CHAPTER XV
THE CHRISTMAS PARTY
"Much obliged, Billee," Patty said, at last, as she handed back asomewhat damp handkerchief, and Farnsworth stuffed it in his pocket."Where are you taking me?"
"Where do you want to go?"
"Back where you brought me from, please."
"Well, you can't go there. Will you go home, or to the Farringtons'?"
A quick side glance at the stern face beside her showed Patty thatthere was no chance of her going back to the Blaneys', so she said,with great dignity, "I'll go to Elise's, then. But I want you tounderstand that I resent your treatment, that I detest you for usingyour strength to interfere with my pleasure, and that I absolutelysever all friendship or acquaintance with you, now and forever!"
"Bad as that? Well, well, you _must_ be annoyed."
"Annoyed! _annoyed_! why, I----"
"There now, Posy Face, quiet down a bit, we're almost at the house.You don't want to go in looking like a--a weeping willow! You'll spoilthe effect of that red frock, if your eyes are red, too, and yourcheeks all tear-stained. Here, have a fresh handkerchief."
Farnsworth produced another big white linen affair, and unfolding itwith a flourish, held it up to Patty's face.
"I never saw anybody have so many clean handkerchiefs! Do you carry adozen?"
"Always glad to help ladies in distress. Are you often so lachrymose?"
"Oh Little Billee, _don't_ be so everlasting good-natured, when I feelso cross. _Why_ did you bring me away from that place, when I washaving such a good time? And the best part was just about to begin!"
"Now, Patty, listen--while the listening's good. Here we are atElise's; I want you to go in, gay and smiling, and not cause anycurious comment. So let the Blaney discussion wait, and I'll tell youall about it, first chance we get. You don't want everybody to knowthat you left the Cosmic Club a--er,--a bit unintentionally, do you?Then, forget it, for the moment, and put on a Merry Christmas manner.You'll be glad you did, afterward."
Farnsworth's talk was sound sense, and Patty knew it. She already felta little relieved at getting away from Sam Blaney and back with her owncrowd. So she shook off her petulance and her anger, and when sheentered the Farringtons' drawing-room, no smile that greeted her wasbrighter than her own in response.
"Why, Pattibelle," cried Chick Channing, "welcome home! I feared wehad lost you to the high-geared Highbrows. Merry Christmas and many of'em! Come sit by my side, little darling----"
"No, come sit by us," insisted Elise, from the other side of the room."You're a dear, to come so early, Patty. How did it happen?"
"Oh, I just _couldn't_ stay there any longer," said Patty, verytruthfully. "Am I in time for the Christmas tree?"
"Indeed you are," returned Elise; "also for the feast and the dancingand the Mistletoe Bough."
"Good!" and Patty joined the laughing group, of which she immediatelybecame the centre. Her red velvet gown, though unusual, was not soeccentric as to appear peculiar in this setting, and the girls began toexpress admiration.
Nor were the men unappreciative.
"A real Yuletide frock, Patty," said Phil Van Reypen, approvingly."Didn't know you could wear that colour."
"I couldn't," laughed Patty, "in daylight. But the electrics eventhings up, somehow, and my complexion takes on a harmonising tint ofbrick red."
"Because you are a brick," put in Channing. "Did you get manyChristmas gifts, Patty? Did you get my small votive offering?"
"Did I get many gifts! My boudoir looks like a World's Fair! Yes,Chick, I got your present. Let me see, it was the padded calf Emerson,wasn't it?"
"It was not! If you got that, it probably came from your Cosmeticfriends. I sent you--oh, if you didn't even open it----"
"But I did, Chickadee. It was a heavenly jade hatpin, an exquisite bitof carving. I just adore it, and I shall never wear any other. Socheer up, life is still worth living!"
Patty was in high spirits. It was partly reaction from the artificialatmosphere of the Studio, and partly her real enjoyment of the festiveoccasion of Elise's Christmas party. The Farrington parties werealways on an elaborate scale, and this was no exception.
"I wish Roger and Mona were here," Patty said, "I sort of miss them."
"So do I," chimed in Daisy Dow. "But the honeymoon shining on thesands at Palm Beach still holds them under its influence."
"They must be happy," observed Kit Cameron. "Think of it! Christmasand a bridal trip and the Sunny South,--all at once."
"It is a large order," laughed Patty. "But Mona likes a lot of thingsat once. That girl has no sense of moderation. When are they cominghome, Elise?"
"Don't know. No signs of it yet. Come on, people, now we're going tohave the tree!"
The orchestra played a march, and the crowd trooped into the great hallknown as the Casino. There awaited them a resplendent Christmas tree,glittering with frosted decorations and glowing with electric lights.
Van Reypen had quietly taken possession of Patty as a partner, and heguided her to a pleasant seat where she could see all theentertainment. For great doings had been arranged to please theguests, and a short program was carried out.
Waits sang old English carols, mummers cut up queer antics, servitorsbrought in the Boar's Head and Wassail Bowl, and finally it wasannounced that all present would participate in the old-fashioned danceof Sir Roger de Coverley.
Patty enjoyed it all. She loved to see this sort of thing when it waswell done, and in this instance every detail was faultless. Van Reypenquite shared her enthusiasm, and was vigorously clapping his hands oversome jest of a mummer, when Big Bill Farnsworth came up to Patty, madea low bow, his hand on his breast, and whisked her off to the dancebefore she fairly realised what had happened.
"Why--I can't!" she exclaimed, as she found herself standing oppositeher smiling partner. "I'm--I'm engaged to Philip!"
"I know you are," returned Farnsworth, gravely, "but you can give meone dance."
Patty blushed, furiously. "Oh, I didn't mean engaged _that_ way," shesaid, "I meant engaged for this dance."
"No," corrected Farnsworth, still smiling, "you did mean you areengaged to him _that_ way, but _not_ for this dance."
"Well, he hadn't actually asked me," said Patty, doubtfully, "but Iknow he took it for granted----"
"It isn't wise to take too much for granted--there! see, he has justdiscovered your absence."
Sure enough, Van Reypen, who had been engrossed with the mummer'schaff, turned back to where Patty had sat, and his look of amazement ather absence was funny to see.
Glancing about, he saw her standing in line, opposite Farnsworth. Atfirst, he looked wrathful, then accepting his position with a goodgrace, he smiled at them both.
"Little deserter!" he said to her, as he sauntered past her, in searchof another partner.
"Deserter, yourself!" she returned. "You completely forgot myexistence!"
"I didn't, but I am duly punished for seeming to do so. But I claimyou for a supper partner, so make a memorandum of that!"
Patty smiled an assent, and the dance began.
"Don't you like this better than that smoky, incense-smelly atmosphereof the Studio?" Farnsworth said to Patty, as they walked through thestately figures of the dance.
"This is a home of wealth and grandeur," said Patty, "but wealth andgrandeur are not the most desirable things in the world."
"What are?"
"Brains and----"
"Yes, brains and breeding. But your high-browed, lowbred----"
"Billee, I've stood a lot from you tonight; now, I refuse to stand anymore. You will please stop saying things that you know offend me."
"Forgive me, Patty, I forgot myself."
"Then it's forgive and forget between us. I'll do the forgivingbecause you did the forgetting. But I've forgiven you all I'm goingto. So don't make any more necessary."
"I'll try not to," and then the subject of the earlie
r evening was notmentioned again.
The dance concluded, Farnsworth stood for a moment, still holdingPatty's hand after their last sweeping curtsey, and he said, "Will yoube my supper partner, too? Please do."
"I can't," and Patty laughed up at him. "I'm really engaged to Phil."
"Oh, are you, Patty?" cried Daisy, who was just passing, with KitCameron. "I said you'd announce it tonight! What fun! But why areyou telling Big Bill all by himself first? You ought to tell all thecrowd at once. I'll do it for you. Come on, Kit, let's spread thenews! We've Patty's own word for it."
The two ran off, laughing, and Patty looked a bit dismayed. "Kit'ssuch a scamp," she said, ruefully, "he'll tell that all over theroom----"
"Isn't it true?"
"Would you care if it were?"
"I care for anything that concerns you or your happiness."
"Or any one else or any one else's happiness! Oh, I know you, BillFarnsworth, you want everybody to be happy."
"Of course I do!" and the big man laughed, heartily. "Is that a crime?But most of all I care to have one little foolish, petulantBlossom-girl happy."
"Well, then, why don't you make her so? Why aren't you kind and niceto her, instead of being horrid about her friends and her dancing, andacting like a great Lord of something-or-other, frowning on herinnocent amusements!"
"Oh, Patty, what an arraignment! But never mind that. May I take youto the supper room?"
"Oh, here you are, Light of my eyes!" and Van Reypen came up andoffered his arm.
With a smile of farewell to Farnsworth, Patty accepted Philip's escortand walked off.
"What's this report Cameron and Daisy Dow are spreading?" asked VanReypen, looking at her, quizzically, but with a glance full of meaning."They say you and I are to announce our engagement tonight. I'm sodelighted to hear it, I can't see straight; but I want yourcorroboration of the rumour. Oh, Patty, darling girl, you _do_ meanit, don't you?"
Philip had drawn her to one side, away from the crowd, and in apalm-screened alcove, he stood beside her, his handsome face glowingwith eagerness, as he anticipated yet feared her reply.
"Nonsense, Phil. It happened that I told Bill Farnsworth I was engagedto you for supper, and Daisy overheard, and she and Kit tried to teaseme, that's all."
"But since it happened that way,--since the report is current,--don'tyou think,--doesn't it seem as if this would be an awfully good chanceto make it a true report?"
"No, sir! A girl can't get engaged all in a minute, and _en route_ toa supper room, at that! Besides, I'm hungry."
"You can't put me off that way! You may think to be hungry interfereswith romance. Not a bit of it! You say you'll marry me, and I'll getyou all the supper you want, and, incidentally, eat a good square mealmyself. There!"
Van Reypen had great charm. His great dark eyes were fixed on Patty,and in their depths she could read his big, true love, unembarrassed bythe place or the occasion. He knew only that he was pleading with thegirl he loved, suing for his life's happiness, a happiness that lay inthe little rosy palm of Patty Fairfield's hand.
"Darling," he whispered, taking the little hand in both his own,"Patty, darling, do say yes, at last. Don't keep me in suspense.Don't bother about learning to love me, and all that. Just come tome,--tell me you will,--and I know you'll love me. You can't help it,dear, when I love you so. Why, Patty, I've got to have you! You don'tknow how I want you. You've so twined yourself into my heart that youseem part of me already. Dear, _dear_ little girl, my love, mysweetheart----"
Philip's arm went round Patty's shoulder, and he drew her to him.
"Phil!" cried Patty, starting back. "Don't, please don't."
"I won't, dear,--I won't call you mine until you say I may,--but, oh,Patty!"
His voice was so full of deep feeling, his eves pleaded so longinglyfor her consent, that Patty's heart went out to him. She was sorry forhim, and she honestly longed to say the word that would give him joyand gladness forever. But that very feeling taught her the truth aboutherself. She knew, in one sudden, illuminating flash, that she didn'tand couldn't love Philip Van Reypen in the way she was sure she wantedto love and would love the man she should marry.
Nor could she speak lightly or carelessly to him now. It was a crisis.A good, true man had offered her his love and his life. It was not aslight thing to be tossed aside as a trifle. If she accepted it, well;but if not, she must tell him so kindly, and must tell him why. AndPatty didn't know why. In fact, she wasn't sure she didn't want Phil,after all. He was very big-hearted,--very splendid.
"What are you thinking of, girlie?" he asked, gently, as he watched thechanging expressions on her face.
"I'm trying to be honest with myself, Phil. I'm trying to think outwhy it is that I don't say yes to you at once. I suppose you think meheartless and cold to think it out like this, but, I'm in earnest----"
"So am I, dear, very much in earnest. And, I think, my own Heart'sDearest, that you're nearer to loving me now than you've ever been.Nearer saying yes than ever before. And, so, I'm not going to let youanswer now. This isn't the time or place. Somebody may come lookingfor us at any moment. You have given me hope, Patty--unconsciously,you've given me hope for the first time. I'll be satisfied with that,for now. And, I'll see you soon, in your own home, to hear the restfrom your own lips. Oh, Patty, how _can_ I wait? I can't! Say yes,_now_,--say it, Patty!"
"No, Phil," and Patty gave him a lovely smile, while her blue eyesshone like stars; "no, you were right, before. Not here--not now.Come, let us join the others,--and you come to see me at home--soon."
"Your own sweet way is mine, Patty," and Van Reypen kissed thetrembling little hand he held. "Now, brace up, dear; remember, they'llall be watching us, even chaffing us. Can you meet them?"
"Yes," and Patty assumed her old mischievous smile. "Carry things offwith a high hand, Phil. That's the way to meet them."
Together they sauntered to the supper room, and, as they had expected,were met by a storm of chaff.
"Where have you two been? 'Fess up, now!"
"Flirting," replied Van Reypen, coolly. "Haven't we, Patty?"
"Yes, if you call such a mild affair worthy of the name," and Patty'snonchalant air and unembarrassed manner gave no further inducement forteasing.
"Let's sit here," Phil went on, selecting seats at a small table, withsome casual friends, and then his resources of conversation and Patty'sgay chatter did away with all chance for personal allusions.