Before she rang for her morning chocolate, she thought over the events of the previous evening. She was furiously angry at Farnsworth. So much so, that she could think of little else.
"How dared he?" she exclaimed to herself. "The idea of his thinking I am the sort of girl he can pick up and kiss like that!"
And then her face grew pink with blushes and she buried it in a pillow because she realised she was not nearly so indignant as she ought to be!
"Good heavens!" she thought, frantically5. "Am I in love with Little Billee? With a Westerner? A self-made man? Why, he can't hold a candle to Phil for birth and name! And yet—oh, no, I'm not in love with him! He's too—too—he takes too much for granted. It's got to stop! Think how he carried me out of the Studio party! And last night! No wonder he walked off home without seeing me again! I wonder what he will offer by way of apology or explanation. I believe I'll ask him!"
Patty reached out her hand for the telephone, and suddenly stopped.
"I can't!" she whispered to herself, shame-facedly, "I—I don't want any apology from him. I—I—oh, fiddlesticks! I don't know what to do! Guess I'll have a talk with Nan—no, I won't. It was all very well to talk to her about Phil,—because I didn't care about him. But I do care about Billee. Oh! do I 'care for' him? I don't know—but I'm not going to think about it. It gets me all mixed up. I wonder—I wish I could go away. I will! I guess I can do as I've a mind to!"
After a little further thought, and a determined6 wag of the head, Patty rang her bell, and when the maid came she said, "Bring my chocolate, please, and then get out a suitcase, and pack it for me."
"Yes, Miss Patty," replied Jane, and until her breakfast came, Patty's mind worked rapidly.
"Jane, I'm going to elope," she announced, as the maid reappeared with a tray.
"Yes, Miss Patty," and though Jane's eyes flew wide open, she made no verbal comment.
"Don't look as if you had been shot!" said Patty, laughing; "I'm going alone, but you are to help me get off. Pack the things I tell you and then order the little car for me. I'm not going to tell you where I'm going, for I don't want any one to know. But after I'm gone, you may give Mrs. Fairfield a note I will leave with you. Understand?"
"Yes, Miss Patty," and Jane began at once to lay out the desired clothing.
"And," Patty went on, "if any one calls or telephones or asks for me in any way, just say that I've gone away for a few days to recuperate7 after the exertions8 of the House Sale."
She carried out her plan with no trouble at all. Jane took down the suitcase, Patty went down, too, by the back stairs, and got into the car unseen, and was driven to the Grand Central Station.
Admonishing9 the chauffeur10 to tell no one where he took her, Patty bought a ticket for Fern Falls, and in a few hours amazed Adele Kenerley by walking in at her front door.
"Patty Fairfield! You angel child! Where did you drop from? The blue skies?"
"Not quite. I flew up from New York to beg the hospitality of your roof for a few days."
"For as long as we can keep you. You dear old thing! How well you look!"
"Don't say that! I'm here to recuperate after a strenuous11 gay season and a particularly tiring Bazaar thing last night."
"Oh, yes, Bazaars12 are the most tiresome13 things in the world! You ought never to go to them."
"This one came to me. It was at our house. I'll tell you all about it later. But, honestly, Adele, I was just ready to perfectly14 fly this morning! My nerves gave out, my muscles are all lame15 and tired, and then, my brain gave way. So, sez I, why not flee away to that haven16 of rest what I wot of,—and here I am flewn!"
"Well, I'm jolly glad to see you. Jim will be overjoyed, too. Come right up to your own room, and take off your things, while I go and speak to Cook. Anything particular you want for lunch?"
"No, thank you. Any old thing, so long as it's good. As if you ever had anything that wasn't salt of the earth!"
"Oh, Patty! You don't eat salt of the earth! Unless you're a cannibal!"
"I'd like to know what kind of salt you do eat, then! Run along,
Adele, and order a dressy luncheon17. I am pretty hungry."
Mrs. Kenerley went off, and Patty stood for a moment, looking out of the window. "I did just the right thing," she said to herself. "Up here, where it's so quiet and peaceful, I can think things out, and know just where I stand. Down home, I shouldn't have had a minute to myself. It is beautiful here. So peaceful and calm."
Patty turned, as some one entered her room, and saw a maid, ready to unpack18 for her.
"I've only a suitcase, Tessie," she smiled. "I'm here but for two or three days."
"Yes, Miss Fairfield. It's good to see you again. What will you put on?"
"The little rose Georgette, please. Why, here are two of my frocks in this wardrobe!"
"Yes, you left them last summer, and Mrs. Kenerley said to leave them there against your next visit."
"Good work! Here's a white crêpe de chine. Just the thing for tomorrow. No guests, are there, Tessie?"
"None, Miss Fairfield. Some ladies left this morning."
"Now, tell me all about it," said Adele, coming back. "You may go,
Tessie. I'll look after Miss Fairfield."
Tessie went away, and the two friends sat down for a chat.
"First of all, Adele," Patty said, "I don't want any one to know where I am. I want a few days of absolute freedom from interruption,—I've some things to think out."
"H'm," said Adele. "Who is he?"
Patty turned pink. "Nobody," she returned; "or, if it's anybody, it's Phil Van Reypen; he wants me to marry him, and I don't know whether to or not."
Adele looked at Patty's transparent19 face, and knew she was not telling the whole truth. "You won't," she said, astutely20. "But never mind why you came, dear; tell me as much or as little as you wish. And nobody shall know of your whereabouts, I promise you that. We'll have a lovely, comfy time, just by ourselves."
"And I'll tell you this much, Adele; if Bill Farnsworth telephones, on no account tell him I'm here. Please tell him I'm not!"
"Oh, fie, fie, Patty; tell a naughty story?"
"Sometimes a naughty story is justifiable21; or, well, if you can't conscientiously22 do it, let me know if he threatens to come up here and I'll scoot off somewhere else."
"I think I see you! I'll leave it to Jim. He'll manage it diplomatically. And perhaps Bill won't telephone."
"No, most likely not. But he may. He doesn't know I'm here,—nobody does,—but I suppose this will be the first place anybody would suspect me of being."
"I think very likely. Come on, now, I'll help you dress for lunch.
What a beautiful kimono! Where did you get that?"
"At the Sale last night. Oh, we had wonderful things. Everybody donated, you know, and then came and bought the things. Philip gave us some of Aunty Van Reypen's bronzes and ivory carvings23. I think we'll make a lot of money."
"And you ran away the morning after! Didn't you want to know how the funds summed up?"
"Oh, yes; but the house was in such a fearful state! Furniture all moved and things every which way. I was glad to disappear until it gets into shape again."
"And doesn't Mrs. Fairfield or your father know where you are?"
"Well, I left a note for Nan, and I didn't tell her just where I was going, so she could tell people that I hadn't; but I gave her sufficient hints, so she can form a fairly correct notion of my destination."
"All right, Pattykins, I'll look after you, and no one shall learn from me where you are,—least of all, that terrible ogre, Bill Farnsworth!"
Patty smiled, and the two friends went downstairs. Jim Kenerley was beaming with welcomes, and declared that he, too, would keep the secret of Patty's presence under his roof, even at the point of the bayonet.
But, alas24, for good intentions!
That afternoon, Kenerley sought his wife, consternation25 in every line of his good-looking countenance26.
"Where's Patty?" he asked, abruptly27.
"I sent her off for a nap. She's all tired out. Why?"
"Well, Farnsworth is on his way up here."
"What? Why did you let him come?"
"Couldn't help it. You see it was this way. The clerk, or somebody at his hotel telephoned, and said that Mr. Farnsworth had suddenly decided28 to run up here, and that he hadn't time to telephone and then get his train. So he instructed the clerk to get me and tell me Bill was on the way. He'll be here a little after seven. What shall we do?"
"Mercy! I don't know. Let me think. Patty is awfully29 angry with him about something, and I've promised her not to let him know where she is."
"Lovers' quarrel?"
"I don't know. I haven't had a real talk with Patty yet, she's so fagged out. I want her to rest up. But she says she's bothered about Philip Van Reypen."
"Then depend upon it, it's somebody else! Farnsworth, probably."
"She could do a lot worse than to marry Bill."
"Indeed she could! But, all the same, if Patty doesn't want him here, he mustn't come."
"That's all very well, but how will you prevent it?"
"I don't know. Meet him with a shotgun?"
"Now, be serious, Jim. We must protect Patty at any cost. Can't we telegraph him on the train?"
"Not a chance. Do you think he knows she's here?"
"He can't know it. He may suspect it. Well, he'll have to come, and he'll have to stay over night; we can't send him packing, with no decent excuse."
"Tell him Cook has the smallpox30."
"Don't be silly! I can manage it, I think. Yes, with your help, it can be done."
"My dear Adele, I offer my help in its entirety, and then some."
"I'll need all that—maybe more. It's no easy job, but I'll try it, rather than have Patty disturbed."
"Might a mere31 man ask the nature of your plans?"
Adele Kenerley looked affectionately at her husband. "Yes, but you mustn't hoot32 at them. Yours not to question why, yours not to make objection."
"Mine only to do or die, like those other heroes, I suppose."
"Yes, but you're to do, not die. The die is cast! I've cast it. Now, stop fooling, Jim, and listen to me. Those two people shall be in this house at the same time, and neither will suspect that the other is here."
"Impossible!"
"There was a gentleman once, named Napoleon. He remarked, 'If it is possible, it must be done. If it is impossible, it shall be done!' That's my motto."
"Good for you, General! Go ahead. Command me, Madame!"
"Well, and now listen, Jim, and be serious. We'll have two dinners tonight——"
"Whew! I can't stand everything!"
"Silence, sir! We'll have dinner at six; and then I'll tuck Patty in bed early, to get her rest. Then, Bill will get here about seven, and we'll have another dinner for him. I can look after tomorrow morning,—— Patty will breakfast in her room. Then, about eleven o'clock or noon, you must take Bill for a long motor ride, lunch somewhere on the road. I'll have Patty lunch here with me. Then, I'll put her away for an afternoon nap, and we must then have dinner for Bill and,—make him go home. I couldn't keep it up any longer than that."
"I should say not! Regular Box and Cox game. But it may be we can put it over. I'll do all I can. But s'pose he won't go home tomorrow afternoon?"
"Make him. Even if you have to telephone to his hotel to send a hurry wire for him."
"Capital! I'll do that, if I have to. All right, little woman, you act as Patty's jailer, and I'll look after Farnsworth."
And so, at five o'clock, Adele went to Patty's room. She found that young woman, robed in her apple blossom gown, asleep, with her head on a much crumpled33 pillow. There were traces of tears on the pink cheeks, but the blue eyes were tightly closed.
"Wake up, Pattibelle," said Adele, gently patting her shoulder. "We're to have an early dinner, 'cause Jim has to go off to some meeting or other, and I thought you wouldn't mind."
"Mind? Of course not," and Patty sprang up, very wide-awake. "I won't dress much, Adele."
"No; wear the same frock you had on for lunch. Twist up that yellow mop of yours, and come along down, now. I want you to take a stroll around the domain34 while there's a scrap35 of daylight left."
The hour before dinner soon passed, and then, laughing with merriment, the hosts and guest went in to dinner.
The Kenerleys were in specially36 gay spirits, it seemed to Patty, and she held her own in fun and repartee37.
"You must stay a long time, Patty," Jim declared. "You're more fun than a barrel of monkeys! I'm awfully glad you came."
"So'm I," assented38 Patty; "I wanted to get away from the giddy whirl, and lead the simple life for a few days."
"Sometimes the simple life is very complicated," observed Kenerley, and he glanced at the clock.
Adele took the hint. "You want to get away, don't you, dear?" she said. "And we've been dawdling39 over dessert! Patty, I shan't give you any coffee tonight. I'm afraid it will keep you awake, and you need sleep. My, but you're hollow-eyed! I suppose you've kept late hours all winter."
"Pretty much. But I sleep a good deal, too. And I feel all right, now. I'm not going to bed before you come back, Jim."
"Indeed you are!" cried Adele. "Now, not a word from you, Miss! I'm your nurse at present, and you will obey my orders!"
Kenerley started off to drive to the station for Farnsworth. He felt sure his wife would have Patty out of the way when they returned, but he didn't know just how she'd manage it.
Nor was it easy. But Adele wandered about the house with her guest, and finally declared the moonlight view was prettier from Patty's windows than anywhere else. She lured40 the girl upstairs, and then cleverly persuaded her to don a dressing-gown and lie down, while she, Adele, looked after some household matters, and she would then return for a confab.
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1
dismantled
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| 拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消 | |
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bazaar
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| n.集市，商店集中区 | |
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expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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recuperate
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| v.恢复 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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9
admonishing
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| v.劝告( admonish的现在分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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10
chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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11
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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12
bazaars
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| （东方国家的）市场( bazaar的名词复数 )； 义卖； 义卖市场； （出售花哨商品等的）小商品市场 | |
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13
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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14
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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15
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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16
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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17
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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18
unpack
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| vt.打开包裹（或行李），卸货 | |
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19
transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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astutely
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| adv.敏锐地；精明地；敏捷地；伶俐地 | |
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justifiable
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| adj.有理由的，无可非议的 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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23
carvings
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| n.雕刻( carving的名词复数 )；雕刻术；雕刻品；雕刻物 | |
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24
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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27
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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28
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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29
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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30
smallpox
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| n.天花 | |
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31
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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32
hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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33
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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34
domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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35
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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36
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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37
repartee
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| n.机敏的应答 | |
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38
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
dawdling
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| adj.闲逛的，懒散的v.混（时间）( dawdle的现在分词 ) | |
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40
lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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