Patty's Suitors

In Short

Patty Fairfield is a bright, beautiful young woman who navigates the social circles of her day with an irrepressible love for mischief. The narrative follows her through a series of "suitor" entanglements, where she balances genuine warmth with a penchant for teasing, mistaken identities, and elaborate jokes. While it is a period piece rooted in a specific brand of youthful, Edwardian-era levity, the book has lasted because of its protagonist’s undeniable vitality and the way it portrays the universal, timeless dance of early attraction.

The Story

Patty Fairfield begins the tale as a popular, flirtatious debutante, eagerly anticipating a Valentine’s party where she can test her charms on the young men of her acquaintance. She is a girl who believes that life requires "enthusiasm" and who treats her many admirers as partners in a high-stakes, lighthearted game. Her life is a series of social calls, dances, and costume parties, all framed by her relationship with her youthful stepmother, Nan, who acts more as an accomplice than a stern guardian.

The central narrative tension arises when Patty accidentally dials the wrong number and strikes up a telephone friendship with a man named Kit Cameron. She plays the role of a "captive princess" in a dungeon, sparking a romantic quest that fascinates the young man. This sets off a chain of events involving photographs, misinterpretations, and staged encounters. Patty, ever the strategist, decides to test Kit by sending him photographs of her friends—some beautiful, some plain—to see if he is truly interested in her or merely her appearance.

These hijinks expand to include her other suitors, notably Kenneth Harper, who often finds himself frustrated by Patty’s unconventional behavior and her tendency to flirt with everyone she meets. The cast of characters finds themselves caught in various scrapes, including a forced period of isolation due to a servant’s illness, which serves only to deepen their complex web of telephonic and real-world interactions. Throughout these episodes, Patty manages to maintain her independence, even while she is clearly being courted by several persistent men.

As the story progresses, Patty’s social world becomes increasingly complicated by rumors and misunderstandings. She hears that Bill Farnsworth, one of her devoted admirers, is already in love with a girl named "Kitty," leading her to treat him with newfound coldness. The climax of these confusions occurs when the "Kitty" in question is revealed to be not a woman, but Bill’s prized horse, a discovery that clears the air and allows their friendship to flourish. By the end, Patty has navigated the jealousy of her suitors and the limitations of her own mischief. She concludes the story with her charm intact, having successfully asserted her desire to remain "chums and comrades" with those she holds dear, while firmly holding her own against the expectations of her would-be suitors.

How It Unfolds

The wrong connection Patty initiates a mysterious, playful telephone correspondence with Kit Cameron, keeping her identity hidden under the guise of an imprisoned princess. This chance encounter sparks an immediate, competitive desire in Kit to discover his "fair unknown" and win her favor.

The game of portraits With her stepmother’s help, Patty devises a plan to mislead her new suitor by sending him photographs of various friends instead of herself. She hopes to determine if he possesses true insight or is simply charmed by beauty, adding a layer of ironic distance to their burgeoning romance.

The mask slips The group faces a period of confinement where their social habits are forced into close quarters, testing their patience and their feelings for one another. Through late-night telephone calls and shared meals, the veneer of their formal social roles begins to crack, revealing deeper insecurities and romantic tensions.

The misunderstanding cleared Patty confronts the rumors surrounding Bill Farnsworth and realizes the absurdity of her jealousy. Once the truth about "Kitty" is revealed, the tension dissipates into laughter, solidifying their bond and allowing Patty to assert her terms for their future relationship.

The People

Patty Fairfield is the heart of the book: a confident, intelligent, and deeply mischievous young woman who values her own agency above conventional romance. She wants to be admired, yet she fears losing herself in the expectations of others, often using humor and "society talk" to keep men at a distance.

Kit Cameron is the "virtuoso" suitor who is initially drawn to Patty’s wit and voice. He is clever and romantic, but he must learn to look past the masks Patty wears to understand the girl beneath.

Kenneth Harper represents the more serious, "plodding" side of her romantic options. He is deeply, often painfully, in love with Patty, and his inability to keep up with her "persiflage" leaves him vulnerable to jealousy. He is the moral ballast to her flighty energy.

Bill Farnsworth is the "cheery" and persistent comrade. He serves as a contrast to the more dramatic suitors, offering a grounding, albeit occasionally misunderstood, friendship that ultimately proves the most enduring.

Nan acts as the bridge between generations. Though only six years older than Patty, she provides the necessary counsel and camaraderie that allows Patty to navigate her social world without feeling entirely isolated in her "conspiracies."

In Its Own Voice

Patty defends her energetic, slang-filled approach to conversation against her stepmother’s more reserved sensibilities.

"Oh, say it's a peach! a hummer! a lallapaloosa!"

When navigating the complexities of flirting via telephone, Patty explains her strategy for maintaining control of the situation.

"There's something in a telephone conversation that discloses the real inner nature."

As she reflects on her relationships with her suitors, Patty remains firm about her desire for independence.

"Who gets me, I think, will have to swoop down in an aeroplane, and grabble me all up and fly away with me!"

What It's Really About

At its core, the book explores the tension between public performance and private identity. Patty is constantly aware of the "type" she is expected to play—the beautiful debutante, the flirt, the "princess"—and much of her mischief is a way to subvert these expectations. The book asks whether it is possible to find authentic connection when one is constantly performing for an audience of suitors. It is a defense of the "coquette," arguing that her behavior is not always a sign of coldness, but often a necessary survival strategy for a young woman trying to maintain her freedom in a world that wants to claim her.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the brisk, witty banter of early twentieth-century social comedies will find much to admire here. There is a distinct, rhythmic quality to the dialogue that feels like a precursor to the screwball comedies of later decades. The book is light, airy, and unashamedly focused on the small, high-stakes dramas of youth.

However, readers should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes that define the story. The characters inhabit a world of leisure and privilege where the primary concerns are parties, clothing, and "eligible" matches. The dialect and slang, while charmingly representative of the era, may feel dated to some. Additionally, Patty’s repeated use of deception as a means of vetting suitors might strike modern readers as exhausting rather than clever. Yet, if one can lean into the stylized, theatrical nature of the prose, the book remains a buoyant, endearing portrait of a young woman refusing to be anything less than herself. It leaves you with the sense that while the social customs have shifted, the desire for a partner who can truly "keep step" with one’s own spirit is a quest that never goes out of style.