The affair of luggage did not detain them long and soon they were whirling through the streets in the carriage, Mercedes exclaiming first in broken English, then in Spanish. “How is wondherful the large high build,” she said. “Ah, mucha gente! mucha gente! Is very many person, yes?”
“Did you have a good voyage?” Nan asked her.
“Ah, but yes, I think good. I am at a time a sickness not to go the table, but I am soon recover. How I have the pleasure of see you.” She laid a hand affectionately on an arm of each girl friend. “When my mother say me, Mercedes I permit the to go, I am make a scream of joy. I spik Eenglis, yes?”
“Oh, you have learned much,” Mary Lee told her.
“We have this year an Eenglis mees who is tich us. My sisther and I have progress, she say. I say my sisther when I am return I spik more better as before and I tich her.”
“You will learn very fast here, for you will hear only English, and it is the best way to be among those who speak a language if one would learn,” Nan told her.
“Ah, yes, but is very diffikewlt ondtherstandth what is say. I wish you spik me very slow. When is rapide I cannot.”
“We will try to speak very slowly, for we know how hard it is to understand a strange language unless it is spoken slowly,” said Nan. “I hope you will like New York.”
“How large and fine is. Paris is also fine. I like Paris much, as also I will like much New York to see how gay. A marriage it will be gay also. My cousin, I bring the lace for you to wear.”
“And there is such a pretty frock waiting for you,” Mary Lee told her. “Your mother is well and all our friends?”