Patty's Success Part 40

Nor was she insincere. There were so many admirable qualities and traits of Mrs. Van Reypen that she really admired, it was easy enough to tell her so, and invariably the lady was pleased.

But she often broke out into foolish, unjustifiable rages, and then Patty had to wait meekly until they pa.s.sed over.

But when, at last, Wednesday evening had gone by, and she went to her room, knowing it was the last night she should spend under that roof, she was glad indeed.

"Another week of this would give me nervous prostration!" she said to herself. "But to-morrow my week is up, and that means Success! I have really and truly succeeded in earning my own living for a week, and I'm glad and proud of it. I knew I should succeed, but I confess I didn't think I'd score so many failures first. But perhaps that makes my success all the sweeter. Anyway, I'm jolly glad I'm going home to-morrow. Wow!

but I'm homesick."

Then she tumbled into bed, and soon forgot her homesickness in a sound, dreamless sleep.

Patty had been uncertain whether to tell Mrs. Van Reypen the true story of her week of companionship or not; but on Thursday morning she decided she would do so.

And, as it chanced, after breakfast Mrs. Van Reypen herself opened the way for Patty's confidences.

"Miss Fairfield," she said, as they sat down in the library, "you know our trial week is up to-day."

"Yes, Mrs. Van Reypen, and you remember that either of us has the privilege of terminating our engagement to-day."

"I do remember, and, though I fear you will be greatly disappointed, I must tell you that I have decided that I cannot keep you as my companion."

As Patty afterward told Nan, she was "struck all of a heap."

She had been wondering how she should persuade Mrs. Van Reypen to let her go, and now the lady was voluntarily dismissing her! It was so sudden and so unexpected that Patty showed her surprise by her look of blank amazement.

"I knew you'd feel dreadful about it," went on Mrs. Van Reypen, with real regret in her tone, "but I cannot help it. You are not, by nature, fitted for the position. You are--I don't exactly know how to express it, but you are not of a subservient disposition."

"No," said Patty, "I'm not. But I have tried to do as you wanted me to."

"Yes, I could see that. But you are too high-strung to be successful in a position of this kind. You should be more deferential in spirit as well as in manner. Do I make myself clear?"

"You do, Mrs. Van Reypen," said Patty, smiling; "so clear that I am going to tell you the truth about this whole business. I'm not really obliged to earn my own living. I have a happy home and loving parents. My father, though not a millionaire, is wealthy and generous enough to supply all my wants, and the reason I took this position with you is a special and peculiar one, which I will tell you about if you care to hear."

"You sly puss!" cried Mrs. Van Reypen, with a smile that indicated relief rather than dismay at Patty's revelation. "Then you've been only masquerading as a companion?"

"Yes," said Patty, smiling back at her, "that's about the size of it."

CHAPTER XVIII

HOME AGAIN

After Patty had told Mrs. Van Reypen the whole story of her efforts to earn her living for a week, and why she had undertaken such a thing, she found herself occupying a changed place in that lady's regard.

"It was fine of you, perfectly fine!" Mrs. Van Reypen declared, "to sacrifice yourself, your tastes, and your time for a n.o.ble end like that."

"Don't praise me more than I deserve," said Patty, smiling. "I did begin the game with a charitable motive, but I thought it was going to be easy.

When I found it difficult I fear I kept on rather from stubbornness than anything else."

"I don't call it stubbornness, Miss Fairfield; I call it commendable perseverance, and I'm glad you've told me your story. Of course, I wouldn't have wished you to tell me at first, for had I known it I wouldn't have taken you. But you have honestly tried to do your work well, and you succeeded as well as you could. But, as I told you, you are not made for that sort of thing. Your disposition is not that of a subordinate, and I am glad you do not really have to be one. You have earned your salary this week, however, and I gladly pay you the fifteen dollars we agreed upon."

Mrs. Van Reypen handed Patty the money, and as the girl took it she said, earnestly: "As you may well believe, Mrs. Van Reypen, this money means more to me than any I have ever before received in my life. It is the first I have ever earned by my own exertions, and, unless I meet with reverses of fortune, it will probably be the last. But, more than that, it proves my success in the somewhat doubtful enterprise I undertook and it a.s.sures a chance, at least, of another girl's success in life."

"I am greatly interested in your young art student," went on Mrs. Van Reypen. "Can you not bring her to see me when she comes, and perhaps I may be of use to her in some friendly way?"

"How good you are!" exclaimed Patty.

She was surprised at the complete change of demeanour in Mrs. Van Reypen, though of course she realised it was due to the fact that she was now looked upon as a social equal and not a dependent.

"It is all so uncertain yet," Patty went on. "I don't know exactly how we are to persuade the girl to come North at all. She is of a proud and sensitive nature that would reject anything like charity."

"Well, you will doubtless arrange the matter somehow, and when you do, remember that I shall be glad to help in any way I can."

"Thank you very much," said Patty. "It may be that you can indeed help us. And now, Mrs. Van Reypen, mayn't I read to you, or something? You know my week isn't up until this afternoon."

"Not literally, perhaps; but for the few hours that are left of your stay with me I shall look upon you as a guest, not a 'companion.' And as I always like to entertain my guests pleasantly, I shall, if you agree, telephone for Philip to come to luncheon with us."

The old lady's eyes twinkled at the idea of Philip's surprise at the changed conditions, and Patty smiled, too, as she expressed her a.s.sent.

When Philip arrived he was, of course, amazed at his aunt's demeanour.

She not only seemed to approve of Miss Fairfield, but treated her as an honoured guest and seemed more than willing that Philip should chat socially with her. Soon she explained to him the cause of her sudden change of att.i.tude.

Philip laughed heartily. "I suspected something of the sort," he said.

"Miss Fairfield didn't strike me as being of the 'thankful and willin' to please' variety. She tried her best, but her deference was forced and her meekness a.s.sumed."

"But she did it well," said Mrs. Van Reypen.

"Oh, yes; very well. Still I like her better in her natural role of society lady."

"Oh, not that!" protested Patty. "I'm not really a society lady. In fact, I'm not 'out' yet. I'm just a New York girl."

"Were you born here?" asked Mrs. Van Reypen.

"No," said Patty, laughing; "I was born South, and I've only lived North about five years. One of those I've spent abroad, and one or two outside of New York. So when I say I'm a New York girl I only mean that I live here now."

"Mayn't I come to see you?" asked Philip. "Where do you live?"

"I live on Seventy-second Street," said Patty, "and you may come to tea some Wednesday if you like. That's my mother's 'day,' and I often receive with her."

"I see you're well brought up," said Mrs. Van Reypen, nodding her head approvingly. "I'm a bit surprised though that your mother allowed you to undertake this escapade."

"Well, you see, she's my stepmother--she's only six years older than I am. So she hasn't much jurisdiction over me; and as for my father--well, really, I ran away!"

The luncheon was a merry feast, for Mrs. Van Reypen made a gala affair of it, and, though there were but the three at table, there was extra elaboration of viands and decorations.

Philip Van Reypen was in his gayest humour, and his aunt was beaming and affable.