The time on shipboard passed all too quickly.
Each day was crammed full of various amusements and occupations, and
Patty and Elise enjoyed it all thoroughly.
Although the majority of passengers were French, yet they nearly all spoke English, and there were a number of Americans and English people, who proved to be pleasant and companionable.
The young people from Chicago seemed to wear well, and as she grew to know them better Patty liked them very much. The Van Ness girls, though breezy in their manner, were warm-hearted and good-natured, and their boy cousins were always ready for anything, and proved themselves capable of good comradeship.
The English girl, Florrie Nash, Patty could not quite understand. Florrie seemed to be willing to be friends, but there was a coldness and reserve about her nature that Patty could not seem to penetrate.
As she expressed it to Elise, "Florrie never seems herself quite certain whether she likes us or we like her."
"Oh, it's only her way," said Elise; "she doesn't know how to chum, that's all."
But Patty was not satisfied with this, and determined to investigate the matter.
"Come for a walk," she said, tucking her arm through Florrie's one morning. "Let's walk around the deck fifty times all by ourselves. Don't you want to?"
"Yes, if you like;" and Florrie walked along by Patty's side, apparently willing enough, but without enthusiasm.