Remonstrance with Aunt Adelaide did no good at all. She a.s.sumed an air of injured innocence, a.s.serted her entire indifference to the details of Mona"s housekeeping,--and then, proceeded to interfere just the same.
As far as possible, the girls had arranged the house party without consulting her; but, even so, she continually offered her advice and obtruded her opinions until Mona lost patience.
"Aunt Adelaide," she said, when Mrs. Parsons insisted that Patty should give up the suite of rooms she occupied to some of the arriving guests, "when Patty came to me I gave her the best rooms, and she"s going to stay in them. I know Mrs. Kenerley is bringing her baby and nurse, and that"s why I gave her rooms on the third floor, that the baby might not disturb any one."
"It"s too high up for the dear child," argued Aunt Adelaide. "I"d like to have her nearer me."
"You wouldn"t, if she"s in the habit of crying all night," said Patty.
"I"m quite willing to give up my pretty rooms, but Mona won"t let me, and I never quarrel with my hostess" decisions."
"Meaning, I suppose, that I do," said Aunt Adelaide, querulously. "Of course, you girls know more than I do. I"m only a poor, old, set aside n.o.body. I couldn"t expect to be listened to, even when I advise you for your own good."
Patty well knew that any response to this sort of talk was useless, so she said, lightly, "We want you mostly for ornament, Aunt Adelaide. If you"ll put on one of your prettiest dresses, and some of that lovely old lace of yours, and your amethyst jewellery, and be on hand to welcome our guests this afternoon, Mona and I will relieve you of all bother about household arrangements."
This mollified Mrs. Parsons somewhat, for she dearly loved to "dress up" and receive company, so she went away to select her costume.
Patty had been at "Red Chimneys" little more than a week, but already the influence of her taste could be seen in the household. Some of the more gaudy and heavy ornaments, which had been provided by a professional decorator, had been removed, and their places filled by palms, or large plain bowls of fresh flowers.
The cook"s extravagant ideas were curbed, and the meals were now less heavily elaborate, and the viands more delicate and carefully chosen.
The service was simpler, and the whole household had lost much of its atmosphere of vulgar ostentation. Mona, too, was improved. Her frocks were more dainty and becoming, and Patty had persuaded her to wear less jewellery and ornamentation. Patty had also taught her to wave her hair in pretty, loose curls that were far more effective than the tight frizzes she had worn. The plans for the house party were complete, and, to the girls, entirely satisfactory.
Adele Kenerley had been a school friend of Mona"s, and was coming with her husband and baby girl. Daisy Dow, another of Mona"s schoolmates, was coming from Chicago, and Roger Farrington and two other young men would complete the party, which had been invited for a week.
Patty had not accomplished all her wishes, without some difficulties.
Several times Mona had balked at Patty"s decrees, and had insisted on following her own inclinations. But by tactful persuasion Patty had usually won out, and in all important matters had carried the day. It was, therefore, with honest pride and satisfaction that she looked over the house just before the arrival of the guests.
She had herself superintended the arrangement of the beautiful flowers for which the Galbraiths" garden was famous, and she had, in a moment of victory, persuaded Mona to put the men servants into white duck instead of their ornate, gilt-braided livery, and the maids into white linen uniforms.
"In this weather," she said, "let"s make our keynote "coolness," and your guests will have a better time than if we overpower them with your winter splendour."
Mona began to see that coolness and splendour were rarely compatible, but she was also beginning to see things as Patty saw them, so she agreed. The girls had not dared to advise Aunt Adelaide as to costume, for just so sure as they advised something, that contradictory lady would be sure to insist on something else.
"But I think I"d better coax her to wear that purple satin," said Mona, "for if I don"t, she"ll surely put it on, and if I do, she won"t!"
"Wait and see," said Patty. "I took pains to hang her lavender crepe de chine right in the front of her wardrobe, and I hope she"ll let her eagle eye light on that, and seek no further!"
"Patty, you"re a born conspirator. I hope you"ll marry a foreign diplomat, and help him manage his international intrigues."
"Oh, I could manage the intrigues and the diplomat both, I expect."
"I"m sure you could! Now, let"s fly and get dressed. The Kenerleys will come soon and I"m crazy to see Adele"s darling baby."
Soon after, the girls going downstairs in their fresh, light summer frocks, were much pleased to see that Patty"s ruse had succeeded. Aunt Adelaide was gracefully posed in a veranda chair, wearing the lavender gown, a collar of fine old lace, and her amethyst necklace. She looked gentle and charming, and seemed in high good humour.
"I hope you like this gown," she said. "I hesitated a long time, but finally chose it because it matched my necklace."
"It"s lovely," said Patty, enthusiastically; "and it suits you awfully well. Look, Mona, there they come!"
Another moment, and a rosy-cheeked young matron flew into Mona"s arms and greeted her after the most approved manner of reunited school friends.
"You dearest old thing!" she cried. "You haven"t changed a bit, except to grow better looking! And, Mona, here"s my husband,--Jim, his name is,--but HERE"S the baby!"
A nurse stepped forward, bringing a mite of humanity, who was laughing and waving her little fat arms, as if delighted to be of the party.
"What an angel of a baby!" cried Mona, taking the smiling infant in her arms. "And a solid angel too," she added, as the child proved more substantial than she had appeared.
"Yes; she"s nearly two years old, and she weighs exactly right, according to the best schedules. She"s a perfect schedule baby in every way."
Then the small piece of perfection was handed over to what was probably a schedule nurse, and general introductions followed.
Patty liked the Kenerleys at once. They were breezy and pleasant mannered, and had an affable way of making themselves at home.
"Mona," said Mr. Kenerley,--"I shall have to call you that, for I doubt if my wife has ever even mentioned your last name to me, and if she has, I have forgotten it,--Mona, how long does one have to be a guest at "Red Chimneys" before he is allowed to go for a dip in that tempting looking ocean I perceive hard by?"
"Oh, only about ten minutes," said Mona, laughing at his impatience.
"Do you want to go now, alone, or will you wait until later? Some men are coming soon who would probably join you for a swim. I expect Bill Farnsworth."
"DO you! Dear old Bill! I haven"t seen him for years. But he"s so big, he"d take up all the surf,--I think I"ll go on by myself. And I know you girls have lots of gossip to talk over--so, I"ll see you later."
Jim Kenerley set off for the Galbraith bathing pavilion, easily discernible by its ornate red chimneys, and Mona turned to have a good old-fashioned chat with Adele.
"Why, where is she?" she exclaimed, and Aunt Adelaide petulantly explained that Patty and Adele had gone to look after the baby. "Pretty poor manners, I call it, to leave me here all alone. It never occurred to them that I"d like to see the baby, too!"
"Never mind, Aunt Adelaide, you"ll have lots of time to see that baby.
And, of course, Adele wants to go to her rooms and get things arranged.
You and I will wait here for the next arrivals. Laurence Cromer is due about now. He"s an artist, you know, and he"ll think you"re a picture in that exquisite gown." Much mollified at these remarks, Aunt Adelaide rearranged her draperies, called for another cushion, had a screen lowered, and sat slowly waving a small fan, in expectance of the artist"s admiration. And perhaps the artist might have given an admiring glance to the picturesque lady in lavender had it not happened that just as he came up the veranda steps Patty appeared in the doorway. Her pink cheeks were a little flushed from a romp with the baby, a few stray curls had been pulled from their ribbon by baby"s chubby hands, and the laughing face was so fair and winsome that Laurence Cromer stood stock-still and gazed at her. Then Mona intercepted his vision, but after the necessary introductions and greetings, the young artist"s eyes kept wandering toward Patty, as if drawn by a magnet.
Young Cromer was a clever artist, though not, as yet, exceedingly renowned. He advertised his calling, however, in his costume and appearance. He wore white flannels, but he affected a low rolling collar and a soft silk tie. His hair was just a trifle longer than convention called for, and his well-cut features were marred by a drooping, faraway expression which, he fondly hoped, denoted soulfulness.
Patty laughed gaily at him.
"Don"t stare at me, Mr. Cromer," she said, saucily. "Baby May pulled my hair down, but I have the grace to be ashamed of my untidiness."
"It"s exquisite," said Cromer, looking at her admiringly; "a sweet disorder in the dress."
"Oh, I know that lady you quote! She always had her shoestrings untied and her hat on crooked!"
Cromer looked amazed, as if a saint had been guilty of heresy, and Patty laughed afresh at his astonished look.
"If you want to see sweet disorder in dress, here"s your chance," cried Mona. "Here comes Daisy Dow, and she"s one who never has her hat on straight, by any chance!"
Sure enough, as a big car whizzed up under the porte-cochere, a girl jumped out, with veils flying, coat flapping, and gloves, bag, and handkerchief dropping, as she ran up the steps.
"Here I am, Mona!" she cried, and her words were unmistakably true.
Daisy Dow was from Chicago, and she looked as if she had blown all the way from there to Spring Beach. She was, or had been, prettily dressed, but, as Mona had predicted, her hat was awry, her collar askew, and her shoelace untied.
The poetical idea of "a sweet disorder in the dress" was a bit overdone in Daisy"s case, but her merry, breezy laugh, and her whole-souled joy at seeing Mona again rather corresponded with her disarranged finery.