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Page 21
"That you can surprise Mona," interrupted Patty, laughing.
Jack smiled appreciation, and to prove it went straight to Mona
and asked for the favour of the final dance. Mona was greatly
elated, for handsome Jack Pennington had never asked her to dance
before. She was not a good dancer, for she was heavy, physically,
and self-conscious, mentally; but Jack was skilful, and guided her
lightly across the shining floors.
"I'll see you to-morrow at the Sayres'," he said, as the dance
ended.
"Yes," said Mona, smiling. "We're going to the garden fete. The
Sayres have a house party, you know. I've always longed to have a
house party."
"This would be a fine place for one," said Jack, glancing at the
large and numerous rooms.
"Yes, it would. Do you suppose I COULD have one?"
"Easy as pie!" declared Jack. "Why don't you?"
"Perhaps I will, after Aunt Adelaide comes. This,--this chaperon
to-night is only temporary, you know."
"Yes, I know," said Jack, but he said no more. The discovery of
Susan was his secret with Patty, not with Mona. Then the young
people prepared to depart, and Patty and Mona stood either side of
Mrs. Hastings to assist her, if necessary, in receiving their
good-nights.
Jack stood near, too, for he thought he might be of some slight
help.
"Good-night, Mrs. Hastings," said Beatrice Sayre. "The girls are
coming to my garden party to-morrow, and as my mother also expects
guests, I'm sure she'd be glad if you would come."
Susan, much bewildered at being thus addressed, looked about her
helplessly, and murmured uncertainly, "Thank you, Miss," when Jack
interrupted by saying, "Such a pity, Bee, but Mrs. Hastings goes
away to-morrow. Another aunt of Mona's is coming to play chaperon
at 'Red Chimneys.'"
"Oh," said Beatrice, carelessly; "then this is good-bye as well as
good-night, Mrs. Hastings. I've SO enjoyed meeting you."
These conventional phrases meant nothing on Beatrice's part, but
it almost convulsed Patty to hear Susan thus addressed. However,
she knew she must play the game a few moments longer, and she did
so, watching the thoughtless young guests as they shook hands with
the masquerading COOK!
Jack Pennington was the last to go. "I say," he whispered to
Patty, "it's been a great success! I don't see how you ever had
the nerve to try it, but it worked all right!" Then he went away,
and Patty and Mona sank limply into chairs and shook with
laughter. Susan instantly returned to her role of servant, and
stood before Patty, as if waiting for further orders.
"You were fine, Susan, just fine," Patty said, still giggling as
she looked at the satin clad figure.
"I did me best, Miss Patty. I made some shlips, sure, but I thried
that hard, ye wuddent belave!" In her earnestness, Susan lapsed
into her broadest brogue, and the girls laughed afresh to see the
silver headdress wag above Susan's nodding head.
"You were all right, Susan," declared Mona. "Now you can trot off
home as fast as you like, or you can stay here over night, as you
prefer."
But Susan wanted to go, as her duty was done, so, changing back to
her own costume, she went away, gladdened by Mona's generous
douceur.
"And now for bed," said Patty, and the two girls started upstairs.
But after getting into a kimono, Mona came tapping at Patty's
door. She found that young person in a white negligee, luxuriously
curled up among the cushions of a wide window seat, gazing idly
out at the black ocean.
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