CHAPTER VII
SUITORS
After supper the whole party went to the large drawing-room to dance.
Kit Cameron made a bee-line for Patty. "You'll give me the first dance,won't you?" he said, simply, "because I've stayed away from you allsupper time."
Patty hesitated. "I'm willing, Mr. Cameron," she said, "but for onething. I'm awfully exacting in the matter of dancing, and if you're nota good dancer it would go far to spoil our pleasant acquaintance.Suppose we don't risk it."
Cameron considered. "I am a good dancer," he said, "but Marie has toldme that you're something phenomenal in that line. So I daresay you willbe disappointed in me. All right, suppose we don't risk it."
Cameron half turned away, as if he had relinquished the idea of dancingwith Patty, and that young woman was somewhat taken aback. She hadassumed her new friend would insist on dancing with her, and she had nomind to let him escape thus. She was just about to say, impulsively,"Oh well, let's try it, anyway," when she caught a gleam from thecorner of his eye, and she realised in a flash that he felt sure shewould call him back!
This was enough for capricious Patty, and she turned away from him, butnot so quickly but that she saw his face suddenly fall, proving thatshe had been quite right in her diagnosis of the case.
She smiled on Van Reypen, who was hovering near, and he came to her atonce.
"Our dance, Patty?" he said, eagerly, holding out his hand.
"Yes, Philip," she answered simply, laying her hand in his, and in amoment they were circling the room.
"Don't be cross to me, will you, Philip?" said Patty with an appealingnote in her soft voice.
"No; you little torment, you. I'll never be cross to you, if you won'tflirt with other men."
"Philip," and Patty spoke quite seriously, "I'll be cross with you, ifyou don't stop taking that attitude with me. It isn't for YOU to saywhether I shall flirt with other men or not!"
"No, I know it;" and Philip was unexpectedly humble. "I wish it was forme to say, Patty."
"Stop talking nonsense, or I'll stop dancing with you! By the way,Phil, you're an awfully good dancer."
"I'm glad there's something about me that pleases your ladyship."
"Yes; so am I. It certainly isn't your temper!"
And then Philip smiled into Patty's eyes, and peace was restored, as italways was after their little squabbles.
The dance over, they sat for a few moments, and then Kenneth Harperasked to be Patty's next partner.
"All right, Ken," said Patty; "but sit down here just a minute; I wantto watch the others."
What Patty really wanted was to see Mr. Cameron dance; and in a fewmoments he went past them with Elise.
"That man's all round clever," commented Kenneth. "He dances just as heplays the violin, exquisitely. Why, Patty, he's a poem in patentleathers!"
Sure enough, Kit Cameron was an unusually fine dancer, and Patty felt aslow blush rising to her cheeks, as she remembered what she had said tohim, and realised he must have thought her vain of her dancing.
For once, Patty felt honestly ashamed of herself. She had implied thatshe was such a fine dancer she didn't care to dance with any oneunskilled in the art.
But after all, this was not quite Patty's attitude. When a stranger wasintroduced to her, she was quite willing to dance with him, whether hedanced well or not. But as to Mr. Cameron, Patty liked him so much andso enjoyed his beautiful music, that she really felt it would be ashock to their friendship if he danced awkwardly.
And, too, she never for a moment supposed he would take her at herword. She had supposed he would insist upon the dance, even after herhesitation.
"What's the matter Patty?" said Kenneth; "you look as though you'd lostyour last friend!"
"I'm not sure but I have," said Patty, smiling a little. For certainlyMr. Cameron was the last friend she had made, and it was very likelythat she had lost him.
"Well, never mind, you still have me left. I'm gentle and I'm kind, andyou'll never, never find a better friend than your old Ken."
"I believe you're right," and Patty smiled at him. "We've been friendsa long time, haven't we, Ken?"
"We sure have. When I look at your gray hair and wrinkled cheeks, Irealise that we are growing old together."
Patty laughed and dimpled at this nonsense, and then declared she wasready to dance.
All through the evening, Patty was gaily whisked from one partner toanother, but Kit Cameron never came near her.
She was decidedly chagrined at this, even though she knew she had onlyherself to blame for it. She had been really rude, and she was reapingthe well-deserved consequences.
Often she passed Cameron in the dance, as he whirled by with anothergirl. He always smiled pleasantly as they passed, and the fact that hewas a magnificent dancer only made Patty feel more angry with herselfat having been so silly.
Just before the last dance, Patty stood, gaily chatting with several ofher friends, when the music struck up, and both Kenneth and Philipclaimed the dance.
"You promised it to me, Patty," said Kenneth, reproachfully.
"Why, Ken Harper, I didn't do any such thing!" and Patty's big blueeyes gazed at him in honest surprise.
"Of course you didn't, you promised it to me," said Van Reypen, equallymendacious.
"Why, I didn't promise it to anybody!" declared Patty; "I haven'tpromised a dance ahead this whole evening."
As she stood, with the two insistent applicants on either side of her,Cameron walked straight toward her. He said not a word, but held outhis arm, and calmly walking away from her two disappointed suitors,Patty was at once whirled away.
"Well, Princess Poppycheek,--Princess Pink Poppycheek,--I had tosurrender," Cameron said, as they floated around the room. "After yourcruel aspersion on my dancing, I was so enraged I vowed to myself I'dnever speak to you again. But I'm awful magnanimous, and I forgive youfreely, from the bottom of my heart."
"I haven't asked to be forgiven," and Patty shot him a saucy glance;"but," she added, shyly, "I'm truly glad you do forgive me. I was apig!"
"So you were. A Poppycheeked piggy-wig! But with me, what is forgivenis forgotten. And, by the way, you dance fairly well."
"So I've been told," returned Patty, demurely. "And I find I can getalong with you."
This sounded like faint praise, but each knew that the otherappreciated how well their steps suited each other and how skilful theyboth were.
Van Reypen and Ken Harper stood where Patty had left them, for amoment, as they watched their hoped-for partner dance away.
"There's no use getting mad at that child," said Ken, patiently; "sheWILL do as she likes."
"Well, after all, why shouldn't she? She's a reigning belle, and she'sa law unto herself. But she has a lot of sense inside that golden curlyhead."
"Yes," returned Kenneth, "and not only sense, but a sound, sweetnature. Patty is growing up a coquette, but it is only because she isbeset by flattery; and, too, she IS full of mischief. She can't helpteasing her suitors, as she calls them."
"She can tease me all she likes," said Van Reypen, somewhat seriously,and Kenneth answered simply, "Me, too."
Next morning, Patty told Nan all about Mr. Cameron, and that gay littlelady was greatly interested in the story.
"I knew he would be nice," said Nan, "from what you had already told meabout him. Is he good-looking, Patty?"
"Yes,--no,--I don't know," returned Patty; "I don't believe I thoughtabout it. He has an awfully nice face, and he's tall and big, and yethe's young-looking. At least, his eyes are. He has dark eyes, andthey're just brimming over with mischief and fun, except when he'splaying his violin."
"Then I suppose he has the regulation 'far away' look," commented Nan.
"Well, he doesn't look like a dying goat, if that's what you mean! buthe looks like a real musician, and he is one."
"And a woman-hater, I believe?"
"Oh, it's rubbish to call him that! He's not crazy over girls, but it
'sbecause he thinks most of them are silly. He likes his twocousins,--and, Nan, don't breathe it, but I have a faint inkling of asuspicion of a premonition that he's going to like me!"
"Patty, you're a conceited little goose!"
"Nay, nay, my ducky stepmother, but I'd be a poor stick if I couldn'tfascinate that youth after our romantic introduction."
"That's so; and I think you'll not have much trouble bringing him toyour feet."
"Oh, I don't want him at my feet. And I don't want him to fall in lovewith me. I hate that sort of thing! I want him for a nice, chummy,comrade friend, and if I can't have him that way, I don't want him atall. There's Philip and Kenneth now; they've always been so nice. Butlately they've taken to making sheep's eyes at me and flinging out bitsof foolishness here and there that make me tired! A debutante's life isnot a happy one!"
Patty drew such a long, deep sigh, that Nan burst into laughter.
"I would feel sorry for you, Patty," she said, "but I can't helpthinking that you're quite able to look out for yourself."
"'Deed I am! When they talk mush, I just giggle at 'em. It brings 'emdown pretty quick from their highfalutin nonsense!"
The two were sitting in Patty's boudoir, which was such a bright, sunnyroom that many a morning hour was pleasantly passed together there bythese two friends. Patty was fortunate in having a stepmother so insympathy with her pursuits and pleasures, and Nan was equally fortunatein having warm-hearted, sunny-natured Patty with her.
Jane came in, bringing an enormous box from a florist.
"My prophetic soul!" cried Patty. "My efforts were not in vain! I feelit in my funnybone that my latest Prince Charming has sent me a posy."
Nor was she wrong. The box contained a bewildering array of springflowers. Delicate blossoms of jonquils, hyacinths, lilacs, daffodils,and other dainty, fragile flowers that breathed of spring.
"Aren't they lovely!" And Patty buried her face in the fragrant mass ofbloom.
"Here's a card," said Nan, picking up a white envelope.
Patty drew out Mr. Cameron's card, and on it was written: "To PrincessPoppycheek; that they may tell all that I may not speak."
"Now that's a real nice sentiment," Patty declared; "you see, itdoesn't commit him to anything, and yet it sounds pretty. Oh, I shallend by adoring that young man! Bring me some bowls and things, please,Jane; I want to arrange this flower garden myself."
Jane departed with the box and papers, and returned with a tray, onwhich were several bowls and vases filled with water.
Patty always enjoyed arranging flowers, and she massed them in thebowls, with taste and skill as to color and arrangement.
"There!" she said, as she finished her task; "they do look beautiful,though I say it as shouldn't. Now, I think I shall sit me down andwrite a sweet gushing note of thanks, while I'm in the notion. For I'vea lot on to-day, and I can't devote much time to this particularsuitor."
"Suitor is a slang word, Patty; you oughtn't to use it."
"Fiddle-dee-dee! if I didn't use any slang, I couldn't talk at all! Andsuitor isn't exactly slang; it's the word in current fashion for anypleasant young gentleman who sends flowers, or otherwise favors anypleasant young lady. Everybody in society knows what it means, so don'tact old fogy,--Nancy Dancy."
Patty dropped a butterfly kiss on Nan's brow, and then pirouettedacross the room to her writing desk.
"Shall I begin, 'My Dear Suitor'?" she said, and then giggled to seethe shocked look on Nan's face.
"It wouldn't matter; he would understand," she said, carelessly, "but Ithink I can do better than that."
"Well, I'll leave you to yourself," said Nan; "not out of specialconsideration for your comfort, but because it doesn't interest me towatch anybody write letters."
"By-by," and Patty waved her hand, absentmindedly, as Nan left the room.
Then she applied herself to her task.
"Most Courteous Knight," she began; "The flowers are beautiful,--andthey are saying lovely things to me. They say they are fresh and youngand green. Oh, my goodness! I forgot that you said they were speakingfor you! Well, then, they are saying that they are just the sort Ilike, and they are sure of a welcome. With many, many thanks, I am verysincerely yours, Patricia Poppycheek Fairfield."
And then Patty dismissed her Knight from her mind, and turned herattention to other matters. That afternoon about five o'clock, Mr.Cameron called.
"I scarcely hoped to find you at home," he said, as Patty greeted himin the drawing-room.
"It isn't our day," she returned, "but I chanced to be in, and I'm gladof it. Nan, may I present Mr. Cameron?" And Nan accorded a pleasantwelcome to the visitor.
"You see, Mrs. Fairfield," Cameron said, "I rarely go into society andI fear my manners are a bit rusty. So if I have come to call too soon,please forgive me."
His smile was so frank and his manner so easily correct, that Nanapproved of him at once. She was punctilious in such matters, and shesaw, through Kit's pretence at rustiness, that he was not lacking inetiquette or courtesy.
"Let's have tea in the library," said Patty; "you see, Mr. Cameron, wealways invite people we like to have tea in there, rather than in thisformal place."
"That suits me; I want to be considered one of the family, and what'sthe use of wasting a whole lot of time getting up to that point? Let'smake believe we've always known each other."
So tea was served in the library, and a very pleasant informal feast itwas.
Mr. Fairfield came in, and soon the whole quartette were chatting gailyas if they had always known each other.
Mr. Cameron was especially interested in Patty's club called "HappySaturdays."
"It's the kindest thing I ever heard of," he said, enthusiastically."It does good to people who can't be reached by any organised charity.I don't want to intrude, Miss Fairfield, and I don't want to exploitmyself, but if you ever give your Saturday friends a little musicale oranything like that, I'd jolly well like to play for you. I'll playpopular stuff, or I'll play my best Sunday-go-to-meeting pieces,whichever you prefer."
"That's awfully nice of you," said Patty, smiling at him. "I've oftenthought I'd get up something of that sort."
"We might have it here," said Nan, "unless you mean to invite morepeople than we could take care of."
"I'd like to have it here," said Patty; "the drawing-room would easilyseat sixty or seventy in an audience,--perhaps more. And I don'tbelieve we could find more than that to invite. Although I know of agirls' club that I'd like to invite as a whole."
"It's a pretty big thing you're getting up, Pattikins," said Mr.Fairfield, smiling kindly at his enthusiastic daughter, "but if youthink you can swing it, go ahead. I'll help all I can."
"It would upset the house terribly," said Nan; "but I don't mind that.I'm with you, Patty. Let's do it."
"If you're shy on the programme, I can get one or two fellows to helpus out," said Cameron. "A chum of mine warbles a good baritone and I'mdead sure he'd like to help."
"I'm really a perfectly good singer," said Mr. Fairfield, "but my voiceis not appreciated nowadays. So I'm going to decline all requests tosing, however insistent. But I'll help you out this way, Patsy-Poppet.I'll set up the supper for the whole crowd."
"Oh, daddy, how good you are!" and Patty leaned over to give herfather's hand an affectionate squeeze. "It will be just lovely! We'llgive those people a real musical treat, and a lovely supper to wind upwith. Really, Mr. Cameron, you are to be thanked for all this, for youfirst suggested it. Our club has never done such a big thing before. Iknow the girls will be delighted!"
Unable to wait, Patty flew to the telephone and called up Mona, who wasone of the most earnest workers of the club. As she had fore-seen, Monawas greatly pleased, and they immediately planned a meeting for thenext morning to perfect the arrangements.
"And incidentally, and aside from giving a musical entertainment toyour poor but worthy young friends, won't you go with me next week toenjoy some music yourself?" said Cameron to Patty
, as he was about totake leave.
"Where?" she asked.
"I want to have a little opera party. Only half a dozen of us. TheHepworths will be our chaperons, and if you will go, I'll ask my cousinMarie and Mr. Harper."
"Why not Mr. Van Reypen?" said Patty, mischievously.
"Me deadly rival! never! nevaire! how could you cruelly suggest it?"
"I didn't mean it. Forget it," and Patty smiled at him.
"All right, it's forgotten, but don't EVER let such a thing occuragain!"
And then Mr. Cameron reluctantly took himself off.