A PERFECTLY GOOD CHAPERON
It was nearly six o'clock when Patty reached "Red Chimneys." She
carried a bandbox, and Miller, who followed her, carried a large
suitcase, and various other parcels.
Mona met them at the door, and, directing that the luggage be sent to
Patty's rooms, she carried her visitor off to her own boudoir.
"Patty," she began, "I can't let you carry out that ridiculous scheme!
I'm going to telephone to the young people not to come."
"Haven't telephoned yet, have you?" enquired Patty, carelessly, as she
flung herself into an easy-chair, and made vigorous use of a large fan.
"No; I waited to tell you. But I'm going to begin now," and Mona lifted
a telephone receiver from its hook.
"Oh, I wouldn't," said Patty, smiling at her hostess. "You see, I've
set my heart on having this party, and I'd hate to have you upset it."
"But, Patty, consider how--"
"Consider,--cow--consider! Well, my fair lady, I have considered, and I
must request you to hang up that telephone, and trust all to me."
When Patty adopted this tone, playful but decided, Mona knew she could
do nothing with her. So she hung up the receiver, but she still showed
a troubled expression as she looked questioningly at pretty Patty.
But that provoking young person only smiled at her, and slowly waved
her big fan.
"Awfully warm, even yet, isn't it?" she said. "What time is dinner,
Mona? I've a lot to do before that party of yours comes off."
"I ordered dinner early, so we'd have time to dress afterward. Come,
Patty, I'll show you your rooms."
The two girls rose, and standing in front of Mona, Patty began to
smooth the lines from the other's brow, with her own finger tips.
"There there," she said; "don't worry. Trust all to Smarty-Patty!
She'll do the trick. And just turn up the corners of your mouth a
little, so!"
Patty poked her forefingers into Mona's cheeks till she made her smile,
and then Mona gave up.
"All right, Patty," she said. "I said you should have your own way, and
so you shall! Get Miller to chaperon us, if you want to,--I won't say a
word! Now, come on with me."
She led Patty across the hall to the suite of rooms prepared for her.
Like everything else at "Red Chimneys," it was on a far grander scale
than Patty's own home.
There was a boudoir, bedroom, dressing-room, and bath, all fitted up in
the prettiest, daintiest manner.
The ivory-tinted walls showed panels of rose-coloured brocade, ornate
with gilded decorations in Empire style. The marquetry furniture and
bisque ornaments carried out the scheme, and though elaborate, the
rooms were most attractive and comfortable.
Patty herself preferred simpler furnishings, but she knew that Mona
didn't, and she exclaimed with delight at the beauty of appointments.
"It's out best suite," said Mona, complacently, "and I've had it fixed
up freshly for you."
"It's charming," declared Patty, "and I know I shall be very happy
here,--IF I can have my own way!" She smiled as she spoke, but she was
in earnest, too, for Mona was dictatorial by nature, and Patty by no
means proposed to be tyrannised over.
"You shall, Patty! All the time you are here, your word shall be law in
this house, both over the servants and myself."
"Oh, I can manage the servants," cried Patty, gaily. "I'm rather good
at that. Now, if I can only manage you!"
"You can! I'll prove so manageable and docile, you'll scarcely know me!"
So, having flown her colours, Patty wagged her head sagaciously as Mona
went away. "I think, Miss Fairfield," she observed to her reflection in
a gold-garlanded mirror, "that you're in for a pleasant summer.
Firmness tempered with kindness must be your plan; and I'm pretty sure
you can, in that way, manage Mona without friction."
Humming snatches of song to herself, Patty continued to explore her new
domain. The rose-coloured boudoir opened into a dainty bedroom done in
white and gold. Everywhere white silk or lace curtains were looped back
with Frenchy pink satin rosebuds, and the gilded furniture, with its
embroidered satin cushions, made the room look fit for a princess.
Patty laughed with glee, for she loved dainty prettiness and this was a
novel change from her own simpler belongings.
From the bedroom she went on to the dressing-room and bathroom; the
former replete with all known appurtenances to Milady's toilette, and
the latter a bewildering vista of marble, silver, and glass.
Dinner was a gay little feast. Although Patty had dined once or twice
before at "Red Chimneys," it had been with her parents at formal
dinners, and they had been examples of the unrestrained elegance which
Mr. Galbraith deemed the correct way of displaying his wealth.
The Fairfields had assumed that the overelaborateness was due to the
festive occasion, but Patty now perceived that the same formality of
service was observed with only the two girls at the table. And the menu
was long and varied enough to have served a dinner party.
Of course, it all appealed to Patty's sense of humour, but as it was
Mona's habit to dine under the supervision of three or four
serving-men, Patty was quite willing to accept the situation placidly.
The servants, however, were no bar to their gay chatter. Except that
they did not refer to the expected temporary chaperon, they discussed
all the details of the evening's party.
Many of the courses of the dinner they dismissed without tasting, and
so, by half-past seven, Patty was back in her own rooms, and Mrs.
Hastings appeared promptly at the hour. A maid named Janet had been
appointed to look after Patty personally, but she was dismissed, with
instructions to return at eight, and then Patty began her
transformation scene.
It was not accomplished without some few difficulties, and much
giggling, but by eight o'clock, Patty and Mona surveyed a most
acceptable looking chaperon, due to their own handiwork. Susan, or Mrs.
Hastings, as they called her, looked the picture of a kindly, dignified
matron. Her grey hair was done in a simple, becoming fashion, and
ornamented with a spray of silver tinsel leaves. The grey satin gown of
Mrs. Allen's, which Patty had appropriated without compunction, fitted
fairly well, and a fichu of old lace, prettily draped, concealed any
deficiencies. Though possessing no elegance of manner, Susan had quiet
ways, and being observant by nature, she remembered the demeanour of
ladies she had worked for, and carried herself so well that Patty and
Mona were satisfied as to her ability to carry out their purpose.
Patty provided Mrs. Hastings with a black feather fan, and gave her a
quick lesson in the art of using it. The piece of white knitting work
proved satisfactory on inspection, and after a few final injunctions,
Patty pronounced the "chaperon" complete.
Then she called for Janet, and hastily proceeded to make her own
toilette. She chose a white silk muslin, dotted with tiny pink
rosebuds, and further ornamented with fluttering ends of pale pink
ribbon. The frock was cut a little low at the throat, and had short
sleeves, and very cool and sweet Patty looked in it. Her gold curls
were piled high on her head, and kept there by a twist of pink ribbon.
She wore no jewelry, and the simple attire was very becoming to the
soft, babyish curves of her neck and dimpled arms.
Mona appeared in rose-coloured chiffon, richly embroidered. The gown,
though beautiful of itself, was not appropriate for such a warm night;
but Mona had not Patty's sense of harmony, and had added a heavy
necklace and bracelets of wrought Roman gold.
"You'll melt in all that toggery!" said Patty, bluntly, and Mona sighed
as she saw Patty's diaphanous frock. Then, led by Mrs. Hastings, they
went down to the drawing-room. They put Susan through a few lessons in
introductions, practised calling her "Aunt Rachel," and bolstered up
her failing courage by telling her how well she looked.
The first guest to arrive was Jack Pennington. Being a graceful
mannered boy he acknowledged his introduction to Mrs. Hastings with
just the correct blending of deference and cordiality. "Isn't it warm?"
he said, and as this required no answer save, "It is, indeed," Susan
acquitted herself creditably, and even refrained from saying "indade."
Then the others came, and being a merry crowd of young people, they
merely paused for a word or two with the elderly stranger, before
turning away to their own interests. And, if by chance, one or two
showed a tendency to linger and converse with her, Patty and Mona were
at hand to take up the burden of the conversation.
After all had arrived, Patty conducted Susan to a pleasant seat near an
open window, provided her with her knitting and a book, and gave her a
whispered permission to doze a little if she wished to.
So far as the girls could see, not one of the guests had suspected that
Mrs. Hastings was other than an aunt of Mona's, nor had they given her
a second thought. To their minds a chaperon was a necessary piece of
furniture, but of only a momentary interest. She must be greeted, and
later, she must be bidden farewell, but no conversation with her
between times was necessary.
The party was a pretty one. Usually, the Spring Beach people didn't
care much to go to "Red Chimneys," for Mona was not a favourite. But
Patty was, and, invited to meet her, every one accepted. And the large
rooms, cooled by electric fans, and decorated with lovely flowers and
softly shaded lights, looked somehow more attractive, now that Patty
Fairfield's graceful figure was flitting through them.
After one of the dances, Patty drifted across the room and stood near
Susan. That worthy was dutifully looking over her book, and
occasionally glancing thoughtfully round the room.
"Keep it up, Susan!" whispered Patty. "You're a howling success!
Everything's all right."
"Come for a stroll on the veranda, Patty," said Jack Pennington, coming
up to her. "Mayn't I take her, Mrs. Hastings, if I'll be very careful
of her?"
"Shure an' ye may, sir," said Susan, heartily, caught off her guard by
this sudden request.
Jack Pennington stared at her, and Susan's eyes fell and her face
turned red in deepest dismay lest she had disgraced her beloved Miss
Patty. In a despairing effort to remedy her indiscretion she assumed a
haughty tone and said, "You have my permission. Go with the young
gentleman, Miss Patty." And with an air of having accomplished her duty
successfully, Susan picked up her knitting.
Patty's twitching lips and flushed cheeks made quick-witted Jack
Pennington suspect a joke somewhere, but he gravely offered his arm,
and as they reached the broad veranda and walked toward a moonlighted
corner of it, he said, "Interesting lady, that new aunt of Mona's,
isn't she?"
"Very," said Patty, trying not to laugh.
"I always like that foreign accent," went on Jack; "is it,--er--French?"
"Well, no," opined Patty. "I don't think Mrs. Hastings IS French."
"Ah, German, then, perhaps. I've heard that particular accent before,
but I can't just place it."
"I think it's sort of,--of Scotch, don't you?"
"Faith, an' I don't, thin! I'm afther thinkin' she's a daughter av ould
Ireland, arrah."
Jack's imitation of Susan's brogue was so funny that Patty laughed
outright.
"Perhaps the lady IS Irish," she said; "but she looks charming, and so
well-dressed."
"That's so. She IS much better dressed than when I saw her last."
"Saw her last! What do you mean?"
"Well, of course I MAY be mistaken, but do you know, she looks like
a--like a lady I saw once in the kitchen garden at 'The Pebbles.'"
"And pray what were you doing in that kitchen garden?"
"Well, I was helping Miller look after your motor one day, and I
strolled around the house, back to the front veranda that way.
And,"--Jack's voice sank to an impressive whisper,--"there in the midst
of the cabbages and eggplants,--there stood Mrs. Hastings,--I'm SURE it
was she,--in a calico gown and checked apron!"
"Oh, Jack!" and Patty burst into laughter. "She IS our cook! Don't give
it away, will you?"
"Never! Never! But WHAT a joke! Does no one know it?"
"No one at all but Mona and myself. You see--" And then Patty told the
whole story.
"Well, that's the best ever!" declared Jack as she finished. "Patty,
you do beat all! No one else will guess, I'm sure,--and I'LL never
tell. But it's most too good a joke to keep, now, isn't it?"
"But it's going to BE kept! Why, if some people knew of it, they'd drum
me out of Spring Beach. And anyway, Jack, I wouldn't have done it, if
Susan hadn't been such a dear respectable person herself."
"I'm sure she is, and to show I believe it, I'll take her out to
supper."
"Gracious, goodness, Jack! I never thought of supper! Will she have to
eat with us?"
"Of course she will! And, as I say, I'll take her out, so there'll be
no danger of further discovery."
Patty giggled again. The idea of SUSAN being escorted out to the
dining-room of "Red Chimneys"! And by Jack Pennington, the most
aristocratic young man in their set!
"All right," she said. "But I must sit the other side of you. I want to
keep my eye on her."
And so it came to pass that when supper was announced, Jack went up
gallantly and offered his arm to the chaperon.
This seemed quite natural and proper to the other guests, and they paid
little attention as Mrs. Hastings rose with dignity, and, with her
escort, led the procession.
Susan was resolved to make up for her blunder, and she carried herself
with an air of hauteur, and trailed the grey satin gown after her quite
as if she were used to such.
"It is a beautiful home, is it not, Mrs. Hastings?" said Jack, by way
of making conversation.
"It is, sir," returned Susan, careful of speech and accent, but unable
to forget her deference. "Such airy rooms and fine, high ceilings."
Jack couldn't help admiring her aplomb, and he chatted away easily in
an endeavour to put her at her ease.
"Will you sit here, Mrs. Hastings?" he said, offering her the seat at
the head of the table, as became the chaperon of the party.
Susan hesitated, but catching Mona's nod of acquiescence, she sank
gracefully into the armchair Jack held for her.