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."