Patty's Success Part 38

The speech was absurd on the face of it, for Patty's rosy, dimpled cheeks and sparkling eyes betokened no weariness or la.s.situde.

But Mrs. Van Reypen accepted this evidence of the girl's obedience to her wishes, and said:

"You are right, Miss Fairfield, and my nephew will excuse you from his party."

Philip sent her a reproachful glance, and Patty dropped her eyes again, wis.h.i.+ng dinner was over.

At last the ladies left the table, and Philip rose and held aside the portiere while his aunt pa.s.sed through.

As Patty followed, he detained her a moment, and whispered:

"It is cruel of you to punish me for my aunt's unkindness."

"I can't help it," said Patty, and as her troubled eyes met his angry ones they both smiled, and peace was restored.

"After Friday," whispered Patty, as she went through the doorway.

"After Friday," he repeated, puzzled by her words, but rea.s.sured by her smiles.

And then Mrs. Van Reypen sent Patty to her room for the night, and when Philip came to the drawing-room he found he was destined to be entertained by his aunt alone.

"Of course," said Patty, to her own reflection in her mirror, "a companion can't expect to sit with 'the quality,' but it does seem a shame to dress up pretty like this and then be sent to bed at nine o'clock! Never mind, only three evenings more in this house, and then victory for Patty Fairfield!"

CHAPTER XVII

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's att.i.tude toward her.

However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

She played the piano and sang a little, then she wandered about the large and lonely rooms. Patty was a sociable creature, and had never before spent an evening entirely alone, unless when engaged in some important and engrossing work.

But after a while the telephone rang, and when the parlour-maid told her the call was for her she flew to the instrument with glad antic.i.p.ation.

"h.e.l.lo!" she cried, and "h.e.l.lo!" returned a familiar voice.

"Oh, Ken! of all people. How _did_ you know I was here?"

"Oh, I found it out! How are you? May I come to see you?"

"No, indeed! I'm a companion. I'm not expected to have callers. But I'm glad to talk to you this way. I'm alone in the house, except for the servants."

"Alone! Then let me come up for a few minutes, and chat."

"No; Mrs. Van Reypen wouldn't like it, I'm sure. But, oh, Ken, I'm making good this time! On Thursday the week will be up, and I'll get my fifteen dollars. Isn't that gay?"

"You're a plucky girl, Patty, and I congratulate you. Is it very horrid?"

"No, it isn't exactly horrid, but I'm fearfully homesick. But it's only three more days now, and won't I be glad to get home!"

"And we'll be glad to have you. The goldfish are dull and moping, and we all want our Patty back again."

"That's nice of you. But, Ken, how did you know where to find me? I made Nan and father promise not to tell."

"Well, I may as well confess: I basely worried it out of Miller. I asked him where he took you to last Thursday afternoon."

"Oh! I meant to tell him not to tell, but I forgot it. Well, it doesn't matter much, as you chanced to strike a time when I'm alone. But don't call me up again. I'm not supposed to have any social acquaintances."

"Good for you, Patty! If you play the game, play it well. I expect you're a prim, demure companion as ever was."

"Of course I am. And if the lady didn't have such a fishy nephew I'd get along beautifully."

"Oho! A nephew, eh? And he's smitten with your charms, as they always are in novels."

"Yes," said Patty, in a simpering tone.

"Oh, yes! I can't see you, but I know you have your finger in your mouth and your eyes shyly cast down."

"You're _so_ clever!" murmured Patty, giggling. "But now you may go, Ken, for I don't want to talk to you any more. Come round Thursday night, can't you, and welcome me home?"

"Pooh, you're late with your invitation. Mrs. Fairfield has already invited me to dinner that very evening."

"Good! Well, good-by for now. I have reasons for wis.h.i.+ng to discontinue this conversation."

"And I have reasons for wis.h.i.+ng to keep on. If you're tired talking, sing to me."

"'Thou art so near and yet so far,'" hummed Patty, in her clear, sweet voice.

"No, don't sing. Central will think you're a concert. Well, good-by till Thursday."

"Good-by," said Patty, and hung up the receiver.

But she felt much more cheerful at having talked with Kenneth, and the coming days seemed easier to bear.

They proved, however, to be quite hard enough.

The very next day, when Patty went down to the breakfast room, determined to do her best to please Mrs. Van Reypen, she found that lady suffering from an attack of neuralgia.

Though not a serious one, it seriously affected her temper, and she was cross and irritable to a degree that Patty had never seen equalled.