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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/5731.txt b/5731.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c8e7a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/5731.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6621 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Patty in Paris, by Carolyn Wells + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Patty in Paris + +Author: Carolyn Wells + +Posting Date: May 30, 2013 [EBook #5731] +Release Date: May, 2004 +First Posted: August 18, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY IN PARIS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + + +Patty in Paris + +BY + +CAROLYN WELLS + +Author of "Patty Fairfield," "Patty's Summer Days," etc. + +ILLUSTRATED + +NEW YORK September, 1907 + + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I PLANS FOR PATTY + II THE DECISION + III SOUVENIRS + IV AN AQUATIC PARTY + V GOOD-BYES + VI THE OLD MA'AMSELLE + VII WESTERN FRIENDS + VIII DAYS AT SEA + IX PARIS + X SIGHTSEEING + XI AN EXCURSION TO VERSAILLES + XII SHOPPING + XIII CHANTILLY + XIV MAKING A HOME + XV ST. GERMAIN + XVI AN EXPECTED GUEST + XVII A MOTOR RIDE + XVIII A NEW YEAR FETE + XIX CYCLAMEN PERFUME + XX THE BAZAAR + XXI A SURPRISE + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +"A long blue veil tied her trim little hat in place" + +"'There never was such a dear, lovely, beautiful stepmother on the face +of the earth!'" + +"The next morning the girls spent in packing and getting ready to go +ashore" + +"They also read books of history outside of school hours quite from +choice" + +"They were all perched on Patty's big bed--alone at last" + +"'I just remember! I left my purse on the seat!'" + + + + +CHAPTER I + +PLANS FOR PATTY + + +The Fairfields were holding a family conclave. As the Fairfield family +consisted of only three members, the meeting was not large but it was +highly enthusiastic. The discussion was about Patty; and as a +consequence, Patty herself was taking a lively part in it. + +"But you promised me, last year, papa," she said, "that if I graduated +from the Oliphant School with honours, I needn't go to school this +year." + +"But I meant in the city," explained her father; "it's absurd, Patty, +for you to consider your education finished, and you not yet eighteen." + +"But I'll soon be eighteen, papa, and so suppose we postpone this +conversation until then." + +"Don't be frivolous, my child. This is a serious matter, and requires +careful consideration and wise judgement." + +"That's so," said Nan, "and as I have already considered it carefully, +I will give you the benefit of my wise judgment." + +Though Nan's face had assumed the expression of an owl named Solomon, +there was a smile in her eyes, and Patty well knew that her +stepmother's views agreed with her own, rather than with those of her +father. + +It was the last week in September, and the Fairfields were again in +their pleasant city home after their summer in the country. + +Patty and Nan were both fond of city life, and were looking forward to +a delightful winter. Of course Patty was too young to be in society, +but there were many simple pleasures which she was privileged to enjoy, +and she and Nan had planned a series of delightful affairs, quite apart +from the more elaborate functions which Nan would attend with her +husband. + +But Mr. Fairfield had suddenly interfered with their plans by +announcing his decision that Patty should go to college. + +This had raised such a storm of dissension from both Nan and Patty that +Mr. Fairfield so far amended his resolution as to propose a +boarding-school instead. + +But Patty was equally dismayed at the thought of either, and rebelled +at the suggestion of going away from home. And as Nan quite coincided +with Patty in her opinions on this matter, she was fighting bravely for +their victory against Mr. Fairfield's very determined opposition. + +All her life Patty had deferred to her father's advice, not only +willingly, but gladly; but in the matter of school she had very strong +prejudices. She had never enjoyed school life, and during her last year +at Miss Oliphant's she had worked so hard that she had almost succumbed +to an attack of nervous prostration. But she had persevered in her hard +work because of the understanding that it was to be her last year at +school; and now to have college or even a boarding-school thrown at her +head was enough to rouse even her gentle spirit. + +For Patty was of gentle spirit, although upon occasion, especially when +she felt that an injustice was being done, she could rouse herself to +definite and impetuous action. + +And as she now frankly told her father, she considered it unjust after +she had thought that commencement marked the end of her school life, to +have a college course sprung upon her unaware. + +But Mr. Fairfield only laughed and told her that she was incapable of +judging what was best for little girls, and that she would do wisely to +obey orders without question. + +But Patty had questioned, and her questions were reinforced by those of +Nan, until Mr. Fairfield began to realise that it was doubtful if he +could gain his point against their combined forces. And indeed a kind +and indulgent father and husband is at a disadvantage when his opinion +is opposed to that of his pretty, impulsive daughter and his charming, +impulsive wife. + +So, at this by no means the first serious discussion of the matter, Mr. +Fairfield found himself weakening, and had already acknowledged to +himself that he might as well prepare to yield gracefully. + +"Go on, Nan," cried Patty, "give us the benefit of your wise judgment" + +"Why, I think," said Nan, looking at her husband with an adorable +smile, which seemed to assume that he would agree with her, "that a +college education is advisable, even necessary, for a girl who expects +to teach, or indeed, to follow any profession. But I'm quite sure we +don't look forward to that for Patty." + +"No," said Mr. Fairfield; "I can't seem to see Patty teaching a +district school how to shoot; neither does my imagination picture her +as a woman doctor or a lady lawyer. But to my mind there are occasions +in the life of a private citizeness when a knowledge of classic lore is +not only beneficial but decidedly ornamental." + +"Now, papa," began Patty, "I'm not going to spend my life as a +butterfly of fashion or a grasshopper of giddiness, and you know it; +but all the same, I can't think of a single occasion where I should be +embarrassed at my ignorance of Sanscrit, or distressed at the fact that +I was unacquainted personally with the statutes of limitation." + +"You're talking nonsense, Patty, and you know it. The straight truth +is, that you don't like school life and school restraint. Now some +girls enjoy the fun and pleasures of college life, and think that they +more than compensate for the drudgery of actual study." + +"'An exile from home, pleasure dazzles in vain,'" sang Patty, whose +spirits had risen, for she felt intuitively that her father was about +to give up his cherished plans. + +"I think," went on Nan, "after you have asked for my valuable advice, +you might let me give it without so many interruptions. I will proceed +to remark that I am still of the opinion that there are only two +reasons why a girl should go to college: Because she wants to, or +because she needs the diploma in her future career." + +"Since you put it so convincingly, I have no choice but to agree with +you," said her husband, smiling. "However, if I eliminate the college +suggestion, there still remains the boarding-school. I think that a +superior young ladies' finishing school would add greatly to the +advantages of our Patty." + +"It would finish me entirely, papa; your college scheme is bad enough, +but a 'finishing school,' as you call it, presents to my fancy all +sorts of unknown horrors." + +"Of course it does," cried Nan. "I will now give you some more of my +wise advice. A finishing school would be of no advantage at all to our +Patty. I believe their principal end and aim is to teach young ladies +how to enter a room properly. Now I have never seen Patty enter a room +except in the most correct, decorous, and highly approved fashion. It +does seem foolish then to send the poor child away for a year to +practise an art in which she is already proficient." + +"You two are one too many for me," said Mr. Fairfield, laughing. "If I +had either of you alone, I could soon reduce you to a state of meek +obedience; but your combined forces are too much for me, and I may as +well surrender at once and completely." + +"No; but seriously, Fred, you must see that it is really so. Now what +Patty needs in the way of education, is the best possible instruction +in music, which she can have better here in New York than in any +college; then she ought to go on with her French, in which she is +already remarkably proficient. Then perhaps an hour a day of reading +well-selected literature with a competent teacher, and I'll guarantee +that a year at home will do more for Patty than any school full of +masters." + +Mr. Fairfield looked at his young wife in admiration. "Why, Nan, I +believe you're right," he said, "though I don't believe it because of +any change in my own opinions, but because you put it so convincingly +that I haven't an argument left." + +Nan only smiled, and went on. + +"You said yourself, Fred, that Patty disliked the routine and restraint +of school life, and so I think it would be cruel to force her into it +when she can be so much happier at home. Here she will have ample time +for all the study I have mentioned, and still have leisure for the +pleasures that she needs and deserves. I shall look after her singing +lessons myself, and make sure that she practises properly. Then I shall +take her to the opera and to concerts, which, though really a part of +her musical education, may also afford her some slight pleasure." + +Patty flew over to Nan and threw her arms about her neck. "You dear old +duck," she cried; "there never was such a dear, lovely, beautiful +stepmother on the face of the earth! And now it's all settled, isn't +it, papa?" + +"It seems to be," said Mr. Fairfield, smiling. "But on your own heads +be the consequences. I put Patty into your hands now, so far as her +future education is concerned, and you can fix it up between you. To +tell the truth, I'm delighted myself at the thought of having Patty +stay home with us, but my sense of duty made me feel that I must at +least put the matter before her." + +"And you did," cried Patty gleefully, "and now I've put it behind me, +and that's all there is about that. And I'll promise, papa, to study +awfully hard on my French and music; and as for reading, that will be +no hardship, for I'd rather read than eat any day." + +Mr. Fairfield had really acquiesced to the wishes of the others out of +his sheer kind-heartedness. For he did not think that the lessons at +home would be as definite and regular as at a school, and he still held +his original opinions in the matter. But having waived his theories for +theirs, he raised no further objection and seemed to consider the +question settled. + +After a moment, however, he said thoughtfully: "What you really ought +to have, Patty, is a year abroad. That would do more for you in the way +of general information and liberal education than anything else." + +"Now THAT would be right down splendid," said Patty. "Come on, papa, +let's all go." + +"I would in a minute, dear, but I can't leave my business just now. It +has increased alarmingly of late and it needs my constant attention to +keep up with it. Indeed it is becoming so ridiculously successful that +unless I can check it we shall soon be absurdly rich people." + +"Then you can retire," said Nan, "and we can all go abroad for Patty's +benefit." + +"Yes," said Mr. Fairfield seriously, "after a year or two we can do +that. I sha'n't exactly retire, but I shall get the business into such +shape that I can take a long vacation, and then we'll all go out and +see the world. But that doesn't seem to have anything to do with +Patty's immediate future. I have thought over this a great deal, and if +you don't go to college, Patty, I should like very much to have you go +abroad sooner than I can take you. But I can't see any way for you to +go. I can't spare Nan to go with you, and I'm not sure you would care +to go with one of those parties of personally conducted young ladies." + +"No, indeed!" cried Patty. "I'm crazy to go to Europe, but I don't want +to go with six other girls and a chaperon, and go flying along from one +country to the next, with a Baedeker in one hand and a suit case in the +other. I'd much rather wait and go with you and Nan, later on." + +"Well, I haven't finished thinking it out yet," said Mr. Fairfield, +who, in spite of his apparent pliability, had a strong will of his own. +"I may send you across in charge of a reliable guardian, and put you +into a French convent." + +[Illustration with caption: "'There never was such a dear, lovely, +beautiful stepmother on the face of the earth!'"] + +Patty only laughed at this, but still she had a vague feeling that her +father was not yet quite done with the subject, and that almost +anything might happen. + +But as Kenneth Harper came in to see them just then, the question was +laid before him. + +"There is no sense in Patty's going to college," he declared. "I'm an +authority on the subject, because I know college and I know Patty, and +they have absolutely nothing in common with each other. Why, Patty +doesn't want the things that colleges teach. You see, she is of an +artistic temperament--" + +"Oh, Kenneth," cried Patty reproachfully, "that's the most fearfully +unkind thing I ever had said to me! Why, I would rather be accused of I +don't know WHAT than an artistic temperament! How COULD you say it? +Why, I'm as practical and common sensible and straightforward as I can +be. People who have artistic temperaments are flighty and weak-minded +and not at all capable." + +"Why, Patty," cried Nan, laughing, "how can you make such sweeping +assertions? Mr. Hepworth is an artist, and he isn't all those dreadful +things." + +"That's different," declared Patty. "Mr. Hepworth is a real artist, and +so you can't tell what his temperament is." + +"But that's just what I mean," insisted Kenneth; "Hepworth is a real +artist, and so he didn't have and didn't need a college education. He +specialised and devoted all his study to his art. Then he went to Paris +and stayed there for years, still studying and working. I tell you, +it's specialisation that counts. Now I don't know that Patty wants to +specialise, but she certainly doesn't need the general work of college. +I should think that you would prefer to have her devote herself to her +music, especially her singing; for we all know that Patty's is a voice +of rare promise. I don't know myself exactly what 'rare promise' means, +but it's a phrase that's always applied to voices like Patty's." + +"You're just right, Kenneth," said Nan, "and I'm glad you're on our +side. Patty and I entirely agree with you, and though Mr. Fairfield is +still wavering a little, I am sure that by day after to-morrow, or next +week at the latest, he will be quite ready to cast in his lot with +ours." + +Mr. Fairfield only smiled, for though he had no intention of making +Patty do anything against her will, yet he had not entirely made up his +mind in the matter. + +"Anyway, my child," he said, "whatever you do or don't do, will be the +thing that we are entirely agreed upon, even if I have to convince you +that my opinions are right." + +And Patty smiled back at her father happily, for there was great +comradeship and sympathy between them. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE DECISION + + +It was only a few days later that Nan and Patty sat one evening in the +library waiting for Mr. Fairfield to come home to dinner. + +The Fairfield library was a most cosey and attractive room. Nan was a +home-maker by nature, and as Patty dearly loved pretty and comfortable +appointments, they had combined their efforts on the library and the +result was a room which they all loved far better than the more formal +drawing-room. + +The fall was coming early that year, which gave an excuse for the fire +in the big fireplace. This fire was made of that peculiar kind of +driftwood whose flames show marvellous rainbow tints. Patty never tired +of watching the strange-coloured blaze, and delighted in throwing on +more chips and splinters from time to time. + +"I can't see what makes your father so late," said Nan, as she wandered +about the room, now adjusting some flowers in a vase, and now stopping +to look out at the front window; "he's always here by this time, or +earlier." + +"Something must have detained him," said Patty, rather absently, as she +poked at a log with the tongs. + +"Patty, you're a true Sherlock Holmes! Your father is late, and you +immediately deduce that something has detained him! Truly, you have a +wonderful intellect!" + +"I don't wonder it seems so to you," said saucy Patty, smiling at her +pretty stepmother; "people are always impressed by traits they don't +possess themselves." + +"But really I'm getting worried. If Fred doesn't come pretty soon I +shall telephone to the office." + +"Do; I like to see you enacting the role of anxious young wife. It +suits you perfectly. As for me, I'm starving; if papa doesn't come +pretty soon, he will find an emaciated skeleton in place of the plump +daughter he left behind him." + +As Mr. Fairfield arrived at that moment, there was no occasion for +further anxiety, but in response to their queries he gave them no +satisfaction as to the cause of his unusual tardiness, and only smiled +at their exclamations. + +It was not until they were seated at the dinner table that Mr. +Fairfield announced he had something to tell them. + +"And I'm sure it's something nice," said Patty, "for there's a twinkle +in the left corner of your right eye." + +"Gracious, Patty!" cried Nan, "that sounds as if your father were +cross-eyed, and he isn't." + +"Well," went on Mr. Fairfield, "what I have to tell you is just this: I +have arranged for the immediate future of Miss Patricia Fairfield." + +Patty looked frightened. There was something in her father's tone that +made her feel certain that his mind was irrevocably made up, and that +whatever plans he had made for her were sure to be carried out. But she +resolved to treat it lightly until she found out what it was all about. + +"I don't want to be intrusive," she said, "but if not too presumptuous, +might I inquire what is to become of me?" + +"Yours not to make reply, yours not to reason why," said her father +teasingly. "You know, my child, you're not yet of age, and I, as your +legal parent and guardian, can do whatever I please with you. You are, +as Mr. Shakespeare puts it, 'my goods, my chattel,' and so I have +decided to pack you up and send you away." + +"Really, papa!" cried Patty, aghast. + +"Yes, really. I remember you expressed a disinclination to leave your +home and family, but all the same I have made arrangements for you to +do so. It was the detailing of these arrangements that kept me so late +at my office to-night." + +Patty looked at her father. She understood his bantering tone, and from +the twinkle in his eye she knew that whatever plans he may have made, +they were pleasant ones; and, too, she knew that notwithstanding his +air of authority she needn't abide by them unless she chose to. So she +waited contentedly enough for his serious account of the matter, and it +soon came. + +"Why, it's this way, chickabiddy," he said. "Mr. Farrington came to see +me at the office this afternoon, and laid a plan before me. It seems +that he and Mrs. Farrington and Elise are going to Paris for the +winter, and he brought from himself and his wife an invitation for you +to go with them." + +"Oh!" said Patty. She scarcely breathed the word, but her eyes shone +like stars, and her face expressed the delight that the thought of such +a plan brought to her. + +"Oh!" she said again, as thoughts of further details came crowding into +her mind. + +"How perfectly glorious!" cried Nan, whose enthusiasm ran to words, as +Patty seemed struck dumb. "It's the very thing! just what Patty needs. +And to go with the Farringtons is the most delightful way to make such +a trip. Tell us all about it, Fred. When do they start? Shall I have +time to get Patty some clothes? No, she'd better buy them over there. +Oh, Patty, you'll have the most rapturous time! Do say something, you +little goose! Don't sit there blinking as if you didn't understand +what's going on. Tell us more about it, Fred." + +"I will, my dear, if you'll only give me a chance. The Farringtons mean +to sail very soon--in about a fortnight. They will go on a French liner +and go at once to Paris. Except for possible short trips, they will +stay in the city all winter. Then the girls can study French, or music, +or whatever they like, and incidentally have some fun, I dare say. Mr. +Farrington seemed truly anxious to have Patty go, although I warned him +that she was a difficult young person to manage. But he said he had had +experience in that line last summer, and found that it was possible to +get along with her. Anyway, he was most urgent in the matter, and said +that if I agreed to it, Mrs. Farrington and Elise would come over and +invite her personally." + +"Am I to be their guest entirely, papa?" asked Patty. + +"Mr. Farrington insisted that you should, but I wouldn't agree to that. +I shall pay all your travelling expenses, hotel bills, and incidentals. +But if they take a furnished house in Paris for the season, as they +expect to do, you will stay there as their guest." + +"Oh," cried Patty, who had found her voice at last, "I do think it's +too lovely for anything! And you are so good, papa, to let me go. But +won't it cost a great deal, and can you afford it?" + +"It will be somewhat expensive, my dear, but I can afford it, for, as I +told you, my finances are looking up. And, too, I consider this a part +of your education, and so look upon it as a necessary outlay. But you +must remember that the Farringtons are far more wealthy people than we, +and though you can afford the necessary travelling expenses, you +probably cannot be as extravagant in the matter of personal expenditure +as they. I shall give you what I consider an ample allowance of pin +money, and then you must be satisfied with the number of pins it will +buy." + +"That doesn't worry me," declared Patty. "I'm so delighted to go that I +don't care if I don't buy a thing over there." + +"You'll change your mind when you get there and get into the wonderful +Paris shops," said her father, smiling; "but never fear, puss; you'll +have enough francs to buy all the pretty dresses and gewgaws and +knick-knacks that it's proper for a little girl like you to have. How +old are you now, Patty?" + +"Almost eighteen, papa." + +"Almost eighteen, indeed! You mean you're only fairly well past +seventeen. But it doesn't matter. Remember you're a little girl, and +not a society young lady, and conduct yourself accordingly." + +"Mrs. Farrington will look out for that," said Nan; "she has the best +possible ideas about such things, and she brings up Elise exactly in +accordance with my notions of what is right." + +"That settles it," said Mr. Fairfield; "I shall have no further anxiety +on that score since Nan approves of the outlook. But, Patty girl, we're +going to miss you here." + +"Yes, indeed," cried Nan. "I hadn't realised that side of it. Oh, +Patty, we had planned so many things for this winter, and now I shall +be alone all day and every day!" + +"Come on, and go with me," said Patty, mischievously. + +"No," said Nan, smiling at her husband; "I have a stronger tie here +even than your delightful companionship. But truly we shall miss you +awfully." + +"Of course you will," said Patty, "and I'll miss you, too. But we'll +write each other long letters, and oh! I do think the whole game is +perfectly lovely." + +"So do I," agreed Nan; and then followed such a lot of feminine +planning and chatter that Mr. Fairfield declared his advice seemed not +to be needed. + +The next morning Nan and Patty went over to the Farringtons to discuss +the great subject. They expressed to Mrs. Farrington their hearty +thanks for her kind invitation, but she insisted that the kindness was +all on Patty's side, as her company would be a great delight, not only +to Elise, but also to the elder members of the party. + +"Isn't Roger going?" asked Patty. + +"No," said Mrs. Farrington; "this is his last year in college, so of +course he can't leave. The other children are in school, too, so it +seemed just the right year for us to take Elise abroad for a little +outing. A winter in Paris will do both of you girls good in lots of +ways, and if for any reason we don't enjoy it, we can go somewhere +else, or we can turn around and come home, and no harm done." Although +the trip seemed such a great event to Patty, Mrs. Farrington appeared +to look upon it merely as a little outing, and seemed so thoroughly +glad to have Patty go with them that she almost made Patty feel as if +she were conferring the favour. + +Elise and Patty went away by themselves to talk it all over, while Nan +stayed with Mrs. Farrington to discuss the more practical details. + +"I didn't care a bit about going," said Elise, "until we thought about +your going too, and now I'm crazy to go. Oh, Patty, won't we have the +most gorgeous time!" + +"Yes, indeed," said Patty; "I can hardly realise it yet. I'm perfectly +bewildered. Shall we go to school, Elise?" + +"I don't think so, and yet we may. Mother's going to take a house, you +know, and then we'll either have masters every day, or go to some +school. Mother knows all about Paris. She has lived there a lot. But we +sha'n't have to study all the time, I know that much. We'll go +sight-seeing a good deal, and of course we'll go motoring." + +"I shall enjoy the ocean trip," said Patty; "I've never been across, +you know. You've been a number of times, haven't you?" + +"Yes, but not very lately. We used to go often when Roger and I were +little, but I haven't been over for six years, and then we weren't in +Paris." + +"I'm sure I shall love Paris. Do you remember it well?" + +"No; when I was there last I was too little to appreciate it, so we'll +explore it together, you and I. I wish Roger were going with us; it's +nice to have a boy along to escort us about." + +"Yes, it is," said Patty frankly; "and Roger is so kind and +good-natured. When do we sail, Elise?" + +"Two weeks from Saturday, I think. Father is going to see about the +tickets to-day. He waited to see your father yesterday, and make sure +that you could go. The whole thing has been planned rather suddenly, +but that's the way father always does things." + +"And it's so fortunate," went on Patty, "that I hadn't started away to +college or boarding-school. Although if I had, and you had invited me, +I should have managed some way to get expelled from college, so I could +go with you. How long do you suppose we shall stay, Elise?" + +"I don't know, I'm sure. You never can tell what the Farringtons are +going to do; they're here to-day and gone to-morrow. We'll stay all +winter, of course, and then in the spring, mother might take a notion +to go to London, or she might decide to come flying home. As for +father, he'll probably bob back and forth. He doesn't think any more of +crossing the ocean than of crossing the street. Have you much to do to +get ready to go?" + +"No, not much. Nan says for me not to get a lot of clothes, for it's +better to buy them over there; and papa says I can buy all I want, only +of course I can't be as extravagant as you are." + +"Oh, pshaw, I'm not extravagant! I don't care much about spending +money, only of course I like to have some nice things. And I do love to +buy pictures and books. But we'll have an awful lot of fun together. I +think it's fun just to be with you, Patty. And the idea of having you +all to myself for a whole winter, without Hilda, or Lorraine, or +anybody claiming a part of you, is the best of it all. I do love you a +lot, Patty, more than you realise, I think." + +"You've set your affections on a worthless object, then; and I warn you +that before the winter is over you're likely to discover that for +yourself. You always did overestimate me, Elise." + +"Indeed I didn't; but as you well know, from that first day at the +Oliphant school, when you were so kind to me, I've never liked anybody +half as much as I do you." + +"You're extremely flattering," said Patty, as she kissed her friend, +"and I only hope this winter won't prove a disillusion." + +"I'm not at all afraid," returned Elise gaily; "and oh, Patty, won't we +have a jolly time on board the steamer! It's a long trip, you know, and +we must take books to read and games to play, for as there'll probably +be mostly French people on board, we can't converse very much." + +"You can," said Patty, laughing, "but I'm afraid no one can understand +my beautiful but somewhat peculiar accent." + + + + +III + +SOUVENIRS + + +Marian came over to spend a few days with Patty before her departure. +She was frankly envious of Patty's good fortune, but more than that, +she was so desperately doleful at the thought of Patty's going away +that she was anything but a cheerful visitor. + +Although sorry for her cousin, Patty couldn't help laughing at the +dejected picture that Marian continually presented. She followed Patty +around the house wherever she went, or she would sit and look at her +with her chin held in her hands, and the big tears rolling down her +cheeks. + +"Marian, you are a goose," said Patty, exasperated by this performance. +"When I left Vernondale you cried and carried on just this way, but +somehow you seemed to live through it. And now that I live in New York +you don't see me so very often anyhow, so why should you be so +disconsolate about my going away?" + +"Because you're going so far, and you'll probably be drowned--those +French steamers are ever so much more dangerous than the English +lines--and somehow I just feel as if you'd never come back." + +"Well, the best thing you can do then is to change your feelings. I'll +be back before you hardly realise that I'm gone; and I'll bring you the +loveliest presents you ever saw." + +This was a happy suggestion of Patty's, for Marian's tears ceased to +flow and she brightened up at once. + +"Oh, Patty, that is just what I wanted to talk to you about! If you are +going to bring me anything in the way of a gift or a souvenir, wouldn't +you just as lieve I'd tell you what I want, as to have you pick it out +yourself, and likely as not bring me something I don't care for at all? +Everybody who brings me home souvenirs from Europe brings the most +hideous things, or else something that I can't possibly use." + +"Why, Marian, dear, I'd be only too glad to have you tell me what you +want, and I'll do my best to select it just right." + +"Well, Patty, I want a lot of photographs. The kind we get over here +are no good. But I've seen the ones that come from Paris, and they're +just as different as day and night. I'd like the Venus of Milo and the +Mona Lisa and the Victory and--oh, well--I'll make you out a list. +There are several Madonnas that I want, and several more that I DON'T +want. And I do NOT want any of Nattier's pictures or a "Baby Stuart," +but I do want some of Hinde's hair curlers--the tortoise-shell kind, I +mean--and you can only get them in Paris." + +By this time Patty was shaking with laughter at Marian's list, and she +asked her if she didn't want anything else but photographs and hair +curlers. + +"Why, yes," said Marian, astonished; "I've only just begun. You know +photographs don't cost much over there, and of course the curlers won't +count for a present. I thought you meant to bring me something nice." + +"I do," said Patty, looking at her cousin, who was so comically in +earnest. "You just go on with your list, and I'll bring all the things, +if I have to buy an extra trunk to bring them in." + +"All right, then," said Marian, encouraged to proceed. "I want a bead +bag--one of those gay coloured ones made of very small beads, worked in +old-fashioned flowers, roses, you know, or hibiscus--not on any account +the tulip pattern, because I hate it." + +"You'd better write out these instructions, Marian, or I shall be sure +to get tulips by mistake." + +"Don't you do it, Patty; I'll write them all down most explicitly. And +then I want a scarf, a very long one, cream-coloured ground, with a +Persian border in blues and greys. But not a palm-leaf border--I mean +that queer stencilled sort of a design; I'll draw a pattern of it so +you can't mistake it." + +"But suppose I can't find just that kind, Marian." + +"Oh, yes, you can! Ethel Holmes has one, and hers came from Paris. And +you've all winter to look for it, you know." + +"Well, I'll devote the winter to the search, but if I don't find it +along toward spring I'll give it up. What else, Marian?" + +"Well, I'd like a lot of Napoleon things. Some old prints of him, you +know, and perhaps a little bronze statuette, and a cup and saucer or +pen-wiper, or any of those things that they make with pictures of +Napoleon on. And then--oh! Patty, I do want some Cyclamen perfumery. +It's awfully hard to get. There's only one firm that makes it. I forget +the name, but it's Something Bros. & Co., and their place is across the +Seine." + +"Across the Seine from what?" + +"Why, just across. On the other side, you know. Of course I don't know +across from what, because I've never been to Paris; but everybody who +has lived there always just says 'across the Seine,' and everybody +knows at once where they mean. You'll know all right after you've lived +there a little while." + +"Marian, you're a wonder," declared Patty. "I don't think I ever knew +anybody with such a perfect and complete understanding of her own wants +as you seem to have. I hope you haven't mentioned half the things I'm +to bring you, but don't tell me the rest now. I might change my mind +about going. But you buy a large blank book and write out all these +orders at full length, giving directions just when to cross the Seine +and when to cross back again, and I'll promise to do my very best with +the whole list." + +"Patty, you're a darling," said Marian, "and I'm almost reconciled to +having you go when I think of having souvenirs brought to me that I +really want." + +"Marian," said Patty, struck with a sudden thought, "your idea of the +difference between desirable and undesirable souvenirs is an +interesting one. Now I shall bring little gifts to all my friends and +relatives, I expect, and if you happen to know of anything that would +be especially liked by Uncle Charlie or Aunt Alice or any of your +family, or the Tea Club girls, I wish you'd make another list and put +those things all down for me. It would be the greatest kind of a help." + +Marian promised to do this, and Patty felt sure that she would be glad +of the lists later on. + +Aunt Isabel and Ethelyn also came to say good-bye to Patty, but their +demeanour was very different from Marian's. + +Aunt Isabel was much impressed by the fact that Patty was going to +travel with the rich Farringtons, but she expressed a doubt as to +whether it would do Patty much good in a social way after all. For she +knew something of Mrs. Farrington's habits and tastes, and they in no +way corresponded to her own. + +Ethelyn informed Patty that she need not bring her any souvenir unless +she could bring something really nice. "I do hate the little traps and +trinkets most people bring," she said; "but if you want to bring me a +bracelet or locket or something really worth while, I'd be glad to have +it." + +"Well," exclaimed Patty, "I certainly have most outspoken cousins! They +don't seem to hesitate to tell me what to bring and what not to bring +them. But I'm sure of one thing! Bumble Barlow won't be so fussy +particular; she'll take whatever I bring and be thankful." + +"So will I," said Nan, laughing; "anything no one else wants, Patty, +you may give it to me." + +"Don't spend all your money buying presents, child," said Aunt Isabel; +"you'd better buy pretty clothes for yourself. I will give you a list +of the best places to shop." + +"Thank you, Aunt Isabel, I'll take the list with pleasure; but of +course my purchases will be at the advice of Mrs. Farrington. She +dresses Elise quite simply, and will probably expect me to do the same." + +Aunt Isabel sniffed. "You ought to have gone to Paris with me," she +said. "You're growing up to be a good-looking girl, Patty, and the +right kind of clothes would set you off wonderfully." + +Patty said nothing, but as she glanced at Ethelyn's furbelows she felt +thankful she was not going to Paris with Aunt Isabel. + +But Patty found that there was quite a great deal of shopping to be +done before she sailed. + +Nan took these matters in charge and declared that Patty needed a +complete though not an elaborate steamer outfit. + +Nan dearly loved buying pretty clothes and was quite in her element +making Patty's purchases. A dark blue tailor-made cloth, trimmed with +touches of green velvet, was chosen for her travelling costume. + +Her "going-away dress" Marian persisted in calling it, just as if Patty +were a bride; but as Marian burst into tears every time she mentioned +Patty's going away, her words were so indistinct that it mattered +little what terms she used. + +Then Nan selected one or two pretty light gowns of a somewhat dressy +nature for dinner on board the steamer, and one or two simple evening +gowns for the ship's concert or other festive occasions. A white serge +suit was added for pleasant afternoons on deck, and some dainty kimonos +and negligees for stateroom use. + +Patty was delighted with all these things, but could scarcely take time +to appreciate them, as she found so many other things to do by way of +her own preparations. So many people came to see her and she had to go +to see so many other people. Then she had to have her photographs taken +to leave with her friends, and she was constantly being invited to +little farewell luncheons or teas. + +"Indeed," as Patty expressed it, "the whole two weeks of preparation +seems like one long, lingering farewell; and when I'm not saying +good-bye to any one else, I'm trying to stop Marian's freshly flowing +tears." + +The girls bought Patty parting gifts, and though they were all either +useful or pretty, Patty appreciated far more the loving spirit which +prompted them. + +"I made this all myself," said Hilda, as she brought Patty a dainty +sleeping gown of blue and white French flannel, "because it's utterly +impossible to buy this sort of thing ready-made and have it just right. +If you don't say this is just right I'll never make you another as long +as I live." + +"It's exactly right, Hilda," said Patty, taking the pretty garment. "I +know I shall dream of you whenever I wear it, and that's too bad, too, +for I ought to devote some of my dreams to other people." + +"This is a cabin bag," said Lorraine, bringing her offering. "I didn't +make it myself, because this is so much neater and prettier than a +homemade one. You see it has a pocket for everything that you can +possibly require, from hairpins to shoehorn. Not that you'll put +anything in the pockets--nobody ever does--but it will look pretty +decorating your cabin wall." + +"Indeed I shall put things in it," said Patty. "I'm a great believer in +putting things in their right places, and I shall think of you, +Lorraine, whenever I'm trying to get the things out of these dinky +little pockets, and probably not succeeding very well." + +"This is my gift," said Adelaide Hart; "it isn't very elaborate, but I +made it all myself, and that means a good deal from me." + +Patty opened the parcel and found a piece of cretonne about a yard +square, neatly hemmed along each of the four sides, and having a tape +loop sewed on each corner. + +"It's perfectly beautiful," said Patty, "and I never saw more exquisite +needlework; but would you mind telling me what it is for? It can't be a +handkerchief, but I don't know of anything else that's exactly square." + +"How ignorant you are," said Adelaide with pretended superiority. +"That, my inexperienced friend, is a wrap for your best hat." + +"Oh," said Patty, not much enlightened. + +"You see," Adelaide kindly went on to explain, "as soon as you get on +board your steamer you take off your best hat and put it exactly in the +middle of this square, having first spread the square out smoothly on +the bed or somewhere. Then you take up these four corners by the loops +and hang the whole thing on the highest hook in your stateroom. Thus, +you see, your best hat is carried safely across; it is not jammed or +crushed, and it is protected from dust." + +"I see," said Patty gravely; "and I suppose the dust is something awful +on an ocean steamer." + +The laugh seemed to be on Adelaide at this, but she joined in it and +prophesied that when Patty returned she would confess that that gift +had proved the most useful of all. + +Clementine Morse brought a large post-card album which she had filled +with views of New York City. + +"I know you will be homesick before you're out of sight of land," she +said; "but if you're not you ought to be, and I hope these pictures +will make you so. When you look at this highly colored representation +of Grant's tomb and realise that it is but a few miles from your own +long-lost hearthstone, I'm sure you will feel qualms of patriotism--or +something." + +"I think very likely," said Patty, laughing. "But, Clementine, how many +trunks do you suppose I shall need to hold my farewell gifts? This +album will take up considerable space." + +"I know it," said Clementine, "but you needn't put it in your trunk. +You can carry it on board in your hand, and then when you go ashore you +can carry it in your hand. I don't believe they will charge you duty on +it, especially as it will probably be nearly worn out by that time." + +"I'm sure it will," said Patty, "not only from my own constant use of +it, but I know everybody on board will want to borrow it and enjoy +these works of art." + +"Yes," agreed Clementine; "and then, Patty, when you're in Paris you +can throw away all these New York cards and fill it up with Paris views +and bring it home and give it back to me." + +"I certainly will, Clem; that's a first-rate idea." + +Mary Sargent brought a French phrase book. It was entitled "French +Before Breakfast," and as Mary explained that the French people never +had breakfast until noon, Patty would have ample time to study it. + +Patty accepted the little book with many thanks and promised Mary she +would never eat breakfast, at noon or any other hour, until she had +thoroughly mastered at least one of the phrases. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AN AQUATIC PARTY + + +Of course all were agreed that Patty must have a farewell party of some +sort; and as Nan dearly loved elaborate affairs, she had decided that +it should be an Aquatic Party. + +Patty frankly confessed her ignorance as to what an Aquatic Party might +be, whereupon Nan informed her that she had only to wait until the +occasion itself to find out. + +So busy was Patty herself that she took no hand in the preparations for +the party, and indeed Nan required no help. That capable and energetic +young matron secured the services of some professional decorators and +able-bodied workmen, but the direction and superintendence was entirely +in her own hands. + +Patty was consulted only in regard to her own costume for the occasion. + +"You see," said Nan, coming into Patty's room one morning, "I don't +know whether you would rather say good-bye to your friends in the guise +of a kelpie or a pixy or a jelly-fish." + +"Cut out the jelly-fish," said Patty, laughing, "for they're horrid, +floppy old things, I'm sure. As to the others, what's the difference +between a kelpie and a pixy?" + +"Oh, a great deal of difference," declared Nan, wagging her head +wisely; "a kelpie is an imaginary water sprite, you know, and a pixy is +a--a--why, a sort of make-believe fairy who lives in the water." + +"Well, I'm glad that you see a difference in your two definitions. For +my part I don't see anything to hinder my being a kelpie and a pixy +both, even if I'm not twins." + +"Well, they're not so very different, you know. One is a kelpie, and +one is a pixy; that's about all the difference." + +Patty laughed. "Well, if it will help you out any to have me make a +choice," she said, "I'll choose to be a kelpie. What's the latest thing +in kelpie costumes?" + +"Oh, it will be lovely, Patty! I'll have it made of pale green silk, +with a frosted, silvery, shimmering effect, you know, and draped with +trailing green seaweed and water grasses." + +"Lovely!" agreed Patty. "And what would the pixy costume have been, if +I had chosen that?" + +"Just the same," confessed Nan, laughing; "but it's easier to have +something definite to work at. You can wear my corals, Patty, and, with +your hair down, you'll be a perfect kelpie." + +Patty smiled at her young stepmother's enthusiasm, and Nan ran away to +begin preparations for the kelpie costume. + +The night of the party the whole Fairfield house was so transformed +that it must scarcely have recognised itself. + +The large front drawing-room represented the arctic regions in the +vicinity of the North Pole. Frames had been erected which, when covered +with sheets, simulated peaks of snowy mountains and snow-covered +icebergs. Here and there signs, apparently left by explorers, told the +latitude and longitude, and a flag marked the explorations Farthest +North. Over these snow peaks scrambled white polar bears in most +realistic fashion, and in one corner an Esquimau hut was built. + +The ceiling represented a clear blue sky, and the floor the blue water +of the open polar sea. + +By a clever arrangement of electric lights through colored shades a +fair representation of the Aurora Borealis was made to appear at +intervals. + +The library, which was back of the drawing-room, had been transformed +into an aquarium. All round the walls, waves of blue-green gauze +simulated water, in which papier-mache fish were gliding and swimming. +The illusion was heightened by other fishes, which, being suspended +from the ceiling by invisible threads, seemed to be swimming through +the air. + +Altogether the effect, if not entirely realistic, was picturesque and +amusing, and coral reefs and rocky cliffs covered with seaweed gave +aquatic impressions, even if not entirely logical. + +But Nan's pride was what she chose to call the Upper Deck. This was a +room on the second floor, a large front room, which had been made to +represent the upper deck of a handsome yacht. Sail-cloth draped and +held up by poles formed the roof and sides, and a realistic railing +surrounded it. A dozen or more steamer chairs stood in line, strewn +with rugs, pillows and paper-backed novels. Coils of rope, lanterns, +life-preservers, and other paraphernalia added to the realism of the +scene, and at one side a carefully constructed window opened into the +steward's cabin. The steward himself, white-duck-suited and +white-capped, was prepared to serve light refreshments exactly after +the fashion of a correct yachting party. + +When the guests began to arrive and were dressed in various costumes, +each representing some type or phase of water pleasures, the scene took +on a gay and festive air. + +Patty's kelpie costume was a great success, and the girl never looked +prettier than as she stood receiving her guests in the pretty green +silk gown, trailing with seaweed and shimmering with silver dust. Her +curly golden hair was wreathed with soft green water-grasses, and her +rosy cheeks and dancing eyes made her look like a mischievous water +sprite. + +Nan's own costume was that of a fish-wife, and though very different +from Patty's, it had all the picturesqueness of the quaint costume of +the Breton fisher-folk. A basket slung over her shoulder held +realistic-looking fishes, and Nan looked quite as if she might have +stepped out of the frame of a picture in the French Academy. + +Mr. Fairfield, not without some difficulty, had been induced to +represent Neptune. False flowing white hair and beard, a shining crown +and trident, and a voluminous sea-green robe made him a gorgeous sight. + +The three stood near the North Pole to receive their guests, and +formality was almost lost sight of in the hilarity caused by the +procession of picturesque costumes. + +There were pirates of fierce and bloodthirsty mien; there were jolly +Jack Tars and natty ship officers; there were water babies, mermaids, +fishermen, and many dainty yachting costumes. Then there were queer and +grotesque figures, such as a frog, a lobster, and a huge crab. + +Altogether the motley procession presented a most interesting +appearance, and Patty was glad when the guests had all arrived and she +could leave her post and mingle with the crowd. + +It was not long before a group of Patty's most intimate friends had +gathered on the Upper Deck to chat. Patty herself had been snugly +tucked into a deck chair by Kenneth, who insisted on showing her just +how the proceeding should be accomplished. + +"Nothing shows your ignorance, my child, on board ship," he was saying, +"like not knowing how to manage your steamer rug and pillow." + +"But," said Patty, "I shall then have on a suitable gown that will +stand rough usage; but I beg of you, Ken, stop tucking that rug around +my delicate kelpie decorations. + +"Oh," said Kenneth, "you're a kelpie, then! Strange I didn't recognise +you at once, but I so rarely meet kelpies in the best society. Now I'm +Captain Kidd." + +"Are you?" cried Elise gaily; "now I had an idea you were Admiral +Farragut; but then one so rarely meets Captain Kidd in the best +society." + +"That's so," said Kenneth; "and think how long it will be, girls, +before you have the pleasure of meeting this particular Captain Kidd in +any society. I tell you, I envy you. You're going to have the time of +your life in Paris, and I wish to goodness I could go along with you." + +"Oh, do, Kenneth," cried Patty; "we'd have just the best time ever! +Can't you give up college and put in a lot of study over there?" + +"No, indeed, I can't; I'm only just wishing I could. There's no harm in +wishing, you know. But if you'll stay until next summer, perhaps I'll +come over and see you during vacation, and then we can all come home +together." + +"That would be fine," said Elise, "and we're just as likely to stay +until summer as not. But then, on the other hand, we're just as likely +to come home as soon as we get there. You never can tell what those +absurd parents of mine are going to do." + +Meantime a strange-looking figure was walking across the Upper Deck +toward the group that surrounded Patty. It was impossible not to +recognise the character, which was meant to be a representation of +Noah. But it was the well-known Noah of the children's Noah's ark, and +the straight-up-and-down, tightly fitting brown garment, with yellow +buttons down the front, was exactly like the patriarch as shown in the +wooden toys. A flat, broad-brimmed hat sat squarely on his head, and as +he held his arms straight down at his side, and as his cheeks bore +little round daubs of red paint, Mr. Hepworth was exactly like a +gigantic specimen of the nursery Noah. + +He came across the deck with a staggering, uncertain motion, as if the +ship were rolling and pitching about. His realistic acting made them +all laugh, and when he dropped into a deck chair and, calling the +steward, asked faintly for a cup of weak tea, Patty declared she +believed she wouldn't go to Paris after all. + +"For I'm sure," she said, "that I don't want to go wabbling across a +deck and looking as ill and woebegone as you do." + +Mr. Hepworth smiled at her. "You'll have so many remedies and +preventives given you," he said, "and you'll be so busy pitching them +overboard that you won't have time to be seasick. Really I don't +believe you'll think of such a thing all the way over, let alone +experiencing it." + +"You're a great comfort," said Patty heartily; "you always tell me the +most comforting things. Now everybody else declares that after I've +been at sea for a day I'll be so ill that I won't care whether I live +or die." + +"Nonsense," declared Mr. Hepworth; "don't pay any attention to such +croakings." + +"I agree with you," said Elise. "I've made up my mind that I'm not +going to be seasick, but I'm going to have a perfectly jolly time all +the way across." + +"Of course you'll have jolly times," said Marian, who was in one of her +doleful moods; "but think of us who are left behind! We won't have any +jolly time until you come back again." + +"Oh, I don't know!" said Kenneth. "Of course I'm devoted to these two +girls, but I'm not going to let it blight my young existence and crush +my whole career, just because I have to live without them for six +months." + +"But you don't love Patty as I do," said Marian with a sigh, as she +gazed at her adored cousin. + +"No, Marian, I don't," said Kenneth; "not as YOU do, for I assume that +you love her as a first cousin. Now my affection for Patty is more on +the order of a grandmother's brother-in-law once removed. You can't be +too careful about the exact type of attachment you feel for a young +lady, and I think that expresses my regard for Patty. Now toward Elise +I feel more like a great niece's uncle's brother-in-law. There is a +very subtle distinction between the two, but I know that both girls are +acutely aware of the exact kind and degree of my regard for them." + +"I am, anyway," said Patty; "and I must say, Ken, that it's much easier +to leave you, with that definite affection of yours, than it is to go +away from Marian and leave her floundering in her deep and somewhat +damp woe." + +Marian vouchsafed a sad sort of smile, and said it was all very well +for them to make fun of her, but she couldn't help missing Patty. + +"Nobody can help missing Patty," declared Mr. Hepworth; "and for my +part, if I find that I miss her very much I shall go straight over to +Paris and bring her back." + +"I hope you will," cried Patty; "that is, I hope you'll come over, and +perhaps we can persuade you not to be in such a dreadful hurry to come +back." + +"I had expected to run over in the early spring, anyway," said Mr. +Hepworth carelessly, as if it were a matter of no moment; "I want to do +certain French sketches that I've had my mind on for some time." + +"Well, if you do come," said Elise cordially, "come right to our house +and I know we can put you up. The Farringtons are erratic, but always +hospitable; and I hereby invite this whole crowd to visit us in Paris, +either jointly or severally, whenever the spirit moves you." + +"If I find a spirit that can move me over to Paris, I shall come +often," declared Kenneth; "but I'm afraid I'm too substantially built +to be wafted across the ocean in the clutches of any spirit." + +Just then the notes of a bugle sounded clear and sweet from below. + +"That's the ship's bugler," declared Mr. Hepworth, "and that's the +bugle call for supper. Shall we go down and refresh ourselves?" + +"Yes, indeed," cried Patty, jumping from her nest of steamer rugs; "I'm +as hungry as a hawk." + +But it somehow happened that all of the gay young crowd left the Upper +Deck to go to the supper room before Patty and Mr. Hepworth started. He +detained her for a moment while he said: "Little girl, will you miss me +while you're away?" + +"Even if I expected to I wouldn't own up to it," said Patty, as she +gave him a mischievous glance. + +"Why wouldn't you own up to it?" Mr. Hepworth spoke quite seriously and +looked intently at the pretty face before him, with its golden hair +crowned by the shining green sea-wreath. + +"I don't know," said Patty slowly. She felt herself forced by his +impelling gaze to raise her eyes to his, and for the first time it +occurred to her that Mr. Hepworth felt more interest in her than she +had ever suspected. "I don't know why I wouldn't own up to it, I'm +sure," she went on; "in fact, now that I come to think of it, I believe +I should own up to it." + +"Well, own it then. Tell me you will miss me, and will sometimes wish I +might be with you." + +"Oh," cried Patty, laughing merrily, "I only meant I would own it if it +were true. Of course I sha'n't really miss you; there'll be so much to +amuse and interest me that I sha'n't have time to miss anybody except +papa and Nan." + +"That's just what I thought," said Mr. Hepworth. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +GOOD-BYES + + +At last the day of sailing came. The steamer was to leave her dock at +three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and soon after two Patty went on +board, accompanied by Nan and her father. + +A crowd of friends had also gathered to bid Patty goodspeed, and +besides these the Farringtons had many friends there to say good-bye to +them. + +With the exception of Marian, it was not a sad parting. Indeed it +seemed rather a hilarious occasion than otherwise. This was partly +because most of the persons concerned felt truly sorry to miss Patty's +bright presence out of their lives, and feared that if they showed any +regret the situation might become too much for them. + +Hilda and Lorraine felt this especially, and they were so absurdly gay +that it was quite clear to Patty that their gaiety was assumed. But she +was grateful to them for it, for, as she had previously confided to +Nan, she didn't want a weepy, teary crowd to bid her good-bye; she +wanted to go away amid laughter and smiles. + +As the brief hour before sailing passed, more and more people came to +see them off, and Patty began to think that everybody she ever knew +would be there. + +Many of the friends brought gifts, and many had already sent fruit or +flowers, both to the Farringtons and to Patty. Down in the +dining-saloon a whole table was occupied with the gifts to their party, +and more than a fair proportion of these belonged to Patty. She was +quite bewildered, for sailing away from her native land was a new +experience to her, and it had never occurred to her that it would +include this elaborate profusion of farewell gifts. + +There was a great basket of red roses from Winthrop Warner, and Bertha +had sent a box of candy. Roger had sent candy, too, and Kenneth had +sent a beautiful basket of fruit that seemed to include every known +variety. Nor were the gifts only from Patty's intimate friends. She was +surprised to learn how many of her acquaintances and relatives and +casual friends had sent a token of good wishes for her voyage. The +truth is that Patty was a general favourite and made friends with all +whom she met. + +Mr. Hepworth had once told her that she was a Dispenser of Happiness. +If so, she was now reaping the reward, for her friends had surely +showered happiness upon her. + +And besides the table full of gifts there were many letters and +telegrams in the ship's little post-office. These delighted Patty, too, +and she laid the budget aside to enjoy after the trip had fairly begun. + +Among the last to arrive was Mr. Hepworth. He brought no fruit or +flowers, but he was followed by a messenger boy fairly staggering under +the weight of his burden. + +"I knew, Patty," he said, "that you'd have all the flowers and fruit +and sweets you could possibly want, so I've brought you a different +kind of gift." + +"There seems to be plenty of it," said Patty as she looked at the small +boy. His arms were full of papers and magazines, which, as they +afterward discovered, included every newspaper, magazine, and weekly +periodical published in New York. + +"You know," said Mr. Hepworth, "you can't get current reading matter +after you start, and a good deal of this stuff you won't find in Paris, +either; though you can get American publications there more easily than +you can in London. But read what you want, Patty, and pitch the rest +overboard." + +The boy was directed to carry his load to Patty's stateroom and deposit +it there. Patty thanked Mr. Hepworth for his thoughtful gift, and said +she would read every word of it and probably carry a great deal of it +ashore with her. + +"Come on, Patty," said Kenneth, "we're going to see where your deck +chairs are, so we can have a mental picture of just how you're going to +look for the next week or so." + +About a dozen merry young people trooped up the next deck and found the +chairs that had been reserved for the Farrington party. But when Patty +saw them she burst out laughing. The two that were intended for herself +and Elise had been decorated in an absurd fashion. They were tied with +ribbon bows and bunches and garlands of flowers. They were filled with +fancy pillows, and tied on in several places were letters and small +packages done up in paper. + +"They look like ridiculous Christmas trees," cried Patty. "I'm crazy to +open those bundles, for I know they're full of foolishness that you +girls have rigged up for us." + +"Don't open them now," said Hilda, "for we have to leave you and go +ashore in a few moments. Now, Patty, you will write to us, won't you?" + +"I rather think I will," cried Patty; "you've all been so good to me I +never could thank you enough if I wrote every day and all day." + +"Come with me, Patty," said Kenneth; "I want to show you something up +at this end of the ship." + +So Patty went off with Kenneth, and when they were well away from the +laughing crowd he drew a small box from his pocket and gave it to her, +saying: "Patty, you mustn't think I'm a sentimental fool, for I'm not; +but I wish you'd wear that while you're away, and sometimes think of +me." + +Patty flashed a comical glance at him. + +"Good gracious, Ken," she exclaimed, "it's an awful funny thing, this +going away; it makes all your friends so serious and so afraid you'll +forget them. Of course I shall think of you while I'm away." + +"Who else has been asking you to think of him?" growled Kenneth; "that +ridiculous Hepworth, I suppose! Well, now look here, miss, you're to +think of me twice to his once. Do you understand that?" + +"Yes, I understand," said Patty demurely; "and now may I look in the +box before I promise to wear your gift? It might be a live beetle. I +saw a lady once who wore a live beetle attached to a tiny gold chain. +Oh, it was awful!" + +"It isn't a live beetle," said Kenneth, smiling, "but it is attached to +a tiny gold chain. Yes, of course you may look at it, and if you don't +like it you needn't wear it." + +So Patty opened the box and discovered a little gold locket, set with +tiny pearls and hanging from a slender gold chain. It was very graceful +and dainty, and Patty's first impulse was one of delight. But as she +looked up and met Kenneth's serious gaze she suddenly wondered if she +were promising too much to say she would wear it. + +"What's inside of it?" she inquired, as if to gain time. + +"Look and see." + +Patty opened the locket and found it contained a most attractive +picture of Kenneth's handsome, boyish face. + +"What a splendid likeness!" she exclaimed; "you're awfully +good-looking, Ken, and I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll wear the locket +with pleasure--sometimes, you know, not all the time, of course--until +I find somebody who is handsomer than you, or--whom I like better." + +"Pooh," cried Kenneth, "I don't care how often you replace it with a +picture of a handsomer man, but, Patty, I don't want you to find any +one you like better. Promise me you won't." + +"Oh, I can't promise that, Ken. Just think of the fascinating Frenchmen +I shall probably meet, with their waxed moustaches and their dandified +manners. How can I help liking them better than a plain, unvarnished +American boy?" + +"All right, my lady; if you set your affections on a French popinjay, +I'll come over there and fight a duel with him. I know you're too +sensible to look at those addle-pated dandies, but I wish you'd promise +not to like anybody better than THIS plain, unvarnished American boy." + +"I won't promise you anything, Ken," said Patty, not unkindly, but with +a gentle, definite air. "I thank you for your locket. It is beautiful, +and I do love pretty things. I'll wear it sometimes; let me see, to-day +is Saturday; well, I'll wear it every Saturday; that will insure your +being thought of at least once a week." + +And with this Kenneth had to be content, for a roguish laugh appeared +in Patty's eyes and he knew she would not treat matters seriously any +further. + +Dropping the locket in her little handbag, Patty turned to go back to +the others. + +"But you're not keeping your promise," said Kenneth, detaining her. + +"What promise?" + +"You said you'd wear the locket on Saturdays, and to-day is Saturday." + +Patty was a little embarrassed. She knew if she went back to the group +with the trinket hanging round her neck, every one would know at once +that Kenneth had given it to her, and they would surmise far more than +the simple, truth. And she was especially conscious that Mr. Hepworth +would notice it, and would think it meant all Kenneth had wanted it to +mean, which was far more than she had accepted it as meaning. + +Kenneth saw her hesitation and stood watching her. + +"Wear it, dear," he said quietly; "an old friend like myself has a +perfect right to give you a little keepsake." Then Patty had an +inspiration. She clasped the little chain about her neck and then +tucked the locket down inside her collar so that it was entirely out of +sight. + +"You little witch!" cried Kenneth as she raised her laughing eyes to +his; "but at any rate you're wearing it, and that's all I asked of you." + +"Yes," said Patty; and, as gaily and unaffectedly as a child, she +grasped Kenneth's hand and ran down the long deck to join the others. + +Although determined to ignore the episode, Patty's cheeks bore a +heightened colour and she let poor Kenneth severely alone, devoting her +attention to the others. + +But it was nearly time: for the last farewell to be said, and indeed +some of the party had said good-bye and left the steamer. + +And then again Patty was carried off for a little confidential talk at +the other end of the deck, and this time it was by her father. + +He seemed to have many final bits of advice to give her regarding the +minutiae of her journey, her money matters, her relation toward the +Farringtons, and her correct demeanour in many ways. + +"I'm not at all afraid to trust you out of my sight, Patty, girl," he +said, "for I have absolute faith in your common sense and your good +judgment. I know you won't do anything wrong or unladylike, but I want +to warn you, my little girl, not to get mixed up in any romantic +adventures. You're altogether too young for that sort of thing, and I +warn you I sha'n't allow you to be engaged to anybody for years and +years to come." Patty laughed merrily at this. "Indeed, papa," she +said, "nothing is further from my mind than any such performance as you +suggest, and I haven't the slightest desire to think of being engaged +until I'm at least as old as Nan. And anyway, I don't believe anybody +would like me well enough to want to be engaged to me. Oh--that +is--unless it might be Kenneth." + +And then Patty told her father the whole story of Kenneth and the +locket. + +"You did just right, Patty," said her father. "Kenneth is a nice boy, +but he is altogether too young, and you are, too, to attach any +sentimental significance to his gift. Wear the locket if you want to, +or when you want to, but let it be understood that it means nothing +more than the merest friendly keepsake." + +"Yes, that's just what I think," said Patty, with an air of +satisfaction at this prosaic settlement of the subject. "Oh, papa, +you're the only one I'm going to miss very much, you and Nan; but +especially you." + +"I know it, my girl; we have been a great deal to each other all these +years, and of course we shall miss each other. But the time will soon +pass away, and since we have to part we must be brave about it, and we +must not spoil the happiness of it by the sorrow of it." + +"Dear papa," said Patty, squeezing his hand, "you are always so wise +and good. That's just the point; we must not spoil the happiness by the +sorrow, though that is what Marian is always trying to do. Poor Marian, +she's such a pathetic creature; I wish she would cheer up." + +"I think she will, Patty. Nan and I are going to take her home with us +and keep her for a fortnight or more, and we'll make her so gay that +she'll forget you're gone." + +"Good for you, papa; that's lovely! You do think of the nicest things +for people!" + +"Well, now, chickabiddy, I suppose I'll have to leave you. Keep up a +good heart and a spirit of cheerfulness. Stick to your sense of +proportion and your sense of humor. Remember that the time will soon +pass, and pass happily, too; and then you'll come sailing back to this +very dock, and I'll be here waiting for you." + +They rejoined the group and then the farewells began in earnest. Patty +was embraced and kissed by all the girls, until Nan declared there +would be nothing left for her to say good-bye to. The men shook hands +and expressed hearty good wishes, and with one last kiss from her +father Patty was left alone with the Farringtons. + +As the steamer sailed away there was much waving of handkerchiefs and +flags, and the friends on shore were kept in sight just as long as +possible. + +But when they could no longer be distinguished, Patty said: "Come on, +Elise; let's do something to occupy our minds, or I feel sure I shall +cry like a baby in spite of my noble and brave resolutions." + +"All right," said Elise, "I'm with you. Let's go down and put things to +rights in our stateroom." + +So down they went on their errand. The girls were to share the same +stateroom, and as it was large and conveniently arranged, they were +glad to be together. But as they entered the door they nearly fell over +in astonishment, for sitting on the sofa, with his paws extended in +welcome, was a very large, very white, and very fleecy "Teddy Bear." In +one paw he held a card on which was written: + + Oh Patty dear, + Oh Elise dear, + We don't want you to go away; + But if you will, + Keep with you still + This merry little stowaway. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE OLD MA'AMSELLE + + +The girls laughed heartily over the Teddy Bear, and agreed that it was +a delightful companion for their trip. Elise set him up on the little +shelf above the washstand, and he gazed down upon them like a fat and +good-natured patron saint. Patty named him Yankee Doodle, and gave him +an American flag to hold; but Elise, not wishing to seem to slight the +French nation, gave him a silken tri-colour of France to hold in his +other paw. Apparently unprejudiced in his sympathies, Yankee Doodle +held both flags, and continued to wear his jolly and complacent grin. + +It was great fun for the girls to arrange their stateroom. As they +expected to occupy it for the next ten days, they proceeded to make it +as homelike as possible. They both had so many cabin bags and wall +pockets and basket catchalls which had been parting gifts that it was +difficult to find wall space for them all. Patty was to occupy the +lower berth and Elise the wide and comfortable sofa. For they concluded +they could chatter better if on a level. This left the upper berth as a +broad shelf for books and magazines, boxes of candy, and all the odds +and ends of their belongings. + +"Isn't it perfectly wonderful," said Patty, "to think we are already +miles away from land, and dancing away over this blue water!" + +As Patty was standing on the sofa, with her head stuck out through the +porthole, Elise could not hear a word of this speech; so unless the +fishes were interested it was entirely lost. But this mattered little +to Patty, and soon she pulled her head in and made the same remark over +again. + +"Well," said Elise, who was matter-of-fact, "when people take passage +on an ocean steamer they often expect to get a few miles away from land +after they start." + +"Oh, Elise," cried Patty, "have you no imagination? Of course it isn't +wonderful to consider the FACT of our sailing out to sea, but the IDEA +of dancing away over the blue water is poetic and therefore wonderful." + +"I'm glad you explained it to me, and I dare say the more the ship +dances, the more wonderful it will be. And so let's get these things +straightened out before the dancing grows mad and hilarious." + +"All right," said Patty good-naturedly; and she went to work with a +will, stowing away things and tacking up things, until everything was +snugly in place. + +Mrs. Farrington's maid accompanied the party, but both Elise and Patty, +being energetic young Americans, had small use for her services. She +was a help, though, in the matter of back buttons and hair ribbons, and +she came now rapping at the stateroom door with a message from Mrs. +Farrington that the girls were to dress for dinner. At the same moment +the pretty bugle-call rang out that marked the half hour before +dinner-time. + +"Isn't it fun," cried Patty, "to have the dressing-bell a trumpet? +Except at my own party the other night I've never been bugled to my +meals. What shall we wear, Elise?" + +"Not our prettiest dresses. We must save those for the concert, or +whatever gaieties they may have. Put on that blue checked silk of +yours, Patty; it's the sweetest thing, and just right for dinner, and +I'll wear my light green one." + +With slight assistance from Lisette, the French maid, they were soon +ready. Patty envied Lisette her fluency in the French tongue, for +though all the officers on board and most of the passengers spoke +English, Patty wished she could talk French more readily than she did. +She found it good practice to talk to Lisette in her own language, as +the mistakes she made did not embarrass her. Lisette, of course, was a +great admirer of pretty Patty, and was only too glad to be of +assistance to her linguistically or any other way. + +Another bugle-call announced dinner, and, joining Mr. and Mrs. +Farrington, the girls went down to the dining saloon. Their seats were +at the captain's table, and Patty thought she had never seen such a +profusion of beautiful flowers as graced the board. The stewards had +placed the flowers of all the passengers upon the tables, and, with the +lights and ornate decorations of the Louis XVI. saloon, it was like +fairyland. The walls and ceiling were elaborately decorated in dainty +French fashion, and the table service was exceedingly attractive. Patty +was much amused at the revolving chair which she had to learn how to +get into, but after being twirled to her place she concluded it was a +wise provision for a dining-room of such uncertain level. + +Mrs. Farrington sat at the captain's right hand, and next to her was +her husband, then Elise, and then Patty. Patty at once began to wonder +who would occupy the chair next beyond herself, and was exceedingly +interested when the steward turned it around to accommodate a lady who +was approaching. + +The newcomer was without doubt a Frenchwoman, somewhat elderly, but +very vigorous and active. She had masses of snow-white hair, and large, +alert, black eyes that seemed to dart quickly from one point of +interest to another. She was a little lady, but her gait and manner +were marked by an air not only of aristocracy, but as of one accustomed +to exert absolute authority. Nor was she apparently of a mild and +amiable disposition. She spoke sharply to the steward, although he was +doing his best to serve her. + +"And is it that you shall be all night in arranging my chair?" she +exclaimed. Then, as she was finally seated, she continued her +grumbling. "And is it not enough that I must be delayed, but still I +have received no MENU? One shall see if this is to be permitted!" + +The steward did not seem unduly alarmed at the little old lady's angry +speech, but hastened to bring her the daintily printed bill of fare. + +Raising her jewelled lorgnon, the French lady scanned the MENU, and +having made a choice of soup, she laid the card down, and turning +toward Patty surveyed her leisurely through her glasses. + +Her manner as she scrutinised Patty was by no means rude or +impertinent. It had rather the effect of an honest curiosity and a +polite interest. + +"There is no denying, my dear," she said at last, "that you are of a +beauty. And of a sweetness. An American of Americans. New York--is it +not so?" + +There was an indefinable charm about the old lady's manner that won +Patty's heart at once, and though in any case she would have been +polite, she answered with cordiality: + +"Yes, madame, I live in New York, although I was born in the South and +lived there for many years." + +"Ah, then, it is explained. It is your Southern States that make the +charm, the aplomb, without the--what you call--the--the freshness. Is +it not so? But I do not mean the freshness of the cheek; and yet, in +the argot do you not say freshness is cheek? Ah, I am bewildered; I am +mixup with your strange words; but I will learn them! They shall not +conquer me! And you will help me; is it not so?" + +"I will help you with pleasure, madame," replied Patty, dimpling with +fun as she heard the old lady's unsuccessful attempts in American +slang. "My name is Patty Fairfield; and though I seldom use the slang +of my country, I'm more or less familiar with its terms, and can +enlighten you concerning them, at least to a degree. To me your +language is difficult; but perhaps we may by conversation help each +other." + +"Patty Fairfield; a pleasant name for a pleasant child. But I'm not +madame; pray call me ma'amselle. I am Ma'amselle Labesse." + +"You are a Frenchwoman, of course?" inquired Patty. + +"A Frenchwoman, yes; but of an admiration for your strange American +country. I go home now, but I shall return again. Your country is of an +interest." + +As Patty looked around at the others at their table, she felt that she +had been fortunate in sitting next to the old ma'amselle. For though +she could not judge entirely by appearances, no one else at the table +seemed to be so quaintly interesting as the old French lady. + +Patty soon discovered that even a "few miles of dancing upon the blue +water" had decidedly sharpened her appetite, and she did full justice +to the delicate viands and delicious French cookery placed before her. +She and Elise chatted happily, and after introducing her companions on +either side to each other the conversation became general. + +Under the influence of the comradeship always felt on a French liner, +the people across the table became sociably inclined, and acquaintances +were made rapidly. + +After dinner our party went out on deck, and though warm wraps were +necessary, the crisp, clear air was delightful, and the starry sky and +tumbling black water fascinated Patty beyond all words. She leaned +against the rail, watching the waves as they dashed and plashed below, +breaking into white foam as the steamer ploughed through them. Patty +was very susceptible to new impressions, and the great expanse of black +water beneath the dome of the star-studded black sky filled her with an +awe and reverence which she had never known before. + +Elise stood quietly beside her, with her hand through Patty's arm, and +together the girls silently enjoyed the sombre beauty of the scene. + +"Are you afraid, Patty?" asked Elise. + +Patty laughed a little, and then she said: "I don't know as I can make +you understand it, Elise, for it sounds so ridiculous when it's put +into words. But it's this way with me: In my imagination, when I think +of this little cockleshell of a boat tossing on this great, deep, black +ocean, which may engulf it at any moment, I have a certain feeling of +fear, which seems to belong to the situation. But really, my common +sense tells me that these staunch steamships are constructed for the +very purpose of carrying people safely across the sea, and that there +is almost no danger at all of their doing otherwise. So you see it only +depends on whether I'm in a mood of poetical imagination or practical +common sense as to whether I'm afraid or not." + +"Patty," said Elise, with a little sigh, "you are certainly clever. Now +I never could have reasoned the thing out like that, and yet I see just +what you mean." + +"Throw bouquets at yourself, then, Elise," said Patty, laughing, "for +you're a great deal more clever to see what I mean than I am to say it!" + +After a brisk walk up and down the deck for a time the girls tucked +themselves snugly into their deck chairs by the side of the elder +Farringtons. + +"How do you like it so far, Patty?" asked Mr. Farrington. + +"It's simply perfect," declared Patty enthusiastically. "It's awfully +different from what I thought it would be, and ever so much nicer. I +thought it would be impossible to walk across the deck without tumbling +all over and catching hold of everything. But we can walk around just +as if in a house, and everything is comfortable, even luxurious, and +it's all so clean." + +Mrs. Farrington laughed at this. "Of course it's clean, child," she +said; "it's only on land that we are under the tyranny of dust and +dirt. But as for tumbling around the deck, that may come later. Don't +imagine the sea is never rougher than it is to-night." + +"I hope it will be rougher," said Patty. "I don't want a fearful storm, +but I would like a little pitching and tossing." + +"You'll probably get it," said Mr. Farrington. "And now, my cherished +ones, let us take a look in at the library and drawing-room, and then +let us seek our staterooms." + +So the parry adjourned to the brilliantly lighted saloon, where many of +the passengers had congregated to spend the after-dinner hour. It was a +beautiful apartment, even more gorgeous and elaborate than the +dining-room, and furnished with inviting-looking easy-chairs, sofas, +and divans of puffy upholstery. Gilt-framed tables were scattered about +for the benefit of the card-players, and attractively appointed +writing-desks made Patty suddenly realise that she wanted to write +letters home at once. But remembering that they could not possibly be +mailed for ten days to come, she decided to defer them at least until +the morrow. + +Well-filled bookcases attracted the girls' attention, and +notwithstanding the large amount of reading matter they had of their +own, they were glad to see some well-known favourites behind the glass +doors. + +Patty was surprised when Mr. Farrington proposed that they should all +go to the dining-room for a bit of supper before retiring. It seemed to +her but a short time since they had dined; and yet she realised the +suggestion was not entirely unwelcome. + +"Is it imperative that we shall eat more meals on sea than on land?" +she inquired, as they took their places at the table. + +"Not imperative, perhaps," the captain answered her, smiling, "but +unless you seem to appreciate my cook's efforts to please you I shall +have to pitch him overboard; and it is not easy to find another chef in +mid-ocean." + +"Then," said Patty gaily, "I shall certainly do all I can to save the +poor man from a dreadful fate. And it does not seem to me that I shall +have any difficulty in keeping my part of the bargain." As Patty spoke +she was nibbling away with great satisfaction at a caviare sandwich and +bestowing a pleased glance on a glass of orange sherbet which the +steward had just brought to her. + +The captain was a large and important-looking personage, with the black +moustache and imperiale of the true Frenchman. His manner was expansive +and very cordial; and as he had known the Farringtons for many years he +was quite ready to welcome Patty for their sake as well as her own. +Indeed, he had taken an immediate liking to the pretty American girl, +and as French captains are prone to make favourites among their +passengers, Patty was immediately assigned in his chivalrous heart to +such a position. + +He bade her a pleasant good-night as she left the dining-room, and was +delighted with her naive expressions of admiration and appreciation of +his beautiful ship. + +When the girls reached their stateroom they suddenly realised that they +were quite tired out after the excitements of the day, and were very +glad to let Lisette brush their hair and assist them in preparing for +bed. As Patty nestled snugly between the coarse linen sheets she felt a +drowsy enjoyment of the gentle rolling motion of the steamer, and +almost immediately fell into a sound, dreamless sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +WESTERN FRIENDS + + +The girls slept restfully all night, and were awakened in the morning +by the entrance of Lisette, who was followed by the pleasant-faced and +voluble French stewardess. The day was bright and sunshiny, and half a +dozen times while she was dressing Patty stuck her head out of the +porthole to gaze at the sparkling blue water. On these occasions Elise +grasped her by the feet lest she should fall out. But as Patty's +substantial frame could not possibly have squeezed through the +porthole, the precaution was unnecessary. + +After breakfast the girls prepared for a delightful morning on deck. +The breeze had freshened considerably, so Patty put on a long, warm +ulster that enveloped her from throat to feet. A long blue veil tied +her trim little hat in place, and when fully equipped she looked over +the piles of literature to make a selection. + +"Do you know," she said to Elise, "I don't believe I shall read much; I +think I shall just sit and look at the water and dream." + +"All right," said her practical friend; "but take a book with you, for +if you don't you're sure to want one; while if you do, you probably +won't look at it." + +"Elise, you're a genius. I'll take the book, and also some of this +candy. I'm glad Hilda gave me this bag; it's most convenient." + +The bag in question was a large, plain affair of dark green cloth, with +a black ribbon drawstring. It proved to be Patty's constant companion, +as it was roomy enough to hold gloves, veils, handkerchiefs, as well as +pencil and paper, and anything else they might need through the day. It +hung conveniently on the back of Patty's deck chair, and became as +famous as the bag of the lady in "Swiss Family Robinson." + +As Patty had anticipated, she did not do any reading that morning, but +neither did she gaze at the ocean and dream. She discovered that life +on an ocean steamer is apt to be full of incident and abounds in +occupation. + +No sooner had she and Elise arranged themselves in their chairs than +along came two gay and laughing girls, who stopped to talk to them. + +"We're going to introduce ourselves," said one of them. "I am Alicia +Van Ness, and this is my little sister Doris. We're from Chicago, and +we like the looks of you girls, and we want to be chums. Though, of +course, it's up to you, and if you don't like our looks you've only to +say so and we'll never trouble you again." + +"Speak out!" chimed in the other girl, who was quite as vivacious as +her sister. "We're not a bit stupid, and we can take the slightest +hint. I can see you don't quite approve of us"--and she looked shrewdly +at Patty, who had unconsciously assumed an air of hauteur as she +watched the frank-mannered Western girls--"but really and truly we're +awfully nice after you get acquainted with us." + +Patty was amused, and a little ashamed that a stranger should have read +her feelings so accurately, for she had felt slightly repelled at the +somewhat forward manners of these would-be friends. + +As if to make up for her coolness she said heartily: "I'm sure you are +delightful to know, and I'm quite ready to be friends if you will allow +it. I'm Patty Fairfield, and this is my chum, Elise Farrington." + +"We knew your names," said Alicia Van Ness; "we asked the captain. You +see, we thought you two were the nicest girls on board, but if you had +thrown us down we were going to tackle the English girl next." + +Though this slangy style of talk was not at all to Patty's liking, she +saw no reason to reject the offered friendship because of it. The Van +Ness sisters might prove to be interesting companions, in spite of +their unconventional ways. So two vacant chairs were drawn up, and the +four girls sat in a group, and very soon were chatting away like old +friends. + +"Do you know the English girl?" asked Doris; "she sits at your table." + +"No," said Elise; "she's way down at the other end from us. But I like +her looks, only she's so very English that I expect she's rather stiff +and hard to get acquainted with." + +"You can't say that about us, can you?" said Alicia, laughing; "I'm as +easy as an old shoe, and Doris as an old slipper. But we hope you'll +like us, because we do love to be liked. That English girl's name is +Florrie Nash. Isn't that queer? She doesn't look a bit like a Florrie, +does she? More like a Susan or a Hannah." + +"Or more like a Catharine or Elizabeth, I think," said Patty. "But you +never can tell people's names from what they look like." + +"No," said Alicia; "now a stranger would say you looked like my name, +and I looked like yours." + +"That's true enough," said Elise, laughing; "your jolly ways are not at +all like your grand-sounding name; and as for Patty here, it's a +perfect shame to spoil her beautiful name of Patricia by such a +nickname." + +Two young men in long plaid ulsters with turned-up collars and plaid +yachting caps came into view at the other end of the deck. They were +walking with swinging strides in the direction of the group of girls. + +"Now I'll show you," said Alicia in a low voice, "how we Chicago girls +scrape acquaintance with young men." + +As the young men drew nearer Alicia looked at them smilingly and said +"Ahem" in a low but distinct voice. The young men looked at her and +smiled, whereupon Doris purposely dropped a book she had been holding. +The young men sprang to pick it up, Doris took it and thanked them, and +then made a further remark as to the beauty of the weather. The young +men replied affably, and then Alicia asked them to join their group and +sit down for a chat. + +"With pleasure," said one of the young men, glancing at Patty and +Elise, "if we may be allowed." + +Patty was surprised and shocked at the behaviour of these strange +girls, and very decidedly expressed her opinion in her face. Without +glancing at the young men, she turned on the Van Ness sisters a look of +extreme disapproval, while Elise looked frightened at the whole +proceeding. + +The two horrified countenances were too much for the Van Ness girls, +and they burst into peals of laughter. + +"Oh, my children," cried, Alicia, "did you really think us so +unconventional, even if we are from Chicago? These two boys are our +cousins, Bob and Guy Van Ness, and they are travelling with us in +charge of our parents. Stand up straight, infants, and be introduced. +Miss Farrington and Miss Fairfield, may I present Mr. Robert Van Ness +and Mr. Guy Porter Van Ness?" + +The young men made most deferential bows, and, greatly appreciating the +joke, Patty invited them to join their party, and offered them some of +her confectionery. + +"But it's a shame to sit here," observed Guy, "when there's lots of fun +going on up on the forward deck. Don't you girls want to go up there +and play shuffleboard?" + +"I do," said Patty readily; "I've always wanted to play shuffleboard, +though I've no idea whether it's played with a pack of cards or a tea +set." + +Guy laughed at this and promised to teach her the game at once. + +So they all went up to the upper deck, which was uncovered, and where, +in the sunlight, groups of young people were playing different games. + +Both Patty and Elise delighted in outdoor sports, and the Van Ness +girls were fond of anything athletic. During the games they all made +the acquaintance of Florrie Nash, who, though of an extreme English +type, proved less difficult to make friends with than they had feared. + +They also met several young men, among whom Patty liked best a young +Englishman of big-boyish, good-natured type, named Bert Chester, and a +young Frenchman of musical tastes. The latter was a violinist, by the +name of Pierre Pauvret. He seemed a trifle melancholy, Patty thought, +but exceedingly refined and well-bred. He stood by her side as she +leaned against the rail, looking at the water, and though evidently +desirous to be entertaining, he seemed to be at a loss for something to +say. + +Patty felt sorry for the youth and tried various subjects without +success in interesting him, until at last she chanced to refer to +music. At this Mr. Pauvret's face lighted up and he became enthusiastic +at once. + +"Ah, the music!" he exclaimed; "it is my life, it is my soul! And +you--do you yourself sing? Ah, I think yes." + +"I sing a little," said Patty, smiling kindly at him, "but I have not +had much training, and my voice is small." + +"Ah," said the Frenchman, "I have a certainty that you sing like an +angel. But we shall see--we shall see. There will be a concert on board +and you will sing. Is it not so?" + +"I don't know," said Patty, smiling; "I will sing with pleasure if I am +asked, but it may not give my audience pleasure." + +"It will be heaven for them!" declared the volatile young Frenchman, +clasping his hands in apparent ecstasy. + +His exaggerated manner amused Patty, for she dearly loved to study new +types of people, and she began to think there was a varied assortment +on board. + +Suddenly several people rushed wildly to the side of the boat. They +were followed by others, until it seemed as if everybody was crowding +to the rail. Patty followed, of course, and found herself standing by +the side of Bert Chester. + +"What is it?" she exclaimed. + +"A porpoise!" he replied, as if announcing an event of greatest +importance. + +"A porpoise!" echoed Patty, disgusted. "Such a fuss about a porpoise? +Why, it's nothing but a fish!" + +"My dear Miss Fairfield," said the Englishman, looking at her through +his single eyeglass, "tradition demands that steamer passengers shall +always make a fuss over a passing porpoise. To be sure it's only a +fish, but the fuss is because of tradition, not because of the fish." + +Patty had always thought that a single eyeglass betokened a brainless +fop, but this stalwart young Englishman wore his monocle so naturally, +and, moreover, so securely, that it seemed a component part of him. +And, too, his speech was that of a quick-witted, humorous mind, and +Patty began to think she must readjust her opinion. + +"Is it an English national trait," she said, "to be so in thrall to +tradition?" + +"I'm sorry to say it is," young Chester responded, somewhat gravely. +"In the matter of the porpoise it is of no great importance; but there +are other matters, do you see, where Englishmen are so hampered by +tradition that individual volition is often lost." + +This was more serious talk than Patty was accustomed to, but somehow +she felt rather flattered to be addressed thus, and she tried to answer +in kind. + +"But," she said, "if the tradition is the result of the wisdom of past +ages, may it not be of more value than individual volition?" + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Mr. Chester, "you have a clever little head on +your young shoulders, to take that point so adroitly. But let us defer +this somewhat serious discussion until another time and see if it is a +porpoise or something else that it attracting the curious crowd to the +other side of the ship." + +As they followed the hurrying people across the deck, Mr. Chester went +on: "After you have crossed the ocean a few more times you will +discover that there are only two things which make the people rush +frantically and in hordes to the rail. The one that isn't a porpoise is +a passing steamer." + +Sure enough, the object of interest this time was a distant steamer, +which was clearly visible on the horizon. It was sharply outlined +against the blue sky, and the sunlight gave it its true value of +colour, while the dark smoke that poured from its smokestack floated +back horizontally like a broad ribbon. But owing to the distance there +was no effect of motion, and even the smoke as well as the vessel +seemed to be stationary. + +"That isn't a real steamer," said Patty whimsically; "it's a +chromo-lithograph. I've often seen them in the offices of steamship +companies. This one isn't framed, as they usually are, but it's only a +chromo all the same. There's no mistaking its bright colouring and that +badly painted smoke." + +Young Chester laughed. "You Americans are so clever," he said. "Now an +English girl would never have known that that was only a painted +steamer. But as you say, you can tell by the smoke. That's pretty badly +done." + +Patty took a decided liking to this jesting Englishman, and thought him +much more entertaining than the melancholy French musician. + +She discovered that very evening that Mr. Chester possessed a fine +voice, and when after dinner a dozen or more young people gathered +round the chairs of the Farrington party, they all sang songs until +Mrs. Farrington declared she never wanted to attend a more delightful +concert. + +Mr. Pauvret brought his violin, and the Van Ness boys produced a banjo +and a madolin. Everybody seemed to sing at least fairly well, and some +of the voices were really fine. Patty's sweet soprano received many +compliments, as also did Elise's full, clear contralto. The girls were +accustomed to singing together, and Mr. Pauvret proved himself a true +musician by his sympathetic accompaniments. + +Everybody knew the popular songs of the day, and choruses and glees +were sung with that enthusiasm which is always noticeable on the water. + +The merry party adjourned to the dining-room for a light supper after +their vocal exercises. + +Patty was sorry that her friend and tablemate, the old Ma'amselle, had +not been visible since that first dinner. Upon inquiry she learned that +the old lady had fallen a victim to the effects of the rolling sea. + +"But she'll soon be around again," said the captain in his bluff, +cheery way; "Ma'amselle Labesse has crossed with me many times, and +though she usually succumbs for two or three days, she is a good sailor +after that. She is passionately fond of music, too, and when she is +about again you young people must make the old ship ring for her." + +This they readily promised to do, and then they wound up the evening by +a vigorous rendition of the "Marseillaise," followed by "The Star +Spangled Banner" and "God Save the King." + +It was all a delightful experience for Patty, who dearly loved lights +and music and flowers and people and gay goings on, and she felt that +she was indeed a fortunate girl to have all these pleasures come to her. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +DAYS AT SEA + + +The time on shipboard passed all too quickly. + +Each day was crammed full of various amusements and occupations, and +Patty and Elise enjoyed it all thoroughly. + +Although the majority of passengers were French, yet they nearly all +spoke English, and there were a number of Americans and English people, +who proved to be pleasant and companionable. + +The young people from Chicago seemed to wear well, and as she grew to +know them better Patty liked them very much. The Van Ness girls, though +breezy in their manner, were warm-hearted and good-natured, and their +boy cousins were always ready for anything, and proved themselves +capable of good comradeship. + +The English girl, Florrie Nash, Patty could not quite understand. +Florrie seemed to be willing to be friends, but there was a coldness +and reserve about her nature that Patty could not seem to penetrate. + +As she expressed it to Elise, "Florrie never seems herself quite +certain whether she likes us or we like her." + +"Oh, it's only her way," said Elise; "she doesn't know how to chum, +that's all." + +But Patty was not satisfied with this, and determined to investigate +the matter. + +"Come for a walk," she said, tucking her arm through Florrie's one +morning. "Let's walk around the deck fifty times all by ourselves. +Don't you want to?" + +"Yes, if you like;" and Florrie walked along by Patty's side, +apparently willing enough, but without enthusiasm. + +"Why do you put it that way?" asked Patty, smiling; "don't you like to +go yourself?" + +"Yes, of course I do; but I always say that when people ask me to do +anything. It's habit, I suppose. All English people say it." + +"I suppose it is habit," said Patty; "but it seems to me you'd have a +whole lot better time if you felt more interest in things, or rather, +if you expressed more interest. Now look at the Van Ness girls; they're +just bubbling over with enthusiasm." + +"The Van Ness girls are savages," remarked Florrie, with an air of +decision. + +"Indeed they're not!" cried Patty, who was always ready to stand up for +her friends. "The trouble with you, Florrie, is that you're +narrow-minded; you think that unless people have your ways and your +manners they are no good at all." + +"Not quite that," returned Florrie, laughing. "Of course, we English +have our prejudices, and other people call us narrow; but I think we +shall always be so." + +"I suppose you will," said Patty; "but anyway you would have more fun +if you enjoyed yourself more." + +"It's good of you, Patty, to care whether I enjoy myself or not." + +Florrie's tone was so sincere and humble as she said this that Patty +began to realise there was a good deal of character under Florrie's +indifferent manner. + +"Of course I care. I have grown to like you, Florrie, in these few +days, and I want to be good friends with you, if you'll let me." + +"If you like," said Florrie again, and Patty perceived that the phrase +was merely a habit and did not mean the indifference it expressed. + +"And I want you to visit me," went on Florrie. "I'm travelling now to +Paris with my aunt, who took me to the States for a trip. From Paris I +shall soon go back to my country home in England, and I wish you would +visit me there--you and Elise both. Oh, Patty, you have no idea how +beautiful England is in the springtime. The may blooms thickly along +the lanes, till they're masses of pink fragrance; and the sky is the +most wonderful blue, and the birds sing, and it is like nothing else in +all the world." + +The tears came into Florrie's eyes as she spoke, and Patty was amazed +that this cold-blooded girl should be so moved at the mere thought of +the spring landscape. + +"I should dearly love to visit you, Florrie, but I can't promise, of +course, for I'm with the Farringtons, and must do as they say." + +"Yes, of course; but I do hope you can come. You would love our country +place, Patty; it is so large, and so old, and so beautiful." + +Florrie said this with no effect of boasting, but merely with a sincere +appreciation of her beautiful home. Then as she went on to tell of the +animals and pets there, and of the park and woods of the estate, Patty +found that the girl could indeed be enthusiastic when she chose. + +This made Patty like her all the better, for it proved she had +enthusiasm enough when a subject appealed to her. + +But when they were joined by the crowd of gay young people begging them +to come and play games, Florrie seemed to shut up into herself again, +and assumed once more her air of cold indifference. + +But if Florrie was lacking in enthusiasm, it was not so with another of +Patty's friends. + +Ma'amselle Labesse, who had recovered from her indisposition, had taken +a violent fancy to Patty and would have liked to monopolise her +completely. + +Patty was kind to the old lady and did much to entertain her, but she +was not willing to give up all her time to her. The old ma'amselle +greatly delighted to carry Patty off to her stateroom, there to talk to +her or listen to her read aloud. Except for her maid, ma'amselle was +alone, and Patty felt sorry for her and was glad to cheer her up. Not +that she needed cheering exactly, for she was of a merry and volatile +disposition, except when she gave way to exhibitions of temper, which +were not infrequent. + +One morning she called Patty to her room, and surprised the girl by +giving her a present of a handsome and valuable old necklace. It was of +curiously wrought gold, and though Patty admired it extremely, she +hesitated about accepting such a gift from a comparative stranger. + +"But yes," said ma'amselle, "it is for you. I wish to give it to you. I +have taken such a fancy to you, you could scarce believe. And I adore +to decorate you thus." She clasped the necklace about Patty's throat, +with an air that plainly said she would be much offended if the gift +were refused. So Patty decided to keep it, at least until she could get +an opportunity to ask Mrs. Farrington's advice on the subject. + +When she did ask her, Mrs. Farrington told her to keep it by all means. +She said she had no doubt the old ma'amselle enjoyed making the gift +far more than Patty was pleased to receive it, so Patty kept the +trinket, which was really a very fine specimen of the goldsmith's art. + +"And, my dear," the old lady went on, the day that she gave Patty the +necklace, "you must and shall come to visit me in my chateau. My home +is the most beautifull--an old chateau at St. Germain, not far from +Paris, and you can come, but often, and stay with me for the long time." + +Patty thanked her, but would not promise, as she had made up her mind +to accept no invitations that could not include the Farringtons. + +But Ma'amselle Labesse did include the Farringtons, and invited the +whole party to visit her in the winter. + +Mrs. Farrington gave no definite answer, but said she would see about +it, and perhaps they would run out for the week-end. + +For the first five or six days of their journey the weather was perfect +and the ocean calm and level. But one morning they awoke to find it +raining, and later the rain developed into a real storm. The wind blew +furiously and the boat pitched about in a manner really alarming. The +old ma'amselle took to her stateroom, and Mrs. Farrington also was +unable to leave hers. But the girls were pleased rather than otherwise. +Patty and Elise proved themselves thoroughly good sailors, and were +among the few who appeared at the table at luncheon. + +After the meal, Bob and Guy Van Ness came up to the girls and asked +them if they cared to brave the storm sufficiently to go out on deck. +Elise, though not timid, declared that she could see all she wished +through the windows; but Patty, always ready for a new experience, +expressed her desire to go. + +She put on her own little rain-coat and tied a veil over her small cap, +but when she presented herself as ready the boys laughed at her +preparations. + +"That fancy little mackintosh is no good," said Bob; "but you wait a +minute, Patty; we'll fix you." + +Bob disappeared, and soon returned, bringing from somewhere an oilskin +coat and cap of a brilliant yellow color. These enveloped Patty +completely, and as the boys were arrayed in similar fashion, they +looked like three members of a life-saving corps, or, as Patty said, +like the man in the advertisement of cod-liver oil. + +Although the yellow oilskins were by no means beautiful, yet Patty's +rosy face peeping out from under the queer-shaped, ear-flapped cap was +a pretty picture. + +Laughing with glee, they stepped out on the deck into the storm. The +stepping out was no easy matter, for the wind was blowing a hurricane +and the spray was dashing across the decks, while the rain seemed to +come from all directions at once. + +With the two big boys on either side of her, Patty felt no fear, and as +they walked forward toward the bow of the ship she felt well repaid for +coming out by the grandeur of the sight. It was impossible to +distinguish sea from sky, as both were of the same leaden grey, and the +torrents of rain added to the obscurity. The ocean was in a turmoil, +frothing and fuming, and the waves rolled over and broke against the +ship with angry vehemence. Patty, though not frightened, was awed at +the majesty of the elements, and did not in the least mind the rain and +spray in her face as she gazed at the scene. + +"You're good wood!" exclaimed Guy; "not many girls could stand up +against a storm like this." + +Patty shook the wet curls out of her eyes as she smiled up at him. "I +love it!" she exclaimed, but she could hardly make her voice heard for +the roar of the sea and the storm. + +Up and down the decks they walked, or rather tried to walk, now +battling against the wind, and now being swept along in front of it, +until almost exhausted, Patty dropped down on a coil of rope in a +comparatively sheltered corner. The boys sat down beside her, and they +watched the angry ocean. At times the great waves seemed as if they +would engulf the pitching ship, but after each wave the steamer righted +herself proudly and prepared to careen again on the next. + +After a time Patty declared she'd had enough of it, and also expressed +her opinion that oilskins were not such a positive protection against +the wet as they were reputed to be. + +So indoors they went, warm and glowing from their vigorous exercise, +and their appetites sharpened by their rough battle with the weather. + +Every day there seemed to be something new to do. + +"I've been told," said Patty, "that life on an ocean steamer is +monotonous, but I can't find any monotony. We've done something +different every day, haven't we, Elise?" + +"Yes; and next will be the concert, and that will be best of all. What +are you going to sing, Patty?" + +"I don't know. I don't want to sing at all, but your mother said I'd +better sing once, because they all insist on it so, and I do like to be +accommodating." + +"I should think you did, Patty; you're never anything but +accommodating." + +"Oh, pooh! It's no trouble to me to sing. I'd just as lief do it as +not; only it seems foolish for me to sing when there are so many older +people with better voices to do it." + +"Well, sing some simple little ballad, and I don't believe but what the +people will like it just as much as the arias and things sung by the +more pretentious singers." + +So Patty followed Elise's advice, and when the night of the concert +came her name was on the programme for one song. + +And, as Elise had thought, it pleased the audience quite as well as +some of the more elaborate efforts. + +Patty wore one of her pretty new dresses, a simple little frock of +white chiffon cloth, with touches here and there of light blue velvet. +Her only ornament was the necklace that Ma'amselle Labesse had given +her, and in her curly golden hair was a single white rose. + +Very sweet she looked as she stood on the platform to sing her little +song. She had chosen "My Ain Countree" as being likely to please a +popular audience, and also not difficult to sing. + +Mr. Pauvret accompanied her on his violin, and so effective was his +accompaniment and so sweet pretty Patty's singing of the old song, that +their performance proved to be the most attractive number on the +programme. So prolonged was the applause and so persistent the cry of +"Encore!" that Patty felt she really must respond with another song. + +So she sang Stevenson's little verses, "In Winter I Get Up at Night," +which have been set to such delightful music. Again Mr. Pauvret's +accompaniment added to the charm of the song, and Patty returned to her +place in the audience, quite embarrassed at the praises heaped upon her. + +Elise sang, too, in a quartette of four girls. They had practised +together considerably, and sang really well. There were many other +musical numbers, interspersed with monologues and recitations, and the +programme wound up with a series of tableaux. + +Patty was in her element in these, and had helped to arrange them. She +took part in some of them herself, and in others she arranged the +groups to form effective pictures. An immense gilt picture frame, +stretched across with gauze, was at the front of the stage. This was +held up on either side by two able-bodied seamen of the ship, in their +sailor costume. All of the tableaux were shown as pictures in this +frame, and they called forth enthusiastic and appreciative applause. + +Old Ma'amselle Labesse had been induced to appear in one of the +tableaux, and as she possessed strikingly handsome costumes, she wore +one of the prettiest, and made an easily recognisable representation of +a painting by Nattier. Altogether the concert was a great success and +everybody had a good time. It was expected that they would see land the +next day, and so the concert partook of the nature of a farewell +function. Everybody was shaking hands and saying good-bye to everybody +else, and after many good wishes and good-nights our two tired and +sleepy girls went to their stateroom. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +PARIS + + +The next morning the girls spent in packing and getting ready to go +ashore. "I'm sure I don't know where all these things came from," said +Patty; "but I know I have just about twice as many earthly possessions +as I had when I came aboard. I hate to pitch them out of the porthole, +but I simply can't get them all in my trunks." + +"Nor I," said Elise. "People have been giving us things ever since we +started, and we must be greedies, because we haven't given anything +away, and now what shall we do with them?" + +"Let's give a lot away," said Patty. "We've pretty much read all we +want to of this mountain of light literature. Let's give it all to the +stewardess; and what do you think, Elise, about giving Yankee Doodle to +the captain? He is a blessed old bear, and I hate to look forward to +life without him, but I don't see how we can cart him to Paris, unless +we carry him in our arms, and that's where I draw the line." + +"So do I," declared Elise. "We might ask Lisette to carry him, but I +know she wouldn't want to do it. Yes, let's give him to the captain as +a souvenir of our trip." + +This plan was carried out, and the captain was really delighted at the +comical gift. He said he should always keep it as a remembrance of the +donors, and he hoped that when they returned to America they would +again travel on his ship. + +The steamer stopped at Plymouth and then went straight on to Havre. +Everybody was in a great state of excitement; passengers were getting +off and mails getting on at Plymouth, and plenty of wonderful and +interesting things to look at as they sailed along the channel. + +Patty felt truly sorry to say good-bye to many of the friends she had +made on board. But from others she would not be parted until they +reached Paris. The Van Ness party, the old Ma'amselle, Florrie Nash, +Bert Chester, and Mr. Pauvret were all going in the special train to +Paris, as the Farringtons were. + +Patty thought this meant they could all travel together, but to her +surprise she found the French trains very different from those on +American railroads. + +The special boat-train which they were to take left directly from the +steamer's dock and was an express direct to Paris without stop, landing +them there in less than four hours. + +The Farrington party had a whole compartment in this train, and as a +compartment only holds six people, they comfortably filled it, using +the extra seat for hand luggage and so forth. + +Patty thought the appointments more luxurious than our own +parlour-cars, for the seats were beautifully upholstered in a +pearl-grey material, and everything was lavishly decorated, after the +French fashion. All of these compartments opened on to a corridor which +ran along the side of the car, and Patty soon discovered that thus she +could visit her neighbours in the other compartments. + +Both Patty and Elise were greatly excited and interested in watching +the French landscapes, and trying to make out the names of the towns +through which they rapidly flew. But with the exception of some of the +larger towns they could not read the names, and so gave that up for the +more interesting occupation of watching the villages and hamlets as +they succeeded each other. + +Bert Chester came in to visit them, and expressed a hope that he might +see them in Paris. + +He was to remain there only a week, and then he was to join some of his +friends, some young Englishmen, and go for a short motor tour in +southern France. + +Mr. Farrington said that he expected to take his party motoring along +the same route, but did not expect to go at present. + +Young Chester was sorry that they could not go together, but said that +perhaps when Mr. Farrington was ready he and his friends would come +over again for another spin. + +Bert Chester was a son of a wealthy English squire, and though +distinctly British in his ways, was broad-minded enough to like +Americans, and moreover was a young man of innate politeness and +affable manners. The elder Farringtons liked him extremely, and +cordially invited him to come to see them while in Paris. + +"We sha'n't have a house of our own just at first," explained Elise; +"we're going to a hotel while father and mother look around and select +a house for the winter." + +"I'm glad," said Patty, "to go to a hotel first. I've never stayed at a +big hotel, and I'm sure it will be delightful for a time." + + [Illustration with caption: "The next morning the girls spent in +packing and getting ready to go ashore"] + +"You'll like the one you're going to," said Chester. "The Ritz is +really the old palace of the Castiglione, an ancient French family, and +though it is, of course, somewhat rebuilt, much of the original +remains, especially the beautiful old garden with its wonderful trees +and fountain. I'll give you a day or two to 'find yourselves,' and then +I shall come around to call, and shall expect you to be glad to see me." + +"We'll be very glad to see you," said Patty cordially, for she had a +sincere liking for the young Englishman. + +Then Patty and Elise went with Bert to look in for a little chat with +the Van Ness party. Although Patty liked the Van Ness girls in a way, +she was rather relieved to find that they were not going to the same +hotel. + +Patty had an intuitive sense of the fitness of things, and she couldn't +help thinking that the Van Ness sisters, though good-hearted and +good-natured, were of a type apt to be a trifle too conspicuous in a +large hotel. The Farringtons were quiet-mannered folk, and Patty had +often noticed and admired the dignified yet pleasant manner which Mr. +Farrington invariably showed to officials or to servants. + +He never gave orders in a loud voice or dictatorial manner, yet his +orders were always carried out obediently and willingly, and everybody +showed him the greatest respect and deference. Mr. Van Ness on the +other hand was imperious and ostentatious. He was prone to be critical, +and often became annoyed at trifles. Patty was rapidly learning that +the true character can be very easily discovered among one's travelling +companions. There is something about the friction of travel that brings +out all that is worst and best in one's disposition. + +And so when Patty found that the Van Nesses were going to a different +hotel from themselves she was really glad, though she hoped to see them +occasionally during their stay in Paris. + +The train reached the Gare du Nord at about six o'clock, and when our +party went into the rather dimly lighted station Patty thought she had +never before seen such pandemonium. Everybody seemed to be in trouble +of some sort. Some were running hither and thither, exclaiming and +expostulating, but apparently to no avail. Others sat hopelessly and +helplessly on their own luggage, seeming to despair of ever getting any +further. + +The luggage room was an immense place, stone-floored and rather damp. +There were several separate counters where passengers were supposed to +attend to the checking of their baggage; but though there were plenty +of officials and porters about, none of them seemed anxious or even +willing to wait upon anybody. Patty saw many people appeal to one man +after another in a vain hope of getting their wants attended to. But it +seemed to be almost impossible. To those who could not speak French the +situation was hopeless indeed. Patty watched one poor lady, who seemed +to be travelling alone, and who continually inquired of the stolid and +unobliging porters, "Do you speak English?" and invariably received the +reply, "Non, madame; non, madame." The lonely little lady seemed to be +in despair, and Patty wished she could help her, but she did not know +herself what made the difficulty. At last she discovered that it was +necessary to get a customs inspector and a porter and a railway +official all together in one place and at one time. This done, the rest +was easy, at least to the traveller who knew sufficient French to make +his wants known. + +This Mr. Farrington managed to accomplish after some delay. The +official ceremonies then being soon over, and our travellers having +repeatedly declared that they were transporting nothing eatable, they +were allowed to drive away in cabs. The cabs in Paris are of the low, +open pattern, like a victoria, and they looked very strange and +informal to Patty, who had never seen any but closed cabs or hansoms. +Mr. and Mrs. Farrington rode in the first cab, which was followed by +another, containing Patty and Elise, with Lisette, who sat on the +small, folding front seat. + +Patty held her breath with excitement when she realised that she was in +Paris at last. + +They drove through the streets, which were not very well lighted, +gazing eagerly at the strange sights everywhere about them. + +Their hotel was in the Place Vendome, and the drive there from the +station was not through the beautiful boulevards, but through some +narrow and not particularly clean streets. + +But when they rolled into the Rue de la Paix and drove toward the Place +Vendome, the girls began to think that Paris was beautiful, after all. + +It was rather more than dusk, but not dark, and the great square, with +its circumference of colonnaded buildings, and the wonderful column in +the centre, was exceedingly impressive, and filled Patty's soul with a +rapturous awe. + +"Oh, Elise," she cried, grasping her companion's hand; "I never +supposed Paris would be like this! I thought it would be bright and gay +and festive; but instead of that, it's grand and solemn and +awe-inspiring." + +"So it is, here," said Elise; "but there is plenty of brightness and +gaiety in some parts of the city, I expect. Of course, this is historic +ground, and I suppose it was pretty much as it is now in the days when +they were building French history. That's Napoleon on top of that +statue, though you can't recognise him from here. You know about the +column, of course. It's been overthrown and rebuilt three or four +times." + +"Yes, I remember studying about it in French history. It was torn down +at the time of the Commune, and later re-erected from the fragments. +But you know when you study those dry facts they don't seem to mean +anything; but to be here, really in Paris, looking at that wonderful +column, in this dusky light, and the stars just beginning to show--oh, +Elise, it's more like fairy tales than history!" + +"I love it, too," said Elise; "and I'm so glad to be here with you. Oh, +Patty, we are going to have a beautiful time!" + +"Well, I rather guess we are!" said Patty, with true Yankee enthusiasm. + +Then their cabs drove in at the arched entrance of the Hotel Ritz, and +a most important looking personage in blue uniform assisted them to +alight. Other attendants in unostentatious livery swung open the glass +doors and our party entered. The proprietor, who advanced to meet them, +was a courtly, polite Frenchman, in correct evening dress, whose suave +and deferential manner was truly typical of his race. He seemed to take +a personal interest in his newly arrived guests, and himself conducted +them to their apartments. + +Patty followed with the rest, feeling almost like pinching herself to +see if she were awake or in an enchanted dream. The hotel was +particularly beautiful, and the furnishings unlike any she had ever +seen before. Carpets, furniture, and decorations were all in the palest +tints of lovely colours. Doors and windows and many of the partitioned +walls were of glass, in ornate gilt frames, through which one could see +fascinating rooms beyond. A few choice pictures hung on the walls, and +here and there were French cabinets of curios and rare laces. + +The elevator seemed to be entirely of glass, and was furnished with +dainty white upholstery and gilded woodwork. Bouquets of fresh flowers +were here and there on small tables in the rooms and halls. + +The suite of rooms allotted to the Farringtons looked out upon the +Place Vendome, and Patty flew to the window to gaze again upon the +beautiful scene. + +The rooms were daintily furnished with the same exquisite taste that +prevailed throughout the house. Lace curtains framed the deep-seated +windows, an Empire clock and candelabra graced the carved mantel, and +the furniture was rich and abundant. + +"I don't think," said Patty, "that I ever saw a more beautiful palace. +And I'm so glad I'm here I don't know what to do! Just think of it, +Elise, we'll live here in this lovely room for a fortnight anyway!" + +"It is lovely," said Elise; "but I expect we'll get tired of hotel life +and be glad to have a home of our own." + +"Very likely," said Patty, with a little sigh of content; "but I shall +be perfectly happy wherever we are." + +"I believe you will, Patty," said Elise, laughing; "you love this +beautiful place, but if it hadn't been half as pretty, you would have +made just as much fuss over it." + +"I know it," said Patty, rather apologetically; "but I can't help it, +Elise. I seem to be made that way. When I like anything, you know, I +enjoy it just as much as I possibly can, and that's all I can do, +anyway." + +The room which the two girls were to share was a large double-bedded +apartment, with dressing rooms and bath adjoining. It was perfect in +every detail of comfort and luxury as well as beauty, but when Lisette +came in to assist the girls in dressing for dinner she found them both +hanging out of the front windows gazing at the Vendome Column. + +However, they expressed themselves as quite ready to prepare for +dinner, and after doning pretty light costumes, they joined Mr. and +Mrs. Farrington, and went down to the dining-room. + +The dining-room proper of the hotel was an indoor apartment, but all +through the summer the guests were accustomed to dine under the open +sky, at small tables in the garden. + +Owing to an unusually late season, it was still warm enough to dine +outside, and when Patty saw the scene in the garden she thought Paris +was fairyland indeed. Though called a garden, it was really a +stone-paved court, but all round its edge on two sides were large old +trees with gnarled and twisted trunks and thick foliage of glossy +green. Under the trees were flower-beds full of blossoming plants, and +in the branches of the trees themselves were hung vari-coloured globes +of electric lights about the size of an orange. The effect of these +brilliant spheres in the dark trees was as beautiful as it was unusual, +and the scene was further made bright by arches and festoons of +brilliant coloured lights, which crossed and twined above their heads +in every direction. At the end of the garden was an immense fountain +surrounded by statues, and playing many jets of water, which flashed +and sparkled in the light. + +Around two sides of the garden ran the verandas of the hotel, and the +diners could sit on these verandas or out in the open, as they +preferred. + +The gay scene was completed by the throngs of people; the French women +in their dainty costumes, the French men with their correct garb and +demeanour, as well as a good sprinkling of strangers from other +countries. + +So interested was Patty in looking at it all that she declared she +didn't want a thing to eat. But when the choice selections of French +cookery were placed before her, she changed her mind and did full +justice to the repast. + +After dinner they sat for a short time in the drawing-room, and then +Mr. Farrington declared they must all go to rest, as he had planned a +busy day for them on the morrow. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +SIGHTSEEING + + +They rose next morning to find a perfect autumn day awaiting them. To +Patty's surprise, dainty breakfast trays were brought to their bedsides. + +"It is the custom of the country," Elise explained; "nobody ever goes +downstairs to breakfast in Paris." + +"It's a custom that suits me well enough--at least, what there is of +it. I'm free to confess that this rather smallish cup of chocolate and +two not very large rolls and a tiny bit of butter do not seem to me all +that a healthy appetite can desire." + +"I'm afraid you're an incorrigible American," said Elise, laughing. +"Now, this little spread is ample for me, but I dare say you can have +more if you want it." + +"No indeed," said Patty; "when I'm in Paris, I'll do as the Romans do, +even if I starve." + +But Patty didn't starve, for it was not long before Mr. Farrington sent +word that the girls were to come downstairs as soon as possible, +equipped for a drive. + +But before the drive he insisted that they should eat a good and +substantial breakfast, as he wanted them to put in a long morning +sightseeing. + +Mrs. Farrington had concluded not to go with them, as she was resting +after her journey, and, moreover, the sights were not such a novelty to +her as they would be to the young people. + +So when they were all ready to start they found an automobile at the +door, waiting for them. + +"This is the most comfortable way to see Paris," said Mr. Farrington as +they got in. "I have taken this car for a week on trial, and if it +proves satisfactory we can keep it all winter." + +A chauffeur drove the car, and Mr. Farrington sat in the tonneau +between the two girls, that he might point out to them the places of +interest. + +If Patty had thought Paris beautiful by night she thought it even more +so in the clear, bright sunshine. There is no sunshine in the world +quite so clearly bright as that of Paris, or at least it seems so. + +"I want you to get the principal locations fixed in your minds," said +Mr. Farrington, "so now, as you see, we are starting from the Place +Vendome, going straight down the short Rue Castiglione to the Rue de +Rivoli. Now, we have reached the corner, and we turn into the Rue de +Rivoli. This is a beautiful street, crowded with shops on one side, and +on the other side at this point you see the garden of the Tuileries. We +turn to the right and go directly to the Place de la Concorde. As we +reach it you may see to the right, up through the Rue Royale, the +Church of the Madeleine. That is one of the most beautiful of the Paris +churches, and you shall visit it, of course, but not now. To-day I want +you to get merely a birdseye view, a sort of general idea of locations. +But here we are in the Place de la Concorde. The Obelisk, which you see +in the centre, was brought from Egypt many years ago. It is very like +our own Obelisk in Central Park, and also Cleopatra's needle in London. +From here we turn into one of the most beautiful avenues in the world, +the Champs Elysees. This avenue extends from the Place de la Concorde +to the Arc de Triomphe. Viewing it as we do now, rolling along this +perfect road in a motor car--or automobile, as we must learn to call it +while in France--you are taking, no doubt, one of the most perfect +rides in the world. The full name of the arch is Arc de Triomphe de +l'Etoile. This means a star, and it is called thus because it is a +centre from which radiate no less than a dozen beautiful avenues. We +will drive slowly round the arch, that you may see its general beauty, +but we will not now stop to examine it closely." + +"It is so different," exclaimed Patty, "to see these things in reality, +or to study about them in history. I've seen pictures of this arch lots +of times, but it never seemed before as if it were a real thing. Isn't +it beautiful! I think I could spend a whole day looking at it." + +Patty's love of the beautiful was intuitive and all embracing. She knew +little of architecture or sculpture technically, but the sublime +majesty and imposing grandeur of the noble arch impressed her, as it +does all true beauty lovers. + +"The continuation of the Champs Elysees beyond the arch," went on Mr. +Farrington, "changes its name and becomes the Avenue de la Grand Armee. +But we will not continue along that way at present, but take the next +avenue to the left, which is the Avenue du Bois de Boulogne." + +"Why, I thought that was a forest," said Patty; "is it a street?" + +"It's an avenue," replied Mr. Farrington, "and it leads to the forest, +or rather park, which is called the Bois de Boulogne. We can take only +a short drive into the park, but you may see a few of the beautiful +chateaus, which are the homes of the wealthy or aristocratic French +people. You will not meet many equipages at this hour in the morning, +but late in the afternoon there is a continuous stream of fine turnouts +of all sorts. There are many, many places of interest in the Bois, but +as we have all winter in which to visit them, we will content ourselves +to-day with a brief visit." + +"It begins to look," said Patty, "as if even a whole winter would be +all too short to see the beauties and glories of this wonderful Paris." + +"Indeed, it would be too short to see everything of interest, but I can +assure you, my child, that with an automobile and some idea of +systematic sightseeing we can do a great deal even in one winter." + +Mr. Farrington pointed out various prominent buildings as they passed +them, and then, turning round, went back to the city. A swift ride +about Paris showed to the girls such interesting places as the Louvre, +and the Hotel de Ville, the Place de la Bastile, the Hotel des +Invalides, the Pantheon, and the Church of Notre-Dame. + +At the last named Mr. Farrington proposed that they get out and make a +short visit to the cathedral. + +They did so, and both Patty and Elise were much impressed by the noble +beauty of the interior. + +As they passed around the church Patty noticed a little Frenchwoman, +who seemed to be selling candles. The candles were of an unusual +type-long, slender and very tapering. It occurred to Patty that she +would like to take some home to Nan, as they would be most effective in +an odd brass candlestick which was one of Nan's chief treasures. The +candlestick had seven branches, and as her French seemed to desert her +at the critical moment, Patty indicated her wants by holding up seven +fingers, pointing to the candles and then taking out her purse. + +The Frenchwoman seemed to understand, and began counting out seven +candles. Patty looked anxiously after Mr. Farrington and Elise, who had +gone on ahead, not noticing that Patty had stopped. But she knew she +could soon catch up to them if only she could get her candles and +manage to pay for them in the confusing and unfamiliar French money. As +she was counting out the change, greatly to her surprise, the +Frenchwoman lighted her seven candles, one after the other. Patty +exclaimed in dismay, wondering if she did it to test their wicks, or +what could be the reason. But even as she watched her the woman placed +the candles, all seven of them, in a sort of a branched candlestick on +the wall above her head. + +"Non! Non!" cried Patty; "they are MINE, MINE! comprenez-vous? Mine!" + +"Oui, oui, oui," exclaimed the Frenchwoman, nodding her head +complacently, and taking Patty's money, which she put in a box on the +table before her. + +"But I want them!" cried Patty. "I want to take them away with me!" + +Still the woman smiled amiably, and Patty realised she was not +understanding a word. But all Patty's French, and it was not very much +at best, seemed to fly out of her head and she could not even think how +to say, "I wish to take them away with me." So seeing nothing else to +do, she cut the Gordian knot of her dilemma by reaching up and taking +the candles from the sockets. She blew them out, and holding them in a +bundle, said pleasantly, "Papier?" having thought of a French word at +last that expressed what she wished. + +The woman looked at her in amazement, as if she had done something +wrong, and poor Patty was thoroughly perplexed. + +"Why, I bought them," she exclaimed, forgetting the Frenchwoman could +not understand her, "and I paid you for them, and now they're mine, And +I'm going to take them away. If you won't give me any paper to wrap +them in, I'll carry them as they are. Eon jour!" + +But by this time Mr. Farrington and Elise had returned in search of +their missing comrade, and Patty appealed to Mr. Farrington, explaining +that she had purchased the candles. + +"Why, yes, they're yours, child, and certainly you may take them away +if you like. But it is not customary; usually people buy the candles to +burn at the shrine of their patron saint, or in memory of some friend, +and, of course, the woman supposed that was your intention." + +"Well, I'm glad to understand it," said Patty, "and I wish you'd please +explain it to her, for I certainly do want to keep the candles, and I +couldn't make her understand." + +So Mr. Farrington explained the state of the case in French that the +woman could understand, and all was well, and Patty walked off in +triumph with her candles. + +Then they went back past the Louvre, and leaving the automobile again, +they went for a short walk in the garden of the Tuileries. This also +fascinated Patty, and she thought it beautiful beyond all words. + +After that Mr. Farrington declared that the girls must be exhausted, +and he took them to a delightful cafe, where he refreshed them with +ices and small cakes. + +"Now," he said, "I don't suppose the Eternal Feminine in your nature +will be satisfied without doing a little shopping. The large shops--the +Bon Marche and the Magasin du Louvre--are very like our own department +stores, and if you choose you may go there at some other time with Mrs. +Farrington or Lisette, for I confess my ignorance of feminine +furbelows. But I will take you to one or two interesting shops on the +Rue de Rivoli, and then if we have time to a few in the Avenue de +l'Opera." + +Their first stop was at a picture shop, and Patty nearly went wild over +the beautiful photographs and water colours. She wanted to purchase +several, but Mr. Farrington advised her to wait until later, when she +should perhaps be better able to judge what she really wanted. + +"For you see," he said, "after you have been to the Louvre and other +great galleries, and have made favourites, as you will, among the +pictures there, you will then be able to collect your photographs more +intelligently." + +Patty was quite ready to abide by this advice, and she and Elise +enjoyed looking over the pictures and anticipating future purchases. + +But though the shops along the Rue de Rivoli were attractive, they were +not nearly so splendid as those on the Avenue de l'Opera. Indeed, Mr. +Farrington almost regretted having brought the girls there, for they +quite forgot all else in their delight in looking at the beautiful +wares. They seemed content just to walk along the avenue looking in at +the shop windows. + +"I don't want to buy anything yet," declared Patty. "Later on I expect +to get souvenirs for all of the people at home, and I have any amount +of orders to execute for Marian." + +"Won't it be fun to do our shopping here?" exclaimed Elise. "I never +saw such lovely things, and truly, Patty, the prices marked on them are +quite cheap. Much more reasonable than in New York, I think." + +"So do I. And oh, Elise, just look at the lovely things in this window! +See that lovely pen-wiper, and that dear paper-cutter! Aren't they +unusual?" + +"Yes," exclaimed Elise, equally rapturous; "I don't wonder, Patty, that +people like to shop in Paris. It is truly fascinating. But just wait +until we get mother out here with us instead of father. She won't +fidget around as if she wanted us to go home before we've fairly +started!" + +Elise looked reproachfully at her father, who was undeniably fidgeting. + +"I'm glad you appreciate the fact," he said, "that I am impatient to +get away from these shop windows. Never again will I introduce two +young girls into the Parisian shopping district. I've learned my +lesson; I'll take you sightseeing, but Mrs. Farrington must take you +shopping." + +Patty laughed good-naturedly, and expressed her willingness to return +at once to the hotel. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +AN EXCURSION TO VERSAILLES + + +One evening, as our party sat in the drawing-room of the hotel, after +dinner, some callers' cards were brought to them. The guests proved to +be Bert Chester and his three friends, of whom he had told Patty +before. The four young men were about to start on a motor tour, and +were spending a few days in Paris first. + +They were all big stalwart young Englishmen, and when Bert introduced +Paul and Philip Marchbanks and Arthur Oram, Patty thought she had never +seen more pleasant-looking boys. + +"We're jolly glad to be allowed to come to see you," said Phil +Marchbanks, addressing Mrs. Farrington, but including them all in his +conversation; "we know almost nobody in Paris, and we're so glad to see +some friendly faces." + +"We may as well own up," said his brother Paul, "that we're just a bit +homesick. We're going to have a fine time, of course, after we get +started, but it takes a few days to get used to it." + +It amused Patty to think of these great, big boys being homesick, but +she rather liked their frank admission of it, and she began to ask them +questions about their automobile. + +The boys had no chauffeur with them, and Arthur Oram drove the car, +with occasional assistance from the others. Of course, the boys were +enthusiastic regarding their car, and young Oram particularly fell into +discussions with Mr. Farrington as to the respective merits of various +makes. + +"We've done up Paris pretty well," said Bert Chester; "we've only been +arrested for speeding once; but that's not surprising, for they let you +go about as fast as you like here, and with their marvellously fine +roads, it's more like skating than anything else." + +"But you only arrived here when we did," said Elise; "how can you have +done up Paris so soon?" + +"Well, you see," said Bert, "we're not going to write a book about it, +so we didn't have to take it all in. We've seen the outside of the +Louvre, and the inside of Napoleon's tomb; we've been to the top of the +Eiffel tower, and the bottom of the Catacombs; so we flatter ourselves +that we've done up the length and breadth and height and depths,--at +least to our own satisfaction." + +"It's a great mistake," said Phil Marchbanks, "to overdo this +sightseeing business. A little goes a great way with me, and if I bolt +a whole lot of sights all at once, I find I can't digest them, and I +have a sort of attack of tourist's indigestion, which is a thing I +hate." + +"So do I," agreed Patty, "and I think you do quite right not to attempt +too much in a short time. We are taking the winter for it, and Mr. +Farrington is going to arrange it all for us, so that I know we'll +never have too much or too little. How much longer are you staying +here?" + +"Only a few days," replied Bert Chester, "and that brings me to our +special errand. We thought perhaps--that is, we hoped that may be you +might, all of you, agree to go with us to-morrow on a sort of a picnic +excursion to Versailles. We thought, do you see, that we could take our +car, and you could take yours, and we'd start in the morning and make a +whole day of it." + +"Gorgeous!" exclaimed Patty, clapping her hands; "I do think that would +be delightful, I'd love to go." + +"Me too," chimed in Elise; "mother, do say yes, won't you? You know +you're just as anxious to go there as we are, because you spoke of it +only yesterday." + +"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Farrington heartily; "I quite approve of the +plan, and if your father has no objection, we can make a charming +picnic of it." + +Mr. Farrington was quite as interested in the project as the others, +and they immediately began to arrange the details of the expedition. +Bert Chester had a road map in his pocket, which showed exactly the +routes they could take, but the decision of these things was left to +Mr. Farrington and Arthur Oram, who put their heads together over the +complicated-looking charts and decided upon their way. + +"Do you know," said Paul Marchbanks, "you're the first American girls I +have ever known socially? I've seen tourists in railway stations or +restaurants, but I never talked to any Americans before." + +"For goodness' sake!" exclaimed Patty, "have they kept you walled up in +a dungeon tower all your life, or what?" + +"Not exactly that; but we English fellows who go to school and then to +college, and meantime live in our country homes, with an occasional run +up to London, have almost no opportunity to meet anybody outside of our +own people. And I haven't jogged about as much as a good many fellows. +This is the first time I've been to Paris." + +"Then that explains your homesickness," said Patty, smiling kindly at +the big boy, whose manner was so frank and ingenuous. + +"Yes," he said; "I suppose I do miss the family, for they ARE a jolly +lot. Oh, I say, won't you people all come down to our place and see us? +You're going to England, of course, before you return to the States, +aren't you?" + +"I don't know," said Elise, smiling; "our plans are uncertain. But if +we accept all the delightful invitations we're continually receiving, I +don't know when we ever shall get back to New York." + +The next day proved to be a most perfect one for an excursion of any +sort. They started early, for they wanted to make a long, full day of +it, and return in time for dinner. + +The two automobiles were at the door by nine o'clock, and the party was +soon embarked. As Mr. Farrington did not drive his own car, he went in +the other car, sitting in front with Arthur Orara. In the tonneau of +this car were Patty and Bert Chester. So in the other car rode Mrs. +Farrington and Elise and the two Marchbanks. This arrangement seemed +highly satisfactory to all concerned, and the procession of two cars +started off gaily. Away they sped at a rapid speed along the Champs +Elysees, through the Arch and away toward Versailles. The fresh, crisp +morning air, the clear blue sky, and the bright sunlight, added to the +exhilaration of the swift motion, endowed them all with the most +buoyant spirits, and Patty felt sure she had never looked forward to a +merrier, happier day. + +She chatted with Bert Chester, and asked him many questions about the +trip on which he was starting. + +"I don't know just where we are going," he said. "I leave all that to +Oram. The rest of us don't care, and Oram loves to spend hours hunting +up reasons why we should go to this small village that is picturesque, +or that tiny hamlet that is historic. I'm sure the queer little French +towns will all look alike to me, and I'm not awfully keen about such +things anyhow. I go for the out-door life, and the swift motion, and +the fresh air and all that sort of thing." + +"I love that part of it, too," said Patty, "but also I like seeing the +funny little towns with their narrow streets and squealing dogs. I +think I have never been through a French village that wasn't just +spilling over with squealing dogs." + +"That's because you always go through them in an automobile. If you +were on a walking tour now, you'd find the dogs all asleep. But the +paramount idea in a French dog's brain is that he was made for the +purpose of waking up and barking at motor cars." + +"Well, they're most faithful to what they consider their duty, then," +said Patty, laughing, for even as she spoke they were whizzing through +a straggling, insignificant little village, and dogs of all sizes and +colours seemed to spring up suddenly from nowhere at all, and act as if +about to devour the car and its occupants. + +But notwithstanding the dogs, the villages were exceedingly +picturesque, and Patty loved to drive through them slowly, that she +might see glimpses of the life of the people. And it was almost always +necessary to go slowly, for the streets were so narrow, and the +sidewalks a mere shelf, so that pedestrians often walked in the road. +This made it difficult to drive rapidly, and, moreover, many of the +streets were steep and hilly. + +"It never seems to matter," observed Patty, "whether you're going out +of Paris or coming in; it's always uphill, and never down. I think that +after you've climbed a hill, they whisk it around the other way, so +that you're obliged to climb it again on your return." + +"Of course they do," agreed Bert; "you can see by the expression of the +people that they're chuckling at us now, and they'll chuckle again when +we pass this way to-night, still climbing." + +Neither of the cars in which our party travelled were good +hill-climbers, although they could go fast enough on the level. But +nobody cared, and notwithstanding some delays, the ground was rapidly +covered. + +"There's one town I want to go through," said Patty, "but I'm not sure +it's in our route. It's called Noisy-le-Roi. Of course, I know that, +really, Noisy is not pronounced in the English fashion, but I like to +think that it is, and I call it so myself." + +"There's no harm in that; I suppose a free-born American citizen has a +right to pronounce French any way she chooses, and I like that way +myself. Noisy-le-Roi sounds like an abode of the Mad Monarch, and you +expect to see the king and all his courtiers and subjects dancing madly +around or playing hilarious games." + +"Yes, a sort of general racket, with everybody waving garlands and +carrying wreaths, and flags floating and streamers streaming---" + +"Yes, and cannon booming, and salutes being fired, and rockets and +fireworks going off like mad." + +"Yes, just that! but now I almost hope we won't pass through it, for +fear it shouldn't quite come up to our notion of it." + +"If we do come to it, I'll tell you in time, and you can shut your eyes +and pretend you're asleep while we go through." + +But the town in question was not on their route after all, and soon +they came flying in to the town of Versailles. Of course, they made for +the Chateau at once, and alighted from the cars just outside the great +wall. + +Patty, being unaccustomed to historic sites, was deeply impressed as +she walked up the old steps and found herself on an immense paved court +that seemed to be fairly flooded with the brightest sunlight she had +ever seen. As a rule, Mr. Farrington did not enjoy the services of a +guide, but for the benefit of the young people in his charge, he +engaged one to describe to them the sights they were to see. + +The whole royal courtyard and the great Equestrian Statue of Louis XIV. +seemed very wonderful to Patty, and she could scarcely realise that the +great French monarch himself had often stood where she was now standing. + +"I never seemed to think of Louis XIV.," she said, "as a man. He seems +to me always like a set of furniture, or a wall decoration, or at most +a costume." + +"Now you've hit it," said Paul; "Louis XIV. was, at most, a costume; +and a right-down handsome costume, too. I wish we fellows could dress +like that nowadays." + +"I wish so, too," said Elise; "it's a heap more picturesque than the +clothes men wear at the present day." + +"I begin to feel," said Patty, "that I wish I had studied my French +history harder. How many kings lived here after Louis XIV.?" + +"Two," replied Mr. Farrington, "and when, Patty, at one o'clock on the +sixth of October, 1789, the line of carriages drove Louis XVI. and his +family away from here to Paris, the Chateau was left vacant and has +never since been occupied." + +"In October," said Patty, "and probably just such a blue and gold day +as this! Oh, how they must have felt!" + +"I wouldn't weep over it now, Patty," said the matter-of-fact Elise; +"they've been gone so long, and so many people have wept for them, that +I think it wasted emotion." + +"I believe it would be," said Patty, smiling, "as far as they're +concerned; but I can't help feeling sorry for them, only I could never +weep before, because I never realised what it was they were leaving." + +The party went on into the Chateau, and visited rooms and apartments +one after the other. It was necessary to do this quickly if they were +to do it at all, and, as Mr. Farrington said, a hasty tour of the +palace would give them an idea of it as a whole, and sometime he would +bring the girls again to enjoy the details more at leisure. + +Patty was discovering that she was susceptible to what Elise chose to +call wasted emotion, and she found herself again on the verge of tears +when they entered the Chapel. Though she did not know enough of +architecture to survey intelligently the somewhat pompous apartment, +she was delightfully impressed by the rich adornments and the wonderful +sculptures, bronzes and paintings. + +Rather rapidly they passed through the various SALONS of the museum, +pausing here and there, as one or another of the party wished to +examine something in particular. The State Rooms and Royal Apartments +were most interesting, but Patty concluded that she liked best of all +the Gallery of Battles. The splendid pictures of war enthralled her, +and she would have been glad had the rest of the party left her to +spend the entire day alone in the great gallery. + +But this, of course, they had no wish to do, and with a last lingering +glance at the picture of Napoleon at the battle of Jena, she +reluctantly allowed herself to be led away. + +Napoleon was one of Patty's heroes, and she was eagerly interested in +all of the many relics and souvenirs of the great man. + +Especially was she interested in his bedroom, and greatly admired the +gorgeous furnishings and quaint, old-fashioned French bedstead. + +Having scurried through the palace and museum, Mr. Farrington declared +that he could do no more sightseeing until he had eaten some sustaining +luncheon. + +So again they climbed into the automobiles and were whisked away to a +hotel in the town. + +Here they were provided with a most satisfying meal, which was partaken +of amid much merry conversation and laughter. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SHOPPING + + +The afternoon was devoted to the gardens and the Trianons. + +Elise was enraptured with the garden, but Patty, while she admired them +very much, thought them too stiff and formal for her taste. Laid out, +as they are, according to the laws of geometrical symmetry, it seemed +to Patty that grace and beauty were sacrificed to squares and straight +lines. + +But none the less was she interested in the wonderful landscape, and +amazed that any grass could be so green as that of the marvelous green +carpet. The multitude of statues and fountains, the walks and terraces, +and the exquisite colours of the autumn trees, made a picture that +Patty never forgot. + +The Trianons presented new delights, and Patty fancied herself +transported back to the days of Marie Antoinette and her elaborately +planned pleasures. + +A place of especial interest was the carriage house, where are +exhibited the Royal State carriages. + +As they were about to enter, Phil Marchbanks, who was ahead, turned +round with a look of comical dismay on his face. + +"We can't go in," he said; "we can't fulfil their requirements!" + +"What do you mean?" said Patty. + +"Why here's a sign that says 'wet umbrellas must be left in the cloak +room.' You see, it's imperative,--and as we have no wet umbrellas to +leave in the cloak room, whatever shall we do?" + +"Isn't it awful!" said Patty. "Of course, we can't go in if we don't +fulfil their laws. But it's a foolish law, and better broken than kept, +so I propose we march on in spite of it." + +So they marched on and spent one of their pleasantest half hours +admiring the royal coaches. + +The Coronation Carriage of Charles the X. pleased Patty most, +especially as it had been restored by Napoleon and bore the magic +initial N. on its regalia. + +Mr. Farrington slyly volunteered the information that it stood for +Napoleon the Third, but Patty declared that she didn't care, as any +Napoleon was good enough for her. + + SHOPPING + +Then the various sights of the Trianons claimed their attention, and +they visited the farm and the dairy, and the Temple of Love, and the +Swiss Cottage, and the Presbytery, and the Music Pavilion, and the +Mill, until they were all mixed up, and Patty declared that her mind +was nothing but a kaleidoscope full of broken bits of gay scenes. + +Then the party went to the Grotto of Apollo, and sat down there for a +short time to rest before returning home. + +"This is the first time," said Patty, "that it has seemed like a +picnic, but this is a real picnic place,--though a much more grand one +than I ever picnicked in before." + +"You can probably make up your mind," said Bert, "that it's about the +grandest picnic place there is; and speaking of picnics, I'd like to +invite all this party to dine with me on our way home." + +"Where is your dining-room?" asked Mrs. Farrington. + +"I'll show you," said Bert eagerly, "if you'll only go with me. It +isn't quite time to start yet, but it soon will be, and I'll take you +to an awfully jolly place and not a bit out of our way, either." + +Mrs. Farrington agreed to go, and the rest eagerly accepted the +invitation, and after resting a little longer, the party leisurely +prepared to start. + +At Bert's direction they spun along the Bois de Boulogne until they +reached the Pavilion d'Armenonville, one of those fairyland out-of-door +restaurants which abound in and near Paris. + +As it was rather chilly to sit outside, they occupied a table in a +glass-protected court, and Bert proved himself a most satisfactory host. + +"We've had an awfully jolly day," he observed, "at least I have, and I +hope the rest of you put in a good time. It's a satisfaction to feel +that we've done up Versailles, but I may as well confess that I didn't +go for that purpose so much as to spend a pleasant day with my friends." + +Patty declared that she had enjoyed the society, not only of the +friends who went with her, but the companionship of the invisible ones, +whose presence seemed to haunt every nook and cranny of the palace and +park. + +As Patty looked about at their gaily decorated dining place, and looked +out at the brilliantly lighted scene outside, where the vari-coloured +electric lights hung in shining festoons, she came to the conclusion +that Paris was a gay and bright place after all, though when she had +entered it that first night, less than a week ago, she had thought it +rather dark and oppressive. + +"It is dark," said Phil, as Patty expressed her thoughts; "to be sure, +a place like this is illuminated, but the streets are not half lighted, +and I think it's a shame." + +"London streets at night aren't much better as to light," said Bert, +"but I say, you fellows, you just ought to see the streets in New York +at night. Whew! they're so bright they just dazzle you, don't they, +Patty?" + +"Broadway does, but the other streets aren't so awfully light." + +"Well, they're a lot lighter than they are over here. But Paris is the +worst of all. Why, I'm scared to be out after nightfall." + +"If that's the case," said Mrs. Farrington, laughing, "we'd better be +starting now; and at any rate, it's high time my young charges were at +home. I hadn't expected Patty and Elise to indulge in quite such +grown-up gaieties as dining out here, but I hadn't the heart to refuse +for them your kind invitation." + +Bert expressed his gratitude that Mrs. Farrington had made an exception +in his favour, and then the whole party started homeward. + +When she reached there, Patty was so tired she could scarcely talk over +the pleasures of the day with Elise, and she tumbled into bed without +so much as a look at her beloved Vendome Column. + +But the next day found the two girls entirely rested and quite ready +for more jaunting about. + +But Mrs. Farrington declared that she could do no sightseeing that day, +as the somewhat fatiguing trip to Versailles made her quite contented +to rest quietly for a time. + +So Patty employed her morning happily enough in writing letters home +and in arranging her post-card album. + +"I'm so glad," she said to Elise, "that Clementine gave me this great +big album, for I see already it is none too large. I've taken out all +the New York views and laid them aside. I shall probably give them to +somebody, as there is no sense in carrying them home again. And I'm +filling the book with Paris views. Isn't it fortunate they invented +post-cards, for unmounted photographs do curl up so, and I hate those +little books of views." + +"Indeed, it's fine, Patty, and you're arranging them beautifully. I +can't do that sort of thing at all; I'm as clumsy at it as a +hippopotamus. But I'd love to have a book like yours to take home." + +"I'll give you this one," said Patty quickly, and she truly meant it, +for she was generous by nature, and, too, she was glad to give Elise +something that she really wanted. + +"I wouldn't take it! you needn't think I'm a pig if I AM a +hippopotamus!" + +"Well, I'll tell you what I will do, Elise. The first time we go +shopping we'll get a big album exactly like this, and then we'll always +get duplicate post-cards,--we have so far, anyway,--and I'll fix both +the books." + +"Oh, Patty, that will be lovely! you do it so neatly and daintily; and +I always tear the corners and smudge the cards and every old thing. I +wish we could go and buy the book this very afternoon." + +"We can't; your mother won't go; she's too tired, and she'd never let +us bob about Paris alone. And your father hates to shop, so he wouldn't +take us." + +"I know it, Patty, but perhaps mother would let us go with Lisette. +Anyhow, I'm going to ask her." + +"Why, yes," said Mrs. Farrington, when the project was laid before her; +"I see no reason why you shouldn't go out and do a little shopping in +charge of Lisette. She is a native French girl herself, she knows Paris +thoroughly, and she's most reliable and trustworthy. But you must +promise to do only what she allows you to do, and go only where she +advises. In this expedition she must direct, not you." + +The girls willingly promised, saying that they only wanted to buy the +album and a few little things. + +"Very well, then," said Mrs. Farrington; "you may go out for the +afternoon. I'm glad to have you out in the sunshine, and you'll also +enjoy looking at the pretty things in the shops." + +So the girls arrayed themselves in their quiet pretty street costumes, +and with Lisette in her tidy black gown, they started out. + +They walked at first along the Rue de Rivoli, fascinated with the +lovely trinkets in the shop windows. Unlike Mr. Farrington, Lisette did +not care how long her young charges tarried, nor was she averse to +looking at the pretty things herself. + +"It's a funny thing," said Elise, as they came out of a shop, "that the +things in a window are always so much prettier than the things inside +the shop." + +"That's Paris all over," said Patty; "I think the French not only put +the best foot forward, but the foot they hold back is usually not very +presentable." + +"Yes, I believe that's true; and they always seem to make the best of +everything, and that's why they're so happy and light-hearted. But here +we are at a stationer's. Let's buy the album here." + +The stationer's proved to be a most distracting place. They bought the +album, and then they discovered a counter piled with post-cards, in +which they were soon deeply absorbed. + +"But you mustn't get so many, Elise," cried Patty, as she looked at the +great pile Elise had laid aside to buy. "It's no fun at all to get them +all at once and fill the book. Then it's all over. The fun is in +collecting them slowly, a few at a time." + +"But I want all these, Patty, so why not take them now?" + +"No, you don't, either. Now look here, Elise, I'm making your book for +you, so you take my advice in this matter, and you'll afterward admit +that I'm right." + +"You're always right, Patty," said Elise, smiling lovingly at her +friend; "that's the worst of you! But I'll do as you say this time, +only don't let it occur again." + +Patty laughed and allowed Elise to select cards illustrating the places +she had already seen, persuading her to leave the others until some +future time. + +Then they looked round the shop further, and discovered many attractive +little souvenirs to take to friends at home. + +"I think," said Patty, "I'll just buy some of these things right now. +For surely I could never find anything for Frank and Uncle Charlie +better than these queer little desk things. Aren't they unusual, Elise? +Are they rococo?" + +"Patty," said Elise, in a stage whisper, "I hate to own up to it, but +really, I never did know what rococo meant! Isn't it something like +cloisonne, or is it ormolu?" + +Patty laughed. "To be honest, Elise, I don't exactly know myself, but I +don't think you've struck it very closely. However, I'm going to buy +this inkstand; I don't care if it's made of gingerbread!" + +"And here's a bronze Napoleon; didn't Marian want that?" + +"Oh, yes, indeed she did! I'm so glad you discovered him. Isn't he a +dear little man? Just about three inches high; I believe the real +emperor wasn't much more than that. Isn't he on a funny little flat +pedestal?" + +"It's a seal," explained the shopkeeper kindly. + +"A seal!" echoed Patty blankly; "why no it isn't! a seal, indeed! why +it isn't a bit like a seal; you might just as well call it a Teddy +Bear! It's a man!" + +Elise was giggling. "He doesn't mean that kind of a seal, Patty," she +said; "he means a seal to seal wax with." + +"Oh," said Patty, giggling, too; "why, so much the better. I beg your +pardon, I'm sure, and I'm glad it's a seal. I can have Marian's +monogram cut on it, and she can seal her letters by just letting +Napoleon jump on them." + +She left the order for the monogram, and the affable shopkeeper +promised to send the finished seal home the next day. He seemed greatly +interested in his two young customers, and had it not been for +Lisette's sharp eye he would have urged them to buy even more of his +wares. + +But the canny young French girl had no notion of letting her charges be +imposed upon, and she glared haughtily at the shopkeeper when he seemed +too officious. + +As they were about to leave the shop, some young people entered, and to +the surprise of all, they proved to be the Van Ness girls and their +cousins. + +The four young people were out by themselves, and though quite capable +of finding their way about alone, Lisette's French notions were a +trifle shocked at the unchaperoned crowd. + +But Patty and Elise were so glad to see their friends again that they +gave little thought to conventions, and fell to chattering with all +their might. + +"Why haven't you been to see us?" asked Alicia; "you had our address." + +"I know," said Elise, "but we've been so busy ever since we've been +here that there hasn't seemed to be time for anything. But we're glad +to see you now, and isn't it jolly that we chanced to meet here?" + +"Yes, indeed, because we're going on to-morrow,--on our travels, I +mean, and we wouldn't have had a chance to see you again. But now that +we have met, let's put in a jolly afternoon together. Where are you +going?" + +"Nowhere in particular; we're just walking around Paris." + +"That's exactly our destination; so let's go nowhere in particular +together." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +CHANTILLY + + +This plan seemed to please everybody except Lisette, who was a little +troubled to have her young ladies going around with these Chicago +people, of whom she did not quite approve. + +But Patty only laughed at the anxious expression on the French girl's +face. She knew well what was passing in her mind, and she said to her +quietly: "It's all right, Lisette, they're our American friends, and I +assure you Mrs. Farrington won't mind a bit, since you are with us. +You're dragon enough to chaperon the whole State of Illinois." + +It's doubtful if Lisette knew what the State of Illinois was, but she +was devoted to Patty, and waved her scruples in deference to Patty's +wishes, although she kept a stern watch on the big Van Ness boys. + +But Bob and Guy behaved most decorously, and two more polite or +well-mannered young men could not have been found among the native +Parisians themselves. + +Leaving the shop, they continued down the Rue de Rivoli till they +reached the Louvre. + +Doris proposed their going in, and as Patty was most anxious to do so, +and Lisette saw no objection to visiting the great museum, they all +entered. + +It was Patty's first glimpse of the great picture gallery, and she +began to wish she was not accompanied by the chattering crowd, that she +might wander about wherever her fancy directed. But she remembered she +would have ample opportunity for this all winter, so she willingly gave +up her own desire to please the Van Ness girls. + +They cared little for pictures, but were really good historical +students, and they wanted to visit the rooms which contained curios and +relics of famous people. + +So the whole crowd followed the lead of Doris and Alicia, who had +visited the Louvre before, and Patty found herself learning a great +deal from the experienced way in which the girls discussed the +exhibits. She found, too, that historical relics were more interesting +than she had supposed, and she almost sighed as she thought of the many +things she wanted to see and study during the winter. + +"I hope you'll be here when we come back," Guy Van Ness said to her, as +they stood together, looking at some old miniatures. + +"I hope so, too," said Patty. "When are you coming?" + +"I don't know exactly; it depends on uncle's plans; but probably about +January." + +"Oh, yes, we shall surely be here then, and probably living in a home +of our own. Of course, I mean a temporary home, but not a hotel. I hope +you will come to see us." + +"Indeed I will. I wish we could have seen more of you this week, but +uncle has rushed us about sightseeing so fast that there was no time +for social calling." + +"We saw Bert Chester and his crowd," said Patty; and then she told +about the day at Versailles. + +"What a lark!" exclaimed Guy; "I wish I had been along. But you must go +somewhere with us when we're here in January, won't you?" + +"I'd like to," said Patty, "but I can't promise. It all depends on the +Farringtons. I'm their guest, so of course I'm under their orders." + +"Well, it won't be my fault if we don't have some fun when we come back +here," declared Guy, "and I shall do all I can to bring it about." + +When they left the museum it was getting late in the afternoon, and +Lisette decreed that her young ladies must go home at once. The Van +Ness crowd raised great objection to this, but Lisette was obdurate, +and calling a cab, she ushered the girls in, and then getting in +herself, gave the order for home. + +Patty couldn't help laughing at the serious way in which Lisette took +care of them, but Mrs. Farrington told her it was quite right, and she +would have been displeased had Lisette done otherwise. + +"You don't quite understand, my dear," she said kindly, "the difference +between the conventions of Paris and our own New York. It may seem +foolish to you to be so carefully guarded, but I can't quite explain it +to you so you would understand it, and therefore I'm going to ask you +to obey my wishes without question, and more than that, when Lisette is +temporarily in charge of you to obey her." + +"Indeed I will, dear Mrs. Farrington," said Patty heartily; "and truly +I wasn't rebelling the leastest mite. I'm more than ready to obey you, +or Lisette, either, only it struck me funny to be put into a cab, like +babies in a baby-carriage by their nursemaid." + +"You're a good girl, Patty, and I don't foresee a bit of trouble in +taking care of you. To-morrow I shall feel better, and I'll go shopping +with you girls myself, and perhaps we may have time to look in at a few +other places." + +So Patty danced away, quite content to take things as they came, and +sure that all the coming days were to be filled with all sorts of +novelties and pleasures. + +Their purchases had been sent home, reaching there before they did +themselves, and Patty immediately fell to work on the albums, placing +the cards in the little slits which were cut in the leaves to receive +them. + +The days flew by like Bandersnatches. Patty herself could not realise +what became of them. She wrote frequently to the people at home and +tried to include all of her young friends in America in her +correspondence, but it seemed to be impossible, and so finally she took +to writing long letters to Marian, and asking her to send the letters +round to the other girls after she had read them. + +Mr. and Mrs. Farrington had begun their search for a furnished house +which they might rent for the winter. When they went to look at various +ones suggested to them by their agent, they did not take the girls with +them, as Mrs. Farrington said it was too serious a matter in which to +include two chattering children. + +So Patty and Elise were left pretty much to their own devices while the +elder Farringtons went on these important errands. + +But one bright morning when Mr. and Mrs. Farrington were preparing to +start off in the automobile for the day, Elise begged that she and +Patty might be allowed to go off on an excursion of some sort. + +"Indeed, I think you ought," said Mr. Farrington kindly, "and I'll tell +you what I think would be a first-rate plan. How would you like to go +with Lisette to the Chateau of Chantilly for a day's outing? You could +go on one of those 'personally conducted tours,' in a big motor van, +with lots of other tourists." + +"I think it will be lots of fun," cried Elise; "I've always wanted to +climb up on one of those moving mountains and go wabbling away." + +"I, too," said Patty; "just for once I think that sort of thing would +be great fun." + +"Then you must hustle to get ready," said Mr. Farrington, "for the +cavalcade sets off at ten o'clock, and I don't believe they'd wait, +even for two nice little girls like you. So run along and get your +bonnets, and be sure not to forget to remember to feed the carp." + +"What is a carp?" asked Patty, as she and Elise ran away to dress. + +"Fish, I think," said Elise, "but we'll probably find out when we get +there." + +The girls were soon ready, and with Lisette they walked out in the +bright sunshine and along the Rue de la Paix until they came to the +corner where the personally conducted tourists were to start from. + +Mr. Farrington had telephoned for tickets, so all they had to do was to +clamber into their seats. This was done by mounting a stepladder placed +at the side of the big vehicle. The seats of the van were graduated in +height, so that the back ones were as good as the front, and, indeed, a +full view of what was passing could be commanded from any position. + +They had to wait until the tourists had all arrived, and then they +started off at a good speed toward the country. + +"I feel as if I were riding in one of the old royal state carriages," +said Patty, "although there isn't the slightest resemblance in the +vehicle, or the means of locomotion." + +"No," said Elise, laughing; "nor in the people. I don't believe these +tourists bear much resemblance to the ladies and gentlemen who rode in +the Royal carriages. But I think it's more fun than our own car, +because we sit up so high and can see everything so well." + +"And hear, too," said Patty, as they listened to the man in the front +seat, who had turned around and was announcing through a megaphone the +names of the places as they passed them. + +"He seems to know his lesson pretty well," whispered Patty, "but his +French pronunciation is even worse than mine." + +"Your pronunciation isn't so bad, Patty, but you haven't any vocabulary +to speak of." + +"To speak with, you mean. But never you mind, miss; as soon as your +respected parents decide upon a house, and we get settled in it, I'm +going to study French like anything, and French history, too. I used to +hate these things, but times have changed since Patty came to Paris!" + +"I'm glad you're so energetic, but I don't feel much like studying; I'd +rather drift around and have fun as we are doing." + +"We'll have time enough for both, and you want to take some painting +lessons, don't you?" + +"Yes; but seeing all the pictures I've seen since I've been here +discourages me. I used to think I was quite an artist, but I see now +that if I ever do anything really worth while, I'll have to begin all +over again and go into a drudgery drawing class." + +"It won't be drudgery; you love it so, and you'll make rapid progress +if you're as desperately in earnest as all that. Do you think your +mother will decide to take that house they're going to look at to-day?" + +"Yes, I think so; her mind is pretty well made up already. It must be a +lovely house, judging from what she says about it." + +It was not very far to Chantilly, and when they reached there the girls +were almost sorry that the pleasant ride was ended. + +The megaphone gentleman informed his personally conducted crowd that +they were to alight and eat luncheon before proceeding to the Chateau. + +The hotel where they were to lunch was a quaint, old-fashioned house, +built around three sides of a garden. It was called the Hotel du +Grand-Conde, and Patty said, "I suppose we shall see and hear of +nothing but the Condes for the rest of the day. I believe the whole +interest of Chantilly centres in that Conde crowd." + +"You seem to know a lot about it," said Elise banteringly. + +"I've been reading up," confessed Patty, "and besides, La Grande +Mademoiselle has always been one of my favourite characters in French +history. She was a wonderful woman, and though not of the Condes, she +is mixed up in their history." + +"She is an unknown quantity to me," said Elise, "but I'm willing to +learn, so tell me all you know, Patty; it won't take long." + +"You'll get no instruction from me after that unflattering speech," +retorted Patty, and then luncheon was announced, and the girls sat down +at the table reserved for them. + +They were much interested in their fellow-tourists, and as most of them +were socially inclined, Patty and Elise were included in the general +conversation. As the tourists seemed to have a great deal of general +information, and as they were quite ready to impart it, the girls +picked up quite a store of knowledge, more or less accurate. + +Then they left the hotel, with its quaint old gateway and carefully +kept gravel walks, and proceeded on their way to the Chateau. + +It was necessary at the entrance to cross a bridge over the moat, and +here Patty discovered the reason for feeding the carp. + +To begin with, the carp themselves were exceedingly old, and had been +swimming around in the same moat for hundreds of years. + +"I'm not quite sure of the number of years," volunteered a Boston +tourist, to any one who might listen, "but it's either hundreds or +thousands. Anyway, the carp are dreadfully old." + +"They don't look it," declared Patty, as she leaned over the railing of +the bridge and watched the frisky fish darting around like mad. + +An old woman sat nearby with a bushel basket full of French rolls, +which she was willing to sell to the tourists at prices which increased +as her stock of rolls decreased. Patty and Elise bought a quantity of +the rolls and began the fun of throwing them to the fishes. It turned +out to be even more fun than they had anticipated, for the moment a +roll reached the water, scores of carp would make a mad dash for it, +and a pitched battle ensued for possession of the bread. Sometimes the +roll was torn to pieces in the fight, and sometimes a fortunate carp +would secure it and swim away, followed by all the others in angry +pursuit. Another roll flung in would, of course, divert their +attention, and the squabble would begin all over again. The fun was +largely in watching the individual peculiarities of the fishes. One +sulky old thing disdained to fight, but if given a roll all to himself +he would swim away with it, and sticking his head in a small corner of +the stone parapet, would eat it greedily, while he kept off the other +fishes by madly lashing his tail. Another brisk little fish didn't seem +to care to eat the rolls at all, but mischievously tried to prevent the +others from eating them, and played a general game of interference. + +The actions of the fish were so ridiculous, and the sport so novel and +exciting, that the girls would not leave until they had bought up all +the rolls the old woman had and thrown them down to the comical carp. + +The personal conductor of the tour affably waited until the moat +performance was over, and then conducted his party inside the park to +the Chateau. + +Though only a toy affair compared with Versailles, Chantilly is one of +the most beautiful of the historic Chateaus of France, and is in many +respects a gem. The great paved Court of Honor shone white in the +sunlight, and the noble statues and sculptures bore witness to the art +and taste displayed in its construction. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +MAKING A HOME. + + +The party was marshalled up on the peristyle, where they received, +collectively, instructions in a loud voice to leave their sticks and +umbrellas before entering the Chateau. + +Patty and Elise agreed that the beauty and dignity of the situation was +somewhat impaired by the personally conducted effect, but they thought +that was compensated for by the funny side of it all. The tourists +followed the conductor like a flock of sheep, one or another +occasionally straying away for a time, and nearly all of them making +notes in little note-books. Indeed, some of them were so intent on +their notes that they merely gave glances at the beautiful things +exhibited, and spent most of their time scribbling in their books and +referring to their Baedekers. + +The interior of the Chateau was delightful. As Patty had surmised, it +was largely devoted to pictures and relics of the Conde family. She was +greatly pleased to discover a gallery of battles which, though not +large, illustrated the battles of the great prince who was called the +Grand Conde. Although Patty was of a peaceful enough nature, she had a +special liking for the glory and grandeur of paintings of battle +scenes, and she tarried in this gallery as long as she could. + +Both she and Elise adopted the Grand Conde as one of their favourites, +and greatly admired the numerous portraits of him, with his handsome +face and generally gorgeous effects. + +In one of the halls of the Chateau post-cards were on sale, and Patty +eagerly looked them over to make the selection she wanted. + +But the Personal Conductor discovered that time was flying, and that if +he let all of his charges delay over the post-cards, other sights must +be omitted. + +So he scurried them along through the various galleries and salons, +pausing in the Library and the Chapel. The Chapel awed Patty, as the +impressive burial places of kings always did, and especially was she +interested in a Cippus, which was a receptacle for the hearts of +several of the princes of Conde. + +"It seems wonderful," she said to Elise, "to take out their hearts and +put them all away together like that, but they had strange ways in the +times of my friends, the Condes." + +"I'm beginning to be very much interested in your friends, the Condes," +replied Elise, "and I think, after all, I shall join your French +history class this winter." + +Then they proceeded to the beautiful park of Chantilly, which was laid +out by the same landscape gardener who afterward designed the gardens +of Versailles. + +The park was enchanting, and the many buildings in it most interesting. + +"There's one thing certain," said Patty, "I shall come here some day +and camp out for the day in this park and wander around without being +personally conducted." + +"And I shall do myself the honour to accompany you," said Elise; "I'm +sure I can persuade father to send us out here in the car some day and +let us play around by ourselves." + +All too soon the megaphone's voice called them to start on their +homeward trip. Patty and Elise were among the first to take their seats +in the great motor car, and as Patty was looking over her beloved +post-cards, she suddenly discovered that she had no portrait of her +friend, the Grand Prince. + +But by good luck she saw a woman standing near, and suspended by a +strap round her neck was a tray of post-cards. + +Calling the woman to her, Patty made known her desire for a picture of +the Grand Conde. + +"Oui, oui," exclaimed the woman as she offered various portraits of +other members of the Conde family. + +"Non, non," cried Patty, shaking her head, vigorously, "le Grand +Prince,-le Grand Conde!" + +At length the woman discovered the proper card, and when Patty accepted +it, and paid her for it, she burst into voluble thanks and begged her +to buy more. + +Remembering Elise's album, Patty bought another copy of the same +picture for that, and then, thinking she would like to take one to +Marian, she asked for a third copy. + +This the woman did not have in stock, but anxious to please her pretty +young patron, she flew over to another post-card vender, of which there +seemed to be several near by, and demanded the required card from her. +But a search through her stock proved unavailing, and both women, +chatting volubly in French, tried to procure one from a third post-card +seller. + +Patty and Elise became much amused at the excitement they had created, +and suddenly to their surprise one of the tourists expressed her desire +also for a portrait of the Grand Conde. + +Patty surmised at once that she had no particular reason for desiring +it save an idea that if it was in such great demand it must be of a +special value. + +And then following the example of the first, several other tourists set +up a clamour for the same picture, and the scene became one of great +excitement. The post-card venders put their heads together, and still +jabbering rapidly, produced all sorts of portraits which they +endeavoured to foist upon the buyers as portraits of the Grand Prince. +But the tourists were shrewd, and they knew what they wanted, though +they had no idea why they wanted it. + +The natural result of this situation was a rise in price of the desired +picture. The original price of ten CENTIMES was doubled and then +quadrupled, and finally the tourists began to bid for the picture until +the affair became an auction. + +Patty and Elise were convulsed with laughter at the absurdity of it +all, and finally the motor man whizzed away, leaving the Frenchwomen +chuckling over their marvelous sales, and carrying some excited +tourists, who wondered why they had paid so much for ordinary +post-cards. + +Patty's recital of the affair at dinner that night greatly amused the +Farringtons, and Mr. Farrington declared that the whole scene was +typical of human nature. + +"As you had cornered the market, Patty," he said, "why didn't you sell +your Conde pictures at top prices, or else put them up at auction?" + +"For the very good reason that I wanted them myself," replied Patty, +"and if I had sold them, perhaps I never could get any more." + +"Well, we, too, have achieved an important success to-day," went on Mr. +Farrington; "we have secured a foothold in this somewhat uncertain +city, and we shall soon have a roof over our heads that we can call our +own, for a time, at least." + +"Oh, you took the house, then," exclaimed Elise; "how jolly! and when +are we going there to live?" + +"As soon as it can be made habitable," said Mrs. Farrington; "they call +it a furnished house, but it is not at all my idea of furnishing. It's +about as well appointed as a summer cottage might be at home. The +drawing-room is all right, and the dining-room is fairly good, but the +bedrooms must be almost entirely refurnished. Some day, my children, +you shall go shopping with me to select things for your own rooms." + +This shopping expedition took place soon, and Patty, with her usual +happy enthusiasm, thought it was quite as much fun as any other mode of +entertainment. + +Mrs. Farrington and the two girls, driven by the chauffeur, went flying +around in the automobile, stopping now at one beautiful shop, and now +at another, and buying lovely things. + +"It seems foolish," said Mrs. Farrington, "to buy a lot of furniture +for a rented house, but we must be comfortable through the winter, and +then the prettiest of the things we'll take back to America with us." + +The girls were allowed to make their own selections, and Patty decided +that her room should be green and white, while Elise chose pink. + +The girls had not yet seen the house, but Mrs. Farrington told them +that two large rooms adjoining each other on the third floor were to be +for their use, and though the principal articles of furniture were +already in them, they might choose some pretty appointments, such as +writing-desks, work-tables or book-racks. + +Also, they selected some little French gilded chairs and queer-shaped +ottomans, Patty thinking the while how pretty these would look when +transported back to her New York home. + +After about a week more of hotel life the Farringtons moved to their +own home. + +It was a good-sized house on the Bois de Boulogne, and stood in a small +but well-laid out park or garden. + +There were stone porticos on which opened long, French windows, and the +high ceilings and winding staircase with broad landings gave the house +an attractive, though foreign air. + +Like all French houses, the decorations were elaborate, and mirrors +were everywhere, and crystal chandeliers and painted panels abounded. + +It was all of great interest to Patty, who dearly loved home-making, +and who saw great possibilities for the unusual combination of American +cosiness in a Paris house. + +Mrs. Farrington was delighted when she discovered Patty's capabilities +in domestic matters, and declared that she would not wish for a better +assistant. + +It was Patty's deft fingers that transformed stiff and formal rooms +into apartments of real comfort and homelikeness. It was very often +Patty's taste that selected simple decorations or ornaments which toned +down the gorgeousness of the original scheme. + +The two girls' own rooms were greatly successful. + +Patty had bought a number of pictures and statuettes and various +Parisian ornaments, which she was delighted to arrange in a room of her +very own. She helped Elise with hers, too, for though Elise had good +taste and a fine appreciation of the fitness of things, she had not +Patty's capability of execution and facility of arrangement. + +As they sat for the first time around their own family dinner table, +Mr. Farrington exclaimed, "Now this is what I call comfortable! It's +unpretentious, but it's way ahead of that gorgeously dressed-up hotel, +which made one feel, though well taken care of, like a traveller and a +wayfarer. But I expect you were sorry to leave it, eh, Patty?" + +"No I wasn't," said Patty; "I liked it tremendously for a time, as it +was a novel experience for me; but I'm quite as pleased as you are, Mr. +Farrington, to be in a home once more." + +"And the next thing to do," said Mrs. Farrington, "is to get masters +for you girls." + +"Shall we go to school, mother?" asked Elise. + +"No, I think not. I don't like the idea of your going to a French +school, and, too, I think you'd enjoy it better, to study a little at +home. You needn't have a great variety of lessons. I think if you study +the French language and French history, it will be enough for you in +the way of school books. Then Patty ought to take singing lessons, and +if Elise wants to learn to paint pictures, she will probably never get +a better opportunity to do so." + +This plan seemed to suit perfectly the young ladies most interested, +and Mr. Farrington said he would take it upon himself to find the right +masters for them. + +So the family settled down into a life which was quiet compared with +the first few weeks of their stay in Paris. + +The masters came every morning except Saturday, and that day was always +devoted to sightseeing or pleasures of some sort. Occasionally, too, a +whole holiday was taken during the week, for Mr. Farrington said he had +a vivid recollection of a certain proverb which discussed the result of +all work and no play. + +Patty declared she was never afraid of any lack of play hours in the +Farrington family, and she enjoyed alike both her morning tasks and her +afternoon pleasures. + +Twice a week a professor came to give her singing lessons, and it was +arranged that at the same hour Elise should be busy with her drawing +master. Though Elise did not show promise of becoming a really great +artist, her parents thought it wise to cultivate such talent as she +possessed, if only for the pleasure it might give to herself and her +friends. + +So Elise worked away at her drawing from casts, and occasionally +painted flowers in water colours, while Patty practised her scales, and +learned to sing some pretty little French ballads. + +Though neither of the girls was possessed of genius, they both had +talent, and by application to study they found themselves rapidly +improving in their arts. + +As Patty had expected, she developed an intense interest in French +history, and as Elise shared this taste, they learned their lessons +well, and also read books of history outside of school hours quite from +choice. + +[Illustration with caption: "They also read books of history outside of +school hours quite from choice"] + +There were a great many Americans residing in Paris, and it was not +long before Mr. and Mrs. Farrington renewed old acquaintances there, +and also made new ones among the American colony. + +This meant pleasant associates for the girls, and they soon became +acquainted with several American families. + +Indeed, the house next to their own, was occupied by an American family +named Barstow, with whom the Farringtons soon made friends. + +The young people of the family were Rosamond, a girl of seventeen, and +her brother Martin, a few years older. + +The first time they met, Elise and Patty took a decided liking to the +Barstows, and Rosamond often spent the afternoon with them, while they +chatted gaily over their work, or went driving with them along the +beautiful Bois, or visited the galleries with them. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +ST. GERMAIN + + +The weeks went happily by. Patty became quite accustomed to French ways +and customs, and was becoming proficient in the language. + +One of her greatest treats was the Opera. Mr. Farrington had engaged a +box for the season, and the girls attended nearly every matinee +performance. The first few times Patty could scarcely listen to the +music for her admiration of the wonderful building, but after she +became more accustomed to its glories, it did not so distract her +attention from the stage. Mr. and Mrs. Farrington occasionally gave +opera parties, and dinner parties, too, but the girls were not allowed +to attend these. Although indulgent in many ways, Mrs. Farrington was +somewhat strict about the conventions for her young people; but so +gently were her rules laid down, that they never seemed harsh or stern. + +On nights when dinner parties were given, the girls had their dinner in +the family breakfast-room, and often were allowed to invite Rosamond, +and sometimes Martin to their feasts. + +Another delight to Patty was the fact that she was learning to drive a +motor-car. It had always fascinated her, and she had always felt that +she could do it if she only knew how. Once when she timidly expressed +this wish to Mr. Farrington, he replied, "Why certainly, child, I'll be +glad to teach you, and some day, who knows, you may have a car of your +own." + +So whenever opportunity allowed Mr. Farrington gave her lessons in the +art, and often Patty would sit in front with the chauffeur and he would +teach her many things about the mechanism, until she became really +quite accomplished as a driver. + +Of course, she was never allowed to run the car alone, nor did she wish +to, but it was great fun to handle the wheel herself and feel the car +obey her lightest touch. Sometimes she would grow elated at her success +and put on the high speed, but always under the supervision and +protecting guidance of Mr. Farrington or the affable and amiable +chauffeur. + +It was a great surprise to Patty when she learned that Christmas was +not made so much of in Paris as with us, but that the great fete-day +was New Year's Day, or, as they called it, JOUR DE L'AN. + +But Patty was not baffled by French customs entirely, and decreed that +the Farrington household should hold a Christmas celebration all by +themselves. This they did, and the day to them was a pleasant one +indeed. + +But this was a minor episode compared to the fact that old Ma'amselle +Labesse sent them all an urgent invitation to come to her at St. +Germain to spend New Year's Day. + +The girls were rejoiced at this invitation, but feared they could not +accept it, as Mr. and Mrs. Farrington had an engagement in Paris for +the festival. + +But after much discussion of the matter, and much pleading on the part +of the young people, it was arranged that Patty and Elise should go two +days before the New Year Day and spend a whole week with the old +Ma'amselle in her chateau. A little tactful managing on Patty's part +secured an invitation also for Rosamond Barstow, and the three girls, +who had become almost inseparable, started off together in great glee. + +Mr. Farrington sent them out in the motor-car, in care of his +chauffeur, and Patty, to her great delight and satisfaction, drove the +car all the way there. + +St. Germain is a beautiful town, which dates back about eight +centuries, when it was a favourite summer residence of French royalty. +The forest is among the most beautiful of all French woods, and as +Patty drove through the roads of the deep forest it seemed like +enchanted ground. They spun along the Terrasse, enjoying the view +below, and after passing many beautiful villas and residences came to +the old chateau of Ma'amselle Labesse. + +After passing a porter's lodge at the entrance, they went on for a long +distance through the park before reaching the house Then alighting at +the main portal, the doors were thrown open by footmen, and the girls +were ushered in. + +Ma'amselle herself received them in the entrance hall. She looked quite +different from the way she had appeared on board the steamer, as she +was now attired in very elegant and formal robes, with her white hair +arranged after the fashion of Madame de Pompadour. + +She cordially welcomed the three young girls, making emphatic +assertions at her delight in seeing them, but her warmest welcome was +bestowed upon Patty. + +"But it is herself!" she cried; "of a certainty, it is ma petite Patty. +Ciel! but it is that I am glad to see you!" + +Patty returned the greetings with polite warmth, and indeed she was +really fond of the quaint old lady. + +The girls were all amazed at the grandeur and beauty of Ma'amselle's +home, and were unable to repress their admiration; but Ma'amselle was +pleased rather than otherwise that they should express their pleasure. + +"But surely," she said, "it is indeed the beautiful home. This hall! It +is not of a smallness! And in the old days it welcomed royal guests." + +The hall was indeed magnificent. It was decorated with frescoes and +mural paintings by well-known French artists. It contained statues and +paintings and clocks and vases that might have graced a museum. The +armour of knights stood about, and valuable trophies graced the +wainscoted walls. + +A wide carved staircase wound spirally up from one end; and at +Ma'amselle's suggestion, the girls were ushered at once to their room. +French maids were sent to them to unlock their boxes and assist with +their toilettes, and Patty was glad that she now knew enough French at +least to make herself understood. + +Rosamond Barstow was a girl who never hesitated to get what she wanted +if possible, and now it suited her purpose to dismiss the French maids; +in her voluble if somewhat imperfect French, she told them that the +young ladies wished to be alone for a time and would ring for the maids +later. + +"I just HAD to talk to you girls alone for a minute," she exclaimed, +"or I should have exploded. Did you EVER see such a gorgeous castle in +this world? I didn't know your old Ma'amselle lived like this! How +shall we ever live up to it?" + +"I didn't know she lived like this, either," said Patty, laughing at +Rosamond's expressions; "and I don't care whether we can live up to it +or not. We'll put on our best frocks and our best manners, and that's +all we can do. But, oh girls, I feel like a princess in this room!" + +"Then just come and look at mine," cried Elise, who was in the next +apartment. + +The girls had been given rooms near each other and which, with their +anterooms and dressing-rooms, filled up the whole of a large wing of +the chateau. + +Patty's, as she expressed it to the other girls, looked more like a +very large cretonne shirtwaist box than anything else. For the walls +and ceiling were covered with a chintz tapestry; the lambrequins, +window curtains and door hangings were all of the same material and +pattern, and the bed itself was draped and heavily curtained with the +same. The bed curtains and window curtains were fastened back with huge +rosettes of the chintz, and Patty remarked that it must have been +brought by the acre. + +The furniture was of the quaintest old French pattern, and so +old-fashioned and unusual were the appointments all about, that Patty +knew neither the names nor the use of many of them. + +"I'd rather sleep in a "cosy-corner" than in that bed," remarked +Rosamond; "I know that whole affair will tumble on your head in the +night. It's perfectly gorgeous to look at, but seems to me these old +things are 'most too old. If I were Ma'amselle I'd root them all out +and refurnish." + +"You'd be sent home if Ma'amselle heard you talk like that," admonished +Patty, "and I'm not a bit afraid of that tent arrangement tumbling +down. It's most picturesque, and I shall lie in it, feeling like a +retired empress." + +"Come, Rosamond," said Elise, "call back those comic opera maids you +sent away, and let's get dressed. We mustn't keep Ma'amselle waiting, +though I'd ever so much rather perch up here and talk by ourselves. But +she's a dear old lady, and we must do our part as well as she does +hers." + +So Rosamond rang and the maids came back, wondering what strange young +demoiselles they had to wait upon now. + +Patty allowed herself to be dressed by the deft-fingered maid, and +being ready first, stepped out on the little balcony opening from her +window to wait for the others. + +A beautiful view met her eye. The lawn was terraced in many slopes, and +the flower-beds and shrubberies, though arranged with French precision, +formed a beautiful landscape. There were fountains playing, and here +and there arbours and trellises and pleasant paths. + +But the girls called to her, and Patty joined them, and twining their +arms about each other's waists, they walked down the broad staircase. + +They were all in white, and their pretty frocks and dainty slippers +made a modern note that contrasted strangely but pleasantly with the +antique relics and ancient atmosphere of the chateau. + +When they reached the great hall, a footman ushered them into the grand +drawing-room where they were to await Ma'amselle. + +She soon appeared, resplendent in her old-time grandeur, and going to +greet her, the girls kissed her hand, an old custom which greatly +pleased their hostess. + +"But it is of a joy to see you!" she exclaimed. "Me, I am so much +alone. It is not good to be alone, and yet, it is my choice. I stay in +the home of my ancestors, therefore I stay alone. Voila!" she shrugged +her shoulders, as if to emphasise the fact that it was more joy to live +alone in the old chateau than to be anywhere else. + +"But I am not always alone," she went on; "no, it is that my Henri, my +nephew, comes to me at occasion. And he comes soon. Jour de l'an always +brings him. He spends the day with me. He makes me a pleasure. And you +shall see him, you young ladies. Ah, how he is beautiful!" The old lady +clasped her hands and turned her gaze upward, and the girls were fain +to believe that her nephew was indeed a wonderful specimen of humanity. + +Then the dinner was announced, and leaning on the arm of an old +footman, who was quite as dignified as she was herself, Ma'amselle led +the way to the dining-room. + +The table appointments, Patty thought, would have done justice to any +of the most celebrated characters in French history, had they been +there to enjoy them. + +Although not exactly embarrassed, the girls were a little bit awed at +splendour so unusual to them. To Rosamond it seemed distinctly humorous +that three such young American girls should be honoured guests in such +a regal household; to Elise it seemed extremely interesting, and the +novelty and strangeness of it all impressed her more than the grandeur. + +But Patty, with her usual quick ability to accept a situation, seemed +to take everything for granted, and made herself quite at home. The +wonderfully garbed footmen who stood behind their chairs like statues, +except when they were wound up, nearly made Rosamond giggle; but to +Patty, they were merely part of the performance, and once accepted as +such, of course, they belonged in the picture. + +This readiness to adapt herself to any circumstances was inherent in +Patty's nature, and she sat there and conversed with her hostess as +charmingly and naturally as if at a plainer board. + +Rosamond was much impressed by what she chose to consider Patty's +"nerve," and determining not to be outdone, she exerted herself to be +bright and entertaining, and as Elise was always more or less of a +chatterbox, the three girls provided much entertainment, and their +hostess was delighted with her congenial guests. + +After the rather lengthy dinner was at an end, the old Ma'amselle took +the girls through various apartments, and showed them many of the +treasures of the Chateau. + +Then they went to the music room and Patty was persuaded to sing. + +She sang several songs, and then they all sang choruses together, in +some of which the old Ma'amselle joined with her thin but still sweet +voice. + +"And now," she said at last, "it is to tear the heart--but I must send +you babies to bed. Me, I sleep so badly, but you young girls, of a +surety, must have the tranquil rest. It is then 'Bon Soir,' and in the +morning you are to amuse yourselves. You have but to ring for your +chocolate, when you awake, and then pursue your own pleasures until +noon, when I will meet you at dejeuner." + +After affectionate good-nights, the girls went to their rooms, and a +half hour later, wrapped in kimonos and with their long braids hanging +down their backs, they were all perched on Patty's big bed--alone at +last. + +"But it is of a gorgeousness," exclaimed Rosamond, mimicking, but not +unkindly, the old Ma'amselle's imperfect English; "me, I never have so +many feetmen at home! Is it that you do, Patty?" + +"But I like it all," exclaimed Patty, giggling at comical Rosamond, but +standing up for her own opinions; "of course I'm not envious a mite, +and I don't know even as I'd care to live in this way all the time, but +it's lovely for a few days, and I'm just going to pretend I'm La Grande +Mademoiselle." + +"Do," cried Elise, "and I'll be Empress Josephine. Who'll you be, +Rosamond?" + +"Oh, I'll be Queen Elizabeth, who has come to visit you. There's +nothing French about me, so there's no use pretending, but I might be +an English Queen." + +"Well, Josephine and Elizabeth, you'd better run to bed now," said +Patty, "for I'd like the exclusive occupancy of this upholstered +tennis-court myself." + +Amazed to find that it was after midnight, the other girls ran laughing +away, and Patty climbed in behind the chintz curtains, almost +persuading herself that she was a royal Princess after all. + +Next morning the Queen and the Empress came bounding in, and shook La +Grande Mademoiselle till she awoke. + +"This bed is the biggest," announced Queen Elizabeth, "and so we're all +going to have our chocolate in here." + +"Well, I like the way you monopolise my apartments!" exclaimed Patty. + +"I'm glad you like it," said Rosamond; "but we'd come just the same if +you didn't. Now stop your giggling, while I ring the bell, and see what +happens." + +A dainty French waitress answered the summons, and smilingly asked for +orders. + +Patty modestly asked for chocolate and rolls for them all, but the +French maid volunteered the information that Ma'amselle was of the +opinion that the young ladies would like an omelette, and perhaps a jar +of marmalade. + +[Illustration with caption: "They were all perched on Patty's big +bed--alone at last"] + +"Heavenly!" exclaimed Rosamond, rolling her eyes in ecstacy, and the +waitress departed on her errand. + +"This is the jolliest picnic yet," declared Elise, a little later as +she sat, propped up by pillows, in a corner of the big chintz tent, and +devoured flaky hot rolls and apricot marmalade. + +The girls were each in a corner of the great bed, which left ample room +in the centre for the tray full of good things, and though perhaps an +unusual place for a picnic, it was a most hilarious festivity. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +AN EXPECTED GUEST + + +The three girls spent a delightful morning exploring the old Chateau, +and its park and garden. The clear air was brisk and keen, and a few +hours out of doors sent them back into the house with rosy cheeks and +bright eyes. + +They discovered a delightful room that they had not seen before, which +was built out from one of the wings, and whose walls and ceiling were +entirely of glass. + +"This is something like your room at home, Elise," said Patty, as they +seated themselves there. + +"Not very much; my room is glass, to be sure, but it's square, and this +circular apartment is quite a different matter. And did you ever see +such exquisite furniture? I can quite believe myself an Empress when I +sit gracefully on this gilded blue satin sofa." + +"I'm glad you think you're sitting gracefully," said Rosamond, laughing +at Elise, who, in her favourite position, had one foot tucked up under +her. + +"I don't care," said Elise. "Probably Josephine would have liked to sit +on her foot, only she didn't dare." + +"Her empire would have tottered if she had done such a thing as that," +observed Patty, "but as it tottered anyway, she might as well have sat +as she pleased." + +Ma'amselle joined the young people at luncheon time, and although she +called it breakfast, the repast was quite as elaborate and formal in +its way as dinner had been. But the girls brought to it three healthy +young appetites, that did full justice to the exquisite viands set +before them. + +At the table, Ma'amselle announced to the girls her plans for their +entertainment. + +It seemed that she expected her nephew that evening, to spend a few +days, and as the next day would be the great festival of New Year's +Day, she had planned a celebration of the event. + +So she proposed that except for a short automobile drive that afternoon +the girls should rest and keep themselves fresh for dinner-time, when +she expected the arrival of her paragon of a nephew. + +From her description of the young man, the girls were led to think that +he must be a sort of fairy prince in disguise,--and not very much +disguised, either. + +So in the afternoon the three girls and Ma'amselle went for a drive in +one of the great touring cars, of which Ma'amselle had several. + +Patty begged to be allowed to sit in front with the chauffeur, and +rather astonished that impassive factotum by asking to be allowed to +drive. + +He was very much disinclined to grant her request, lest it should +displease the old Ma'amselle, of whom all her servants stood greatly in +awe; but when Patty appealed to her hostess, and received a not very +willing permission, the chauffeur allowed her to change seats with him, +and really drive the car. + +He was greatly surprised at Patty's skill, and became more than ever +convinced that Americans were a strange race. + +Their route lay past the railway station and along the beautiful +terrace which skirts the forest of St. Germain on one side, and +commands such a marvellous view of the valley and the Seine. + +Returning home, the girls were left to their own devices until +dinner-time, when they were adjured to array themselves appropriately +to do homage with the wonderful Henri. + +"Henri must be something out of the ordinary," declared Elise, when the +girls were alone. + +"Probably not," said Patty; "only Ma'amselle thinks him so." + +"At any rate I'm anxious to see him," declared Elise, "for I don't know +any real live French boy except that Pauvret who was on the steamer, +and he was too lackadaisical for any use." + +"Well, I don't apprehend M'sieu Henri will be much better," said Patty; +"I don't care much about Frenchmen, anyway. What are you going to wear, +girls?" + +"I shall wear my red chifon," said Rosamond; "it's most becoming to me; +I'm a perfect dream in it, and I shall quite cut out you other girls +with our foreign prince." + +"Pooh!" said Elise; "he won't look at you when he sees me in my white +tulle. I'm the Frenchiest thing in that you ever saw!" + +"Oh girls," cried Patty, "I'm going to wear my light blue crepe de +chine. And then we'll be red, white and blue! Won't that be a graceful +compliment to the French colours, as well as to our own dear flag!" + +"Long may it wave!" cried Rosamond, and then following Patty's lead, +the girls sang the "Star Spangled Banner" with true American heartiness +and patriotism. This they followed up with the "Marseillaise," in which +they were interrupted by the appearance of one of the maids in a great +state of excitement. + +In breathless haste, which made her French difficult for them to +understand, she explained that Ma'amselle had had a telegram of +dreadful import, and would the young ladies attend upon her at once. + +The maid ushered the wondering girls to Ma'amselle's apartments and +found her in her dressing-room, in the hands of her maid, who was +assisting her in a hasty toilette. + +The tears were rolling down the old lady's cheeks, and she seemed to be +in a state of trembling agitation. + +"Ah, mes enfants" she cried, "but it is news of the most dreadful! Mon +Henri, my well-beloved nephew,--his arm,--it is broken! Ah the sadness +for the poor boy. Me, I fly to him at once,--but at once! You, but you +will excuse me, you will forgive, because of the dear boy! I go to +Paris, but I return, bringing my boy with me." + +It was rather a mixed-up explanation, but the girls finally gathered +that Henri had had the misfortune to break his arm, and had sent for +his aunt to come to Paris and spend the New Year Day with him instead +of taking his intended trip to St. Germain. + +Henri had not known that his aunt had the young ladies visiting her, +and so had no idea that he was disarranging her plans to such an extent. + +"He can come!" she exclaimed; "bah, it is not his legs; it is but his +arm. Of a certainty, one does not walk on one's arm! But the dear boy! +I shall go to him and explain all. Then we will return, and there shall +be feasting and happiness. A broken arm is not so much,--it will +mend,--but to him I must fly!" + +Patty endeavoured to find out definitely the old lady's plan, but she +could only gather that there was no time to be lost, that Ma'amselle +must catch the seven o'clock train. + +To be sure of this, she must leave the house at half-past six. + +And so she started, in her swift touring car, accompanied by her maid +and a groom, in addition to her capable and trusty chauffeur. + +Away they went, and the girls returned to the drawing-room to consider +the situation. + +"It was all over so quickly," said Patty, "that I hardly know whether +I'm on my head or my heels. What a whirlwind Ma'amselle is!" + +"Yes, she flew around like a hen with its head off, or whatever French +hens do," said Rosamond; "if she whisks that broken-armed boy home as +fast as she whisked herself off they'll be here in a minute." + +"She can't," said the practical Elise. "If she takes that seven o'clock +train, she won't get to Paris until nearly eight, and then, I don't +know where the interesting invalid lives, but anyway, to kidnap him and +get back here again is a matter of several hours. I don't expect to see +them before midnight." + +"What shall we do?" said Patty; "shall we have our dinner?" + +"I don't believe we'll have any say in the matter," volunteered Elise. +"I think that waxwork butler, and the 'feetmen,' as Rosamond calls +them, will arrange our lives for us, and we'll be simply under orders." + +"What an exciting experience," exclaimed Patty; "to think of us three +American girls, alone except for the servants, in a gorgeous old French +Chateau! I feel as if I must do something to live up to my privileges." + +"Suppose anything should happen that Ma'amselle never came back," +suggested Rosamond; "we could take possession of the place and live +here forever." + +"I don't think much of that plan," declared Patty; "New York is good +enough for me, as a permanent residence. But I do want to do somethink +in keeping with the atmosphere of this place. If there's a dungeon keep +on the premises, I think I'll throw you two girls into it, after having +first bound you in chains." + +"You mean a donjon keep, Patty," said Elise; "you're so careless with +your mediaeval diction." + +A noise in the hall, as of an arrival, startled the girls, and rising +impulsively, they flew out to see what it was all about. + +To their astonishment, they found the footmen holding open the great +front doors, while three stalwart young men entered. + +The middle one, who was partly supported by the other two, had his arm +in a sling, and as he was undoubtedly a Frenchman, the girls were sure +at once that he was no other than the worshipful Henri. + +At sight of the three astonished girls the three young men looked +equally amazed, and whipping off their caps, they made profound bows to +the strangers. + +It was a comical situation, for doubtless Henri had expected to see his +aunt, and was instead confronted by three unmistakably American misses. + +Of the six, quick-witted Patty grasped the situation first. + +"You are Monsieur Henri Labesse, is it not so?" she said, advancing +toward the broken-armed one. + +In her haste and bewilderment, Patty spoke in English, forgetting that +the young man might not understand her native tongue. + +But he answered in English quite as good as her own, though with a +decided French accent, "Yes, Mademoiselle, I am Henri Labesse. I make +you my homage, These are my two friends, Cecil Villere and Philippe +Baring." + +"We are glad to welcome you," said Patty, in her pretty, frank way; +"these are my friends, Mademoiselle Farrington and Mademoiselle +Barstow. We are guests of your aunt." + +"Ah, my aunt!" said Henri, as the other boys acknowledged the +introductions, "where is she? Did she not get my telegram?" + +"She did, indeed," returned Patty, smiling, "and she went flying off to +Paris." + +"But my second telegram; I wired again, saying I would come here." + +"No, she did not get your second telegram,--only the first one +announcing your accident." + +"And she has gone! oh how dreadful! but can we not stop her? Let us +send post haste after her." + +"It's no use," said Elise; "she has been gone about ten minutes, and in +her fast car she is now more than half way to the station." + +"Did you boys come in an automobile?" asked Patty. + +"No," replied Mr. Villere; "we came in a rickety old cab from the +station, and it has gone back." + +Patty's thoughts were flying rapidly. It seemed dreadful to let the old +Ma'amselle go to Paris on a wild-goose chase, when if she could but be +stopped, and brought back home, it would save the long and troublesome +journey and be a delight to them all. + +She not only thought quickly, but she determined to act quickly. + +"Can either of you boys drive an automobile?" she demanded of the two +uninjured guests. + +With voluble lamentations the two confessed their inability in that +direction. + +"Elise," cried Patty, turning upon her a look, which Elise well knew +demanded implicit obedience, "you stay right here and play you're the +hostess of this Chateau, and see that you do it properly. Rosamond, you +come with me!" + +Without a further glance at the astonished young men, without a word to +the pompous butler who was hovering in the background, Patty grasped +Rosamond by the arm and pulled her away with her. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A MOTOR RIDE + + +Bareheaded, and still dragging the astonished Rosamond, Patty rushed +outdoors, into the gathering dusk, and down toward the stables. + +Confronting an astonished groom, she asked him in forcible, if not +entirely correct French, whether there was an assistant chauffeur, or +any groom who could run a motor car. + +She was informed that there was not, that Ma'amselle's chauffeur +himself and the groom who had accompanied him were the only ones in the +establishment who knew anything about automobiles. If Mademoiselle +desired a coach, now? + +But Mademoiselle did not desire a coach, and, moreover, Mademoiselle +seemed to know perfectly well what she did desire. + +Beckoning to the groom, who followed her, she went straight to the +garage where the automobiles were kept. There was a touring car there, +almost the same as the one she had driven that afternoon, and Patty +looked at it uncertainly. + +There was also a small runabout, but that was of a different make, of +which she knew nothing. + +"Get in," she said briefly to the groom, and she pointed to the tonneau. + +Accustomed to implicit obedience, the groom got in, hatless as he was, +and folding his arms stiffly, sat up as straight as if it were a most +usual experience. + +"Hop up in front, Rosamond," went on Patty, "and don't try to stop me, +for I'm going to do exactly this; I'm going to the station and catch +Ma'amselle before she gets on that seven o'clock train. There isn't +one-half second to spare; we can't even get our hats, and if we should +stop to talk it over with anybody, there'd be no use in going at all. +Now hush up, Rosamond, don't say a word to me, I've all I can do to +manage this thing!" + +As Rosamond hadn't said a word, Patty need not have insisted on her +silence. But Patty was so excited that it made her quick of speech and +a little uncertain of temper. + +She started slowly out of the garage, trying to remember exactly the +instructions she had so often received about starting. They went safely +out into the park road, and along toward the porter's lodge. Patty's +heart beat fast as she wondered uncertainly whether the porter would +open the gate for her or not, but she carried off matters with a high +hand, and ordered in the name of Ma'amselle Labesse that the gate be +opened, and it was. Through it they went, and out on to the high road. +Patty put on a higher speed, and they flew along like mad. + +"Now you can speak if you want to, Rosamond," she said in a strained, +tense voice; "or no, perhaps you'd better not, either. There's +something the matter! The engine thumps; but it's all right, I know +what to do. If only the road keeps smooth,--if we come to no +ditches,--if we don't burst a tire! speak to me, Rosamond, do for +goodness' sake say something!" + +"It's all right, Patty," said Rosamond, in a quiet voice, for she knew +that the greatest danger that threatened Patty was her own +over-excitement. "You're all right, Patty; keep on just as you are; be +careful of this down grade, and you can easily take the next hill." + +"Good for you, Rosamond," said Patty, with a really natural laugh; +"you're a brick! My nerves ARE strained, but I won't think of that, +I'll think only of my car. Oh Rosamond, if only the road isn't bad in +any place!" + +"It isn't, Patty, the road is perfect. Steady, now, dear, there's a +motor coming, but you can easily pass it. Don't you reverse or +something?" + +"Keep still, Rosamond, do keep still! I know what to do!" + +Rosamond kept still. + +On they flew, the wind in their faces cutting like a cold blast; their +hair became loosened as it streamed back from their foreheads. + +It was the excitement of danger, and 'way down in their hearts both +girls were enjoying it, though they did not realise it at the moment. +What the statuesque groom who sat up behind felt, nobody will ever +know. He kept his head up straight, and his arms folded, and his face +showed a brave do-or-die expression, though there was nobody to notice +it. + +"Oh, Rosamond," Patty went on, still in that breathless, gasping voice, +"if I only knew what time it was. There's no use whizzing at this +break-neck speed if we're not going to make the train after all! If I +thought it would be of any use I'd coast down this hill, but why should +we kill ourselves if we don't accomplish our object?" + +"Patty, don't be a goose!" and again Rosamond's cool, common-sense +tones acted as a dash of cold water on Patty's overstrung nerves. "I'll +tell you what time it is. You keep right on with your knitting, and I +can get out my watch as easily as anything, and the next time we pass a +light I'll inform you the hour." + +Reassured by Rosamond's sense and nonsense, Patty drove steadily on. + +"It's five minutes to seven," announced Rosamond quietly, "but we can +already see the railroad lights in the distance, and besides, the train +is sure to be late. But, Patty, you can't go quite so fast as we get +into the town. You musn't! You'll be arrested!" + +"They can't catch me," cried Patty, as she flew on, "and do keep still, +Rosamond, for goodness' sake keep still!" + +Rosamond smiled to herself at Patty's command to her to keep still, for +she well knew it was merely a nervous exclamation and meant nothing. + +On they went, Patty sounding the horn when it was unnecessary, and +failing to sound it when it was needed, but this made no difference in +their speed. Fortunately they met very few vehicles of any sort, and +had the good luck not to run over any dogs, but as they came in full +view of the station, they saw the train also approaching from the other +direction. + +Patty knew that she had just about time to cross the track, but no more. + +Instead of worrying her, this sudden last responsibility seemed to +steady her nerves, and she said quietly: + +"It's all right, Rosamond. Don't speak, please, we've just time to +cross the track safely,--SAFELY. See, I'll open up the throttle,--just +a little more power,--and here we go, bounding over the track!" + +They seemed to jump over the track, and with a round turn, Patty made +the corner, put on the brake and came to a full stop at the station +just as the funny little French train wheezed in. + +But the girl could do no more; as the car came to a standstill Patty's +hands dropped from the wheel, and she promptly fainted away. + +With no notion of losing the game at the last moment, Rosamond sprang +from the car, calling to the groom to look out for Patty, and then ran, +panting, to the train. + +She grasped the old Ma'amselle as she was about to step on the train, +and forcibly pulled her away. + +Owing to the old lady's angry and excited exclamation at being thus +detained, she could not understand what Rosamond was trying to tell her. + +"Make her comprehend!" she cried to the maid, who was accompanying her +mistress, "make her understand, quick! she must not go to Paris! +Monsieur Henri is at the Chateau!" + +But the French maid could understand no English, and in despair +Rosamond turned to the group of people who had gathered about them. + +Her dignity suddenly returned, and her common sense with it. + +"Will somebody who can talk French," she said, "explain to this lady +that she need not go to the house of her nephew with the broken arm, +because he is already at the Chateau of his aunt." + +The moment she had uttered this sentence, its resemblance to the +Ollendorff exercises struck Rosamond as very funny, and she began to +giggle. + +But the old Ma'amselle at last understood the state of the case, and, +her face beaming with smiles, she turned away from the train and back +to the station. + +Patty had come to herself after her momentary unconsciousness, and was +all right once more, though physically tired from her exciting +exertions. + +Ma'amselle's own chauffeur was overcome with amazement when he learned +what Patty had done, and took off his cap to her, with the air of one +offering homage to a brave heroine. + +As for Ma'amselle, she petted Patty, and cried over her, and thanked +her, and blessed her, to an extent that could not have been exceeded +had Patty saved her from the guillotine. + +Then Patty was packed into the back seat of the big car, with +Ma'amselle on one side of her and Rosamond on the other. And with this +precious freight the chauffeur started off, leaving the groom who had +gone with the first party to bring home the other car. + +Though there was not much talking done on the way home, Ma'amselle held +Patty's hand closely clasped in her own, and the girl felt well repaid +by the old lady's unspoken gratitude for the trouble and danger she had +undergone. + +When they reached home, and Ma'amselle had warmly welcomed her nephew, +there was great to-do over Patty's daring journey. + +"All's well that ends well," said Elise, "but you'll catch it, Patty +Fairfield, when mother hears of your performance. If I had been in +Rosamond's place you would have had to drive that car out over my dead +body!" + +"That's why I didn't take you, Elise," said Patty, laughing; "I knew +you'd raise a terrible row about my going, while Rosamond obeyed my +orders like a meek little lamb." + +"You should at least have let me accompany you, Mademoiselle +Fairfield," said Philippe Baring; "I cannot drive an automobile, I +regret to say, but I might have been a protection for you." + +Patty didn't see any especial way in which Mr. Baring could have +protected her, but she didn't say so, and only thanked him prettily for +his interest in her welfare. + +Henry Labesse was enthusiastic in his admiration and praise of Patty, +and declared that American girls were wonders. + +Ma'amselle was so pleased to think she had been saved a useless trip to +Paris, and to think that she should be able now to spend the evening +with her young guests, and above all, to think that her beloved nephew +was with her, that she hovered around like an excited butterfly from +one to another. + +Then she sent them all away to dress for dinner, which, though belated, +was to be a merry feast. + +And, indeed, it proved so. + +Old Ma'amselle came down first, and stood in the grandest drawing-room +to receive her honoured guests. + +The three boys came next, in their immaculate evening dress, which +Henri had managed to get into in spite of his sling. + +Then came the girls, the three, as usual, walking side by side, with +their arms about each other. They had carried out their plan of red, +white and blue dresses, and made a pretty picture as they entered the +drawing-room, and bowed in unison to their hostess. + +The dinner was especially elaborate as to decorations, and confections +that would please the young people, and the chef had done his very best +to make his part of the occasion a worthy one. + +Henri Labesse proved to be an exceedingly jolly young man, quite +bubbling over with gay spirits and witty sallies He did not hesitate to +joke with his aunt, who, notwithstanding her dignity, was never +offended at her nephew's bantering speeches. + +The other two boys, though a trifle more formal than Henri, and perhaps +a little bit shy, after the manner of very young Frenchmen, were +willing to do their share, and as our three American girls were in the +highest of spirits, the feast was a gay one, indeed. + +Ma'amselle gazed around at her brood with such delight and satisfaction +that she almost forgot to eat. + +Over and over again she wanted it explained to her how Henri had broken +his arm in his gymnasium class, how he had thought he would not be able +to go to St. Germain, and so had telegraphed his aunt to come to him, +and how, later, the doctor had patched him up so that he could go, and +he had followed close upon the heels of a second telegram. + +The delayed message arrived while they were at dinner, and Henri +twisted it up, and lighting it at a candle flame, burned it, saying it +was a bad spirit which had worked them ill, but which should trouble +them no more. + +Then Ma'amselle wanted to hear again all about Patty's wonderful ride, +the difficulties she had encountered, the nerve strain she had +experienced, and the help and comfort Rosamond had been to her. + +"And," concluded Patty as she wound up her recital, "I don't want any +one to tell Mrs. Farrington about it, because I want to tell her +myself." + +Elise smiled, for she well knew that Patty's wheedlesome ways would +persuade Mrs. Farrington to look leniently on the episode, although it +had, indeed, been a desperately dangerous piece of business. + +But Ma'amselle Labesse asserted that after she had said what she had to +say to Mrs. Farrington, she knew that Patty would not be reprimanded by +her, but rather be deemed worthy of the Cross of the Legion of Honour. + +Patty smiled at them all, in reality caring little, even if she were +reprimanded. She knew she had done a daring thing, but she had kept her +head, and had come through it safely, and having won, she felt it was +her right to laugh. + +"Are all American girls so brave and fearless?" inquired Mr. Villere. + +"I think most of them are," said Patty, "but you must understand I was +not recklessly daring. I have had many lessons in motoring, and I'm a +fairly expert driver. Of course, everybody is liable to accidents, and +I took my chances on them, but not on my driving." + +"You took chances on losing your head," remarked Rosamond. + +"So did Marie Antoinette," returned Patty saucily, "but you see I fared +better than she did." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A NEW YEAR FETE + + +The next morning was the day of the New Year. As usual, every one did +as he or she chose during the morning hours, but luncheon time brought +them all together again. + +The three boys had been out of doors all the morning, and seemed glad +to return again to the society of the American strangers. + +The girls had been happy enough by themselves, and though they liked +the French boys well enough, had privately agreed that they were not +half as nice as American boys. + +But half a dozen young people, if good-natured and enthusiastic, are +bound to have a merry time together, and as the six grew better +acquainted their national differences wore away somewhat. + +Ma'amselle announced that the fete of the day would be an early evening +party, followed by a supper. + +She had invited the neighbouring gentry, both young and old, as was her +custom on Jour de L'AN, and, as she explained, she was making it "more +of an elaborateness" this year by asking her guests to come in fancy +costumes. + +This delighted the girls, for they all loved dressing up, but they had +no notion where their fancy costumes were to come from. + +But Ma'amselle replied, "It is arranged," and during the afternoon she +led them to a large apartment which she called the Room of the Robes. + +Here she displayed to the enraptured girls costume after costume of +wonderful beauty and magnificence. + +The Labesse line had been a long one, and apparently its ladies had +never worn out or given away any of their robes. Nor its men either, +for there were costumes of knights and courtiers, some of which would +surely fit the three young men at present under the Chateau roof. + +The girls were bewildered at the maze of costumes, and scarcely knew +which to select. + +Finally Patty chose a bewitching Watteau affair, with a short quilted +petticoat, and a looped overdress made of the daintiest flowered silk +imaginable. The petticoat was of white satin, and the overdress of +palest blue, with garlands of pink roses. The pointed bodice laced up +over a dainty neckerchief, and it was further adorned with borders of +pearls. + +Rosamond pounced upon a scarlet and gold brocade, which she declared +was her ideal of a perfect gown. + +Elise found a pink brocatelle, embroidered with silver, and after they +had selected head-dresses, fans, and many accessories to their +costumes, they scurried away to their own rooms to try them on. + +"Aren't we having the time of our life?" exclaimed Rosamond, as she +peacocked about, gazing over her shoulder at her long court train. + +"Yes, indeed," said Patty, with a little sigh of content; "I adore this +dressing-up performance, and really, girls, those boys are quite human +under their French polish." + +"They're not so bad," said Elise, "if only they wouldn't bow so often, +and so exactly like dancing masters." + +"Well, it's all fun," said Patty, "and I'm going to get that awfully +nice Francoise to do my hair. She can make it just like an old French +picture. Would you powder it?" + +"No," said Elise, after a moment's consideration; "the powder shakes +off all over everything and you can't make it really white, anyway; and +besides, Patty, your hair is too pretty a colour to disguise with +powder." + +"Thank you for the compliment, Elise, though a little belated; all +right, then, I'll leave my tow-coloured tresses their natural shade, +and decorate them with strings of pearls and light blue ostrich tips." + +The pearls and feathers and the manipulations of Franchise's artistic +fingers transformed Patty's head into the semblance of an old French +miniature, and even Patty herself cast an approving glance at the +pretty reflection in the gilt-framed mirror. + +The girls were wild with enthusiasm over Patty's appearance, though +truth to tell, their own effects were scarcely less picturesque. + +But Patty's style lent itself peculiarly well to the Watteau dress, and +her little feet with their dainty silk stockings and high-heeled +paste-buckled slippers twinkled beneath the quilted petticoat with all +the grace of a real Watteau picture. + +When they were ready, they walked down stairs, single file, with great +pomp and dignity, to find awaiting them three polished young courtiers, +who might have belonged to the Court of Versailles. + +Ma'amselle herself was scarcely disguised, for in her ordinary costume +she never strayed very far from the styles and materials of her beloved +ancestors. + +But she had on a royal robe, with a great jewelled collar, and strings +of gems depending from her throat. She wore a coronet that had belonged +to some of the ladies of her family, and she seemed more than ever a +chatelaine of a bygone day. + +The rooms were decorated with flowers and plants, in honour of the +occasion, and hundreds of wax lights added to the brilliancy of the +scene. + +An orchestra of stringed instruments played delightful music, and Patty +tried to forget entirely that she lived in the twentieth century, and +pretended that time had been turned back many, many years. + +The guests began to arrive, and though their costumes were of great +variety, they were nearly all of French effects, and quite in harmony +with the scene. Patty did not seem to care much to converse, or even to +dance, but wandered around in a blissful state, enjoying the +picturesque scene. + +"Probably I shall never see anything like this again," she thought to +herself, "and I just want to gaze at it until it is photographed on my +mind forever. Oh, won't it be fun to tell Nan and papa about it!" + +Just then she saw Henri Labesse approaching her. + +"I fear I shall be awkward, Mademoiselle," he said, glancing at his arm +in a sling, "but if you would forgive, and dance with me just once?" + +"Of course I will," said Patty, her kind heart full of sympathy for the +poor fellow. "We can manage quite nicely, I'm sure." + +Henri put his good arm round Patty's waist, and lightly laying her hand +on his shoulder, they glided away. Like most Frenchmen, young Labesse +was a perfect dancer, and as Patty was skilled in the art, they danced +beautifully together and seemed to be in no way impeded by the young +man's broken arm. + +"What a dance!" exclaimed Patty, as the music stopped; "I never met any +one who dances as well as you do. If you dance like that with one arm, +what would do with two?" + +"All the merit of my dancing was due to my partner," said Henri, with +one of his best bows, "you are like a fluff of thistledown, or a will +o' the wisp. Forgive me, but I had imagined that American ladies danced +like--like automobiles." + +Patty laughed. "If you hadn't already paid me such a pretty +compliment," she said, "I should be angry with you for that speech. But +if you wish to know the truth of the matter, go and dance with Elise +and Rosamond, and then come back and tell me what you think of American +dancing." + +Henri went away obediently, leaving Patty to decide among the group of +partners who were begging her for a dance. + +Later on Henri returned. "You are right," he said gravely; "the +American demoiselles are, indeed, divine dancers; but, may I say it? +they are yet not like you. Will you not give me one more turn, and then +I must dance no more to-night; my aunt forbids it, on the absurd score +that I'm an invalid." + +Willingly, Patty danced again with the young man, and as this time it +was a fancy dance, the exquisite grace of the couple soon attracted the +attention of the onlookers. One by one the other couples ceased +dancing, until at last Patty and Henri were alone upon the waxed floor, +while the others looked admiringly on. Inspired by the moment, Patty +indulged in some fancy steps, which were quickly understood and +repeated by Henri, and depending on a whispered word now and then for +direction, they advanced and retreated, bowed and chasseed in an +elaborate and exquisite minuet. + +Henri's disabled arm, so far from being an obstacle to his grace, +seemed to lend a certain quaint dignity to his movements, and in his +court dress he looked like a wounded knight who had returned triumphant +from the tourney, to dance with his fair lady. + +Great applause followed the final figure of their dance, and Henri led +pretty Patty, blushing with the honours heaped upon her, to his aunt. +The old Ma'amselle kissed her dear little friend, and the tears in her +eyes told Patty how much she had enjoyed the scene. + +Then came the feast, which was all gaiety and merriment, and finally, +by general acclamation, Patty was about to be crowned Queen of the New +Year. + +This, however, she would not allow, and taking the crown which was +offered her, she went over and placed it on the white hair of her +hostess, remarking that Ma'amselle was queen, and she herself the first +lady in waiting. + +The picture of pretty Patty as she stood by the side of the regal old +lady, who sat, crowned, in her own chair of state, was worthy of a +painter, and many who saw it wished it might have been transferred to +canvas. + +The festival broke up early, for the old Ma'amselle would not allow +late hours for her children, and as soon as the last guest was gone she +sent them scampering to bed, with strict injunctions for them not to +reappear until noon the next day. + +The next day was ushered in by a dismal, pouring rain, and certain +outdoor pleasures which were planned for the afternoon had to be given +up. + +"But I'll tell you what we will do," announced Patty as they gathered +in the great hall after luncheon, "we'll have an afternoon of American +fun, and we'll show you French boys some tricks you never saw before." + +Having asked permission from Ma'amselle, who would not have refused her +had she asked to build a bonfire on the drawing-room carpet, Patty took +her friends to the kitchen. + +The fat old chef was amazed, but greatly pleased that the American +demoiselles should honour his precincts, and he put himself, his +assistants and all his pantries at their service. + +"First," said Patty, "we're going to have a candy pull." + +The French boys had no notion what a candy pull might be, but they were +more than willing to learn. + +A difficulty arose, however, when Patty undertook to explain to old +Cesar, the CHEF, that she wanted molasses. She didn't know the French +word for molasses, and when she tried SIROP, Cesar affably flew around +and brought her such a variety of SIROPS that she was overwhelmed. Nor +were they of any use to her, for they were merely sweet essences of +various fruits, and nothing like good old New Orleans molasses. + +Cesar was desolate that he could not please Patty, and berated his +assistants down to the scullion for not knowing what the American young +lady wanted. + +As soon as he could for laughter, Henri helped matters out by +explaining that what was desired was MELASSE. + +"Ah! OUI, OUI, OUI!" exclaimed the delighted Cesar, and he sent the +kitchen boys flying for the right thing at last. + +Laughing herself at the absurdity of making molasses candy, with the +assistance of half a dozen French cooks, Patty proceeded to measure out +cupfuls of the treacle and pour it into a skillet. + +She was enchanted with the immaculate purity and spotlessness of the +French kitchen, which even that of a New England housewife cannot rival. + +She had set the boys to cracking nuts and picking them out, and when +the time came, she added butter and a dash of vinegar to her boiling +candy, watched with great interest by Cesar, whose French repertoire +did not include any such strange mess as this. + +After the candy was poured out into the pans, and partly cooled, the +pulling began. + +Patty never liked this part of the performance herself, and she frankly +said so, stating that if the others wanted to pull the taffy she would +show them how. Elise declined, but Rosamond pulled away briskly, using +only the tips of her fingers, and with a practiced touch, until her +portion of candy became of a beautiful cream colour and then almost +white. After watching her a few moments, Cesar caught the trick, and +taking a large panful, pulled and tossed it about with such dexterity +that they all applauded. + +Henri, of course, could not join in the sport, but Philippe and Cecil +undertook it bravely, though, meeting with difficulties, they soon gave +it up. + +"It Is a knack," said Patty, "and though I can do it fairly well, I +hate it because it's so messy. But Cesar is an artist at it, so suppose +we let him do the rest." + +Cesar willingly consented to this plan, and the young people ran away, +leaving him to finish the taffy. + +"Next," said Patty, as after much washing of hands they had again +assembled in the glass parlour, "I'm going to teach you to play bean +bags." + +Elise and Rosamond set up a shout of laughter at this, and the boys +looked politely inquisitive. + +Calling a footman, Patty, who greatly enjoyed the joke of being waited +upon to such an absurd degree, asked him pleasantly to bring her some +beans. She chose her French carefully, designating what she wanted by +the term haricots. + +"Oui, Mademoiselle," said the obsequious footman, hurrying away on his +errand. He quickly returned, bearing a tin of French beans on a silver +tray. + +Patty burst into laughter, and so did the rest of them, though only +Elise and Rosamond knew what the joke was about. + +"Non, Non!" exclaimed Patty, between her peals of laughter; "beans, +beans! oh, wait a minute, I'll tell you, I'll tell you; stop, let me +think!" + +After a moment's hard thought, she triumphantly exclaimed, "Feve!" + +"Oui, oui, oui," exclaimed the footman, comprehendingly, and away he +stalked once more. This time he returned with a large silver dish full +of coffee beans, neither roasted nor ground. + +These Patty accepted with many thanks. "I don't believe," she said, +"that they have real bean-bag beans in this benighted country, and +these will answer the purpose just as well." + +Then again summoning her best French to her aid, she asked the footman +to procure for her some pieces of material--cloth or cotton--and she +indicated the size with her finger, also asking him to bring a +work-basket. Then with an exhausted air she sat back in her chair and +waited. + +"Patty, you do beat the Dutch!" said Elise; "you know he can't find +such things." + +"Can't he?" said Patty complacently; "something tells me that that able +footman will return with material for bean-bags." + +The boys were looking on with great amusement, though only half +understanding what it was all about. They understood English, and +nearly all of Patty's French, but BEAN-BAGS was an unknown word to them. + +True to Patty's prophecy the clever footman returned, still grave and +immovable of countenance, but bearing a well-filled work-basket, and a +quantity of pieces of magnificent satin brocades which had been cut in +six-inch squares--that being the size indicated by Patty. + +Patty took them with a gracious air of satisfaction, and rewarded the +footman with thanks in French and a smile in American. + +"Now," she went on calmly, "I shall be pleased to have the assistance +of you two ladies, as I fancy these young men are not any more +accustomed to sewing than to pulling taffy." + +But to her surprise Cecil declared himself an expert needleman, and +proved it by stitching up a bean-bag, under Patty's direction, in most +praiseworthy fashion. + +Each of the girls made one, too, and when they were filled with the +coffee beans, and sewed up, Patty was again overcome by merriment at +the regal appearance of their satin brocaded bean-bags. + +Then into the long hall they went, but alas! the girls could not bring +themselves to toss bean-bags in an apartment so filled with fragile +objects of value. + +In despair Patty again consulted her friend the footman. As soon as he +understood her dilemma, he assured her he would arrange all; and in +less than fifteen minutes he came back to her, almost smiling, and +invited the party to follow him. + +They followed to the picture gallery, where the ingenious man had +carefully placed a number of large, folding Japanese screens in front +of the pictures to protect them from possible harm. + +Patty was delighted at this contrivance, and then followed such a game +of bean-bags as had probably never been seen before in all France. + +The only drawback was that Henri could not take part in this sport, but +as Patty said wisely, "One cannot have everything in France; and, at +any rate, he can eat some of our American taffy, which must be cooled +by this time." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +CYCLAMEN PERFUME + + +It didn't seem possible they had been at the Chateau for a week when +the day came to go home. "It was lovely at St. Germain," said Elise, as +they were once again settled in Paris, "but I'm glad to be back in the +city, aren't you, Patty?" + +"Yes, I am, but I did have a lovely time at the Chateau. I think I like +new experiences, and the memory of them is like a lot of pictures that +I can look back to, and enjoy whenever I choose. I think my mind is +getting to be just like a postcard album, it's so filled with views of +foreign places." + +"Mine is more like a kaleidoscope; it's all in a jumble, and I can't +seem to straighten it out." + +But after a day or two the girls settled down into a fairly steady +routine of home life. They were both interested in their various +lessons, and though there was plenty of work, there was also plenty of +play. + +They did not become acquainted with many French people, but the members +of the American Colony, as it was called, were socially inclined, and +they soon made many friends. + +Then there was much shopping to be done, and Mrs. Farrington seemed +quite as interested in selecting pretty things for Patty as she did for +her own daughter. + +The girls had especially pretty winter costumes of dark cloth, and each +had a handsome and valuable set of furs. In these, with their Paris +hats, they looked so picturesque that Mrs. Farrington proposed they +should have their photographs taken to send to friends at home. + +The taking of the photographs developed into quite a lengthy +performance; for Mrs. Farrington said, that while they were about it, +they might as well have several styles. + +So it resulted in their taking a trunk full of their prettiest dresses +and hats, and spending a whole morning in the photograph gallery. + +"It's really more satisfactory," observed Patty, "to do these things by +the wholesale. Now I don't think I shall have to have photographs taken +again before I'm seventy, at least." + +"You ought to have them at fifty," replied Elise; "you'll be such a +charming middle-aged lady, Patty. A little prim, perhaps, but rather +nice, after all." + +"Thanks for the flattering prospect. I prophesy that when you're fifty, +you'll be a great artist, and you'll look exactly like Rosa Bonheur, +and you'll wear short grey hair and a linen duster. So you'd better +have plenty of photographs taken now, for I don't believe the linen +duster will be very becoming." + +The photographs turned out to be extremely successful, both as +likenesses and as pictures. The girls sent many copies to their friends +in America, and Nan wrote back that she thought the girls ought to +hurry home, or they would become incorrigible Parisiennes. + +Both Elise and Patty thoroughly enjoyed the hours they spent in the +great picture galleries. Although Elise had herself a talent for +painting, Patty had quite as great a love for pictures, and was +acquiring a true appreciation of their value. Sometimes Elise's teacher +would go with them, and sometimes Mr. or Mrs. Farrington. But the girls +liked best to ramble alone together through the Louvre or the +Luxembourg, and although the watchful Lisette walked grimly behind +them, they followed their own sweet will, and often sat for a long time +before their favourite pictures or statues. + +"'The time has come, the Walrus said,'" said Patty one day, "when I +really must hunt up those things for Marian. She made a list of about +fifty things for me to take home to her, and though they're mostly +trifles, I expect some of them will not be very easy to find. Suppose +we start out with that Cyclamen perfumery she wanted. It's a special +make, by a special firm, but I suppose we can find it." + +So that afternoon the girls started on their Cyclamen hunt. Lisette was +to have accompanied them, but she was suffering from a headache, and, +rather than disappoint the girls, Mrs. Farrington said that just for +this once they might go shopping alone in the motor-car with the +chauffeur. + +In great glee the girls started off, and went first to several +perfumers in search of Marian's order. + +But Cyclamen extract, made by Boissier Freres, was not to be found, +although many other French Brothers signed their illustrious names to +Cyclamen extracts, and although the Boissier Freres themselves seemed +to manufacture an essence from every known blossom except Cyclamen. + +"It's no use," said Patty, "to take any other kind, for Marian simply +won't have it, and she'll say that she should think I might have found +it for her. Let's go to the Magasins du Louvre,--they're sure in that +big place to have every kind there is." + +Leaving the motor-car at one of the entrances to the great building, +the girls went in. After following devious directions and tortuous +ways, they found the perfumery counter, and as they had now sufficient +command of the French language to make their wants accurately known, +they inquired for the precious Cyclamen. The affable salesman was at +first quite sure he could supply it, but an exhaustive search failed to +bring forth the desired kind. + +Desolate at his inability to please the young ladies, he informed them +that nowhere could they find the object of their search, unless it +might be at the establishment of the Boissier Freres themselves, which +was across the Seine. + +"Why, yes," cried Patty; "that's just what Marian said. She said I +would have to go across the Seine for it, and I didn't know what she +meant. Let's go, Elise; when I start out to do a thing I do like to +succeed." + +"So do I. We'll take the whole afternoon for it, if necessary, but get +that stuff we will." + +The obliging salesman wrote down the address for them, and, taking the +paper with polite thanks, the girls went away. + +But when they reached the street their motorcar was not to be seen. In +vain they looked and waited, but could see nothing of the car or the +chauffeur. They returned to the shop and stood just inside the door, +where they watched and waited a long time. + +"Something must have happened," Patty said at last, "and Jules has +taken the car away to get it fixed. But he ought to have let us know +that he was going. What shall we do, Elise?" + +"I don't know what to do, Patty. I hate to waste this beautiful, bright +afternoon, when we might be doing our shopping and having a good time. +And I'm worried about Jules. The car seemed all right when we left it." + +"Yes; nothing ever happens to that big car. I think Jules has gone away +on purpose. Perhaps he'll never come back." + +"Oh, Patty, I don't know what to do, I'm sure. Let's telephone home." + +"We can try it; but I know the telephone will be out of order. It +always is. I never knew a Paris telephone that wasn't." + +Sure enough, when they tried to telephone, after much delay and many +unsuccessful attempts, they were informed that there was some +difficulty with the wires and that connection with the Farrington house +was impossible. + +The girls returned to their post at the glass-doored entrance and stood +looking out with a discouraged air. Still no car appeared that they +could recognise as their own. + +At last Patty said: "There's no use, Elise, in standing here any +longer. Jules has absconded, or been kidnapped, or something. Now, I'll +tell you what we'll do. Let's take a cab over to this perfumery place +and back again, and then if Jules isn't here waiting for us we'll go +right home in the same cab. I know your mother doesn't let us go in a +cab alone, but this is an emergency, and we have to get home somehow; +and while we're about it we may as well go over to the perfumery place. +It isn't very far." + +"How do you know it isn't far?" + +"Because I know a lot about Paris now, and I know the names of the +streets, and I know just about where it is, and of course the cabman +will know. We can talk French to him and we can act very dignified, and +anyway we'll be back here in fifteen or twenty minutes, so come on." + +Elise was a little doubtful about the matter, but she yielded to +Patty's argument and they went out in the street. Patty stopped a +passing cab, and giving the driver the address, the girls got in. + +As they rolled smoothly along Patty's spirits rose. "You see, we did +just the right thing," she said; "and we'll be back there now before +Jules is." + +On they went, across the Seine and into a strange district, unlike any +they had ever seen before. + +But it was not long before they came to the address written on the +paper. The girls went into the shop and found to their dismay that the +perfumery company was there no longer, but had moved some time since to +another address. + +With great dignity, and fairly good French, Patty inquired the present +address of the firm, and, receiving it, returned to the cab. + +"I'm determined," she said to Elise, "to go on with this thing, now +that I've begun it. I'm going to find that Cyclamen, just because I've +made up my mind to do so." + +The cabman seemed to know the address indicated, and started his horse +off at a jog trot. On they went, farther and farther, and getting into +a more and more disagreeable district. The streets grew narrower, the +houses shabbier, and the people along the streets were noisy and +boisterous. + +Patty did not like to admit it, but she began to wish she had not come, +and Elise was plainly frightened, for the people along the street +stared at the pretty American girls driving about alone in a public +conveyance. + +At last Patty said in a low voice: "It's horrid, Elise, and I'm truly +sorry I insisted on coming. Shall we ask the man to go back?" + +"Yes," said Elise; "that is, if you think best. But I hate to go any +farther in this horrid quarter." + +So Patty explained to the driver that they had concluded not to go to +the perfumer's that day, and directed him to take them back to the +Magasins du Louvre. + +But the cabman objected to this proposition, and said they were now not +far from the place they were in search of, and he would go on till they +reached it. + +Patty expostulated, but the cabman was firm in his decision. He was not +impertinent, but he seemed to think that the young ladies were too +easily discouraged, and assured them they would soon reach their +destination. So they went on, and Patty and Elise grew more and more +alarmed as their situation became more unpleasant. It was certainly no +place for them to be, unattended, and the fact that they could not +persuade the cabman to go back dismayed them both. + +But Patty's pluck stood by her. Grasping Elise's hand firmly, she +whispered: "Don't you collapse, Elise! If you cry I'll never forgive +you! Brace up now and help me through. It will be all right if we don't +act afraid." + +"How can I help acting afraid?" said poor Elise, her teeth chattering, +"when I'm s-scared to death!" + +"Don't be scared to death! I tell you there's nothing to be afraid of! +Brace up, I say!" Patty gave Elise's arm such a pinch as to make her +jump, and just then the cab stopped at the establishment of Boissier +Freres. + +It proved to be the right place this time, and the girls went in. +Behind the counter stood a dapper young man, who waited on them +obsequiously. But when he heard Patty's request he said they did not +have that essence in their regular stock and only made it when ordered. + +"Then," said Patty, at the end of her patience, "I'll order some. Will +you make it for me, please?" + +"For that," said the young man, "I must refer you to another +department. You'll have to go to see M. Poirier, who takes such orders." + +"And where shall I find him?" asked Patty. + +The obliging young man began to write down an address. "It is some +distance away," he said, "and not a very accessible place to get to." + +Patty looked at Elise and laughed. "I give it up," she said; "I thought +I could do Marian's errand, but it's proving too much for me!" + +She thanked the young man for the address and put it away in her purse, +with but slight intention of ever using it. She bought a bottle of +another sort of perfumery, and, saying good afternoon, left the shop. + +But when she and Elise regained the sidewalk there was no cab in sight. +They looked in every direction, but could see nothing of it. + +"He can't have gone away," said Patty, "for I haven't paid him." + +"But he has gone away," said Elise; "and oh, Patty, I just remember! I +left my purse on the seat!" + +"Was there much in it?" + +"Yes, a good deal. I haven't done any shopping yet, you know." + +"Well, that explains it. He's gone off with your purse, for he knew +that very likely we didn't have his number, and of course we can never +find him again. Elise, don't you dare to cry! We're in an awful scrape +now, but we'll get out of it somehow if you'll only be plucky about it! +Don't you fail me, and I'll get out of it somehow!" + +Patty's admonitions were none too soon, for Elise was on the very verge +of bursting into tears. But when Patty appealed to her for aid she +tried hard to overcome her fears and be a help instead of a hindrance. + +Patty considered the situation. "I hate to go back into that shop and +ask that young man to call me a cab," she said, "for he was so fawning +and officious that I didn't like his manner a bit. But there doesn't +seem to be anything else to do, for there's no policeman in sight, and +of course no telephone station, and of course it wouldn't work if there +was one, and there's no other place about here that looks as if I dare +go in, and so we must go back and ask that horrid man. Now brace up, +Elise; put on your most haughty air and look as dignified as a duchess." + +[Illustration with caption: "'I just remember! I left my purse on the +seat!'"] + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE BAZAAR + + +Elise tried hard to follow Patty's directions, but she did not +represent a very haughty type of duchess as she tremblingly followed +Patty into the shop. + +But Patty herself held her head high, and assumed the dignity of a +whole line of duchesses as she stalked toward the counter. She chose +her French with much care, and in exceedingly formal diction informed +the young man that she desired to call a cab. + +Without expressing astonishment at this, the young man politely assured +her that he would call a cab for her at once; that it would take some +time to procure one, as there were none save at a considerable distance. + +There being nothing else to do, poor Patty expressed herself as willing +to wait, but coldly desired that all possible haste be made. + +The fifteen minutes that the girls waited was perhaps the most +uncomfortable quarter of an hour they had ever spent in their lives, +and indeed it seemed more like fifteen hours than fifteen minutes. They +scarcely spoke to one another; Patty, feeling the responsibility of the +whole affair, was thinking what she should do in case a cab didn't +come, while Elise was entirely absorbed in her earnest endeavours not +to cry. + +But at last a cab appeared and the two girls got in. + +Patty gave the order to drive back to the great shop from which they +had started on their adventure. + +It seemed an interminable distance through the unpleasant streets, but +when at last they reached the Magasins du Louvre and drew up to the +entrance Elise gave a delighted cry, and said: "Oh, there's our car, +and Jules in it!" + +The car was across the street, and the chauffeur sat with his arms +folded, in an attitude of patient waiting. The girls got out of the +cab, Patty paid the cabman, and as they beckoned to Jules, he started +the car across the street toward them. + +"Where have you been?" inquired Elise, in a reproving tone. + +But the chauffeur declared that he had sat the whole afternoon in that +one spot, waiting for the young ladies. + +When Elise said that they had come to the door and looked for him in +vain, he only asseverated that he had not moved from the spot opposite +the entrance, but had been there all the time watching the door for +their reappearance. + +As she had never known Jules to be untruthful, Elise was bewildered at +this statement, but presently a light dawned on Patty. + +"I see, Elise," she cried; "it's the other entrance! The doors are +almost exactly the same! This is the one where we went in, but we came +out at the door on the other street, and we were such idiots we didn't +know the difference!" + +"And we flattered ourselves that we knew Paris!" exclaimed Elise. +"Well, Patty, let's go home. We're not fit to be trusted out alone." + +So home the girls went, feeling decidedly light-hearted that they were +so well out of their scrape. + +Patty went at once to Mrs. Farrington and gave her an exact narrative +of the whole affair. She took all the blame on herself, and it was +rightfully hers, saying that she had persuaded Elise against her will +to go in the cab across the Seine to the perfumer's. + +Mrs. Farrington laughed at Patty's extremely penitential air, and said: +"My dear child, don't take it quite so seriously. You're not to blame +for mistaking the doors. That big shop is very confusing, and after +waiting for Jules, and telephoning, and all that, you did quite right +to take a cab, as it was really an emergency. But you did not do right +to go exploring an unfamiliar quarter of Paris on an uncertain errand. +However, you certainly had punishment enough in your bewilderment and +anxiety, and I think you have learned your lesson, and nothing more +need be said about it." + +Nothing more was said about it by way of reprimand, but many times +Patty was joked by the Farrington family, and often when she started +out anywhere was advised not to try to buy Cyclamen perfumery. + +Toward the end of January the Van Ness girls came to call. They had +returned to Paris as they expected, and were truly glad to see Patty +and Elise again. + +"We've had a lovely trip," Doris declared; "but we're awfully glad to +get back to Paris. And oh, girls, I want to tell you about a plan in +which we're awfully interested. There's a poor girl, an American, and +her name is Leila Hunt." + +"Let me tell," broke in Alicia; "she's an art student, and she's trying +to support herself in Paris while she studies. And the other day we +were walking through the Louvre, and we saw her there." + +"Copying a picture," chimed in Doris. + +"Yes, copying a picture," went on Alicia; "and she was so faint, +because she doesn't have enough to eat, you know, that she fell off the +stool and fainted away from sheer exhaustion." + +"How dreadful!" cried Patty; "can't we help her?" + +"That's just it," said Doris; "we want to help her, and we're getting +up a bazaar for her benefit. But she mustn't know it, for she's awfully +proud, and wouldn't like it a bit." + +"You know her personally, then?" asked Elise. + +"Yes; we hunted up her address and went to see her, and the poor thing +is so weak and thin, but awfully brave and plucky. And papa says he'll +give some money, and I thought perhaps Mr. Farrington would, too; and +then we thought it might help to have a bazaar and make some money that +way, and then we'll send it to her anonymously, for I don't believe +she'd take it any other way." + +Rosamond Barstow was present at this conversation, and she said: "I +think it's a lovely plan, and I'll be glad to help. Where are you going +to hold the bazaar?" + +"That's the trouble," said Alicia; "we don't know any place that's just +right. You see, we're at a hotel, and a bazaar in a hotel is so public. +I suppose there isn't room in this house?" + +"No," said Elise; "there are plenty of rooms, but no one is big enough +for an affair of that kind." + +"But we have one," exclaimed Rosamond eagerly. "Our house has an +immense ballroom. We almost never use it, but it would be just the +place for a bazaar." + +"Would your people like to have us use it?" + +"Oh, yes; mother lets me do anything I like. And, anyway, she'll be +awfully glad to help an American girl--you said an American girl, +didn't you?" + +"Yes, Miss Hunt is from New England. Oh, it will be lovely if we can +have the bazaar in your house, and all the American colony will come, +and we'll make a lot of money." + +The plan was laid before Mrs. Farrington, who entirely approved of it, +and then the five girls went over to Rosamond's to ask Mrs. Barstow's +consent, and to look at the ballroom. + +Mrs. Barstow was greatly pleased with the idea and consented at once +that the bazaar should be held in the ballroom, and she went with the +girls to look at the big apartment and to make plans. + +As the Van Ness party were only to remain in Paris a week, it was +necessary that the affair should be arranged speedily and the plan +quickly carried out. + +Mrs. Van Ness, Mrs. Farrington, and Mrs. Barstow were to be +patronesses, but the girls, the two Van Ness boys, and Martin Barstow +were to do the actual work and make all arrangements. + +It was a somewhat original scheme of entertainment, and as Alicia +described it the rest all agreed that it would be great fun. + +It was to last only one afternoon, from three to six, and it was called +the "Bazaar of Arts and Manufactures." + +The girls called upon many members of the American colony and asked +them to donate material of any kind, such as silks, satins, ribbons, +fancy paper, materials or fabrics of any sort. + +They responded generously, and also gave many articles to be sold at +the bazaar, and promised to send contributions for the refreshment room. + +The boys declared that their part was the decoration of the ballroom, +and they not only ornamented the room, but built various little booths +and arranged such counters and tables as were needed. + +When the day of the bazaar came nobody knew quite what the +entertainment was to be, but were prepared for an original amusement of +some kind. + +After a large crowd of people had assembled Guy Van Ness mounted a +platform and announced that there would now be held a contest of arts +and manufactures. Everybody present, on the payment of a certain sum, +would be allowed to compete, and prizes were offered to the successful +competitors in each department. + +Then, greatly to the amusement of the audience, he announced that the +various achievements arranged for were such easily accomplished feats +as the trimming of hats, the painting of pictures, modelling in clay, +making paper flowers, and various other arts and handicrafts, among +which each might select a preference. + +After every competitor had qualified, and was fully prepared to begin, +a gong would be sounded. Exactly at the end of a half hour another gong +would sound, when every one must cease at once, whether the work was +finished or not. + +As soon as the guests thoroughly understood what they were to do great +interest was displayed and competitors were rapidly entered for the +different contests. + +Those who were artists took their places at a table provided with water +colors, oil paints, pastels, and drawing materials. The clay modellers +were at another table, with ample provision for their art. + +Many ladies who declared they had no talents prepared to trim hats. All +sorts of material, such as velvet, lace, flowers, feathers, and ribbons +were provided, as well as the untrimmed shapes. + +In another booth ladies prepared to make Japanese kimonos or +dressing-jackets, and in another booth were materials for paper flowers. + +There was a burnt-wood outfit and sets of woodcarvers' tools, and +Robert Van Ness declared that he knew he could take the prize for +whittling. + +Another booth held crepe paper for lampshades or other fancy work, and +it was not long before every one had selected an occupation and was +prepared to begin work. + +Elise, of course, was going to draw a picture, and Patty concluded she +would trim a hat. + +As it neared the time, Patty threaded her needle and put on her +thimble, but was not allowed to touch her material until the signal was +given. + +Henri Labesse was at the bazaar, and though his arm was still a little +stiff, he entered the competition and was to model a figure of clay. + +The gong struck, and everybody flew madly at their work, anxious to +complete it within the half hour. + +Elise, who was methodical, began her drawing as slowly and carefully as +if she had the whole day for it, reasoning to herself that she would +rather hurry the finishing than the beginning. + +Patty, on the other hand, dashed impatiently at her hat-trimming, +pinning things on here and there, thinking she would sew them if she +had time, and if not they could stay pinned. + +Both the Van Ness girls were making paper lamp-shades, and Rosamond was +already well along on a picturesque Japanese kimono. She sewed up the +breadths like a wind-mill, and whipped on the bordering rapidly, but +with strong, firm stitches. + +She would easily have taken the prize in her department, but the girls +had agreed among themselves that they would accept no prizes, even if +they won them. + +When the gong struck at the close of the half hour some of the work was +still unfinished, but most of the articles were completed. And it was +indeed marvellous to see what could be done by people working at their +utmost speed. + +Elise's picture was charming, and Patty's hat was among the prettiest. +Competent judges awarded the prizes, and then the articles, whether +finished or unfinished, were sold at auction. And they brought large +prices, for many of them were well worth having; and, too, the buyers +were quite ready to give liberally in aid of the worthy charity. + +Henri Labesse had made a clay model of an American girl, which was a +gem in its characteristic effect and its skilful workmanship. It was +not quite finished, but of course was offered at auction along with the +other things. + +There was lively bidding for the little figure, as everybody seemed to +recognise its artistic value. But, after being bidden up to a high +price, it was finally sold to a young man who, it turned out, was +merely acting as an agent for Henri Labesse himself. He had instructed +this young man to buy the figure in at any price, with a result that a +goodly sum went into the charitable treasury. + +After receiving his own work back again Mr. Labesse took it across to +where Patty sat, and begged her acceptance of it, adding that he would +take it home and complete it before sending it to her. + +Patty was delighted to have the little statuette as a souvenir of the +occasion, and also as a memento of Mr. Labesse, whom she thoroughly +liked. + +The rest of the afternoon was spent in serving ices and cakes and fruit +to the patrons of the bazaar, and after it was all over the girls were +delighted to find that they had realised about twice as much money as +they had hoped for. + +Alicia Van Ness was ecstatic, and declared it would make Miss Hunt +independent, and free of all financial worry during the rest of her +term in the art school. And as it was to be sent to her without a hint +as to its source, she could not refuse to accept it. + +"I do think it was lovely of those Van Ness girls," said Patty, as they +discussed the bazaar at dinner-time, "to do all that for a perfect +stranger." + +"I do, too," said Elise; "they're awfully good-hearted girls. When I +first met them I didn't like them much; they were so unconventional in +their manners. But travelling about has improved them, and they +certainly are generous and kind-hearted." + +"Yes, they are," said Patty; "and I like them, anyway. I'm sorry they +are going away from Paris so soon." + +"Well, I'm glad we're not going away," said Elise; "at any rate, not +just yet. How much longer do you suppose we shall stay here, mother?" + +"I don't know, my child; but I'm getting about ready to go home. What +do you think, Patty?" + +"Since you ask me, I must confess I should like to stay a while longer. +But if you're going home, Mrs. Farrington, I feel pretty sure we shall +all travel on the same boat." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A SURPRISE + + +But nothing more was said about going home, and the weeks slipped by +until it was March. + +Everything seemed to be winding itself up. Patty's music term was +finished; Elise's drawing lessons were nearing their close for the +season, and Mrs. Farrington, though she said nothing about going home, +somehow seemed to be quietly getting ready. + +Patty didn't exactly understand the attitude of her hostess. If she +were going home soon, Patty wanted to know it; and one day she +laughingly said so. + +"I suppose," said Mrs. Farrington, looking at her quizzically, "it's +not unnatural that you should want to know when you're going to see +your native land again; but truly, Patty, I cannot tell you. I'll +promise you this, though: to-morrow you'll know more about it than you +do to-day." + +Patty was mystified at this, for Mrs. Farrington's tone was even more +enigmatical than her words. + +"And wait a minute, girls," said Mrs. Farrington, as they were about to +go to their rooms to dress for dinner; "put on your pretty new dresses +to-night, will you?" + +"Why, mother?" said Elise in astonishment; "those are company gowns, +and there's no company here!" + +"No, there's no company here, but put them on, as I tell you. I want to +see how they look." + +"I don't see what's the matter with mother," said Elise, as they went +upstairs; "she's been restless and fidgety all day. And now the idea of +telling us to put on those new frocks!" + +"I just as lieve do it," said Patty; "they're awfully pretty ones, and +I want to see how they look myself." + +When the girls went downstairs they found Mrs. Farrington already in +the drawing-room. + +She herself wore a more elaborate toilette than usual, and there seemed +to be an extra abundance of flowers and lights. + +"What is the matter?" said Elise. "There's something about the +atmosphere of this house that betokens a party; but I don't see any +party. Is there any party, mother?" + +"I don't see any, my child," said Mrs. Farrington, smiling. + +"Where's father?" asked Elise. + +"He's out," said her mother; "we're waiting for dinner until he comes." + +Just then a ring was heard at the front door-bell. + +"There's your father now," said Mrs. Farrington abruptly; "Patty, my +dear, won't you run up to my bedroom and get me my vinaigrette?" + +"Why, you have it on, Mrs. Farrington," said Patty, in surprise; "it's +hanging from your chatelaine." + +"Oh, yes, of course; so it is! But I mean my other one--my gold one. +Oh, no; I don't want two vinaigrettes, do I? I mean, won't you run up +and get me a handkerchief?" + +"Why, mother!" exclaimed Elise, in surprise; "ring for Lisette, or at +least let me go. Don't send Patty." + +"No, I want Patty to go," said Mrs. Farrington decidedly. "Please go, +my child, and get me a handkerchief from the drawer in my +dressing-table. Get the one that is fourth from the top, in the second +pile." + +"Certainly," said Patty, and she ran upstairs, wondering what whim +possessed her hostess to send her guest, though ever so willing, on her +errand. + +Patty had some little difficulty in finding the right handkerchief, in +spite of the explicit directions, and when she again reached the +drawingroom Mr. Farrington was there, and both he and his wife were +smiling broadly. Elise, too, seemed overcome with merriment, and Patty +paused in the doorway, saying: "What is the matter with you people? +Please let me into the joke, too!" + +"Do you want to know what is the matter?" asked Mrs. Farrington, as she +took the handkerchief from Patty's hand. "Well, go and look behind +those curtains, and see what's in the alcove." + +"I suppose," said Patty, as she deliberately walked the length of the +long drawing-room, "you've been buying the Venus of Milo, and it's just +been sent home, and you've set it up here behind these curtains. Well, +I shall be pleased to admire it, I'm sure!" + +She drew the crimson curtains apart, and right before her, instead of a +marble statue, stood her father and Nan! + +Then such an exciting time as there was! + +Patty threw her arms around them both at once, and everybody was +laughing, and they all talked at the same time, and Patty understood at +last why they had been directed to put on their new dresses. + +"Can it be possible that this is my little girl!" exclaimed Mr. +Fairfield, as he drew Patty down up on his knee, quite as he used to +when she was really a little girl. + +"Nonsense!" cried Nan; "you haven't changed a bit, Patty, except to +grow about half an inch taller, and to be wearing a remarkably pretty +dress." + +"And you people haven't changed a bit, either," declared Patty; "and +oh, I'm SO glad to see you!" + +She flew back and forth from one of her parents to the other, pinching +them, to make sure, as she said, that they were really there. + +"And now tell me all about it," she said, looking at the others; "did +you all know they were coming?" + +"No," said Mrs. Farrington; "Mr. Farrington and I have known it for +some weeks, but we didn't dare tell Elise, for she's such a chatterbox +she never could have kept the secret, and we wanted so much to surprise +you." + +"Well, you HAVE surprised me," said Patty; "and it's the loveliest +surprise I ever had. Oh, what fun it will be to take you benighted +people around to see Paris." + +So Elise declared it was a party after all, and the dinner was a very +merry one, and the whole evening was spent in gay chatter about the +winter just past, and making plans for the summer to come. + +Patty didn't gather very definitely what these plans were, but she soon +learned that Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield had come to Paris really to get +her, and then they were going on to London; and where else, Patty +neither knew nor cared. + +The Farringtons were to return soon to America, and so the whole change +of outlook was so sudden that Patty was bewildered. + +"You look as if you didn't quite know yet what has happened," said Mr. +Fairfield to Patty, as the whole party stood in the hall saying their +good-nights. + +"I don't, papa," said Patty; "but I'm very happy. I've had a delightful +winter, and Mr. and Mrs. Farrington have been most beautifully kind, +and Elise is just the dearest chum in the world; but you know, papa, +home is where the heart is, and my heart belongs just to you and Nan, +and so now I feel that I am home again at last." + +"And we're mighty glad to have you, little girl, again in our heart and +home. It was pretty lonesome without you all winter in New York. But +now we're all three together again, and we'll help each other enjoy the +good time that's coming." + +"It seems too good to be true," said Patty, as she kissed her parents +good-night, and ran away to all sorts of happy dreams. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Patty in Paris, by Carolyn Wells + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY IN PARIS *** + +***** This file should be named 5731.txt or 5731.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/7/3/5731/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Patty in Paris + +Author: Carolyn Wells + +Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5731] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on August 18, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY IN PARIS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +Patty in Paris + +BY + +CAROLYN WELLS +Author of "Patty Fairfield," "Patty's +Summer Days," etc. + +ILLUSTRATED + +NEW YORK +September, 1907 + + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I PLANS FOR PATTY + II THE DECISION + III SOUVENIRS + IV AN AQUATIC PARTY + V GOOD-BYES + VI THE OLD MA'AMSELLE + VII WESTERN FRIENDS +VIII DAYS AT SEA + IX PARIS + X SIGHTSEEING + XI AN EXCURSION TO VERSAILLES + XII SHOPPING +XIII CHANTILLY + XIV MAKING A HOME + XV ST. GERMAIN + XVI AN EXPECTED GUEST +XVII A MOTOR RIDE +XVIII A NEW YEAR FETE +XIX CYCLAMEN PERFUME +XX THE BAZAAR +XXI A SURPRISE + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +"A long blue veil tied her trim little hat in place" + +"'There never was such a dear, lovely, beautiful stepmother on the face +of the earth!'" + +"The next morning the girls spent in packing and getting ready to go +ashore" + +"They also read books of history outside of school hours quite from +choice." + +"They were all perched on Patty's big bed--alone at last" + +"'I just remember! I left my purse on the seat!'" + + + + +CHAPTER I + +PLANS FOR PATTY + + +The Fairfields were holding a family conclave. As the Fairfield family +consisted of only three members, the meeting was not large but it was +highly enthusiastic. The discussion was about Patty; and as a +consequence, Patty herself was taking a lively part in it. + +"But you promised me, last year, papa," she said, "that if I graduated +from the Oliphant School with honours, I needn't go to school this +year." + +"But I meant in the city," explained her father; "it's absurd, Patty, +for you to consider your education finished, and you not yet eighteen." + +"But I'll soon be eighteen, papa, and so suppose we postpone this +conversation until then." + +"Don't be frivolous, my child. This is a serious matter, and requires +careful consideration and wise judgement." + +"That's so," said Nan, "and as I have already considered it carefully, I +will give you the benefit of my wise judgment." + +Though Nan's face had assumed the expression of an owl named Solomon, +there was a smile in her eyes, and Patty well knew that her stepmother's +views agreed with her own, rather than with those of her father. + +It was the last week in September, and the Fairfields were again in +their pleasant city home after their summer in the country. + +Patty and Nan were both fond of city life, and were looking forward to a +delightful winter. Of course Patty was too young to be in society, but +there were many simple pleasures which she was privileged to enjoy, and +she and Nan had planned a series of delightful affairs, quite apart from +the more elaborate functions which Nan would attend with her husband. + +But Mr. Fairfield had suddenly interfered with their plans by announcing +his decision that Patty should go to college. + +This had raised such a storm of dissension from both Nan and Patty that +Mr. Fairfield so far amended his resolution as to propose a boarding- +school instead. + +But Patty was equally dismayed at the thought of either, and rebelled at +the suggestion of going away from home. And as Nan quite coincided with +Patty in her opinions on this matter, she was fighting bravely for their +victory against Mr. Fairfield's very determined opposition. + +All her life Patty had deferred to her father's advice, not only +willingly, but gladly; but in the matter of school she had very strong +prejudices. She had never enjoyed school life, and during her last year +at Miss Oliphant's she had worked so hard that she had almost succumbed +to an attack of nervous prostration. But she had persevered in her hard +work because of the understanding that it was to be her last year at +school; and now to have college or even a boarding-school thrown at her +head was enough to rouse even her gentle spirit. + +For Patty was of gentle spirit, although upon occasion, especially when +she felt that an injustice was being done, she could rouse herself to +definite and impetuous action. + +And as she now frankly told her father, she considered it unjust after +she had thought that commencement marked the end of her school life, to +have a college course sprung upon her unaware. + +But Mr. Fairfield only laughed and told her that she was incapable of +judging what was best for little girls, and that she would do wisely to +obey orders without question. + +But Patty had questioned, and her questions were reinforced by those of +Nan, until Mr. Fairfield began to realise that it was doubtful if he +could gain his point against their combined forces. And indeed a kind +and indulgent father and husband is at a disadvantage when his opinion +is opposed to that of his pretty, impulsive daughter and his charming, +impulsive wife. + +So, at this by no means the first serious discussion of the matter, Mr. +Fairfield found himself weakening, and had already acknowledged to +himself that he might as well prepare to yield gracefully. + +"Go on, Nan," cried Patty, "give us the benefit of your wise judgment" + +"Why, I think," said Nan, looking at her husband with an adorable smile, +which seemed to assume that he would agree with her, "that a college +education is advisable, even necessary, for a girl who expects to teach, +or indeed, to follow any profession. But I'm quite sure we don't look +forward to that for Patty." + +"No," said Mr. Fairfield; "I can't seem to see Patty teaching a district +school how to shoot; neither does my imagination picture her as a woman +doctor or a lady lawyer. But to my mind there are occasions in the life +of a private citizeness when a knowledge of classic lore is not only +beneficial but decidedly ornamental." + +"Now, papa," began Patty, "I'm not going to spend my life as a butterfly +of fashion or a grasshopper of giddiness, and you know it; but all the +same, I can't think of a single occasion where I should be embarrassed +at my ignorance of Sanscrit, or distressed at the fact that I was +unacquainted personally with the statutes of limitation." + +"You're talking nonsense, Patty, and you know it. The straight truth is, +that you don't like school life and school restraint. Now some girls +enjoy the fun and pleasures of college life, and think that they more +than compensate for the drudgery of actual study." + +"'An exile from home, pleasure dazzles in vain,'" sang Patty, whose +spirits had risen, for she felt intuitively that her father was about to +give up his cherished plans. + +"I think," went on Nan, "after you have asked for my valuable advice, +you might let me give it without so many interruptions. I will proceed +to remark that I am still of the opinion that there are only two reasons +why a girl should go to college: Because she wants to, or because she +needs the diploma in her future career." + +"Since you put it so convincingly, I have no choice but to agree with +you," said her husband, smiling. "However, if I eliminate the college +suggestion, there still remains the boarding-school. I think that a +superior young ladies' finishing school would add greatly to the +advantages of our Patty." + +"It would finish me entirely, papa; your college scheme is bad enough, +but a 'finishing school,' as you call it, presents to my fancy all sorts +of unknown horrors." + +"Of course it does," cried Nan. "I will now give you some more of my +wise advice. A finishing school would be of no advantage at all to our +Patty. I believe their principal end and aim is to teach young ladies +how to enter a room properly. Now I have never seen Patty enter a room +except in the most correct, decorous, and highly approved fashion. It +does seem foolish then to send the poor child away for a year to +practise an art in which she is already proficient." + +"You two are one too many for me," said Mr. Fairfield, laughing. "If I +had either of you alone, I could soon reduce you to a state of meek +obedience; but your combined forces are too much for me, and I may as +well surrender at once and completely." + +"No; but seriously, Fred, you must see that it is really so. Now what +Patty needs in the way of education, is the best possible instruction in +music, which she can have better here in New York than in any college; +then she ought to go on with her French, in which she is already +remarkably proficient. Then perhaps an hour a day of reading well- +selected literature with a competent teacher, and I'll guarantee that a +year at home will do more for Patty than any school full of masters." + +Mr. Fairfield looked at his young wife in admiration. "Why, Nan, I +believe you're right," he said, "though I don't believe it because of +any change in my own opinions, but because you put it so convincingly +that I haven't an argument left." + +Nan only smiled, and went on. + +"You said yourself, Fred, that Patty disliked the routine and restraint +of school life, and so I think it would be cruel to force her into it +when she can be so much happier at home. Here she will have ample time +for all the study I have mentioned, and still have leisure for the +pleasures that she needs and deserves. I shall look after her singing +lessons myself, and make sure that she practises properly. Then I shall +take her to the opera and to concerts, which, though really a part of +her musical education, may also afford her some slight pleasure." + +Patty flew over to Nan and threw her arms about her neck. "You dear old +duck," she cried; "there never was such a dear, lovely, beautiful +stepmother on the face of the earth! And now it's all settled, isn't it, +papa?" + +"It seems to be," said Mr. Fairfield, smiling. "But on your own heads be +the consequences. I put Patty into your hands now, so far as her future +education is concerned, and you can fix it up between you. To tell the +truth, I'm delighted myself at the thought of having Patty stay home +with us, but my sense of duty made me feel that I must at least put the +matter before her." + +"And you did," cried Patty gleefully, "and now I've put it behind me, +and that's all there is about that. And I'll promise, papa, to study +awfully hard on my French and music; and as for reading, that will be no +hardship, for I'd rather read than eat any day." + +Mr. Fairfield had really acquiesced to the wishes of the others out of +his sheer kind-heartedness. For he did not think that the lessons at +home would be as definite and regular as at a school, and he still held +his original opinions in the matter. But having waived his theories for +theirs, he raised no further objection and seemed to consider the +question settled. + +After a moment, however, he said thoughtfully: "What you really ought to +have, Patty, is a year abroad. That would do more for you in the way of +general information and liberal education than anything else." + +"Now THAT would be right down splendid," said Patty. "Come on, papa, +let's all go." + +"I would in a minute, dear, but I can't leave my business just now. It +has increased alarmingly of late and it needs my constant attention to +keep up with it. Indeed it is becoming so ridiculously successful that +unless I can check it we shall soon be absurdly rich people." + +"Then you can retire," said Nan, "and we can all go abroad for Patty's +benefit." + +"Yes," said Mr. Fairfield seriously, "after a year or two we can do +that. I sha'n't exactly retire, but I shall get the business into such +shape that I can take a long vacation, and then we'll all go out and see +the world. But that doesn't seem to have anything to do with Patty's +immediate future. I have thought over this a great deal, and if you +don't go to college, Patty, I should like very much to have you go +abroad sooner than I can take you. But I can't see any way for you to +go. I can't spare Nan to go with you, and I'm not sure you would care to +go with one of those parties of personally conducted young ladies." + +"No, indeed!" cried Patty. "I'm crazy to go to Europe, but I don't want +to go with six other girls and a chaperon, and go flying along from one +country to the next, with a Baedeker in one hand and a suit case in the +other. I'd much rather wait and go with you and Nan, later on." + +"Well, I haven't finished thinking it out yet," said Mr. Fairfield, who, +in spite of his apparent pliability, had a strong will of his own. "I +may send you across in charge of a reliable guardian, and put you into a +French convent." + +[Illustration with caption: "'There never was such a dear, lovely, +beautiful stepmother on the face of the earth!'"] + +Patty only laughed at this, but still she had a vague feeling that her +father was not yet quite done with the subject, and that almost anything +might happen. + +But as Kenneth Harper came in to see them just then, the question was +laid before him. + +"There is no sense in Patty's going to college," he declared. "I'm an +authority on the subject, because I know college and I know Patty, and +they have absolutely nothing in common with each other. Why, Patty +doesn't want the things that colleges teach. You see, she is of an +artistic temperament--" + +"Oh, Kenneth," cried Patty reproachfully, "that's the most fearfully +unkind thing I ever had said to me! Why, I would rather be accused of I +don't know WHAT than an artistic temperament! How COULD you say it? Why, +I'm as practical and common sensible and straightforward as I can be. +People who have artistic temperaments are flighty and weak-minded and +not at all capable." + +"Why, Patty," cried Nan, laughing, "how can you make such sweeping +assertions? Mr. Hepworth is an artist, and he isn't all those dreadful +things." + +"That's different," declared Patty. "Mr. Hepworth is a real artist, and +so you can't tell what his temperament is." + +"But that's just what I mean," insisted Kenneth; "Hepworth is a real +artist, and so he didn't have and didn't need a college education. He +specialised and devoted all his study to his art. Then he went to Paris +and stayed there for years, still studying and working. I tell you, it's +specialisation that counts. Now I don't know that Patty wants to +specialise, but she certainly doesn't need the general work of college. +I should think that you would prefer to have her devote herself to her +music, especially her singing; for we all know that Patty's is a voice +of rare promise. I don't know myself exactly what 'rare promise' means, +but it's a phrase that's always applied to voices like Patty's." + +"You're just right, Kenneth," said Nan, "and I'm glad you're on our +side. Patty and I entirely agree with you, and though Mr. Fairfield is +still wavering a little, I am sure that by day after to-morrow, or next +week at the latest, he will be quite ready to cast in his lot with +ours." + +Mr. Fairfield only smiled, for though he had no intention of making +Patty do anything against her will, yet he had not entirely made up his +mind in the matter. + +"Anyway, my child," he said, "whatever you do or don't do, will be the +thing that we are entirely agreed upon, even if I have to convince you +that my opinions are right." + +And Patty smiled back at her father happily, for there was great +comradeship and sympathy between them. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE DECISION + + +It was only a few days later that Nan and Patty sat one evening in the +library waiting for Mr. Fairfield to come home to dinner. + +The Fairfield library was a most cosey and attractive room. Nan was a +home-maker by nature, and as Patty dearly loved pretty and comfortable +appointments, they had combined their efforts on the library and the +result was a room which they all loved far better than the more formal +drawing-room. + +The fall was coming early that year, which gave an excuse for the fire +in the big fireplace. This fire was made of that peculiar kind of +driftwood whose flames show marvellous rainbow tints. Patty never tired +of watching the strange-coloured blaze, and delighted in throwing on +more chips and splinters from time to time. + +"I can't see what makes your father so late," said Nan, as she wandered +about the room, now adjusting some flowers in a vase, and now stopping +to look out at the front window; "he's always here by this time, or +earlier." + +"Something must have detained him," said Patty, rather absently, as she +poked at a log with the tongs. + +"Patty, you're a true Sherlock Holmes! Your father is late, and you +immediately deduce that something has detained him! Truly, you have a +wonderful intellect!" + +"I don't wonder it seems so to you," said saucy Patty, smiling at her +pretty stepmother; "people are always impressed by traits they don't +possess themselves." + +"But really I'm getting worried. If Fred doesn't come pretty soon I +shall telephone to the office." + +"Do; I like to see you enacting the role of anxious young wife. It suits +you perfectly. As for me, I'm starving; if papa doesn't come pretty +soon, he will find an emaciated skeleton in place of the plump daughter +he left behind him." + +As Mr. Fairfield arrived at that moment, there was no occasion for +further anxiety, but in response to their queries he gave them no +satisfaction as to the cause of his unusual tardiness, and only smiled +at their exclamations. + +It was not until they were seated at the dinner table that Mr. Fairfield +announced he had something to tell them. + +"And I'm sure it's something nice," said Patty, "for there's a twinkle +in the left corner of your right eye." + +"Gracious, Patty!" cried Nan, "that sounds as if your father were cross- +eyed, and he isn't." + +"Well," went on Mr. Fairfield, "what I have to tell you is just this: I +have arranged for the immediate future of Miss Patricia Fairfield." + +Patty looked frightened. There was something in her father's tone that +made her feel certain that his mind was irrevocably made up, and that +whatever plans he had made for her were sure to be carried out. But she +resolved to treat it lightly until she found out what it was all about. + +"I don't want to be intrusive," she said, "but if not too presumptuous, +might I inquire what is to become of me?" + +"Yours not to make reply, yours not to reason why," said her father +teasingly. "You know, my child, you're not yet of age, and I, as your +legal parent and guardian, can do whatever I please with you. You are, +as Mr. Shakespeare puts it, 'my goods, my chattel,' and so I have +decided to pack you up and send you away." + +"Really, papa!" cried Patty, aghast. + +"Yes, really. I remember you expressed a disinclination to leave your +home and family, but all the same I have made arrangements for you to do +so. It was the detailing of these arrangements that kept me so late at +my office to-night." + +Patty looked at her father. She understood his bantering tone, and from +the twinkle in his eye she knew that whatever plans he may have made, +they were pleasant ones; and, too, she knew that notwithstanding his air +of authority she needn't abide by them unless she chose to. So she +waited contentedly enough for his serious account of the matter, and it +soon came. + +"Why, it's this way, chickabiddy," he said. "Mr. Farrington came to see +me at the office this afternoon, and laid a plan before me. It seems +that he and Mrs. Farrington and Elise are going to Paris for the winter, +and he brought from himself and his wife an invitation for you to go +with them." + +"Oh!" said Patty. She scarcely breathed the word, but her eyes shone +like stars, and her face expressed the delight that the thought of such +a plan brought to her. + +"Oh!" she said again, as thoughts of further details came crowding into +her mind. + +"How perfectly glorious!" cried Nan, whose enthusiasm ran to words, as +Patty seemed struck dumb. "It's the very thing! just what Patty needs. +And to go with the Farringtons is the most delightful way to make such a +trip. Tell us all about it, Fred. When do they start? Shall I have time +to get Patty some clothes? No, she'd better buy them over there. Oh, +Patty, you'll have the most rapturous time! Do say something, you little +goose! Don't sit there blinking as if you didn't understand what's going +on. Tell us more about it, Fred." + +"I will, my dear, if you'll only give me a chance. The Farringtons mean +to sail very soon--in about a fortnight. They will go on a French liner +and go at once to Paris. Except for possible short trips, they will stay +in the city all winter. Then the girls can study French, or music, or +whatever they like, and incidentally have some fun, I dare say. Mr. +Farrington seemed truly anxious to have Patty go, although I warned him +that she was a difficult young person to manage. But he said he had had +experience in that line last summer, and found that it was possible to +get along with her. Anyway, he was most urgent in the matter, and said +that if I agreed to it, Mrs. Farrington and Elise would come over and +invite her personally." + +"Am I to be their guest entirely, papa?" asked Patty. + +"Mr. Farrington insisted that you should, but I wouldn't agree to that. +I shall pay all your travelling expenses, hotel bills, and incidentals. +But if they take a furnished house in Paris for the season, as they +expect to do, you will stay there as their guest." + +"Oh," cried Patty, who had found her voice at last, "I do think it's too +lovely for anything! And you are so good, papa, to let me go. But won't +it cost a great deal, and can you afford it?" + +"It will be somewhat expensive, my dear, but I can afford it, for, as I +told you, my finances are looking up. And, too, I consider this a part +of your education, and so look upon it as a necessary outlay. But you +must remember that the Farringtons are far more wealthy people than we, +and though you can afford the necessary travelling expenses, you +probably cannot be as extravagant in the matter of personal expenditure +as they. I shall give you what I consider an ample allowance of pin +money, and then you must be satisfied with the number of pins it will +buy." + +"That doesn't worry me," declared Patty. "I'm so delighted to go that I +don't care if I don't buy a thing over there." + +"You'll change your mind when you get there and get into the wonderful +Paris shops," said her father, smiling; "but never fear, puss; you'll +have enough francs to buy all the pretty dresses and gewgaws and knick- +knacks that it's proper for a little girl like you to have. How old are +you now, Patty?" + +"Almost eighteen, papa." + +"Almost eighteen, indeed! You mean you're only fairly well past +seventeen. But it doesn't matter. Remember you're a little girl, and not +a society young lady, and conduct yourself accordingly." + +"Mrs. Farrington will look out for that," said Nan; "she has the best +possible ideas about such things, and she brings up Elise exactly in +accordance with my notions of what is right." + +"That settles it," said Mr. Fairfield; "I shall have no further anxiety +on that score since Nan approves of the outlook. But, Patty girl, we're +going to miss you here." + +"Yes, indeed," cried Nan. "I hadn't realised that side of it. Oh, Patty, +we had planned so many things for this winter, and now I shall be alone +all day and every day!" + +"Come on, and go with me," said Patty, mischievously. + +"No," said Nan, smiling at her husband; "I have a stronger tie here even +than your delightful companionship. But truly we shall miss you +awfully." + +"Of course you will," said Patty, "and I'll miss you, too. But we'll +write each other long letters, and oh! I do think the whole game is +perfectly lovely." + +"So do I," agreed Nan; and then followed such a lot of feminine planning +and chatter that Mr. Fairfield declared his advice seemed not to be +needed. + +The next morning Nan and Patty went over to the Farringtons to discuss +the great subject. They expressed to Mrs. Farrington their hearty thanks +for her kind invitation, but she insisted that the kindness was all on +Patty's side, as her company would be a great delight, not only to +Elise, but also to the elder members of the party. + +"Isn't Roger going?" asked Patty. + +"No," said Mrs. Farrington; "this is his last year in college, so of +course he can't leave. The other children are in school, too, so it +seemed just the right year for us to take Elise abroad for a little +outing. A winter in Paris will do both of you girls good in lots of +ways, and if for any reason we don't enjoy it, we can go somewhere else, +or we can turn around and come home, and no harm done." Although the +trip seemed such a great event to Patty, Mrs. Farrington appeared to +look upon it merely as a little outing, and seemed so thoroughly glad to +have Patty go with them that she almost made Patty feel as if she were +conferring the favour. + +Elise and Patty went away by themselves to talk it all over, while Nan +stayed with Mrs. Farrington to discuss the more practical details. + +"I didn't care a bit about going," said Elise, "until we thought about +your going too, and now I'm crazy to go. Oh, Patty, won't we have the +most gorgeous time!" + +"Yes, indeed," said Patty; "I can hardly realise it yet. I'm perfectly +bewildered. Shall we go to school, Elise?" + +"I don't think so, and yet we may. Mother's going to take a house, you +know, and then we'll either have masters every day, or go to some +school. Mother knows all about Paris. She has lived there a lot. But we +sha'n't have to study all the time, I know that much. We'll go sight- +seeing a good deal, and of course we'll go motoring." + +"I shall enjoy the ocean trip," said Patty; "I've never been across, you +know. You've been a number of times, haven't you?" + +"Yes, but not very lately. We used to go often when Roger and I were +little, but I haven't been over for six years, and then we weren't in +Paris." + +"I'm sure I shall love Paris. Do you remember it well?" + +"No; when I was there last I was too little to appreciate it, so we'll +explore it together, you and I. I wish Roger were going with us; it's +nice to have a boy along to escort us about." + +"Yes, it is," said Patty frankly; "and Roger is so kind and good- +natured. When do we sail, Elise?" + +"Two weeks from Saturday, I think. Father is going to see about the +tickets to-day. He waited to see your father yesterday, and make sure +that you could go. The whole thing has been planned rather suddenly, but +that's the way father always does things." + +"And it's so fortunate," went on Patty, "that I hadn't started away to +college or boarding-school. Although if I had, and you had invited me, I +should have managed some way to get expelled from college, so I could go +with you. How long do you suppose we shall stay, Elise?" + +"I don't know, I'm sure. You never can tell what the Farringtons are +going to do; they're here to-day and gone to-morrow. We'll stay all +winter, of course, and then in the spring, mother might take a notion to +go to London, or she might decide to come flying home. As for father, +he'll probably bob back and forth. He doesn't think any more of crossing +the ocean than of crossing the street. Have you much to do to get ready +to go?" + +"No, not much. Nan says for me not to get a lot of clothes, for it's +better to buy them over there; and papa says I can buy all I want, only +of course I can't be as extravagant as you are." + +"Oh, pshaw, I'm not extravagant! I don't care much about spending money, +only of course I like to have some nice things. And I do love to buy +pictures and books. But we'll have an awful lot of fun together. I think +it's fun just to be with you, Patty. And the idea of having you all to +myself for a whole winter, without Hilda, or Lorraine, or anybody +claiming a part of you, is the best of it all. I do love you a lot, +Patty, more than you realise, I think." + +"You've set your affections on a worthless object, then; and I warn you +that before the winter is over you're likely to discover that for +yourself. You always did overestimate me, Elise." + +"Indeed I didn't; but as you well know, from that first day at the +Oliphant school, when you were so kind to me, I've never liked anybody +half as much as I do you." + +"You're extremely flattering," said Patty, as she kissed her friend, +"and I only hope this winter won't prove a disillusion." + +"I'm not at all afraid," returned Elise gaily; "and oh, Patty, won't we +have a jolly time on board the steamer! It's a long trip, you know, and +we must take books to read and games to play, for as there'll probably +be mostly French people on board, we can't converse very much." + +"You can," said Patty, laughing, "but I'm afraid no one can understand +my beautiful but somewhat peculiar accent." + + + + +III + +SOUVENIRS + + +Marian came over to spend a few days with Patty before her departure. +She was frankly envious of Patty's good fortune, but more than that, she +was so desperately doleful at the thought of Patty's going away that she +was anything but a cheerful visitor. + +Although sorry for her cousin, Patty couldn't help laughing at the +dejected picture that Marian continually presented. She followed Patty +around the house wherever she went, or she would sit and look at her +with her chin held in her hands, and the big tears rolling down her +cheeks. + +"Marian, you are a goose," said Patty, exasperated by this performance. +"When I left Vernondale you cried and carried on just this way, but +somehow you seemed to live through it. And now that I live in New York +you don't see me so very often anyhow, so why should you be so +disconsolate about my going away?" + +"Because you're going so far, and you'll probably be drowned--those +French steamers are ever so much more dangerous than the English lines-- +and somehow I just feel as if you'd never come back." + +"Well, the best thing you can do then is to change your feelings. I'll +be back before you hardly realise that I'm gone; and I'll bring you the +loveliest presents you ever saw." + +This was a happy suggestion of Patty's, for Marian's tears ceased to +flow and she brightened up at once. + +"Oh, Patty, that is just what I wanted to talk to you about! If you are +going to bring me anything in the way of a gift or a souvenir, wouldn't +you just as lieve I'd tell you what I want, as to have you pick it out +yourself, and likely as not bring me something I don't care for at all? +Everybody who brings me home souvenirs from Europe brings the most +hideous things, or else something that I can't possibly use." + +"Why, Marian, dear, I'd be only too glad to have you tell me what you +want, and I'll do my best to select it just right." + +"Well, Patty, I want a lot of photographs. The kind we get over here are +no good. But I've seen the ones that come from Paris, and they're just +as different as day and night. I'd like the Venus of Milo and the Mona +Lisa and the Victory and--oh, well--I'll make you out a list. There are +several Madonnas that I want, and several more that I DON'T want. And I +do NOT want any of Nattier's pictures or a "Baby Stuart," but I do want +some of Hinde's hair curlers--the tortoise-shell kind, I mean--and you +can only get them in Paris." + +By this time Patty was shaking with laughter at Marian's list, and she +asked her if she didn't want anything else but photographs and hair +curlers. + +"Why, yes," said Marian, astonished; "I've only just begun. You know +photographs don't cost much over there, and of course the curlers won't +count for a present. I thought you meant to bring me something nice." + +"I do," said Patty, looking at her cousin, who was so comically in +earnest. "You just go on with your list, and I'll bring all the things, +if I have to buy an extra trunk to bring them in." + +"All right, then," said Marian, encouraged to proceed. "I want a bead +bag--one of those gay coloured ones made of very small beads, worked in +old-fashioned flowers, roses, you know, or hibiscus--not on any account +the tulip pattern, because I hate it." + +"You'd better write out these instructions, Marian, or I shall be sure +to get tulips by mistake." + +"Don't you do it, Patty; I'll write them all down most explicitly. And +then I want a scarf, a very long one, cream-coloured ground, with a +Persian border in blues and greys. But not a palm-leaf border--I mean +that queer stencilled sort of a design; I'll draw a pattern of it so you +can't mistake it." + +"But suppose I can't find just that kind, Marian." + +"Oh, yes, you can! Ethel Holmes has one, and hers came from Paris. And +you've all winter to look for it, you know." + +"Well, I'll devote the winter to the search, but if I don't find it +along toward spring I'll give it up. What else, Marian?" + +"Well, I'd like a lot of Napoleon things. Some old prints of him, you +know, and perhaps a little bronze statuette, and a cup and saucer or +pen-wiper, or any of those things that they make with pictures of +Napoleon on. And then--oh! Patty, I do want some Cyclamen perfumery. +It's awfully hard to get. There's only one firm that makes it. I forget +the name, but it's Something Bros. & Co., and their place is across the +Seine." + +"Across the Seine from what?" + +"Why, just across. On the other side, you know. Of course I don't know +across from what, because I've never been to Paris; but everybody who +has lived there always just says 'across the Seine,' and everybody knows +at once where they mean. You'll know all right after you've lived there +a little while." + +"Marian, you're a wonder," declared Patty. "I don't think I ever knew +anybody with such a perfect and complete understanding of her own wants +as you seem to have. I hope you haven't mentioned half the things I'm to +bring you, but don't tell me the rest now. I might change my mind about +going. But you buy a large blank book and write out all these orders at +full length, giving directions just when to cross the Seine and when to +cross back again, and I'll promise to do my very best with the whole +list." + +"Patty, you're a darling," said Marian, "and I'm almost reconciled to +having you go when I think of having souvenirs brought to me that I +really want." + +"Marian," said Patty, struck with a sudden thought, "your idea of the +difference between desirable and undesirable souvenirs is an interesting +one. Now I shall bring little gifts to all my friends and relatives, I +expect, and if you happen to know of anything that would be especially +liked by Uncle Charlie or Aunt Alice or any of your family, or the Tea +Club girls, I wish you'd make another list and put those things all down +for me. It would be the greatest kind of a help." + +Marian promised to do this, and Patty felt sure that she would be glad +of the lists later on. + +Aunt Isabel and Ethelyn also came to say good-bye to Patty, but their +demeanour was very different from Marian's. + +Aunt Isabel was much impressed by the fact that Patty was going to +travel with the rich Farringtons, but she expressed a doubt as to +whether it would do Patty much good in a social way after all. For she +knew something of Mrs. Farrington's habits and tastes, and they in no +way corresponded to her own. + +Ethelyn informed Patty that she need not bring her any souvenir unless +she could bring something really nice. "I do hate the little traps and +trinkets most people bring," she said; "but if you want to bring me a +bracelet or locket or something really worth while, I'd be glad to have +it." + +"Well," exclaimed Patty, "I certainly have most outspoken cousins! They +don't seem to hesitate to tell me what to bring and what not to bring +them. But I'm sure of one thing! Bumble Barlow won't be so fussy +particular; she'll take whatever I bring and be thankful." + +"So will I," said Nan, laughing; "anything no one else wants, Patty, you +may give it to me." + +"Don't spend all your money buying presents, child," said Aunt Isabel; +"you'd better buy pretty clothes for yourself. I will give you a list of +the best places to shop." + +"Thank you, Aunt Isabel, I'll take the list with pleasure; but of course +my purchases will be at the advice of Mrs. Farrington. She dresses Elise +quite simply, and will probably expect me to do the same." + +Aunt Isabel sniffed. "You ought to have gone to Paris with me," she +said. "You're growing up to be a good-looking girl, Patty, and the right +kind of clothes would set you off wonderfully." + +Patty said nothing, but as she glanced at Ethelyn's furbelows she felt +thankful she was not going to Paris with Aunt Isabel. + +But Patty found that there was quite a great deal of shopping to be done +before she sailed. + +Nan took these matters in charge and declared that Patty needed a +complete though not an elaborate steamer outfit. + +Nan dearly loved buying pretty clothes and was quite in her element +making Patty's purchases. A dark blue tailor-made cloth, trimmed with +touches of green velvet, was chosen for her travelling costume. + +Her "going-away dress" Marian persisted in calling it, just as if Patty +were a bride; but as Marian burst into tears every time she mentioned +Patty's going away, her words were so indistinct that it mattered little +what terms she used. + +Then Nan selected one or two pretty light gowns of a somewhat dressy +nature for dinner on board the steamer, and one or two simple evening +gowns for the ship's concert or other festive occasions. A white serge +suit was added for pleasant afternoons on deck, and some dainty kimonos +and negligees for stateroom use. + +Patty was delighted with all these things, but could scarcely take time +to appreciate them, as she found so many other things to do by way of +her own preparations. So many people came to see her and she had to go +to see so many other people. Then she had to have her photographs taken +to leave with her friends, and she was constantly being invited to +little farewell luncheons or teas. + +"Indeed," as Patty expressed it, "the whole two weeks of preparation +seems like one long, lingering farewell; and when I'm not saying good- +bye to any one else, I'm trying to stop Marian's freshly flowing tears." + +The girls bought Patty parting gifts, and though they were all either +useful or pretty, Patty appreciated far more the loving spirit which +prompted them. + +"I made this all myself," said Hilda, as she brought Patty a dainty +sleeping gown of blue and white French flannel, "because it's utterly +impossible to buy this sort of thing ready-made and have it just right. +If you don't say this is just right I'll never make you another as long +as I live." + +"It's exactly right, Hilda," said Patty, taking the pretty garment. "I +know I shall dream of you whenever I wear it, and that's too bad, too, +for I ought to devote some of my dreams to other people." + +"This is a cabin bag," said Lorraine, bringing her offering. "I didn't +make it myself, because this is so much neater and prettier than a +homemade one. You see it has a pocket for everything that you can +possibly require, from hairpins to shoehorn. Not that you'll put +anything in the pockets--nobody ever does--but it will look pretty +decorating your cabin wall." + +"Indeed I shall put things in it," said Patty. "I'm a great believer in +putting things in their right places, and I shall think of you, +Lorraine, whenever I'm trying to get the things out of these dinky +little pockets, and probably not succeeding very well." + +"This is my gift," said Adelaide Hart; "it isn't very elaborate, but I +made it all myself, and that means a good deal from me." + +Patty opened the parcel and found a piece of cretonne about a yard +square, neatly hemmed along each of the four sides, and having a tape +loop sewed on each corner. + +"It's perfectly beautiful," said Patty, "and I never saw more exquisite +needlework; but would you mind telling me what it is for? It can't be a +handkerchief, but I don't know of anything else that's exactly square." + +"How ignorant you are," said Adelaide with pretended superiority. "That, +my inexperienced friend, is a wrap for your best hat." + +"Oh," said Patty, not much enlightened. + +"You see," Adelaide kindly went on to explain, "as soon as you get on +board your steamer you take off your best hat and put it exactly in the +middle of this square, having first spread the square out smoothly on +the bed or somewhere. Then you take up these four corners by the loops +and hang the whole thing on the highest hook in your stateroom. Thus, +you see, your best hat is carried safely across; it is not jammed or +crushed, and it is protected from dust." + +"I see," said Patty gravely; "and I suppose the dust is something awful +on an ocean steamer." + +The laugh seemed to be on Adelaide at this, but she joined in it and +prophesied that when Patty returned she would confess that that gift had +proved the most useful of all. + +Clementine Morse brought a large post-card album which she had filled +with views of New York City. + +"I know you will be homesick before you're out of sight of land," she +said; "but if you're not you ought to be, and I hope these pictures will +make you so. When you look at this highly colored representation of +Grant's tomb and realise that it is but a few miles from your own long- +lost hearthstone, I'm sure you will feel qualms of patriotism--or +something." + +"I think very likely," said Patty, laughing. "But, Clementine, how many +trunks do you suppose I shall need to hold my farewell gifts? This album +will take up considerable space." + +"I know it," said Clementine, "but you needn't put it in your trunk. You +can carry it on board in your hand, and then when you go ashore you can +carry it in your hand. I don't believe they will charge you duty on it, +especially as it will probably be nearly worn out by that time." + +"I'm sure it will," said Patty, "not only from my own constant use of +it, but I know everybody on board will want to borrow it and enjoy these +works of art." + +"Yes," agreed Clementine; "and then, Patty, when you're in Paris you can +throw away all these New York cards and fill it up with Paris views and +bring it home and give it back to me." + +"I certainly will, Clem; that's a first-rate idea." + +Mary Sargent brought a French phrase book. It was entitled "French +Before Breakfast," and as Mary explained that the French people never +had breakfast until noon, Patty would have ample time to study it. + +Patty accepted the little book with many thanks and promised Mary she +would never eat breakfast, at noon or any other hour, until she had +thoroughly mastered at least one of the phrases. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AN AQUATIC PARTY + + +Of course all were agreed that Patty must have a farewell party of some +sort; and as Nan dearly loved elaborate affairs, she had decided that it +should be an Aquatic Party. + +Patty frankly confessed her ignorance as to what an Aquatic Party might +be, whereupon Nan informed her that she had only to wait until the +occasion itself to find out. + +So busy was Patty herself that she took no hand in the preparations for +the party, and indeed Nan required no help. That capable and energetic +young matron secured the services of some professional decorators and +able-bodied workmen, but the direction and superintendence was entirely +in her own hands. + +Patty was consulted only in regard to her own costume for the occasion. + +"You see," said Nan, coming into Patty's room one morning, "I don't know +whether you would rather say good-bye to your friends in the guise of a +kelpie or a pixy or a jelly-fish." + +"Cut out the jelly-fish," said Patty, laughing, "for they're horrid, +floppy old things, I'm sure. As to the others, what's the difference +between a kelpie and a pixy?" + +"Oh, a great deal of difference," declared Nan, wagging her head wisely; +"a kelpie is an imaginary water sprite, you know, and a pixy is a--a-- +why, a sort of make-believe fairy who lives in the water." + +"Well, I'm glad that you see a difference in your two definitions. For +my part I don't see anything to hinder my being a kelpie and a pixy +both, even if I'm not twins." + +"Well, they're not so very different, you know. One is a kelpie, and one +is a pixy; that's about all the difference." + +Patty laughed. "Well, if it will help you out any to have me make a +choice," she said, "I'll choose to be a kelpie. What's the latest thing +in kelpie costumes?" + +"Oh, it will be lovely, Patty! I'll have it made of pale green silk, +with a frosted, silvery, shimmering effect, you know, and draped with +trailing green seaweed and water grasses." + +"Lovely!" agreed Patty. "And what would the pixy costume have been, if I +had chosen that?" + +"Just the same," confessed Nan, laughing; "but it's easier to have +something definite to work at. You can wear my corals, Patty, and, with +your hair down, you'll be a perfect kelpie." + +Patty smiled at her young stepmother's enthusiasm, and Nan ran away to +begin preparations for the kelpie costume. + +The night of the party the whole Fairfield house was so transformed that +it must scarcely have recognised itself. + +The large front drawing-room represented the arctic regions in the +vicinity of the North Pole. Frames had been erected which, when covered +with sheets, simulated peaks of snowy mountains and snow-covered +icebergs. Here and there signs, apparently left by explorers, told the +latitude and longitude, and a flag marked the explorations Farthest +North. Over these snow peaks scrambled white polar bears in most +realistic fashion, and in one corner an Esquimau hut was built. + +The ceiling represented a clear blue sky, and the floor the blue water +of the open polar sea. + +By a clever arrangement of electric lights through colored shades a fair +representation of the Aurora Borealis was made to appear at intervals. + +The library, which was back of the drawing-room, had been transformed +into an aquarium. All round the walls, waves of blue-green gauze +simulated water, in which papier-mache fish were gliding and swimming. +The illusion was heightened by other fishes, which, being suspended from +the ceiling by invisible threads, seemed to be swimming through the air. + +Altogether the effect, if not entirely realistic, was picturesque and +amusing, and coral reefs and rocky cliffs covered with seaweed gave +aquatic impressions, even if not entirely logical. + +But Nan's pride was what she chose to call the Upper Deck. This was a +room on the second floor, a large front room, which had been made to +represent the upper deck of a handsome yacht. Sail-cloth draped and held +up by poles formed the roof and sides, and a realistic railing +surrounded it. A dozen or more steamer chairs stood in line, strewn with +rugs, pillows and paper-backed novels. Coils of rope, lanterns, life- +preservers, and other paraphernalia added to the realism of the scene, +and at one side a carefully constructed window opened into the steward's +cabin. The steward himself, white-duck-suited and white-capped, was +prepared to serve light refreshments exactly after the fashion of a +correct yachting party. + +When the guests began to arrive and were dressed in various costumes, +each representing some type or phase of water pleasures, the scene took +on a gay and festive air. + +Patty's kelpie costume was a great success, and the girl never looked +prettier than as she stood receiving her guests in the pretty green silk +gown, trailing with seaweed and shimmering with silver dust. Her curly +golden hair was wreathed with soft green water-grasses, and her rosy +cheeks and dancing eyes made her look like a mischievous water sprite. + +Nan's own costume was that of a fish-wife, and though very different +from Patty's, it had all the picturesqueness of the quaint costume of +the Breton fisher-folk. A basket slung over her shoulder held realistic- +looking fishes, and Nan looked quite as if she might have stepped out of +the frame of a picture in the French Academy. + +Mr. Fairfield, not without some difficulty, had been induced to +represent Neptune. False flowing white hair and beard, a shining crown +and trident, and a voluminous sea-green robe made him a gorgeous sight. + +The three stood near the North Pole to receive their guests, and +formality was almost lost sight of in the hilarity caused by the +procession of picturesque costumes. + +There were pirates of fierce and bloodthirsty mien; there were jolly +Jack Tars and natty ship officers; there were water babies, mermaids, +fishermen, and many dainty yachting costumes. Then there were queer and +grotesque figures, such as a frog, a lobster, and a huge crab. + +Altogether the motley procession presented a most interesting +appearance, and Patty was glad when the guests had all arrived and she +could leave her post and mingle with the crowd. + +It was not long before a group of Patty's most intimate friends had +gathered on the Upper Deck to chat. Patty herself had been snugly tucked +into a deck chair by Kenneth, who insisted on showing her just how the +proceeding should be accomplished. + +"Nothing shows your ignorance, my child, on board ship," he was saying, +"like not knowing how to manage your steamer rug and pillow." + +"But," said Patty, "I shall then have on a suitable gown that will stand +rough usage; but I beg of you, Ken, stop tucking that rug around my +delicate kelpie decorations. + +"Oh," said Kenneth, "you're a kelpie, then! Strange I didn't recognise +you at once, but I so rarely meet kelpies in the best society. Now I'm +Captain Kidd." + +"Are you?" cried Elise gaily; "now I had an idea you were Admiral +Farragut; but then one so rarely meets Captain Kidd in the best +society." + +"That's so," said Kenneth; "and think how long it will be, girls, before +you have the pleasure of meeting this particular Captain Kidd in any +society. I tell you, I envy you. You're going to have the time of your +life in Paris, and I wish to goodness I could go along with you." + +"Oh, do, Kenneth," cried Patty; "we'd have just the best time ever! +Can't you give up college and put in a lot of study over there?" + +"No, indeed, I can't; I'm only just wishing I could. There's no harm in +wishing, you know. But if you'll stay until next summer, perhaps I'll +come over and see you during vacation, and then we can all come home +together." + +"That would be fine," said Elise, "and we're just as likely to stay +until summer as not. But then, on the other hand, we're just as likely +to come home as soon as we get there. You never can tell what those +absurd parents of mine are going to do." + +Meantime a strange-looking figure was walking across the Upper Deck +toward the group that surrounded Patty. It was impossible not to +recognise the character, which was meant to be a representation of Noah. +But it was the well-known Noah of the children's Noah's ark, and the +straight-up-and-down, tightly fitting brown garment, with yellow buttons +down the front, was exactly like the patriarch as shown in the wooden +toys. A flat, broad-brimmed hat sat squarely on his head, and as he held +his arms straight down at his side, and as his cheeks bore little round +daubs of red paint, Mr. Hepworth was exactly like a gigantic specimen of +the nursery Noah. + +He came across the deck with a staggering, uncertain motion, as if the +ship were rolling and pitching about. His realistic acting made them all +laugh, and when he dropped into a deck chair and, calling the steward, +asked faintly for a cup of weak tea, Patty declared she believed she +wouldn't go to Paris after all. + +"For I'm sure," she said, "that I don't want to go wabbling across a +deck and looking as ill and woebegone as you do." + +Mr. Hepworth smiled at her. "You'll have so many remedies and +preventives given you," he said, "and you'll be so busy pitching them +overboard that you won't have time to be seasick. Really I don't believe +you'll think of such a thing all the way over, let alone experiencing +it." + +"You're a great comfort," said Patty heartily; "you always tell me the +most comforting things. Now everybody else declares that after I've been +at sea for a day I'll be so ill that I won't care whether I live or +die." + +"Nonsense," declared Mr. Hepworth; "don't pay any attention to such +croakings." + +"I agree with you," said Elise. "I've made up my mind that I'm not going +to be seasick, but I'm going to have a perfectly jolly time all the way +across." + +"Of course you'll have jolly times," said Marian, who was in one of her +doleful moods; "but think of us who are left behind! We won't have any +jolly time until you come back again." + +"Oh, I don't know!" said Kenneth. "Of course I'm devoted to these two +girls, but I'm not going to let it blight my young existence and crush +my whole career, just because I have to live without them for six +months." + +"But you don't love Patty as I do," said Marian with a sigh, as she +gazed at her adored cousin. + +"No, Marian, I don't," said Kenneth; "not as YOU do, for I assume that +you love her as a first cousin. Now my affection for Patty is more on +the order of a grandmother's brother-in-law once removed. You can't be +too careful about the exact type of attachment you feel for a young +lady, and I think that expresses my regard for Patty. Now toward Elise I +feel more like a great niece's uncle's brother-in-law. There is a very +subtle distinction between the two, but I know that both girls are +acutely aware of the exact kind and degree of my regard for them." + +"I am, anyway," said Patty; "and I must say, Ken, that it's much easier +to leave you, with that definite affection of yours, than it is to go +away from Marian and leave her floundering in her deep and somewhat damp +woe." + +Marian vouchsafed a sad sort of smile, and said it was all very well for +them to make fun of her, but she couldn't help missing Patty. + +"Nobody can help missing Patty," declared Mr. Hepworth; "and for my +part, if I find that I miss her very much I shall go straight over to +Paris and bring her back." + +"I hope you will," cried Patty; "that is, I hope you'll come over, and +perhaps we can persuade you not to be in such a dreadful hurry to come +back." + +"I had expected to run over in the early spring, anyway," said Mr. +Hepworth carelessly, as if it were a matter of no moment; "I want to do +certain French sketches that I've had my mind on for some time." + +"Well, if you do come," said Elise cordially, "come right to our house +and I know we can put you up. The Farringtons are erratic, but always +hospitable; and I hereby invite this whole crowd to visit us in Paris, +either jointly or severally, whenever the spirit moves you." + +"If I find a spirit that can move me over to Paris, I shall come often," +declared Kenneth; "but I'm afraid I'm too substantially built to be +wafted across the ocean in the clutches of any spirit." + +Just then the notes of a bugle sounded clear and sweet from below. + +"That's the ship's bugler," declared Mr. Hepworth, "and that's the bugle +call for supper. Shall we go down and refresh ourselves?" + +"Yes, indeed," cried Patty, jumping from her nest of steamer rugs; "I'm +as hungry as a hawk." + +But it somehow happened that all of the gay young crowd left the Upper +Deck to go to the supper room before Patty and Mr. Hepworth started. He +detained her for a moment while he said: "Little girl, will you miss me +while you're away?" + +"Even if I expected to I wouldn't own up to it," said Patty, as she gave +him a mischievous glance. + +"Why wouldn't you own up to it?" Mr. Hepworth spoke quite seriously and +looked intently at the pretty face before him, with its golden hair +crowned by the shining green sea-wreath. + +"I don't know," said Patty slowly. She felt herself forced by his +impelling gaze to raise her eyes to his, and for the first time it +occurred to her that Mr. Hepworth felt more interest in her than she had +ever suspected. "I don't know why I wouldn't own up to it, I'm sure," +she went on; "in fact, now that I come to think of it, I believe I +should own up to it." + +"Well, own it then. Tell me you will miss me, and will sometimes wish I +might be with you." + +"Oh," cried Patty, laughing merrily, "I only meant I would own it if it +were true. Of course I sha'n't really miss you; there'll be so much to +amuse and interest me that I sha'n't have time to miss anybody except +papa and Nan." + +"That's just what I thought," said Mr. Hepworth. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +GOOD-BYES + + +At last the day of sailing came. The steamer was to leave her dock at +three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and soon after two Patty went on +board, accompanied by Nan and her father. + +A crowd of friends had also gathered to bid Patty goodspeed, and besides +these the Farringtons had many friends there to say good-bye to them. + +With the exception of Marian, it was not a sad parting. Indeed it seemed +rather a hilarious occasion than otherwise. This was partly because most +of the persons concerned felt truly sorry to miss Patty's bright +presence out of their lives, and feared that if they showed any regret +the situation might become too much for them. + +Hilda and Lorraine felt this especially, and they were so absurdly gay +that it was quite clear to Patty that their gaiety was assumed. But she +was grateful to them for it, for, as she had previously confided to Nan, +she didn't want a weepy, teary crowd to bid her good-bye; she wanted to +go away amid laughter and smiles. + +As the brief hour before sailing passed, more and more people came to +see them off, and Patty began to think that everybody she ever knew +would be there. + +Many of the friends brought gifts, and many had already sent fruit or +flowers, both to the Farringtons and to Patty. Down in the dining-saloon +a whole table was occupied with the gifts to their party, and more than +a fair proportion of these belonged to Patty. She was quite bewildered, +for sailing away from her native land was a new experience to her, and +it had never occurred to her that it would include this elaborate +profusion of farewell gifts. + +There was a great basket of red roses from Winthrop Warner, and Bertha +had sent a box of candy. Roger had sent candy, too, and Kenneth had sent +a beautiful basket of fruit that seemed to include every known variety. +Nor were the gifts only from Patty's intimate friends. She was surprised +to learn how many of her acquaintances and relatives and casual friends +had sent a token of good wishes for her voyage. The truth is that Patty +was a general favourite and made friends with all whom she met. + +Mr. Hepworth had once told her that she was a Dispenser of Happiness. If +so, she was now reaping the reward, for her friends had surely showered +happiness upon her. + +And besides the table full of gifts there were many letters and +telegrams in the ship's little post-office. These delighted Patty, too, +and she laid the budget aside to enjoy after the trip had fairly begun. + +Among the last to arrive was Mr. Hepworth. He brought no fruit or +flowers, but he was followed by a messenger boy fairly staggering under +the weight of his burden. + +"I knew, Patty," he said, "that you'd have all the flowers and fruit and +sweets you could possibly want, so I've brought you a different kind of +gift." + +"There seems to be plenty of it," said Patty as she looked at the small +boy. His arms were full of papers and magazines, which, as they +afterward discovered, included every newspaper, magazine, and weekly +periodical published in New York. + +"You know," said Mr. Hepworth, "you can't get current reading matter +after you start, and a good deal of this stuff you won't find in Paris, +either; though you can get American publications there more easily than +you can in London. But read what you want, Patty, and pitch the rest +overboard." + +The boy was directed to carry his load to Patty's stateroom and deposit +it there. Patty thanked Mr. Hepworth for his thoughtful gift, and said +she would read every word of it and probably carry a great deal of it +ashore with her. + +"Come on, Patty," said Kenneth, "we're going to see where your deck +chairs are, so we can have a mental picture of just how you're going to +look for the next week or so." + +About a dozen merry young people trooped up the next deck and found the +chairs that had been reserved for the Farrington party. But when Patty +saw them she burst out laughing. The two that were intended for herself +and Elise had been decorated in an absurd fashion. They were tied with +ribbon bows and bunches and garlands of flowers. They were filled with +fancy pillows, and tied on in several places were letters and small +packages done up in paper. + +"They look like ridiculous Christmas trees," cried Patty. "I'm crazy to +open those bundles, for I know they're full of foolishness that you +girls have rigged up for us." + +"Don't open them now," said Hilda, "for we have to leave you and go +ashore in a few moments. Now, Patty, you will write to us, won't you?" + +"I rather think I will," cried Patty; "you've all been so good to me I +never could thank you enough if I wrote every day and all day." + +"Come with me, Patty," said Kenneth; "I want to show you something up at +this end of the ship." + +So Patty went off with Kenneth, and when they were well away from the +laughing crowd he drew a small box from his pocket and gave it to her, +saying: "Patty, you mustn't think I'm a sentimental fool, for I'm not; +but I wish you'd wear that while you're away, and sometimes think of +me." + +Patty flashed a comical glance at him. + +"Good gracious, Ken," she exclaimed, "it's an awful funny thing, this +going away; it makes all your friends so serious and so afraid you'll +forget them. Of course I shall think of you while I'm away." + +"Who else has been asking you to think of him?" growled Kenneth; "that +ridiculous Hepworth, I suppose! Well, now look here, miss, you're to +think of me twice to his once. Do you understand that?" + +"Yes, I understand," said Patty demurely; "and now may I look in the box +before I promise to wear your gift? It might be a live beetle. I saw a +lady once who wore a live beetle attached to a tiny gold chain. Oh, it +was awful!" + +"It isn't a live beetle," said Kenneth, smiling, "but it is attached to +a tiny gold chain. Yes, of course you may look at it, and if you don't +like it you needn't wear it." + +So Patty opened the box and discovered a little gold locket, set with +tiny pearls and hanging from a slender gold chain. It was very graceful +and dainty, and Patty's first impulse was one of delight. But as she +looked up and met Kenneth's serious gaze she suddenly wondered if she +were promising too much to say she would wear it. + +"What's inside of it?" she inquired, as if to gain time. + +"Look and see." + +Patty opened the locket and found it contained a most attractive picture +of Kenneth's handsome, boyish face. + +"What a splendid likeness!" she exclaimed; "you're awfully good-looking, +Ken, and I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll wear the locket with pleasure-- +sometimes, you know, not all the time, of course--until I find somebody +who is handsomer than you, or--whom I like better." + +"Pooh," cried Kenneth, "I don't care how often you replace it with a +picture of a handsomer man, but, Patty, I don't want you to find any one +you like better. Promise me you won't." + +"Oh, I can't promise that, Ken. Just think of the fascinating Frenchmen +I shall probably meet, with their waxed moustaches and their dandified +manners. How can I help liking them better than a plain, unvarnished +American boy?" + +"All right, my lady; if you set your affections on a French popinjay, +I'll come over there and fight a duel with him. I know you're too +sensible to look at those addle-pated dandies, but I wish you'd promise +not to like anybody better than THIS plain, unvarnished American boy." + +"I won't promise you anything, Ken," said Patty, not unkindly, but with +a gentle, definite air. "I thank you for your locket. It is beautiful, +and I do love pretty things. I'll wear it sometimes; let me see, to-day +is Saturday; well, I'll wear it every Saturday; that will insure your +being thought of at least once a week." + +And with this Kenneth had to be content, for a roguish laugh appeared in +Patty's eyes and he knew she would not treat matters seriously any +further. + +Dropping the locket in her little handbag, Patty turned to go back to +the others. + +"But you're not keeping your promise," said Kenneth, detaining her. + +"What promise?" + +"You said you'd wear the locket on Saturdays, and to-day is Saturday." + +Patty was a little embarrassed. She knew if she went back to the group +with the trinket hanging round her neck, every one would know at once +that Kenneth had given it to her, and they would surmise far more than +the simple, truth. And she was especially conscious that Mr. Hepworth +would notice it, and would think it meant all Kenneth had wanted it to +mean, which was far more than she had accepted it as meaning. + +Kenneth saw her hesitation and stood watching her. + +"Wear it, dear," he said quietly; "an old friend like myself has a +perfect right to give you a little keepsake." Then Patty had an +inspiration. She clasped the little chain about her neck and then tucked +the locket down inside her collar so that it was entirely out of sight. + +"You little witch!" cried Kenneth as she raised her laughing eyes to +his; "but at any rate you're wearing it, and that's all I asked of you." + +"Yes," said Patty; and, as gaily and unaffectedly as a child, she +grasped Kenneth's hand and ran down the long deck to join the others. + +Although determined to ignore the episode, Patty's cheeks bore a +heightened colour and she let poor Kenneth severely alone, devoting her +attention to the others. + +But it was nearly time: for the last farewell to be said, and indeed +some of the party had said good-bye and left the steamer. + +And then again Patty was carried off for a little confidential talk at +the other end of the deck, and this time it was by her father. + +He seemed to have many final bits of advice to give her regarding the +minutiae of her journey, her money matters, her relation toward the +Farringtons, and her correct demeanour in many ways. + +"I'm not at all afraid to trust you out of my sight, Patty, girl," he +said, "for I have absolute faith in your common sense and your good +judgment. I know you won't do anything wrong or unladylike, but I want +to warn you, my little girl, not to get mixed up in any romantic +adventures. You're altogether too young for that sort of thing, and I +warn you I sha'n't allow you to be engaged to anybody for years and +years to come." Patty laughed merrily at this. "Indeed, papa," she said, +"nothing is further from my mind than any such performance as you +suggest, and I haven't the slightest desire to think of being engaged +until I'm at least as old as Nan. And anyway, I don't believe anybody +would like me well enough to want to be engaged to me. Oh--that is-- +unless it might be Kenneth." + +And then Patty told her father the whole story of Kenneth and the +locket. + +"You did just right, Patty," said her father. "Kenneth is a nice boy, +but he is altogether too young, and you are, too, to attach any +sentimental significance to his gift. Wear the locket if you want to, or +when you want to, but let it be understood that it means nothing more +than the merest friendly keepsake." + +"Yes, that's just what I think," said Patty, with an air of satisfaction +at this prosaic settlement of the subject. "Oh, papa, you're the only +one I'm going to miss very much, you and Nan; but especially you." + +"I know it, my girl; we have been a great deal to each other all these +years, and of course we shall miss each other. But the time will soon +pass away, and since we have to part we must be brave about it, and we +must not spoil the happiness of it by the sorrow of it." + +"Dear papa," said Patty, squeezing his hand, "you are always so wise and +good. That's just the point; we must not spoil the happiness by the +sorrow, though that is what Marian is always trying to do. Poor Marian, +she's such a pathetic creature; I wish she would cheer up." + +"I think she will, Patty. Nan and I are going to take her home with us +and keep her for a fortnight or more, and we'll make her so gay that +she'll forget you're gone." + +"Good for you, papa; that's lovely! You do think of the nicest things +for people!" + +"Well, now, chickabiddy, I suppose I'll have to leave you. Keep up a +good heart and a spirit of cheerfulness. Stick to your sense of +proportion and your sense of humor. Remember that the time will soon +pass, and pass happily, too; and then you'll come sailing back to this +very dock, and I'll be here waiting for you." + +They rejoined the group and then the farewells began in earnest. Patty +was embraced and kissed by all the girls, until Nan declared there would +be nothing left for her to say good-bye to. The men shook hands and +expressed hearty good wishes, and with one last kiss from her father +Patty was left alone with the Farringtons. + +As the steamer sailed away there was much waving of handkerchiefs and +flags, and the friends on shore were kept in sight just as long as +possible. + +But when they could no longer be distinguished, Patty said: "Come on, +Elise; let's do something to occupy our minds, or I feel sure I shall +cry like a baby in spite of my noble and brave resolutions." + +"All right," said Elise, "I'm with you. Let's go down and put things to +rights in our stateroom." + +So down they went on their errand. The girls were to share the same +stateroom, and as it was large and conveniently arranged, they were glad +to be together. But as they entered the door they nearly fell over in +astonishment, for sitting on the sofa, with his paws extended in +welcome, was a very large, very white, and very fleecy "Teddy Bear." In +one paw he held a card on which was written: + + Oh Patty dear, + Oh Elise dear, + We don't want you to go away; + But if you will, + Keep with you still + This merry little stowaway. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE OLD MA'AMSELLE + + +The girls laughed heartily over the Teddy Bear, and agreed that it was a +delightful companion for their trip. Elise set him up on the little +shelf above the washstand, and he gazed down upon them like a fat and +good-natured patron saint. Patty named him Yankee Doodle, and gave him +an American flag to hold; but Elise, not wishing to seem to slight the +French nation, gave him a silken tri-colour of France to hold in his +other paw. Apparently unprejudiced in his sympathies, Yankee Doodle held +both flags, and continued to wear his jolly and complacent grin. + +It was great fun for the girls to arrange their stateroom. As they +expected to occupy it for the next ten days, they proceeded to make it +as homelike as possible. They both had so many cabin bags and wall +pockets and basket catchalls which had been parting gifts that it was +difficult to find wall space for them all. Patty was to occupy the lower +berth and Elise the wide and comfortable sofa. For they concluded they +could chatter better if on a level. This left the upper berth as a broad +shelf for books and magazines, boxes of candy, and all the odds and ends +of their belongings. + +"Isn't it perfectly wonderful," said Patty, "to think we are already +miles away from land, and dancing away over this blue water!" + +As Patty was standing on the sofa, with her head stuck out through the +porthole, Elise could not hear a word of this speech; so unless the +fishes were interested it was entirely lost. But this mattered little to +Patty, and soon she pulled her head in and made the same remark over +again. + +"Well," said Elise, who was matter-of-fact, "when people take passage on +an ocean steamer they often expect to get a few miles away from land +after they start." + +"Oh, Elise," cried Patty, "have you no imagination? Of course it isn't +wonderful to consider the FACT of our sailing out to sea, but the IDEA +of dancing away over the blue water is poetic and therefore wonderful." + +"I'm glad you explained it to me, and I dare say the more the ship +dances, the more wonderful it will be. And so let's get these things +straightened out before the dancing grows mad and hilarious." + +"All right," said Patty good-naturedly; and she went to work with a +will, stowing away things and tacking up things, until everything was +snugly in place. + +Mrs. Farrington's maid accompanied the party, but both Elise and Patty, +being energetic young Americans, had small use for her services. She was +a help, though, in the matter of back buttons and hair ribbons, and she +came now rapping at the stateroom door with a message from Mrs. +Farrington that the girls were to dress for dinner. At the same moment +the pretty bugle-call rang out that marked the half hour before dinner- +time. + +"Isn't it fun," cried Patty, "to have the dressing-bell a trumpet? +Except at my own party the other night I've never been bugled to my +meals. What shall we wear, Elise?" + +"Not our prettiest dresses. We must save those for the concert, or +whatever gaieties they may have. Put on that blue checked silk of yours, +Patty; it's the sweetest thing, and just right for dinner, and I'll wear +my light green one." + +With slight assistance from Lisette, the French maid, they were soon +ready. Patty envied Lisette her fluency in the French tongue, for though +all the officers on board and most of the passengers spoke English, +Patty wished she could talk French more readily than she did. She found +it good practice to talk to Lisette in her own language, as the mistakes +she made did not embarrass her. Lisette, of course, was a great admirer +of pretty Patty, and was only too glad to be of assistance to her +linguistically or any other way. + +Another bugle-call announced dinner, and, joining Mr. and Mrs. +Farrington, the girls went down to the dining saloon. Their seats were +at the captain's table, and Patty thought she had never seen such a +profusion of beautiful flowers as graced the board. The stewards had +placed the flowers of all the passengers upon the tables, and, with the +lights and ornate decorations of the Louis XVI. saloon, it was like +fairyland. The walls and ceiling were elaborately decorated in dainty +French fashion, and the table service was exceedingly attractive. Patty +was much amused at the revolving chair which she had to learn how to get +into, but after being twirled to her place she concluded it was a wise +provision for a dining-room of such uncertain level. + +Mrs. Farrington sat at the captain's right hand, and next to her was her +husband, then Elise, and then Patty. Patty at once began to wonder who +would occupy the chair next beyond herself, and was exceedingly +interested when the steward turned it around to accommodate a lady who +was approaching. + +The newcomer was without doubt a Frenchwoman, somewhat elderly, but very +vigorous and active. She had masses of snow-white hair, and large, +alert, black eyes that seemed to dart quickly from one point of interest +to another. She was a little lady, but her gait and manner were marked +by an air not only of aristocracy, but as of one accustomed to exert +absolute authority. Nor was she apparently of a mild and amiable +disposition. She spoke sharply to the steward, although he was doing his +best to serve her. + +"And is it that you shall be all night in arranging my chair?" she +exclaimed. Then, as she was finally seated, she continued her grumbling. +"And is it not enough that I must be delayed, but still I have received +no MENU? One shall see if this is to be permitted!" + +The steward did not seem unduly alarmed at the little old lady's angry +speech, but hastened to bring her the daintily printed bill of fare. + +Raising her jewelled lorgnon, the French lady scanned the MENU, and +having made a choice of soup, she laid the card down, and turning toward +Patty surveyed her leisurely through her glasses. + +Her manner as she scrutinised Patty was by no means rude or impertinent. +It had rather the effect of an honest curiosity and a polite interest. + +"There is no denying, my dear," she said at last, "that you are of a +beauty. And of a sweetness. An American of Americans. New York--is it +not so?" + +There was an indefinable charm about the old lady's manner that won +Patty's heart at once, and though in any case she would have been +polite, she answered with cordiality: + +"Yes, madame, I live in New York, although I was born in the South and +lived there for many years." + +"Ah, then, it is explained. It is your Southern States that make the +charm, the aplomb, without the--what you call--the--the freshness. Is it +not so? But I do not mean the freshness of the cheek; and yet, in the +argot do you not say freshness is cheek? Ah, I am bewildered; I am mixup +with your strange words; but I will learn them! They shall not conquer +me! And you will help me; is it not so?" + +"I will help you with pleasure, madame," replied Patty, dimpling with +fun as she heard the old lady's unsuccessful attempts in American slang. +"My name is Patty Fairfield; and though I seldom use the slang of my +country, I'm more or less familiar with its terms, and can enlighten you +concerning them, at least to a degree. To me your language is difficult; +but perhaps we may by conversation help each other." + +"Patty Fairfield; a pleasant name for a pleasant child. But I'm not +madame; pray call me ma'amselle. I am Ma'amselle Labesse." + +"You are a Frenchwoman, of course?" inquired Patty. + +"A Frenchwoman, yes; but of an admiration for your strange American +country. I go home now, but I shall return again. Your country is of an +interest." + +As Patty looked around at the others at their table, she felt that she +had been fortunate in sitting next to the old ma'amselle. For though she +could not judge entirely by appearances, no one else at the table seemed +to be so quaintly interesting as the old French lady. + +Patty soon discovered that even a "few miles of dancing upon the blue +water" had decidedly sharpened her appetite, and she did full justice to +the delicate viands and delicious French cookery placed before her. She +and Elise chatted happily, and after introducing her companions on +either side to each other the conversation became general. + +Under the influence of the comradeship always felt on a French liner, +the people across the table became sociably inclined, and acquaintances +were made rapidly. + +After dinner our party went out on deck, and though warm wraps were +necessary, the crisp, clear air was delightful, and the starry sky and +tumbling black water fascinated Patty beyond all words. She leaned +against the rail, watching the waves as they dashed and plashed below, +breaking into white foam as the steamer ploughed through them. Patty was +very susceptible to new impressions, and the great expanse of black +water beneath the dome of the star-studded black sky filled her with an +awe and reverence which she had never known before. + +Elise stood quietly beside her, with her hand through Patty's arm, and +together the girls silently enjoyed the sombre beauty of the scene. + +"Are you afraid, Patty?" asked Elise. + +Patty laughed a little, and then she said: "I don't know as I can make +you understand it, Elise, for it sounds so ridiculous when it's put into +words. But it's this way with me: In my imagination, when I think of +this little cockleshell of a boat tossing on this great, deep, black +ocean, which may engulf it at any moment, I have a certain feeling of +fear, which seems to belong to the situation. But really, my common +sense tells me that these staunch steamships are constructed for the +very purpose of carrying people safely across the sea, and that there is +almost no danger at all of their doing otherwise. So you see it only +depends on whether I'm in a mood of poetical imagination or practical +common sense as to whether I'm afraid or not." + +"Patty," said Elise, with a little sigh, "you are certainly clever. Now +I never could have reasoned the thing out like that, and yet I see just +what you mean." + +"Throw bouquets at yourself, then, Elise," said Patty, laughing, "for +you're a great deal more clever to see what I mean than I am to say it!" + +After a brisk walk up and down the deck for a time the girls tucked +themselves snugly into their deck chairs by the side of the elder +Farringtons. + +"How do you like it so far, Patty?" asked Mr. Farrington. + +"It's simply perfect," declared Patty enthusiastically. "It's awfully +different from what I thought it would be, and ever so much nicer. I +thought it would be impossible to walk across the deck without tumbling +all over and catching hold of everything. But we can walk around just as +if in a house, and everything is comfortable, even luxurious, and it's +all so clean." + +Mrs. Farrington laughed at this. "Of course it's clean, child," she +said; "it's only on land that we are under the tyranny of dust and dirt. +But as for tumbling around the deck, that may come later. Don't imagine +the sea is never rougher than it is to-night." + +"I hope it will be rougher," said Patty. "I don't want a fearful storm, +but I would like a little pitching and tossing." + +"You'll probably get it," said Mr. Farrington. "And now, my cherished +ones, let us take a look in at the library and drawing-room, and then +let us seek our staterooms." + +So the parry adjourned to the brilliantly lighted saloon, where many of +the passengers had congregated to spend the after-dinner hour. It was a +beautiful apartment, even more gorgeous and elaborate than the dining- +room, and furnished with inviting-looking easy-chairs, sofas, and divans +of puffy upholstery. Gilt-framed tables were scattered about for the +benefit of the card-players, and attractively appointed writing-desks +made Patty suddenly realise that she wanted to write letters home at +once. But remembering that they could not possibly be mailed for ten +days to come, she decided to defer them at least until the morrow. + +Well-filled bookcases attracted the girls' attention, and +notwithstanding the large amount of reading matter they had of their +own, they were glad to see some well-known favourites behind the glass +doors. + +Patty was surprised when Mr. Farrington proposed that they should all go +to the dining-room for a bit of supper before retiring. It seemed to her +but a short time since they had dined; and yet she realised the +suggestion was not entirely unwelcome. + +"Is it imperative that we shall eat more meals on sea than on land?" she +inquired, as they took their places at the table. + +"Not imperative, perhaps," the captain answered her, smiling, "but +unless you seem to appreciate my cook's efforts to please you I shall +have to pitch him overboard; and it is not easy to find another chef in +mid-ocean." + +"Then," said Patty gaily, "I shall certainly do all I can to save the +poor man from a dreadful fate. And it does not seem to me that I shall +have any difficulty in keeping my part of the bargain." As Patty spoke +she was nibbling away with great satisfaction at a caviare sandwich and +bestowing a pleased glance on a glass of orange sherbet which the +steward had just brought to her. + +The captain was a large and important-looking personage, with the black +moustache and imperiale of the true Frenchman. His manner was expansive +and very cordial; and as he had known the Farringtons for many years he +was quite ready to welcome Patty for their sake as well as her own. +Indeed, he had taken an immediate liking to the pretty American girl, +and as French captains are prone to make favourites among their +passengers, Patty was immediately assigned in his chivalrous heart to +such a position. + +He bade her a pleasant good-night as she left the dining-room, and was +delighted with her naive expressions of admiration and appreciation of +his beautiful ship. + +When the girls reached their stateroom they suddenly realised that they +were quite tired out after the excitements of the day, and were very +glad to let Lisette brush their hair and assist them in preparing for +bed. As Patty nestled snugly between the coarse linen sheets she felt a +drowsy enjoyment of the gentle rolling motion of the steamer, and almost +immediately fell into a sound, dreamless sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +WESTERN FRIENDS + + +The girls slept restfully all night, and were awakened in the morning by +the entrance of Lisette, who was followed by the pleasant-faced and +voluble French stewardess. The day was bright and sunshiny, and half a +dozen times while she was dressing Patty stuck her head out of the +porthole to gaze at the sparkling blue water. On these occasions Elise +grasped her by the feet lest she should fall out. But as Patty's +substantial frame could not possibly have squeezed through the porthole, +the precaution was unnecessary. + +After breakfast the girls prepared for a delightful morning on deck. The +breeze had freshened considerably, so Patty put on a long, warm ulster +that enveloped her from throat to feet. A long blue veil tied her trim +little hat in place, and when fully equipped she looked over the piles +of literature to make a selection. + +"Do you know," she said to Elise, "I don't believe I shall read much; I +think I shall just sit and look at the water and dream." + +"All right," said her practical friend; "but take a book with you, for +if you don't you're sure to want one; while if you do, you probably +won't look at it." + +"Elise, you're a genius. I'll take the book, and also some of this +candy. I'm glad Hilda gave me this bag; it's most convenient." + +The bag in question was a large, plain affair of dark green cloth, with +a black ribbon drawstring. It proved to be Patty's constant companion, +as it was roomy enough to hold gloves, veils, handkerchiefs, as well as +pencil and paper, and anything else they might need through the day. It +hung conveniently on the back of Patty's deck chair, and became as +famous as the bag of the lady in "Swiss Family Robinson." + +As Patty had anticipated, she did not do any reading that morning, but +neither did she gaze at the ocean and dream. She discovered that life on +an ocean steamer is apt to be full of incident and abounds in +occupation. + +No sooner had she and Elise arranged themselves in their chairs than +along came two gay and laughing girls, who stopped to talk to them. + +"We're going to introduce ourselves," said one of them. "I am Alicia Van +Ness, and this is my little sister Doris. We're from Chicago, and we +like the looks of you girls, and we want to be chums. Though, of course, +it's up to you, and if you don't like our looks you've only to say so +and we'll never trouble you again." + +"Speak out!" chimed in the other girl, who was quite as vivacious as her +sister. "We're not a bit stupid, and we can take the slightest hint. I +can see you don't quite approve of us"--and she looked shrewdly at +Patty, who had unconsciously assumed an air of hauteur as she watched +the frank-mannered Western girls--"but really and truly we're awfully +nice after you get acquainted with us." + +Patty was amused, and a little ashamed that a stranger should have read +her feelings so accurately, for she had felt slightly repelled at the +somewhat forward manners of these would-be friends. + +As if to make up for her coolness she said heartily: "I'm sure you are +delightful to know, and I'm quite ready to be friends if you will allow +it. I'm Patty Fairfield, and this is my chum, Elise Farrington." + +"We knew your names," said Alicia Van Ness; "we asked the captain. You +see, we thought you two were the nicest girls on board, but if you had +thrown us down we were going to tackle the English girl next." + +Though this slangy style of talk was not at all to Patty's liking, she +saw no reason to reject the offered friendship because of it. The Van +Ness sisters might prove to be interesting companions, in spite of their +unconventional ways. So two vacant chairs were drawn up, and the four +girls sat in a group, and very soon were chatting away like old friends. + +"Do you know the English girl?" asked Doris; "she sits at your table." + +"No," said Elise; "she's way down at the other end from us. But I like +her looks, only she's so very English that I expect she's rather stiff +and hard to get acquainted with." + +"You can't say that about us, can you?" said Alicia, laughing; "I'm as +easy as an old shoe, and Doris as an old slipper. But we hope you'll +like us, because we do love to be liked. That English girl's name is +Florrie Nash. Isn't that queer? She doesn't look a bit like a Florrie, +does she? More like a Susan or a Hannah." + +"Or more like a Catharine or Elizabeth, I think," said Patty. "But you +never can tell people's names from what they look like." + +"No," said Alicia; "now a stranger would say you looked like my name, +and I looked like yours." + +"That's true enough," said Elise, laughing; "your jolly ways are not at +all like your grand-sounding name; and as for Patty here, it's a perfect +shame to spoil her beautiful name of Patricia by such a nickname." + +Two young men in long plaid ulsters with turned-up collars and plaid +yachting caps came into view at the other end of the deck. They were +walking with swinging strides in the direction of the group of girls. + +"Now I'll show you," said Alicia in a low voice, "how we Chicago girls +scrape acquaintance with young men." + +As the young men drew nearer Alicia looked at them smilingly and said +"Ahem" in a low but distinct voice. The young men looked at her and +smiled, whereupon Doris purposely dropped a book she had been holding. +The young men sprang to pick it up, Doris took it and thanked them, and +then made a further remark as to the beauty of the weather. The young +men replied affably, and then Alicia asked them to join their group and +sit down for a chat. + +"With pleasure," said one of the young men, glancing at Patty and Elise, +"if we may be allowed." + +Patty was surprised and shocked at the behaviour of these strange girls, +and very decidedly expressed her opinion in her face. Without glancing +at the young men, she turned on the Van Ness sisters a look of extreme +disapproval, while Elise looked frightened at the whole proceeding. + +The two horrified countenances were too much for the Van Ness girls, and +they burst into peals of laughter. + +"Oh, my children," cried, Alicia, "did you really think us so +unconventional, even if we are from Chicago? These two boys are our +cousins, Bob and Guy Van Ness, and they are travelling with us in charge +of our parents. Stand up straight, infants, and be introduced. Miss +Farrington and Miss Fairfield, may I present Mr. Robert Van Ness and Mr. +Guy Porter Van Ness?" + +The young men made most deferential bows, and, greatly appreciating the +joke, Patty invited them to join their party, and offered them some of +her confectionery. + +"But it's a shame to sit here," observed Guy, "when there's lots of fun +going on up on the forward deck. Don't you girls want to go up there and +play shuffleboard?" + +"I do," said Patty readily; "I've always wanted to play shuffleboard, +though I've no idea whether it's played with a pack of cards or a tea +set." + +Guy laughed at this and promised to teach her the game at once. + +So they all went up to the upper deck, which was uncovered, and where, +in the sunlight, groups of young people were playing different games. + +Both Patty and Elise delighted in outdoor sports, and the Van Ness girls +were fond of anything athletic. During the games they all made the +acquaintance of Florrie Nash, who, though of an extreme English type, +proved less difficult to make friends with than they had feared. + +They also met several young men, among whom Patty liked best a young +Englishman of big-boyish, good-natured type, named Bert Chester, and a +young Frenchman of musical tastes. The latter was a violinist, by the +name of Pierre Pauvret. He seemed a trifle melancholy, Patty thought, +but exceedingly refined and well-bred. He stood by her side as she +leaned against the rail, looking at the water, and though evidently +desirous to be entertaining, he seemed to be at a loss for something to +say. + +Patty felt sorry for the youth and tried various subjects without +success in interesting him, until at last she chanced to refer to music. +At this Mr. Pauvret's face lighted up and he became enthusiastic at +once. + +"Ah, the music!" he exclaimed; "it is my life, it is my soul! And you-- +do you yourself sing? Ah, I think yes." + +"I sing a little," said Patty, smiling kindly at him, "but I have not +had much training, and my voice is small." + +"Ah," said the Frenchman, "I have a certainty that you sing like an +angel. But we shall see--we shall see. There will be a concert on board +and you will sing. Is it not so?" + +"I don't know," said Patty, smiling; "I will sing with pleasure if I am +asked, but it may not give my audience pleasure." + +"It will be heaven for them!" declared the volatile young Frenchman, +clasping his hands in apparent ecstasy. + +His exaggerated manner amused Patty, for she dearly loved to study new +types of people, and she began to think there was a varied assortment on +board. + +Suddenly several people rushed wildly to the side of the boat. They were +followed by others, until it seemed as if everybody was crowding to the +rail. Patty followed, of course, and found herself standing by the side +of Bert Chester. + +"What is it?" she exclaimed. + +"A porpoise!" he replied, as if announcing an event of greatest +importance. + +"A porpoise!" echoed Patty, disgusted. "Such a fuss about a porpoise? +Why, it's nothing but a fish!" + +"My dear Miss Fairfield," said the Englishman, looking at her through +his single eyeglass, "tradition demands that steamer passengers shall +always make a fuss over a passing porpoise. To be sure it's only a fish, +but the fuss is because of tradition, not because of the fish." + +Patty had always thought that a single eyeglass betokened a brainless +fop, but this stalwart young Englishman wore his monocle so naturally, +and, moreover, so securely, that it seemed a component part of him. And, +too, his speech was that of a quick-witted, humorous mind, and Patty +began to think she must readjust her opinion. + +"Is it an English national trait," she said, "to be so in thrall to +tradition?" + +"I'm sorry to say it is," young Chester responded, somewhat gravely. "In +the matter of the porpoise it is of no great importance; but there are +other matters, do you see, where Englishmen are so hampered by tradition +that individual volition is often lost." + +This was more serious talk than Patty was accustomed to, but somehow she +felt rather flattered to be addressed thus, and she tried to answer in +kind. + +"But," she said, "if the tradition is the result of the wisdom of past +ages, may it not be of more value than individual volition?" + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Mr. Chester, "you have a clever little head on your +young shoulders, to take that point so adroitly. But let us defer this +somewhat serious discussion until another time and see if it is a +porpoise or something else that it attracting the curious crowd to the +other side of the ship." + +As they followed the hurrying people across the deck, Mr. Chester went +on: "After you have crossed the ocean a few more times you will discover +that there are only two things which make the people rush frantically +and in hordes to the rail. The one that isn't a porpoise is a passing +steamer." + +Sure enough, the object of interest this time was a distant steamer, +which was clearly visible on the horizon. It was sharply outlined +against the blue sky, and the sunlight gave it its true value of colour, +while the dark smoke that poured from its smokestack floated back +horizontally like a broad ribbon. But owing to the distance there was no +effect of motion, and even the smoke as well as the vessel seemed to be +stationary. + +"That isn't a real steamer," said Patty whimsically; "it's a chromo- +lithograph. I've often seen them in the offices of steamship companies. +This one isn't framed, as they usually are, but it's only a chromo all +the same. There's no mistaking its bright colouring and that badly +painted smoke." + +Young Chester laughed. "You Americans are so clever," he said. "Now an +English girl would never have known that that was only a painted +steamer. But as you say, you can tell by the smoke. That's pretty badly +done." + +Patty took a decided liking to this jesting Englishman, and thought him +much more entertaining than the melancholy French musician. + +She discovered that very evening that Mr. Chester possessed a fine +voice, and when after dinner a dozen or more young people gathered round +the chairs of the Farrington party, they all sang songs until Mrs. +Farrington declared she never wanted to attend a more delightful +concert. + +Mr. Pauvret brought his violin, and the Van Ness boys produced a banjo +and a madolin. Everybody seemed to sing at least fairly well, and some +of the voices were really fine. Patty's sweet soprano received many +compliments, as also did Elise's full, clear contralto. The girls were +accustomed to singing together, and Mr. Pauvret proved himself a true +musician by his sympathetic accompaniments. + +Everybody knew the popular songs of the day, and choruses and glees were +sung with that enthusiasm which is always noticeable on the water. + +The merry party adjourned to the dining-room for a light supper after +their vocal exercises. + +Patty was sorry that her friend and tablemate, the old Ma'amselle, had +not been visible since that first dinner. Upon inquiry she learned that +the old lady had fallen a victim to the effects of the rolling sea. + +"But she'll soon be around again," said the captain in his bluff, cheery +way; "Ma'amselle Labesse has crossed with me many times, and though she +usually succumbs for two or three days, she is a good sailor after that. +She is passionately fond of music, too, and when she is about again you +young people must make the old ship ring for her." + +This they readily promised to do, and then they wound up the evening by +a vigorous rendition of the "Marseillaise," followed by "The Star +Spangled Banner" and "God Save the King." + +It was all a delightful experience for Patty, who dearly loved lights +and music and flowers and people and gay goings on, and she felt that +she was indeed a fortunate girl to have all these pleasures come to her. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +DAYS AT SEA + + +The time on shipboard passed all too quickly. + +Each day was crammed full of various amusements and occupations, and +Patty and Elise enjoyed it all thoroughly. + +Although the majority of passengers were French, yet they nearly all +spoke English, and there were a number of Americans and English people, +who proved to be pleasant and companionable. + +The young people from Chicago seemed to wear well, and as she grew to +know them better Patty liked them very much. The Van Ness girls, though +breezy in their manner, were warm-hearted and good-natured, and their +boy cousins were always ready for anything, and proved themselves +capable of good comradeship. + +The English girl, Florrie Nash, Patty could not quite understand. +Florrie seemed to be willing to be friends, but there was a coldness and +reserve about her nature that Patty could not seem to penetrate. + +As she expressed it to Elise, "Florrie never seems herself quite certain +whether she likes us or we like her." + +"Oh, it's only her way," said Elise; "she doesn't know how to chum, +that's all." + +But Patty was not satisfied with this, and determined to investigate the +matter. + +"Come for a walk," she said, tucking her arm through Florrie's one +morning. "Let's walk around the deck fifty times all by ourselves. Don't +you want to?" + +"Yes, if you like;" and Florrie walked along by Patty's side, apparently +willing enough, but without enthusiasm. + +"Why do you put it that way?" asked Patty, smiling; "don't you like to +go yourself?" + +"Yes, of course I do; but I always say that when people ask me to do +anything. It's habit, I suppose. All English people say it." + +"I suppose it is habit," said Patty; "but it seems to me you'd have a +whole lot better time if you felt more interest in things, or rather, if +you expressed more interest. Now look at the Van Ness girls; they're +just bubbling over with enthusiasm." + +"The Van Ness girls are savages," remarked Florrie, with an air of +decision. + +"Indeed they're not!" cried Patty, who was always ready to stand up for +her friends. "The trouble with you, Florrie, is that you're narrow- +minded; you think that unless people have your ways and your manners +they are no good at all." + +"Not quite that," returned Florrie, laughing. "Of course, we English +have our prejudices, and other people call us narrow; but I think we +shall always be so." + +"I suppose you will," said Patty; "but anyway you would have more fun if +you enjoyed yourself more." + +"It's good of you, Patty, to care whether I enjoy myself or not." + +Florrie's tone was so sincere and humble as she said this that Patty +began to realise there was a good deal of character under Florrie's +indifferent manner. + +"Of course I care. I have grown to like you, Florrie, in these few days, +and I want to be good friends with you, if you'll let me." + +"If you like," said Florrie again, and Patty perceived that the phrase +was merely a habit and did not mean the indifference it expressed. + +"And I want you to visit me," went on Florrie. "I'm travelling now to +Paris with my aunt, who took me to the States for a trip. From Paris I +shall soon go back to my country home in England, and I wish you would +visit me there--you and Elise both. Oh, Patty, you have no idea how +beautiful England is in the springtime. The may blooms thickly along the +lanes, till they're masses of pink fragrance; and the sky is the most +wonderful blue, and the birds sing, and it is like nothing else in all +the world." + +The tears came into Florrie's eyes as she spoke, and Patty was amazed +that this cold-blooded girl should be so moved at the mere thought of +the spring landscape. + +"I should dearly love to visit you, Florrie, but I can't promise, of +course, for I'm with the Farringtons, and must do as they say." + +"Yes, of course; but I do hope you can come. You would love our country +place, Patty; it is so large, and so old, and so beautiful." + +Florrie said this with no effect of boasting, but merely with a sincere +appreciation of her beautiful home. Then as she went on to tell of the +animals and pets there, and of the park and woods of the estate, Patty +found that the girl could indeed be enthusiastic when she chose. + +This made Patty like her all the better, for it proved she had +enthusiasm enough when a subject appealed to her. + +But when they were joined by the crowd of gay young people begging them +to come and play games, Florrie seemed to shut up into herself again, +and assumed once more her air of cold indifference. + +But if Florrie was lacking in enthusiasm, it was not so with another of +Patty's friends. + +Ma'amselle Labesse, who had recovered from her indisposition, had taken +a violent fancy to Patty and would have liked to monopolise her +completely. + +Patty was kind to the old lady and did much to entertain her, but she +was not willing to give up all her time to her. The old ma'amselle +greatly delighted to carry Patty off to her stateroom, there to talk to +her or listen to her read aloud. Except for her maid, ma'amselle was +alone, and Patty felt sorry for her and was glad to cheer her up. Not +that she needed cheering exactly, for she was of a merry and volatile +disposition, except when she gave way to exhibitions of temper, which +were not infrequent. + +One morning she called Patty to her room, and surprised the girl by +giving her a present of a handsome and valuable old necklace. It was of +curiously wrought gold, and though Patty admired it extremely, she +hesitated about accepting such a gift from a comparative stranger." + +"But yes," said ma'amselle, "it is for you. I wish to give it to you. I +have taken such a fancy to you, you could scarce believe. And I adore to +decorate you thus." She clasped the necklace about Patty's throat, with +an air that plainly said she would be much offended if the gift were +refused. So Patty decided to keep it, at least until she could get an +opportunity to ask Mrs. Farrington's advice on the subject. + +When she did ask her, Mrs. Farrington told her to keep it by all means. +She said she had no doubt the old ma'amselle enjoyed making the gift far +more than Patty was pleased to receive it, so Patty kept the trinket, +which was really a very fine specimen of the goldsmith's art. + +"And, my dear," the old lady went on, the day that she gave Patty the +necklace, "you must and shall come to visit me in my chateau. My home is +the most beautifull--an old chateau at St. Germain, not far from Paris, +and you can come, but often, and stay with me for the long time." + +Patty thanked her, but would not promise, as she had made up her mind to +accept no invitations that could not include the Farringtons. + +But Ma'amselle Labesse did include the Farringtons, and invited the +whole party to visit her in the winter. + +Mrs. Farrington gave no definite answer, but said she would see about +it, and perhaps they would run out for the week-end. + +For the first five or six days of their journey the weather was perfect +and the ocean calm and level. But one morning they awoke to find it +raining, and later the rain developed into a real storm. The wind blew +furiously and the boat pitched about in a manner really alarming. The +old ma'amselle took to her stateroom, and Mrs. Farrington also was +unable to leave hers. But the girls were pleased rather than otherwise. +Patty and Elise proved themselves thoroughly good sailors, and were +among the few who appeared at the table at luncheon. + +After the meal, Bob and Guy Van Ness came up to the girls and asked them +if they cared to brave the storm sufficiently to go out on deck. Elise, +though not timid, declared that she could see all she wished through the +windows; but Patty, always ready for a new experience, expressed her +desire to go. + +She put on her own little rain-coat and tied a veil over her small cap, +but when she presented herself as ready the boys laughed at her +preparations. + +"That fancy little mackintosh is no good," said Bob; "but you wait a +minute, Patty; we'll fix you." + +Bob disappeared, and soon returned, bringing from somewhere an oilskin +coat and cap of a brilliant yellow color. These enveloped Patty +completely, and as the boys were arrayed in similar fashion, they looked +like three members of a life-saving corps, or, as Patty said, like the +man in the advertisement of cod-liver oil. + +Although the yellow oilskins were by no means beautiful, yet Patty's +rosy face peeping out from under the queer-shaped, ear-flapped cap was a +pretty picture. + +Laughing with glee, they stepped out on the deck into the storm. The +stepping out was no easy matter, for the wind was blowing a hurricane +and the spray was dashing across the decks, while the rain seemed to +come from all directions at once. + +With the two big boys on either side of her, Patty felt no fear, and as +they walked forward toward the bow of the ship she felt well repaid for +coming out by the grandeur of the sight. It was impossible to +distinguish sea from sky, as both were of the same leaden grey, and the +torrents of rain added to the obscurity. The ocean was in a turmoil, +frothing and fuming, and the waves rolled over and broke against the +ship with angry vehemence. Patty, though not frightened, was awed at the +majesty of the elements, and did not in the least mind the rain and +spray in her face as she gazed at the scene. + +"You're good wood!" exclaimed Guy; "not many girls could stand up +against a storm like this." + +Patty shook the wet curls out of her eyes as she smiled up at him. "I +love it!" she exclaimed, but she could hardly make her voice heard for +the roar of the sea and the storm. + +Up and down the decks they walked, or rather tried to walk, now battling +against the wind, and now being swept along in front of it, until almost +exhausted, Patty dropped down on a coil of rope in a comparatively +sheltered corner. The boys sat down beside her, and they watched the +angry ocean. At times the great waves seemed as if they would engulf the +pitching ship, but after each wave the steamer righted herself proudly +and prepared to careen again on the next. + +After a time Patty declared she'd had enough of it, and also expressed +her opinion that oilskins were not such a positive protection against +the wet as they were reputed to be. + +So indoors they went, warm and glowing from their vigorous exercise, and +their appetites sharpened by their rough battle with the weather. + +Every day there seemed to be something new to do. + +"I've been told," said Patty, "that life on an ocean steamer is +monotonous, but I can't find any monotony. We've done something +different every day, haven't we, Elise?" + +"Yes; and next will be the concert, and that will be best of all. What +are you going to sing, Patty?" + +"I don't know. I don't want to sing at all, but your mother said I'd +better sing once, because they all insist on it so, and I do like to be +accommodating." + +"I should think you did, Patty; you're never anything but +accommodating." + +"Oh, pooh! It's no trouble to me to sing. I'd just as lief do it as not; +only it seems foolish for me to sing when there are so many older people +with better voices to do it." + +"Well, sing some simple little ballad, and I don't believe but what the +people will like it just as much as the arias and things sung by the +more pretentious singers." + +So Patty followed Elise's advice, and when the night of the concert came +her name was on the programme for one song. + +And, as Elise had thought, it pleased the audience quite as well as some +of the more elaborate efforts. + +Patty wore one of her pretty new dresses, a simple little frock of white +chiffon cloth, with touches here and there of light blue velvet. Her +only ornament was the necklace that Ma'amselle Labesse had given her, +and in her curly golden hair was a single white rose. + +Very sweet she looked as she stood on the platform to sing her little +song. She had chosen "My Ain Countree" as being likely to please a +popular audience, and also not difficult to sing. + +Mr. Pauvret accompanied her on his violin, and so effective was his +accompaniment and so sweet pretty Patty's singing of the old song, that +their performance proved to be the most attractive number on the +programme. So prolonged was the applause and so persistent the cry of +"Encore!" that Patty felt she really must respond with another song. + +So she sang Stevenson's little verses, "In Winter I Get Up at Night," +which have been set to such delightful music. Again Mr. Pauvret's +accompaniment added to the charm of the song, and Patty returned to her +place in the audience, quite embarrassed at the praises heaped upon her. + +Elise sang, too, in a quartette of four girls. They had practised +together considerably, and sang really well. There were many other +musical numbers, interspersed with monologues and recitations, and the +programme wound up with a series of tableaux. + +Patty was in her element in these, and had helped to arrange them. She +took part in some of them herself, and in others she arranged the groups +to form effective pictures. An immense gilt picture frame, stretched +across with gauze, was at the front of the stage. This was held up on +either side by two able-bodied seamen of the ship, in their sailor +costume. All of the tableaux were shown as pictures in this frame, and +they called forth enthusiastic and appreciative applause. + +Old Ma'amselle Labesse had been induced to appear in one of the +tableaux, and as she possessed strikingly handsome costumes, she wore +one of the prettiest, and made an easily recognisable representation of +a painting by Nattier. Altogether the concert was a great success and +everybody had a good time. It was expected that they would see land the +next day, and so the concert partook of the nature of a farewell +function. Everybody was shaking hands and saying good-bye to everybody +else, and after many good wishes and good-nights our two tired and +sleepy girls went to their stateroom. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +PARIS + + +The next morning the girls spent in packing and getting ready to go +ashore. "I'm sure I don't know where all these things came from," said +Patty; "but I know I have just about twice as many earthly possessions +as I had when I came aboard. I hate to pitch them out of the porthole, +but I simply can't get them all in my trunks." + +"Nor I," said Elise. "People have been giving us things ever since we +started, and we must be greedies, because we haven't given anything +away, and now what shall we do with them?" + +"Let's give a lot away," said Patty. "We've pretty much read all we want +to of this mountain of light literature. Let's give it all to the +stewardess; and what do you think, Elise, about giving Yankee Doodle to +the captain? He is a blessed old bear, and I hate to look forward to +life without him, but I don't see how we can cart him to Paris, unless +we carry him in our arms, and that's where I draw the line." + +"So do I," declared Elise. "We might ask Lisette to carry him, but I +know she wouldn't want to do it. Yes, let's give him to the captain as a +souvenir of our trip." + +This plan was carried out, and the captain was really delighted at the +comical gift. He said he should always keep it as a remembrance of the +donors, and he hoped that when they returned to America they would again +travel on his ship. + +The steamer stopped at Plymouth and then went straight on to Havre. +Everybody was in a great state of excitement; passengers were getting +off and mails getting on at Plymouth, and plenty of wonderful and +interesting things to look at as they sailed along the channel. + +Patty felt truly sorry to say good-bye to many of the friends she had +made on board. But from others she would not be parted until they +reached Paris. The Van Ness party, the old Ma'amselle, Florrie Nash, +Bert Chester, and Mr. Pauvret were all going in the special train to +Paris, as the Farringtons were. + +Patty thought this meant they could all travel together, but to her +surprise she found the French trains very different from those on +American railroads. + +The special boat-train which they were to take left directly from the +steamer's dock and was an express direct to Paris without stop, landing +them there in less than four hours. + +The Farrington party had a whole compartment in this train, and as a +compartment only holds six people, they comfortably filled it, using the +extra seat for hand luggage and so forth. + +Patty thought the appointments more luxurious than our own parlour-cars, +for the seats were beautifully upholstered in a pearl-grey material, and +everything was lavishly decorated, after the French fashion. All of +these compartments opened on to a corridor which ran along the side of +the car, and Patty soon discovered that thus she could visit her +neighbours in the other compartments. + +Both Patty and Elise were greatly excited and interested in watching the +French landscapes, and trying to make out the names of the towns through +which they rapidly flew. But with the exception of some of the larger +towns they could not read the names, and so gave that up for the more +interesting occupation of watching the villages and hamlets as they +succeeded each other. + +Bert Chester came in to visit them, and expressed a hope that he might +see them in Paris. + +He was to remain there only a week, and then he was to join some of his +friends, some young Englishmen, and go for a short motor tour in +southern France. + +Mr. Farrington said that he expected to take his party motoring along +the same route, but did not expect to go at present. + +Young Chester was sorry that they could not go together, but said that +perhaps when Mr. Farrington was ready he and his friends would come over +again for another spin. + +Bert Chester was a son of a wealthy English squire, and though +distinctly British in his ways, was broad-minded enough to like +Americans, and moreover was a young man of innate politeness and affable +manners. The elder Farringtons liked him extremely, and cordially +invited him to come to see them while in Paris. + +"We sha'n't have a house of our own just at first," explained Elise; +"we're going to a hotel while father and mother look around and select a +house for the winter." + +"I'm glad," said Patty, "to go to a hotel first. I've never stayed at a +big hotel, and I'm sure it will be delightful for a time." + + [Illustration with caption: "The next morning the girls spent in +packing and getting ready to go ashore"] + +"You'll like the one you're going to," said Chester. "The Ritz is really +the old palace of the Castiglione, an ancient French family, and though +it is, of course, somewhat rebuilt, much of the original remains, +especially the beautiful old garden with its wonderful trees and +fountain. I'll give you a day or two to 'find yourselves,' and then I +shall come around to call, and shall expect you to be glad to see me." + +"We'll be very glad to see you," said Patty cordially, for she had a +sincere liking for the young Englishman. + +Then Patty and Elise went with Bert to look in for a little chat with +the Van Ness party. Although Patty liked the Van Ness girls in a way, +she was rather relieved to find that they were not going to the same +hotel. + +Patty had an intuitive sense of the fitness of things, and she couldn't +help thinking that the Van Ness sisters, though good-hearted and good- +natured, were of a type apt to be a trifle too conspicuous in a large +hotel. The Farringtons were quiet-mannered folk, and Patty had often +noticed and admired the dignified yet pleasant manner which Mr. +Farrington invariably showed to officials or to servants. + +He never gave orders in a loud voice or dictatorial manner, yet his +orders were always carried out obediently and willingly, and everybody +showed him the greatest respect and deference. Mr. Van Ness on the other +hand was imperious and ostentatious. He was prone to be critical, and +often became annoyed at trifles. Patty was rapidly learning that the +true character can be very easily discovered among one's travelling +companions. There is something about the friction of travel that brings +out all that is worst and best in one's disposition. + +And so when Patty found that the Van Nesses were going to a different +hotel from themselves she was really glad, though she hoped to see them +occasionally during their stay in Paris. + +The train reached the Gare du Nord at about six o'clock, and when our +party went into the rather dimly lighted station Patty thought she had +never before seen such pandemonium. Everybody seemed to be in trouble of +some sort. Some were running hither and thither, exclaiming and +expostulating, but apparently to no avail. Others sat hopelessly and +helplessly on their own luggage, seeming to despair of ever getting any +further. + +The luggage room was an immense place, stone-floored and rather damp. +There were several separate counters where passengers were supposed to +attend to the checking of their baggage; but though there were plenty of +officials and porters about, none of them seemed anxious or even willing +to wait upon anybody. Patty saw many people appeal to one man after +another in a vain hope of getting their wants attended to. But it seemed +to be almost impossible. To those who could not speak French the +situation was hopeless indeed. Patty watched one poor lady, who seemed +to be travelling alone, and who continually inquired of the stolid and +unobliging porters, "Do you speak English?" and invariably received the +reply, "Non, madame; non, madame." The lonely little lady seemed to be +in despair, and Patty wished she could help her, but she did not know +herself what made the difficulty. At last she discovered that it was +necessary to get a customs inspector and a porter and a railway official +all together in one place and at one time. This done, the rest was easy, +at least to the traveller who knew sufficient French to make his wants +known. + +This Mr. Farrington managed to accomplish after some delay. The official +ceremonies then being soon over, and our travellers having repeatedly +declared that they were transporting nothing eatable, they were allowed +to drive away in cabs. The cabs in Paris are of the low, open pattern, +like a victoria, and they looked very strange and informal to Patty, who +had never seen any but closed cabs or hansoms. Mr. and Mrs. Farrington +rode in the first cab, which was followed by another, containing Patty +and Elise, with Lisette, who sat on the small, folding front seat. + +Patty held her breath with excitement when she realised that she was in +Paris at last. + +They drove through the streets, which were not very well lighted, gazing +eagerly at the strange sights everywhere about them. + +Their hotel was in the Place Vendome, and the drive there from the +station was not through the beautiful boulevards, but through some +narrow and not particularly clean streets. + +But when they rolled into the Rue de la Paix and drove toward the Place +Vendome, the girls began to think that Paris was beautiful, after all. + +It was rather more than dusk, but not dark, and the great square, with +its circumference of colonnaded buildings, and the wonderful column in +the centre, was exceedingly impressive, and filled Patty's soul with a +rapturous awe. + +"Oh, Elise," she cried, grasping her companion's hand; "I never supposed +Paris would be like this! I thought it would be bright and gay and +festive; but instead of that, it's grand and solemn and awe-inspiring." + +"So it is, here," said Elise; "but there is plenty of brightness and +gaiety in some parts of the city, I expect. Of course, this is historic +ground, and I suppose it was pretty much as it is now in the days when +they were building French history. That's Napoleon on top of that +statue, though you can't recognise him from here. You know about the +column, of course. It's been overthrown and rebuilt three or four +times." + +"Yes, I remember studying about it in French history. It was torn down +at the time of the Commune, and later re-erected from the fragments. But +you know when you study those dry facts they don't seem to mean +anything; but to be here, really in Paris, looking at that wonderful +column, in this dusky light, and the stars just beginning to show--oh, +Elise, it's more like fairy tales than history!" + +"I love it, too," said Elise; "and I'm so glad to be here with you. Oh, +Patty, we are going to have a beautiful time!" + +"Well, I rather guess we are!" said Patty, with true Yankee enthusiasm. + +Then their cabs drove in at the arched entrance of the Hotel Ritz, and a +most important looking personage in blue uniform assisted them to +alight. Other attendants in unostentatious livery swung open the glass +doors and our party entered. The proprietor, who advanced to meet them, +was a courtly, polite Frenchman, in correct evening dress, whose suave +and deferential manner was truly typical of his race. He seemed to take +a personal interest in his newly arrived guests, and himself conducted +them to their apartments. + +Patty followed with the rest, feeling almost like pinching herself to +see if she were awake or in an enchanted dream. The hotel was +particularly beautiful, and the furnishings unlike any she had ever seen +before. Carpets, furniture, and decorations were all in the palest tints +of lovely colours. Doors and windows and many of the partitioned walls +were of glass, in ornate gilt frames, through which one could see +fascinating rooms beyond. A few choice pictures hung on the walls, and +here and there were French cabinets of curios and rare laces. + +The elevator seemed to be entirely of glass, and was furnished with +dainty white upholstery and gilded woodwork. Bouquets of fresh flowers +were here and there on small tables in the rooms and halls. + +The suite of rooms allotted to the Farringtons looked out upon the Place +Vendome, and Patty flew to the window to gaze again upon the beautiful +scene. + +The rooms were daintily furnished with the same exquisite taste that +prevailed throughout the house. Lace curtains framed the deep-seated +windows, an Empire clock and candelabra graced the carved mantel, and +the furniture was rich and abundant. + +"I don't think," said Patty, "that I ever saw a more beautiful palace. +And I'm so glad I'm here I don't know what to do! Just think of it, +Elise, we'll live here in this lovely room for a fortnight anyway!" + +"It is lovely," said Elise; "but I expect we'll get tired of hotel life +and be glad to have a home of our own." + +"Very likely," said Patty, with a little sigh of content; "but I shall +be perfectly happy wherever we are." + +"I believe you will, Patty," said Elise, laughing; "you love this +beautiful place, but if it hadn't been half as pretty, you would have +made just as much fuss over it." + +"I know it," said Patty, rather apologetically; "but I can't help it, +Elise. I seem to be made that way. When I like anything, you know, I +enjoy it just as much as I possibly can, and that's all I can do, +anyway." + +The room which the two girls were to share was a large double-bedded +apartment, with dressing rooms and bath adjoining. It was perfect in +every detail of comfort and luxury as well as beauty, but when Lisette +came in to assist the girls in dressing for dinner she found them both +hanging out of the front windows gazing at the Vendome Column. + +However, they expressed themselves as quite ready to prepare for dinner, +and after doning pretty light costumes, they joined Mr. and Mrs. +Farrington, and went down to the dining-room. + +The dining-room proper of the hotel was an indoor apartment, but all +through the summer the guests were accustomed to dine under the open +sky, at small tables in the garden. + +Owing to an unusually late season, it was still warm enough to dine +outside, and when Patty saw the scene in the garden she thought Paris +was fairyland indeed. Though called a garden, it was really a stone- +paved court, but all round its edge on two sides were large old trees +with gnarled and twisted trunks and thick foliage of glossy green. Under +the trees were flower-beds full of blossoming plants, and in the +branches of the trees themselves were hung vari-coloured globes of +electric lights about the size of an orange. The effect of these +brilliant spheres in the dark trees was as beautiful as it was unusual, +and the scene was further made bright by arches and festoons of +brilliant coloured lights, which crossed and twined above their heads in +every direction. At the end of the garden was an immense fountain +surrounded by statues, and playing many jets of water, which flashed and +sparkled in the light. + +Around two sides of the garden ran the verandas of the hotel, and the +diners could sit on these verandas or out in the open, as they +preferred. + +The gay scene was completed by the throngs of people; the French women +in their dainty costumes, the French men with their correct garb and +demeanour, as well as a good sprinkling of strangers from other +countries. + +So interested was Patty in looking at it all that she declared she +didn't want a thing to eat. But when the choice selections of French +cookery were placed before her, she changed her mind and did full +justice to the repast. + +After dinner they sat for a short time in the drawing-room, and then Mr. +Farrington declared they must all go to rest, as he had planned a busy +day for them on the morrow. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +SIGHTSEEING + + +They rose next morning to find a perfect autumn day awaiting them. To +Patty's surprise, dainty breakfast trays were brought to their bedsides. + +"It is the custom of the country," Elise explained; "nobody ever goes +downstairs to breakfast in Paris." + +"It's a custom that suits me well enough--at least, what there is of it. +I'm free to confess that this rather smallish cup of chocolate and two +not very large rolls and a tiny bit of butter do not seem to me all that +a healthy appetite can desire." + +"I'm afraid you're an incorrigible American," said Elise, laughing. +"Now, this little spread is ample for me, but I dare say you can have +more if you want it." + +"No indeed," said Patty; "when I'm in Paris, I'll do as the Romans do, +even if I starve." + +But Patty didn't starve, for it was not long before Mr. Farrington sent +word that the girls were to come downstairs as soon as possible, +equipped for a drive. + +But before the drive he insisted that they should eat a good and +substantial breakfast, as he wanted them to put in a long morning +sightseeing. + +Mrs. Farrington had concluded not to go with them, as she was resting +after her journey, and, moreover, the sights were not such a novelty to +her as they would be to the young people. + +So when they were all ready to start they found an automobile at the +door, waiting for them. + +"This is the most comfortable way to see Paris," said Mr. Farrington as +they got in. "I have taken this car for a week on trial, and if it +proves satisfactory we can keep it all winter." + +A chauffeur drove the car, and Mr. Farrington sat in the tonneau between +the two girls, that he might point out to them the places of interest. + +If Patty had thought Paris beautiful by night she thought it even more +so in the clear, bright sunshine. There is no sunshine in the world +quite so clearly bright as that of Paris, or at least it seems so. + +"I want you to get the principal locations fixed in your minds," said +Mr. Farrington, "so now, as you see, we are starting from the Place +Vendome, going straight down the short Rue Castiglione to the Rue de +Rivoli. Now, we have reached the corner, and we turn into the Rue de +Rivoli. This is a beautiful street, crowded with shops on one side, and +on the other side at this point you see the garden of the Tuileries. We +turn to the right and go directly to the Place de la Concorde. As we +reach it you may see to the right, up through the Rue Royale, the Church +of the Madeleine. That is one of the most beautiful of the Paris +churches, and you shall visit it, of course, but not now. To-day I want +you to get merely a birdseye view, a sort of general idea of locations. +But here we are in the Place de la Concorde. The Obelisk, which you see +in the centre, was brought from Egypt many years ago. It is very like +our own Obelisk in Central Park, and also Cleopatra's needle in London. +From here we turn into one of the most beautiful avenues in the world, +the Champs Elysees. This avenue extends from the Place de la Concorde to +the Arc de Triomphe. Viewing it as we do now, rolling along this perfect +road in a motor car--or automobile, as we must learn to call it while in +France--you are taking, no doubt, one of the most perfect rides in the +world. The full name of the arch is Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile. This +means a star, and it is called thus because it is a centre from which +radiate no less than a dozen beautiful avenues. We will drive slowly +round the arch, that you may see its general beauty, but we will not now +stop to examine it closely." + +"It is so different," exclaimed Patty, "to see these things in reality, +or to study about them in history. I've seen pictures of this arch lots +of times, but it never seemed before as if it were a real thing. Isn't +it beautiful! I think I could spend a whole day looking at it." + +Patty's love of the beautiful was intuitive and all embracing. She knew +little of architecture or sculpture technically, but the sublime majesty +and imposing grandeur of the noble arch impressed her, as it does all +true beauty lovers. + +"The continuation of the Champs Elysees beyond the arch," went on Mr. +Farrington, "changes its name and becomes the Avenue de la Grand Armee. +But we will not continue along that way at present, but take the next +avenue to the left, which is the Avenue du Bois de Boulogne." + +"Why, I thought that was a forest," said Patty; "is it a street?" + +"It's an avenue," replied Mr. Farrington, "and it leads to the forest, +or rather park, which is called the Bois de Boulogne. We can take only a +short drive into the park, but you may see a few of the beautiful +chateaus, which are the homes of the wealthy or aristocratic French +people. You will not meet many equipages at this hour in the morning, +but late in the afternoon there is a continuous stream of fine turnouts +of all sorts. There are many, many places of interest in the Bois, but +as we have all winter in which to visit them, we will content ourselves +to-day with a brief visit." + +"It begins to look," said Patty, "as if even a whole winter would be all +too short to see the beauties and glories of this wonderful Paris." + +"Indeed, it would be too short to see everything of interest, but I can +assure you, my child, that with an automobile and some idea of +systematic sightseeing we can do a great deal even in one winter." + +Mr. Farrington pointed out various prominent buildings as they passed +them, and then, turning round, went back to the city. A swift ride about +Paris showed to the girls such interesting places as the Louvre, and the +Hotel de Ville, the Place de la Bastile, the Hotel des Invalides, the +Pantheon, and the Church of Notre-Dame. + +At the last named Mr. Farrington proposed that they get out and make a +short visit to the cathedral. + +They did so, and both Patty and Elise were much impressed by the noble +beauty of the interior. + +As they passed around the church Patty noticed a little Frenchwoman, who +seemed to be selling candles. The candles were of an unusual type-long, +slender and very tapering. It occurred to Patty that she would like to +take some home to Nan, as they would be most effective in an odd brass +candlestick which was one of Nan's chief treasures. The candlestick had +seven branches, and as her French seemed to desert her at the critical +moment, Patty indicated her wants by holding up seven fingers, pointing +to the candles and then taking out her purse. + +The Frenchwoman seemed to understand, and began counting out seven +candles. Patty looked anxiously after Mr. Farrington and Elise, who had +gone on ahead, not noticing that Patty had stopped. But she knew she +could soon catch up to them if only she could get her candles and manage +to pay for them in the confusing and unfamiliar French money. As she was +counting out the change, greatly to her surprise, the Frenchwoman +lighted her seven candles, one after the other. Patty exclaimed in +dismay, wondering if she did it to test their wicks, or what could be +the reason. But even as she watched her the woman placed the candles, +all seven of them, in a sort of a branched candlestick on the wall above +her head. + +"Non! Non!" cried Patty; "they are MINE, MINE! comprenez-vous? Mine!" + +"Oui, oui, oui," exclaimed the Frenchwoman, nodding her head +complacently, and taking Patty's money, which she put in a box on the +table before her. + +"But I want them!" cried Patty. "I want to take them away with me!" + +Still the woman smiled amiably, and Patty realised she was not +understanding a word. But all Patty's French, and it was not very much +at best, seemed to fly out of her head and she could not even think how +to say, "I wish to take them away with me." So seeing nothing else to +do, she cut the Gordian knot of her dilemma by reaching up and taking +the candles from the sockets. She blew them out, and holding them in a +bundle, said pleasantly, "Papier?" having thought of a French word at +last that expressed what she wished. + +The woman looked at her in amazement, as if she had done something +wrong, and poor Patty was thoroughly perplexed. + +"Why, I bought them," she exclaimed, forgetting the Frenchwoman could +not understand her, "and I paid you for them, and now they're mine, And +I'm going to take them away. If you won't give me any paper to wrap them +in, I'll carry them as they are. Eon jour!" + +But by this time Mr. Farrington and Elise had returned in search of +their missing comrade, and Patty appealed to Mr. Farrington, explaining +that she had purchased the candles. + +"Why, yes, they're yours, child, and certainly you may take them away if +you like. But it is not customary; usually people buy the candles to +burn at the shrine of their patron saint, or in memory of some friend, +and, of course, the woman supposed that was your intention." + +"Well, I'm glad to understand it," said Patty, "and I wish you'd please +explain it to her, for I certainly do want to keep the candles, and I +couldn't make her understand." + +So Mr. Farrington explained the state of the case in French that the +woman could understand, and all was well, and Patty walked off in +triumph with her candles. + +Then they went back past the Louvre, and leaving the automobile again, +they went for a short walk in the garden of the Tuileries. This also +fascinated Patty, and she thought it beautiful beyond all words. + +After that Mr. Farrington declared that the girls must be exhausted, and +he took them to a delightful cafe, where he refreshed them with ices and +small cakes. + +"Now," he said, "I don't suppose the Eternal Feminine in your nature +will be satisfied without doing a little shopping. The large shops--the +Bon Marche and the Magasin du Louvre--are very like our own department +stores, and if you choose you may go there at some other time with Mrs. +Farrington or Lisette, for I confess my ignorance of feminine furbelows. +But I will take you to one or two interesting shops on the Rue de +Rivoli, and then if we have time to a few in the Avenue de l'Opera." + +Their first stop was at a picture shop, and Patty nearly went wild over +the beautiful photographs and water colours. She wanted to purchase +several, but Mr. Farrington advised her to wait until later, when she +should perhaps be better able to judge what she really wanted. + +"For you see," he said, "after you have been to the Louvre and other +great galleries, and have made favourites, as you will, among the +pictures there, you will then be able to collect your photographs more +intelligently." + +Patty was quite ready to abide by this advice, and she and Elise enjoyed +looking over the pictures and anticipating future purchases. + +But though the shops along the Rue de Rivoli were attractive, they were +not nearly so splendid as those on the Avenue de l'Opera. Indeed, Mr. +Farrington almost regretted having brought the girls there, for they +quite forgot all else in their delight in looking at the beautiful +wares. They seemed content just to walk along the avenue looking in at +the shop windows. + +"I don't want to buy anything yet," declared Patty. "Later on I expect +to get souvenirs for all of the people at home, and I have any amount of +orders to execute for Marian." + +"Won't it be fun to do our shopping here?" exclaimed Elise. "I never saw +such lovely things, and truly, Patty, the prices marked on them are +quite cheap. Much more reasonable than in New York, I think." + +"So do I. And oh, Elise, just look at the lovely things in this window! +See that lovely pen-wiper, and that dear paper-cutter! Aren't they +unusual?" + +"Yes," exclaimed Elise, equally rapturous; "I don't wonder, Patty, that +people like to shop in Paris. It is truly fascinating. But just wait +until we get mother out here with us instead of father. She won't fidget +around as if she wanted us to go home before we've fairly started!" + +Elise looked reproachfully at her father, who was undeniably fidgeting. + +"I'm glad you appreciate the fact," he said, "that I am impatient to get +away from these shop windows. Never again will I introduce two young +girls into the Parisian shopping district. I've learned my lesson; I'll +take you sightseeing, but Mrs. Farrington must take you shopping." + +Patty laughed good-naturedly, and expressed her willingness to return at +once to the hotel. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +AN EXCURSION TO VERSAILLES + + +One evening, as our party sat in the drawing-room of the hotel, after +dinner, some callers' cards were brought to them. The guests proved to +be Bert Chester and his three friends, of whom he had told Patty before. +The four young men were about to start on a motor tour, and were +spending a few days in Paris first. + +They were all big stalwart young Englishmen, and when Bert introduced +Paul and Philip Marchbanks and Arthur Oram, Patty thought she had never +seen more pleasant-looking boys. + +"We're jolly glad to be allowed to come to see you," said Phil +Marchbanks, addressing Mrs. Farrington, but including them all in his +conversation; "we know almost nobody in Paris, and we're so glad to see +some friendly faces." + +"We may as well own up," said his brother Paul, "that we're just a bit +homesick. We're going to have a fine time, of course, after we get +started, but it takes a few days to get used to it." + +It amused Patty to think of these great, big boys being homesick, but +she rather liked their frank admission of it, and she began to ask them +questions about their automobile. + +The boys had no chauffeur with them, and Arthur Oram drove the car, with +occasional assistance from the others. Of course, the boys were +enthusiastic regarding their car, and young Oram particularly fell into +discussions with Mr. Farrington as to the respective merits of various +makes. + +"We've done up Paris pretty well," said Bert Chester; "we've only been +arrested for speeding once; but that's not surprising, for they let you +go about as fast as you like here, and with their marvellously fine +roads, it's more like skating than anything else." + +"But you only arrived here when we did," said Elise; "how can you have +done up Paris so soon?" + +"Well, you see," said Bert, "we're not going to write a book about it, +so we didn't have to take it all in. We've seen the outside of the +Louvre, and the inside of Napoleon's tomb; we've been to the top of the +Eiffel tower, and the bottom of the Catacombs; so we flatter ourselves +that we've done up the length and breadth and height and depths,--at +least to our own satisfaction." + +"It's a great mistake," said Phil Marchbanks, "to overdo this +sightseeing business. A little goes a great way with me, and if I bolt a +whole lot of sights all at once, I find I can't digest them, and I have +a sort of attack of tourist's indigestion, which is a thing I hate." + +"So do I," agreed Patty, "and I think you do quite right not to attempt +too much in a short time. We are taking the winter for it, and Mr. +Farrington is going to arrange it all for us, so that I know we'll never +have too much or too little. How much longer are you staying here?" + +"Only a few days," replied Bert Chester, "and that brings me to our +special errand. We thought perhaps--that is, we hoped that may be you +might, all of you, agree to go with us to-morrow on a sort of a picnic +excursion to Versailles. We thought, do you see, that we could take our +car, and you could take yours, and we'd start in the morning and make a +whole day of it." + +"Gorgeous!" exclaimed Patty, clapping her hands; "I do think that would +be delightful, I'd love to go." + +"Me too," chimed in Elise; "mother, do say yes, won't you? You know +you're just as anxious to go there as we are, because you spoke of it +only yesterday." + +"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Farrington heartily; "I quite approve of the +plan, and if your father has no objection, we can make a charming picnic +of it." + +Mr. Farrington was quite as interested in the project as the others, and +they immediately began to arrange the details of the expedition. Bert +Chester had a road map in his pocket, which showed exactly the routes +they could take, but the decision of these things was left to Mr. +Farrington and Arthur Oram, who put their heads together over the +complicated-looking charts and decided upon their way. + +"Do you know," said Paul Marchbanks, "you're the first American girls I +have ever known socially? I've seen tourists in railway stations or +restaurants, but I never talked to any Americans before." + +"For goodness' sake!" exclaimed Patty, "have they kept you walled up in +a dungeon tower all your life, or what?" + +"Not exactly that; but we English fellows who go to school and then to +college, and meantime live in our country homes, with an occasional run +up to London, have almost no opportunity to meet anybody outside of our +own people. And I haven't jogged about as much as a good many fellows. +This is the first time I've been to Paris." + +"Then that explains your homesickness," said Patty, smiling kindly at +the big boy, whose manner was so frank and ingenuous. + +"Yes," he said; "I suppose I do miss the family, for they ARE a jolly +lot. Oh, I say, won't you people all come down to our place and see us? +You're going to England, of course, before you return to the States, +aren't you ?" + +"I don't know," said Elise, smiling; "our plans are uncertain. But if we +accept all the delightful invitations we're continually receiving, I +don't know when we ever shall get back to New York." + +The next day proved to be a most perfect one for an excursion of any +sort. They started early, for they wanted to make a long, full day of +it, and return in time for dinner. + +The two automobiles were at the door by nine o'clock, and the party was +soon embarked. As Mr. Farrington did not drive his own car, he went in +the other car, sitting in front with Arthur Orara. In the tonneau of +this car were Patty and Bert Chester. So in the other car rode Mrs. +Farrington and Elise and the two Marchbanks. This arrangement seemed +highly satisfactory to all concerned, and the procession of two cars +started off gaily. Away they sped at a rapid speed along the Champs +Elysees, through the Arch and away toward Versailles. The fresh, crisp +morning air, the clear blue sky, and the bright sunlight, added to the +exhilaration of the swift motion, endowed them all with the most buoyant +spirits, and Patty felt sure she had never looked forward to a merrier, +happier day. + +She chatted with Bert Chester, and asked him many questions about the +trip on which he was starting. + +"I don't know just where we are going," he said. "I leave all that to +Oram. The rest of us don't care, and Oram loves to spend hours hunting +up reasons why we should go to this small village that is picturesque, +or that tiny hamlet that is historic. I'm sure the queer little French +towns will all look alike to me, and I'm not awfully keen about such +things anyhow. I go for the out-door life, and the swift motion, and the +fresh air and all that sort of thing." + +"I love that part of it, too," said Patty, "but also I like seeing the +funny little towns with their narrow streets and squealing dogs. I think +I have never been through a French village that wasn't just spilling +over with squealing dogs." + +"That's because you always go through them in an automobile. If you were +on a walking tour now, you'd find the dogs all asleep. But the paramount +idea in a French dog's brain is that he was made for the purpose of +waking up and barking at motor cars." + +"Well, they're most faithful to what they consider their duty, then," +said Patty, laughing, for even as she spoke they were whizzing through a +straggling, insignificant little village, and dogs of all sizes and +colours seemed to spring up suddenly from nowhere at all, and act as if +about to devour the car and its occupants. + +But notwithstanding the dogs, the villages were exceedingly picturesque, +and Patty loved to drive through them slowly, that she might see +glimpses of the life of the people. And it was almost always necessary +to go slowly, for the streets were so narrow, and the sidewalks a mere +shelf, so that pedestrians often walked in the road. This made it +difficult to drive rapidly, and, moreover, many of the streets were +steep and hilly. + +"It never seems to matter," observed Patty, "whether you're going out of +Paris or coming in; it's always uphill, and never down. I think that +after you've climbed a hill, they whisk it around the other way, so that +you're obliged to climb it again on your return." + +"Of course they do," agreed Bert; "you can see by the expression of the +people that they're chuckling at us now, and they'll chuckle again when +we pass this way to-night, still climbing." + +Neither of the cars in which our party travelled were good hill- +climbers, although they could go fast enough on the level. But nobody +cared, and notwithstanding some delays, the ground was rapidly covered. + +"There's one town I want to go through," said Patty, "but I'm not sure +it's in our route. It's called Noisy-le-Roi. Of course, I know that, +really, Noisy is not pronounced in the English fashion, but I like to +think that it is, and I call it so myself." + +"There's no harm in that; I suppose a free-born American citizen has a +right to pronounce French any way she chooses, and I like that way +myself. Noisy-le-Roi sounds like an abode of the Mad Monarch, and you +expect to see the king and all his courtiers and subjects dancing madly +around or playing hilarious games." + +"Yes, a sort of general racket, with everybody waving garlands and +carrying wreaths, and flags floating and streamers streaming---" + +"Yes, and cannon booming, and salutes being fired, and rockets and +fireworks going off like mad." + +"Yes, just that! but now I almost hope we won't pass through it, for +fear it shouldn't quite come up to our notion of it." + +"If we do come to it, I'll tell you in time, and you can shut your eyes +and pretend you're asleep while we go through." + +But the town in question was not on their route after all, and soon they +came flying in to the town of Versailles. Of course, they made for the +Chateau at once, and alighted from the cars just outside the great wall. + +Patty, being unaccustomed to historic sites, was deeply impressed as she +walked up the old steps and found herself on an immense paved court that +seemed to be fairly flooded with the brightest sunlight she had ever +seen. As a rule, Mr. Farrington did not enjoy the services of a guide, +but for the benefit of the young people in his charge, he engaged one to +describe to them the sights they were to see. + +The whole royal courtyard and the great Equestrian Statue of Louis XIV. +seemed very wonderful to Patty, and she could scarcely realise that the +great French monarch himself had often stood where she was now standing. + +"I never seemed to think of Louis XIV.," she said, "as a man. He seems +to me always like a set of furniture, or a wall decoration, or at most a +costume." + +"Now you'ye hit it," said Paul; "Louis XIV. was, at most, a costume; and +a right-down handsome costume, too. I wish we fellows could dress like +that nowadays." + +"I wish so, too," said Elise; "it's a heap more picturesque than the +clothes men wear at the present day." + +"I begin to feel," said Patty, "that I wish I had studied my French +history harder. How many kings lived here after Louis XIV.?" + +"Two," replied Mr. Farrington, "and when, Patty, at one o'clock on the +sixth of October, 1789, the line of carriages drove Louis XVI. and his +family away from here to Paris, the Chateau was left vacant and has +never since been occupied." + +"In October," said Patty, "and probably just such a blue and gold day as +this! Oh, how they must have felt!" + +"I wouldn't weep over it now, Patty," said the matter-of-fact Elise; +"they've been gone so long, and so many people have wept for them, that +I think it wasted emotion." + +"I believe it would be," said Patty, smiling, "as far as they're +concerned; but I can't help feeling sorry for them, only I could never +weep before, because I never realised what it was they were leaving." + +The party went on into the Chateau, and visited rooms and apartments one +after the other. It was necessary to do this quickly if they were to do +it at all, and, as Mr. Farrington said, a hasty tour of the palace would +give them an idea of it as a whole, and sometime he would bring the +girls again to enjoy the details more at leisure. + +Patty was discovering that she was susceptible to what Elise chose to +call wasted emotion, and she found herself again on the verge of tears +when they entered the Chapel. Though she did not know enough of +architecture to survey intelligently the somewhat pompous apartment, she +was delightfully impressed by the rich adornments and the wonderful +sculptures, bronzes and paintings. + +Rather rapidly they passed through the various SALONS of the museum, +pausing here and there, as one or another of the party wished to examine +something in particular. The State Rooms and Royal Apartments were most +interesting, but Patty concluded that she liked best of all the Gallery +of Battles. The splendid pictures of war enthralled her, and she would +have been glad had the rest of the party left her to spend the entire +day alone in the great gallery. + +But this, of course, they had no wish to do, and with a last lingering +glance at the picture of Napoleon at the battle of Jena, she reluctantly +allowed herself to be led away. + +Napoleon was one of Patty's heroes, and she was eagerly interested in +all of the many relics and souvenirs of the great man. + +Especially was she interested in his bedroom, and greatly admired the +gorgeous furnishings and quaint, old-fashioned French bedstead. + +Having scurried through the palace and museum, Mr. Farrington declared +that he could do no more sightseeing until he had eaten some sustaining +luncheon. + +So again they climbed into the automobiles and were whisked away to a +hotel in the town. + +Here they were provided with a most satisfying meal, which was partaken +of amid much merry conversation and laughter. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SHOPPING + + +The afternoon was devoted to the gardens and the Trianons. + +Elise was enraptured with the garden, but Patty, while she admired them +very much, thought them too stiff and formal for her taste. Laid out, as +they are, according to the laws of geometrical symmetry, it seemed to +Patty that grace and beauty were sacrificed to squares and straight +lines. + +But none the less was she interested in the wonderful landscape, and +amazed that any grass could be so green as that of the marvelous green +carpet. The multitude of statues and fountains, the walks and terraces, +and the exquisite colours of the autumn trees, made a picture that Patty +never forgot. + +The Trianons presented new delights, and Patty fancied herself +transported back to the days of Marie Antoinette and her elaborately +planned pleasures. + +A place of especial interest was the carriage house, where are exhibited +the Royal State carriages. + +As they were about to enter, Phil Marchbanks, who was ahead, turned +round with a look of comical dismay on his face. + +"We can't go in," he said; "we can't fulfil their requirements!" + +"What do you mean?" said Patty. + +"Why here's a sign that says 'wet umbrellas must be left in the cloak +room.' You see, it's imperative,--and as we have no wet umbrellas to +leave in the cloak room, whatever shall we do?" + +"Isn't it awful!" said Patty. "Of course, we can't go in if we don't +fulfil their laws. But it's a foolish law, and better broken than kept, +so I propose we march on in spite of it." + +So they marched on and spent one of their pleasantest half hours +admiring the royal coaches. + +The Coronation Carriage of Charles the X. pleased Patty most, especially +as it had been restored by Napoleon and bore the magic initial N. on its +regalia. + +Mr. Farrington slyly volunteered the information that it stood for +Napoleon the Third, but Patty declared that she didn't care, as any +Napoleon was good enough for her. + + SHOPPING + +Then the various sights of the Trianons claimed their attention, and +they visited the farm and the dairy, and the Temple of Love, and the +Swiss Cottage, and the Presbytery, and the Music Pavilion, and the Mill, +until they were all mixed up, and Patty declared that her mind was +nothing but a kaleidoscope full of broken bits of gay scenes. + +Then the party went to the Grotto of Apollo, and sat down there for a +short time to rest before returning home. + +"This is the first time," said Patty, "that it has seemed like a picnic, +but this is a real picnic place,--though a much more grand one than I +ever picnicked in before." + +"You can probably make up your mind," said Bert, "that it's about the +grandest picnic place there is; and speaking of picnics, I'd like to +invite all this party to dine with me on our way home." + +"Where is your dining-room?" asked Mrs. Farrington. + +"I'll show you," said Bert eagerly, "if you'll only go with me. It isn't +quite time to start yet, but it soon will be, and I'll take you to an +awfully jolly place and not a bit out of our way, either." + +Mrs. Farrington agreed to go, and the rest eagerly accepted the +invitation, and after resting a little longer, the party leisurely +prepared to start. + +At Bert's direction they spun along the Bois de Boulogne until they +reached the Pavilion d'Armenonville, one of those fairyland out-of-door +restaurants which abound in and near Paris. + +As it was rather chilly to sit outside, they occupied a table in a +glass-protected court, and Bert proved himself a most satisfactory host. + +"We've had an awfully jolly day," he observed, "at least I have, and I +hope the rest of you put in a good time. It's a satisfaction to feel +that we've done up Versailles, but I may as well confess that I didn't +go for that purpose so much as to spend a pleasant day with my friends." + +Patty declared that she had enjoyed the society, not only of the friends +who went with her, but the companionship of the invisible ones, whose +presence seemed to haunt every nook and cranny of the palace and park. + +As Patty looked about at their gaily decorated dining place, and looked +out at the brilliantly lighted scene outside, where the vari-coloured +electric lights hung in shining festoons, she came to the conclusion +that Paris was a gay and bright place after all, though when she had +entered it that first night, less than a week ago, she had thought it +rather dark and oppressive, + +"It is dark," said Phil, as Patty expressed her thoughts; "to be sure, a +place like this is illuminated, but the streets are not half lighted, +and I think it's a shame." + +"London streets at night aren't much better as to light," said Bert, +"but I say, you fellows, you just ought to see the streets in New York +at night. Whew! they're so bright they just dazzle you, don't they, +Patty?" + +"Broadway does, but the other streets aren't so awfully light." + +"Well, they're a lot lighter than they are over here. But Paris is the +worst of all. Why, I'm scared to be out after nightfall." + +"If that's the case," said Mrs. Farrington, laughing, "we'd better be +starting now; and at any rate, it's high time my young charges were at +home. I hadn't expected Patty and Elise to indulge in quite such grown- +up gaieties as dining out here, but I hadn't the heart to refuse for +them your kind invitation." + +Bert expressed his gratitude that Mrs. Farrington had made an exception +in his favour, and then the whole party started homeward. + +When she reached there, Patty was so tired she could scarcely talk over +the pleasures of the day with Elise, and she tumbled into bed without so +much as a look at her beloved Vendome Column. + +But the next day found the two girls entirely rested and quite ready for +more jaunting about. + +But Mrs. Farrington declared that she could do no sightseeing that day, +as the somewhat fatiguing trip to Versailles made her quite contented to +rest quietly for a time. + +So Patty employed her morning happily enough in writing letters home and +in arranging her post-card album. + +"I'm so glad," she said to Elise, "that Clementine gave me this great +big album, for I see already it is none too large. I've taken out all +the New York views and laid them aside. I shall probably give them to +somebody, as there is no sense in carrying them home again. And I'm +filling the book with Paris views. Isn't it fortunate they invented +post-cards, for unmounted photographs do curl up so, and I hate those +little books of views." + +"Indeed, it's fine, Patty, and you're arranging them beautifully. I +can't do that sort of thing at all; I'm as clumsy at it as a +hippopotamus. But I'd love to have a book like yours to take home." + +"I'll give you this one," said Patty quickly, and she truly meant it, +for she was generous by nature, and, too, she was glad to give Elise +something that she really wanted. + +"I wouldn't take it! you needn't think I'm a pig if I AM a +hippopotamus!" + +"Well, I'll tell you what I will do, Elise. The first time we go +shopping we'll get a big album exactly like this, and then we'll always +get duplicate post-cards,--we have so far, anyway,--and I'll fix both +the books." + +"Oh, Patty, that will be lovely! you do it so neatly and daintily; and I +always tear the corners and smudge the cards and every old thing. I wish +we could go and buy the book this very afternoon." + +"We can't; your mother won't go; she's too tired, and she'd never let us +bob about Paris alone. And your father hates to shop, so he wouldn't +take us." + +"I know it, Patty, but perhaps mother would let us go with Lisette. +Anyhow, I'm going to ask her." + +"Why, yes," said Mrs. Farrington, when the project was laid before her; +"I see no reason why you shouldn't go out and do a little shopping in +charge of Lisette. She is a native French girl herself, she knows Paris +thoroughly, and she's most reliable and trustworthy. But you must +promise to do only what she allows you to do, and go only where she +advises. In this expedition she must direct, not you." + +The girls willingly promised, saying that they only wanted to buy the +album and a few little things. + +"Very well, then," said Mrs. Farrington; "you may go out for the +afternoon. I'm glad to have you out in the sunshine, and you'll also +enjoy looking at the pretty things in the shops." + +So the girls arrayed themselves in their quiet pretty street costumes, +and with Lisette in her tidy black gown, they started out. + +They walked at first along the Rue de Rivoli, fascinated with the lovely +trinkets in the shop windows. Unlike Mr. Farrington, Lisette did not +care how long her young charges tarried, nor was she averse to looking +at the pretty things herself. + +"It's a funny thing," said Elise, as they came out of a shop, "that the +things in a window are always so much prettier than the things inside +the shop." + +"That's Paris all over," said Patty; "I think the French not only put +the best foot forward, but the foot they hold back is usually not very +presentable." + +"Yes, I believe that's true; and they always seem to make the best of +everything, and that's why they're so happy and light-hearted. But here +we are at a stationer's. Let's buy the album here." + +The stationer's proved to be a most distracting place. They bought the +album, and then they discovered a counter piled with post-cards, in +which they were soon deeply absorbed. + +"But you mustn't get so many, Elise," cried Patty, as she looked at the +great pile Elise had laid aside to buy. "It's no fun at all to get them +all at once and fill the book. Then it's all over. The fun is in +collecting them slowly, a few at a time." + +"But I want all these, Patty, so why not take them now?" + +"No, you don't, either. Now look here, Elise, I'm making your book for +you, so you take my advice in this matter, and you'll afterward admit +that I'm right." + +"You're always right, Patty," said Elise, smiling lovingly at her +friend; "that's the worst of you! But I'll do as you say this time, +only don't let it occur again." + +Patty laughed and allowed Elise to select cards illustrating the places +she had already seen, persuading her to leave the others until some +future time. + +Then they looked round the shop further, and discovered many attractive +little souvenirs to take to friends at home. + +"I think," said Patty, "I'll just buy some of these things right now. +For surely I could never find anything for Frank and Uncle Charlie +better than these queer little desk things. Aren't they unusual, Elise? +Are they rococo?" + +"Patty," said Elise, in a stage whisper, "I hate to own up to it, but +really, I never did know what rococo meant! Isn't it something like +cloisonne, or is it ormolu?" + +Patty laughed. "To be honest, Elise, I don't exactly know myself, but I +don't think you've struck it very closely. However, I'm going to buy +this inkstand; I don't care if it's made of gingerbread!" + +"And here's a bronze Napoleon; didn't Marian want that?" + +"Oh, yes, indeed she did! I'm so glad you discovered him. Isn't he a +dear little man? Just about three inches high; I believe the real +emperor wasn't much more than that. Isn't he on a funny little flat +pedestal?" + +"It's a seal," explained the shopkeeper kindly. + +"A seal!" echoed Patty blankly; "why no it isn't! a seal, indeed! why it +isn't a bit like a seal; you might just as well call it a Teddy Bear! +It's a man!" + +Elise was giggling. "He doesn't mean that kind of a seal, Patty," she +said; "he means a seal to seal wax with." + +"Oh," said Patty, giggling, too; "why, so much the better. I beg your +pardon, I'm sure, and I'm glad it's a seal. I can have Marian's monogram +cut on it, and she can seal her letters by just letting Napoleon jump on +them." + +She left the order for the monogram, and the affable shopkeeper promised +to send the finished seal home the next day. He seemed greatly +interested in his two young customers, and had it not been for Lisette's +sharp eye he would have urged them to buy even more of his wares. + +But the canny young French girl had no notion of letting her charges be +imposed upon, and she glared haughtily at the shopkeeper when he seemed +too officious. + +As they were about to leave the shop, some young people entered, and to +the surprise of all, they proved to be the Van Ness girls and their +cousins. + +The four young people were out by themselves, and though quite capable +of finding their way about alone, Lisette's French notions were a trifle +shocked at the unchaperoned crowd. + +But Patty and Elise were so glad to see their friends again that they +gave little thought to conventions, and fell to chattering with all +their might. + +"Why haven't you been to see us?" asked Alicia; "you had our address." + +"I know," said Elise, "but we've been so busy ever since we've been here +that there hasn't seemed to be time for anything. But we're glad to see +you now, and isn't it jolly that we chanced to meet here?" + +"Yes, indeed, because we're going on to-morrow,--on our travels, I mean, +and we wouldn't have had a chance to see you again. But now that we have +met, let's put in a jolly afternoon together. Where are you going?" + +"Nowhere in particular; we're just walking around Paris." + +"That's exactly our destination; so let's go nowhere in particular +together." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +CHANTILLY + + +This plan seemed to please everybody except Lisette, who was a little +troubled to have her young ladies going around with these Chicago +people, of whom she did not quite approve. + +But Patty only laughed at the anxious expression on the French girl's +face. She knew well what was passing in her mind, and she said to her +quietly: "It's all right, Lisette, they're our American friends, and I +assure you Mrs. Farrington won't mind a bit, since you are with us. +You're dragon enough to chaperon the whole State of Illinois." + +It's doubtful if Lisette knew what the State of Illinois was, but she +was devoted to Patty, and waved her scruples in deference to Patty's +wishes, although she kept a stern watch on the big Van Ness boys. + +But Bob and Guy behaved most decorously, and two more polite or well- +mannered young men could not have been found among the native Parisians +themselves. + +Leaving the shop, they continued down the Rue de Rivoli till they +reached the Louvre. + +Doris proposed their going in, and as Patty was most anxious to do so, +and Lisette saw no objection to visiting the great museum, they all +entered. + +It was Patty's first glimpse of the great picture gallery, and she began +to wish she was not accompanied by the chattering crowd, that she might +wander about wherever her fancy directed. But she remembered she would +have ample opportunity for this all winter, so she willingly gave up her +own desire to please the Van Ness girls. + +They cared little for pictures, but were really good historical +students, and they wanted to visit the rooms which contained curios and +relics of famous people. + +So the whole crowd followed the lead of Doris and Alicia, who had +visited the Louvre before, and Patty found herself learning a great deal +from the experienced way in which the girls discussed the exhibits. She +found, too, that historical relics were more interesting than she had +supposed, and she almost sighed as she thought of the many things she +wanted to see and study during the winter. + +"I hope you'll be here when we come back," Guy Van Ness said to her, as +they stood together, looking at some old miniatures. + +"I hope so, too," said Patty. "When are you coming?" + +"I don't know exactly; it depends on uncle's plans; but probably about +January." + +"Oh, yes, we shall surely be here then, and probably living in a home of +our own. Of course, I mean a temporary home, but not a hotel. I hope you +will come to see us." + +"Indeed I will. I wish we could have seen more of you this week, but +uncle has rushed us about sightseeing so fast that there was no time for +social calling." + +"We saw Bert Chester and his crowd," said Patty; and then she told about +the day at Versailles. + +"What a lark!" exclaimed Guy; "I wish I had been along. But you must go +somewhere with us when we're here in January, won't you?" + +"I'd like to," said Patty, "but I can't promise. It all depends on the +Farringtons. I'm their guest, so of course I'm under their orders." + +"Well, it won't be my fault if we don't have some fun when we come back +here," declared Guy, "and I shall do all I can to bring it about." + +When they left the museum it was getting late in the afternoon, and +Lisette decreed that her young ladies must go home at once. The Van Ness +crowd raised great objection to this, but Lisette was obdurate, and +calling a cab, she ushered the girls in, and then getting in herself, +gave the order for home. + +Patty couldn't help laughing at the serious way in which Lisette took +care of them, but Mrs. Farrington told her it was quite right, and she +would have been displeased had Lisette done otherwise. + +"You don't quite understand, my dear," she said kindly, "the difference +between the conventions of Paris and our own New York. It may seem +foolish to you to be so carefully guarded, but I can't quite explain it +to you so you would understand it, and therefore I'm going to ask you to +obey my wishes without question, and more than that, when Lisette is +temporarily in charge of you to obey her." + +"Indeed I will, dear Mrs. Farrington," said Patty heartily; "and truly I +wasn't rebelling the leastest mite. I'm more than ready to obey you, or +Lisette, either, only it struck me funny to be put into a cab, like +babies in a baby-carriage by their nursemaid." + +"You're a good girl, Patty, and I don't foresee a bit of trouble in +taking care of you. To-morrow I shall feel better, and I'll go shopping +with you girls myself, and perhaps we may have time to look in at a few +other places." + +So Patty danced away, quite content to take things as they came, and +sure that all the coming days were to be filled with all sorts of +novelties and pleasures. + +Their purchases had been sent home, reaching there before they did +themselves, and Patty immediately fell to work on the albums, placing +the cards in the little slits which were cut in the leaves to receive +them. + +The days flew by like Bandersnatches. Patty herself could not realise +what became of them. She wrote frequently to the people at home and +tried to include all of her young friends in America in her +correspondence, but it seemed to be impossible, and so finally she took +to writing long letters to Marian, and asking her to send the letters +round to the other girls after she had read them. + +Mr. and Mrs. Farrington had begun their search for a furnished house +which they might rent for the winter. When they went to look at various +ones suggested to them by their agent, they did not take the girls with +them, as Mrs. Farrington said it was too serious a matter in which to +include two chattering children. + +So Patty and Elise were left pretty much to their own devices while the +elder Farringtons went on these important errands. + +But one bright morning when Mr. and Mrs. Farrington were preparing to +start off in the automobile for the day, Elise begged that she and Patty +might be allowed to go off on an excursion of some sort. + +"Indeed, I think you ought," said Mr. Farrington kindly, "and I'll tell +you what I think would be a first-rate plan. How would you like to go +with Lisette to the Chateau of Chantilly for a day's outing? You could +go on one of those 'personally conducted tours,' in a big motor van, +with lots of other tourists." + +"I think it will be lots of fun," cried Elise; "I've always wanted to +climb up on one of those moving mountains and go wabbling away." + +"I, too," said Patty; "just for once I think that sort of thing would be +great fun." + +"Then you must hustle to get ready," said Mr. Farrington, "for the +cavalcade sets off at ten o'clock, and I don't believe they'd wait, even +for two nice little girls like you. So run along and get your bonnets, +and be sure not to forget to remember to feed the carp." + +"What is a carp?" asked Patty, as she and Elise ran away to dress. + +"Fish, I think," said Elise, "but we'll probably find out when we get +there." + +The girls were soon ready, and with Lisette they walked out in the +bright sunshine and along the Rue de la Paix until they came to the +corner where the personally conducted tourists were to start from. + +Mr. Farrington had telephoned for tickets, so all they had to do was to +clamber into their seats. This was done by mounting a stepladder placed +at the side of the big vehicle. The seats of the van were graduated in +height, so that the back ones were as good as the front, and, indeed, a +full view of what was passing could be commanded from any position. + +They had to wait until the tourists had all arrived, and then they +started off at a good speed toward the country. + +"I feel as if I were riding in one of the old royal state carriages," +said Patty, "although there isn't the slightest resemblance in the +vehicle, or the means of locomotion." + +"No," said Elise, laughing; "nor in the people. I don't believe these +tourists bear much resemblance to the ladies and gentlemen who rode in +the Royal carriages. But I think it's more fun than our own car, because +we sit up so high and can see everything so well." + +"And hear, too," said Patty, as they listened to the man in the front +seat, who had turned around and was announcing through a megaphone the +names of the places as they passed them. + +"He seems to know his lesson pretty well," whispered Patty, "but his +French pronunciation is even worse than mine." + +"Your pronunciation isn't so bad, Patty, but you haven't any vocabulary +to speak of." + +"To speak with, you mean. But never you mind, miss; as soon as your +respected parents decide upon a house, and we get settled in it, I'm +going to study French like anything, and French history, too. I used to +hate these things, but times have changed since Patty came to Paris!" + +"I'm glad you're so energetic, but I don't feel much like studying; I'd +rather drift around and have fun as we are doing." + +"We'll have time enough for both, and you want to take some painting +lessons, don't you?" + +"Yes; but seeing all the pictures I've seen since I've been here +discourages me. I used to think I was quite an artist, but I see now +that if I ever do anything really worth while, I'll have to begin all +over again and go into a drudgery drawing class." + +"It won't be drudgery; you love it so, and you'll make rapid progress if +you're as desperately in earnest as all that. Do you think your mother +will decide to take that house they're going to look at to-day?" + +"Yes, I think so; her mind is pretty well made up already. It must be a +lovely house, judging from what she says about it." + +It was not very far to Chantilly, and when they reached there the girls +were almost sorry that the pleasant ride was ended. + +The megaphone gentleman informed his personally conducted crowd that +they were to alight and eat luncheon before proceeding to the Chateau. + +The hotel where they were to lunch was a quaint, old-fashioned house, +built around three sides of a garden. It was called the Hotel du Grand- +Conde, and Patty said, "I suppose we shall see and hear of nothing but +the Condes for the rest of the day. I believe the whole interest of +Chantilly centres in that Conde crowd." + +"You seem to know a lot about it," said Elise banteringly. + +"I've been reading up," confessed Patty, "and besides, La Grande +Mademoiselle has always been one of my favourite characters in French +history. She was a wonderful woman, and though not of the Condes, she is +mixed up in their history." + +"She is an unknown quantity to me," said Elise, "but I'm willing to +learn, so tell me all you know, Patty; it won't take long." + +"You'll get no instruction from me after that unflattering speech," +retorted Patty, and then luncheon was announced, and the girls sat down +at the table reserved for them. + +They were much interested in their fellow-tourists, and as most of them +were socially inclined, Patty and Elise were included in the general +conversation. As the tourists seemed to have a great deal of general +information, and as they were quite ready to impart it, the girls picked +up quite a store of knowledge, more or less accurate. + +Then they left the hotel, with its quaint old gateway and carefully kept +gravel walks, and proceeded on their way to the Chateau. + +It was necessary at the entrance to cross a bridge over the moat, and +here Patty discovered the reason for feeding the carp. + +To begin with, the carp themselves were exceedingly old, and had been +swimming around in the same moat for hundreds of years. + +"I'm not quite sure of the number of years," volunteered a Boston +tourist, to any one who might listen, "but it's either hundreds or +thousands. Anyway, the carp are dreadfully old." + +"They don't look it," declared Patty, as she leaned over the railing of +the bridge and watched the frisky fish darting around like mad. + +An old woman sat nearby with a bushel basket full of French rolls, which +she was willing to sell to the tourists at prices which increased as her +stock of rolls decreased. Patty and Elise bought a quantity of the rolls +and began the fun of throwing them to the fishes. It turned out to be +even more fun than they had anticipated, for the moment a roll reached +the water, scores of carp would make a mad dash for it, and a pitched +battle ensued for possession of the bread. Sometimes the roll was torn +to pieces in the fight, and sometimes a fortunate carp would secure it +and swim away, followed by all the others in angry pursuit. Another roll +flung in would, of course, divert their attention, and the squabble +would begin all over again. The fun was largely in watching the +individual peculiarities of the fishes. One sulky old thing disdained to +fight, but if given a roll all to himself he would swim away with it, +and sticking his head in a small corner of the stone parapet, would eat +it greedily, while he kept off the other fishes by madly lashing his +tail. Another brisk little fish didn't seem to care to eat the rolls at +all, but mischievously tried to prevent the others from eating them, and +played a general game of interference. + +The actions of the fish were so ridiculous, and the sport so novel and +exciting, that the girls would not leave until they had bought up all +the rolls the old woman had and thrown them down to the comical carp. + +The personal conductor of the tour affably waited until the moat +performance was over, and then conducted his party inside the park to +the Chateau. + +Though only a toy affair compared with Versailles, Chantilly is one of +the most beautiful of the historic Chateaus of France, and is in many +respects a gem. The great paved Court of Honor shone white in the +sunlight, and the noble statues and sculptures bore witness to the art +and taste displayed in its construction. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +MAKING A HOME. + + +The party was marshalled up on the peristyle, where they received, +collectively, instructions in a loud voice to leave their sticks and +umbrellas before entering the Chateau. + +Patty and Elise agreed that the beauty and dignity of the situation was +somewhat impaired by the personally conducted effect, but they thought +that was compensated for by the funny side of it all. The tourists +followed the conductor like a flock of sheep, one or another +occasionally straying away for a time, and nearly all of them making +notes in little note-books. Indeed, some of them were so intent on their +notes that they merely gave glances at the beautiful things exhibited, +and spent most of their time scribbling in their books and referring to +their Baedekers. + +The interior of the Chateau was delightful. As Patty had surmised, it +was largely devoted to pictures and relics of the Conde family. She was +greatly pleased to discover a gallery of battles which, though not +large, illustrated the battles of the great prince who was called the +Grand Conde. Although Patty was of a peaceful enough nature, she had a +special liking for the glory and grandeur of paintings of battle scenes, +and she tarried in this gallery as long as she could. + +Both she and Elise adopted the Grand Conde as one of their favourites, +and greatly admired the numerous portraits of him, with his handsome +face and generally gorgeous effects. + +In one of the halls of the Chateau post-cards were on sale, and Patty +eagerly looked them over to make the selection she wanted. + +But the Personal Conductor discovered that time was flying, and that if +he let all of his charges delay over the post-cards, other sights must +be omitted. + +So he scurried them along through the various galleries and salons, +pausing in the Library and the Chapel. The Chapel awed Patty, as the +impressive burial places of kings always did, and especially was she +interested in a Cippus, which was a receptacle for the hearts of several +of the princes of Conde. + +"It seems wonderful," she said to Elise, "to take out their hearts and +put them all away together like that, but they had strange ways in the +times of my friends, the Condes." + +"I'm beginning to be very much interested in your friends, the Condes," +replied Elise, "and I think, after all, I shall join your French history +class this winter." + +Then they proceeded to the beautiful park of Chantilly, which was laid +out by the same landscape gardener who afterward designed the gardens of +Versailles. + +The park was enchanting, and the many buildings in it most interesting. + +"There's one thing certain," said Patty, "I shall come here some day and +camp out for the day in this park and wander around without being +personally conducted." + +"And I shall do myself the honour to accompany you," said Elise; "I'm +sure I can persuade father to send us out here in the car some day and +let us play around by ourselves." + +All too soon the megaphone's voice called them to start on their +homeward trip. Patty and Elise were among the first to take their seats +in the great motor car, and as Patty was looking over her beloved post- +cards, she suddenly discovered that she had no portrait of her friend, +the Grand Prince. + +But by good luck she saw a woman standing near, and suspended by a strap +round her neck was a tray of post-cards. + +Calling the woman to her, Patty made known her desire for a picture of +the Grand Conde. + +"Oui, oui," exclaimed the woman as she offered various portraits of +other members of the Conde family. + +"Non, non," cried Patty, shaking her head, vigorously, "le Grand +Prince,-le Grand Conde!" + +At length the woman discovered the proper card, and when Patty accepted +it, and paid her for it, she burst into voluble thanks and begged her to +buy more. + +Remembering Elise's album, Patty bought another copy of the same picture +for that, and then, thinking she would like to take one to Marian, she +asked for a third copy. + +This the woman did not have in stock, but anxious to please her pretty +young patron, she flew over to another post-card vender, of which there +seemed to be several near by, and demanded the required card from her. +But a search through her stock proved unavailing, and both women, +chatting volubly in French, tried to procure one from a third post-card +seller. + +Patty and Elise became much amused at the excitement they had created, +and suddenly to their surprise one of the tourists expressed her desire +also for a portrait of the Grand Conde. + +Patty surmised at once that she had no particular reason for desiring it +save an idea that if it was in such great demand it must be of a special +value. + +And then following the example of the first, several other tourists set +up a clamour for the same picture, and the scene became one of great +excitement. The post-card venders put their heads together, and still +jabbering rapidly, produced all sorts of portraits which they +endeavoured to foist upon the buyers as portraits of the Grand Prince. +But the tourists were shrewd, and they knew what they wanted, though +they had no idea why they wanted it. + +The natural result of this situation was a rise in price of the desired +picture. The original price of ten CENTIMES was doubled and then +quadrupled, and finally the tourists began to bid for the picture until +the affair became an auction. + +Patty and Elise were convulsed with laughter at the absurdity of it all, +and finally the motor man whizzed away, leaving the Frenchwomen +chuckling over their marvelous sales, and carrying some excited +tourists, who wondered why they had paid so much for ordinary post- +cards. + +Patty's recital of the affair at dinner that night greatly amused the +Farringtons, and Mr. Farrington declared that the whole scene was +typical of human nature. + +"As you had cornered the market, Patty," he said, "why didn't you sell +your Conde pictures at top prices, or else put them up at auction?" + +"For the very good reason that I wanted them myself," replied Patty, +"and if I had sold them, perhaps I never could get any more." + +"Well, we, too, have achieved an important success to-day," went on Mr. +Farrington; "we have secured a foothold in this somewhat uncertain city, +and we shall soon have a roof over our heads that we can call our own, +for a time, at least." + +"Oh, you took the house, then," exclaimed Elise; "how jolly! and when +are we going there to live?" + +"As soon as it can be made habitable," said Mrs. Farrington; "they call +it a furnished house, but it is not at all my idea of furnishing. It's +about as well appointed as a summer cottage might be at home. The +drawing-room is all right, and the dining-room is fairly good, but the +bedrooms must be almost entirely refurnished. Some day, my children, you +shall go shopping with me to select things for your own rooms." + +This shopping expedition took place soon, and Patty, with her usual +happy enthusiasm, thought it was quite as much fun as any other mode of +entertainment. + +Mrs. Farrington and the two girls, driven by the chauffeur, went flying +around in the automobile, stopping now at one beautiful shop, and now at +another, and buying lovely things. + +"It seems foolish," said Mrs. Farrington, "to buy a lot of furniture for +a rented house, but we must be comfortable through the winter, and then +the prettiest of the things we'll take back to America with us." + +The girls were allowed to make their own selections, and Patty decided +that her room should be green and white, while Elise chose pink. + +The girls had not yet seen the house, but Mrs. Farrington told them that +two large rooms adjoining each other on the third floor were to be for +their use, and though the principal articles of furniture were already +in them, they might choose some pretty appointments, such as writing- +desks, work-tables or book-racks. + +Also, they selected some little French gilded chairs and queer-shaped +ottomans, Patty thinking the while how pretty these would look when +transported back to her New York home. + +After about a week more of hotel life the Farringtons moved to their own +home. + +It was a good-sized house on the Bois de Boulogne, and stood in a small +but well-laid out park or garden. + +There were stone porticos on which opened long, French windows, and the +high ceilings and winding staircase with broad landings gave the house +an attractive, though foreign air. + +Like all French houses, the decorations were elaborate, and mirrors were +everywhere, and crystal chandeliers and painted panels abounded. + +It was all of great interest to Patty, who dearly loved home-making, and +who saw great possibilities for the unusual combination of American +cosiness in a Paris house. + +Mrs. Farrington was delighted when she discovered Patty's capabilities +in domestic matters, and declared that she would not wish for a better +assistant. + +It was Patty's deft fingers that transformed stiff and formal rooms into +apartments of real comfort and homelikeness. It was very often Patty's +taste that selected simple decorations or ornaments which toned down the +gorgeousness of the original scheme. + +The two girls' own rooms were greatly successful. + +Patty had bought a number of pictures and statuettes and various +Parisian ornaments, which she was delighted to arrange in a room of her +very own. She helped Elise with hers, too, for though Elise had good +taste and a fine appreciation of the fitness of things, she had not +Patty's capability of execution and facility of arrangement. + +As they sat for the first time around their own family dinner table, Mr. +Farrington exclaimed, "Now this is what I call comfortable! It's +unpretentious, but it's way ahead of that gorgeously dressed-up hotel, +which made one feel, though well taken care of, like a traveller and a +wayfarer. But I expect you were sorry to leave it, eh, Patty?" + +"No I wasn't," said Patty; "I liked it tremendously for a time, as it +was a novel experience for me; but I'm quite as pleased as you are, Mr. +Farrington, to be in a home once more." + +"And the next thing to do," said Mrs. Farrington, "is to get masters for +you girls." + +"Shall we go to school, mother?" asked Elise. + +"No, I think not. I don't like the idea of your going to a French +school, and, too, I think you'd enjoy it better, to study a little at +home. You needn't have a great variety of lessons. I think if you study +the French language and French history, it will be enough for you in the +way of school books. Then Patty ought to take singing lessons, and if +Elise wants to learn to paint pictures, she will probably never get a +better opportunity to do so." + +This plan seemed to suit perfectly the young ladies most interested, and +Mr. Farrington said he would take it upon himself to find the right +masters for them. + +So the family settled down into a life which was quiet compared with the +first few weeks of their stay in Paris. + +The masters came every morning except Saturday, and that day was always +devoted to sightseeing or pleasures of some sort. Occasionally, too, a +whole holiday was taken during the week, for Mr. Farrington said he had +a vivid recollection of a certain proverb which discussed the result of +all work and no play. + +Patty declared she was never afraid of any lack of play hours in the +Farrington family, and she enjoyed alike both her morning tasks and her +afternoon pleasures. + +Twice a week a professor came to give her singing lessons, and it was +arranged that at the same hour Elise should be busy with her drawing +master. Though Elise did not show promise of becoming a really great +artist, her parents thought it wise to cultivate such talent as she +possessed, if only for the pleasure it might give to herself and her +friends. + +So Elise worked away at her drawing from casts, and occasionally painted +flowers in water colours, while Patty practised her scales, and learned +to sing some pretty little French ballads. + +Though neither of the girls was possessed of genius, they both had +talent, and by application to study they found themselves rapidly +improving in their arts. + +As Patty had expected, she developed an intense interest in French +history, and as Elise shared this taste, they learned their lessons +well, and also read books of history outside of school hours quite from +choice. + +[Illustration with caption: "They also read books of history outside of +school hours quite from choice"] + +There were a great many Americans residing in Paris, and it was not long +before Mr. and Mrs. Farrington renewed old acquaintances there, and also +made new ones among the American colony. + +This meant pleasant associates for the girls, and they soon became +acquainted with several American families. + +Indeed, the house next to their own, was occupied by an American family +named Barstow, with whom the Farringtons soon made friends. + +The young people of the family were Rosamond, a girl of seventeen, and +her brother Martin, a few years older. + +The first time they met, Elise and Patty took a decided liking to the +Barstows, and Rosamond often spent the afternoon with them, while they +chatted gaily over their work, or went driving with them along the +beautiful Bois, or visited the galleries with them. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +ST. GERMAIN + + +The weeks went happily by. Patty became quite accustomed to French ways +and customs, and was becoming proficient in the language. + +One of her greatest treats was the Opera. Mr. Farrington had engaged a +box for the season, and the girls attended nearly every matinee +performance. The first few times Patty could scarcely listen to the +music for her admiration of the wonderful building, but after she became +more accustomed to its glories, it did not so distract her attention +from the stage. Mr. and Mrs. Farrington occasionally gave opera parties, +and dinner parties, too, but the girls were not allowed to attend these. +Although indulgent in many ways, Mrs. Farrington was somewhat strict +about the conventions for her young people; but so gently were her rules +laid down, that they never seemed harsh or stern. + +On nights when dinner parties were given, the girls had their dinner in +the family breakfast-room, and often were allowed to invite Rosamond, +and sometimes Martin to their feasts. + +Another delight to Patty was the fact that she was learning to drive a +motor-car. It had always fascinated her, and she had always felt that +she could do it if she only knew how. Once when she timidly expressed +this wish to Mr. Farrington, he replied, "Why certainly, child, I'll be +glad to teach you, and some day, who knows, you may have a car of your +own." + +So whenever opportunity allowed Mr. Farrington gave her lessons in the +art, and often Patty would sit in front with the chauffeur and he would +teach her many things about the mechanism, until she became really quite +accomplished as a driver. + +Of course, she was never allowed to run the car alone, nor did she wish +to, but it was great fun to handle the wheel herself and feel the car +obey her lightest touch. Sometimes she would grow elated at her success +and put on the high speed, but always under the supervision and +protecting guidance of Mr. Farrington or the affable and amiable +chauffeur. + +It was a great surprise to Patty when she learned that Christmas was not +made so much of in Paris as with us, but that the great fete-day was New +Year's Day, or, as they called it, JOUR DE L'AN. + +But Patty was not baffled by French customs entirely, and decreed that +the Farrington household should hold a Christmas celebration all by +themselves. This they did, and the day to them was a pleasant one +indeed. + +But this was a minor episode compared to the fact that old Ma'amselle +Labesse sent them all an urgent invitation to come to her at St. Germain +to spend New Year's Day. + +The girls were rejoiced at this invitation, but feared they could not +accept it, as Mr. and Mrs. Farrington had an engagement in Paris for the +festival. + +But after much discussion of the matter, and much pleading on the part +of the young people, it was arranged that Patty and Elise should go two +days before the New Year Day and spend a whole week with the old +Ma'amselle in her chateau. A little tactful managing on Patty's part +secured an invitation also for Rosamond Barstow, and the three girls, +who had become almost inseparable, started off together in great glee. + +Mr. Farrington sent them out in the motor-car, in care of his chauffeur, +and Patty, to her great delight and satisfaction, drove the car all the +way there. + +St. Germain is a beautiful town, which dates back about eight centuries, +when it was a favourite summer residence of French royalty. The forest +is among the most beautiful of all French woods, and as Patty drove +through the roads of the deep forest it seemed like enchanted ground. +They spun along the Terrasse, enjoying the view below, and after passing +many beautiful villas and residences came to the old chateau of +Ma'amselle Labesse. + +After passing a porter's lodge at the entrance, they went on for a long +distance through the park before reaching the house Then alighting at +the main portal, the doors were thrown open by footmen, and the girls +were ushered in. + +Ma'amselle herself received them in the entrance hall. She looked quite +different from the way she had appeared on board the steamer, as she was +now attired in very elegant and formal robes, with her white hair +arranged after the fashion of Madame de Pompadour. + +She cordially welcomed the three young girls, making emphatic assertions +at her delight in seeing them, but her warmest welcome was bestowed upon +Patty. + +"But it is herself!" she cried; "of a certainty, it is ma petite Patty. +Ciel! but it is that I am glad to see you!" + +Patty returned the greetings with polite warmth, and indeed she was +really fond of the quaint old lady. + +The girls were all amazed at the grandeur and beauty of Ma'amselle's +home, and were unable to repress their admiration; but Ma'amselle was +pleased rather than otherwise that they should express their pleasure. + +"But surely," she said, "it is indeed the beautiful home. This hall! It +is not of a smallness! And in the old days it welcomed royal guests." + +The hall was indeed magnificent. It was decorated with frescoes and +mural paintings by well-known French artists. It contained statues and +paintings and clocks and vases that might have graced a museum. The +armour of knights stood about, and valuable trophies graced the +wainscoted walls. + +A wide carved staircase wound spirally up from one end; and at +Ma'amselle's suggestion, the girls were ushered at once to their room. +French maids were sent to them to unlock their boxes and assist with +their toilettes, and Patty was glad that she now knew enough French at +least to make herself understood. + +Rosamond Barstow was a girl who never hesitated to get what she wanted +if possible, and now it suited her purpose to dismiss the French maids; +in her voluble if somewhat imperfect French, she told them that the +young ladies wished to be alone for a time and would ring for the maids +later. + +"I just HAD to talk to you girls alone for a minute," she exclaimed, "or +I should have exploded. Did you EVER see such a gorgeous castle in this +world? I didn't know your old Ma'amselle lived like this! How shall we +ever live up to it?" + +"I didn't know she lived like this, either," said Patty, laughing at +Rosamond's expressions; "and I don't care whether we can live up to it +or not. We'll put on our best frocks and our best manners, and that's +all we can do. But, oh girls, I feel like a princess in this room!" + +"Then just come and look at mine," cried Elise, who was in the next +apartment. + +The girls had been given rooms near each other and which, with their +anterooms and dressing-rooms, filled up the whole of a large wing of the +chateau. + +Patty's, as she expressed it to the other girls, looked more like a very +large cretonne shirtwaist box than anything else. For the walls and +ceiling were covered with a chintz tapestry; the lambrequins, window +curtains and door hangings were all of the same material and pattern, +and the bed itself was draped and heavily curtained with the same. The +bed curtains and window curtains were fastened back with huge rosettes +of the chintz, and Patty remarked that it must have been brought by the +acre. + +The furniture was of the quaintest old French pattern, and so old- +fashioned and unusual were the appointments all about, that Patty knew +neither the names nor the use of many of them. + +"I'd rather sleep in a "cosy-corner" than in that bed," remarked +Rosamond; "I know that whole affair will tumble on your head in the +night. It's perfectly gorgeous to look at, but seems to me these old +things are 'most too old. If I were Ma'amselle I'd root them all out and +refurnish." + +"You'd be sent home if Ma'amselle heard you talk like that," admonished +Patty, "and I'm not a bit afraid of that tent arrangement tumbling down. +It's most picturesque, and I shall lie in it, feeling like a retired +empress." + +"Come, Rosamond," said Elise, "call back those comic opera maids you +sent away, and let's get dressed. We mustn't keep Ma'amselle waiting, +though I'd ever so much rather perch up here and talk by ourselves. But +she's a dear old lady, and we must do our part as well as she does +hers." + +So Rosamond rang and the maids came back, wondering what strange young +demoiselles they had to wait upon now. + +Patty allowed herself to be dressed by the deft-fingered maid, and being +ready first, stepped out on the little balcony opening from her window +to wait for the others. + +A beautiful view met her eye. The lawn was terraced in many slopes, and +the flower-beds and shrubberies, though arranged with French precision, +formed a beautiful landscape. There were fountains playing, and here and +there arbours and trellises and pleasant paths. + +But the girls called to her, and Patty joined them, and twining their +arms about each other's waists, they walked down the broad staircase. + +They were all in white, and their pretty frocks and dainty slippers made +a modern note that contrasted strangely but pleasantly with the antique +relics and ancient atmosphere of the chateau. + +When they reached the great hall, a footman ushered them into the grand +drawing-room where they were to await Ma'amselle. + +She soon appeared, resplendent in her old-time grandeur, and going to +greet her, the girls kissed her hand, an old custom which greatly +pleased their hostess. + +"But it is of a joy to see you!" she exclaimed. "Me, I am so much alone. +It is not good to be alone, and yet, it is my choice. I stay in the home +of my ancestors, therefore I stay alone. Voila!" she shrugged her +shoulders, as if to emphasise the fact that it was more joy to live +alone in the old chateau than to be anywhere else. + +"But I am not always alone," she went on; "no, it is that my Henri, my +nephew, comes to me at occasion. And he comes soon. Jour de l'an always +brings him. He spends the day with me. He makes me a pleasure. And you +shall see him, you young ladies. Ah, how he is beautiful!" The old lady +clasped her hands and turned her gaze upward, and the girls were fain to +believe that her nephew was indeed a wonderful specimen of humanity. + +Then the dinner was announced, and leaning on the arm of an old footman, +who was quite as dignified as she was herself, Ma'amselle led the way to +the dining-room. + +The table appointments, Patty thought, would have done justice to any of +the most celebrated characters in French history, had they been there to +enjoy them. + +Although not exactly embarrassed, the girls were a little bit awed at +splendour so unusual to them. To Rosamond it seemed distinctly humorous +that three such young American girls should be honoured guests in such a +regal household; to Elise it seemed extremely interesting, and the +novelty and strangeness of it all impressed her more than the grandeur. + +But Patty, with her usual quick ability to accept a situation, seemed to +take everything for granted, and made herself quite at home. The +wonderfully garbed footmen who stood behind their chairs like statues, +except when they were wound up, nearly made Rosamond giggle; but to +Patty, they were merely part of the performance, and once accepted as +such, of course, they belonged in the picture. + +This readiness to adapt herself to any circumstances was inherent in +Patty's nature, and she sat there and conversed with her hostess as +charmingly and naturally as if at a plainer board. + +Rosamond was much impressed by what she chose to consider Patty's +"nerve," and determining not to be outdone, she exerted herself to be +bright and entertaining, and as Elise was always more or less of a +chatterbox, the three girls provided much entertainment, and their +hostess was delighted with her congenial guests. + +After the rather lengthy dinner was at an end, the old Ma'amselle took +the girls through various apartments, and showed them many of the +treasures of the Chateau. + +Then they went to the music room and Patty was persuaded to sing. + +She sang several songs, and then they all sang choruses together, in +some of which the old Ma'amselle joined with her thin but still sweet +voice. + +"And now," she said at last, "it is to tear the heart--but I must send +you babies to bed. Me, I sleep so badly, but you young girls, of a +surety, must have the tranquil rest. It is then 'Bon Soir,' and in the +morning you are to amuse yourselves. You have but to ring for your +chocolate, when you awake, and then pursue your own pleasures until +noon, when I will meet you at dejeuner." + +After affectionate good-nights, the girls went to their rooms, and a +half hour later, wrapped in kimonos and with their long braids hanging +down their backs, they were all perched on Patty's big bed--alone at +last. + +"But it is of a gorgeousness," exclaimed Rosamond, mimicking, but not +unkindly, the old Ma'amselle's imperfect English; "me, I never have so +many feetmen at home! Is it that you do, Patty?" + +"But I like it all," exclaimed Patty, giggling at comical Rosamond, but +standing up for her own opinions; "of course I'm not envious a mite, and +I don't know even as I'd care to live in this way all the time, but it's +lovely for a few days, and I'm just going to pretend I'm La Grande +Mademoiselle." + +"Do," cried Elise, "and I'll be Empress Josephine. Who'll you be, +Rosamond?" + +"Oh, I'll be Queen Elizabeth, who has come to visit you. There's nothing +French about me, so there's no use pretending, but I might be an English +Queen." + +"Well, Josephine and Elizabeth, you'd better run to bed now," said +Patty, "for I'd like the exclusive occupancy of this upholstered tennis- +court myself." + +Amazed to find that it was after midnight, the other girls ran laughing +away, and Patty climbed in behind the chintz curtains, almost persuading +herself that she was a royal Princess after all. + +Next morning the Queen and the Empress came bounding in, and shook La +Grande Mademoiselle till she awoke. + +"This bed is the biggest," announced Queen Elizabeth, "and so we're all +going to have our chocolate in here." + +"Well, I like the way you monopolise my apartments!" exclaimed Patty. + +"I'm glad you like it," said Rosamond; "but we'd come just the same if +you didn't. Now stop your giggling, while I ring the bell, and see what +happens." + +A dainty French waitress answered the summons, and smilingly asked for +orders. + +Patty modestly asked for chocolate and rolls for them all, but the +French maid volunteered the information that Ma'amselle was of the +opinion that the young ladies would like an omelette, and perhaps a jar +of marmalade. + +[Illustration with caption: "They were all perched on Patty's big bed-- +alone at last"] + +"Heavenly!" exclaimed Rosamond, rolling her eyes in ecstacy, and the +waitress departed on her errand. + +"This is the jolliest picnic yet," declared Elise, a little later as she +sat, propped up by pillows, in a corner of the big chintz tent, and +devoured flaky hot rolls and apricot marmalade. + +The girls were each in a corner of the great bed, which left ample room +in the centre for the tray full of good things, and though perhaps an +unusual place for a picnic, it was a most hilarious festivity. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +AN EXPECTED GUEST + + +The three girls spent a delightful morning exploring the old Chateau, +and its park and garden. The clear air was brisk and keen, and a few +hours out of doors sent them back into the house with rosy cheeks and +bright eyes. + +They discovered a delightful room that they had not seen before, which +was built out from one of the wings, and whose walls and ceiling were +entirely of glass. + +"This is something like your room at home, Elise," said Patty, as they +seated themselves there. + +"Not very much; my room is glass, to be sure, but it's square, and this +circular apartment is quite a different matter. And did you ever see +such exquisite furniture? I can quite believe myself an Empress when I +sit gracefully on this gilded blue satin sofa." + +"I'm glad you think you're sitting gracefully," said Rosamond, laughing +at Elise, who, in her favourite position, had one foot tucked up under +her. + +"I don't care," said Elise. "Probably Josephine would have liked to sit +on her foot, only she didn't dare." + +"Her empire would have tottered if she had done such a thing as that," +observed Patty, "but as it tottered anyway, she might as well have sat +as she pleased." + +Ma'amselle joined the young people at luncheon time, and although she +called it breakfast, the repast was quite as elaborate and formal in its +way as dinner had been. But the girls brought to it three healthy young +appetites, that did full justice to the exquisite viands set before +them. + +At the table, Ma'amselle announced to the girls her plans for their +entertainment. + +It seemed that she expected her nephew that evening, to spend a few +days, and as the next day would be the great festival of New Year's Day, +she had planned a celebration of the event. + +So she proposed that except for a short automobile drive that afternoon +the girls should rest and keep themselves fresh for dinner-time, when +she expected the arrival of her paragon of a nephew. + +From her description of the young man, the girls were led to think that +he must be a sort of fairy prince in disguise,--and not very much +disguised, either. + +So in the afternoon the three girls and Ma'amselle went for a drive in +one of the great touring cars, of which Ma'amselle had several. + +Patty begged to be allowed to sit in front with the chauffeur, and +rather astonished that impassive factotum by asking to be allowed to +drive. + +He was very much disinclined to grant her request, lest it should +displease the old Ma'amselle, of whom all her servants stood greatly in +awe; but when Patty appealed to her hostess, and received a not very +willing permission, the chauffeur allowed her to change seats with him, +and really drive the car. + +He was greatly surprised at Patty's skill, and became more than ever +convinced that Americans were a strange race. + +Their route lay past the railway station and along the beautiful terrace +which skirts the forest of St. Germain on one side, and commands such a +marvellous view of the valley and the Seine. + +Returning home, the girls were left to their own devices until dinner- +time, when they were adjured to array themselves appropriately to do +homage with the wonderful Henri. + +"Henri must be something out of the ordinary," declared Elise, when the +girls were alone. + +"Probably not," said Patty; "only Ma'amselle thinks him so." + +"At any rate I'm anxious to see him," declared Elise, "for I don't know +any real live French boy except that Pauvret who was on the steamer, and +he was too lackadaisical for any use." + +"Well, I don't apprehend M'sieu Henri will be much better," said Patty; +"I don't care much about Frenchmen, anyway. What are you going to wear, +girls?" + +"I shall wear my red chifon," said Rosamond; "it's most becoming to me; +I'm a perfect dream in it, and I shall quite cut out you other girls +with our foreign prince." + +"Pooh!" said Elise; "he won't look at you when he sees me in my white +tulle. I'm the Frenchiest thing in that you ever saw!" + +"Oh girls," cried Patty, "I'm going to wear my light blue crepe de +chine. And then we'll be red, white and blue! Won't that be a graceful +compliment to the French colours, as well as to our own dear flag!" + +"Long may it wave!" cried Rosamond, and then following Patty's lead, the +girls sang the "Star Spangled Banner" with true American heartiness and +patriotism. This they followed up with the "Marseillaise," in which they +were interrupted by the appearance of one of the maids in a great state +of excitement. + +In breathless haste, which made her French difficult for them to +understand, she explained that Ma'amselle had had a telegram of dreadful +import, and would the young ladies attend upon her at once. + +The maid ushered the wondering girls to Ma'amselle's apartments and +found her in her dressing-room, in the hands of her maid, who was +assisting her in a hasty toilette. + +The tears were rolling down the old lady's cheeks, and she seemed to be +in a state of trembling agitation. + +"Ah, mes enfants" she cried, "but it is news of the most dreadful! Mon +Henri, my well-beloved nephew,--his arm,--it is broken! Ah the sadness +for the poor boy. Me, I fly to him at once,--but at once! You, but you +will excuse me, you will forgive, because of the dear boy! I go to +Paris, but I return, bringing my boy with me." + +It was rather a mixed-up explanation, but the girls finally gathered +that Henri had had the misfortune to break his arm, and had sent for his +aunt to come to Paris and spend the New Year Day with him instead of +taking his intended trip to St. Germain. + +Henri had not known that his aunt had the young ladies visiting her, and +so had no idea that he was disarranging her plans to such an extent. + +"He can come!" she exclaimed; "bah, it is not his legs; it is but his +arm. Of a certainty, one does not walk on one's arm! But the dear boy! I +shall go to him and explain all. Then we will return, and there shall be +feasting and happiness. A broken arm is not so much,--it will mend,--but +to him I must fly!" + +Patty endeavoured to find out definitely the old lady's plan, but she +could only gather that there was no time to be lost, that Ma'amselle +must catch the seven o'clock train. + +To be sure of this, she must leave the house at half-past six. + +And so she started, in her swift touring car, accompanied by her maid +and a groom, in addition to her capable and trusty chauffeur. + +Away they went, and the girls returned to the drawing-room to consider +the situation. + +"It was all over so quickly," said Patty, "that I hardly know whether +I'm on my head or my heels. What a whirlwind Ma'amselle is!" + +"Yes, she flew around like a hen with its head off, or whatever French +hens do," said Rosamond; "if she whisks that broken-armed boy home as +fast as she whisked herself off they'll be here in a minute." + +"She can't," said the practical Elise. "If she takes that seven o'clock +train, she won't get to Paris until nearly eight, and then, I don't know +where the interesting invalid lives, but anyway, to kidnap him and get +back here again is a matter of several hours. I don't expect to see them +before midnight." + +"What shall we do?" said Patty; "shall we have our dinner?" + +"I don't believe we'll have any say in the matter," volunteered Elise. +"I think that waxwork butler, and the 'feetmen,' as Rosamond calls them, +will arrange our lives for us, and we'll be simply under orders." + +"What an exciting experience," exclaimed Patty; "to think of us three +American girls, alone except for the servants, in a gorgeous old French +Chateau! I feel as if I must do something to live up to my privileges." + +"Suppose anything should happen that Ma'amselle never came back," +suggested Rosamond; "we could take possession of the place and live here +forever." + +"I don't think much of that plan," declared Patty; "New York is good +enough for me, as a permanent residence. But I do want to do somethink +in keeping with the atmosphere of this place. If there's a dungeon keep +on the premises, I think I'll throw you two girls into it, after having +first bound you in chains." + +"You mean a donjon keep, Patty," said Elise; "you're so careless with +your mediaeval diction." + +A noise in the hall, as of an arrival, startled the girls, and rising +impulsively, they flew out to see what it was all about. + +To their astonishment, they found the footmen holding open the great +front doors, while three stalwart young men entered. + +The middle one, who was partly supported by the other two, had his arm +in a sling, and as he was undoubtedly a Frenchman, the girls were sure +at once that he was no other than the worshipful Henri. + +At sight of the three astonished girls the three young men looked +equally amazed, and whipping off their caps, they made profound bows to +the strangers. + +It was a comical situation, for doubtless Henri had expected to see his +aunt, and was instead confronted by three unmistakably American misses. + +Of the six, quick-witted Patty grasped the situation first. + +"You are Monsieur Henri Labesse, is it not so?" she said, advancing +toward the broken-armed one. + +In her haste and bewilderment, Patty spoke in English, forgetting that +the young man might not understand her native tongue. + +But he answered in English quite as good as her own, though with a +decided French accent, "Yes, Mademoiselle, I am Henri Labesse. I make +you my homage, These are my two friends, Cecil Villere and Philippe +Baring." + +"We are glad to welcome you," said Patty, in her pretty, frank way; +"these are my friends, Mademoiselle Farrington and Mademoiselle Barstow. +We are guests of your aunt." + +"Ah, my aunt!" said Henri, as the other boys acknowledged the +introductions, "where is she? Did she not get my telegram?" + +"She did, indeed," returned Patty, smiling, "and she went flying off to +Paris." + +"But my second telegram; I wired again, saying I would come here." + +"No, she did not get your second telegram,--only the first one +announcing your accident." + +"And she has gone! oh how dreadful! but can we not stop her? Let us send +post haste after her." + +"It's no use," said Elise; "she has been gone about ten minutes, and in +her fast car she is now more than half way to the station." + +"Did you boys come in an automobile?" asked Patty. + +"No," replied Mr. Villere; "we came in a rickety old cab from the +station, and it has gone back." + +Patty's thoughts were flying rapidly. It seemed dreadful to let the old +Ma'amselle go to Paris on a wild-goose chase, when if she could but be +stopped, and brought back home, it would save the long and troublesome +journey and be a delight to them all. + +She not only thought quickly, but she determined to act quickly. + +"Can either of you boys drive an automobile?" she demanded of the two +uninjured guests. + +With voluble lamentations the two confessed their inability in that +direction. + +"Elise," cried Patty, turning upon her a look, which Elise well knew +demanded implicit obedience, "you stay right here and play you're the +hostess of this Chateau, and see that you do it properly. Rosamond, you +come with me!" + +Without a further glance at the astonished young men, without a word to +the pompous butler who was hovering in the background, Patty grasped +Rosamond by the arm and pulled her away with her. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A MOTOR RIDE + + +Bareheaded, and still dragging the astonished Rosamond, Patty rushed +outdoors, into the gathering dusk, and down toward the stables. + +Confronting an astonished groom, she asked him in forcible, if not +entirely correct French, whether there was an assistant chauffeur, or +any groom who could run a motor car. + +She was informed that there was not, that Ma'amselle's chauffeur himself +and the groom who had accompanied him were the only ones in the +establishment who knew anything about automobiles. If Mademoiselle +desired a coach, now? + +But Mademoiselle did not desire a coach, and, moreover, Mademoiselle +seemed to know perfectly well what she did desire. + +Beckoning to the groom, who followed her, she went straight to the +garage where the automobiles were kept. There was a touring car there, +almost the same as the one she had driven that afternoon, and Patty +looked at it uncertainly. + +There was also a small runabout, but that was of a different make, of +which she knew nothing. + +"Get in," she said briefly to the groom, and she pointed to the tonneau. + +Accustomed to implicit obedience, the groom got in, hatless as he was, +and folding his arms stiffly, sat up as straight as if it were a most +usual experience. + +"Hop up in front, Rosamond," went on Patty, "and don't try to stop me, +for I'm going to do exactly this; I'm going to the station and catch +Ma'amselle before she gets on that seven o'clock train. There isn't one- +half second to spare; we can't even get our hats, and if we should stop +to talk it over with anybody, there'd be no use in going at all. Now +hush up, Rosamond, don't say a word to me, I've all I can do to manage +this thing!" + +As Rosamond hadn't said a word, Patty need not have insisted on her +silence. But Patty was so excited that it made her quick of speech and a +little uncertain of temper. + +She started slowly out of the garage, trying to remember exactly the +instructions she had so often received about starting. They went safely +out into the park road, and along toward the porter's lodge. Patty's +heart beat fast as she wondered uncertainly whether the porter would +open the gate for her or not, but she carried off matters with a high +hand, and ordered in the name of Ma'amselle Labesse that the gate be +opened, and it was. Through it they went, and out on to the high road. +Patty put on a higher speed, and they flew along like mad. + +"Now you can speak if you want to, Rosamond," she said in a strained, +tense voice; "or no, perhaps you'd better not, either. There's something +the matter! The engine thumps; but it's all right, I know what to do. If +only the road keeps smooth,--if we come to no ditches,--if we don't +burst a tire! speak to me, Rosamond, do for goodness' sake say +something!" + +"It's all right, Patty," said Rosamond, in a quiet voice, for she knew +that the greatest danger that threatened Patty was her own over- +excitement. "You're all right, Patty; keep on just as you are; be +careful of this down grade, and you can easily take the next hill." + +"Good for you, Rosamond," said Patty, with a really natural laugh; +"you're a brick! My nerves ARE strained, but I won't think of that, I'll +think only of my car. Oh Rosamond, if only the road isn't bad in any +place!" + +"It isn't, Patty, the road is perfect. Steady, now, dear, there's a +motor coming, but you can easily pass it. Don't you reverse or +something?" + +"Keep still, Rosamond, do keep still! I know what to do!" + +Rosamond kept still. + +On they flew, the wind in their faces cutting like a cold blast; their +hair became loosened as it streamed back from their foreheads. + +It was the excitement of danger, and 'way down in their hearts both +girls were enjoying it, though they did not realise it at the moment. +What the statuesque groom who sat up behind felt, nobody will ever know. +He kept his head up straight, and his arms folded, and his face showed a +brave do-or-die expression, though there was nobody to notice it. + +"Oh, Rosamond," Patty went on, still in that breathless, gasping voice, +"if I only knew what time it was. There's no use whizzing at this break- +neck speed if we're not going to make the train after all! If I thought +it would be of any use I'd coast down this hill, but why should we kill +ourselves if we don't accomplish our object?" + +"Patty, don't be a goose!" and again Rosamond's cool, common-sense tones +acted as a dash of cold water on Patty's overstrung nerves. "I'll tell +you what time it is. You keep right on with your knitting, and I can get +out my watch as easily as anything, and the next time we pass a light +I'll inform you the hour." + +Reassured by Rosamond's sense and nonsense, Patty drove steadily on. + +"It's five minutes to seven," announced Rosamond quietly, "but we can +already see the railroad lights in the distance, and besides, the train +is sure to be late. But, Patty, you can't go quite so fast as we get +into the town. You musn't! You'll be arrested!" + +"They can't catch me," cried Patty, as she flew on, "and do keep still, +Rosamond, for goodness' sake keep still!" + +Rosamond smiled to herself at Patty's command to her to keep still, for +she well knew it was merely a nervous exclamation and meant nothing. + +On they went, Patty sounding the horn when it was unnecessary, and +failing to sound it when it was needed, but this made no difference in +their speed. Fortunately they met very few vehicles of any sort, and had +the good luck not to run over any dogs, but as they came in full view of +the station, they saw the train also approaching from the other +direction. + +Patty knew that she had just about time to cross the track, but no more. + +Instead of worrying her, this sudden last responsibility seemed to +steady her nerves, and she said quietly: + +"It's all right, Rosamond. Don't speak, please, we've just time to cross +the track safely,--SAFELY. See, I'll open up the throttle,--just a +little more power,--and here we go, bounding over the track!" + +They seemed to jump over the track, and with a round turn, Patty made +the corner, put on the brake and came to a full stop at the station just +as the funny little French train wheezed in. + +But the girl could do no more; as the car came to a standstill Patty's +hands dropped from the wheel, and she promptly fainted away. + +With no notion of losing the game at the last moment, Rosamond sprang +from the car, calling to the groom to look out for Patty, and then ran, +panting, to the train. + +She grasped the old Ma'amselle as she was about to step on the train, +and forcibly pulled her away. + +Owing to the old lady's angry and excited exclamation at being thus +detained, she could not understand what Rosamond was trying to tell her. + +"Make her comprehend!" she cried to the maid, who was accompanying her +mistress, "make her understand, quick! she must not go to Paris! +Monsieur Henri is at the Chateau!" + +But the French maid could understand no English, and in despair Rosamond +turned to the group of people who had gathered about them. + +Her dignity suddenly returned, and her common sense with it. + +"Will somebody who can talk French," she said, "explain to this lady +that she need not go to the house of her nephew with the broken arm, +because he is already at the Chateau of his aunt." + +The moment she had uttered this sentence, its resemblance to the +Ollendorff exercises struck Rosamond as very funny, and she began to +giggle. + +But the old Ma'amselle at last understood the state of the case, and, +her face beaming with smiles, she turned away from the train and back to +the station. + +Patty had come to herself after her momentary unconsciousness, and was +all right once more, though physically tired from her exciting +exertions. + +Ma'amselle's own chauffeur was overcome with amazement when he learned +what Patty had done, and took off his cap to her, with the air of one +offering homage to a brave heroine. + +As for Ma'amselle, she petted Patty, and cried over her, and thanked +her, and blessed her, to an extent that could not have been exceeded had +Patty saved her from the guillotine. + +Then Patty was packed into the back seat of the big car, with Ma'amselle +on one side of her and Rosamond on the other. And with this precious +freight the chauffeur started off, leaving the groom who had gone with +the first party to bring home the other car. + +Though there was not much talking done on the way home, Ma'amselle held +Patty's hand closely clasped in her own, and the girl felt well repaid +by the old lady's unspoken gratitude for the trouble and danger she had +undergone. + +When they reached home, and Ma'amselle had warmly welcomed her nephew, +there was great to-do over Patty's daring journey. + +"All's well that ends well," said Elise, "but you'll catch it, Patty +Fairfield, when mother hears of your performance. If I had been in +Rosamond's place you would have had to drive that car out over my dead +body!" + +"That's why I didn't take you, Elise," said Patty, laughing; "I knew +you'd raise a terrible row about my going, while Rosamond obeyed my +orders like a meek little lamb." + +"You should at least have let me accompany you, Mademoiselle Fairfield," +said Philippe Baring; "I cannot drive an automobile, I regret to say, +but I might have been a protection for you." + +Patty didn't see any especial way in which Mr. Baring could have +protected her, but she didn't say so, and only thanked him prettily for +his interest in her welfare. + +Henry Labesse was enthusiastic in his admiration and praise of Patty, +and declared that American girls were wonders. + +Ma'amselle was so pleased to think she had been saved a useless trip to +Paris, and to think that she should be able now to spend the evening +with her young guests, and above all, to think that her beloved nephew +was with her, that she hovered around like an excited butterfly from one +to another. + +Then she sent them all away to dress for dinner, which, though belated, +was to be a merry feast. + +And, indeed, it proved so. + +Old Ma'amselle came down first, and stood in the grandest drawing-room +to receive her honoured guests. + +The three boys came next, in their immaculate evening dress, which Henri +had managed to get into in spite of his sling. + +Then came the girls, the three, as usual, walking side by side, with +their arms about each other. They had carried out their plan of red, +white and blue dresses, and made a pretty picture as they entered the +drawing-room, and bowed in unison to their hostess. + +The dinner was especially elaborate as to decorations, and confections +that would please the young people, and the chef had done his very best +to make his part of the occasion a worthy one. + +Henri Labesse proved to be an exceedingly jolly young man, quite +bubbling over with gay spirits and witty sallies He did not hesitate to +joke with his aunt, who, notwithstanding her dignity, was never offended +at her nephew's bantering speeches. + +The other two boys, though a trifle more formal than Henri, and perhaps +a little bit shy, after the manner of very young Frenchmen, were willing +to do their share, and as our three American girls were in the highest +of spirits, the feast was a gay one, indeed. + +Ma'amselle gazed around at her brood with such delight and satisfaction +that she almost forgot to eat. + +Over and over again she wanted it explained to her how Henri had broken +his arm in his gymnasium class, how he had thought he would not be able +to go to St. Germain, and so had telegraphed his aunt to come to him, +and how, later, the doctor had patched him up so that he could go, and +he had followed close upon the heels of a second telegram. + +The delayed message arrived while they were at dinner, and Henri twisted +it up, and lighting it at a candle flame, burned it, saying it was a bad +spirit which had worked them ill, but which should trouble them no more. + +Then Ma'amselle wanted to hear again all about Patty's wonderful ride, +the difficulties she had encountered, the nerve strain she had +experienced, and the help and comfort Rosamond had been to her. + +"And," concluded Patty as she wound up her recital, "I don't want any +one to tell Mrs. Farrington about it, because I want to tell her +myself." + +Elise smiled, for she well knew that Patty's wheedlesome ways would +persuade Mrs. Farrington to look leniently on the episode, although it +had, indeed, been a desperately dangerous piece of business. + +But Ma'amselle Labesse asserted that after she had said what she had to +say to Mrs. Farrington, she knew that Patty would not be reprimanded by +her, but rather be deemed worthy of the Cross of the Legion of Honour. + +Patty smiled at them all, in reality caring little, even if she were +reprimanded. She knew she had done a daring thing, but she had kept her +head, and had come through it safely, and having won, she felt it was +her right to laugh. + +"Are all American girls so brave and fearless?" inquired Mr. Villere. + +"I think most of them are," said Patty, "but you must understand I was +not recklessly daring. I have had many lessons in motoring, and I'm a +fairly expert driver. Of course, everybody is liable to accidents, and I +took my chances on them, but not on my driving." + +"You took chances on losing your head," remarked Rosamond. + +"So did Marie Antoinette," returned Patty saucily, "but you see I fared +better than she did." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A NEW YEAR FETE + + +The next morning was the day of the New Year. As usual, every one did as +he or she chose during the morning hours, but luncheon time brought them +all together again. + +The three boys had been out of doors all the morning, and seemed glad to +return again to the society of the American strangers. + +The girls had been happy enough by themselves, and though they liked the +French boys well enough, had privately agreed that they were not half as +nice as American boys. + +But half a dozen young people, if good-natured and enthusiastic, are +bound to have a merry time together, and as the six grew better +acquainted their national differences wore away somewhat. + +Ma'amselle announced that the fete of the day would be an early evening +party, followed by a supper. + +She had invited the neighbouring gentry, both young and old, as was her +custom on Jour de L'AN, and, as she explained, she was making it "more +of an elaborateness" this year by asking her guests to come in fancy +costumes. + +This delighted the girls, for they all loved dressing up, but they had +no notion where their fancy costumes were to come from. + +But Ma'amselle replied, "It is arranged," and during the afternoon she +led them to a large apartment which she called the Room of the Robes. + +Here she displayed to the enraptured girls costume after costume of +wonderful beauty and magnificence. + +The Labesse line had been a long one, and apparently its ladies had +never worn out or given away any of their robes. Nor its men either, for +there were costumes of knights and courtiers, some of which would surely +fit the three young men at present under the Chateau roof. + +The girls were bewildered at the maze of costumes, and scarcely knew +which to select. + +Finally Patty chose a bewitching Watteau affair, with a short quilted +petticoat, and a looped overdress made of the daintiest flowered silk +imaginable. The petticoat was of white satin, and the overdress of +palest blue, with garlands of pink roses. The pointed bodice laced up +over a dainty neckerchief, and it was further adorned with borders of +pearls. + +Rosamond pounced upon a scarlet and gold brocade, which she declared was +her ideal of a perfect gown. + +Elise found a pink brocatelle, embroidered with silver, and after they +had selected head-dresses, fans, and many accessories to their costumes, +they scurried away to their own rooms to try them on. + +"Aren't we having the time of our life?" exclaimed Rosamond, as she +peacocked about, gazing over her shoulder at her long court train. + +"Yes, indeed," said Patty, with a little sigh of content; "I adore this +dressing-up performance, and really, girls, those boys are quite human +under their French polish." + +"They're not so bad," said Elise, "if only they wouldn't bow so often, +and so exactly like dancing masters." + +"Well, it's all fun," said Patty, "and I'm going to get that awfully +nice Francoise to do my hair. She can make it just like an old French +picture. Would you powder it?" + +"No," said Elise, after a moment's consideration; "the powder shakes off +all over everything and you can't make it really white, anyway; and +besides, Patty, your hair is too pretty a colour to disguise with +powder." + +"Thank you for the compliment, Elise, though a little belated; all +right, then, I'll leave my tow-coloured tresses their natural shade, and +decorate them with strings of pearls and light blue ostrich tips." + +The pearls and feathers and the manipulations of Franchise's artistic +fingers transformed Patty's head into the semblance of an old French +miniature, and even Patty herself cast an approving glance at the pretty +reflection in the gilt-framed mirror. + +The girls were wild with enthusiasm over Patty's appearance, though +truth to tell, their own effects were scarcely less picturesque. + +But Patty's style lent itself peculiarly well to the Watteau dress, and +her little feet with their dainty silk stockings and high-heeled paste- +buckled slippers twinkled beneath the quilted petticoat with all the +grace of a real Watteau picture. + +When they were ready, they walked down stairs, single file, with great +pomp and dignity, to find awaiting them three polished young courtiers, +who might have belonged to the Court of Versailles. + +Ma'amselle herself was scarcely disguised, for in her ordinary costume +she never strayed very far from the styles and materials of her beloved +ancestors. + +But she had on a royal robe, with a great jewelled collar, and strings +of gems depending from her throat. She wore a coronet that had belonged +to some of the ladies of her family, and she seemed more than ever a +chatelaine of a bygone day. + +The rooms were decorated with flowers and plants, in honour of the +occasion, and hundreds of wax lights added to the brilliancy of the +scene. + +An orchestra of stringed instruments played delightful music, and Patty +tried to forget entirely that she lived in the twentieth century, and +pretended that time had been turned back many, many years. + +The guests began to arrive, and though their costumes were of great +variety, they were nearly all of French effects, and quite in harmony +with the scene. Patty did not seem to care much to converse, or even to +dance, but wandered around in a blissful state, enjoying the picturesque +scene. + +"Probably I shall never see anything like this again," she thought to +herself, "and I just want to gaze at it until it is photographed on my +mind forever. Oh, won't it be fun to tell Nan and papa about it!" + +Just then she saw Henri Labesse approaching her. + +"I fear I shall be awkward, Mademoiselle," he said, glancing at his arm +in a sling, "but if you would forgive, and dance with me just once?" + +"Of course I will," said Patty, her kind heart full of sympathy for the +poor fellow. "We can manage quite nicely, I'm sure." + +Henri put his good arm round Patty's waist, and lightly laying her hand +on his shoulder, they glided away. Like most Frenchmen, young Labesse +was a perfect dancer, and as Patty was skilled in the art, they danced +beautifully together and seemed to be in no way impeded by the young +man's broken arm. + +"What a dance!" exclaimed Patty, as the music stopped; "I never met any +one who dances as well as you do. If you dance like that with one arm, +what would do with two ?" + +"All the merit of my dancing was due to my partner," said Henri, with +one of his best bows, "you are like a fluff of thistledown, or a will o' +the wisp. Forgive me, but I had imagined that American ladies danced +like--like automobiles." + +Patty laughed. "If you hadn't already paid me such a pretty compliment," +she said, "I should be angry with you for that speech. But if you wish +to know the truth of the matter, go and dance with Elise and Rosamond, +and then come back and tell me what you think of American dancing." + +Henri went away obediently, leaving Patty to decide among the group of +partners who were begging her for a dance. + +Later on Henri returned. "You are right," he said gravely; "the American +demoiselles are, indeed, divine dancers; but, may I say it? they are yet +not like you. Will you not give me one more turn, and then I must dance +no more to-night; my aunt forbids it, on the absurd score that I'm an +invalid." + +Willingly, Patty danced again with the young man, and as this time it +was a fancy dance, the exquisite grace of the couple soon attracted the +attention of the onlookers. One by one the other couples ceased dancing, +until at last Patty and Henri were alone upon the waxed floor, while the +others looked admiringly on. Inspired by the moment, Patty indulged in +some fancy steps, which were quickly understood and repeated by Henri, +and depending on a whispered word now and then for direction, they +advanced and retreated, bowed and chasseed in an elaborate and exquisite +minuet. + +Henri's disabled arm, so far from being an obstacle to his grace, seemed +to lend a certain quaint dignity to his movements, and in his court +dress he looked like a wounded knight who had returned triumphant from +the tourney, to dance with his fair lady. + +Great applause followed the final figure of their dance, and Henri led +pretty Patty, blushing with the honours heaped upon her, to his aunt. +The old Ma'amselle kissed her dear little friend, and the tears in her +eyes told Patty how much she had enjoyed the scene. + +Then came the feast, which was all gaiety and merriment, and finally, by +general acclamation, Patty was about to be crowned Queen of the New +Year. + +This, however, she would not allow, and taking the crown which was +offered her, she went over and placed it on the white hair of her +hostess, remarking that Ma'amselle was queen, and she herself the first +lady in waiting. + +The picture of pretty Patty as she stood by the side of the regal old +lady, who sat, crowned, in her own chair of state, was worthy of a +painter, and many who saw it wished it might have been transferred to +canvas. + +The festival broke up early, for the old Ma'amselle would not allow late +hours for her children, and as soon as the last guest was gone she sent +them scampering to bed, with strict injunctions for them not to reappear +until noon the next day. + +The next day was ushered in by a dismal, pouring rain, and certain +outdoor pleasures which were planned for the afternoon had to be given +up. + +"But I'll tell you what we will do," announced Patty as they gathered in +the great hall after luncheon, "we'll have an afternoon of American fun, +and we'll show you French boys some tricks you never saw before." + +Having asked permission from Ma'amselle, who would not have refused her +had she asked to build a bonfire on the drawing-room carpet, Patty took +her friends to the kitchen. + +The fat old chef was amazed, but greatly pleased that the American +demoiselles should honour his precincts, and he put himself, his +assistants and all his pantries at their service. + +"First," said Patty, "we're going to have a candy pull." + +The French boys had no notion what a candy pull might be, but they were +more than willing to learn. + +A difficulty arose, however, when Patty undertook to explain to old +Cesar, the CHEF, that she wanted molasses. She didn't know the French +word for molasses, and when she tried SIROP, Cesar affably flew around +and brought her such a variety of SIROPS that she was overwhelmed. Nor +were they of any use to her, for they were merely sweet essences of +various fruits, and nothing like good old New Orleans molasses. + +Cesar was desolate that he could not please Patty, and berated his +assistants down to the scullion for not knowing what the American young +lady wanted. + +As soon as he could for laughter, Henri helped matters out by explaining +that what was desired was MELASSE. + +"Ah! OUI, OUI, OUI!" exclaimed the delighted Cesar, and he sent the +kitchen boys flying for the right thing at last. + +Laughing herself at the absurdity of making molasses candy, with the +assistance of half a dozen French cooks, Patty proceeded to measure out +cupfuls of the treacle and pour it into a skillet. + +She was enchanted with the immaculate purity and spotlessness of the +French kitchen, which even that of a New England housewife cannot rival. + +She had set the boys to cracking nuts and picking them out, and when the +time came, she added butter and a dash of vinegar to her boiling candy, +watched with great interest by Cesar, whose French repertoire did not +include any such strange mess as this. + +After the candy was poured out into the pans, and partly cooled, the +pulling began. + +Patty never liked this part of the performance herself, and she frankly +said so, stating that if the others wanted to pull the taffy she would +show them how. Elise declined, but Rosamond pulled away briskly, using +only the tips of her fingers, and with a practiced touch, until her +portion of candy became of a beautiful cream colour and then almost +white. After watching her a few moments, Cesar caught the trick, and +taking a large panful, pulled and tossed it about with such dexterity +that they all applauded. + +Henri, of course, could not join in the sport, but Philippe and Cecil +undertook it bravely, though, meeting with difficulties, they soon gave +it up. + +"It Is a knack," said Patty, "and though I can do it fairly well, I hate +it because it's so messy. But Cesar is an artist at it, so suppose we +let him do the rest." + +Cesar willingly consented to this plan, and the young people ran away, +leaving him to finish the taffy. + +"Next," said Patty, as after much washing of hands they had again +assembled in the glass parlour, "I'm going to teach you to play bean +bags." + +Elise and Rosamond set up a shout of laughter at this, and the boys +looked politely inquisitive. + +Calling a footman, Patty, who greatly enjoyed the joke of being waited +upon to such an absurd degree, asked him pleasantly to bring her some +beans. She chose her French carefully, designating what she wanted by +the term haricots. + +"Oui, Mademoiselle," said the obsequious footman, hurrying away on his +errand. He quickly returned, bearing a tin of French beans on a silver +tray. + +Patty burst into laughter, and so did the rest of them, though only +Elise and Rosamond knew what the joke was about. + +"Non, Non!" exclaimed Patty, between her peals of laughter; "beans, +beans! oh, wait a minute, I'll tell you, I'll tell you; stop, let me +think!" + +After a moment's hard thought, she triumphantly exclaimed, "Feve!" + +"Oui, oui, oui," exclaimed the footman, comprehendingly, and away he +stalked once more. This time he returned with a large silver dish full +of coffee beans, neither roasted nor ground. + +These Patty accepted with many thanks. "I don't believe," she said, +"that they have real bean-bag beans in this benighted country, and these +will answer the purpose just as well." + +Then again summoning her best French to her aid, she asked the footman +to procure for her some pieces of material--cloth or cotton--and she +indicated the size with her finger, also asking him to bring a work- +basket. Then with an exhausted air she sat back in her chair and waited. + +"Patty, you do beat the Dutch!" said Elise; "you know he can't find such +things." + +"Can't he?" said Patty complacently; "something tells me that that able +footman will return with material for bean-bags." + +The boys were looking on with great amusement, though only half +understanding what it was all about. They understood English, and nearly +all of Patty's French, but BEAN-BAGS was an unknown word to them. + +True to Patty's prophecy the clever footman returned, still grave and +immovable of countenance, but bearing a well-filled work-basket, and a +quantity of pieces of magnificent satin brocades which had been cut in +six-inch squares--that being the size indicated by Patty. + +Patty took them with a gracious air of satisfaction, and rewarded the +footman with thanks in French and a smile in American. + +"Now," she went on calmly, "I shall be pleased to have the assistance of +you two ladies, as I fancy these young men are not any more accustomed +to sewing than to pulling taffy." + +But to her surprise Cecil declared himself an expert needleman, and +proved it by stitching up a bean-bag, under Patty's direction, in most +praiseworthy fashion. + +Each of the girls made one, too, and when they were filled with the +coffee beans, and sewed up, Patty was again overcome by merriment at the +regal appearance of their satin brocaded bean-bags. + +Then into the long hall they went, but alas! the girls could not bring +themselves to toss bean-bags in an apartment so filled with fragile +objects of value. + +In despair Patty again consulted her friend the footman. As soon as he +understood her dilemma, he assured her he would arrange all; and in less +than fifteen minutes he came back to her, almost smiling, and invited +the party to follow him. + +They followed to the picture gallery, where the ingenious man had +carefully placed a number of large, folding Japanese screens in front of +the pictures to protect them from possible harm. + +Patty was delighted at this contrivance, and then followed such a game +of bean-bags as had probably never been seen before in all France. + +The only drawback was that Henri could not take part in this sport, but +as Patty said wisely, "One cannot have everything in France; and, at any +rate, he can eat some of our American taffy, which must be cooled by +this time." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +CYCLAMEN PERFUME + + +It didn't seem possible they had been at the Chateau for a week when the +day came to go home. "It was lovely at St. Germain," said Elise, as they +were once again settled in Paris, "but I'm glad to be back in the city, +aren't you, Patty?" + +"Yes, I am, but I did have a lovely time at the Chateau. I think I like +new experiences, and the memory of them is like a lot of pictures that I +can look back to, and enjoy whenever I choose. I think my mind is +getting to be just like a postcard album, it's so filled with views of +foreign places." + +"Mine is more like a kaleidoscope; it's all in a jumble, and I can't +seem to straighten it out." + +But after a day or two the girls settled down into a fairly steady +routine of home life. They were both interested in their various +lessons, and though there was plenty of work, there was also plenty of +play. + +They did not become acquainted with many French people, but the members +of the American Colony, as it was called, were socially inclined, and +they soon made many friends. + +Then there was much shopping to be done, and Mrs. Farrington seemed +quite as interested in selecting pretty things for Patty as she did for +her own daughter. + +The girls had especially pretty winter costumes of dark cloth, and each +had a handsome and valuable set of furs. In these, with their Paris +hats, they looked so picturesque that Mrs. Farrington proposed they +should have their photographs taken to send to friends at home. + +The taking of the photographs developed into quite a lengthy +performance; for Mrs. Farrington said, that while they were about it, +they might as well have several styles. + +So it resulted in their taking a trunk full of their prettiest dresses +and hats, and spending a whole morning in the photograph gallery. + +"It's really more satisfactory," observed Patty, "to do these things by +the wholesale. Now I don't think I shall have to have photographs taken +again before I'm seventy, at least." + +"You ought to have them at fifty," replied Elise; "you'll be such a +charming middle-aged lady, Patty. A little prim, perhaps, but rather +nice, after all." + +"Thanks for the flattering prospect. I prophesy that when you're fifty, +you'll be a great artist, and you'll look exactly like Rosa Bonheur, and +you'll wear short grey hair and a linen duster. So you'd better have +plenty of photographs taken now, for I don't believe the linen duster +will be very becoming." + +The photographs turned out to be extremely successful, both as +likenesses and as pictures. The girls sent many copies to their friends +in America, and Nan wrote back that she thought the girls ought to hurry +home, or they would become incorrigible Parisiennes. + +Both Elise and Patty thoroughly enjoyed the hours they spent in the +great picture galleries. Although Elise had herself a talent for +painting, Patty had quite as great a love for pictures, and was +acquiring a true appreciation of their value. Sometimes Elise's teacher +would go with them, and sometimes Mr. or Mrs. Farrington. But the girls +liked best to ramble alone together through the Louvre or the +Luxembourg, and although the watchful Lisette walked grimly behind them, +they followed their own sweet will, and often sat for a long time before +their favourite pictures or statues. + +"'The time has come, the Walrus said,'" said Patty one day, "when I +really must hunt up those things for Marian. She made a list of about +fifty things for me to take home to her, and though they're mostly +trifles, I expect some of them will not be very easy to find. Suppose we +start out with that Cyclamen perfumery she wanted. It's a special make, +by a special firm, but I suppose we can find it." + +So that afternoon the girls started on their Cyclamen hunt. Lisette was +to have accompanied them, but she was suffering from a headache, and, +rather than disappoint the girls, Mrs. Farrington said that just for +this once they might go shopping alone in the motor-car with the +chauffeur. + +In great glee the girls started off, and went first to several perfumers +in search of Marian's order. + +But Cyclamen extract, made by Boissier Freres, was not to be found, +although many other French Brothers signed their illustrious names to +Cyclamen extracts, and although the Boissier Freres themselves seemed to +manufacture an essence from every known blossom except Cyclamen. + +"It's no use," said Patty, "to take any other kind, for Marian simply +won't have it, and she'll say that she should think I might have found +it for her. Let's go to the Magasins du Louvre,--they're sure in that +big place to have every kind there is." + +Leaving the motor-car at one of the entrances to the great building, the +girls went in. After following devious directions and tortuous ways, +they found the perfumery counter, and as they had now sufficient command +of the French language to make their wants accurately known, they +inquired for the precious Cyclamen. The affable salesman was at first +quite sure he could supply it, but an exhaustive search failed to bring +forth the desired kind. + +Desolate at his inability to please the young ladies, he informed them +that nowhere could they find the object of their search, unless it might +be at the establishment of the Boissier Freres themselves, which was +across the Seine. + +"Why, yes," cried Patty; "that's just what Marian said. She said I would +have to go across the Seine for it, and I didn't know what she meant. +Let's go, Elise; when I start out to do a thing I do like to succeed." + +"So do I. We'll take the whole afternoon for it, if necessary, but get +that stuff we will." + +The obliging salesman wrote down the address for them, and, taking the +paper with polite thanks, the girls went away. + +But when they reached the street their motorcar was not to be seen. In +vain they looked and waited, but could see nothing of the car or the +chauffeur. They returned to the shop and stood just inside the door, +where they watched and waited a long time. + +"Something must have happened," Patty said at last, "and Jules has taken +the car away to get it fixed. But he ought to have let us know that he +was going. What shall we do, Elise?" + +"I don't know what to do, Patty. I hate to waste this beautiful, bright +afternoon, when we might be doing our shopping and having a good time. +And I'm worried about Jules. The car seemed all right when we left it." + +"Yes; nothing ever happens to that big car. I think Jules has gone away +on purpose. Perhaps he'll never come back." + +"Oh, Patty, I don't know what to do, I'm sure. Let's telephone home." + +"We can try it; but I know the telephone will be out of order. It always +is. I never knew a Paris telephone that wasn't." + +Sure enough, when they tried to telephone, after much delay and many +unsuccessful attempts, they were informed that there was some difficulty +with the wires and that connection with the Farrington house was +impossible. + +The girls returned to their post at the glass-doored entrance and stood +looking out with a discouraged air. Still no car appeared that they +could recognise as their own. + +At last Patty said: "There's no use, Elise, in standing here any longer. +Jules has absconded, or been kidnapped, or something. Now, I'll tell you +what we'll do. Let's take a cab over to this perfumery place and back +again, and then if Jules isn't here waiting for us we'll go right home +in the same cab. I know your mother doesn't let us go in a cab alone, +but this is an emergency, and we have to get home somehow; and while +we're about it we may as well go over to the perfumery place. It isn't +very far." + +"How do you know it isn't far?" + +"Because I know a lot about Paris now, and I know the names of the +streets, and I know just about where it is, and of course the cabman +will know. We can talk French to him and we can act very dignified, and +anyway we'll be back here in fifteen or twenty minutes, so come on." + +Elise was a little doubtful about the matter, but she yielded to Patty's +argument and they went out in the street. Patty stopped a passing cab, +and giving the driver the address, the girls got in. + +As they rolled smoothly along Patty's spirits rose. "You see, we did +just the right thing," she said; "and we'll be back there now before +Jules is." + +On they went, across the Seine and into a strange district, unlike any +they had ever seen before. + +But it was not long before they came to the address written on the +paper. The girls went into the shop and found to their dismay that the +perfumery company was there no longer, but had moved some time since to +another address. + +With great dignity, and fairly good French, Patty inquired the present +address of the firm, and, receiving it, returned to the cab. + +"I'm determined," she said to Elise, "to go on with this thing, now that +I've begun it. I'm going to find that Cyclamen, just because I've made +up my mind to do so." + +The cabman seemed to know the address indicated, and started his horse +off at a jog trot. On they went, farther and farther, and getting into a +more and more disagreeable district. The streets grew narrower, the +houses shabbier, and the people along the streets were noisy and +boisterous. + +Patty did not like to admit it, but she began to wish she had not come, +and Elise was plainly frightened, for the people along the street stared +at the pretty American girls driving about alone in a public conveyance. + +At last Patty said in a low voice: "It's horrid, Elise, and I'm truly +sorry I insisted on coming. Shall we ask the man to go back?" + +"Yes," said Elise; "that is, if you think best. But I hate to go any +farther in this horrid quarter." + +So Patty explained to the driver that they had concluded not to go to +the perfumer's that day, and directed him to take them back to the +Magasins du Louvre. + +But the cabman objected to this proposition, and said they were now not +far from the place they were in search of, and he would go on till they +reached it. + +Patty expostulated, but the cabman was firm in his decision. He was not +impertinent, but he seemed to think that the young ladies were too +easily discouraged, and assured them they would soon reach their +destination. So they went on, and Patty and Elise grew more and more +alarmed as their situation became more unpleasant. It was certainly no +place for them to be, unattended, and the fact that they could not +persuade the cabman to go back dismayed them both. + +But Patty's pluck stood by her. Grasping Elise's hand firmly, she +whispered: "Don't you collapse, Elise! If you cry I'll never forgive +you! Brace up now and help me through. It will be all right if we don't +act afraid." + +"How can I help acting afraid?" said poor Elise, her teeth chattering, +"when I'm s-scared to death!" + +"Don't be scared to death! I tell you there's nothing to be afraid of! +Brace up, I say!" Patty gave Elise's arm such a pinch as to make her +jump, and just then the cab stopped at the establishment of Boissier +Freres. + +It proved to be the right place this time, and the girls went in. Behind +the counter stood a dapper young man, who waited on them obsequiously. +But when he heard Patty's request he said they did not have that essence +in their regular stock and only made it when ordered. + +"Then," said Patty, at the end of her patience, "I'll order some. Will +you make it for me, please?" + +"For that," said the young man, "I must refer you to another department. +You'll have to go to see M. Poirier, who takes such orders." + +"And where shall I find him?" asked Patty. + +The obliging young man began to write down an address. "It is some +distance away," he said, "and not a very accessible place to get to." + +Patty looked at Elise and laughed. "I give it up," she said; "I thought +I could do Marian's errand, but it's proving too much for me!" + +She thanked the young man for the address and put it away in her purse, +with but slight intention of ever using it. She bought a bottle of +another sort of perfumery, and, saying good afternoon, left the shop. + +But when she and Elise regained the sidewalk there was no cab in sight. +They looked in every direction, but could see nothing of it. + +"He can't have gone away," said Patty, "for I haven't paid him." + +"But he has gone away," said Elise; "and oh, Patty, I just remember! I +left my purse on the seat!" + +"Was there much in it?" + +"Yes, a good deal. I haven't done any shopping yet, you know." + +"Well, that explains it. He's gone off with your purse, for he knew that +very likely we didn't have his number, and of course we can never find +him again. Elise, don't you dare to cry! We're in an awful scrape now, +but we'll get out of it somehow if you'll only be plucky about it! Don't +you fail me, and I'll get out of it somehow!" + +Patty's admonitions were none too soon, for Elise was on the very verge +of bursting into tears. But when Patty appealed to her for aid she tried +hard to overcome her fears and be a help instead of a hindrance. + +Patty considered the situation. "I hate to go back into that shop and +ask that young man to call me a cab," she said, "for he was so fawning +and officious that I didn't like his manner a bit. But there doesn't +seem to be anything else to do, for there's no policeman in sight, and +of course no telephone station, and of course it wouldn't work if there +was one, and there's no other place about here that looks as if I dare +go in, and so we must go back and ask that horrid man. Now brace up, +Elise; put on your most haughty air and look as dignified as a duchess." + +[Illustration with caption: "'I just remember! I left my purse on the +seat!'"] + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE BAZAAR + + +Elise tried hard to follow Patty's directions, but she did not represent +a very haughty type of duchess as she tremblingly followed Patty into +the shop. + +But Patty herself held her head high, and assumed the dignity of a whole +line of duchesses as she stalked toward the counter. She chose her +French with much care, and in exceedingly formal diction informed the +young man that she desired to call a cab. + +Without expressing astonishment at this, the young man politely assured +her that he would call a cab for her at once; that it would take some +time to procure one, as there were none save at a considerable distance. + +There being nothing else to do, poor Patty expressed herself as willing +to wait, but coldly desired that all possible haste be made. + +The fifteen minutes that the girls waited was perhaps the most +uncomfortable quarter of an hour they had ever spent in their lives, and +indeed it seemed more like fifteen hours than fifteen minutes. They +scarcely spoke to one another; Patty, feeling the responsibility of the +whole affair, was thinking what she should do in case a cab didn't come, +while Elise was entirely absorbed in her earnest endeavours not to cry. + +But at last a cab appeared and the two girls got in. + +Patty gave the order to drive back to the great shop from which they had +started on their adventure. + +It seemed an interminable distance through the unpleasant streets, but +when at last they reached the Magasins du Louvre and drew up to the +entrance Elise gave a delighted cry, and said: "Oh, there's our car, and +Jules in it!" + +The car was across the street, and the chauffeur sat with his arms +folded, in an attitude of patient waiting. The girls got out of the cab, +Patty paid the cabman, and as they beckoned to Jules, he started the car +across the street toward them. + +"Where have you been?" inquired Elise, in a reproving tone. + +But the chauffeur declared that he had sat the whole afternoon in that +one spot, waiting for the young ladies. + +When Elise said that they had come to the door and looked for him in +vain, he only asseverated that he had not moved from the spot opposite +the entrance, but had been there all the time watching the door for +their reappearance. + +As she had never known Jules to be untruthful, Elise was bewildered at +this statement, but presently a light dawned on Patty. + +"I see, Elise," she cried; "it's the other entrance! The doors are +almost exactly the same! This is the one where we went in, but we came +out at the door on the other street, and we were such idiots we didn't +know the difference!" + +"And we flattered ourselves that we knew Paris!" exclaimed Elise. "Well, +Patty, let's go home. We're not fit to be trusted out alone." + +So home the girls went, feeling decidedly light-hearted that they were +so well out of their scrape. + +Patty went at once to Mrs. Farrington and gave her an exact narrative of +the whole affair. She took all the blame on herself, and it was +rightfully hers, saying that she had persuaded Elise against her will to +go in the cab across the Seine to the perfumer's. + +Mrs. Farrington laughed at Patty's extremely penitential air, and said: +"My dear child, don't take it quite so seriously. You're not to blame +for mistaking the doors. That big shop is very confusing, and after +waiting for Jules, and telephoning, and all that, you did quite right to +take a cab, as it was really an emergency. But you did not do right to +go exploring an unfamiliar quarter of Paris on an uncertain errand. +However, you certainly had punishment enough in your bewilderment and +anxiety, and I think you have learned your lesson, and nothing more need +be said about it." + +Nothing more was said about it by way of reprimand, but many times Patty +was joked by the Farrington family, and often when she started out +anywhere was advised not to try to buy Cyclamen perfumery. + +Toward the end of January the Van Ness girls came to call. They had +returned to Paris as they expected, and were truly glad to see Patty and +Elise again. + +"We've had a lovely trip," Doris declared; "but we're awfully glad to +get back to Paris. And oh, girls, I want to tell you about a plan in +which we're awfully interested. There's a poor girl, an American, and +her name is Leila Hunt." + +"Let me tell," broke in Alicia; "she's an art student, and she's trying +to support herself in Paris while she studies. And the other day we were +walking through the Louvre, and we saw her there." + +"Copying a picture," chimed in Doris. + +"Yes, copying a picture," went on Alicia; "and she was so faint, because +she doesn't have enough to eat, you know, that she fell off the stool +and fainted away from sheer exhaustion." + +"How dreadful!" cried Patty; "can't we help her?" + +"That's just it," said Doris; "we want to help her, and we're getting up +a bazaar for her benefit. But she mustn't know it, for she's awfully +proud, and wouldn't like it a bit." + +"You know her personally, then?" asked Elise. + +"Yes; we hunted up her address and went to see her, and the poor thing +is so weak and thin, but awfully brave and plucky. And papa says he'll +give some money, and I thought perhaps Mr. Farrington would, too; and +then we thought it might help to have a bazaar and make some money that +way, and then we'll send it to her anonymously, for I don't believe +she'd take it any other way." + +Rosamond Barstow was present at this conversation, and she said: "I +think it's a lovely plan, and I'll be glad to help. Where are you going +to hold the bazaar?" + +"That's the trouble," said Alicia; "we don't know any place that's just +right. You see, we're at a hotel, and a bazaar in a hotel is so public. +I suppose there isn't room in this house?" + +"No," said Elise; "there are plenty of rooms, but no one is big enough +for an affair of that kind." + +"But we have one," exclaimed Rosamond eagerly. "Our house has an immense +ballroom. We almost never use it, but it would be just the place for a +bazaar." + +"Would your people like to have us use it?" + +"Oh, yes; mother lets me do anything I like. And, anyway, she'll be +awfully glad to help an American girl--you said an American girl, didn't +you?" + +"Yes, Miss Hunt is from New England. Oh, it will be lovely if we can +have the bazaar in your house, and all the American colony will come, +and we'll make a lot of money." + +The plan was laid before Mrs. Farrington, who entirely approved of it, +and then the five girls went over to Rosamond's to ask Mrs. Barstow's +consent, and to look at the ballroom. + +Mrs. Barstow was greatly pleased with the idea and consented at once +that the bazaar should be held in the ballroom, and she went with the +girls to look at the big apartment and to make plans. + +As the Van Ness party were only to remain in Paris a week, it was +necessary that the affair should be arranged speedily and the plan +quickly carried out. + +Mrs. Van Ness, Mrs. Farrington, and Mrs. Barstow were to be patronesses, +but the girls, the two Van Ness boys, and Martin Barstow were to do the +actual work and make all arrangements. + +It was a somewhat original scheme of entertainment, and as Alicia +described it the rest all agreed that it would be great fun. + +It was to last only one afternoon, from three to six, and it was called +the "Bazaar of Arts and Manufactures." + +The girls called upon many members of the American colony and asked them +to donate material of any kind, such as silks, satins, ribbons, fancy +paper, materials or fabrics of any sort. + +They responded generously, and also gave many articles to be sold at the +bazaar, and promised to send contributions for the refreshment room. + +The boys declared that their part was the decoration of the ballroom, +and they not only ornamented the room, but built various little booths +and arranged such counters and tables as were needed. + +When the day of the bazaar came nobody knew quite what the entertainment +was to be, but were prepared for an original amusement of some kind. + +After a large crowd of people had assembled Guy Van Ness mounted a +platform and announced that there would now be held a contest of arts +and manufactures. Everybody present, on the payment of a certain sum, +would be allowed to compete, and prizes were offered to the successful +competitors in each department. + +Then, greatly to the amusement of the audience, he announced that the +various achievements arranged for were such easily accomplished feats as +the trimming of hats, the painting of pictures, modelling in clay, +making paper flowers, and various other arts and handicrafts, among +which each might select a preference. + +After every competitor had qualified, and was fully prepared to begin, a +gong would be sounded. Exactly at the end of a half hour another gong +would sound, when every one must cease at once, whether the work was +finished or not. + +As soon as the guests thoroughly understood what they were to do great +interest was displayed and competitors were rapidly entered for the +different contests. + +Those who were artists took their places at a table provided with water +colors, oil paints, pastels, and drawing materials. The clay modellers +were at another table, with ample provision for their art. + +Many ladies who declared they had no talents prepared to trim hats. All +sorts of material, such as velvet, lace, flowers, feathers, and ribbons +were provided, as well as the untrimmed shapes. + +In another booth ladies prepared to make Japanese kimonos or dressing- +jackets, and in another booth were materials for paper flowers. + +There was a burnt-wood outfit and sets of woodcarvers' tools, and Robert +Van Ness declared that he knew he could take the prize for whittling. + +Another booth held crepe paper for lampshades or other fancy work, and +it was not long before every one had selected an occupation and was +prepared to begin work. + +Elise, of course, was going to draw a picture, and Patty concluded she +would trim a hat. + +As it neared the time, Patty threaded her needle and put on her thimble, +but was not allowed to touch her material until the signal was given. + +Henri Labesse was at the bazaar, and though his arm was still a little +stiff, he entered the competition and was to model a figure of clay. + +The gong struck, and everybody flew madly at their work, anxious to +complete it within the half hour. + +Elise, who was methodical, began her drawing as slowly and carefully as +if she had the whole day for it, reasoning to herself that she would +rather hurry the finishing than the beginning. + +Patty, on the other hand, dashed impatiently at her hat-trimming, +pinning things on here and there, thinking she would sew them if she had +time, and if not they could stay pinned. + +Both the Van Ness girls were making paper lamp-shades, and Rosamond was +already well along on a picturesque Japanese kimono. She sewed up the +breadths like a wind-mill, and whipped on the bordering rapidly, but +with strong, firm stitches. + +She would easily have taken the prize in her department, but the girls +had agreed among themselves that they would accept no prizes, even if +they won them. + +When the gong struck at the close of the half hour some of the work was +still unfinished, but most of the articles were completed. And it was +indeed marvellous to see what could be done by people working at their +utmost speed. + +Elise's picture was charming, and Patty's hat was among the prettiest. +Competent judges awarded the prizes, and then the articles, whether +finished or unfinished, were sold at auction. And they brought large +prices, for many of them were well worth having; and, too, the buyers +were quite ready to give liberally in aid of the worthy charity. + +Henri Labesse had made a clay model of an American girl, which was a gem +in its characteristic effect and its skilful workmanship. It was not +quite finished, but of course was offered at auction along with the +other things. + +There was lively bidding for the little figure, as everybody seemed to +recognise its artistic value. But, after being bidden up to a high +price, it was finally sold to a young man who, it turned out, was merely +acting as an agent for Henri Labesse himself. He had instructed this +young man to buy the figure in at any price, with a result that a goodly +sum went into the charitable treasury. + +After receiving his own work back again Mr. Labesse took it across to +where Patty sat, and begged her acceptance of it, adding that he would +take it home and complete it before sending it to her. + +Patty was delighted to have the little statuette as a souvenir of the +occasion, and also as a memento of Mr. Labesse, whom she thoroughly +liked. + +The rest of the afternoon was spent in serving ices and cakes and fruit +to the patrons of the bazaar, and after it was all over the girls were +delighted to find that they had realised about twice as much money as +they had hoped for. + +Alicia Van Ness was ecstatic, and declared it would make Miss Hunt +independent, and free of all financial worry during the rest of her term +in the art school. And as it was to be sent to her without a hint as to +its source, she could not refuse to accept it. + +"I do think it was lovely of those Van Ness girls," said Patty, as they +discussed the bazaar at dinner-time, "to do all that for a perfect +stranger." + +"I do, too," said Elise; "they're awfully good-hearted girls. When I +first met them I didn't like them much; they were so unconventional in +their manners. But travelling about has improved them, and they +certainly are generous and kind-hearted." + +"Yes, they are," said Patty; "and I like them, anyway. I'm sorry they +are going away from Paris so soon." + +"Well, I'm glad we're not going away," said Elise; "at any rate, not +just yet. How much longer do you suppose we shall stay here, mother?" + +"I don't know, my child; but I'm getting about ready to go home. What do +you think, Patty?" + +"Since you ask me, I must confess I should like to stay a while longer. +But if you're going home, Mrs. Farrington, I feel pretty sure we shall +all travel on the same boat." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A SURPRISE + + +But nothing more was said about going home, and the weeks slipped by +until it was March. + +Everything seemed to be winding itself up. Patty's music term was +finished; Elise's drawing lessons were nearing their close for the +season, and Mrs. Farrington, though she said nothing about going home, +somehow seemed to be quietly getting ready. + +Patty didn't exactly understand the attitude of her hostess. If she were +going home soon, Patty wanted to know it; and one day she laughingly +said so. + +"I suppose," said Mrs. Farrington, looking at her quizzically, "it's not +unnatural that you should want to know when you're going to see your +native land again; but truly, Patty, I cannot tell you. I'll promise you +this, though: to-morrow you'll know more about it than you do to-day." + +Patty was mystified at this, for Mrs. Farrington's tone was even more +enigmatical than her words. + +"And wait a minute, girls," said Mrs. Farrington, as they were about to +go to their rooms to dress for dinner; "put on your pretty new dresses +to-night, will you?" + +"Why, mother?" said Elise in astonishment; "those are company gowns, and +there's no company here!" + +"No, there's no company here, but put them on, as I tell you. I want to +see how they look." + +"I don't see what's the matter with mother," said Elise, as they went +upstairs; "she's been restless and fidgety all day. And now the idea of +telling us to put on those new frocks!" + +"I just as lieve do it," said Patty; "they're awfully pretty ones, and I +want to see how they look myself." + +When the girls went downstairs they found Mrs. Farrington already in the +drawing-room. + +She herself wore a more elaborate toilette than usual, and there seemed +to be an extra abundance of flowers and lights. + +"What is the matter?" said Elise. "There's something about the +atmosphere of this house that betokens a party; but I don't see any +party. Is there any party, mother?" + +"I don't see any, my child," said Mrs. Farrington, smiling. + +"Where's father?" asked Elise. + +"He's out," said her mother; "we're waiting for dinner until he comes." + +Just then a ring was heard at the front door-bell. + +"There's your father now," said Mrs. Farrington abruptly; "Patty, my +dear, won't you run up to my bedroom and get me my vinaigrette?" + +"Why, you have it on, Mrs. Farrington," said Patty, in surprise; "it's +hanging from your chatelaine." + +"Oh, yes, of course; so it is! But I mean my other one--my gold one. Oh, +no; I don't want two vinaigrettes, do I? I mean, won't you run up and +get me a handkerchief?" + +"Why, mother!" exclaimed Elise, in surprise; "ring for Lisette, or at +least let me go. Don't send Patty." + +"No, I want Patty to go," said Mrs. Farrington decidedly. "Please go, my +child, and get me a handkerchief from the drawer in my dressing-table. +Get the one that is fourth from the top, in the second pile." + +"Certainly," said Patty, and she ran upstairs, wondering what whim +possessed her hostess to send her guest, though ever so willing, on her +errand. + +Patty had some little difficulty in finding the right handkerchief, in +spite of the explicit directions, and when she again reached the +drawingroom Mr. Farrington was there, and both he and his wife were +smiling broadly. Elise, too, seemed overcome with merriment, and Patty +paused in the doorway, saying: "What is the matter with you people? +Please let me into the joke, too!" + +"Do you want to know what is the matter?" asked Mrs. Farrington, as she +took the handkerchief from Patty's hand. "Well, go and look behind those +curtains, and see what's in the alcove." + +"I suppose," said Patty, as she deliberately walked the length of the +long drawing-room, "you've been buying the Venus of Milo, and it's just +been sent home, and you've set it up here behind these curtains. Well, I +shall be pleased to admire it, I'm sure!" + +She drew the crimson curtains apart, and right before her, instead of a +marble statue, stood her father and Nan! + +Then such an exciting time as there was! + +Patty threw her arms around them both at once, and everybody was +laughing, and they all talked at the same time, and Patty understood at +last why they had been directed to put on their new dresses. + +"Can it be possible that this is my little girl!" exclaimed Mr. +Fairfield, as he drew Patty down up on his knee, quite as he used to +when she was really a little girl. + +"Nonsense!" cried Nan; "you haven't changed a bit, Patty, except to grow +about half an inch taller, and to be wearing a remarkably pretty dress." + +"And you people haven't changed a bit, either," declared Patty; "and oh, +I'm SO glad to see you!" + +She flew back and forth from one of her parents to the other, pinching +them, to make sure, as she said, that they were really there. + +"And now tell me all about it," she said, looking at the others; "did +you all know they were coming?" + +"No," said Mrs. Farrington; "Mr. Farrington and I have known it for some +weeks, but we didn't dare tell Elise, for she's such a chatterbox she +never could have kept the secret, and we wanted so much to surprise +you." + +"Well, you HAVE surprised me," said Patty; "and it's the loveliest +surprise I ever had. Oh, what fun it will be to take you benighted +people around to see Paris." + +So Elise declared it was a party after all, and the dinner was a very +merry one, and the whole evening was spent in gay chatter about the +winter just past, and making plans for the summer to come. + +Patty didn't gather very definitely what these plans were, but she soon +learned that Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield had come to Paris really to get her, +and then they were going on to London; and where else, Patty neither +knew nor cared. + +The Farringtons were to return soon to America, and so the whole change +of outlook was so sudden that Patty was bewildered. + +"You look as if you didn't quite know yet what has happened," said Mr. +Fairfield to Patty, as the whole party stood in the hall saying their +good-nights. + +"I don't, papa," said Patty; "but I'm very happy. I've had a delightful +winter, and Mr. and Mrs. Farrington have been most beautifully kind, and +Elise is just the dearest chum in the world; but you know, papa, home is +where the heart is, and my heart belongs just to you and Nan, and so now +I feel that I am home again at last." + +"And we're mighty glad to have you, little girl, again in our heart and +home. It was pretty lonesome without you all winter in New York. But now +we're all three together again, and we'll help each other enjoy the good +time that's coming." + +"It seems too good to be true," said Patty, as she kissed her parents +good-night, and ran away to all sorts of happy dreams. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Patty in Paris, by Carolyn Wells + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATTY IN PARIS *** + +This file should be named pttyp10.txt or pttyp10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, pttyp11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, pttyp10a.txt + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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