CHAPTER III
BETTY GALE
Seated at the head of her own dinner table that evening, Patty feltdecidedly in her element. Always of a hospitable nature, alwaysefficient in household matters, she played her role of hostess with asweet simplicity and a winning grace that charmed all her guests.
Farnsworth, opposite her at the big, round table, was a quiet, dignifiedand well-mannered host. He had not Patty's native ability to entertain,but he was honestly anxious that his guests should be pleased and he didall in his power to help along. Patty had coached him on many minorpoints, for Little Billee had been brought up in simple surroundings andunaccustomed to what he at first called Patty's frills and fal-lals.
But she had convinced him that dainty laces and shining silver were to beused for his daily fare and not merely as "company fixings," and beingadaptable, the good-natured man obediently fell in with her wishes.
And now he was as deft and handy with his table appointments as Pattyherself, and quite free from self-consciousness or awkwardness.
"You've made me all over, Patty," he would sometimes say; "now, I reallylike these dinky doo-daddles better than the 'old oaken bucket' effectson which I was brought up!"
And then Patty would beg him to tell her more about his early days andhis wild Western life in the years before she knew him.
It was her great regret that Bill had no parents, nor indeed any nearrelatives. An only child, and early orphaned, he had lived a few yearswith a cousin and then had shifted for himself. A self-made man,--asthey are styled,--he had developed fine business ability, and had alsomanaged to acquire a familiarity with the best in literature. Patty wascontinually astonished by his ready references and his quotations fromthe works of the best authors.
Indeed, the room he took the deepest interest in furnishing in their newhome was the library.
For the purpose he selected the largest room in the house. It had beendesigned as a drawing-room or ballroom; but Farnsworth said that itslocation and outlook made it an ideal library. He had an enormous windowcut, that filled almost the whole of one side of the room, and whichlooked out upon a beautiful view, especially at sunset.
Then the furnishings were chosen for comfort and ease as well aspreserving the dignified effect that should belong to a library. The bookcases were filled with the books already owned by the two and new oneswere chosen and bought by degrees as they were desired or needed.
The reference portion was complete and the cases devoted to poetry andessays well filled. Fiction, too, of the lasting kind, and delightfulbooks of travel, biography and humour.
There were reading chairs, arranged near windows and with handy tables;there were desks, perfectly appointed; racks of new books and magazines;portfolios of pictures, and cosy window seats and _tete-a-tetes_.
There were a few fine pictures, and many little intimate sketches byworth-while pencils or brushes. And there were treasured books, valuableintrinsically or because of their inscriptions, that Farnsworth hadcollected here and there.
Small wonder, then, that the library was the favourite room in the houseand that after dinner Patty proposed they go there for their coffee.
"Some room!" ejaculated Chick Channing, as they sauntered in and stoodabout, gazing at the wealth of books.
"Glorious!" agreed Mona, who had a mere pretence of a library in her ownhome. "I didn't know you were so literary, Patty."
"Oh, I'm not. It's Little Billee's gigantic intellect that planned thisroom, and he's the power that keeps it going. Every week he sends up acartload of new books--"
"Oh, come, now, Patty,--I haven't bought a book for a fortnight!" laughedFarnsworth. "But I've just heard of a fine old edition of Ike Walton thatI can get at--"
"There, there, my son, don't get started on your hobby," imploredChanning. "We're ignoramuses, Mona and I, and we want to talk aboutless highbrow subjects."
"Count me on your side," said a smiling girl, whose big gray eyes tookon a look of awe at the turn the conversation had taken. "I don't knowif Ike Walton is a book or a steamboat!"
The speaker was Beatrice Gale, a neighbour of the Farnsworths. She waspretty and saucy looking,--a graceful sprite, with a dimpled chin, andsoft brown hair, worn in moppy bunches over her ears. She was calledBetty by her friends, and Patty and Bill had already acquired thatprivilege.
"Now, Betty," and Patty shook her head at her, "you are a collegegraduate as well as a debutante,--you _must_ know old Ike!"
"But I don't! You see, my debut meant so much more to me than mycommencement, that all I ever learned at college flew out of my headto make room for all I'm going to learn in society."
"Have you much left to learn?" asked Elise, looking at the piquant facethat seemed to show its owner decidedly conversant with the ways of theworld,--at least, her own part in it.
"Oh, indeed, yes! I only know how to smile and dance. I'm going to learnflirting, coquetry and getting engaged!"
"You're ambitious, little one," remarked Van Reypen. "Have you chosenyour instructors?"
"I'm sure you won't need any," put in Elise, who was already jealous ofPhilip's interested looks at the new girl. "I think you could pass anefficiency examination already!"
"You ought to know," said Betty, with such an innocent and demure lookat Elise, that it was difficult to determine whether she meant to beimpertinent or not.
"Let me conduct the examination," said Philip; "shall it be public,--orwill you go with me into a--a classroom?" and he looked toward the small"den" that opened from the library.
"Oh, have it public!" exclaimed Mona. "Let us all hear it"
"All right," and pretty Betty smiled, non-chalantly. "Go ahead,Professor."
"I will. You know these examinations begin by matching words. I say oneword, and you say whatever word pops into your head first."
"That's easy enough. Proceed."
"Arden."
"Forest. I always thought this place ought to have been named the Forestof Arden, because--"
"Don't talk so much. You must say one word only. Concentrate."
"Silence."
"Oh, concentrate wasn't the _word_! I said that to you--"
"I thought you were talking to me _all_ the time!"
"I am. Now be still! Horse."
"How can I pass my examination if I'm to be still? Wagon."
"Aeroplane."
"You."
"How did you know that I was an aviator?"
"Never mind; go on with the game."
"All right. Beaux."
"Flattery."
"Chaperon."
"Hoodwink."
"Oh, you rascal! Mother."
"Father."
"Father."
"Money."
"Soft-boiled egg."
"Messy."
"American Beauties."
"Mr. Grant,--he often sends them to me."
"Music."
"Dancing."
"You pass. Now for to see if you're thoroughly grounded in the commonbranches. Grammar, first. What's a noun, and give examples."
"A noun's a name. As, candy, heart, slipper."
"What's a compound noun?"
"Two names,--as chicken salad,--Philip Van Reypen,--moonlight."
"What's a mood?"
"Something you fall into,--as a ditch,--or love."
"What is an article?"
"A piece of fancy work for sale at a fair."
"What's a conjunction?"
"Anything that joins,--as the marriage ceremony, or hooks and eyes."
"Good. Now for arithmetic. If you are at home of an evening, and a chapcalls on you, and then I come to call, and take half your attentionfrom him, what is left?"
"The chap!"
"Right! Now, definitions. What do you mean by forever?"
"Until to-morrow!" returned Betty, laughing.
"Never?"
"Not until to-morrow!"
"How do you spell No?"
"Y-e-s."
"Oh, Betty," e
xclaimed Patty, laughing, "I didn't know you were sowitty!"
"Good gracious! don't call me _that!_ Here, stop this examination rightnow! I _won't_ be called witty. Why, don't you know--
"'Though you're sweet and though you're pretty,Men won't love you if you're witty!'
"I'm _always_ afraid of not being loved!"
Miss Gale looked so frightened at this very idea, that they all brokeinto laughter.
"You should worry!" declared Bill. "You haven't enough wit to do anygreat harm. Or, at least, if you have, you've compensating foolishness--Imean--that is--"
"There, there, Billee," counselled Patty, "you'd better stop,--you'rejust getting in deeper with every word."
"Oh, it's all right," and Beatrice shrugged her shoulders, "I need tobe brought up with a round turn now and then. I'm too intellectual,--Iknow."
She purposely assumed a vacant, stupid expression and folded her handshelplessly in her lap.
"She's a hummer," Channing remarked in an aside to Patty, as furtherhilarity followed Betty's fooling.
"I like her lots," Patty returned. "She's a frivolous little thing, butthoroughly sweet and dear. She adores Fleurette."
"Aha, little mother! So that's the way to your good graces, is it? I tooadore Fleurette."
"But you're already in my good graces,--and have been for years."
"So? Then,"--Chick's tone grew wheedlesome,--"invite me up hereoften,--won't you?"
"Now I _should_ have thought you meant because of my daughter's charms,if your glance hadn't wandered toward Miss Gale, even as you spoke!"
"Both, fair lady,--both. I adore Fleurette as the delightful daughter ofa delightful mother. May I not also admire the delightful neighbour?"
"Indeed, you may. And you have a standing invitation to come up hereas often as you like. I'm going to entertain a lot this spring andsummer,--and you're a really useful house guest"
"Thanks, indeed! How do I qualify?"
"By your nice, kind, entertaining qualities. You're an all-round niceman, Chick,--and I don't care who knows my opinion. And now, do you goand make up to Elise."
"Yes, ma'am. Between you and me, ma'am,--she's a bit miffed--not?"
"Hush! Run along and make yourself so agreeable that she'll forgeteverybody else."
Of a truth Elise was a little disturbed. For she was of a jealous andself-seeking disposition, and resented any attentions that were not givento her. The advent of this bright and sparkling young girl,--probablythree or four years younger than herself, made her suddenly feelneglected, and it displeased her.
Mona noticed it, and smiled to herself. But Patty truly regretted it,for she had taken a decided fancy to Beatrice Gale, and as they wereneighbours, she knew the girl would be often at Wistaria Porch. And asshe had planned to have Elise with her often, also, she saw breakersahead, unless the two could be reconciled.
Patty was a born peacemaker, but she also knew that a jealous nature isnot easily placated. And she foresaw that Philip Van Reypen would be the"bone of contention."
After Patty's marriage, Philip, a disappointed suitor, had declaredhimself a confirmed bachelor. And though Elise would have looked withsatisfaction on his change of heart, it had not yet occurred.
Patty had hoped,--and thought,--that Philip would marry her cousin, HelenBarlow; but neither of the parties had seen it in that light, and Helenhad since married her long persistent wooer, Chester Wilde.
This left Van Reypen entirely unattached, and Elise,--it could be seen byany onlooker,--was not at all averse to his company.
And Van Reypen liked her, for Elise was pretty and charming. But whenthings didn't go as she wished them to, she had a habit of sulking whichwas far from attractive.
So, the very apparent interest that Philip showed in this new chit of agirl,--as Elise dubbed Betty to herself,--was as iron entering her soul.
However, she was clever enough to hide her real feelings, and shewelcomed Chick Channing with a cordial smile.
"Let's go for a stroll round the verandahs," he proposed, and Eliseconsented.
"Want a wrap? though it's warm for April," he said, as they went out thedoor.
"No, thank you, I love the fresh air," and Elise waved her white armupward, and entwined it in the wistaria blossoms. "I've adopted thisporch,--I shall probably be with Patty a lot this summer. You'll comeup--now and then?"
"Oh, yes; it's the most charming house to visit, don't you think?"
"Great! Patty is an ideal hostess, and Bill's a dear!"
"And the kiddy,--don't leave her out"
"Oh, she's an angel. But a bit unfledged, as yet."
"Of course. But such a darling! By the way, I'm her godfather."
"Oh, are you? Then I'll be her godmother! She ought to have both."
"Certainly. Though I think I heard that Miss Gale has the position."
"Of course she has! That girl appropriates everything! I think she's toofresh!"
"You mean that for a compliment, I'm sure. Yes, she is,--she's like adewy daisy--"
"Dewy daisy, nothing! She isn't so childlike as she wants to appear!"
"There now, Elise, don't talk like that! It doesn't sound pretty,--andgoodness knows _you've_ no reason to be jealous."
"What?" asked Elise, already mollified.
"Why, you, with your established place in this household, and in ourset,--mustn't stoop to be--jealous--of a little schoolgirl!"
"Oh, I'm _not_! How dare you hint it?"
"Then don't act so. Take my advice, Lisa, and don't show even theappearance of that sort of thing. It reacts,--you know."
Elise did know,--she knew Chick was telling her the truth, and tellingit, too, only in the kindest spirit of real friendship.
She bit her lip in annoyance, and said, sharply, "Don't abuse theprivilege of an old friend, Chick."
"I don't mean to,--honest I don't, Elise. Forgive me if I've offendedyou."
"Oh, you haven't. That's all right. Have you ever met this Gale girlbefore?"
"No; but she sat next me at dinner, and she told me about herself. Itseems she has a wonderful brother--"
"She has!" It was amazing how Elise brightened up. "Why wasn't he invitedthis evening?"
"He's away from home just now,--will return next week,--I think she said.Get on your warpaint and feathers! See, the conquering heroine comes!"
"Stop teasing, Chick. I do like to meet strangers, and if Patty'sneighbour is attractive--"
"Patty's neighbour's brother,--you mean?"
"I do! If he's attractive, it'll add to my pleasure when visitingPatty,--won't it?"
"It sure will,--and, may I say it? You'll add to his pleasure, I've nodoubt."
"Very pretty, Chick. You _are_ a nice boy."
"Thank you, ma'am. But I won't be in it, when the brother appears on thescene, I fear! So, to make hay while the sun shines, won't you go in anddance with me? I hear the light fantastics tripping in the hall."
They went in and found all of the party keeping time to the gay music ofthe big victrola, and they joined the swaying couples.
As they passed Betty Gale and Van Reypen, Elise overheard her saying,"You're awfully good to me,--and you've only just met me to-night!"
Phil's reply was lost as they danced away, but Elise realised that it wasan eager expression of his desire that they should meet again, and soon,and her demon of jealousy once more up-reared his ugly head.
But she concealed it,--outwardly, at least,--and when the time came, shewas so cordial and sweet to Miss Gale that a friendship pact was sealedbetween them.