“Mrs. Van Reypen!” Fred Fairfield exclaimed in indignation, “I beg you will not use any such argument or bribe in connection with my daughter’s name!”
“Hoity-toity, now! Don’t get excited. ’Tis no bribe. ’Tis but the fact; if so be that Patty will become my niece, I shall divide my wealth equally between her and my nephew. She shall have half in her own right. If she will not, half is still Philip’s and the other half will go to a charity. I don’t want to give it all to Philip. He is already a rich man, and I don’t approve of too big fortunes for young men.”
“Never mind about the money part of it,” said Nan. “I am quite willing to espouse Mrs. Van Reypen’s cause, irrespective of her will. And, too, if Patty does marry Philip, it is quite right and proper that she should inherit this wealth. If not, there is no question of her having it. So the fortune element settles itself. But what I can’t see is how we’re going about this thing. I’m somewhat practical, Mrs. Van Reypen, and I confess I can see no practical way to bring these two hearts to beat as one. If you can instruct me, I shall be glad to obey orders.”
Nan looked very pretty and sweet as she spoke in earnest on the subject. She meant just what she said. She would be very glad to have Patty marry Philip, very glad to do anything she could to help bring it about, but for the life of her she couldn’t see anything to do.
“Well,” Mrs. Van Reypen defended her stand, “when I took them on that motor trip together with me, that was a step in the right direction. They were thrown so much in one another’s company, that it became inevitable to them to be together. I always thought if that Mr. Farnsworth hadn’t joined us up at Lake Sunapee, the matter would have been settled then and there.”
“You think Mr. Farnsworth interfered?” asked Nan.
“I’m not sure. Do you think Patty cares for him?”
“No, I think not,” said Fred Fairfield. “They seem to have little tiffs when they’re together, and I doubt they are very congenial.”
“I used to like Bill Farnsworth,” said Nan, “but since I learned that he tried to bring about Patty’s going on the stage, I’ve not cared so much for him. You see, he’s a Westerner, and he has different ideas from ours. Imagine Patty on the stage! And it was unpardonable in him to put the idea in her head.”
“Did he do that?”