Patty's Success Part 26

At Patty's rejection of her advances, Miss O'Flynn also became reserved again, and said, simply: "I cannot use it."

"Why not?" demanded Patty. "It is covered smoothly and neatly. It shows no crease nor fold."

"It is not right," said Miss O'Flynn. "It is not done right, because you do not know how to do it. You have never been taught how to cover hats or how to line them; consequently you cannot do them right."

The other girls had gone to luncheon, so the two were alone in the room.

Patty knew that Miss O'Flynn was telling her the truth, and yet she resented it. A red spot burned in each cheek as she answered:

"But the hat is covered perfectly. What matter, then, whether I have been taught or not?"

"Excuse me, it is _not_ covered perfectly. The st.i.tches are too small----"

"Too small!" exclaimed Patty. "Why, I didn't know st.i.tches could be too _small_!"

The other smiled. "That is my argument," she said. "You _don't know_. Of course st.i.tches should be small for ordinary sewing, and for many sorts of work. But not for millinery. Here long st.i.tches are wanted, but they must be rightly set,--not careless long st.i.tches."

"Why?" said Patty, somewhat subdued now.

"Because a better effect can be produced with long st.i.tches. You see, your st.i.tches are small and true, but every one shows. With a skilful long st.i.tch, no st.i.tch is seen at all. It is what we call a blind st.i.tch, and can only be successfully done by skilled workers, who have been taught, and who have also had practice."

Patty was silent a moment, then she said:

"Miss O'Flynn, we agreed that I was to have a day's trial."

"Yes, Miss Fairfield; I will stand by my word."

"Then may I select my own work for the afternoon?"

"Yes," said Miss O'Flynn, wondering whether, after all, this pretty, young girl could be a harmless lunatic.

"Then I want to trim hats. Make bows, you know; sew on flowers or feathers; or adjust lace. May I do such things as that?"

Miss O'Flynn hesitated.

"Yes," she said, finally; "if you will be careful not to injure the materials. You see, if your work should have to be done over, I don't want the materials spoiled."

"I promise," said Patty, slowly.

"But, first, will you not go out for your lunch?"

"No, thank you; I'm not hungry. Please bring me my work at once."

CHAPTER XII

THREE HATS

But Miss O'Flynn sent Patty a cup of hot bouillon, and some biscuit, which she ate right there at her work-table.

And it was a kindly act, for, though Patty didn't realise it, she was really faint for want of food and also for fresh air.

The room, though large, had many occupants, and now the girls began to come back from their luncheon, and their chatter made Patty's head ache.

But she was doing some deep thinking. Her theories about unskilled labour had received a hard blow; and she was beginning to think her millinery efforts were not going to be successful.

"But I've a chance yet," she thought, as Miss O'Flynn came, bringing two hats, and a large box of handsome tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs.

The other girls stared at this, for they knew that Patty's morning efforts had been far from successful.

But Patty only smiled at them in a pleasant, but impersonal manner, as she took up her new work.

Her confidence returned. She knew she could do what she was now about to attempt, for, added to her natural taste and love of colour, she had been critically interested in hats while in Paris, and while visiting her friend, Lady Kitty, who was especially extravagant in her millinery purchases.

After a period of thought, Patty decided on her scheme of tr.i.m.m.i.n.g for the two hats before her, and then set blithely to work.

One was to be a simple style of decoration, the other, much more complicated. Taking up the elaborate one first, Patty went at it with energy, and with an a.s.sured touch, for she had the effect definitely pictured in her imagination and was sure she could materialise it.

And she did. After about two hours' hard work, Patty achieved a triumph.

She held up the finished hat, and every girl at the table uttered an "ah!" of admiration at the beautiful sight.

Without response, other than a quiet smile, Patty took up the second hat.

This was simple, but daring in its very simplicity. A black velvet Gainsborough, with broad, rolling brim. Patty turned it smartly up, at one side, and fastened it with a rosette of dull blue velvet and a silver buckle. Just then, Miss O'Flynn came in.

"Where did that hat come from?" she said, pointing to Patty's finished confection.

"I trimmed it," said Patty, nonchalantly. "Have you some silver hatpins, Miss O'Flynn?"

"You trimmed it!" exclaimed the forewoman, ignoring Patty's question, and taking up the trimmed hat.

"Yes; do you like it?"

"It's a marvel! It looks like a French hat. How did you know enough to trim it like this?"

"I thought it would look well that way."

"But these twists of velvet; they have a touch!"

"Yes?" said Patty, inwardly exultant, but outwardly calm.

"And now," she went on, "this hat is of another type."

"It's not finished?" asked Miss O'Flynn, eyeing the hat in uncertainty, "and yet,--any other tr.i.m.m.i.n.g would spoil its lines."

"Just so," said Patty, placidly. "You see, all it needs now, is two large silver hatpins, like this,--see."

Patty pulled two hatpins from her own hat, which she still had on, and placed them carefully in the hat she held in her hand.