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Page 7
"Mona Galbraith," said Patty, laughing, "are you rehearsing for
melodrama, or what? For, if so, you don't know your lines, and
you're 'way off on your gestures, and--and, as a whole, your act
is not convincing."
"Oh, don't say that, Patty!" exclaimed Mona, laughing herself.
"ANYTHING but that! It must be convincing,--it must,--it MUST!"
"Is it meant for a roaring farce?" asked Mr. Fairfield, politely,
"or merely high comedy?"
"I think it's a problem play," said Nan, laughing anew at the
excited visitor, who had returned to the swing, and was vigorously
pushing herself back and forth with her slippered toe.
"Let me help you, Mona," said Mr. Fairfield, kindly. "Is it
something you have to tell us,--or ask us?"
"Yes, sir, yes! That's it!"
"Well, tell us, then. But take your time and tell us quietly. Then
you won't get incoherent."
The quiet friendliness of his tones seemed to reassure the girl,
and letting the swing stand still, Mona began:
"You see, Mr. Fairfield,--and Mrs. Fairfield, my father is going
to Europe next week. It's on a business trip, and he only just
found out that he had to go. He will take me with him if I want to
go, but I don't! So I proposed a plan to him instead of that,
which he thinks is fine. And,--and, I want to know what you think
about it."
"We will probably approve of it, if your father does," said Nan,
helpfully.
"Well--it's just this. For me to stay at home, and keep our house
open, and have Patty stay there with me, instead of her going to
the mountains with you."
"You and Patty stay there alone!" exclaimed Mr. Fairfield.
"No, sir; not alone. Father would ask his sister, my Aunt
Adelaide, to stay with us, as chaperon. She's a lovely lady, and
she'd be glad to come."
"Well, I don't know,--I don't know," said Mr. Fairfield. "I'm not
sure I could go off and leave Patty with strangers."
"But I'm not a stranger," said Mona, "and Aunt Adelaide won't be,
as soon as you know her. I haven't seen her myself for some years,
but she's a lovely, sweet character,--everybody says so. And then,
you see, we wouldn't have to close up our house, and Patty
wouldn't have to leave Spring Beach,--and, oh, we could have
lovely times!"
"How long will your father be gone?"
"Two months. August and September. He would rather take me with
him, but he said if you all agreed to my plan, he would do so,
too."
"Well, it's a surprise," said Mr. Fairfield, "and we'll have to
think it over, and talk it over. How does it strike you, Patty?"
Patty considered. It was her habit to decide quickly, but this was
a case with several sides to be looked at. Yet, of course, it must
be decided at once, for Mr. Galbraith must have time to make his
preparations.
Patty's heart jumped with joy at the thought of staying at Spring
Beach instead of going to the mountains. But--the joy was a little
dampened at the idea of staying with Mona, and not at "The
Pebbles."
"Why can't we both stay here?" she said at last. "Let Mona visit
me here, and let her aunt chaperon us just the same."
"Oh, no," Mona said. "I know father wouldn't consent to that. You
see, it's a great undertaking to close up our big place, and find
homes for the servants, and look after the horses and gardens and
all that, just for two months. Father was relieved at the thought
of just walking off and leaving it all in charge of Aunt Adelaide.
And then, we could have so much more room there, you know--" Mona
paused, blushing. She did not want to imply that "Red Chimneys"
was a grandly appointed mansion, while "The Pebbles" was only a
pretty cottage, but that was what she meant.
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