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