With the exception of the hops1 at the seashore hotel, Patty had never been to a regular evening party, and she looked forward to the event with great delight.
Ruth Fleming had come down from Boston to spend Christmas week with Patty, so of course she, too, was invited to the party.
Ruth’s visit had come about in this way: Patty had thought she would ask Marian to visit her on Christmas, but Aunt Alice had insisted that the Fairfields and Grandma Elliott should spend Christmas with them in Vernondale. Then Patty thought of asking Ethelyn St. Clair, but concluded that after all it would be nicer to have Ruth.
“For,” said Patty, to her father, “Ethelyn has lots of good times, while Ruth leads an awfully2 hum-drum life. To be sure, she’s a hum-drum girl, the very hum-drummiest one I ever saw. But that’s all the more reason to chirk her up, and when I get her here I’ll make her have fun, whether she wants to or not. Besides, I had Ethelyn and Bumble Barlow both to visit me last summer, and I’ve never had Ruth.”
So Ruth came, and arrived only the day before Christmas. She reached The Wilberforce in the morning, and Patty was surprised to see how little change a year had made in the Boston girl. She was just the same mild, placid3, unemotional child that she had been when Patty saw her last. Her peculiarly Puritan effect was still evident in her face, her manner and her dress. She wore a plain little frock of a dull brown, with a jacket and hat that were inconspicuously old-fashioned.
In her quiet way she seemed truly glad to see Patty again, and Patty, knowing Ruth’s natural shyness, did all in her power to make her visitor feel at ease.
In this Grandma Elliott helped, for that dear old lady had a knack4 of rendering5 people comfortable; and, too, her heart immediately went out to the shy New England girl.
“There’s to be a party to-night,” said Patty, whose mind was full of this all-important subject; “it’s at my friend Clementine Morse’s; and we’re both going, you and I. It’s a Cinderella party, and papa’s going to take us and come for us again at twelve o’clock. Won’t it be fun?”
“But I can’t go to a party,” exclaimed Ruth, in dismay; “I haven’t any party frock to wear.”
“Oh pshaw, yes you have; your best dress is good enough, whatever it is. Where is it? Let’s unpack6 your things and look at it.”
But Patty was obliged to confess that Ruth had spoken truly. The girl’s best dress was a blue cashmere, neat and well made, and trimmed with silk to match, but Patty knew that among the light and pretty evening dresses of the other girls it would look altogether out of place.
“It isn’t just right, Ruth,” she said frankly7; “but we must fix you up somehow. Do you suppose you could wear one of my frocks? I’ve lots of ’em, though of course most of them are not as pretty as the one I’m going to wear myself to-night.”
“Oh, Patty, of course I couldn’t wear your dress. It wouldn’t fit me at all; and besides I don’t care to go to the party, truly I don’t. Please let me stay at home with Mrs. Elliott, and you go without me. I’ll be a great deal happier—honestly I will.”
Patty looked at her guest with a comical smile.
“Ruth,” she said, “I invited you down here to have a good time; and you’ve got to have it, whether you want it or not. So don’t tell me what you’d rather do, but just make up your mind that you’ll do as I say.”
Patty knew Ruth well enough to feel sure that this was the right way to talk to her. Once at the party, she thought Ruth would enjoy herself if she could only overcome her shyness; and Patty had already planned several ways to assist in this.
But first of all, the question of apparel must be settled. Patty had her own ideas on the subject, and after a conversation over the telephone with her father, who was down at his office, Patty announced to Grandma and Ruth that they would all go on a shopping expedition that very morning.
On the way, Patty informed Ruth that they were to buy her a new party frock, and that it was to be a Christmas gift from Patty and her father.
Ruth protested, but Patty paid no heed8 whatever to her remonstrances9, and when the bewildering array of pretty dresses was exhibited Ruth showed almost as much delighted excitement in the selection as Patty herself.
After much discussion and trying on and consultation10 with Grandma, they at last decided11 on a simple but very dainty frock of light blue Liberty silk. It had a lace yoke12, and was trimmed here and there with bunches of tiny flowers of a slightly darker blue. The effect exactly suited Ruth’s fair hair and grey eyes, and as the excitement of the occasion lent colour to her usually pale cheeks, Patty declared she was a perfect picture in that dress, and there was no use looking any further.
So it was ordered sent home at once, and then the shoppers selected gloves, slippers13, hair-ribbons, and all the delightful14 little accessories of the costume.
Grandma Elliott added an exquisite15 fan as her Christmas gift to Ruth, and then the trio went home.
After luncheon16 Patty decreed that Ruth should take a nap, in order to be bright and fresh for the evening; and as Ruth had found it was quite useless to try to combat Patty’s will, she obediently went to her room.
Patty herself was so full of excitement she could not have slept if she had tried. She unpacked17 Ruth’s things when they were sent home, and laid them out in order for the evening. She flew up to discuss matters with Lorraine, and then paid a flying visit to the Harts. She telephoned to Clementine and to Elise, and finally settled down to chat with Grandma about the coming festivity.
At last dinner was over, and it was time to dress for the great occasion.
Patty’s own frock was all of white; a distracting affair of embroidered18 muslin and fluffy19 lace ruffles20.
But far more than her own finery, Patty enjoyed dressing21 Ruth up in her new clothes.
“You look a perfect dream in that blue,” cried Patty as she finished hooking up Ruth’s dress, and whirled her around for inspection22.
And indeed a transformation23 had been wrought24.
Patty had curled Ruth’s straight blonde hair, and had tied it with two big blue bows, made of ribbon about twice as wide as Ruth had ever worn before. The new frock was most becoming, and Ruth saw her own self in the mirror with an amazed surprise. She had never thought of possessing the slightest claim to beauty, but she was obliged to admit that on this occasion she had certainly achieved it.
The truth was that Ruth’s perfect complexion25 and classic features needed an appropriate setting, and this Patty had provided, with a most pleasing result.
Patty herself was delighted with her success. She exhibited Ruth to Mr. Fairfield quite as if she were a doll which she had dressed up for her own benefit. Even Mr. Fairfield was surprised at the change in the demure26 maiden27, and congratulated both girls on their charming appearance.
Then away they went to the party.
Patty gave Ruth orders to the effect that she must, for at least that one evening, make her demeanour correspond to her appearance.
“If you’re quiet as a mouse, and silent as a mummy, you won’t have any fun at all,” she declared; “you must talk and laugh and make yourself jolly, and forget that you’re as shy and bashful as you can be.”
“Don’t scare the poor child out of her wits,” said Mr. Fairfield, laughing at Patty’s vehemence28; “you’ll make her more embarrassed than ever.”
“Oh, no, I won’t,” said Patty; “Ruth’s all right if you scold her hard enough beforehand.”
Although Patty’s method might not answer for some dispositions29, it was successful in Ruth’s case.
Partly because of Patty’s instructions, and partly because the consciousness of her attractive appearance gave her confidence, Ruth seemed entirely30 to lay aside her shyness and fear of strangers.
She was demure—as she couldn’t help being—but her painful self-consciousness almost disappeared, and she was bright, happy and responsive.
The young people liked her at once, and, aided by their warmhearted welcome, Ruth responded heartily31, and chatted easily and gaily32 with them all.
It must be admitted that this state of affairs had been largely brought about by Patty’s thoughtfulness. She had spoken to most of the girls, and had asked them to be especially cordial to Ruth and to try their best to put the stranger at her ease. The girls had not only done this, but had given their brothers hints in the matter, and as a consequence Ruth did not lack partners for the dances or the games.
But notwithstanding her plans and her hopes, Patty was amazed to see how far Ruth exceeded all her anticipations33. The girl was positively34 a belle35. The admiration36 and attention she received was such a novel experience that it had the effect of exhilarating her. She smiled and dimpled, her eyes danced with enjoyment37. Never forward, or unduly38 hilarious39, she charmed everyone by her demure gaiety.
No one was more delighted than Patty at her friend’s success, and she said to Kenneth:
“I’m so glad Ruth is having such a good time; and yet I’m so surprised, for I never saw her so gay and sparkling before.”
“I’m surprised, too,” said Kenneth, “for from what you told me about her, I imagined her a prim40 little Puritan maiden.”
“I didn’t intend to misrepresent her,” said Patty; “but it must be the influence of New York City that has changed her; she never was like that in Boston.”
“I think it’s your influence,” said Kenneth, “for you always make everybody happy that you have anything to do with.”
“Oh, pshaw; I didn’t do anything for her except to help her pick out that pretty blue frock and give her a good scolding on the way over here.”
“She doesn’t act as though she had been scolded.”
“That’s the result of the scolding. I ordered her to be gay and glad, and she knew she had to obey me. That’s the way to manage a girl like Ruth.”
Ruth’s successful debut41 in no way detracted from Patty’s popularity. She was always the centre of a merry group, and the boys flocked around her like bees around a blossom. She had more invitations to dance than she could possibly accept, and she enjoyed it all to the fullest extent of her fun-loving nature.
“I thought I’d never get a chance to speak to you,” said Roger Farrington, as he led her away for a dance, “you always have such a crowd around you.”
“Well, you can be part of the crowd,” returned Patty, saucily42.
“I don’t want to be part; I want to be the whole crowd.”
“You must have a large opinion of yourself, if you fancy yourself a whole crowd.”
“Well, I never see you anywhere. When you come to see Elise I’m not at home, and when she goes to see you she won’t take me with her. Mayn’t I come by myself some day?”
“Miss Daggett isn’t visiting me now,” said Patty, roguishly.
“Well, Miss Fleming is,” said Roger, teasing in return.
“Sure enough, and I do want to make it pleasant for her. We’re all going to Vernondale for Christmas, but I’d be glad to have you call some afternoon next week. Ruth will stay until after New Year’s Day.”
“I’ll be delighted to come,” said Roger, “and I’ll bring you some plants for your farm.”
They whirled away in the dance, and as Roger was a particularly good dancer, Patty enjoyed it immensely. Dancing was a favourite pastime with her, but she rarely had an opportunity to enjoy it, as Mr. Fairfield did not approve of dancing parties for schoolgirls; so as Patty did not attend a dancing class, her dances were limited to the impromptu43 ones the girls sometimes had in the gymnasium of the Oliphant school.
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1
hops
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| 跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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2
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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3
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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4
knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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5
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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6
unpack
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| vt.打开包裹（或行李），卸货 | |
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7
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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8
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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9
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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10
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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11
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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12
yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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13
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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14
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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15
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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16
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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17
unpacked
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| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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18
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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19
fluffy
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| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
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20
ruffles
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| 褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) | |
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21
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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22
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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23
transformation
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| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
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24
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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25
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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27
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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28
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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29
dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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30
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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31
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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32
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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33
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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34
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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35
belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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36
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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37
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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38
unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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39
hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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40
prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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41
debut
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| n.首次演出，初次露面 | |
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42
saucily
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| adv.傲慢地，莽撞地 | |
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43
impromptu
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| adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地) | |
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