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Page 16
"You'll melt in all that toggery!" said Patty, bluntly, and Mona
sighed as she saw Patty's diaphanous frock. Then, led by Mrs.
Hastings, they went down to the drawing-room. They put Susan
through a few lessons in introductions, practised calling her
"Aunt Rachel," and bolstered up her failing courage by telling her
how well she looked.
The first guest to arrive was Jack Pennington. Being a graceful
mannered boy he acknowledged his introduction to Mrs. Hastings
with just the correct blending of deference and cordiality. "Isn't
it warm?" he said, and as this required no answer save, "It is,
indeed," Susan acquitted herself creditably, and even refrained
from saying "indade." Then the others came, and being a merry
crowd of young people, they merely paused for a word or two with
the elderly stranger, before turning away to their own interests.
And, if by chance, one or two showed a tendency to linger and
converse with her, Patty and Mona were at hand to take up the
burden of the conversation.
After all had arrived, Patty conducted Susan to a pleasant seat
near an open window, provided her with her knitting and a book,
and gave her a whispered permission to doze a little if she wished
to.
So far as the girls could see, not one of the guests had suspected
that Mrs. Hastings was other than an aunt of Mona's, nor had they
given her a second thought. To their minds a chaperon was a
necessary piece of furniture, but of only a momentary interest.
She must be greeted, and later, she must be bidden farewell, but
no conversation with her between times was necessary.
The party was a pretty one. Usually, the Spring Beach people
didn't care much to go to "Red Chimneys," for Mona was not a
favourite. But Patty was, and, invited to meet her, every one
accepted. And the large rooms, cooled by electric fans, and
decorated with lovely flowers and softly shaded lights, looked
somehow more attractive, now that Patty Fairfield's graceful
figure was flitting through them.
After one of the dances, Patty drifted across the room and stood
near Susan. That worthy was dutifully looking over her book, and
occasionally glancing thoughtfully round the room.
"Keep it up, Susan!" whispered Patty. "You're a howling success!
Everything's all right."
"Come for a stroll on the veranda, Patty," said Jack Pennington,
coming up to her. "Mayn't I take her, Mrs. Hastings, if I'll be
very careful of her?"
"Shure an' ye may, sir," said Susan, heartily, caught off her
guard by this sudden request.
Jack Pennington stared at her, and Susan's eyes fell and her face
turned red in deepest dismay lest she had disgraced her beloved
Miss Patty. In a despairing effort to remedy her indiscretion she
assumed a haughty tone and said, "You have my permission. Go with
the young gentleman, Miss Patty." And with an air of having
accomplished her duty successfully, Susan picked up her knitting.
Patty's twitching lips and flushed cheeks made quick-witted Jack
Pennington suspect a joke somewhere, but he gravely offered his
arm, and as they reached the broad veranda and walked toward a
moonlighted corner of it, he said, "Interesting lady, that new
aunt of Mona's, isn't she?"
"Very," said Patty, trying not to laugh.
"I always like that foreign accent," went on Jack; "is it,--er--
French?"
"Well, no," opined Patty. "I don't think Mrs. Hastings IS French."
"Ah, German, then, perhaps. I've heard that particular accent
before, but I can't just place it."
"I think it's sort of,--of Scotch, don't you?"
"Faith, an' I don't, thin! I'm afther thinkin' she's a daughter av
ould Ireland, arrah."
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