And then, as Christmas Eve was well past, and Christmas Day had begun,the merry guests went away, and the house party congratulated itselfall round, wished everybody Merry Christmas, and went away to rest.