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Page 8
"Yes, I know," said Nan, kindly helping her out. "You have such
immense grounds, and luxuries of all sorts. Why, your place is a
Pleasure Park of itself, with the pond and tennis court, and
fountains and grottoes and all such things."
"Yes, it is a lovely summer place," said Mona, earnestly, "and I
should do everything I could to make Patty happy there. I know how
much she wants to stay at Spring Beach, and it seemed such a
satisfactory plan all round."
Patty was still thinking. But, by this time, she was wondering if
she were really a selfish, disagreeable snob or not. For, the
truth was, Patty did not entirely like Mona, though she had grown
to like her much better than at first. Nor did she like Mona's
home, with its ostentatiously expensive appointments, both indoors
and out. And yet, it was exceedingly comfortable and luxurious,
and Patty knew she could do exactly as she chose in every respect.
But, again, Patty was a favourite in Spring Beach society, and
Mona was not. This might cause complications in the matter of
invitations to entertainments. But Patty knew this would mostly
redound to Mona's benefit. She would be asked on Patty's account
to places where otherwise she would not have been invited. And
Patty well knew SHE would be left out of nothing just because she
was visiting Mona.
And yet, to accept her hospitality for two months meant to
acknowledge her as an intimate friend,--a chosen companion. Was it
quite honest to do this when, privately, Patty disapproved of many
of Mona's ways and tastes? Then, it occurred to Patty that Mr.
Hepworth had urged her to do what she could to help Mona,--to
improve her manners, her dress, her tastes. Patty jumped at this
idea, and then as suddenly paused to scrutinise her own motives,
and make sure she was not pretending to herself that she did for
Mona's sake what she was really doing for her own. But being quick
at decisions, she saw at once that it was about evenly divided.
She was willing, if she could, to help Mona in any way, and she
felt that this justified her in accepting the offered hospitality
of one whom she couldn't emulate.
Mr. Fairfield watched Patty's face closely, and knew pretty well
what sort of a mental controversy she was holding with herself. He
was not surprised when she said at last:
"Well, so far as I have a voice in this matter, I'd like to go. I
think it's very kind of Mona to ask me, and I'd try not to be a
troublesome visitor. You know, Father Fairfield, how much I would
rather stay in Spring Beach than go to the mountains. And I
suppose I could take my motor-car to Mona's with me."
"Yes, of course," Mona said. "And father says if I don't go to
Europe, he'll buy me a runabout just like yours, and we can have
lovely times going out together."
"Would your aunt come at once?" asked Nan, who wanted to know more
about the chaperon who would have Patty in charge.
"Yes, father will send for her as soon as we decide. But you know,
Mrs. Fairfield, I should keep house, as I always do, and Aunt
Adelaide would only be with us in the cause of propriety."
Nan smiled at the thought of Mona's housekeeping, for "Red
Chimneys" was so liberally provided with servants that Mona's
duties consisted mainly in mentioning her favourite dishes to the
cook.
"Are you sure you could behave yourself, Patty?" asked her father,
teasingly, "without either Nan or myself to keep you in order?"
"Oh, yes," said Patty, drawing down the corners of her mouth
demurely. "In fact, as I should be on my own responsibility, I'd
have to be even more careful of my manners than I am at home."
Mr. Fairfield sighed a little. "Well, Puss," he said, "I really
wanted you with us on our trip, but as you'd rather stay here, and
as this way seems providentially opened for you, I can only say
you may accept Mona's invitation if you choose."
"Then I DO choose, you dear old Daddy!" cried Patty, making a rush
for her father, and, seating herself on the arm of his chair, she
patted his head, while she told him how glad she was of his
consent. "For," she said, "I made up my mind not to coax. If you
didn't agree readily, I was going to abide by your wishes, without
a murmur."
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