Patty's Friends Part 16

"You were not a bit to blame, dear," she said, kindly, when the tale was finished. "I don't think you even flirted with him. But it's truly extraordinary that he should speak so soon."

"It was on the spur of the moment," declared Patty, with conviction. "You know, moonlight and roses and a summer evening have a romantic influence on some natures."

"What do you know of a romantic influence, you baby. Hop along to bed, now, and get up in the morning your own sweet, natural self--without a thought of Earls or moonlight."

"I will so," said Patty; "I didn't like it a bit, except that it was all so funny. Won't Nan howl?"

"She may, but I'm afraid your father will be annoyed. You know you're in my care, Patty."

"Don't you worry. I'll tell Daddy all about it. And I rather guess it will make him laugh."

CHAPTER IX

AN IMPORTANT DOc.u.mENT

It was the custom at Herenden Hall to serve morning tea to the guests in their rooms.

When Patty's tray was brought, she asked to have it taken into Lady Hamilton's room, and the two friends chatted cosily over their toast and teacups.

Lady Kitty, with a dainty dressing-jacket round her shoulders, was still nestled among her pillows, while Patty, in a blue kimono, curled up, Turk-fashion on the foot of the bed.

"It's a gorgeous day," observed Patty, stirring her tea, which she was trying to sip, though she hated it. "I'll be glad to explore that lovely rose garden without horrid old moonlit Earls."

"It's a wonderfully fine place, Patty; you really must go over the estate. I'll show you round myself."

"Thank you," said Patty, airily, "but I believe I have an engagement. Mr.

Snowden, or Snowed on, or Snowed under, or whatever his name is, kindly offered to do that same."

"Yes, and he'll kindly withdraw his offer when he sees you in your own rightful raiment. I've a notion to put you in a pinafore, and give you a Teddy Bear to carry. There's no keeping you down any other way."

"Oh, don't be alarmed. I've no designs on the young men. I like the boys better, anyhow. That Jack Merivale is a chummy kind of a youth. That's the sort I like. Rest a.s.sured I won't trouble that wretched Earl. I won't even speak to him, and I'll make over to you whatever interest he may deign to show in me."

"As one Humpty Dumpty said, 'I'd rather see that on paper.'"

"So you shall," said Patty, and setting down her unfinished tea, she flew to the writing table.

Perching herself on the corner of the desk chair, she laid out a sheet of Lady Herenden's crested note paper, and took up a pen. "Shall I write the agreement as I please?" she said, "or will you dictate it?"

"I'll dictate," said Lady Kitty, smiling lazily at the foolery. But as she paused between sentences, Patty put in parentheses of her own, and when finished the remarkable doc.u.ment read thus:

"I, the undersigned, being of (fairly) sound mind, do hereby of my own free will (coerced by one Lady Hamilton) relinquish all interest or concern in the (ill.u.s.trious) personage known as Sylvester, Earl of Ruthven (but I do think he has a lovely name), and should he show any interest in me, personally, I promise (gladly) to refer him to (the aforesaid) Lady Hamilton (though what she wants of him, I don't know!), and I hereby solemnly promise and agree, not to seek or accept any further acquaintance or friendship with the (Belted) gentleman above referred to.

"Furthermore, I (being still of sound mind, but it's tottering) promise not to talk or converse with the (Sylvester! _Sylvester!_) Earl of Ruthven, beyond the ordinary civilities of the day (whatever that may mean!), never to smile at him voluntarily (I can't help laughing at him), and _never_ to wave my eyelashes at him across the table. (_Why_ does she think I'd do that?)

"Witness my hand and seal,

"PATRICIA FAIRFIELD."

("Lady Patricia would sound great! Wouldn't it?")

"There, Kitty Cat," said Patty, tossing the paper to Lady Hamilton, "there's your agreement, and now, my dreams of glory over, I'll go and 'bind my hair and lace my bodice blue.' I always wondered how people bind their hair. Do you suppose they use skirt braid?"

But Lady Kitty was shaking with laughter over Patty's foolish "doc.u.ment"

and offered no reply.

An hour or so later, Patty presented herself for inspection.

She wore a pale blue dimity, whose round, full blouse was belted with a soft ribbon. The skirt, with its three frills edged with tiny lace, came just to her instep, and disclosed dainty, patent-leather oxfords.

Her golden braids, crossed and recrossed low at the back of her head, were almost covered by a big b.u.t.terfly bow of wide white ribbon. In fact, she was perfectly garbed for an American girl of eighteen, and the costume was more becoming to her pretty, young face than the trained gown of the night before.

Lady Hamilton was still at her dressing table.

"I feel quite at ease about you now," she said, looking up. "n.o.body will propose to you in that rig. They'll be more likely to buy you a doll. I'm not nearly ready yet, but don't wait. Run along downstairs, you'll find plenty of people about."

Slowly Patty descended the great staircase, looking at the pictures and hanging rugs as she pa.s.sed them.

"For mercy's sake, who is that?" was Lady Herenden's mental exclamation as the girl neared the lower floor.

"Good-morning, Lady Herenden," cried Patty, gaily, as she approached her hostess. "Don't look so surprised to see me, and I'll tell you all about it."

"Why, it's Miss Fairfield!" exclaimed the elder lady, making room for Patty on the sofa beside her.

"Yes, and I really owe you an explanation. You see, my boxes didn't come last night, and I had to wear one of Lady Hamilton's gowns at dinner. I couldn't tell you so, before all the guests, and so you didn't know me this morning in my own frock."

"It's astonishing what a difference it makes! You look years younger."

"I am. I'm not quite eighteen yet, and I wish you'd call me Patty, won't you?"

"I will, indeed," said Lady Herenden, answering the pretty smile that accompanied the request. "I knew Kitty Hamilton said you weren't out yet, and so, when I saw you last night, I just couldn't understand it. But I do now. Have you breakfasted, dearie?"

"Yes, thank you. And now, I want to go out and see the flowers, and the dogs. May I?"

"Yes, indeed. Run around as you like. You'll find people on the terrace and lawn, though there are no girls here as young as yourself."

"That doesn't matter. I like people of all ages. I've friends from four to forty."

"I'm not surprised. You're a friendly little thing. Be sure to go through the rose orchard; it's back of the rose garden, and you'll love it."

Hatless, Patty ran out into the sunshine, and, strolling through the rose garden, soon forgot all else in her delight at the marvellous array of blossoms.

As she turned a corner of a path, she came upon two men talking together.

They were Lord Ruthven and Lord Herenden's head gardener.

"Yes," his lordship was saying, "you've done a good thing, Parker, in getting that hybrid. And this next bush is a fine one, too. Is it a Baroness Rothschild?"