Patty's Butterfly Days

  CHAPTER XIII

  AT DAISY'S DICTATION

  At Farnsworth's directions, the "rescuing party" had brought with thema glazier and his kit of tools and materials. While he fitted a newpane of glass in place of the broken one, Mona expressed her opinion ofthe escapade of the night before.

  "It was all your fault, Bill!" she exclaimed. "You ought not to havedriven so fast and so far."

  "I know it, ma'am," said Big Bill, looking like a culprit schoolboy."I'm awful 'shamed of myself!"

  "And well you may be!" chimed in Adele Kenerley. "Suppose this househadn't been here, what would you have done?"

  "I should have built one," declared Bill, promptly.

  "So you would!" agreed Patty, heartily.

  "You're equal to any emergency, Little Billee; and it WASN'T all yourfault, anyway. _I_ egged you on, because I love to drive fast,especially at night."

  "Very reprehensible tastes, young woman," said Jim Kenerley, trying tobe severe, but not succeeding very well.

  "Oh, you might have known this house was here," said Mona. "It's Mr.Kemper's house. They've gone away for a month. They're coming back nextweek."

  "Well, they'll find everything in order," said Patty. "We didn't hurt athing, except the window, and we've fixed that. We burned up a lot oftheir firewood, though."

  "They won't mind that," said Mona, laughing. "They're awfully nicepeople. We'll come over and tell them the whole story when they gethome."

  "And now, can't we go home?" said Patty. "I'm just about starved."

  "You poor dear child," cried Mrs. Kenerley. "You haven't had a bite ofbreakfast! Come on, Mona, let's take Patty and Daisy home in one of thecars; the rest can follow in the other."

  Two cars of people had come over to escort the wanderers home, so thisplan was agreed upon.

  But somehow, Bill Farnsworth managed to hasten the glazier's task, sothat all were ready to depart at once.

  "I'll drive the big car," cried Bill. "Come on, Patty," and before anyone realised it, he had swung the girl up into the front seat of thebig touring car, and had himself climbed to the driver's seat.

  "I had to do this," he said to Patty, as they started off. "I mustspeak to you alone a minute, and be sure that you forgive me for thetrouble I made you."

  "Of course I forgive you," said Patty, gaily. "I'd forgive you a lotmore than that."

  "You would? Why?"

  "Oh, because I'm such a good forgiver. I'd forgive anybody, anything."

  "Huh! then it isn't much of a compliment to have YOUR forgiveness!"

  "Well, why should I pay you compliments?"

  "That's so! Why SHOULD you? In fact, it ought to be the other way. LetME pay them to YOU."

  "Oh, I don't care much about them. I get quite a lot, you see--"

  "I see you're a spoiled baby, that's what YOU are!"

  "Now,--Little Billee!" and Patty's tone was cajoling, and her sidewaysglance and smile very provoking.

  "And I'd like to do my share of the spoiling!" he continued, looking ather laughing, dimpled face and wind-tossed curls.

  "So you shall! Begin just as soon as you like and spoil me all youcan," said Patty, still in gay fooling, when she suddenly rememberedDaisy's prohibition of this sort of fun.

  "Of course I don't mean all this," she said, suddenly speaking in amatter-of-fact tone.

  "But I do, and I shall hold you to it. You know I have your blossomwreath; I've saved it as a souvenir of last night."

  "That forlorn bit of drowned finery! Oh, Little Billee, I thought youwere poetical! No poet could keep such a tawdry old souvenir as that!"

  "It isn't tawdry. I dried it carefully, and picked the little petalsall out straight, and it's really lovely."

  "Then if it's in such good shape, I wish you'd give it back to me towear. I was fond of that wreath."

  "No, it's mine now. I claim right of salvage. But I'll give you anotherin place of it,--if I may."

  Patty didn't answer this, for Daisy, tired of being neglected, leanedher head over between the two, and commenced chattering.

  The two girls were well wrapped up in coats and veils Mona had broughtthem, but they were both glad when they came in sight of "Red Chimneys."

  Patty went gaily off to her own rooms, saying she was going to have abath and a breakfast, and then she was going to sleep for twenty-fourhours.

  "I'm not," announced Daisy. "I'm going to make a straight dive for thebreakfast room. Come with me, Bill, and see that I get enough to eat."

  Roger, Mona, and the Kenerleys were going for an ocean dip, andLaurence Cromer, who was a late riser, had not yet put in anappearance. Aunt Adelaide was with Patty, hearing all about theadventure, so Bill was obliged to accept Daisy's rather peremptoryinvitation.

  "What's the matter with you, Bill?" asked the girl, as she threw offher motor coat and sat at the table in her low-necked party gown.

  "Nothing. I say, Daisy, why don't you go and get into some togs moresuitable for 9 A.M.?"

  "Because I'm hungry. Yes, James, omelet, and some of the fried chicken.Bill, don't you like me any more?"

  "Yes, of course I do. But you ought to act more,--more polite, youknow."

  "Oh, fiddlesticks! You mean more finicky,--like that paragon, Patty.You think she's perfect, because she never raises her voice above acertain pitch, and she expects all you men to lie down and let her walkover you."

  "She MAY walk over me, if she likes; and I want you to stop speaking ofher in that slighting way, Daisy."

  "Oh, you do, do you? And, pray, what right have you to say HOW I shallspeak of her?"

  "The right that any man has, to take the part of one who is absent."

  "You'd like to have more rights than that, wouldn't you?"

  "Maybe I would, but I'm not confiding in you."

  "You don't have to. Yours is an open secret. Everybody can see you'reperfectly gone on that little pink and white thing!"

  "That will do, Daisy; don't say another word of that sort!" and Bill'svoice was so stern and tense that Daisy stopped, a little frightened athis demeanour.

  What he might have said further, she never knew, for just then GuyMartin and Lora Sayre came strolling into the room.

  "Hello, people!" said Guy. "Where's everybody that belongs to thischateau? We've come through myriads of empty rooms, but at last we findthe gems of the collection."

  "Why, Miss Dow," exclaimed Lora, looking at Daisy's gown, "is this aDINNER party?"

  Daisy laughed, and explained, rather pleased than otherwise to be thesole narrator of the interesting tale. Needless to say, she and BillFarnsworth figured as the principal actors in her dramatic version ofthe motor adventure, and, naturally, Bill could not contradict her.

  "I congratulate you, Miss Dow," said Guy, "on looking so fit after sucha trying ordeal. Patty is all right, isn't she?"

  "Oh, yes; she's all right, but you know, she can't stand much fatigue.And the whole performance unnerved her, and gave her a chance to insiston having a beauty sleep."

  "Which she doesn't need for THAT purpose," laughed Lora,good-naturedly. "But I fear we are keeping you, Miss Dow. Don't youwant to get into a morning frock? Wouldn't you feel more comfortable?"

  "No, it doesn't matter," and Daisy's manner gave the effect ofsacrificing her comfort to the guests, though really she was of no mindto run away and lose this call.

  "We came to talk about the Pageant," began Guy. "We want to get thevarious parts settled."

  "Well, of course we can't answer for the others," said Daisy, "butlet's discuss it,--it's such fun, and among us, we may think up somegood ideas. I've had lots of experience with this sort of thing outWest."

  "Oh, have you?" said Guy, eagerly. "Then DO help me out. I have to getup such a lot of characters,--all representative of the sea, you know.I want Mr. Farnsworth here for Father Neptune, that's certain."

  "I'm quite willing," said Bill, good-naturedly. "Do I wear a bathingsuit?"

  "No, indeed," replied Lora. "You wear a gorgeous ro
be, all dark greenmuslin, in billowy waves, and cotton wool on it for sea foam. Thenyou'll have a stunning crown and a trident and a lot of paraphernalia."

  "Lovely," said Bill. "I do think I'll look just sweet! Who is with mein this misery?"

  "Well, the Spirit of the Sea is the next most important figure on thisfloat. I wanted to be it, but mother thinks I'm not strong enough tostand it. She refuses to let me try. So I suppose it will be Patty."

  "Patty Fairfield!" exclaimed Daisy. "She's not strong enough, either.Suppose I take that part. I'm used to posing, and I can stand in oneposition without getting tired. I'll do it, if you want me to."

  "But we've really asked Patty," demurred Guy, "and she hasn't decidedyet."

  "Well, leave it to me," said Daisy. "I'll ask her, and if she wants thepart, all right, and if not, I'll take it."

  This seemed satisfactory, and the matter was dropped while theydiscussed other details of the float.

  Laurence Cromer came down while they were talking, and they alladjourned to the veranda, while the artist gave them the benefit of hisadvice as to decorations and scenic effects.

  Then the bathers came back from the beach, and all went to workheartily to make and carry out plans for the Pageant.

  Patty had luncheon sent to her room, for she was more affected by theexposure to the storm and the nerve exhaustion of the adventure thanthe others were. However, as Mona and Mrs. Kenerley and Baby May spentmuch of the time with her, she did not have a dull day. In theafternoon Daisy came in. Patty, in a blue silk negligee, sat at herdesk writing letters.

  "How sweet you look!" said Daisy, sitting beside her. "When are youcoming downstairs? The boys are moping all over the place. I believeyou're staying up here for coquetry."

  The tone was light, but Patty could see that Daisy's words were atleast partly in earnest. But they were untrue, and Patty said, "Oh, I'mgoing down for tea. I'm just writing to my father. Then I'll dress andgo downstairs. I'm all right, you know."

  "Yes, you look so," said Daisy, glancing at the bright eyes androseleaf complexion. "You don't look a bit tired."

  "I'm not now; but I was when I reached home this morning. Weren't you?"

  "Not very. I'm stronger than you are. Guy Martin and Lora Sayre werehere to talk about the Pageant."

  "Were they? Is Lora going to be Spirit of the Sea?"

  "No; her mother won't let her. They asked me to take the part, but Idon't want to."

  "Why not?" said Patty, looking at her curiously.

  "Oh, I think they'd better have a Spring Beach girl. You, for instance."

  "They asked me before, but if you'll do it, I'll take something else.Who's going to be Neptune?"

  "Bill. That's another reason why you'd better be the Sea Spirit."

  "Nonsense!" and Patty was angry at herself to feel the blush that roseto her cheek. But Daisy made no comment, and in a moment she saidsuddenly:

  "Patty, write a note for me, will you? I've run a sliver into myforefinger and I can't hold a pen."

  "A sliver? Oh, Daisy, does it hurt?"

  "No, not much now. I got it out. But the tip of my finger is painful ifI write. You've your pen in your hand, so just scribble a line for me.I can sign it."

  "Of course I will. Dictate, please!"

  Patty took a fresh sheet of paper, and tried to look like aprofessional amanuensis.

  "I really would rather not be the Spirit of the Sea," dictated Daisy,and Patty wrote obediently. "Please try to get some one else for thepart. But may I ask you as a personal favour not to speak of the matterto me at any time."

  "Thank you," said Daisy, taking the paper from Patty and folding it. "Ican sign it, even if I have to use my left hand. I'm going to give itto Mr. Martin for, somehow, I don't want to talk about the matter tohim."

  "I don't see why," said Patty, a little puzzled.

  "Never mind, girlie. You know sometimes there are little foolishreasons we don't like to tell of. Don't say anything about all this toanybody, will you?"

  "No, certainly not," said Patty, wonderingly.

  "Don't tell any one I asked you to write the note."

  "No."

  "You see, I hate to acknowledge a hurt finger. It sounds so silly."

  The whole affair seemed silly to Patty, for she could see no reason whyDaisy shouldn't tell Guy that she didn't want to be Spirit of the Sea.But it was none of her affair, and as Daisy went away she put the wholematter out of her mind. After making a leisurely toilette, she wentdownstairs and found a group of young people having tea on the veranda.Her appearance was hailed with shouts of joy. Seats were offered her inevery choice position, but the pleading look in Farnsworth's big blueeyes persuaded her to sit beside him in a broad, red-cushioned swing.

  "You're all right, little girl, aren't you?" he said, anxiously, andPatty laughed gaily up at him as she answered, "Yes, indeed! and allready for another adventure, if YOU'LL take care of me!"

  "You apple blossom!" whispered Bill. "I won't hold you to your word,but I'd like to. Do you know, I've promised to be Father Neptune inthis dinky parade they're getting up. Won't I be the gay old Sea Dog! Ihope you'll be the Spirit of the Sea."

  "That isn't decided; don't ask me about it yet," said Patty, who had nomind to commit herself until Guy should ask her definitely to take thepart. Though since Lora couldn't take it, and Daisy wouldn't, she feltpretty sure it would fall to her.

  A number of the Spring Beach boys and girls had drifted in, as theyoften did at tea time, and the talk of the many small groups was all ofthe coming festivity. Beside the Sea Float, there were the variousrivers to be represented. The Nile would be characterised by Egyptiancostumes and effects. The Hudson would be an attempt at arepresentation of "The Half Moon." The Tiber was to show gorgeous Romancitizens; the Thames proudly contemplated a houseboat, and the Seine,French scenery. Also, there would be floats representing Venice,Holland, the Panama Canal, Niagara Falls, the Open Polar Sea, and manyothers showing some phase or manifestation of water's great kingdom.

  Daisy had inveigled Guy Martin into a tete-a-tete corner with her, butafter a polite quarter of an hour, he declared he must move around andconfer with a few people concerning their parts in the carnival.

  "How about Patty's being Spirit of the Sea?" he asked.

  "Oh," Daisy said, "you'd better not say anything to her about that. Iasked her, and she gave me this note to give you. It isn't signed, noraddressed, but you see it's her handwriting. She wrote it hastily, butshe said she didn't want to talk about the matter."

  Guy looked a little surprised, but took the note and read it. "H'm," hesaid, "rather NOT be Spirit of the Sea. Get some one else. And--as apersonal favour, don't speak of the matter to her! Well, Pretty Pattymust have a miff of some sort. Most unlike her! However, her word islaw. I'll never mention the subject to her, since she asks me not to.But our time is getting short, and most of the girls have their parts.Miss Dow, won't you be Spirit of the Sea?"

  "Why, yes, if you want me to," said Daisy, looking modest and demure."I can make the costume easily, because I know just how. It requiresfishnet draperies over green chiffon, and lots of seaweed decorationsand that sort of thing."

  "Yes; you have just the right idea. Then I'll put you down for that.You and Mr. Farnsworth will make a fine pair. I wonder what Patty WOULDlike to be."

  "I'll ask her," volunteered Daisy. "I know you're awfully busy, Mr.Martin, and I want to help you all I can. So leave that matter to me."

  "Very well, I will," said Guy, who really had a multitude of cares andaffairs; "but be sure to make her take some good part. It wouldn't be aPageant at all with Patty Fairfield left out! If I didn't have to skipaway this very minute to keep an engagement with a scene painter, I'dask her what's the matter, anyhow!"

  "Oh, Mr. Martin, you forget she asked you, as a personal favour, not tospeak to her about it."

  "By Jove! So she did! Wonder what's come over the girlie! If anybodyhas offended her, I'll kill him! Well, I must fly, Miss Dow; attend there
hearsals, won't you? See you tomorrow."

  Guy made hasty adieux to Mona, and went off on his errands.

  Daisy, in high spirits at the success of her ruse, went straight overto Patty.

  "Patty, dear," she said, sweetly, "I couldn't withstand Mr. Martin'spersuasions, and I've promised him I'll be the Spirit of the Sea. Youknow I told you I didn't want to, but he overruled my objections and Iconsented."

  "All right, Daisy," said Patty, without a trace of regret on her sweetface. She did feel regret keenly, for Guy had asked her long ago, andshe had only hesitated out of generosity toward Lora, who also wantedit. But it was not her nature to resent such things, and she concludedthat Guy thought Daisy better adapted for the part than herself.

  "What part will you take?" Daisy went on. "Mr. Martin told me to askyou and arrange for you."

  Daisy's manner showed such undue importance and ostentatious authoritythat Jack Pennington spoke up.

  "Are you assistant chairman, Miss Dow?"

  "Mr. Martin didn't call it that," said Daisy, smiling pleasantly; "heonly left it to me to see that Miss Fairfield had a good place in thePageant."

  "You bet Miss Fairfield will have a good place!" exclaimed Jack. "Don'tyou bother about it, Miss Dow. Let me relieve you of that duty. _I_'LLsee to Miss Fairfield's place."

  "But Mr. Martin left it in my care," persisted Daisy, getting a littlefrightened lest her deceit about the note should be discovered.

  "Leave Mr. Martin to me," said Jack, a little curtly. "I'll explain tohim that I relieved you of the responsibility of Patty's place in theshow. I say, Patty, let's you and me be Dutch kiddies on the HollandFloat."

  "Shall us?" said Patty, smiling in a whimsical way that meant nothingat all.