“It was so!” and Patty’s emphatic nod of her head proved to Mr. Hepworth that he had struck a true chord.
“And now,” said Mr. Fairfield, “when can I make my offer good? How can we induce the rising young artist to come to the metropolis to seek fame and fortune?”
“It will be difficult,” said Mr. Hepworth, “as she is not only proud and sensitive, but very shy. I think if Mrs. Fairfield would write one of her kind and tactful letters that Miss Farley would be persuaded by it.”
“Why can’t I write a kind and tactful letter?” asked Patty. “It’s my picnic.”
“You couldn’t write a tactful letter to save your life,” said Mr. Hepworth, looking at her with a grave smile.
Patty returned his look, and she wondered to herself why she wasn’t angry with him for making such a speech.
But, as she well knew, when Mr. Hepworth made a seemingly rude speech it wasn’t really rude, but it was usually true.
She knew herself she couldn’t write such a letter as this occasion required, and she knew that Nan could. So she smiled meekly at Mr. Hepworth, and said:
“No, I couldn’t. But Nan can be tactful to beat the band!”
“Oh, Patty!” said her father. “Did you talk like that to Mrs. Van Reypen? No wonder she discharged you!”