“I don’t want your money,” she said, rising to go. “I cannot stay and listen to such unjust remarks as you have been making. I’m sorry, but I can’t give you the promise you ask, and as I can’t please you I think I’d better go.”
“Sit down,” begged Mrs. Van Reypen, and now her anger was gone, and her tones were wheedlesome. “Forgive me, dear, I have no right to force your will. But please, Patty Girl, think it over, here and now. You can easily learn to love Phil,—you’re not in love with anybody else, are you?”
“No,” replied Patty.
“Then, as I say, you can easily learn to love him, he is such a dear. And he would treat you like a princess. He would shower you with gifts and pleasures. You could live in this house, or he would buy you or build you whatever home you fancied. Then, together, you could carry out my project for the Children’s Home. Your life would be a heaven on earth. Don’t you think so, Patty,—dear Patty?”
When Lady Van chose she could be very sweet and ingratiating. And she seemed to hypnotize Patty. The girl looked at her with a hesitating expression.
“Say yes,” pleaded the old lady. “Please, Patty, say yes. You’ll never regret it, and you will be happy all your life. And you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you eased the last hours of a dying woman and sent her out of the world happy and contented to go. For I am dying, Patty. You do not know all of my ills. I may live a few days, but not longer. The doctor knows and so do the nurses. I haven’t told Philip, for I hate to cause him pain. But if I can tell him of your promise to marry him, it will mitigate his grief at saying farewell to me. Now you will say yes, won’t you, my dear little Patty Girl?”
“But——”
“No buts now. You couldn’t have the heart to refuse the dying request of one who has always loved you like a daughter. I would gladly have adopted you, Patty, had your people been willing to spare you. I went to see your parents not long ago. Your father said there is no man in the world he would rather see you marry than Philip. And Mrs. Nan said the same. Why do you fight against it so? Is it merely shyness? Just maidenly reserve? If that’s it, I understand and appreciate. But waive all that, for my time is short. You needn’t marry him at once if you don’t wish, but promise me that he shall be your choice. That he will be the man you will some day wed and make happy. Won’t you promise, Patty?”
“I—can’t——”
“Yes, you can!” Mrs. Van Reypen leaned out of her bed, and grasped Patty’s arm in a vise-like clutch. “You can and you shall! Now,—at once! Promise!”