Books: Patty in Paris
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Carolyn Wells >> Patty in Paris
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"'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."
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