Carolyn Wells

“ CHAPTER I A VALENTINE PARTY "It IS a boofy frock, isn't it, Nansome?"
Patty craned her head over her shoulder, as she waited for her stepmother's response, which was only, "Yes."
"Oh, my gracious, Nan! Enthuse! Don't you know half the fun in life is enthusiasm?"
"What shall I say?" asked Nan, laughing.
"Oh, say it's a peach! a hummer! a lallapaloosa!"
"Patty, Patty! what language!"
"Oh, yes; I forgot I meant to stop using slang. But when any one is so lukewarm in her admiration as you are, forcible language is called for."
"Well, it certainly is a lovely gown, and you never looked prettier. ”

“ Cameron looked at Patty's cheeks in such utter dismay that she laughed outright.
"But you know," she said, "there are pink poppies as well as scarlet.
Incidentally there are white and there are saffron yellow."
"So there are," said Cameron, delightedly. "How you DO help a fellow out! Well, yours are just the colour of a soft, dainty pink poppy that is touched by the sunlight and kissed by a summer breeze."
"I knew you were a poet," said Patty, smiling, "but I don't allow even a summer breeze to kiss my cheeks."
"I should hope not! A summer breeze is altogether too promiscuous with its kisses. ”

“ I do love brainy men."
"Well, there are no brainy men in our set."
"Oh, Mona, what a libel! Our boys,—somehow I never can think of them as men,—are quite brainy enough for their age. And at the present day, I'd rather have fun with Ken or Roger, just talking foolishness, than to discourse with this wise professor I'm talking about. But of course, I wouldn't marry Ken or Roger even if they wanted me to, which they don't."
"Oh, yes, they do, Patty; everybody wants to marry you."
"Don't be a goose, Mona; you know perfectly well that Roger is over head and ears in love with you. ”

“ Patty said, holding her off, "and see what YOU'RE like. Why, you're a gipsy, an elfin sprite, a witch of the woods! You have no business to be named Beatrice."
"I know it," said Bee, dancing around on her toes. "But my nickname isn't so bad for me, is it?" And she waved her arms and hovered around Patty, making a buzzing noise like a real bee.
"Don't sting me!" cried Patty.
"Oh, I don't sting my friends! I'm a honey-bee. A dear, little, busy, buzzy honey-bee!" And she kept on dancing around and buzzing till Patty put out her hand as if to brush her away. ”

“ Patty returned; "but we must remember that people in this world have different ideas and tastes. And especially, they have differing notions of what constitutes humour. So, just because WE don't like practical jokes, we oughtn't to condemn those who do. We may like some things that THEY don't approve."
"What a just little person you are, Patty," and Harper looked at her approvingly. "For all your gaiety and frivolity you have a sound, sweet nature. And more than that, you have real brains in that curly-pate of yours." ”

“ The next day was Sunday, and Patty didn't come downstairs until time for the midday dinner.
"I think you might have come down earlier," said Van Reypen, reproachfully, as Patty came smilingly down the staircase. "I wanted you to go for a walk this morning; it's simply great out in the sunshine."
"I'll go after dinner," said Patty; "isn't it funny why people have dinner at one o'clock, just because it's Sunday?"
"I'm glad of it. It'll give us the whole afternoon for our walk."
"Good gracious! if I walk the whole afternoon you'll have to bring me home in a wheelbarrow!" ”

“ The girl isn't a great singer, but why in the world should he expect her to be, or care so much because she isn't?"
"It IS strange!" murmured Patty; "how did Elise take it?"
"Oh, I don't think she minded much; she thinks the boy half crazy, anyway; asking her if she was a captive princess! And, of course, he didn't let HER see that he was disappointed in her voice. But I know Kit so well, that I can tell the moment he loses interest in anybody. I'm awfully fond of Kit,—we've grown up more like brother and sister than cousins."
"What's he like? Has he any fun in him?" ”

“ Her friendship for Kenneth was so firm and strong, her real regard for him so deep and sincere, that she hated to have it intruded upon by a question of a more serious feeling. And she had never suspected that any such question would arise. But she could not mistake the meaning of Kenneth's spoken wish that he might be capable of the gay conversation in which Patty delighted.
"Dear old Ken," she said to herself, "he's so nice just as he is, but when he tries to be funny, he—well, he CAN'T, that's all. It isn't his fault. All the boys can't be alike. ”

“ Kit looked at her gravely. "I came expressly to meet a girl in a white frock and pink roses. I don't see any other around, so—it might as well be you!"
"You needn't try to turn it off so carelessly," said Patty. "Own up that you're caught! What was your girl's name?"
"Belle—My Belle—" And Cameron rolled his eyes in such soulful manner, that Patty went off in another paroxysm.
"Oh, you Joke King, you! Nobody can trick you, can they? Do you own up?"
"Own up what? that I'd rather see you than any other belle? Certainly, I'll own that. But my time is up. ”

“ Some attendants came in and whisked away the snow hillocks and floor covering, leaving the ballroom once again in order for dancing.
"Makes me feel young again, to play those kiddy games," said Kenneth, as he was dancing with Patty.
"I like them," returned Patty; "I hate to think that my childhood is over, and I love games of any kind."
"Your childhood will never be over," returned Kenneth; "I think you are the incarnation of youth, and always will be." ”

“ BELLE." "I rather guess that'll fetch him," observed Patty, complacently, as she sealed the envelope. "I knew Kit was a romantic goose, but I didn't suppose he'd be up to these tricks."
"Of course we'll bring him home with us, Patty," said Adele.
"Yes, he'll come fast enough."
"If he isn't too mad at you," put in Daisy.
"Oh, he won't be mad," returned Patty; "he'll be terribly cut up at first, to think I tricked him so, but he'll get over it. And I warn you, Adele, if he comes here he'll play some fearful joke on us to get even." ”

“ Adele ran away and Patty proceeded to don her royal robes.
The coronation gown was of white chiffon, having no decoration save tiny bunches and garlands of flowers. It was not made in the prevailing fashion, but copied from a quaint old picture and was very becoming to its wearer.
Her golden curls were loosely massed and a few flowers adorned them.
Patty sat a moment in front of her mirror, talking to herself, as she often did.
"Of course Little Billee is engaged," she said to herself; "he's too nice a man not to be. And I hope his Kitty is a lovely, sweet, charming girl. ”

“ Now, lady fair, would you rather go and dance or sit here and listen to me converse?"
"It's pleasant to rest a little," and Patty nestled into her cushions, "and you really ARE amusing, you know. Let's stay here a little while."
"Now, isn't that nice of you! Do you want to talk, too, or shall I do it all and give you a complete rest?"
"You do it all," said Patty, indolently. "It will be like going to a monologue entertainment."
"At your orders. What subject would you like?"
"Yourself."
"Oh, wise beyond your years! You know the subject that most interests a man." ”

“ Cameron.
"Patty!" Philip exclaimed, angrily.
"Yes, Philip," said Patty, in a voice of sweet humility.
"Come with me," was the stern command.
"Yes, Philip," and Patty arose and walked away with Van Reypen, leaving
Kit Cameron still on his knee.
"Well, I'll be hammered!" that gentleman remarked, as he rose slowly and deliberately dusted off his knee with his handkerchief; "that girl is a wonder! She's full of the dickens, but she's as sweet as a peach. I always did like blondes best, whether she believes it or not. But if I hadn't, I should now. There's only one girl in the world for me. ”

“ I s'pose she likes those other fellows better—and I don't blame her."
"They're both awfully gone on her," and Daisy looked at Cameron and Van Reypen hovering around Patty, who seemed to be sharing her favours equally between them.
"I don't belong here," said Farnsworth, gloomily. "I'm out of my element. I belong out West, riding over the plains and untrammelled by conventions."
"Don't be a goose, Bill," and Daisy looked at him kindly. "You've better manners than lots of these Eastern men, and you have a whole lot more innate kindliness." ”

“ You wouldn't be half as nice if you were as foolish and frivolous as these society chatterboxes! You've got more sterling worth and real intellect in your make-up than they ever dreamed of. Now, stop your nonsense and come on and dance. But—don't undertake to lecture Patty Fairfield,—she won't stand for it!"
"I didn't mean to lecture you, Patty," and Kenneth spoke very humbly. "But when I saw you tucked away behind those palms, flirting with that yellow-headed rattle-pate, I felt that I ought to speak to you." ”

“ She dropped into a lot of silken cushions that were piled in the corner of an inglenook, and placed her feet daintily on a footstool in front of the blazing fire.
"Awful dinky!" said Kit, as he pushed aside some cushions and sat down beside Patty, "but a jolly good house to visit in."
"Yes, it is," said Marie, who was nestled in an easy-chair the other side of the great fireplace. "And it's so light and pleasant. We never get any sunlight, home."
"Nonsense, Marie," said Kit, "our apartments are unusually light ones." ”

“ Cameron turned to Patty, as his sister began to play, and in a moment they were dancing.
"If we dance every night for twelve weeks," said Patty, "we ought to do fairly well together."
"When I think of that, I'm entirely reconciled to staying here," returned Kit. "Poppycheek, you are a wonderful dancer! You're like a butterfly skimming over a cobweb!"
"I don't dance a bit better than you do. You're almost like a professional, except that you're more graceful than they are." ”

“ Patty.
"So am I," said Marie; "but I'm like Kit. I think it's awful for half a dozen of us to be held here, like this, because a maid is ill!"
"But, Marie, what's the use of even thinking about it?" said Patty; "we can't help ourselves, we're obliged to stay here, so for goodness' sake, let's make the best of it. I shall send home for my pink chiffon,—that's always a great comfort to me in time of trouble."
"Send for one for me," said Cameron, "if they're so comforting in trouble." ”

“ My friendship for you is worth a dozen of these silly foolery flirtations with men that I don't care two cents for."
"I don't want your friendship, Patty," and Kenneth's deep voice trembled a little; "I mean I don't want ONLY your friendship. And yet I know I can't hope for anything more. I'm too dull and commonplace to attract a beautiful butterfly like you."
"Kenneth," and Patty gave him a glance, gentle, but a little bewildered, "you're out of your head. You have a splendid head, Kenneth, full of wonderful brains, but you're out of it. You get yourself back into it as quick as you can! ”

“ I say, Poppycheek, what's this May-day business? An old-fashioned picnic?"
"Not exactly. It's a new-fashioned picnic. But they crown a May-queen, and all that sort of foolishness." "And who is to be queen?"
"Belle Harcourt."
"MY Belle! Oh, I'm glad of that. And so Princess Poppycheek is going to be made a queen! Well, so long as you're my Belle, you may be anybody's queen you like."
"I like an awful lot of people."
"Mostly men."
"No, sir! The men mostly like me. I like mostly girls. Don't you think
Daisy Dow's charming and pretty?" ”

“ After dinner they started at once for the country-club ball. It was to be a very large affair, and, as Patty knew no one except their own house party, she declared that she knew she'd be a wall-flower.
"Wall-flower, indeed!" said Kit. "Poppies don't grow on walls. They grow right in the middle of the field, and sway and dance in the breeze." ”

“ Why not, indeed? thought Nan. Patty's flirtations were harmless, roguish affairs, and prompted by mischief and good nature. Patty was a sweet, true character, and if she teased the young men a bit, it was because of her irrepressible love of fun.
"And this is St. Valentine's night," went on Nan, "so I suppose you think yourself privileged to break all the hearts you can."
"Some hearts are so brittle, it's no fun to break them," returned
Patty, carelessly, as she adjusted her headdress.
She was going to a Valentine party, where the guests were requested to come in appropriate costume. ”

“ The dell was an alcove off the ballroom, which contained several palms and floral baskets and a deep, cushioned window-seat.
"Let's sit here and watch the moon rise;" and he led Patty toward the window-seat, where he deftly arranged some cushions for her.
"I believe the moon rises to-morrow afternoon," said Patty.
"Well, I don't mind waiting. Sit here, won't you? These stupid cushions ought to be of a golden yellow or a pale green. However, this old rose does fairly well for our blond beauty. Isn't it nice we're of the same type and harmonise with the same furnishings? ”

“ WHY bother me with breakfast?"
"Had to do it," returned Marie, calmly, drawing up a big chair for herself. "Now keep your eyes open and behave like a lady. Your chocolate is getting cool and your toast is spoiling."
The two girls were still discussing their breakfast, when Mrs. Perry came in.
"How are you getting on?" she asked, cheerily; "Babette is still ill, so I had to send Nora to you."
"Everything is lovely," said Patty, smiling at her hostess. "We're delightfully looked after. Nora is a jewel. But I hope your maid isn't seriously ill." ”