CHAPTER X
A MOMENTOUS INTERVIEW
The rest of their stay at Herenden Hall passed off delightfully. Pattyfitted into her own niche, and everybody liked the natural, unaffectedyoung girl.
She and Jack Merivale became good chums, and went fishing together, androwing on the pond like old cronies.
It was Patty's nature to make friends quickly, and during her stay inKent, she had a royal good time. Lord Ruthven talked over the matter withLady Hamilton, and as he chose to consider it all a great joke onhimself, she also took his view of it. As for Patty, she was so engrossedwith other people that she nearly forgot all about the moonlight episode.
Only sometimes, when she chanced to catch sight of Lord Ruthven, shewould say to herself, "Sylvester, _Sylvester!_" and then turn away tohide her laughter.
They stayed over until Tuesday, and then took the noon train back toLondon, Lady Herenden expressing an earnest wish that Patty would visither again. Lady Kitty and Patty reached the Savoy duly, and Mr. Fairfieldinvited the returned travellers to dinner in the great Restaurant. Thiswas a treat in itself, and Patty gleefully ran up to her room to dressfor dinner.
"Lend me one of your gowns to wear, Kitty?" she said, roguishly, lookingin at her friend's door.
"Go away, you bad child. You're not in my care, now. I shall confess allto your father to-night at dinner, and then I've done with you."
"You've chosen a wise time," said Patty, sagely. "Father's alwaysespecially good-natured at dinner."
"Let us hope he will be," said Lady Hamilton, who was really a littleanxious about it all. But she need not have been, for when the story wastold, both Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield looked upon it as a huge joke.
Nan, especially, was almost convulsed with laughter at the account Pattygave of the moonlight scene, and her tragic repetition in a stage whisperof "Sylvester, _Sylvester!_" was truly funny of itself.
"It couldn't be helped," said Mr. Fairfield, "and it was in no way yourfault, Lady Hamilton. It would have been a pity to shut Patty in her roomon such a gala occasion, and no one could foresee that she was going tothrow herself at the Earl's head!"
"Father!" exclaimed Patty, "I didn't do any such thing! He threw himselfat my feet, if you please."
"Well, it's all right, chickabiddy, but don't let it happen again. Atleast, not for many years, yet. I suppose some time, in the far future, Ishall be asked to be a father-in-law to a Duke or a Count, but let's putit off as long as possible."
"Then Nan will be Dowager Duchess," cried irrepressible Patty, "won'tthat be fun!"
"I can do it," said Nan, with an air of self-satisfaction that made themall laugh.
"I'm glad you exonerate me," said Lady Hamilton, with a sigh of relief."And since I let Patty appear too old, I'm going to average matters inthis way. Next week is the child's birthday, and I want to give her achildren's party, if I may. You and your husband may come, Mrs.Fairfield, if you'll both dress as children of tender years."
"We'll do it," cried Mr. Fairfield. "This is an inspiration of yours,Lady Hamilton, and will, as you say, quite even things up."
Then plans were speedily made for the children's party. It was only aweek to Patty's birthday, but Lady Kitty said that was long enough aheadto send invitations to an afternoon affair.
For the party was to be held from three to six, and each guest was askedto dress as a small child. Patty put considerable thought on her owncostume, for she said her eighteenth birthday was an important occasion,and she must do it honour.
She finally decided on a quaint little Kate Greenaway dress, andbig-brimmed hat of dark green velvet with white feathers tumbling overits brim. The frock was ankle length and short-waisted and she woreold-fashioned little slippers, with crossed ribbons, and black lacemitts. A shirred silk workbag hung at her side, and she carried a tinyparasol.
A few days before the party, Patty had an inspiration. It came to hersuddenly, as most inspirations do, and it was so startling that it almosttook her breath away.
"I _can't_ do it," she said to herself, one minute; and "I _will_ do it,"she said to herself the next.
Not daring to think long about it lest she lose her determination, shestarted that very afternoon on her surprising errand.
She had the carriage to herself, for she had been to tea with a friend,and on her way home she asked the coachman to stop at a house in CarltonTerrace.
Reaching the house, Patty sent her card in by the footman, and awaitedresults with a beating heart.
The footman returned to the carriage door, saying, Sir Otho Marklehamwould be pleased to see Miss Fairfield, and resolutely crushing down hertimidity, Patty went in.
She was ushered into a large and formal drawing-room, and waited there afew moments alone.
She wished she had been asked into a library, or some more cosy room, forthe stiff hangings, and massive furniture were oppressive. But she had notime for further thought, for Sir Otho entered the room.
He bowed with exceeding courtesy, but with a surprised air, which wasindeed only natural.
Frightened almost out of her wits, Patty extended her hand, and thoughshe tried to conquer her embarrassment, her voice trembled, as she said:"How do you do, Sir Otho? I've come to see you."
She tried to speak jauntily, but there was a queer little break in hervoice.
"So I perceive," said Sir Otho, coldly. "May I ask why I have thishonour?"
This was too much for Patty. Her nerves were strained almost to thebreaking point, and when Sir Otho spoke so repellently, she realised howfoolish her little plan had been, and how hopeless was her dream ofreconciling this dreadful old man and his daughter. Partly, then, becauseof her overwrought nerves, and partly because of the downfall of hercherished hopes, Patty burst into tears.
She rarely cried, almost never, unless at some injustice or undeservedunkindness. But when she did cry, it was done as she did everything else,with a whole-souled enthusiasm.
Utterly unable to control herself, for a few moments she sobbed, andshook in paroxysms of emotion.
The old gentleman fairly danced around.
"Bless my soul!" he exclaimed; "what is the matter? What does this mean?Did you come into my house for the purpose of having a fit of hysterics?"
Now Patty wasn't a bit hysterical; it was merely a sudden blow ofdisappointment, and she would have been over it in a moment, but that SirOtho made matters worse by storming at her.
"Stop it, do you hear? I won't have such goings on in my house! You are amadwoman!"
As Patty's sobs grew quieter, and she sat softly weeping into an alreadysoaked handkerchief, her host's mood seemed to change also.
"When I consented to see Miss Patricia Fairfield," he said, quoting hername as it appeared on the card she had sent in, "I didn't know I was tobe subjected to this extraordinary treatment."
"I d-didn't know it e-either," said Patty, wiping her eyes, and trying tosmile. Then, as she saw Sir Otho's hard old face beginning to soften alittle, she smiled at him through her tears.
"There, there, my dear, don't cry," he said, with a clumsy imitation ofgentleness. "Shall I ring for a maid? Will you have some sal volatile?"
"No," said Patty, trying hard to check her sobs; "no, I will go away."
"But what's it all about?" said the bewildered old man. "What made youcry?"
"You did," said Patty, with such suddenness that he nearly fell over.
"I? Bless my soul! What did I do?"
"You were so c-cross," said Patty, weeping afresh at the remembrance ofhis cold looks.
"Well, never mind, child, I won't be cross again. Tell me all about it."
Surely Sir Otho was melting! Patty sagaciously believed he was touched byher tears, so made no desperate effort to stop them.
"I c-can't tell you now. You're not in a k-kind m-mood."
"Yes, I am; try to tell me, my dear child."
Patty thought she had never known any one who could turn from anger tokindness so suddenly, but she resolved
to strike while the iron was hot.
"It's about K-Kitty," she said, still sobbing, but peeping out frombehind her handkerchief to see how he took this broadside.
"I supposed so," he said, with a sigh. "Well, what about her?"
"She's your daughter, you know," went on Patty, growing more daring, asshe slyly watched the old gentleman's expression.
"Is she, indeed? I'd forgotten the fact."
This, though in a sarcastic tone, was better than his usual disavowal ofthe relationship.
"And did you stop in here, and treat me to this absurd scene, just toinform me concerning my family tree?"
"N-no," said Patty, resorting to tears again. "I stopped in, to--to askyou s-something."
"Well, out with it! Are you afraid of me?"
This nettled Patty.
"No," she said, starting to her feet. Her tears had stopped now, and hereyes were blazing. "No! I am not afraid of you! I'm sorry I broke down. Iwas foolishly nervous. But I'm over it now. I came in here, Sir OthoMarkleham, to ask you to make peace with your daughter, and to propose toyou a pleasant way to do so. But you have been so cross and ugly, sosarcastic and cruel, that I see the utter hopelessness of trying toreconcile you two. I was foolish even to think of it! Lady Kitty isgentle and sweet in many ways, but she has inherited your obstinate,stubborn----"
"Pigheaded," suggested Sir Otho, politely.
"Yes! Pigheaded disposition, and though, as the older, you ought to makethe advance, you'll never do it--and she never will--and--so----"
Patty broke down again, this time from sheer sadness of heart at theirrevocable state of things.
Her face buried in her handkerchief, to her great surprise she felt akindly touch on her shoulder.
"Don't condemn me too soon, little one; and don't condemn me unheard.Suppose I tell you that some of my ideas have undergone a change sinceMiss Yankee Doodle has taken it upon herself to scold me."
"Oh!" said Patty, rendered almost breathless with amazement at the kindtone and the gentle touch.
"But suppose it's very hard for an old man like me to uproot somefeelings that have grown and strengthened with the passing years."
"But if they're bad and unworthy feelings, you _want_ to uproot them!"cried Patty.
"Yes," said Sir Otho, "I do. And though my irascible and taciturn naturewon't let me admit this to any one else, I'll confess to you, Miss YankeeDoodle, I do want to pull them up, root and branch."
Sir Otho looked so brave and manly as he made this confession, which wastruly difficult for him, that Patty grasped his hand in both hers, andcried: "Oh, what a _splendid_ man you are! I'll _never_ be afraid of youagain!"
"You _weren't_ afraid of me, child. That's why your words had weight withme. You fearlessly told me just what I was, and I had the grace to beashamed of myself."
"Never mind that now," said Patty, eagerly. "Do you want to be friendsagain with Kitty?"
"More than anything on earth."
"Well, then, let me manage it; and do it the way I want you to, willyou?"
Patty's voice and smile were very wheedlesome, and Sir Otho smiled inresponse, as he said:
"You've surely earned the right to manage it. How shall it be done? WillKitty meet me halfway?"
"I think she will," said Patty, slowly. "But she's not very tractable,you know. Indeed, Sir Otho, she's such a contrary-minded person, that ifshe knew you wanted to be kind to her, she'd likely run away."
"Miss Patricia," said Sir Otho, gravely, "you can't tell me anythingabout my daughter Catharine that I don't already know. And she is,indeed, contrary-minded, on occasion. As you so justly observed, sheinherits my obstinate and cross-grained disposition."
"And yet she's so lovely to look at," sighed Patty.
"Ah, well, she didn't get her good looks from me, I'll admit."
"I think she did," said Patty, looking critically at the fine old face,with a thoughtful gaze that was very amusing.
"Well, are you going to detail to me the plan of this rather difficultcampaign?"
"Yes, I am. And I hope you'll see it as I do."
"If I don't, I have little doubt but you can change my views. Will youhave time to drink a cup of tea with me? We can plan so much more cosilyover the teacups."
"Yes, I will," said Patty, consulting her watch.
"Then let us have it served in the library, and not in this depressingroom, which you must associate with stormy outbursts of woe."
Patty laughed, and followed the stately old gentleman into the library,where tea was soon served.
"'How _much_ pleasanter this is than squabbling'"]
"One lump?" said Patty, holding the sugar-tongs poised over a teacup,while she put her head on one side and smiled at her host.
"Two, please. It's delightful to have some one make my tea for me, andyou do it very prettily."
"But, alas!" said Patty, in mock despair, "I'll soon be supplanted here,by that 'obstinate, cross-grained' Lady Kitty."
"Why are you so sure she'll come back here to live?"
"Just give her the chance, and see," said Patty, wagging her headsagaciously, as she poured her own tea.
"How _much_ pleasanter this is than squabbling," she observed, glancinghappily at her host.
"Yes, or crying," said he, a bit teasingly, and Patty blushed.
"That's past history," she said; "and _now_ I'll tell you my plan."
The details of the plan kept them both talking for some time, and thenPatty had to hurry away to reach home at her appointed hour.
"Now, I won't see you again until then," she said, as they parted at thedoor. "But I know you won't fail me."
"Not I!" said Sir Otho, and with his hand on his heart, he made aprofound bow, and Patty drove homeward in the happiest mood she had knownfor many a day.