Patty's Success Part 24

A BUSY MORNING

The next morning, Patty came down to breakfast, wearing a plain street costume, a small, but very well made hat, and a look of determination.

"Fresh start?" said her father, smiling kindly at her.

"Yes," she replied; "and this time I conquer. I see success already perching on my banners."

"Well, I don't then!" declared Nan. "I see you coming home, not with your shield, but on it."

"Now, don't be a wet blanket and throw cold water on my plans," said Patty, a little mixed in her metaphor, but smiling placidly at her stepmother. "This time it's really a most sensible undertaking that I'm going to undertake."

"Sounds as if you were going into the undertaking business," said her father, "but I a.s.sume you don't mean that."

"No, I go into a pleasanter atmosphere than that suggests, and one in which I feel sure I can accomplish good work."

"Well, Patty," said Mr. Fairfield, "it's lucky you're of a sanguine temperament. I'm glad to see you're not disheartened by failure."

"Not I! To me a failure only means a more vigorous attempt next time.

Now, Nan, I shall be away all day,--until about five o'clock. Won't you play with Darby and Juliet a little, so they won't get lonesome?"

"Oh, yes; I'll amuse them. But, Patty, where are you going?"

"Never mind, pretty stepmothery; don't ask questions, for they won't be answered. If all goes well, I'll tell you on my return."

Mr. Fairfield looked serious.

"Patty," he said, "you know you're not to do anything unbecoming or ridiculous. Don't you go and sell goods behind a counter, or anything extreme like that."

"No, sir; I won't. I promise not to put myself in the public eye in any such fashion. And you may trust me, father, not to do anything of which you'd disapprove, if you knew all about it."

"That's a good Patty-girl! Well, go ahead in your mad career, and if you keep your part of the bargain, I'll keep mine."

Patty started off, and this time she gave Miller an address not so far away as before. When he brought the motor-car to a standstill, before a fashionable millinery shop, he felt none of the surprise that he had when he took Patty to what he considered inappropriate places.

"Now, Miller," said Patty, as she got out of the car, "you are not to wait for me, but I want you to return here for me at five o'clock."

"Here, Miss Fairfield?"

"Yes; right here. Come exactly at five, and wait for me to come out."

"Yes, Miss Fairfield," said Miller, and Patty turned and entered the shop.

"I'm 'most sorry I sent him away," she thought to herself, "for I may not want to stay. Well, I can go home in a street-car."

Though Patty's costume was plain and inconspicuous, it bore so evidently the stamp of taste and refinement, that the saleswoman who met her a.s.sumed she had come to buy a hat.

But it was early for fashionable ladies to be out shopping, so the rather supercilious young woman greeted Patty with a cautious air of reserve. It was so different from the effusive manner usually shown to Nan and Patty when they really went shopping, that Patty was secretly much amused. But as she was also secretly greatly embarra.s.sed, it was with an uncertain air that she said:

"I am not shopping; I wish to see Madame Villard."

"Madame is not here. What can I do for you?"

"I have come in answer to her advertis.e.m.e.nt for an a.s.sistant milliner."

"Oh," said the young woman, raising her eyebrows, and at once showing an air of haughty condescension. "You should have asked for the forewoman, not Madame."

Patty's sense of humour got the better of her resentment, and it was with difficulty she repressed a smile, as she answered:

"Indeed? Well, it is not yet too late to correct my error. Will you show me to the forewoman?"

Patty's inflections were not in the least sarcastic, in fact her whole manner was gentle and gracious, but something in her tone, perhaps the note of amus.e.m.e.nt, made the saleswoman look at her suddenly and sharply.

But Patty's face was demure and showed only a desire to be conducted to the right person.

"Come this way," said the young woman, shortly, and she led Patty, between some heavy curtains, to a back room.

"This is our forewoman, Miss O'Flynn," she said, as she ushered Patty into her presence.

Miss O'Flynn was an important looking woman who took in every detail of Patty's appearance in a series of careful and systematic glances.

She seemed puzzled at what she saw, and said, inquiringly:

"Miss----?"

"Miss Fairfield," said Patty, pleasantly, "and I have come in answer to your advertis.e.m.e.nt."

"For a.s.sistant milliner? You."

Miss O'Flynn was surprised out of her usual calm by the amazing proposition of the young stranger.

"Yes," said Patty, quite calm herself. "I can trim hats very prettily."

"Did you trim the one you have on?"

"Well, no," admitted Patty. "I brought this from Paris. But I am sure I can trim hats to suit you. May I try?"

"What experience have you had?"

"Well,--not any professional experience. You see, it is only recently that I have desired to earn my own living."

"Oh,--sudden reverses," murmured Miss O'Flynn, thinking she had solved the problem. "Well, my dear, you have evidently been brought up a lady, so it will be hard for you to find work. I am sorry to say I cannot employ you, as I engage only skilled workwomen."

"But tr.i.m.m.i.n.g hats doesn't require professional skill," said Patty. "Only good taste and a,--a sort of knack at bows and things."

Miss O'Flynn laughed.

"Everything requires professional skill," she returned. "A course of training is necessary for any position."