Part 15 (1/2)

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 gla.s.s-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 companions.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+ning 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 grat.i.tude 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 alb.u.m.