“He is in New York,” said Nan, covertly watching Patty.
“Is he?” said Patty, with some animation. “After I get well enough to see men-people, I’d like to have him call.”
“Very well,” returned Nan, “but now I’m going to take Adele away. The nurse has been making signals to me for five minutes past. You mustn’t get overtired with your first visitor, or you can’t have others.”
But visitors seemed to agree with Patty. Once back in the atmosphere of gay chatter and laughter with her friends, she grew better rapidly, and the roses came back to her cheeks and the strength to her body.
And so, when they thought she could bear it, they told her of Mrs. Van Reypen’s death.
“I suspected it,” said Patty, her eyes filling with tears, “just because you didn’t say anything about her, and evaded my questions. When was it?”
They told her all about it, and then Mr. Fairfield said, “And, my child, in her will was a large bequest for you.”
“I know,” said Patty, and her fingers locked nervously together. “A hundred thousand million dollars! Or it might as well be. I don’t want the money, Daddy.”
“But it is yours, and in your trust. You can’t well refuse it. Half is for——”
“Yes, I know,—for a Children’s Home. But I can’t build a house now.”