MOONLIGHT
The May party was over, but a few of the guests, besides those staying
in the house, remained for dinner.
"Shall I change my frock, Adele, or keep on this toggery for dinner?"
said Patty.
"Oh, keep that on. You may as well be Queen of May as long as you can."
So Patty kept on her pretty, picturesque costume, and when dinner time
came she made up her mind to ask Adele to seat her next to Farnsworth.
But as the company paired off to go to dinner Big Bill was nowhere
visible.
"Where's Mr. Farnsworth?" asked Patty, casually, of Jim Kenerley.
"Oh, he's gone. We expected him to stay the week-end, but he said he
was due at another country house party, farther on somewhere, and he
couldn't even stay for dinner."
Patty was sorry she had acted so rude to Bill, and sorry that he had
gone. "But," she said to herself, by way of extenuation, "I didn't want
to dance with anybody who asked me to because his hostess commanded
him! He never even said he wanted to dance with me himself, but only
that Adele said he must. But I do think he was mean to go away without
saying good-bye to me!"
However, it was not Patty's nature to let her mind dwell on a
disappointment, and she promptly proceeded to forget all about Mr.
Farnsworth, and to turn her mind to her present partner. This happened
to be Kit Cameron, and as he was in his gayest mood she responded and
their conversation was of the merriest sort.
After dinner, Kit persuaded Patty to walk on the veranda for a bit of
exercise. There was a large swing-seat, upholstered in red, which he
declared was just the place for a tete-a-tete.
"But it's too cold," objected Patty.
"I'll get you a wrap," and Kit flew into the house and procured a long
cloak, in which he enveloped Patty, and they sat in the swing together.
"What became of the Colossal Cowboy?" said Kit; "I thought he was here
for the weekend."
"I thought so, too," returned Patty, "but it seems he had another
engagement."
"I'm glad of it. You're altogether too fond of him."
"Fond of him! What do you mean? I'm nothing of the sort. Why, I
scarcely spoke to him."
"I know it. That's what gave you away."
"Don't be a silly! I haven't the slightest interest in Mr. William
Farnsworth, or his comings and goings."
"You'd rather have me here, wouldn't you?"
"Oh, EVER so much rather!" And Patty spoke with such intense enthusiasm
that she was very evidently joking.
"But really, Patty, let's be in earnest just for a minute. Wouldn't you
rather have me around than anybody?"
"Why, I don't know; I never thought about it."
"Think about it now, then. Honest, I mean it."
"Oh, don't mean things. It's too heavenly a night to talk seriously."
"Isn't it a wonderful night? Do you know a house party like this and
moonlight on a veranda, like this, always goes to my head. I think
week-ending is apt to go to one's head, anyway. But let it go. Let it
go to your head, too."
"I don't think I'd better," and Patty spoke hesitatingly; "I might say
something foolish."
"Oh, do, Patty! DO say something foolish! If you don't, I shall."
"Well, go on, then."
"May I, Patty? May I tell you that I've simply lost my heart to
you,--you beautiful little May Queen!"
"And is that what you call foolish?" Patty pouted, adorably.
"Yes, it's foolish, because I know there's no hope for me. I know you
don't care one least scrap of a speck for me! Now, do you?"
"If you're so positive yourself, why ask me?"
"Oh, I MIGHT be mistaken, you know. Oh, if I only MIGHT! Patty, DEAR
little Patty, couldn't you be my princess? My own Princess Poppycheek."
"I've been your Belle," and Patty laughed merrily at the recollection.
"There you go, laughing at me! I knew you would. That shows you don't
care anything for me. If you did, you wouldn't laugh at me!"
"Oh, yes, I would! the more I care for people the more I laugh at
them,--always."
"You must be simply crazy over me then! If you don't stop laughing I
won't swing you any more."
"Oh, yes, do, it's lovely to swing back and forth in the moonlight like
this. The May party was pretty, wasn't it?"
"You're just trying to change the subject. But I won't have it changed.
Let's go back to it. Patty, couldn't you stop laughing at me long
enough to learn to care for me a little?"
"How can I tell? I don't know how long it would take to learn to care
for you a little. And, anyway, I do care for you a little,--but only a
very, very little."
"Yes, I know that. You don't fool me any. You wouldn't care if you
NEVER saw me again."
"Why, Kit Cameron, I would SO! If I though I'd never see you
again--I'd--I'd--I'd drown myself!"
"YES you WOULD! You little witch, how can you trifle with me like that,
when my heart is just breaking for you?"
"Oh, come now, Kit, it isn't as bad as that! And let me tell you
something. Do you know I think you are one of the very nicest friends I
ever had, and I'm not going to have our friendship spoiled by any
foolishness! So you might as well stop right where you are now. That
is, if you're in earnest. If you're just talking foolishness on account
of the moonlight--and all,--I don't mind. But I won't have you serious
about it."
"All right, Poppycheek. I'm pretty serious, or I would be if you'd let
me, but if you don't want it you shan't have it."
"Well, I don't. I don't want seriousness from anybody. And, anyway,
Kit, I'd be afraid of seriousness from you."
"Why, Patty?"
"'Cause it would probably turn out to be a practical joke."
"Joke nothing! The regard I have for you, Miss Poppycheek Fairfield, is
too everlasting real to have any joke about it!"
"And the friendship I have for you, Mr. Kit Cameron, is so nice and
real, that I'm going to keep it up."
Patty knew from the undertones of Kit's voice that he was very much in
earnest, and as she felt no interest in him beyond that of a good
friend, she shrank from wounding his feelings by letting him go on
further. And so she determinedly led the conversation further and
further away from personal matters, and soon she gaily declared that it
was getting too late for moonlight chat and she was going in the house.
Kit followed her in, and though he showed in no way the appearance of a
rejected suitor, he was quieter than usual and less inclined to
merriment. "He'll get over it," said Patty to herself, after she
reached her room that night. "I s'pose all girls have to go through
with these scenes, sooner or later. But I didn't mind Kit so much,
because he was nice and sensible about it."
Then Daisy came in for a kimono confab, and perched herself on the edge
of Patty's bed.
"What's the matter between you and Bill Farnsworth, Patty?" she asked
without prelude of any sort.
"Nothing," said Patty, as she took the hairpins from a long shining
strand of hair.
"There is, too. He asked me why you were so cool to him."
"He did! Well, I'm sure I don't know what he meant, for I wasn't cool
to him,--or anything else. I treated him politely, as I would any
casual friend."
"Politely! I saw you refuse to dance with him, myself. If you call THAT
polite!"
"If you want to know, Daisy, that was because he didn't want to dance
with me. He said he only asked me because Adele insisted upon it."
"Patty, it's none of my business, but I do think you might be nicer to
Bill, for I know he thinks an awful lot of you."
"Why, Daisy Dow! why should he think a lot of me when he's as good as
engaged to another girl?"
"Engaged! Bill Farnsworth engaged! nothing of the sort. I know better."
"But he is. Adele told me so. Or, if he isn't engaged, he's very much
in love with a girl named Kitty. Do you know her?"
"Kitty who? Where is she?"
"I don't know, I'm sure. But he told Adele his whole heart and life
were bound up in this Kitty Somebody. So I'm sure I don't see any
reason why I should be running after him."
"I can't imagine you running after anybody, Patty. You don't need to,
for the boys all run after you. But it's very queer I never heard of
this Kitty. I've known Bill for years. Let me see; there was Kate
Morton,--but I never thought Bill cared especially for her. And anyway,
I can't imagine calling HER Kitty! She's as tall and straight as an
Indian!"
"Well, Bill calls her Kitty; Adele said so."
"Oh, is it Kate Morton, then? Did Adele say that?"
"No, Adele said she couldn't remember the girl's last name. And I don't
care if it's Kate Morton or Kathleen Mavourneen! It's nothing to me
what kind of a girl Bill Farnsworth likes."
"Of course it isn't. I know you never liked Bill."
"I did SO! I DO like him, but just the same as I like all the other
boys."
"Then what makes you turn pink every time Bill's name is mentioned, and
never when you speak of anybody else?"
"I don't! And if I did, it wouldn't mean anything. I'm not specially
interested in anybody, Daisy, but if I were, I wouldn't sit up and
blush about it. You like Bill an awful lot, yourself."
"I do like him," said Daisy, frankly; "and I always have. He's a
splendid man, Patty, one of the biggest, best natures I know. Why, at
school we used to call him Giant Greatheart,--he was so thoroughly
noble and kind to everybody."
"Well, I'm sick of hearing his praises sung, so you'll please change
the subject."
Daisy was quite willing to do this, for she had no wish to annoy Patty,
and the girls chatted of other matters until Adele came along and sent
them both to bed.
The next day was Sunday, and Patty didn't come downstairs until time
for the midday dinner.
"I think you might have come down earlier," said Van Reypen,
reproachfully, as Patty came smilingly down the staircase. "I wanted
you to go for a walk this morning; it's simply great out in the
sunshine."
"I'll go after dinner," said Patty; "isn't it funny why people have
dinner at one o'clock, just because it's Sunday?"
"I'm glad of it. It'll give us the whole afternoon for our walk."
"Good gracious! if I walk the whole afternoon you'll have to bring me
home in a wheelbarrow!"
"We won't walk far enough for that. If you get tired, we'll sit on a
mossy mound in a bosky dell, or some such romantic spot."
After dinner, Philip held Patty to her promise of going for a walk. She
didn't care about it especially, really preferring to stay with the gay
group gathered on the veranda, but Philip urged it, and Patty allowed
herself to be persuaded.
The country all around Fern Falls was beautiful, and a favourite walk
was down to the Falls themselves, which were a series of small cascades
tumbling down a rocky ravine.
Philip turned their steps this way, and they sauntered along the
winding footpath that followed down the side of the falls.
"It is lovely here," said Patty, as she sat down on a rock for a short
rest. "But I wouldn't want to live in the country all the year around,
would you, Philip?"
"Not if you didn't like it, dear. Suppose we have two homes, one in the
city and one in the country?"
"Homes for lunatics, do you mean?" and Patty favoured the young man
with a wide-eyed gaze of inquiry.
"You know very well what I mean," and Philip returned her gaze with one
of calm regard. "You know why I brought you out here this afternoon,
and you know exactly what I'm going to say to you. Don't you?"
"Not EXACTLY," and Patty drew a roguish frown; "they all word it
differently, you know."
"It is a matter of utter indifference to me how the others word it,"
and Philip leaned up comfortably against a rock as he looked at Patty.
"The only thing that engrosses my mind, is whether I myself can word it
persuasively enough to make you say yes. Do you think I can?"
"You never can tell till you try," said Patty, in a flippant tone.
"Then I'll try. But, Patty, dearest, you know it all; you know how I
love you, you know how long I have loved you. Aren't you ever going to
give me the least little encouragement?"
"How can I, Phil, when I don't feel encouraging a bit?"
"But you will, dear, won't you? You remember last winter when we went
on that sleighride after the butter and eggs? Why, Patty, you ALMOST
said yes, then."
"Why, Philip Van Reypen! I didn't do anything of the sort! I had no
idea of saying yes, then,--I haven't now,--and I'm not sure that I ever
shall have!"
"I'll wait, Patty," and Van Reypen spoke cheerfully. "I'll wait, Little
Girl, because I think a love like mine is bound to win at last. And I
know you're too young yet to make up your mind. But, Patty, there isn't
anybody else, is there?"
"Anybody else what?"
"Anybody else who likes you as much as I do. Is there?"
"Now, Phil, how could I tell that? When people say they love you heaps
and heaps, you never know quite how much to believe, or quite how much
is just the influence of the moonlight."
"Well, there's no moonlight here now. So when I tell you how much I
love you, it's all true. You believe that, don't you, Little Girl?"
"Yes, I believe it. But, Philip, I wish you wouldn't talk about it
to-day. I'm tired of--"
"Of having men tell you how much they love you? Poor little Patty! I'm
afraid you'll have to put up with that all your life."
"Oh, horrible!" and Patty made a wry face. "I suppose some girls like
it, but I don't."
"I'll tell you a way to avoid it, Patty. Be engaged to me, now,--even
if you won't marry me right away, and then, you see, other men can't
propose to you."
"Do you mean be engaged to you, Phil, without intending EVER to marry
you!"
"Well, don't consider the second question at present. Just be engaged
to me, and then we'll see about it."
"No, I don't think that would be fair. You make it seem as if being
engaged to a man doesn't mean anything."
"Patty! dearest! DON'T talk like that! It would mean all the world to
me. And I'm sure I could make you love me enough to want to marry me,
after awhile. If you knew how much I loved you, I'm sure you'd agree
that you couldn't resist that love for long."
Van Reypen looked very handsome and very earnest as he gazed into
Patty's eyes. And Patty looked very sweet and dear as she gazed back at
him with a troubled expression on her lovely face.
Then with a sudden, impulsive gesture she put out both her hands and
Philip took them in his own.
"Don't make me decide now, Phil," she said, and she looked at him with
a pathetic smile. "I don't know what I want. I know I DON'T want to
marry you,--or anybody else,--for a long time. And I don't think I want
to be engaged to anybody just yet, either."
"Of course you don't, you dear little girl," and Van Reypen's tone was
hearty and genuinely helpful. "You've only just begun to have your
little fling, and enjoy yourself in your own sweet, butterfly way. And
I'm not going to tease you or cause you one moment's worry. But, oh,
Patty, darling, if ever you have a moment when you want to think about
these things, think about me, won't you, dear? and remember that my
whole heart is yours and my whole life is devoted to you. You don't
understand now, what the whole love of a man means, but some day you
will, and then, if your heart can turn to me, let it do so, won't
you,--little sweetheart?"
Patty was thrilled, not only by Philip's words, but by the deep and
sincere love shining in his eyes, and which she could not mistake.
"You are very dear to me, Philip," she said, with absolute sincerity;
"and I do want you to know how much I appreciate what you have
said,--and how grateful I am--"
"Hush, Patty," and Philip smiled gently at her; "I don't want that. I
don't want your appreciation nor your gratitude for what I feel for
you. When you are ready to give me your love, in return for the love I
offer you, I want it more than I can tell you. But until then, I want
your friendship, the same good comradeship we have always had, but not
any gratitude, or foolishness of that sort. Do you understand?"
"I do understand, Phil, and I think you're splendid! I want to keep on
being your friend,--but I don't want you to think---"
"No, dear; I promise not to think that you are giving me undue
encouragement,--for that is what you're trying to say. And you mustn't
let my hopes or desires trouble you. Always treat me just exactly as
you feel toward me, with gay comradeship, with true friendliness, or
whatever is in your heart. But always remember that I am still loving
you and waiting and hoping."
Philip gave Patty one long look deep into her eyes, and then, with an
entire change of manner, he said lightly, "Now, my lady fair, if you
are rested, suppose we walk back to the house?"
"I am rested," and Patty jumped up, "so you won't have to do what I
feared,--take me home in a wheelbarrow."
Van Reypen looked at her quizzically.
"Do you remember," he said, "the classic poem from which that quotation
is taken?"
"It's from Mother Goose, isn't it?"
"Yes; but if you recollect, it was a bachelor gentleman who went to
London. And when he returned he brought a WIFE home in a wheelbarrow.
I'm not having quite THAT experience."
"No," said Patty, demurely, "but you haven't any wheelbarrow."