THANKSGIVING.
It was raining, and raining with a will. It was sure to rain all day:
there was no question about that. As Patty looked from her window
Thanksgiving morning, and saw the leafless trees and faded grass on
Boston Common, soaked in the cold November storm, it seemed to her
that she had never gazed upon a drearier scene. She crossed her arms
upon the window-sill, resting her chin on them, and fell into a fit of
bitter musing.
Flossy, announcing her decision to remain in Montfield through the
winter, had coupled with it her intention of spending Thanksgiving week
at home.
"I must go and see father once in a while," she remarked. "That's only
respectable. And I must have something to wear, you know, even in
Montfield. Patty is going with me to bring me back safe."
"I going with you?" her cousin returned. "I had not heard of that
before."
"Didn't I tell you? I supposed you'd know. As father would say, 'There
are some things which even this Court may be supposed to understand.'"
Patty was secretly glad to get away. To escape from Montfield seemed
like an escape from herself. She was restless and dissatisfied,
and even the remonstrances of the family at her being away upon
Thanksgiving Day fell upon heedless ears. Once the plan was proposed,
she felt a feverish desire for its accomplishment until she was
actually in the train moving towards Boston. At first she experienced
a feeling of relief, as if she had left care and trouble behind; but
scarcely had the hills of Montfield faded from sight than she longed to
turn back. At home she at least was where she might see her lover, even
if it were but to quarrel with him. At home she could sit brooding at
her window, looking towards the Putnam place, and imagining the life
and the thoughts of its master. Hardly could she restrain the tears
which pressed to her eyes as the train bore her farther and farther
from home; but with angry pride she controlled herself, and laughed
gayly at all Flossy's nonsense.
Mr. Plant had received her kindly; and, in the distractions of
pleasure-seeking and of shopping, Patty had forgotten or overcome her
sentimental woes until this morning.
Now, with this cheerless rain steadily falling, and Flossy closeted
with her father, to whom she now first disclosed her engagement,
Patience found herself homesick and miserable.
"There is one thing certain," she mused. "I have been a fool to care
for Tom as I have--and I have. He's a man, after all; and all men are
alike, I suppose,--self-contained and self-indulgent. Not that he's as
bad as most of them; but he's a man; and--I'm a woman. Either there
must be some men different, or a woman could never be happy with any
of them. There! Who'd suppose I could be such a fool? I have been very
fond of Tom,--very, very fond: I'm not sure I didn't love him just a
little bit. He must have cared for me something, or he never could have
kissed my hand so. Oh, dear! it's all over now. There comes Floss. I
wonder what uncle Chris said."
"I've done it," Flossy remarked coolly, entering, and seating
herself with a nimble spring upon the dressing-table. "The paternal
astonishment is extreme, not to say alarming."
"I think it likely," Patty answered.
"Papa didn't seem very enthusiastic over my marrying a farmer," her
cousin went on in the same abstracted way. "But, as I told him, it
isn't as if he'd got to have the farm here in the way."
"Still a farm would be convenient to have in the house," said Patty,
laughing.
"Do you know," the other continued, "it was only my profound sagacity
that brought him round."
"Then he has come round?"
"Come round? Bless you, Pitsy-Patsy! he has but one wish,--a desire to
embrace Burleigh."
"I'd like to see the embrace," laughed Patty. "With the size of the
two, it would be a spectacle. How did you accomplish it?"
"Oh, I spoke of the milk and the butter and the cheese--the lovely
cream-cheese--and the honey. I wonder," she interrupted herself, "that
bees don't keep a cow, cream is so ravishing with honey. And, when
papa's mouth began to water, I heaved a sigh, and so sighing I rolled
up my eyes, and ejaculated how happy we'd be. And what do you suppose
he said?"
"Something very profane, I'm afraid," answered Patty.
"No," Floss said. "He didn't. If you'll believe it, he only smacked his
lips, and asked if Burleigh raised early vegetables."
"Is that what you cried for?" asked the other, looking at her cousin's
swollen eyes.
Instead of answering, Floss sprang from her perch, ran to her friend,
and threw her arms about her neck, bursting into tears. The two foolish
creatures wept together, and then kissed each other, and doubtless felt
better for the demonstration.
The truth was, that the interview between Mr. Plant and his daughter
had been a painful one. He cared little for Flossy's society, and the
sympathy between them was not of the closest. But he could not, without
difficulty, reconcile himself to have his only child, city born and
bred, bury herself in the country, and unite herself to a man so far
below his idea of a desirable match. He had received the announcement
with unaffected amazement, appearing more deeply moved by it than
Flossy had ever seen him. It was only after a long and trying scene
that he yielded to his daughter's entreaties and his own desire for
peace, and gave a grudging consent.
"I think that is enough of a weep," Patty said, giving her cousin a
hug. "I'm sure I don't know what we should cry about."
"Now I'll tell you. He's here," said Flossy impressively.
"Who's here?"
"Burleigh."
"Here? In the house? Have you hidden him in a closet?"
"Oh, dear, no! In Boston, I mean. He's coming to dine to-day. I told
father."
"Of all schemers!" Patty laughed. "Really, Floss, uncle Chris will
frighten Burleigh to death. They won't know how to take each other."
"No," was the answer. "But they needn't take each other. I'm the one to
be taken."
"O Dandelion, Floss-head!" Patience cried, catching her cousin's face
between her hands, and looking deep into her eyes. "Are you happy,
Floss? Is being in love so delightful?"
"That depends upon who is in love," the little witch answered. "Some
people in that predicament devote all their energies to making
themselves uncomfortable. Let me go: there's the postman."
Out of the room she darted, leaving Patty, with cheeks aflame, to
wonder how far her secret had been divined.
The postman brought no letter for Flossy; but at the same hour,
in another part of the city, an epistle was delivered bearing the
Montfield postmark. Miss Sturtevant tore it open in her cheerless room,
and read as follows:--
MONTFIELD, Nov. 26.
DEAR FLORA,--Peter Mixon is getting worse, instead of better, every
day. I have tried my best to get what I want; but there's always a
crew of women about him, and he's as obstinate as a mule. If you could
come down, you'd be in the house with him, and you might do something.
Of course, if you get the paper I would make it a good thing for you.
Can't you come this week? Patty Sanford is always round him when she
is here; but she is in Boston now, and you'd have a better chance
before she gets back. At all events, come as soon as you can.
Yours truly,
FRANK BRECK.
"Uncle Jacob," Flora said to herself, refolding the letter, "I shall go
to Montfield to-night. Don't you hope I may give you those papers when
I get them?"