Patty's Success Part 35

Patty began to be annoyed. The servants must think all this very strange, and yet surely she could not help it.

"Wait a moment, Delia," she said. "Please say to Mr. Van Reypen that I will see him in the library, at once."

After a moment she followed the maid downstairs, and went straight to the library, where the young man awaited her. His face lighted up with gladness, as he held out his hand.

"Forgive me if I was impertinent," he said, with such a charming air of apology that Patty had to smile.

"I forgive the impertinence," she returned, "but you are making real trouble for me."

"What do you mean?" he cried, looking dismayed.

"I mean that I am your aunt's companion, and trying to earn my living thereby. Now if you persist in secretly coming to the house,--pardon me if I am frank,--and if you persist in sending foolish notes to me, your aunt will not let me stay here, and I shall lose a good position through your unkindness."

Patty was very much in earnest, and her words were sincere, but her innate sense of humour couldn't fail to see the ridiculous side of it all, and the corners of her mouth dimpled though she kept her eyes resolutely cast down.

"It's a shame the way she keeps you tied to her ap.r.o.n string," he blurted out, uncertain whether Patty was coquetting, or really distressed.

"Not at all," she replied. "I'm here to attend on her pleasure, and my place is by her side whenever she wants me there."

"How can any one help wanting you there?" broke out Philip, so explosively that Patty, instead of being offended, burst into a ringing laugh.

"Oh, you are too funny!" she exclaimed. "Mrs. Van Reypen said you were given to saying things like that to everybody."

"I don't say them to everybody!"

"Yes, you do; your aunt says so. But now that you've said it to me, won't you go away and stay away?"

"How long?"

Patty thought quickly. "Till next Friday--a week from to-day."

"Oh, you want to get acclimatised, all by yourself!"

"Yes," said Patty, demurely, "I do. And if you'll only keep away,--you know your aunt asked you not to come back for a week,--if you'll keep away till next Friday, I'll never ask you another favour."

"Huh! that's no inducement. I love to have you ask me favours."

"Well, then, I never shall if you don't grant this first one."

"And if I do?"

"If you do I'll promise you almost anything you ask."

"That's a large order! Well, if I stay away from this house until you get solid with Aunty Van----"

"I said a week."

"Well, to-day's Friday. If I stay away a week will you persuade aunty to invite me to dinner next Friday night?"

"I will."

"Can you persuade her to do that?"

"I'm sure I can by that time."

Patty's eyes were dancing. She had come to Mrs. Van Reypen's on Thursday.

She would, therefore, leave on Thursday, and she was sure that lady would have no objections to inviting her nephew to dinner after her "companion's" departure.

"Are you going to stay?" demanded Philip suspiciously.

"I'm here a week on trial," said Patty, demurely. "Your aunt needn't keep me longer if I don't suit her. And I know I won't suit her if she thinks I receive notes from her nephew."

"Oh, I see! You're here a week on trial, and if I am chummy with you Aunty Van won't keep you! Oh, yes! Why, of course! To be sure! Well, Miss Fairfield, I make this sacrifice for your benefit. I will keep away from here during your trial week. Then, in return, you promise to use your influence to get me an invitation to dine here next Friday."

"I do," returned Patty. "But do you need an invitation to a house where you seem to feel so much at home?"

"Only when you're in it," declared the young man, frankly. "I think Aunty Van fears I mean to kidnap you. I don't."

"I'm sure you don't," said Patty, flashing a smile at him. "I think we could be good friends, and I hope we shall be. But not until after next Friday."

CHAPTER XVI

AN INVITATION DECLINED

Philip Van Reypen went away, and his aunt never knew that he had been to her house on that occasion.

"I'm glad that boy has sense enough to keep away when I tell him to," she remarked at luncheon, and Patty hastily took a sip of water to hide her uncontrollable smile.

"Yes, he seems to obey you," she said, by way of being agreeable.

"He does. He's a good boy, but too impressionable. He's captivated by every girl he meets, so I warn you again, Miss Fairfield, not to notice his pretended interest in you."

Patty tossed her head a little haughtily.

"Do not be alarmed, Mrs. Van Reypen," she said, "I have no interest whatever in your nephew."

She was a little annoyed at the absurd speeches of the old lady, and determined to put a stop to them.

"I should hope not," was the reply. "A person in your position should not aspire to a.s.sociation with young gentlemen like my nephew."

Patty was really angry at this, but her common sense came to her aid. If she elected to play the part of a dependent, she must accept the consequences. But she allowed herself a pointed rejoinder.

"Perhaps not," she said. "Yet I suppose a companion of Mrs. Van Reypen's would meet only the best people."

"That, of course. But you cannot meet them as an equal."