CHAPTER XIV
A PROPOSAL
It was after midnight when the Christmas guests went away, and Pattydeclared her intention of going to bed at once.
"I coasted and danced and played hide and seek till I'm utterly wornout," she said, "and I think I shall sleep for a week!"
"But I'm going away to-morrow," said Philip, detaining her a moment.
"But you're coming back next week. I'll promise to be awake by then.But now I'm going to hibernate, like a bear! Good-night, everybody!"and Patty ran upstairs without further ceremony.
But as, in her pretty blue negligee, she sat before the mirrorbrushing her long hair, Mona, Daisy, and Adele all came into herroom, quite evidently with a determination to chat.
"You're an old sleepy-head, Patty," declared Adele. "You may sleep aslate as you like in the morning, but we want to have a little confabnow, about lots of things."
"Nicht, nein, non, no!" cried Patty, jumping up and brandishing herhair-brush. "I know perfectly well what your confabs mean,--an hour ormore of chattering and giggling! Come in the morning,--I'm going tohave my chocolate upstairs to-morrow,--and I'll give you all theinformation you want. But as for to-night, skip, scoot, scamper, andvamoose, every dear, sweet, pretty little one of you!"
Laughingly, Patty pushed the three out of her room, and closing thedoor after them, turned its key, unheeding their protests, andreturned to her hair-brushing.
"It's no use, Patricia," she said, talking to herself in the mirror,as she often did, "letting those girls keep you up till all hours! Youneed your beauty sleep, to preserve what small pretence to good looksyou have left."
Patty was not really vain of her pretty face, but she well knew thather delicate type of beauty could not stand continuous late hourswithout showing it, and Patty was not mistaken when she claimed forherself a good share of common sense.
But as she brushed away at the golden tangle of curls, she heard a lighttap at her door, which sounded insistent, rather than mischievous.
"Who is it?" she asked, as she rose and went toward the door.
"It's Daisy," said a low voice. "Let me in, Patty, just for a minute."
So Patty opened the door, and Daisy Dow came in.
"I want to tell you something," she said, as Patty stood waiting,brush in hand. "I don't really want to tell you a bit,--but Jim says Imust," and Daisy looked decidedly cross and ill-tempered.
Patty realised that it was a bother of some kind, and she said,gently, "Leave it till morning, Daisy; we'll both feel brighter then."
"No; Jim said I must tell you to-night. Oh, pshaw, it's nothing,anyway! Only there _was_ a letter for you from Bill Farnsworth, and Itook it from May, and kept it for a while, just to tease you. I wasgoing to give it to you to-morrow, anyway; but Jim came and asked meabout it, and made _such_ a fuss! Men are so _silly_!"
"Why, no, Daisy, it isn't anything much; only you know people _do_like to have letters that belong to them! But, as you say, it'snothing to make a fuss about. Incidentally, I believe it's a State'sprison offence,--or would be if you opened it. You didn't, did you?"
"Of course not!" said Daisy; "but I knew it was only a card, likeours, and I just kept it back for fun."
"It doesn't seem to me an awfully good joke,--but never mind that.Give me the letter, and we'll call it square, and I won't have youarrested or anything."
Patty spoke lightly, but really she was deeply annoyed at this foolishtrick of Daisy's. However, since Jim had found out the truth and madeDaisy own up, there was no great harm done.
"I haven't got the letter," said Daisy. "I left it downstairs, but wecan get it in the morning. I'm sure it's only a card; it is just thesame size and shape as ours."
"Daisy, what did you do it for?" And Patty looked the girl in theeyes, in a real curiosity to know why she should descend to this pettymeanness.
"Because you're such a favourite," said Daisy, truthfully. "Everybodylikes you best, and everybody does everything for you, and you geteverything, and I wanted to tease you!"
Patty grasped the girl by her shoulders, and shook her good-naturedly,while she laughed aloud. "Daisy, you _do_ beat the dickens! You knowthat foolish little temper of yours is too silly for anything, and ifyou'd conquer it you'd be a whole lot nicer girl! You're just aspretty as anybody else, and just as jolly and attractive, but you geta notion that you're slighted when you're _not_; and that makes youill-tempered and you lose half your charm. Don't you know that if youwant people to love you and admire you, you must be sunshiny andpleasant?"
"Huh, that isn't my nature, I s'pose. I can't help my quick temper.But, anyway, Patty, you're a dear not to get mad,--and I'll give youthe letter the first thing in the morning."
"Where is it, Daisy?"
"Oh, I just stuck it between two volumes of a cyclopaedia, on a shelfin the library. So, you see, we can't get it till morning; but it willbe safe there, don't worry."
"I'm not worrying," and Patty smiled, as Daisy said a somewhat abruptgood-night, and went away.
There were still a few embers of a wood fire glowing on the hearth,and Patty sat down before it in a big arm-chair.
"I don't know why I'm so glad," she said to herself, her weariness allgone now. "But I did feel neglected to have Little Billee send theother girls cards, and leave me out. I'd like to see it; I hardlyglanced at theirs,--though I remember, they weren't very pretty. I'dlike to see Little Billee again, but I don't suppose I ever shall.Well, there are plenty of other nice boys in the world, so it doesn'tmatter much. All the same, I'd like to see that card. I believe I'llgo down and get it. There's always a low light in the hall, and I canfeel it between the books."
Patty hesitated for some time, but finally her impatience or curiositygot the better of her, and she softly opened her door and peeped out.There were low lights in the halls, and as she listened over thebanister and heard no sounds, Patty began to creep softly down thestairs. Her trailing robe of light blue crepe de chine was edged withswansdown, and she drew it about her, as she noiselessly tiptoed alongin her slippered feet.
The hall light shone dimly into the library, through which Patty couldsee a brighter light in the smoking-room beyond. She listened amoment, but hearing no voices, concluded she could creep into thelibrary, capture her card, and return undiscovered.
"And, anyway," she thought to herself, "there can't be anybody in thesmoking-room, or I would hear them talking."
It was easy to proceed without a sound by stepping softly along thethick rugs, and as Patty knew exactly where the cyclopaedias wereshelved, she made straight for that bookcase. It was next to thesmoking-room doorway, and as Patty reached it, she peeped around theportiere to make sure that the next room was unoccupied.
But to her surprise, she saw Philip Van Reypen stretched out in a bigarm-chair in front of the fire. His eyes were closed, but Patty saw hewas not asleep, as he was slowly smoking a cigar. Patty saw himsidewise, and she stood for a second contemplating the handsomeprofile and the fine physique of the man, who looked especiallygraceful in his careless and unconscious position.
Almost holding her breath, lest he should hear her, Patty movednoiselessly to the shelves, being then out of sight behind aportiere.
By slow, careful movements, it was easy enough to move the bookssilently, and at last she discovered the blue envelope, tucked betweentwo of them. She drew it out without a sound,--careful lest the papershould crackle,--and started to retrace her stealthy steps upstairsagain, when she saw the hem of the portiere move the veriest trifle.
"A mouse!" she thought to herself, with a terrified spasm of fear, forPatty was foolishly afraid of mice.
Unable to control herself, she sprang up into a soft easy-chair andperched on the back of it.
The springs of the chair gave a tiny squeak, scarcely as loud as amouse might make, yet sufficient to arouse Van Reypen from hisreverie.
He sprang up, and pushing aside the portiere, switched on the light,to see Patty sitting on the low, tufted back of the
chair, her hairstreaming about her shoulders, and her face expressing the utmost fearand horror.
"Well!" he observed, looking at her with a smile,--"_well_!"
"Oh, Philip," whispered Patty, in a quaking voice, "it's a mouse! an_awful_ mouse!"
"Well, what are you going to do about it?" and Philip folded his arms,and stood gazing at the pretty, frightened figure on the chair back.
His amused calm quieted Patty's nerves, which had really been put onedge by her uncontrollable aversion to mice, and she returned,cheerfully, "I suppose I shall have to stay up here the rest of mylife, unless you can attack and vanquish the fearsome brute."
"I shall not even try," said Philip, coolly, as he turned to throwaway his cigar, "because I like to see you sitting up there. However,as there may be danger of another attack from the enemy, and as thischair is almost entirely unoccupied, I shall camp out here at yourfeet, and keep guard over your safety."
He seated himself on the arm of the same chair, while Patty sat on itslow, cushioned back. She drew her blue gown more closely about her,and cast wary glances toward the corner, where the enemy waspresumably encamped.
"I think perhaps the danger is over," she said. "And if you'll go backto the smoking-room, I will make a brave effort to get away unharmed."
"Watch me go," said Philip, showing no signs of moving. "However, ifit will set your mind at rest, I'll tell you that it _wasn't_ a mouse.I don't believe they have such things in this well-regulatedhousehold."
"But I _saw_ it!" declared Patty, positively.
"Saw a mouse?"
"Well, not _exactly_ that, but I saw that little tassel on theportiere wiggle, so it _must_ have been a mouse."
"Patty, you are the most ridiculous little goose on the face of thisearth! Your imagination is something marvellous! Now I'll inform youthat the reason that tassel moved, was because I threw a match at it.I aimed for a waste-basket and hit the curtain, but I had no idea thatI should find myself so surprised at the result!"
Patty dimpled and giggled. "It _is_ surprising, isn't it?" she said,feeling much more light-hearted since her fears were relievedregarding the mouse. "And I'm not sure it's altogether correct, thatyou and I should be down here alone after midnight."
"Fiddlestrings!" exclaimed Philip. "Don't be a silly! And besides, Jimis about somewhere, and Adele has been bobbing in and out."
"There was no one in the halls when I came down. And I think, Philip,I'd better go back."
"What did you come down for, anyhow?"
For some unexplained reason, Patty suddenly felt unwilling to tellwhat she had come for. Bill's letter was hidden in the folds of hervoluminous blue gown, and she couldn't quite bring herself to tellPhilip that she came down for that.
"Oh, I was wakeful," she said, "and I came down to get a--a book."
"H'm; and you thought you'd take a volume of the Britannica back withyou, to read yourself to sleep?"
Patty had to laugh at this, for in the corner where they were, theshelves contained nothing but cyclopaedias and dictionaries.
"But they're really very interesting reading," she declared.
"And this is the little girl who was so sleepy she had to run off tobed as soon as the party was over! Patty, Patty, I'm afraid you're nottelling me the truth! Try again."
"Well, then,--well, then, I came down because,--because I was hungry!"
"Ah, that's better. Anybody has a right to be hungry, or even afraidof mice,--but no one has a right to lug a whole cyclopaedia upstairsto read oneself to sleep."
"I wasn't going to take _all_ the volumes," said Patty, demurely, andthen she jumped down from her perch. "I'll just see which one I dowant," and pretending to read the labels, she deftly slipped herletter back between the volumes, unseen by Van Reypen.
"You little goose, you," said Philip, laughing. "Stop your nonsense,and let's go and forage in the dining-room for something to eat. Wemight as well have some good food while we're about it."
"But I'm not exactly in proper dinner garb," said Patty, shaking outher blue folds, and trailing her long robe behind her.
"Nonsense! I don't know much about millinery, but you never woreanything more becoming than all that fiddly-faddly conglomeration ofblue silk and white fur."
"It isn't fur,--it's down."
"Well, I said you were a goose,--so it's most appropriate."
"But it's swansdown."
"Well, be a swan, then! Be anything you like. But come on, let's makefor the dining-room. We'll probably find Jim there, but don't make anynoise, or everybody upstairs will think we're burglars and shoot us."
Philip switched off the library light, and taking Patty's hand, ledher through the dim hall and into the dining-room. At the end of thisroom was a wide bay window, which let in a perfect flood of moonlight.
"Oh," exclaimed Patty, "what a picture! From my room you couldn't tellit was moonlight at all."
The picture from the window was a far sweep of hills, white with snow,and glistening in the moonlight. In the foreground, evergreen trees,laden with snow, stood about like sentinels,--and a big, yellowthree-quarter moon was nearing the western horizon.
"Isn't it wonderful, Philip?" whispered Patty, almost awed at thesight.
"Yes, dear," he said, still holding her hand in both his own. "Patty,you have a wonderful appreciation of the beautiful."
"Nobody could help loving such a sight as that."
"And nobody could help loving such a girl as you!" exclaimed Philip,drawing her into his arms. "Patty, darling, you know I love you!Patty, _do_ care for me a _little_ bit, won't you?"
"Don't, Philip," and Patty drew gently away from him. "_Please_ don'ttalk to me like that! Oh, I oughtn't to be here! Let me go, Philip,--I_know_ this isn't right."
"It _is_ right, Patty, darling; because I love you, and I want you forall my own. Say you love me, and that will make _everything_ allright!"
"But I don't, Philip." And Patty's voice carried a hint of tears.
"But you will, dear; you _must_, because I love you _so_. Patty, Ihave always loved you, I think, since I first saw you on the stairs atAunty Van's that evening. Do you remember?"
"Yes, I remember; but please, Philip, let me go now, and _don't_ talkto me this way. I don't _want_ you to!"
"You're frightened, Patty, that's all; and perhaps I ought not to havespoken just now; but you looked so sweet, in the moonlight, with thatwonderful hair of yours curling about your shoulders, that I justcouldn't help it."
"I'll forgive you, Philip, if you'll forget this whole occurrence."
"Forget it? Why, Patty, what do you mean? I never forget it for asingle moment! I was sitting there to-night, dreaming of _you_. Iwasn't asleep, you know, I was just thinking about you, and wonderinghow soon I might tell you my thoughts. You're so young, dear,--I'mhalf a dozen years older than you are,--but I want you, my littlePatty. Mayn't I hope?"
"You're quite right, Philip. I _am_ too young to think of such things.So cut it out for a couple of years, and then I'll see about it!"
"Patty, you rogue, how _can_ you speak like that? Don't you love me aleast little bit?"
"Not a teenty weenty speck! And if you don't give me something to eat,I won't even _like_ you."
"Well, here's a bargain, then,--if I find something nice for you toeat, will you like me a whole lot?"
"I do like you a whole lot, anyway; but I don't love you and I'm notgoing to love _anybody_, _ever_! I do think being grown-up is aregular nuisance, and I wish I was a little girl again, with my hairdown my back!"
"Incidentally, your hair _is_ down your back."
"Well, I don't care," and Patty shook her curly mane. "I wear it thatway in tableaux and things, so what's the difference?"
"There _isn't_ any difference. We'll pretend you're a tableau."
"All right, I'll be Patience on a Monument, waiting for some supper."
"That was Little Tommy Tucker."
"No; _he_ sang for his supper. I'm not going to sing."
"For Heaven's sake, _don't_! Your top notes would bring the wholecrowd down here! Patty, if you'll promise to love me _some time_, I'llstop teasing you _now_."
"Oh, Philip, I'd do 'most anything to have you stop teasing me now!But how _can_ I tell who I'm going to love when I get old enough tolove anybody?"
"Well, you don't love anybody yet, do you?"
"I do _not_!" and Patty shook her head with great emphasis.
"Then I have a fair show, anyway." And Philip drew the curtain thatshut out the moonlight, and switched on the electric light.
"Exit Romance!" he said, "and enter Comedy! Now, Patty, you're mylittle playmate; we're just two kiddies in the pantry, stealingjam,--that is, if we can find any jam."
"The pantry's the place," said Patty; "there's nothing in thesideboard but biscuit and raisins."
"They don't sound very good to me. To the pantry!"
Into the pantries they went, and there, in cupboards and iceboxes,found all sorts of good things.
Cold turkey, game pate, jellies, custards, cakes, and all varietiesof food.
"This is ever so much more fun than moonlight," said Patty, as sheperched herself on a table, there being no chair, and held a partridgewing in one hand and a macaroon in the other. "Could you find me aglass of milk, Philip?"
"Yes, indeed; anything you want, my Princess."
"I thought you said Jim was about," Patty remarked.
"He was," returned Philip, calmly. "I saw him go upstairs as we camein the dining-room."
"Did he see us?"
"Sure! He grinned at me and I grinned at him. I didn't invite him tocome with us,--so being a polite gentleman, he didn't come. He doesn'tmind our eating up his food. He's awful hospitable, Jim is."
"Well, I've had enough of his food, and now I'm going back to my downycouch. If I don't see you to-morrow before you leave,--good-bye,Philip."
"That's a nice, casual way to say good-bye to a man who has justproposed to you!"
"Good gracious! _Was_ that a proposal?"
"Well, rather! What did you think it was? A sermon, or just a bit oforatory?"
"Do you know, Philip, truly I didn't realise it at the time," andPatty's smile was very provoking, as she looked up into his face.
"Would your answer have been different if you had?" he asked, eagerly.
"Oh, no, not that! But I just want you to understand that I don'tconsider it a real proposal," and Patty laughed and ran away, leavingPhilip to "clear up" the pantry.
She stopped a moment in the library, long enough to get her blueletter, and then scuttled up the stairs and into her own room.