Part 7 (1/2)
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 pa.s.sage 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 s.h.i.+p 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 b.u.t.tons 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 a.s.sistance 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 pa.s.sengers 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 embarra.s.s her. Lisette, of course, was a great admirer of pretty Patty, and was only too glad to be of a.s.sistance 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 pa.s.sengers 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 fas.h.i.+on, 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 ma.s.ses 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 gla.s.ses.
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.”