CHAPTER XVII
A MOTOR RIDE
Bareheaded, and still dragging the astonished Rosamond, Patty rushedoutdoors, into the gathering dusk, and down toward the stables.
Confronting an astonished groom, she asked him in forcible, if notentirely correct French, whether there was an assistant chauffeur, orany groom who could run a motor car.
She was informed that there was not, that Ma'amselle's chauffeurhimself and the groom who had accompanied him were the only ones in theestablishment who knew anything about automobiles. If Mademoiselledesired a coach, now?
But Mademoiselle did not desire a coach, and, moreover, Mademoiselleseemed to know perfectly well what she did desire.
Beckoning to the groom, who followed her, she went straight to thegarage where the automobiles were kept. There was a touring car there,almost the same as the one she had driven that afternoon, and Pattylooked at it uncertainly.
There was also a small runabout, but that was of a different make, ofwhich 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 mostusual 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 catchMa'amselle before she gets on that seven o'clock train. There isn'tone-half second to spare; we can't even get our hats, and if we shouldstop 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 tomanage this thing!"
As Rosamond hadn't said a word, Patty need not have insisted on hersilence. But Patty was so excited that it made her quick of speech anda little uncertain of temper.
She started slowly out of the garage, trying to remember exactly theinstructions she had so often received about starting. They went safelyout into the park road, and along toward the porter's lodge. Patty'sheart beat fast as she wondered uncertainly whether the porter wouldopen the gate for her or not, but she carried off matters with a highhand, and ordered in the name of Ma'amselle Labesse that the gate beopened, 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'ssomething the matter! The engine thumps; but it's all right, I knowwhat to do. If only the road keeps smooth,--if we come to noditches,--if we don't burst a tire! speak to me, Rosamond, do forgoodness' sake say something!"
"It's all right, Patty," said Rosamond, in a quiet voice, for she knewthat the greatest danger that threatened Patty was her ownover-excitement. "You're all right, Patty; keep on just as you are; becareful 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 inany place!"
"It isn't, Patty, the road is perfect. Steady, now, dear, there's amotor coming, but you can easily pass it. Don't you reverse orsomething?"
"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; theirhair became loosened as it streamed back from their foreheads.
It was the excitement of danger, and 'way down in their hearts bothgirls were enjoying it, though they did not realise it at the moment.What the statuesque groom who sat up behind felt, nobody will everknow. He kept his head up straight, and his arms folded, and his faceshowed a brave do-or-die expression, though there was nobody to noticeit.
"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 thisbreak-neck speed if we're not going to make the train after all! If Ithought it would be of any use I'd coast down this hill, but why shouldwe kill ourselves if we don't accomplish our object?"
"Patty, don't be a goose!" and again Rosamond's cool, common-sensetones acted as a dash of cold water on Patty's overstrung nerves. "I'lltell you what time it is. You keep right on with your knitting, and Ican get out my watch as easily as anything, and the next time we pass alight 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 canalready see the railroad lights in the distance, and besides, the trainis sure to be late. But, Patty, you can't go quite so fast as we getinto 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, forshe well knew it was merely a nervous exclamation and meant nothing.
On they went, Patty sounding the horn when it was unnecessary, andfailing to sound it when it was needed, but this made no difference intheir speed. Fortunately they met very few vehicles of any sort, andhad the good luck not to run over any dogs, but as they came in fullview of the station, they saw the train also approaching from the otherdirection.
Patty knew that she had just about time to cross the track, but no more.
Instead of worrying her, this sudden last responsibility seemed tosteady her nerves, and she said quietly:
"It's all right, Rosamond. Don't speak, please, we've just time tocross the track safely,--SAFELY. See, I'll open up the throttle,--justa little more power,--and here we go, bounding over the track!"
They seemed to jump over the track, and with a round turn, Patty madethe corner, put on the brake and came to a full stop at the stationjust as the funny little French train wheezed in.
But the girl could do no more; as the car came to a standstill Patty'shands dropped from the wheel, and she promptly fainted away.
With no notion of losing the game at the last moment, Rosamond sprangfrom 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 thusdetained, she could not understand what Rosamond was trying to tell her.
"Make her comprehend!" she cried to the maid, who was accompanying hermistress, "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 despairRosamond 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 ladythat 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 theOllendorff exercises struck Rosamond as very funny, and she began togiggle.
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 backto the station.
Patty had come to herself after her momentary unconsciousness, and wasall right once more, though physically tired from her excitingexertions.
Ma'amselle's own chauffeur was overcome with amazement when he learnedwhat Patty had done, and took off his cap to her, with the air of oneoffering homage to a brave heroine.
As for Ma'amselle, she petted Patty, and cried over her, and thankedher, and blessed her, to an extent that could not have been exceededhad Patty saved her from the guillotine.
Then Patty was packed into the back seat of the big car, withMa'amselle on one side of her and Rosamond on the other. And with thisprecious freight the chauffeur started off, leaving the groom who hadgone with the first pa
rty to bring home the other car.
Though there was not much talking done on the way home, Ma'amselle heldPatty's hand closely clasped in her own, and the girl felt well repaidby the old lady's unspoken gratitude for the trouble and danger she hadundergone.
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, PattyFairfield, when mother hears of your performance. If I had been inRosamond's place you would have had to drive that car out over my deadbody!"
"That's why I didn't take you, Elise," said Patty, laughing; "I knewyou'd raise a terrible row about my going, while Rosamond obeyed myorders like a meek little lamb."
"You should at least have let me accompany you, MademoiselleFairfield," said Philippe Baring; "I cannot drive an automobile, Iregret to say, but I might have been a protection for you."
Patty didn't see any especial way in which Mr. Baring could haveprotected her, but she didn't say so, and only thanked him prettily forhis 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 toParis, and to think that she should be able now to spend the eveningwith her young guests, and above all, to think that her beloved nephewwas with her, that she hovered around like an excited butterfly fromone 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-roomto receive her honoured guests.
The three boys came next, in their immaculate evening dress, whichHenri had managed to get into in spite of his sling.
Then came the girls, the three, as usual, walking side by side, withtheir arms about each other. They had carried out their plan of red,white and blue dresses, and made a pretty picture as they entered thedrawing-room, and bowed in unison to their hostess.
The dinner was especially elaborate as to decorations, and confectionsthat would please the young people, and the chef had done his very bestto make his part of the occasion a worthy one.
Henri Labesse proved to be an exceedingly jolly young man, quitebubbling over with gay spirits and witty sallies He did not hesitate tojoke with his aunt, who, notwithstanding her dignity, was neveroffended at her nephew's bantering speeches.
The other two boys, though a trifle more formal than Henri, and perhapsa little bit shy, after the manner of very young Frenchmen, werewilling to do their share, and as our three American girls were in thehighest of spirits, the feast was a gay one, indeed.
Ma'amselle gazed around at her brood with such delight and satisfactionthat she almost forgot to eat.
Over and over again she wanted it explained to her how Henri had brokenhis arm in his gymnasium class, how he had thought he would not be ableto 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, andhe had followed close upon the heels of a second telegram.
The delayed message arrived while they were at dinner, and Henritwisted it up, and lighting it at a candle flame, burned it, saying itwas a bad spirit which had worked them ill, but which should troublethem no more.
Then Ma'amselle wanted to hear again all about Patty's wonderful ride,the difficulties she had encountered, the nerve strain she hadexperienced, and the help and comfort Rosamond had been to her.
"And," concluded Patty as she wound up her recital, "I don't want anyone to tell Mrs. Farrington about it, because I want to tell hermyself."
Elise smiled, for she well knew that Patty's wheedlesome ways wouldpersuade Mrs. Farrington to look leniently on the episode, although ithad, indeed, been a desperately dangerous piece of business.
But Ma'amselle Labesse asserted that after she had said what she had tosay to Mrs. Farrington, she knew that Patty would not be reprimanded byher, 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 werereprimanded. She knew she had done a daring thing, but she had kept herhead, and had come through it safely, and having won, she felt it washer 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 wasnot recklessly daring. I have had many lessons in motoring, and I'm afairly expert driver. Of course, everybody is liable to accidents, andI 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 faredbetter than she did."