CHAPTER XVI
THE CROQUET PARTY
The next afternoon the two girls started in the pony cart for theMerediths.
Patty loved to play croquet, and though it greatly amused her to hear theEnglish people pronounce the word as if it were spelled _croky_, yet notto appear peculiar, she spoke it that way too.
The party was a large one, and the games were arranged somewhat after thefashion of a tournament.
Patty's partner was Tom Meredith, and as he played a fairly good gamethey easily beat their first opponents.
But later on they found themselves matched against Mabel Hartley and ayoung man named Jack Stanton. Mr. Stanton was an expert, and Mabel playedthe best game Patty had ever seen a girl play.
"It's no use," said Patty, good-naturedly, as they began the game, "Tomand I never can win against you two."
"Don't despair," said Tom, encouragingly, "There's many a slip, youknow."
The game progressed until, when Tom and Patty were about three-quartersof the way around, Mabel was passing through her last wicket and Mr.Stanton was a "rover."
"Be careful, now," said Mr. Stanton, as Mabel aimed to send her ballthrough the arch. "It's a straight shot, and a long shot, and you'reliable to touch the post."
And that's just what happened. As Mabel's swift, clear stroke sent theball straight through the wicket, it went spinning on and hit squarelythe home stake.
"Jupiter! that's bad luck!" exclaimed Jack Stanton. "They'll jolly wellbeat us now. But never mind, perhaps I can slip through yet."
But he couldn't. The fact that they had two plays to his one, gave Pattyand Tom a great advantage.
Tom was a clever manager, and Patty followed his directions implicitly.So they played a defensive game, and spent much time keeping Stanton'sball away from the positions he desired. The result was that Tom andPatty won, but their success was really owing to Mabel's mistake in goingout.
The test was to win two games out of three, so with one game in favor ofPatty's side they began the next.
Patty was considered a good croquet player in America, but in England therules of the game, as well as the implements, were so different that itseriously impeded her progress.
The wickets were so narrow that the ball could barely squeeze through ifaimed straight, and a side shot through one was impossible.
But all this added to the zest, and it was four very eager young peoplewho strove for the victory.
The second game went easily to Mabel and Jack Stanton, and then thethird, the decisive one, was begun. According to the laws of thetournament, this was the final game. The opponents had already vanquishedall the other contestants, and now, pitted against each other, wereplaying for the prize.
Patty knew in her heart she would be glad to have Mabel win it, and yet,so strong was her love of games, and so enthusiastic her natural desireto succeed, that she tried her best to beat the third game.
All played conservatively. The partners kept together, and progressedevenly. Toward the last Jack and Mabel began to creep ahead. Tom sawthis, and said to Patty: "This is our last chance; if we plod on likethis, they'll calmly walk out and leave us. Unless we can make abrilliant dash of some sort, we are beaten."
"I don't believe I can," said Patty, looking doubtfully at her ball."It's my turn, and unless I can hit Mabel's ball, clear across thegrounds, I can't do anything."
"That's just it. You _must_ hit Mabel's ball."
So Patty aimed carefully, and sent her ball spinning over the groundtoward Mabel's, and missed it by a hair's breadth!
"Goody!" cried Mabel, and hitting Patty's ball, she roqueted it backwhere it had come from.
"Now here's our very lastest chance," said Tom, with a groan of despair."And I'm sure, Patty, I won't do any better than you did."
Nor did he. Although not far from Jack's ball, at which he aimed, therewas a wicket in the way, which sent his own ball glancing off at anangle, and he did not hit his opponent.
A minute more, and Jack skilfully sent Mabel's ball and then his ownagainst the home stake, and the game was over.
The onlookers crowded up and congratulated the winners, and offeredcondolence to Patty and Tom. Patty smiled, and responded merrily. She didnot try to lay the blame on the unusual shaped wickets, or short, heavymallets. She declared that the best players had won, and that she wassatisfied. And indeed she was.
When she saw the lovely prize that was given to Mabel, she was deeplythankful that she hadn't won it. It was a white parasol, of silk andchiffon, with a pearl handle. A really exquisite, dainty affair, and justthe very thing Mabel had wanted, but couldn't afford to buy. As for Pattyherself, she had several parasols, and so was delighted that Mabel hadwon.
But though she truly preferred that Mabel should have the prize, she felta little chagrined at losing the contest, for like all people who arefond of games and sports, Patty loved to win.
These feelings, though, she successfully concealed, and gave Mabel verysincere and loving congratulations. Mr. Stanton's prize was a prettyscarf pin, and Tom Meredith loudly bewailed his own misfortune in losingthis. Though, really, as the tournament was at his own home, he would nothave taken the prize had he won it, but would have passed it on to theone with the next highest record.
The victors were cheered and applauded, and were then led in triumph tothe pretty tent where tea was being served.
If Patty had had a shadow of regret that she had not been the honouredone, it was lost sight of in her gladness that it fell to Mabel's lot.
"You're a plucky one," said Tom Meredith, who was observing her closely."You're a good loser, aren't you?"
"I don't know," said Patty, thoughtfully. "I want to be, but do you know,I just love to win contests or games. And when I lose--I'm ashamed to sayit--but I do feel put out."
"Of course you do! That's only natural. And that's why I say you're agood loser. If you didn't care tuppence whether you won or not, itwouldn't be much to your credit to look smiling and pleasant when youlose. But since you _do_ care, a whole lot, you're a jolly plucky girl totake it so well. Now, what can I get for you? An ice?"
"Yes, please," said Patty, really gratified at Tom's appreciative words.
"How long are you staying with the Hartleys?" Tom asked, as, returningwith ices, he found cosy seats at a small table for himself and Patty.
"Two or three weeks longer, I think. But I shall hate to go away, forI've become so interested in their 'mystery,' that I can't stop trying tosolve it."
"Oh, you mean that old affair of the hidden fortune. I don't believethere's any at all. I think the old man who pretended to hide it wasmerely guying them."
"Oh, no! That can't be. Why, it all sounds so real and natural. The storyof the hiding, I mean."
"Yes, but why should he want to hide it? Why not bank it decently, likeother people?"
"Oh, because he was eccentric. People who are naturally queer or freakishare always hiding things. And I know it's silly of me, but I'm going totry to find that money."
"I've lots of faith in your energy and perseverance, but I can't thinkyou'll succeed in that job. Better try something easier."
"I don't think I can say I expect to succeed. But I'm going totry--and--who can tell what might happen?"
"Who, indeed? But you know, of course, that the Cromarty people have beenhunting it for nearly forty years."
"Yes," said Patty, and her eyes fairly blazed with determination,"yes--but I am an American!"
Tom Meredith shouted with laughter.
"Good for you, little Stars and Stripes!" he cried. "I've always heard ofthe cleverness of the Yankees, but if you can trace the Cromarty fortune,I'll believe you a witch, for sure. Aren't there witches in that NewEngland of yours?"
"I believe there used to be. And my ancestors, some of them, were Salempeople. That may be where I get my taste for divination and solvingproblems. I just love puzzles of all sorts, and if the old Cromartygentleman had only left a cipher message, it would have been
fun topuzzle it out."
"He did leave messages of some sort, didn't he? Maybe they are moresubtle than you think."
"I've been wondering about that. They might mean something entirelydifferent from what they sound like; but I can't see any light that way.'The headboard of a bed against a wall,' is pretty practical, and doesn'tseem to mean anything else. And the oak trees and fir trees are there inabundance. But that's the trouble with them, there are so many."
"Go on, and do all you can, my child. You'll get over it the sooner, ifyou work hard on it at first. We've all been through it. Nearly everybodyin this part of the country has tried at one time or another to guess theCromarty riddle."
"But I'm the first American to try," insisted Patty, with a twinkle inher eye.
"Quite so, Miss Yankee Doodle Doo; and I wish you success where my owncountrymen have failed."
Tom said this with such a nice, kindly air that Patty felt a littleashamed of her own vaunting attitude. But sometimes Patty showed adecided tendency to over-assuredness in her own powers, and though shetried to correct it, it would spring up now and again. Then the Hartleyboys joined them, and all discussion of the missing fortune was dropped.
It was soon time to take leave, and as it was already twilight, Sinclairproposed that he should drive Patty home in the pony cart, and Mabelshould return in the carriage.
Mabel quite agreed to this, saying that after her croquet, she did notcare to drive. The road lay through a lovely bit of country, and Pattyenjoyed the drive home with Sinclair. She always liked to talk with him,he was so gentle and kindly. While not so merry as Bob or as TomMeredith, Sinclair was an interesting talker, and Patty always felt thatshe was benefited by his conversation.
He told her much about the country as they drove along, described thelife and work of the villagers, and pointed out buildings or otherobjects of interest.
They passed several fine estates, whose towering mansions could be seenhalf hidden by trees, or boldly placed on a summit.
"But no place is as beautiful as Cromarty," said Sinclair, and Pattyentirely agreed with them.
"Is it true that you may have to leave it?" she asked, thinking it wiserto refer to it casually.
Sinclair frowned.
"Who's been talking to you?" he said; "Mabel, I suppose. Well, yes, thereis a chance that we'll have to let it for a term of years. I hope not,but I can't tell yet. But even if so, it will be only temporary. As soonas I get fairly established in my career, I hope to make money enough totake care of it all. A few years hence, when I'm on my feet, and Bob'sthrough college, it will be easier all round. But if some businesstroubles that are now impending don't blow over, there'll be no income tokeep things going, and we'll have to--to----But that _shan't_ happen!"
Sinclair spoke almost desperately, and Patty saw his fingers clencharound the reins he was holding.
"I wonder," said Patty slowly, for she was not quite sure how what shewas about to say would be received. "I wonder, Sinclair, if we're notgood friends enough, you and I, for me to speak plainly to you."
The young man gave her a quick, earnest glance.
"Go on," he said, briefly.
"It's only this," said Patty, still hesitating, "my father has lots ofmoney--couldn't you--couldn't he lend you some?"
Sinclair looked at her squarely now, and spoke in low, stern tones.
"Never suggest such a thing again. The Cromartys do not borrow."
"Not even from a friend?" said Patty, softly.
"Not even from a friend," repeated Sinclair, but his voice was moregentle. "You don't understand, I suppose," he went on, "but we wouldleave Cromarty for ever before we would stay on such terms."
"No," said Patty, "I don't understand. I should think you'd be as glad toaccept a friend's help as he would be to offer it."
"If you'd do me a real kindness, Patty, you'll never even mention such anidea again. I know you mean well and I thank you, but it's absolutelyimpossible."
"Then there's only one other way out of the difficulty," said Patty, withan effort at lightness; "and that's to find your buried fortune."
"Ah, that would be a help," cried Sinclair, also assuming a gayer tone."If you'll help us to do that, I'll set up a memorial tablet to yourcleverness."
"Where will you set it? Between the fir trees and the oak?"
"Yes, if you find the fortune there."
"But if I find it behind the headboard, that's no sort of a place for atablet!"
"You can choose your own spot for your Roll of Fame, and I'll see to itthat the memorial is a worthy one."
"And will you put fresh flowers on it every day?"
"Yes, indeed; for if--I mean _when_, you find the fortune for us, thegardens will have immediate attention."
"Then I must set to work at once," said Patty, with pretended gravity,but in her heart she registered a mental vow to try in earnest to fulfilthe promise given in jest.