Patty's Butterfly Days

by Carolyn Wells

  CHAPTER VIII

  THE HOUSE PARTY ARRIVES

  "Red Chimneys" was in a turmoil. The house party had been invited, andthe house party had accepted their invitations, and all would have beenwell had it not been for Aunt Adelaide. Somehow or other she managed toupset every plan, throw cold water on every pleasure, and acted as ageneral wet blanket on all the doings of Patty and Mona.

  She was not an over strict chaperon; indeed, she was more than ready tolet the girls do whatever they chose; but she dictated the way itshould be done and continually put forth not only suggestions butcommands directly opposed to the wishes of the young people.

  Often these dictates concerned the merest details. If the girls had amerry luncheon party invited, that was the very day Aunt Adelaide chosefor a special rest-cure treatment, and demanded that the whole house bekept quiet as a church. On the other hand, if the girls were going offfor the day, that was the occasion Aunt Adelaide felt lonesome, anddeclared herself cruelly neglected to be left at home alone.

  But it was Mona's nature to submit to the inevitable,--though notalways gracefully. And it was Patty's nature to smooth away roughplaces by her never-failing tact and good nature. The greatest troublewas with the servants. Those who came in contact with the nervous,fussy lady were harassed beyond endurance by her querulous andcontradictory orders. The cook declared herself unable to prepare Mrs.Parson's "messes" acceptably, and threatened every other day to leave.But Patty's coaxing persuasions, and Mona's promise of increased wagesinduced her to remain.

  Remonstrance with Aunt Adelaide did no good at all. She assumed an airof injured innocence, asserted her entire indifference to the detailsof Mona's housekeeping,--and then, proceeded to interfere just the same.

  As far as possible, the girls had arranged the house party withoutconsulting her; but, even so, she continually offered her advice andobtruded her opinions until Mona lost patience.

  "Aunt Adelaide," she said, when Mrs. Parsons insisted that Patty shouldgive up the suite of rooms she occupied to some of the arriving guests,"when Patty came to me I gave her the best rooms, and she's going tostay in them. I know Mrs. Kenerley is bringing her baby and nurse, andthat's why I gave her rooms on the third floor, that the baby might notdisturb any one."

  "It's too high up for the dear child," argued Aunt Adelaide. "I'd liketo have her nearer me."

  "You wouldn't, if she's in the habit of crying all night," said Patty."I'm quite willing to give up my pretty rooms, but Mona won't let me,and I never quarrel with my hostess' decisions."

  "Meaning, I suppose, that I do," said Aunt Adelaide, querulously. "Ofcourse, you girls know more than I do. I'm only a poor, old, set asidenobody. I couldn't expect to be listened to, even when I advise you foryour own good."

  Patty well knew that any response to this sort of talk was useless, soshe said, lightly, "We want you mostly for ornament, Aunt Adelaide. Ifyou'll put on one of your prettiest dresses, and some of that lovelyold lace of yours, and your amethyst jewellery, and be on hand towelcome our guests this afternoon, Mona and I will relieve you of allbother about household arrangements."

  This mollified Mrs. Parsons somewhat, for she dearly loved to "dressup" and receive company, so she went away to select her costume.

  Patty had been at "Red Chimneys" little more than a week, but alreadythe influence of her taste could be seen in the household. Some of themore gaudy and heavy ornaments, which had been provided by aprofessional decorator, had been removed, and their places filled bypalms, or large plain bowls of fresh flowers.

  The cook's extravagant ideas were curbed, and the meals were now lessheavily elaborate, and the viands more delicate and carefully chosen.The service was simpler, and the whole household had lost much of itsatmosphere of vulgar ostentation. Mona, too, was improved. Her frockswere more dainty and becoming, and Patty had persuaded her to wear lessjewellery and ornamentation. Patty had also taught her to wave her hairin pretty, loose curls that were far more effective than the tightfrizzes she had worn. The plans for the house party were complete, and,to the girls, entirely satisfactory.

  Adele Kenerley had been a school friend of Mona's, and was coming withher husband and baby girl. Daisy Dow, another of Mona's schoolmates,was coming from Chicago, and Roger Farrington and two other young menwould complete the party, which had been invited for a week.

  Patty had not accomplished all her wishes, without some difficulties.Several times Mona had balked at Patty's decrees, and had insisted onfollowing her own inclinations. But by tactful persuasion Patty hadusually won out, and in all important matters had carried the day. Itwas, therefore, with honest pride and satisfaction that she looked overthe house just before the arrival of the guests.

  She had herself superintended the arrangement of the beautiful flowersfor which the Galbraiths' garden was famous, and she had, in a momentof victory, persuaded Mona to put the men servants into white duckinstead of their ornate, gilt-braided livery, and the maids into whitelinen uniforms.

  "In this weather," she said, "let's make our keynote 'coolness,' andyour guests will have a better time than if we overpower them with yourwinter splendour."

  Mona began to see that coolness and splendour were rarely compatible,but she was also beginning to see things as Patty saw them, so sheagreed. The girls had not dared to advise Aunt Adelaide as to costume,for just so sure as they advised something, that contradictory ladywould be sure to insist on something else.

  "But I think I'd better coax her to wear that purple satin," said Mona,"for if I don't, she'll surely put it on, and if I do, she won't!"

  "Wait and see," said Patty. "I took pains to hang her lavender crepe dechine right in the front of her wardrobe, and I hope she'll let hereagle eye light on that, and seek no further!"

  "Patty, you're a born conspirator. I hope you'll marry a foreigndiplomat, and help him manage his international intrigues."

  "Oh, I could manage the intrigues and the diplomat both, I expect."

  "I'm sure you could! Now, let's fly and get dressed. The Kenerleys willcome soon and I'm crazy to see Adele's darling baby."

  Soon after, the girls going downstairs in their fresh, light summerfrocks, were much pleased to see that Patty's ruse had succeeded. AuntAdelaide was gracefully posed in a veranda chair, wearing the lavendergown, a collar of fine old lace, and her amethyst necklace. She lookedgentle and charming, and seemed in high good humour.

  "I hope you like this gown," she said. "I hesitated a long time, butfinally chose it because it matched my necklace."

  "It's lovely," said Patty, enthusiastically; "and it suits you awfullywell. Look, Mona, there they come!"

  Another moment, and a rosy-cheeked young matron flew into Mona's armsand greeted her after the most approved manner of reunited schoolfriends.

  "You dearest old thing!" she cried. "You haven't changed a bit, exceptto grow better looking! And, Mona, here's my husband,--Jim, his nameis,--but HERE'S the baby!"

  A nurse stepped forward, bringing a mite of humanity, who was laughingand waving her little fat arms, as if delighted to be of the party.

  "What an angel of a baby!" cried Mona, taking the smiling infant in herarms. "And a solid angel too," she added, as the child proved moresubstantial than she had appeared.

  "Yes; she's nearly two years old, and she weighs exactly right,according to the best schedules. She's a perfect schedule baby in everyway."

  Then the small piece of perfection was handed over to what was probablya schedule nurse, and general introductions followed.

  Patty liked the Kenerleys at once. They were breezy and pleasantmannered, and had an affable way of making themselves at home.

  "Mona," said Mr. Kenerley,--"I shall have to call you that, for I doubtif my wife has ever even mentioned your last name to me, and if shehas, I have forgotten it,--Mona, how long does one have to be a guestat 'Red Chimneys' before he is allowed to go for a dip in that temptinglooking ocean I perceive hard by?"

  "Oh, only about ten minutes," said Mona
, laughing at his impatience."Do you want to go now, alone, or will you wait until later? Some menare coming soon who would probably join you for a swim. I expect BillFarnsworth."

  "DO you! Dear old Bill! I haven't seen him for years. But he's so big,he'd take up all the surf,--I think I'll go on by myself. And I knowyou girls have lots of gossip to talk over--so, I'll see you later."

  Jim Kenerley set off for the Galbraith bathing pavilion, easilydiscernible by its ornate red chimneys, and Mona turned to have a goodold-fashioned chat with Adele.

  "Why, where is she?" she exclaimed, and Aunt Adelaide petulantlyexplained that Patty and Adele had gone to look after the baby. "Prettypoor manners, I call it, to leave me here all alone. It never occurredto them that I'd like to see the baby, too!"

  "Never mind, Aunt Adelaide, you'll have lots of time to see that baby.And, of course, Adele wants to go to her rooms and get things arranged.You and I will wait here for the next arrivals. Laurence Cromer is dueabout now. He's an artist, you know, and he'll think you're a picturein that exquisite gown." Much mollified at these remarks, Aunt Adelaiderearranged her draperies, called for another cushion, had a screenlowered, and sat slowly waving a small fan, in expectance of theartist's admiration. And perhaps the artist might have given anadmiring glance to the picturesque lady in lavender had it not happenedthat just as he came up the veranda steps Patty appeared in thedoorway. Her pink cheeks were a little flushed from a romp with thebaby, a few stray curls had been pulled from their ribbon by baby'schubby hands, and the laughing face was so fair and winsome thatLaurence Cromer stood stock-still and gazed at her. Then Monaintercepted his vision, but after the necessary introductions andgreetings, the young artist's eyes kept wandering toward Patty, as ifdrawn by a magnet.

  Young Cromer was a clever artist, though not, as yet, exceedinglyrenowned. He advertised his calling, however, in his costume andappearance. He wore white flannels, but he affected a low rollingcollar and a soft silk tie. His hair was just a trifle longer thanconvention called for, and his well-cut features were marred by adrooping, faraway expression which, he fondly hoped, denotedsoulfulness.

  Patty laughed gaily at him.

  "Don't stare at me, Mr. Cromer," she said, saucily. "Baby May pulled myhair down, but I have the grace to be ashamed of my untidiness."

  "It's exquisite," said Cromer, looking at her admiringly; "a sweetdisorder in the dress."

  "Oh, I know that lady you quote! She always had her shoestrings untiedand her hat on crooked!"

  Cromer looked amazed, as if a saint had been guilty of heresy, andPatty laughed afresh at his astonished look.

  "If you want to see sweet disorder in dress, here's your chance," criedMona. "Here comes Daisy Dow, and she's one who never has her hat onstraight, by any chance!"

  Sure enough, as a big car whizzed up under the porte-cochere, a girljumped out, with veils flying, coat flapping, and gloves, bag, andhandkerchief dropping, as she ran up the steps.

  "Here I am, Mona!" she cried, and her words were unmistakably true.

  Daisy Dow was from Chicago, and she looked as if she had blown all theway from there to Spring Beach. She was, or had been, prettily dressed,but, as Mona had predicted, her hat was awry, her collar askew, and hershoelace untied.

  The poetical idea of "a sweet disorder in the dress" was a bit overdonein Daisy's case, but her merry, breezy laugh, and her whole-souled joyat seeing Mona again rather corresponded with her disarranged finery.

  "I'm all coming to pieces," she said, apologetically, as she wasintroduced to the others. "But we flew along so fast, it's a wonderthere's anything left of me. Can't I go and tidy up, Mona?"

  "Yes, indeed. Come along with me, Daisy. They're all here now, Patty,except Bill and Roger. You can look after them."

  "All right, I will. I don't know Mr. Bill, but that won't matter. Iknow Roger, and of course the other one will be the gentle Bill."

  "'Gentle' is good!" laughed Mona. "Little Billy is about six feet eightand weighs a ton."

  "That doesn't frighten me," declared Patty, calmly. "I've seen biggermen than that, if it was in a circus! Skip along, girls, but come backsoon. I think this house party is too much given to staying in thehouse. Are you for a dip in the ocean before dinner, Mr. Cromer?"

  "No; not if I may sit here with you instead."

  "Oh, Aunt Adelaide and I are delighted to keep you here. All the guestsseem to run away from me. I know not why!"

  Naughty Patty drew a mournful sigh, and looked as if she had lost herlast friend, which look, on her pretty, saucy face, was very fetchingindeed.

  "I'll never run away from you!" declared Mr. Cromer, in so earnest atone that Patty laughed.

  "You'd better!" she warned. "I'm so contrary minded by nature that themore people run away from me the better I like them."

  "Ah," said Laurence Cromer, gravely; "then I shall start at once. Mrs.Parsons, will you not go for a stroll with me round the gardens?"

  Aunt Adelaide rose with alacrity, and willingly started off with theyoung artist, who gave not another glance in Patty's direction.

  "H'm," said Patty to herself, as the pair walked away. "H'm! I ratherlike that young man! He has some go to him." She laughed aloud at herown involuntary joke, and stood, watching Aunt Adelaide's mincingsteps, as she tripped along the garden path.

  As Patty stood thus, she did not see or hear a large and stalwart youngman come up on the veranda, and, smiling roguishly, steal up behindher. But in a moment, she felt herself clasped in two strong arms, anda hearty kiss resounded on her pink cheek.