CHAPTER XIII
ELISE AND PATTY
"I think you're just as mean as you can be, Patty Fairfield! You won'tcome to my tree and you won't have the House Sale, and you won't do athing anybody wants you to! I never saw such a disagreeable old thingas you are!"
"Why, Elise, you dear little, sweet, 'bused child! Am I as bad as allthat? You do su'prise me! Well, well, I must mend my ways. I'vealways had a reputation for good nature, but it seems to be slippingawa' Jean, like snow in the thaw, Jean,--as the song book says. Now,my friend and pardner, here's my ultimatum. But smile on me, first, orI can't talk to you at all. You look like a thunder cloud,--a verypretty thunder cloud, to be sure,--but still, lowering and threatening.Brace up, idol of my heart,--shine out, little face, sunning over withraven black curls,--I seem to be poetically inclined, don't I?"
Elise laughed in spite of herself. The two girls had been discussingplans, and as Patty stuck to her determination to spend Christmas Eveat the Blaneys', Elise was angry, because she was to have her ownChristmas tree that night, and, of course, wanted Patty with her.
They were in the Farringtons' library. It was nearly dusk, and Pattywas just about to get her hat to go home, when they began thecontroversy afresh.
"I can't help laughing, because you're so silly, but I'm angry at youall the same," Elise averred, with a shake of her dark, curly head."You're so wrapped up in the Blaneys and their idiotic old crowd, thatyou have no time or attention for your old friends."
"It does seem so," mused Patty; "of course, it might be, because theidiotic crowd are nice and pleasant to me, while my old friends, one ofthem, at least, is as cross as a bear with a bumped head."
"Well, you're enough to make me cross. Here I'm going to have a bigChristmas tree, and a lovely Christmas party, and you won't come to it.That makes me cross, but to have you throw me over for those ridiculousBlaneys makes me crosser yet."
"You can't get much crosser, you're about at the limit."
"No, I'm not, either. It makes me still crosser that you won't havethe House Sale."
"Oh, Elise, it's such a nuisance! Turn the whole place upside down andinside out, for a few dollars! Let's get the money by subscription.Everybody would be glad to give something for the girls' library."
"No, they won't. Everybody has been asked for money for charity allwinter, and they're tired of it. But a novel sale would bring in alot."
Patty and Elise were greatly interested in getting a library for theworking girls' club, which they helped support. Patty was usually mostenthusiastic and energetic in furnishing any project for helping thiswork along, and Elise was greatly surprised at her presentunwillingness to hold a sale they had been considering.
"And it's only because you're crazy over that Cosmic Club that youcan't bother with the things that used to interest you. Phil VanReypen thinks they're a horrid lot, and so does Chick Channing, and Ido, too."
"You forget that it was down at your house in Lakewood that I first metthem."
"No, I don't; but that's no reason you should go over to them soentirely, and forsake all of your old set. I never liked the Blaneys;I only wanted you to meet them, to see how queer and eccentric theywere. But I never supposed you'd join their ranks, and become soinfatuated with Sam Blaney----"
"I'm not infatuated with Sam Blaney!"
"You are so! You think he's a genius and a poet and a little tin godon wheels!"
"Well, all right, Elise, then I do think so. And I've got a right tothink so, if I want to. Now, listen, and stop your foolishness. Isaid I'd give you my decision, and this is it. I'll come round hereChristmas Eve after the party at the Blaneys'. I've got to go to that,for I'm going to dance, and I'm going to be in some 'Living Pictures,'but I can get away by eleven, or soon after, and that will be in timefor your dance."
"Well, half a loaf is better than no bread,--I'll have the tree late,then. After you get here."
"Oh, no, don't put off your tree! I might not be able to get here muchbefore midnight."
"Yes, you will. You've promised me for eleven, and you always keep apromise,--I know that. I'll send for you, and you must come."
"All right, I will. Truly, Elise, I want to be at the tree here,--butI couldn't help the two engagements clashing. Now, also, to show youthat I haven't lost interest in the Girls' Club, I'll have the HouseSale after the holidays are over."
"Oh, will you, Patty? You're a dear old thing!"
"And amn't I mean and horrid, and a deserter?"
"Well, you're a bit of a deserter, and I suppose you'll rush off to aCosmic meeting the night of the Sale, and leave me to run it!"
"_You're_ mean, now, Elise. You know I wouldn't do such athing,--unless----"
"Unless what?"
"Unless it happened to be on a night of a special meeting of the CosmicCentre. In that case, I'd have to go for a little while."
Just then Van Reypen came in.
"You here, Patty?" he said. "I've been looking you up. How are you,Elise? What are you girls confabbing about?"
"I'm scolding Patty for her desertion of us and her infatuation forthose Blaney people."
"Confound those Blaney people! I wish they were in Timbuctoo!"
"Why, Philip, how unkind!" and Patty smiled at him in an exasperatingway. "You _know_ you admire Sam Blaney immensely,--only you're jealousof him."
"Admire him! Jealous of him!" Van Reypen fairly glowered withindignation. "That nincompoop! with long hair and a green neck-tie!He's a half-witted farmer!"
Patty's laugh rang out. "Oh, Phil," she cried, "don't be a silly,yourself! His worst enemy couldn't call Sam a farmer! And I canassure you, he's far from half-witted."
"Yes, far less than half," growled Van Reypen. "Oh, Patty, drop 'em,cut 'em out, give 'em the go-by, won't you?"
"Thank you, no. I still reserve the right to choose my friends, and Iconfess to a liking for those who are kindly disposed toward me."
"Oh, I'm kindly disposed toward _you_, very much so," declared Phil,"but your new friends are not included in my kindly disposition."
"So I gathered," and Patty laughed again. "But, do you know, they feelthat they can struggle along without your admiration and affection."
"Don't be sarcastic, Patty," and Van Reypen smiled at the haughtylittle face turned toward his.
"No, I won't, Phil. I hate it. And I'm sorry I let myself go likethat. But you do stir me up,--you and Elise."
"Glad of it," said Elise, "you ought to be stirred up once in a while.But don't go, Patty. Here comes Daisy,--and, well, if it isn't BillFarnsworth with her! I didn't know he was in town. He's in and out somuch, it's hard to keep track of him. Come in, Daisy, take off yourfurs. Glad to see you, Bill. Here's Patty Fairfield."
"So I see," laughed Farnsworth, as he held out his hand. "Going? Whygo yet? Hello, Van Reypen."
"Hello, Bill. Thought you were on your way to or from Arizona. How doyou know where to vote, anyhow?"
"Guess at it. But I'm not going to live on the road so much asformerly. I've cleaned things up a bit, and shall sort of settle inNew York from now on."
"Good! Glad to give you the freedom of our city. And you, Daisy? Areyou going to live East, also?"
"Haven't decided yet," and Daisy glanced coquettishly at Farnsworth."Maybe so."
"Don't you go yet, Patty," begged Elise. "Stay a while longer, andwe'll have tea,--chocolate, too, which I know you like better."
"'Course I'll stay," said Patty; "your chocolate is always the bestever. Order it up. What beautiful violets, Daisy."
"Yes, Bill bought them for me as we passed a florist's shop. I adoreviolets."
"What girl doesn't?" laughed Patty. "At least she adores having thembought for her."
"I don't," said Elise. "I'd rather have one rose than all the violetsthat ever bloomed in the spring, tra-la."
"What's your favourite flower, Patty?" asked Farnsworth.
"Sunflowers, but nobody
ever sends me any. I just get old orchids andthings."
"Poor kiddy! I wish I could get a sunflower or two for you. But Ifancy, at this season of the year, they're about as scarce as blueroses."
"'It is but an idle quest, Roses red and white are best,'"
sang Patty, with a smile at Big Bill.
"Do you know that?" he asked, interestedly. "I never heard you singit."
"Oh, it's one of her best songs," cried Elise; "sing it now,Patty,--you'll have time before the chocolate comes."
"Too much bother," said Patty; "we'd have to go in the music room andall. I'll sing it for you some other time, Little Billee."
"All right," he responded, carelessly, and again Patty felt a slightchagrin that he cared so little about the matter.
Other people drifted in, as the young folks were apt to do at tea time,and then the chocolate arrived, and Patty found herself provided with awelcome cup of her favourite beverage.
It was Farnsworth who brought it to her, and he deliberately took aseat at her side, a seat that Van Reypen had just vacated.
"You can't sit there," said Patty, quickly; "Phil will be back in aminute."
"Will he?" said Big Bill, as he settled himself comfortably in thechair. "Do you think he can put me out?"
"Not unless you want him to," and Patty smiled at the big man, wholooked so strong and powerful.
"Somehow, I don't. I like it here."
"Why?"
"Because I like to look at you. You're looking uncommonly well today.If I were to guess, I should say you have been having a rumpus withsomebody."
"What is a rumpus?" inquired Patty, looking innocent.
"A rumpus, my child, is a tiff, a squabble, a set-to, a racket, ageneral scrimmage."
"I haven't exactly had those things, but, well, I may say I have beendrawn into a somewhat spirited discussion."
"Ah, I thought so."
"How did you know? I mean, why did you think so?"
"By your heightened colour and your generally wrought-up condition.Why, your heart isn't beating normally yet."
Patty looked up at him, indignantly, but his blue eyes were very kindand his smile gentle and even concerned.
"What was it about, Patty? Who has been tormenting you?"
"Nobody tormented me, exactly, but they criticise me and they say meanthings about my friends----"
"Never let them do that! Your friends must be sacred to you,--I meanfrom adverse criticism of others."
"That's what I think, Little Billee. What shall I do, when everybodyridicules them and calls them names?"
"Just what I am sure you did do. Flare up like a wrathy kitten andhelplessly paw the air."
"Of course that's what I did," and Patty laughed at the graphicdescription, "but it didn't seem to do much good."
"Of course it didn't. Standing up for one's friends rarely does muchgood, except to satisfy one's own sense of loyalty."
"Why, what do you mean? Why doesn't it do any good to defend ourfriends?"
"Because if they need our defence, they're probably at fault."
"But they weren't in this case. It was the Blaneys,--do you know them?"
"Those mercerised personages I met at Mona's wedding? I haven't thepleasure of their intimate acquaintance, and something tells me I nevershall have."
"You mean you don't want it!"
"Mind reader! Patty, you're positively clairvoyant!"
"Now, Little Billee, don't you go back on me, too."
"Go back on you? Never! While this machine is to me! Why, Patty, I'ddefend you to the last ditch, and then fill in the ditch!"
"Be serious, Billee. You don't know those people, but can't you takemy word for it that they're splendidly worth while? They're geniuses,and artists."
"Patty, I'd take your word for anything you know about. But, forinstance, I couldn't take your word that there are blue roses."
"But there are! That's just what the Cosmic Centre peopleare,--they're blue roses! I never thought of it before, but they are."
"Then beware of them. Blue roses are freaks----"
"Yes, I know it. But there are worse things in this world than freaks.I'd rather a man would be a freak than a--a mud turtle!"
"Are many of your friends mud turtles?"
"Yes, they are. They stick their heads in the sand----"
"Look out for your Natural History! You're thinking of ostriches."
"All the same. Now, Sam Blaney----"
"Patty! You don't mean to say that chap is _Sam_ Blaney! I thought helooked a bit familiar! Sam! old Sam Blaney! Well!"
"What's the matter, Billee? Do you know him?"
"I used to, when we were boys. Fifteen or more years ago. I doubt ifhe'd even remember my name. We went to a public school together. SamBlaney! Well!"
"You exasperating thing! Don't sit there saying 'Well!' and '_Sam_Blaney!' but tell me what you know of him."
"Nothing, child, nothing. I haven't seen or heard of him for--since wewere fourteen years old or so. Where did you pick him up?"
Patty told of her meeting the Blaneys at Lakewood, and of hercontinuing their acquaintance in New York. But suddenly Farnsworthseemed to lose interest in her story.
"Never mind the Blaneys," he said. "I want to talk to _you_. What doyou think, my girl? I've won out in that matter of business I've beenat so long."
"Have you? I'm very glad. I don't know what it was all about, LittleBillee, but if you've succeeded in what you wanted to do, I'm veryglad."
"Yes, I have. And it means,--it means, Patty, that I shall live in NewYork now, all the time."
"Yes?"
"Yes. And it means, too, if this interests you, that I'm a richman,--a very rich man."
"That's nice, Bill; I congratulate you."
"Oh, thank you." Farnsworth's voice had grown suddenly cold, and theeager light had faded from his blue eyes. He looked at Patty, andquickly looked away.
"I thought you might care," he said.
A strange thought came to Patty. Could he possibly mean that since hewas a rich man, she would smile on his suit? Could he think that shewould accept his attentions more gladly because of his newly acquiredwealth? The idea made her furiously angry. If Farnsworth thought herthat mercenary--if he deemed her so utterly sordid--well, her respectfor him was decidedly lessened!