"What ever made Uncle Marmaduke choose this way of concealing his fortune?" asked Bob, as he kept on transferring the money from its hiding-place to the chest.
"He had a fear of banks or investments," said Mrs. Cromarty. "I"ve often heard him say he wouldn"t trust any of them. He said he"d rather be sure of his princ.i.p.al, and go without his interest."
"Crickets!" said Bob, "if all this _had_ been out at interest for forty years, think how it would have increased!"
"Yes," said his mother, "but in that case it would not have been hidden, and before now, it might have all been spent."
"Then I"m glad the old gentleman chose this way of banking. And I suppose he meant to leave full instructions where to find it."
"Well," said Sinclair, "we found it without his instructions, thanks to our Patty."
And then they all began again to bless and praise Patty, until she was really embarra.s.sed at their overwhelming grat.i.tude.
"We"d offer you a share," said Bob, gaily, "but you already have more than you know what to do with."
"Perhaps not quite that," said Patty, smiling, "but I have enough. And, oh! I am so glad that you have your own at last."
"How much do you suppose there is?" asked Mabel, awestruck, as she watched the boys still carrying their precious handfuls across the room.
"Enough to buy you some new frocks, sister," said Sinclair, "and enough to fix up dear old Cromarty as it should be fixed up."
"There must be thousands of pounds," said Grandma Cromarty. "To think of Marmaduke exchanging all his securities and bonds for gold and notes! I suppose he did it while I was away in London. He was a most erratic man."
"Well, you see," said Sinclair, thoughtfully, "once he had the place built, he could drop his money through whenever he received any. I can imagine the old chap, after every one else in the house was in bed, standing here and dropping in his coins one by one, and listening to them clink. Why, it"s like a child"s toy savings-bank, on a large scale."
"It"s a large scale!" said Bob. "Whew! I"m tired out. But it"s nearly all in the chest now, and see, Grandy, the chest is nearly full! When shall we count it? And how _shall_ we get this mess cleared away? If the servants come in here, they"ll know it all, at once. And I think we ought to keep the matter quiet until we can cart the gold away to the bank."
"I think so too," said his mother. "Suppose we leave this room exactly as it is, and lock it all up until to-morrow. Then we can talk it over this evening, and decide what is best to do. I think we should consult with Lawyer Ashton, and let him advise us."
So, after carefully securing the windows, and locking all the doors of the room, it was a merry-hearted family who went away to dress for dinner.
"Let"s put on our prettiest frocks, and make the dinner a sort of celebration feast," said Patty, who dearly loved an "occasion."
"We will," said Mabel, "and Grandy must wear her black velvet."
Mrs. Cromarty was easily persuaded, and the happy old lady looked almost regal as, in her trailing gown, she led the way to the dining-room. The dinner conversation was on the all-absorbing topic, and Patty realised afresh how dearly these people loved their old home, and how anxious they were to devote their newly-found fortune to restoring the glories of the place.
"And now we can have the garden party!" exclaimed Mabel. "You know, Patty, we"ve had one every summer for years and years, and this summer we thought we couldn"t afford it. What fun to have you here to it!"
"Let"s have it soon," said Sinclair. "Can you get ready in a week, mother?"
"Give me a little longer than that, son. And we want to send out the invitations about ten days before the party."
"We"ll make the lists to-night. Let"s invite everybody. I suppose, after we put the money safely away, there"s no necessity for secrecy about it."
"No, I think not. All our friends will rejoice with us, that we"ve found it at last."
Later on, they all sat round the library table, and made plans for the garden party. Patty discovered that it would be a much larger and more important affair than she had imagined. The invitation list soon rose to about four hundred, and seemed literally to include everybody in all the country round.
"I really ought to have a new frock for the party," said Mabel; "but we"ve so much going on that I won"t have time to get one made."
This gave Patty an idea, and she determined to give Mabel a little surprise. While they were making the plans for the fete, she was planning to write to Lady Hamilton and ask her to send down from London two new frocks for herself and Mabel to wear at the garden party. She felt sure she could secretly procure one of Mabel"s old dresses to send for a pattern, and she meant that Mabel should not know of it until the new frock arrived.
The evening was a merry one, indeed. The boys were so exuberant that they laughed and sang s.n.a.t.c.hes of songs, and exclaimed over and over how much they appreciated the good turn Patty had done them.
The two elder ladies were more quietly glad, and it did Patty"s heart good to see that the sad, anxious expression was gone from Mabel"s face.
The days before the garden party flew by quickly, for there was much to be done. Extra servants had to be secured, some repairing done in house and gardens, and the caterer"s orders attended to. The day before the party the dresses arrived from London. Lady Hamilton had chosen them, though Patty had given her a general idea of what she wanted.
Though they were called white muslin frocks, they were made almost entirely of fine embroidery and lace. Mabel"s was worn over a pink silk slip, and Patty"s over blue. Frenchy knots of ribbon were placed here and there, and when the boxes were opened and the tissue papers torn away, Mabel gave a shriek of delight at the beautiful things.
Patty had wanted to give Mabel a pretty frock, but had hesitated to do so, lest she wound her pride.
But this seemed different, and Patty offered the gift so prettily, as a souvenir of the garden party, that Mabel accepted it in the spirit it was given.
The day of the party was perfect. Just the right temperature, and not a cloud in the blue sky, except some fleecy little white ones that were as innocent as kittens.
The party was from three till six, and promptly at three o"clock the guests began to arrive. There was a continuous stream of carriages and motor cars, and soon Patty was almost bewildered by the crowds of people.
Although introduced to them as they arrived, she couldn"t remember them all. But many of them she had met before, and after a time she and Mabel were excused from the receiving party, and were sent to mingle with the guests.
The old place was looking its best. Though there had not been time for much work on the gardens, yet a deal of tidying up had been done. New flowers had been set out in the formal flower beds, the fountains had been repaired and put in working order, and the shrubs and hedges had been trimmed. Patty, looking very sweet in her lovely white dress, wandered around indoors and out, greeting old friends and making new ones.
The house was thrown open, and of course the old chimney-piece, which had been replaced, was scrutinised with great interest. Patty was lionised until she became almost embarra.s.sed at being made so prominent. But everybody was thoroughly glad that the Cromartys had come into their fortune at last. On the lawn was a band of musicians in gay scarlet and gold uniforms, who played popular music at intervals during the afternoon. The terraces and gardens were filled with groups of people pleasantly chatting, and the ladies" pretty summer costumes added to the brilliancy of the scene.
At four o"clock tea was served in a great round tent, which had been put up for the purpose. Although called tea, the repast was a substantial supper of various and elaborate viands. Patty thought she had never seen so many sorts of salads and carefully constructed cold dishes. She sat at a small table with the Merediths and some other young people.
"You"re going to stay here all summer, aren"t you?" asked Tom, who sincerely hoped she was.
"I don"t know," replied Patty. "I"d love to stay, for I"m happy every minute here. But my own people are writing me very urgently to join them in Switzerland. They"re in such delightful quarters there, that they think I"d like it too."
"Oh, don"t go. Stay here with us. We"re going to get up a croquet club, and we want you to be a member."
"I"ll be glad to, if I stay. But where are the people going now?"
The guests had all risen, and were being led to a part of the grounds where a platform had been erected. On this were a troupe of entertainers called The Pierrots. They all wore funny white suits, with little black pompons bobbing all over them. They sang amusing songs, played on cymbals and other instruments, did some clever acrobatic work, and for a half-hour entertained the guests who stood about on the gra.s.s, or sat on camp chairs to watch them.
At six o"clock the guests all took leave, and the great procession of vehicles again appeared on the driveway. Mrs. Cromarty and Mrs. Hartley received their good-byes, and Patty and Mabel invited a number of the young people to remain to dine and spend the evening.
"Though I"m sure we can"t eat any dinner, after that very satisfying tea," said Grace Meredith, as she accepted the invitation.
In the evening they all went out on the lake for a moonlight row. Several new boats had been bought, and the young men rowed the girls about. The boats were hung with Chinese lanterns, which gave the lake the appearance of a regatta or a water festival.
Then back to the house for a dance in the great hall. The musicians had remained, and to their inspiriting strains the young people glided about in merry measures.
"Do give me another waltz," Tom Meredith begged of Patty.
"I"d be glad to, Tom," said Patty, frankly; "but I can"t do it without offending somebody else. I love to dance with you, but you"ve had three already, and I"ve promised all the rest."