Patty and Azalea, Page 2

  CHAPTER II

  GUESTS ARRIVE

  "I refuse to go a step further! This porch of wistaria is the mostwonderful thing I ever saw in all my life! When I heard the name of theplace, I thought it was crazy,--but of course I see now it's the onlypossible name! I don't care what's inside the house,--here I am,--andhere I stay!"

  Elise Farrington threw off her motor coat, and settling herself on theside seat of the porch, under the drooping bunches of purple bloom,looked quite as if she meant what she said.

  Patty stepped out from the doorway and smiled at her visitor.

  "All right, Elise," she said, "you may. I'll send out your dinner, andyou can sleep here, too, if you like."

  "No, I'll come in for my board and lodging, but all the rest of the timelook for me here! I'm going to have some lavender frocks made,--dimitiesand organdies, and then I'll be part of the picture."

  "Oh, do! I can't wear lavender or purple," Patty sighed.

  "Nonsense! Of course you can. You only mean you've never tried. Thatbisque doll complexion of yours will stand any color. Let's both getwisteria-coloured frocks, and--"

  Elise's plans were interrupted by the appearance of Farnsworth and twomen who had arrived for the house party. These were our old friends,Philip Van Reypen and Chickering Channing.

  Still a devoted admirer of pretty Patty, Van Reypen had become reconciledto his fate, and moreover had discovered his ability to take pleasure inthe society of other charming young women.

  Channing was the same old merry Chick, and he was exuberant in his praiseof the beautiful home of the Farnsworths which he now saw for the firsttime.

  "Great little old place!" he exclaimed, enthusiastically. "But why suchan enormousness? Are you going to keep boarders?"

  "Yes, if you'll stay," laughed Patty. "But, you see it was a bargain,--sowe snapped it up."

  "The old story," put in Bill. "Man built it,--went bankrupt,--had to sellat sacrifice. Along came we,--bought it,--everybody happy!"

  "I am," declared Elise; "this is the sort of place I've dreamed of.Beautiful nearby effects, and a long distance view beside. Thisporch for mine,--all the time I'm here."

  "But you haven't seen the other places yet," Patty demurred. "There's atea-porch--"

  "Wistaria, too?"

  "Yes, of course."

  "Lead me to it!" and Elise jumped up, and made for the house.

  Then they all strolled through the wide hall and out at the back door onto the tea-porch. This was furnished with white wicker tables and chairs,and indeed, was prepared for immediate use, for a maid was just bringingthe cakes and crumpets as the party arrived.

  "Goody!" cried Elise, "can we have tea now, Patty? I'm famished."

  "Yes, indeed," and Patty took her place at the tea table with a matronlyair, and began to pour for her guests.

  "It's just as pretty as the other porch," Elise decided, lookingcritically at the festoons of wistaria, which was on three sides of thehouse. "But I'll adopt the first one. Anybody looking for me will find methere--'most always."

  "We're always looking for you," said Channing, gallantly, as he took uphis teacup, "and it is a comfort to know where to find you. Of lateyou've been inaccessible."

  "Not to you," and Elise glanced coquettishly from under her eyelashes.

  "To me, then," put in Van Reypen. "I've not seen you, Elise, since I cameback from Over There. You've grown a lot, haven't you?"

  "Taller?"

  "Mercy no! I mean mentally. You seem more--more grown up like."

  "Everybody is, since the war work. Yes, Phil, I have grown,--I hope."

  "There, there," warned Patty; "no serious talk just now, please,--and nowar talk. For the moment, I claim your attention to my new house and itssurroundings."

  "Some claim you've staked out," and Chick grinned. "I want to see it all.And,--moreover,--I want to see the rest of the family!"

  Patty beamed. "You dear!" she cried; "do you really want to see mydaughter?"

  "_My_ daughter," Farnsworth added; "but I didn't know you chaps wouldbe interested in our infant prodigy. I never cared about seeing otherpeople's babies."

  "I do," stoutly insisted Channing. "I'm a connoisseur on kiddies. Let mesee him."

  "He isn't him," laughed Patty, "he's a she."

  "So much the better," Chick avowed. "I love girl babies. Where is she?"

  "You can't see her now, she's probably asleep. To-morrow she'll be onexhibition. I hear a car! It must be Mona!"

  "I'll go and fetch her," said Farnsworth, springing up, and after a shorttime he returned with two newcomers, Mona Farrington and her husband,Roger.

  Then there was more greeting and exclamation and laughter, as the latestguests admired the new home, and accepted Patty in her becoming role ofhostess.

  "To think of little Patty as the chatelaine of this palatial menage!"said Roger, "and actually acting as if it belonged to her!"

  "It isn't palatial," corrected Patty, "but it _does_ belong to me,--thatis, to me and my friend William. He vows I claim the baby for all my ownproperty,--but I'll accord him a share in the place."

  "It _all_ belongs to me," said Farnsworth, with a careless sweep of a bigarm. "The wistaria, Patty, the baby, and all!"

  "That's right," agreed Roger, "keep up your air of authority as long asyou can! I tried it,--but Mona soon usurped the position!"

  "Nonsense!" and Mona smiled at her husband. "Don't you believe him,Patty. We go fifty-fifty on everything,--as to decisions, I mean. Hegives in to my superior judgment half the time, and I let him have hisown foolish way the other half. Follow my plan and you'll live happily,my dear."

  "Are we your first company?" asked Elise.

  "Yes,--except Father and Nan,--and a few calls from the neighbours. Thisis my first house-party. And I do want it to be a success, so I'm goingto depend on you all to help me. If I do what I ought not to do,--orleave undone the things which I should ought to do,--check me up,--won'tyou, please?"

  "We sure will," agreed Channing, "but something tells me you're going toprove an ideal hostess."

  "She will," nodded Farnsworth, "she takes to hostessing like a duck towater. She even asked me what sort of smokes you chaps prefer."

  "I hope you remembered," said Roger. "And when are they to be passedaround?"

  "Right now," said Patty, smiling and nodding to the maid who hoverednear.

  In truth, Patty was a born hostess, and without fuss or ostentationalways had the comfort of her guests in mind. While not overburdenedwith a retinue of servants, she had enough to attend to everythingshe required of them; and her own knowledge and efficiency combinedwith her tact and real kindliness brought about a state of harmonyin her household that might well have been envied by an older and moreexperienced matron.

  Mrs. Chase, who had the nominal position of housekeeper, found herselfstrictly accountable to Patty for all she did, and as she was sensibleenough to appreciate Patty's attitude, she successfully fulfilled therequirements of a butler or steward, and had general charge and oversightof all the housekeeping details.

  "The way to keep house," said Patty to Mona and Elise, as she took themaway with her, leaving the men to their "smokes," "is not so much to workyourself as to be able to make others work in the way you want them to."

  "That's just it," agreed Mona, "and that's just what I can't do! Why, myservants rode over me so, and were so impudent and lazy, I just gave uphousekeeping and went to a hotel to live. We had to,--there was no otherway out."

  "And how Roger hates it!" said Elise, who, as Roger's sister, thoughtherself privileged to comment.

  A cloud passed over Mona's face. "He does," she admitted, "but what can Ido? He hated worse the scenes we had when we were housekeeping."

  "Perhaps conditions will get better now," said Patty, hopefully, "and youcan try again, Mona, with better results."

  "Maybe; and perhaps you can teach me. You used to teach me lots ofthings, Patty."

  "All right,--I'll willingly do anything
I can. Now, who wants to see myangel child? Or would you rather go to your rooms first?"

  "No, indeed," cried Elise, "let me see her right now. If she's as prettyas the wistaria vine--oh, Patty, why don't you name her Wistaria?"

  "Gracious, what a name! No, she's Fleurette,--or so Little Billee says.Anyway, here she is."

  Patty led them to the nursery, and from the lacy draperies of thebassinette a smiling baby face looked up at them.

  "What a heavenly kiddy!" Elise exclaimed, "Oh, Patty, what a daffodilhead! Just a blur of yellow fuzz! And such blue eyes! She looks exactlylike you! And exactly like Bill, too. Oh, I never saw such a darlingbaby. Let me take her,--mayn't I?"

  "Yes, indeed. She's no glass-case baby."

  Elise picked up the dear little bundle, and cooed and crooned in mostapproved fashion.

  Apparently Fleurette understood, for she smiled and gurgled, and seemedto look upon Elise as an old friend.

  Mona admired the baby but was more interested in the house.

  "Show me everything," she begged Patty. "I want to see it all. Where'syour linen closet?"

  "My linen closet is a room," and Patty led them thither. "You see, wehave such a lot of rooms and,--such a lot of linen,--that I took thislittle bedroom for a linen press. I had a carpenter put in the shelvesand cupboards just as I wanted them,--and here's the result."

  With justifiable pride, Patty showed her linen collection. Sheets,towels, tablecloths,--each sort in its place, each dozen held by blueribbon bands, that fastened with little pearl buckles.

  Other shelves held lace pieces, luncheon sets, boudoir pillow-cases,table scarfs, and all the exquisite embroidered bits that are the delightof the home lover.

  "Perfectly wonderful!" Elise declared; "looks just like a shop in Veniceor Nice. How do you keep them so tidy? and where did you ever get somany?"

  "Oh, I've done quite some shopping to get our Lares and Penates together,and Bill let me get whatever I wanted in the house furnishing line. Yes,this linen room is my joy and my pride. See, _this_ cupboard is allcurtains. I do love to have fresh curtains as often as I want them."

  "Well, it's all like Fairyland," Mona said. "I have beautiful things,too, but they don't look like this. They're all in a jumble on theshelves, and everything is hodge-podge."

  "Oh, well, you're just as happy," laughed Patty. "I chance to benaturally tidy, and I just love to potter over my things, and keep themin place. Some time I'll show you Baby's wardrobe. Her little things aretoo dear for anything. But now I'll take you to your rooms. This isyours, Elise. I picked out this one for you, because it's lavender,--andI know that's your favorite colour."

  "And the wistaria vine is looking in at the windows!" Elise noted, withjoy. "Oh, Patty, I won't live on the porch, either, I'll live up here."

  It _was_ a beautiful room. A deep seated bay-window, with latticed panes,opened into a profusion of wistaria blooms, and the fragrance filled thewhole place. The furniture was of ivory enamel and the appointments wereof various harmonious shades of lavender. A _chaise-longue_ was wellsupplied with lace pillows and a nearby stand and reading-lamp hinted atthe comfortable enjoyment of a tempting array of new books.

  Pansies and violets were in small bowls, and on a table stood an enormousvase full of trailing branches of wistaria.

  "What a picture!" and Elise stood in the middle of the floor, lookingabout her. "Patty, you're a wonder! I don't care if you have shoals ofservants, you fixed up this room,--I know you did."

  "Of course I did,--with Mrs. Chase to help me. She's a treasure,--shecatches on to my ways so quickly. Glad you like it, Elise, honey. Nowsettle yourself here,--your bags will be up in a minute,--and I'll putMona in her niche."

  "I'm coming too," and Elise went with the others to the rooms designedfor Mona and Roger.

  "This is my Royal Suite," laughed Patty, as she ushered them into acharming apartment done up in handsome English chintz.

  "It suits me," and Mona nodded approval. "You had this done by aprofessional, Patty."

  "It was here when we bought the house. You see, some rooms were alreadyfurnished, when the man decided to sell it. And of these, such as weliked we kept as they were. This is especially fine chintz and also goodworkmanship, so as it is so imposing in effect, we call it the RoyalSuite. Father and Nan adored it, and you and Roger are the next Royalguests."

  "It's great," said Elise, "not half as pretty as mine, but more dignifiedand gorgeous."

  The chintz was patterned with tropical birds and foliage and as thehangings were many and elaborate the effect _was_ gorgeous. The bathroomwas spacious and fully equipped, and as Mona's things had arrived sheturned to instruct the maid who was already unpacking them.

  "Come back with me to my room," said Elise, as she and Patty went downthe hall.

  "Just for a minute, then, for I must go and sort out the rest of myvisitors. I am putting Philip and Chick over in the west wing, farremoved from the nursery, for I don't want them imagining they are keptawake by the night thoughts of my child. And, I must confess, Fleurettehas a way of tuning up in the wee, small hours! However, we had thenursery walls muffled, so I don't think you'll be disturbed. Isn't thisoutlook fine, Elise?"

  "Beautiful," and Elise joined Patty at the bay-window. "This is the mosteffective room I ever saw, and so comfy."

  "And here's your bath," Patty opened the door to a bathroom ofwhite-tiled and silver daintiness. "Now you've time for a tub and a restbefore dinner. So I'm going to leave you. Come down at eight,--or sooner,if you like."

  Housewifely Patty ran away, happy in her new role of hostess to a houseparty.

  The men still sat on the tea-porch, smoking, and talking over thepolitical situation.

  "Here you are again," Chick greeted her; "but where's the che-ild? I mustsee that youngster to-night. I've--I've brought her a present."

  "Oh, well, come along, then," said Patty; "if you're really so anxious tomeet the young lady,--why wait?"

  The two went up to the nursery, and though a little surprised at theunexpected call, Nurse Winnie made no objection.

  "Here's your new friend," and Patty lifted Fleurette out of her pillowsand presented her to Chick.

  "What a beauty!" he cried, as he saw the golden curls and the big blueeyes. "And so intelligent!"

  "Of course! Did you think she'd look vacant?"

  "They often do," said Chick, sagely. "Why, my cousin's baby lookspositively idiotic at times,--but this mite,--she knows it all!"

  And Fleurette did look wise. Being in benign mood, she smiled at the bigman who held her so gently, and put out a tentative fist toward his face.

  "Born flirt," he declared, "just like her mother! Well, Patty, she'sa wonder-child,--oh, I know 'em!--and I hereby constitute myself hergodfather, without waiting to be asked."

  "Good! We accept the honour. Make a bow, Fleurette."

  "No, the honour is mine. She doesn't quite take it all in, yet,--but indays to come, she may feel real need of a godfather and I'll be there!"

  "What do godfathers do? I never had any."

  "I'm not quite sure, myself. I'm going to get a field-book,--or FirstLessons in Godfathering, or something like that. But, anyway, I'm hers!Oh, Patty, she's going to grow up a beauty! Did you ever see such eyes!"

  Patty laughed at Chick's enthusiasm, which was too patently genuine to bemere polite flattery, and entirely agreed in his opinion as to the goodlooks of the small Fleurette.

  "What did you bring her?" she asked, and Chick drew from his pocket a setof small gold pins.

  "For her bibs and tuckers," he explained. "At least that's what they toldme at the shop. I don't know much about such things."

  "They're just right," Patty said, "and they're her very firstpresent,--outside the family. Thank you a thousand times,--you'revery thoughtful, Chick."

  "I hoped you'd like 'em," and the big, warm-hearted chap smiled withgratification. "Dress her up in them to-morrow, will you?"

  And Patty promised she would.

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