CHAPTER V
SKATING AND DANCING
"Kenneth thinks an awful lot of you, Patty," said Elise, as, after theChristmas party was all over, the girls were indulging in a good-nightchat.
"Pooh," said Patty, who, in kimono and bedroom slippers, nestled in a bigeasy-chair in front of the wood-fire in Elise's dressing-room. "I'veknown Ken for years, and we do think a lot of each other. But you needn'ttake that tone, Elise. It's a boy and girl chumminess, and you know it.Why, Ken doesn't think any more of me than Roger does."
"Oh, Roger! Why, he's perfectly gone on you. He worships the ground youwalk on. Surely, Patty, you've noticed Roger's devotion."
"What's the matter with you, Elise? Where'd you get these crazy notionsabout devotion and worship? If you'll excuse my French,--you make metired!"
"Don't you like to have the boys devoted to you, Patty?"
"No, I don't! I like their jolly friendship, of course. I like to talk toKen and Roger, or to Clifford Morse, or any of the boys of our set; butas for _devotion_, I don't see any."
"None so blind as those who won't see," said Elise, who had finishedbrushing her hair, and now sank down on an ottoman by Patty's side.
"Well, then, I'll stay blind, for I don't want to see devoted swainsworshipping the Persian rugs I walk on! Though if you mean thesebeautiful rugs that are on all the floors of your house, Elise, I don'tknow that I blame the swains so much. By the way, I suppose some of themare 'prayer rugs' anyway, so that makes it all the more appropriate."
"Oh, Patty, you're such a silly! You're not like other girls."
"You surprise me, Elise! Also you flatter me! I had an idea I belonged tothe common herd."
"Patty, _will_ you be serious? Roger is terribly in love with you."
"Really, Elise? How interesting! Now, what would you do in a case likethat?"
"I'd consider it seriously, at any rate."
Patty put one finger to her forehead, frowned deeply, and gazed into thefire for fully half a minute. Then she said:
"I've considered, Elise, and all I can think of is the 'Cow whoconsidered very well and gave the piper a penny.' Do you suppose Rogerwould care for a penny?"
"He would, if you gave it to him," returned Elise, who was almostpetulant at Patty's continued raillery.
"Then he shall have it! Rich as the Farringtons are, if the son of thehouse wants a penny of my fortune, it shall not be denied him!"
Patty had risen, and was stalking up and down the room with jerkystrides, and dramatic waving of her arms. Her golden hair hung in a curlycloud over her blue silk kimono, and her voice thrilled with a tragicintensity, though, of course, exaggerated to a ludicrous degree.
Having finished her speech, Patty retained her dramatic pose, and glaredat Elise like a very young and pretty Lady Macbeth.
"Oh, Patty," cried Elise, forgetting the subject in hand, "you ought tobe an actress! Do you know, you were quite stunning when you flungyourself round so. And, Patty, with your voice,--your singing voice, Imean,--you ought to go on the stage! _Do_, will you, Patty? I'd love tosee you an opera singer!"
"Elise, you're crazy to-night! Suppose I should go on the stage, whatwould become of all these devoted swains who are worshipping myfeetsteps?"
"Bother the swains! Patty, my heart is set upon it. You must be anactress. I mean a really nice, gentle, refined one, like Maude Adams, orEleanor Robson. Oh, they are so sweet! and such noble, grand women."
"Elise, you have lovely ambitions for your friends. What about yourself?Won't you be a circus-rider, dear? I want you to be as ambitious for youas you are for me."
"Patty, stop your fooling. I was quite in earnest."
"Then you'd better begin fooling. It's more sensible than yourearnestness. Now, I'm going to run away to bed and leave you to dreamthat you're a circus-rider, whizzing round a ring on a snow-white Arabsteed. Good-night, girlie."
Alone in her room, Patty smiled to herself at Elise's foolishness. Andyet, though she had no desire to be an actress, Patty had sometimesdreamed of herself as a concert singer, enchanting her audiences with herclear, sweet voice, which was fine and true, if not great. She wasambitious, though as yet not definitely so, and Elise's words had rouseda dormant desire to be or to do something worth while, and not, as shethought to herself, be a mere social butterfly.
Then she smiled again as she thought of Elise's talk about Ken and Roger.
But here no answering chord was touched. As chums, she thoroughly likedboth boys, but the thought of any more serious liking only roused afeeling of amusement in her mind.
"Perhaps I may be glad to have somebody in love with me some day," shethought; "but it will be many years from now, and meantime I want to do awhole lot of things that are really worth doing."
Then, with a whimsical thought that to sleep was the thing most worthdoing at the present moment, Patty tumbled into the soft, white nestprepared for her and was soon sound asleep.
Christmas Day was one of the finest. No snow, but a clear, cold, bracingair, that was exhilarating to breathe.
"Skating this afternoon?" said Roger, after the Merry Christmas greetingshad been exchanged.
"Yes, indeed," cried Patty and Elise in one breath.
"Let's get up a party, shall us?" went on Roger, "and skate till dusk,and then all come back here and have tea under the Christmas tree?"
"Lovely!" cried Elise, but Patty hesitated.
"You know we have the dance on for to-night," she said.
Patty was not robust, and continuous exertions often tired her. Nan hadcautioned her not to attempt too much gaiety during this visit, and shewanted to rest before the evening's dance.
"Oh, pshaw!" said Elise, "there'll be lots of time. The dance won't begintill nine, anyway."
So Patty agreed, and Roger went off to invite his skating party bytelephone.
He secured Kenneth, and the two Morses, and then he hung up the receiver.
"That's enough," he declared. "I don't like a big skating party. Slipaway, girls, and get your bonnets and shawls; the car'll be here in halfan hour."
The girls went off to dress, and Patty viewed her new skating costumewith decided approval.
It was all of white. A white cloth frock, with short skirt; whitebroadcloth coat and a Russian turban of white cloth and fur; long whiteleather leggings, and her Christmas furs, which added a charming touch tothe costume.
As being more comfortable for skating, she had returned to her formermode of hair-dressing, and so two big white ribbon bows bloomed at theback of her head. These, and the short skirt, quite took away Patty'sgrown-up air, and made her seem a little girl again.
"Hello, Baby," said Roger, as he saw her come downstairs, with rosycheeks and eyes sparkling with pleasurable anticipation, for Patty lovedto skate.
"Mam-ma!" said Patty, putting her finger in her mouth, and assuming avacant, babyish stare.
Roger laughed at her foolishness, and then Elise came along and they allwent out to the car.
Elise's suit was of crimson cloth, bordered with dark fur, and as aconsequence the two girls together made a pretty picture.
"You're such a comfort, Patty," Elise said, as they climbed into the bigcar. "You always dress just right to harmonise with my clothes."
"Sure you do!" said Roger, looking at the two girls admiringly. "Nofellow on the ice will escort such beautiful ladies as I have in mycharge. Now, we'll pick up Ken and the Morses, and then make a dash forthe Pole."
They reached the Park by three o'clock, so had nearly two hours ofskating before the dusk fell.
Patty was a superior skater, and so were most of the others, for Rogerhad chosen his party with care.
"Skate with me, Patty, will you?" said Roger, just at the same momentthat Kenneth said, "Of course you'll skate with me, Patty."
Patty looked at both boys with a comical smile. "Thank you," she said;"but I always like to pick out my own escort." Then, turning to CliffordMorse, she said:
"Skate with me, won'
t you, Cliff? We're a good team."
"We are that!" he replied, greatly pleased, if a little surprised atPatty's invitation.
Kenneth and Roger grinned at each other, and then turned quickly to theother girls, who had not heard the little parley.
Of course Roger skated with Clementine Morse, and Kenneth with Elise,which arrangement quite satisfied the dark-eyed beauty.
"You look like Little Red Riding-hood," said Kenneth, as they startedoff, with long, gliding strokes.
"Don't be a wolf, and eat me up," laughed Elise, for Kenneth had fur onhis cap and overcoat, and with his big fur gloves, seemed almost likesome big, good-natured animal.
"You skate beautifully, Elise," said Kenneth, "and all you girls do. Lookat Clementine; isn't she graceful?"
"Yes," agreed Elise, "and so is Patty."
"Patty," echoed Kenneth. "She is a poem on ice!"
She was, and Elise knew it, but a naughty little jealousy burned in herheart at Ken's words.
She bravely tried to down it, however, and said: "Yes, she is. She's apoem in every way."
"Well, I don't know about that. In some ways she's more of a jolly, merryjingle."
"A nonsense rhyme," suggested Elise, falling in with his metaphor.
"Yes; how quick you are to see what I mean. Now, Clementine is alyric,--she glides so gracefully along."
"And I?" asked Elise, laughing at his witty characterisation.
"You? Well, I can't judge unless I see you. Skate off by yourself."
Elise did so, and Kenneth watched the scarlet-clad figure gracefullypirouetting and skilfully executing difficult steps.
"Well?" she said, as she returned to him, and again they joined hands andglided along in unison.
"Well, you're delightful on ice. You're a will o' the wisp."
"But I want to be a poem of some sort. The other girls are."
Kenneth smiled at the pretty, anxious face.
"You are a poem. You're one of those little French forms. A virelay or atriolet."
Elise was a little uncertain as to what these were, exactly, but sheresolved to look them up as soon as she reached home. At any rate, sheknew Kenneth meant to be complimentary, and she smiled with pleasure.
Then the others joined them and they all skated together for a time, andthen the sun set, and Roger said they must go home.
He was a most reliable boy, and always took charge of their littleexpeditions or outings. Elise never thought of questioning his authority,so again they all bundled into the car, and started homeward.
"I ought to go right home," said Clementine.
"Oh, come round for a cup of Christmas tea," said Roger, "and I'll takeyou home in half an hour."
So the Morses consented, and the six merry young people had tea under theChristmas tree, and told stories by the firelight, and laughed andchatted until Clementine declared she must go, or she'd never get back intime for the dance.
"What are you going to wear, Patsy?" asked Elise, as they went upstairs,arm in arm.
"I've a new frock, of course. Did you think I'd come to your dance in oneI'd worn before? Nay, I hold Miss Farrington in too high esteem forthat!"
"Well, scurry into it, for I'm crazy to see it. If it's prettier thanmine, I won't let you go down to the ballroom!"
"It won't be," returned Patty; "don't worry about that!"
But when the two girls were dressed, Patty's frock, though not soexpensive, was quite as attractive as Elise's.
Patty's was of apricot-coloured satin, veiled all over with a delicatethin material of the same shade. A pearl trimming encircled the slightlylow-cut throat and the short sleeves. It was very becoming to prettyPatty, and she knew herself that she had never looked better.
Elise's gown was of white silk, draped with silvered lace. It was lovely,and suited Elise's dark hair and eyes, and really both girls werepictures. But Patty's face was sunny and happy, while Elise's red mouthdrooped in a little curve of discontent.
The girl was discontented by nature, and though she had everything thatheart could wish, she was never brimming over with content and happiness,as Patty always was.
The dance was in the tennis court, where a smooth crash had replaced thesnowy floor of the Christmas Eve celebration. The Christmas tree stillstood there, as it formed a beautiful decoration for that end of theballroom.
It was not a large party, for Mrs. Farrington would not allow Elise toact like a young lady out in society. About thirty young people wereasked, and the hours were from nine till twelve.
But the music was of the finest, and as Patty's favourite amusement wasdancing, she had a most enjoyable time.
An exquisite dancer, she was, of course, besieged by partners, but in hermerry, wholehearted way, she treated them all alike, showing favouritismto none, and dancing with less desirable partners as pleasantly andhappily as with those she liked better.
Roger grumbled at this.
"You're wasted on a fellow like Harry Barr," he said, as he and Pattystarted for a turn. "He dances like a grain-thresher, and yet you bobalong with him as smilingly as if you were dancing with a decenttripper."
"Why not?" returned Patty; "he's pleasant and kind. He doesn't _talk_like a grain-thresher, and he can't help his dancing. Or rather, his lackof it, for you can't call those gymnastics of his dancing. Oh, Roger,there's Mr. Hepworth!"
Sure enough, Mr. Hepworth had just come in, and as Patty spoke, he caughther eye and smiled.
She smiled back, and when the dance was over asked Roger to take her tohim.
"Old Hepworth?" said Roger, in surprise. "You can't waste time on him,Patty; your dance card is full, you know."
"I don't care, I must just speak to him. I haven't seen him since I camehome. Whoever belongs to my next dance can wait a few minutes."
"All right; come on, then." Roger led her across the room, and with asmiling face, and in tones of glad welcome, she said:
"Oh, Mr. Hepworth, how do you do?"
"Patty!" he exclaimed, taking her hands in his. "I'm so glad to see youagain."
There was a thrill in his voice that startled her, but she only said,"And so am I glad to see you. Why haven't you been to call on me?"
"I've just returned from a Southern trip. Only reached New Yorkto-night,--and here I am."
"Here I am, too, but I can't talk to you now. My programme is full, and Imake it a point always to keep my engagements."
"Not one dance left?" said Mr. Hepworth, looking over the scribbled card.
"Not one! I'm so sorry,--but, of course, I didn't know you were coming."
"Of course not. Run along now, and enjoy yourself, and I'll call on you,if I may, some time when you are at home."
"Yes, do," said Patty, realising that Mr. Hepworth was the same kind,thoughtful friend he had always been.
"I wonder why I'm so glad to see him," she thought to herself, as shewalked away with her new partner; "but I am, all the same."