CHAPTER XV
PERSISTENT PHILIP
"Why, Philip!" Mrs. Van Reypen exclaimed; "you are indeed growingattentive to your aged aunt!"
"Middle-aged aunt!" he returned, gallantly; "and belonging to the earlymiddle-ages at that! I told you I should call this morning, and I'd likeanother egg, please, aunty."
"You may have all the eggs you want, but I am not at all pleased withyour presence here after I expressly forbade it."
"Oh, it isn't a crime to call on one's own aunt, is it?"
"It's extremely rude. I have a busy day before me, and I don't want abothersome nephew around."
Mrs. Van Reypen was exceedingly fond of Philip, and loved to have him ather house, but it was easy to be seen, now, that she considered him fartoo much interested in pretty Patty.
And partly because he was interested, and partly to tease hislong-suffering aunt, the young man declared his intention of spending theday with them.
"I can't have you, Philip," said Mrs. Van Reypen, decidedly. "I want youto go away immediately after breakfast."
"Just my luck!" grumbled her nephew. "I never can do anything I want to.Well, I'll go downtown, but I'll be back here to luncheon."
"Don't talk nonsense," said Mrs. Van Reypen, shortly; "you'll do nothingof the sort."
The rest of the meal was not very enjoyable. Mrs. Van Reypen was clearlydispleased at her nephew's presence; Patty did not think it wise to takeany active part in the conversation; and, though Philip was in gayspirits, it was not easy to be merry alone.
Patty couldn't help smiling at his audacious speeches, but she kept hereyes down on her plate, and endeavoured to ignore the young man'spresence, for she knew this was what Mrs. Reypen wished her to do.
"Now you may go," said the hostess, as Philip finished his egg. "I'd liketo enjoy a cup of coffee in peace."
"Oh, I'm peaceful!" declared Philip, crossing his hands on his breast androlling up his eyes with an angelic expression.
"Good-by, Philip," said his aunt, so icily that the young man rose fromthe table and stalked out of the room.
"Now," said Mrs. Van Reypen, "we are rid of him."
But in a few moments the smiling face again appeared at the door.
"I forgot to say good-by to Miss Fairfield," he announced, cheerfully."Mayn't I do that, aunty?"
Mrs. Van Reypen gave an annoyed "Humph!" and Patty, taking her cue, bowedvery coldly, and said "Good-morning, Mr. Van Reypen" in an utterlyimpersonal tone.
Philip chuckled, and went away, slamming the street door behind him, as afinal annoyance to his aunt.
"You mustn't think him a rude boy, Miss Fairfield," she said. "But hedelights to tease me, and unless I am positively cross to him he neverlets up. But he is really devoted to me, and, I assure you, he scarcelynoted your presence at all."
"Of course not," said Patty, with great difficulty restraining a burst oflaughter. "No one could dream of Mr. Philip Van Reypen observing acompanion." Patty did not mean this for sarcasm; she desired only to setMrs. Van Reypen's mind at rest, and then the subject of Philip wasdropped.
Soon after breakfast Mrs. Van Reypen conducted Patty to a pleasantmorning room, and asked her to read the newspaper aloud.
"And do try to read slower," she added. "I hate rapid gabbling."
Patty had resolved not to take offence at the brusque remarks, which sheknew would be hurled at her, so, somewhat meekly, she took up the paperand began.
It was a trying task. If she read an account of anything unpleasant shewas peremptorily stopped; if the news was dry or prosy, that was also cutoff short.
"Read me the fashion notes," said Mrs. Van Reypen, at last.
So Patty read a whole page about the latest modes, and her hearer wasgreatly interested.
She then told Patty of some new gowns she was having made, and seemedpleased at Patty's intelligent comments on them.
"Why, you have good taste!" she exclaimed, as if making a surprisingdiscovery. "I will take you with me this afternoon when I go to MadameLeval's to try on my gowns."
"Very well," said Patty. "And now, Mrs. Van Reypen, I'm sure there'snothing more of interest in the paper; what shall I do next?"
"Heavens! Miss Fairfield, don't ask such a question as that! You are hereto entertain me. I am not to provide amusement for you! Why do yousuppose I have you here, if not to make my time pass pleasantly?"
Patty was bewildered at this outburst. Though she knew her duties wouldbe light, she supposed they would be clearly defined, and not left to herown invention.
But she was anxious to please, and she said, pleasantly:
"I think that's really what I meant, but I didn't express myself verywell. And, you see, I don't yet quite know your tastes. Do you like fancywork? I know a lovely new crochet stitch I could show you."
"No; I hate crocheting. The wool gets all snarled up, and the patterngets wrong every few stitches."
"Then we'll dismiss that. Do you like to play cards? I know cribbage, andsome other games that two can play."
"No; I detest cards. I think it is very foolish to sit and fumble withbits of painted pasteboard!"
Poor Patty was at her wits' end. She had not expected to be aprofessional entertainer, and she didn't know what to suggest next.
She felt sure Mrs. Van Reypen wouldn't care to listen to any more readingjust then. She hesitated to propose music, as it had not been verysuccessful the night before. On a sudden impulse, she said:
"Do you like to see dancing? I can do some pretty fancy dances."
It seemed an absurd thing to say, but Patty had ransacked her brain tothink what professional entertainers did, and that was all she couldthink of, except recitations, and those she hated herself.
"Yes, I do!" cried Mrs. Van Reypen, so emphatically that Patty jumped. "Ilove to see dancing! If you can do it, which I doubt, I wish you woulddance for me. And this evening we'll go to see that new dancer that thetown is wild over. If you really can dance, you'll appreciate it as I do.To me dancing is a fine art, and should be considered so--but it rarelyis. Do you require music?"
"Of course, I prefer it, but I can dance without."
"We'll try it without, first; then, if I wish to, I'll ask Delia, myparlour-maid, to play for you. She plays fairly well. Or, if it suits me,I may play myself."
Patty made no response to these suggestions, but followed Mrs. Van Reypento the great drawing-room, at one end of which was a grand piano.
"Try it without music, first," was the order, and Patty walked to theother end of the long room, while Mrs. Van Reypen seated herself on asofa. Serenely conscious of her proficiency in the art, Patty felt noembarrassment, and, swaying gently, as if listening to rhythm, she begana pretty little fancy dance that she had learned some years ago.
She danced beautifully, and she loved to dance, so she made a mosteffective picture, as she pirouetted back and forth, or from side to sideof the long room.
"Beautiful!" said Mrs. Van Reypen, as Patty paused in front of her andbowed. "You are a charming dancer. I don't know when I've enjoyedanything so much. Are you tired? Will you dance again?"
"I'm not at all tired," said Patty. "I like to dance, and I'm very gladit pleases you."
"Can you do a minuet?" asked the old lady, after Patty had finishedanother dance, a gay little Spanish fandango.
"Yes; but I like music for that."
"Good! I will play myself." With great dignity, Mrs. Van Reypen rose andwalked to the piano.
Patty adjusted the music-stool for her, and she ran her delicate oldfingers lightly over the keys.
"I'm sadly out of practice," she said, "but I can play a tinkling minuetand you may dance to it."
She began a melodious little air, and Patty, after listening a moment,nodded her head, and ran to take her place.
Mrs. Van Reypen was so seated at the piano that she could watch Patty'sdance, and in a moment the two were in harmony, and Patty was gliding andbowing in a charming minuet, while Mrs. Van Reypen played in p
erfectsympathy.
The dance was nearly over when Patty discovered the smiling face of Mr.Philip Van Reypen in the doorway.
His aunt could not see him, and Patty saw only his reflection in themirror. He gave her a pleading glance, and put his finger on his lip,entreating her silence.
So she went on, without seeming to see him. But she wondered what hisaunt would say after the dance was over.
Indeed, the funny side of the situation struck her so forcibly that sheunconsciously smiled broadly at her own thoughts.
"That's right," said Mrs. Van Reypen, as the dancing and music both cameto an end; "I am glad to see you smile as you dance. I have seen somedancers who look positively agonised as they do difficult steps."
Patty smiled again, remembering that she had had a reason to smile as shedanced, and she wondered why Philip didn't appear.
But he didn't, and, except that she had seen him so clearly in themirror, and he had asked her, silently but unmistakably, not to divulgethe fact of his presence, she would have thought she only imagined himthere in the doorway.
"You dance wonderfully well," went on Mrs. Van Reypen. "You have had verygood training. I shall be glad to have you dance for me often. But--andplease remember this--never when any one else is here. I wish you todance for me only. If I have guests, or if my nephew is here, you are notto dance."
This was almost too much for Patty's gravity. For she well knew the oldlady was foolishly alarmed lest her nephew should fall in love with ahumble "companion," and, knowing that the said nephew had gleefullywatched the dance, it was difficult not to show her amusement.
But she only said, "I will remember, Mrs. Van Reypen." She couldn't tellof the intruder after his frantic appeal to her for silence, so shedetermined to ignore the episode.
"Now, you may do as you like until luncheon time," said Mrs. Van Reypen,"for I shall go to my room and lie down for a rest. My maid will attendme, so I will bid you adieu until one o'clock. Wander round the house ifyou choose. You will find much to interest you."
"Right you are!" thought Patty to herself. "I don't believe I'd have towander far to find a jolly comrade to interest me!" But she well knew ifMr. Philip Van Reypen was still in the house, and if she should encounterhim and chat with him, it would greatly enrage the old lady.
"And," thought Patty, "since I've made good with my dancing it's a shameto spoil my record by talking to Sir Philip. But he is pleasant."
Determined to do her duty, she went straight to her own room, thoughtempted to "wander round the house."
And sure enough, though she didn't know it, Mr. Van Reypen was watchingher from behind the drawing-room draperies. His face fell as he saw hergo up the stairs, and, though he waited some time, she did not return.
"Saucy Puss!" he thought. "But I'll have a chat with her yet."
Going to the library he scribbled a note, and sent it by a servant toMiss Fairfield's room. The note said:
"Do come down and talk to a lonely, neglected waif, if only for a few minutes.
"P. V. R."
Patty laughed as she read it, but she only said to the maid who broughtit:
"Please say to Mr. Van Reypen that there is no answer."
The maid departed, but, in less than ten minutes, returned with anothernote:
"You're afraid of Aunty Van! Come on. I will protect you. Just for a few moments' chat on the stairs.
"P. V. R."
Again Patty sent the message, "There is no answer."
Soon came a third note:
"I think you are horrid! And you don't dance prettily at all!"
"Oho!" thought Patty. "Getting saucy, is he?"
She made no response whatever to the maid this time, but she was notgreatly surprised when another note came:
"If you don't come down, I'm going out to drown myself. P."
Patty began to be annoyed. The servants must think all this very strange,and yet surely she could not help it.
"Wait a moment, Delia," she said. "Please say to Mr. Van Reypen that Iwill see him in the library, at once."
After a moment she followed the maid downstairs, and went straight to thelibrary, where the young man awaited her. His face lighted up withgladness, as he held out his hand.
"Forgive me if I was impertinent," he said, with such a charming air ofapology that Patty had to smile.
"I forgive the impertinence," she returned, "but you are making realtrouble for me."
"What do you mean?" he cried, looking dismayed.
"I mean that I am your aunt's companion, and trying to earn my livingthereby. Now if you persist in secretly coming to the house,--pardon meif I am frank,--and if you persist in sending foolish notes to me, youraunt will not let me stay here, and I shall lose a good position throughyour unkindness."
Patty was very much in earnest, and her words were sincere, but herinnate sense of humour couldn't fail to see the ridiculous side of itall, and the corners of her mouth dimpled though she kept her eyesresolutely cast down.
"It's a shame the way she keeps you tied to her apron string," he blurtedout, uncertain whether Patty was coquetting, or really distressed.
"Not at all," she replied. "I'm here to attend on her pleasure, and myplace is by her side whenever she wants me there."
"How can any one help wanting you there?" broke out Philip, soexplosively that Patty, instead of being offended, burst into a ringinglaugh.
"Oh, you are too funny!" she exclaimed. "Mrs. Van Reypen said you weregiven to saying things like that to everybody."
"I don't say them to everybody!"
"Yes, you do; your aunt says so. But now that you've said it to me, won'tyou go away and stay away?"
"How long?"
Patty thought quickly. "Till next Friday--a week from to-day."
"Oh, you want to get acclimatised, all by yourself!"
"Yes," said Patty, demurely, "I do. And if you'll only keep away,--youknow your aunt asked you not to come back for a week,--if you'll keepaway till next Friday, I'll never ask you another favour."
"Huh! that's no inducement. I love to have you ask me favours."
"Well, then, I never shall if you don't grant this first one."
"And if I do?"
"If you do I'll promise you almost anything you ask."
"That's a large order! Well, if I stay away from this house until you getsolid with Aunty Van----"
"I said a week."
"Well, to-day's Friday. If I stay away a week will you persuade aunty toinvite me to dinner next Friday night?"
"I will."
"Can you persuade her to do that?"
"I'm sure I can by that time."
Patty's eyes were dancing. She had come to Mrs. Van Reypen's on Thursday.She would, therefore, leave on Thursday, and she was sure that lady wouldhave no objections to inviting her nephew to dinner after her"companion's" departure.
"Are you going to stay?" demanded Philip suspiciously.
"I'm here a week on trial," said Patty, demurely. "Your aunt needn't keepme longer if I don't suit her. And I know I won't suit her if she thinksI receive notes from her nephew."
"Oh, I see! You're here a week on trial, and if I am chummy with youAunty Van won't keep you! Oh, yes! Why, of course! To be sure! Well, MissFairfield, I make this sacrifice for your benefit. I will keep away fromhere during your trial week. Then, in return, you promise to use yourinfluence to get me an invitation to dine here next Friday."
"I do," returned Patty. "But do you need an invitation to a house whereyou seem to feel so much at home?"
"Only when you're in it," declared the young man, frankly. "I think AuntyVan fears I mean to kidnap you. I don't."
"I'm sure you don't," said Patty, flashing a smile at him. "I think wecould be good friends, and I hope we shall be. But not until after nextFriday."