"Then I DO choose, you dear old Daddy!" cried Patty, making a rush for her father, and, seating herself on the arm of his chair, she patted his head, while she told him how glad she was of his consent. "For,"
she said, "I made up my mind not to coax. If you didn"t agree readily, I was going to abide by your wishes, without a murmur."
"Oh, what a goody-girl!" said Mr. Fairfield, laughing. "Now, you see, Virtue is its own reward."
"And I"m SO glad!" Mona declared, fervently. "Oh, Patty, we"ll have perfectly elegant times! I was so afraid you wouldn"t WANT to come to stay with me."
"Oh, yes, I do," said Patty, "but I warn you I"m a self-willed young person, and if I insist on having my own way, what are you going to do?"
"Let you have it," said Mona, promptly. "Your way is always better than mine."
"But suppose you two quarrel," said Mr. Fairfield, "what can you do then? Patty will have nowhere to go."
"Oh, we won"t quarrel," said Mona, confidently. "Patty"s too sweet-tempered,--"
"And you"re too amiable," supplemented Nan, who was fond of Mona in some ways, though not in others. But she, too, thought that Patty would have a good influence over the motherless girl, and she was honestly glad that Patty could stay at her beloved seash.o.r.e for the rest of the summer.
So it was settled, and Mona went flying home to carry the glad news to her father, and to begin at once to arrange Patty"s rooms.
CHAPTER III
SUSAN TO THE RESCUE
The day that Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield were to start on their trip to the mountains came during what is known as "a hot spell." It was one of those days when life seems almost unbearable,--when the slightest exertion seems impossible.
There was no breeze from the ocean, and the faint, languid land breeze that now and then gave an uncertain puff, was about as refreshing as a heat-wave from an opened furnace door.
At the breakfast table, Patty tried to persuade them not to go that day. "You"ll faint in the train, Nan, on a day like this," she said.
"Do wait until to-morrow."
"There"s no prospect of its being any better to-morrow," said Mr.
Fairfield, looking anxious; "and I think the sooner Nan gets away, the better. She needs cool, bracing mountain air. The seash.o.r.e doesn"t agree with her as it does with you, Patty."
"I know it," said Patty, who loved hot weather. "Well, perhaps you"d better go, then; but it will be just BOILING on the train."
"No more so than here," said Nan, smiling. She wore a light pongee silk travelling gown, which was the coolest garb she could think of. "But what"s bothering me is that Mrs. Parsons hasn"t arrived yet."
"Oh, she"ll come to-day," said Patty. "Mona says she telegraphed yesterday that it was too hot to travel, but she"d surely come to-day."
Mrs. Parsons was the aunt who was to chaperon the two girls at "Red Chimneys," and Nan wanted to see the lady before she gave Patty into her charge.
"But it"s going to be just as warm to-day," went on Nan. "Suppose she can"t travel to-day, either?"
"Oh, she"ll have to," said Patty, lightly. "If you can travel, I guess she can. Now, Nan, don"t bother about her. You"ve enough to do to think of yourself and try to keep cool. I"m glad Louise is going with you.
She"s a good nurse, and you must let her take care of you."
Louise was the lady"s maid who looked after the welfare of both Nan and Patty. But as Patty was going to a house where servants were more than plentiful, it had been arranged that Louise should accompany Nan.
"Don"t talk as if I were an invalid, Patty. I"m sensitive to the heat, I admit, and this weather is excessive. But I"m not ill, and once I get a whiff of mountain air I"ll be all right."
"I know it, Nancy; and so fly away and get it. And don"t waste a thought on poor, worthless me, for I shall be as happy as a clam. I just love broiling, sizzling weather, and I"m sure my experiences at Mona"s will be novel--if nothing else,--and novelty is always interesting."
"I hope you will have a good time, Patty, but it all seems so queer. To go off and leave you with that girl, and an aunt whom we have never even seen!"
"Well, I"ll see her this afternoon, and if she won"t give me a photograph of herself for you, I"ll draw you a pen portrait of the Dragon Lady."
"I hope she will be a Dragon, for you need some one to keep you steady.
You mean to do right, but you"re so thoughtless and impulsive of late.
I"m afraid it"s growing on you, Patty."
"And I"m afraid you"re a dear old goose! The heat has gone to your head. Now, forget me and my vagaries, and devote all your time and attention to the consideration of Mrs. Frederick Fairfield."
"Ready, Nan?" called her husband from the doorway, and then there was a flurry of leave-takings, and final advices, and last words, and good-bye embraces; and then the motor-car rolled down the drive carrying the travellers away, and Patty dropped into a veranda chair to realise that she was her own mistress.
Not that her father or Nan were over strict with her; they merely exercised the kind and gentle supervision that every young girl ought to have. But sometimes, of late, Patty had chafed a little at their restrictions, and though she had no desire to do anything they would disapprove of, she enjoyed the novel sense of entire freedom of action.
However, to be responsible to n.o.body at all seemed to make Patty feel an added responsibility of her own behaviour, so she went into the house, determined to do all she ought to do as mistress there. Though her time for such duties was short. The Fairfields had been obliged to leave on an early morning train, and Patty was not to go to Mona"s until late in the afternoon. She had, therefore, several hours, and she went systematically to work, looking through each room to make sure all was in order for closing the house. She put away some books and some bits of choice bric-a-brac, and then went out to interview the cook.
"Yes, Miss Patty," said that worthy, in answer to her enquiries, "I"ve enough av food for yer luncheon, an" thin I"ll dispose av the schraps, and lave the refrigerators clane an" empty."
"That"s right, Susan," said Patty, in most housekeeperly tones; "and will you go away in time for me to lock up the house after you?"
"Yes, Miss; Mrs. Fairfield said we was all to go at five o"clock. Thin Miller will lock up, and give yersilf the keys."
Patty knew these matters had all been arranged by her parents, but it pleased her to a.s.sume an authority.
"Very well, Susan," she said. "And where are you all going?" "Jane, she"s going to take another place, Miss; but I"m going to me sister"s for a time. It"s a rest I"m nadin"."
Patty looked kindly at the cook. She had never really talked with her before, as Nan a capable and sufficient housewife, and Patty was a little surprised to see what a fine-looking woman Susan was. She was Irish, but of the best type. A large, well-built figure, and a sensible, intelligent face. Her abundant hair was slightly grey, and her still rosy cheeks and dark blue eyes indicated her nationality.
Though she spoke with a soft burr, her brogue was not very noticeable, and Patty felt irresistibly drawn to her.
"If you want anything, Susan," she said, "or if I can help you in any way, come to me at once. I shall be at "Red Chimneys" for two months, you know."
"Thank you, Miss Patty. I"m thinkin" I"ll be fair comfortable at my sister"s. But if you do be goin" by in yer autymobile, wave yer hand, just. It"d please us all. You know the house,--down on the Scudder Road."
"Yes, I know, Susan. I often pa.s.s there, and I"ll wave my hand at you every time."
Patty went back to her own room, and continued her preparations for her visit to Mona. Although "Red Chimneys" was but two blocks away, the packing to be done was the same as if for a more distant destination.
Many of Patty"s things had already been sent over, and now she was looking up some favourite books and music to take with her. Though, of course, she would have the keys of her own home, and could return for anything she might want.
Patty expected to go over to Mona"s at five o"clock, but at about four Mona herself came flying over to "The Pebbles." She waved a yellow telegram, and before Patty heard what was in it, she divined that Mrs.
Parsons had again postponed her arrival.
And this was the truth.
"Doctor fears sunstroke. Advises me to wait until to-morrow," the message read, and Patty and Mona looked at each other in blank dismay.