Miss Pat at Artemis Lodge | Page 2

simply perfect green in that frock, and, Norn, you're lovelier than ever
in that queer faded yellow. The studio looks stunning. Oh, I'm so
excited that I don't know what I'm doing! To think of actually being
here at last!" And she flung down her hat on the long divan and,
crumpling her bright hair between both pink palms, she stepped back
and faced the group in the middle of the studio with laughing lips and
wet eyes.
Elinor, Judith and Bruce, with Mrs. Spicer in their midst, smiled back
at her, but did not speak, each feeling, somehow, that this was Miss

Pat's moment for utterance. On the brink of her new life--that life she
had so ardently longed and planned and worked for--she had become
for the moment the first figure in the scene. Tomorrow she would be
gone into the ranks of that great army which is building up the beautiful
world for others less gifted to live in, but today she was the center of
her little world.
"To think, Judy and Elinor and Bruce and Mrs. Jinny-Nat, that I'm here,
here, all ready to begin too with my music. One little day and then I'll
be a real singing student. Why, it takes my breath away--" And she
paused with a catch in her voice that threatened tears.
This was too much for the calm and practical Judith. "But you've been
simply crazy to be here, Miss Pat," she cried reprovingly. "You've
toiled and moiled on chickens and sculpture and candy and boarders
and everything just to be able at last to be a real singer. I don't see what
there is to be a cry-baby about now."
Patricia's merry peal rang out wholesomely and she caught Judith by
her slim shoulders and gave her a playful shake.
"It takes Ju to show up our little mistakes, doesn't it, Mrs. Nat?" she
cried gayly. "Thank you, Judy, for them kind words. I won't be a
cry-baby again; I promise you that. Come, Norn, tell us what you and
Bruce have been up to while we've been wandering toward the sunny
South this last two weeks. Is your stained glass window done, Norn,
and has Marty been behaving as well as ever? Oh, there's such a lot to
talk about, it's hard to know where to begin."
Mrs. Spicer laid aside her wraps and drew a deep chair to the fire. "I
move we get thawed out while we gabble," she proposed, with her deep,
husky chuckle. "I'm so frozen that it'll take a week of Sundays to shed
my icicles. This zero weather isn't particularly inspiring after the balmy
breezes of the Gulf Stream."
"Oh, do let's stay in for tea and go without any real dinner, Elinor,"
begged Patricia, impulsively. "Bruce said we were to take dinner at the
Ritz as a special treat, but I'd ever so much rather stay home for this

one night, if you don't mind."
Elinor looked inquiringly at her husband, who nodded and disappeared
into the adjoining room, and then she smiled at Mrs. Spicer and nodded
reassuringly at Judith, whose rather troubled expression did not escape
the quick eyes of her impetuous sister.
"Will it disappoint you, Judy?" she asked with slightly dampened ardor.
"I never thought of your being set on it----"
Judith waved her aside with a gesture of calm benignity. "I should
hope," she said magnificently, "that I could do without food as well as
any of you." And she seated herself on the stool beside Mrs. Spicer
with an air of having settled the matter.
Patricia could not resist a ripple of merriment at her imposing manner.
"Squelched again," she laughed, trying vainly to look humble and
repentant. "Elinor, you really oughtn't to let Judy sacrifice herself like
this. She----"
Elinor sank into another wide chair at the opposite side of the hearth.
"We're only too glad to stay indoors this bitterly cold weather," she
replied easily. "Judith was just wishing before you came that we could
have a cosy supper here, but we all thought it would be more festive to
celebrate in some more lively spot than the old studio. We didn't have
any tea for you this afternoon because we wanted you to enjoy the
dinner all the more."
Patricia still looked rather uncertainly at Judith, whose dignified
manner was as impassive as ever. "Sure you don't mind, Ju?" she asked,
solicitous as ever for her small sister's happiness. "Mrs. Nat will soon
be thawed out, and----"
Judith drew herself up with beautiful composure. "Patricia Louise
Kendall, you will never be a great artist if your mind is so set on your
food," she said severely. "Do stop talking about dinners, and tell us
what you've seen down there among the alligators