IT was simply pouring sunlight when the Wonderers set off next morning.
They started early, for as they all agreed, luncheon time in Rome comes sooner than anywhere else.
They went in a large omnibus sort of affair which held them all.
Snippy accompanied them, for the simple reason that she wouldn’t remain behind; but as she was a most amiable person, except when reprimanding her young charge, nobody objected to her presence.
Milly Mills was the only unwelcome member of the party. It did seem as if that girl was never in a good humour. If it looked cloudy, she feared rain; if the sun shone, it hurt her eyes. The omnibus was too jolty, too shut-in, too slow-going. Nothing pleased her and she pleased nobody. But Patty felt sorry for the girl, for she really had no one to take her about, so it was decided that she was to go with the Wonderers whenever she chose. The young men politely tried to entertain her, but she met their advances with a cold negligence, or a sharp retort, and thus discouraged their well-meant efforts.
But the irrepressible gaiety of the others could not be seriously impaired by one unhappy nature, so the fun and chatter went gaily on as the old vehicle lumbered along.
“Of course,” said Lancaster, “if this chariot should follow the example of the One-hoss Shay, and go to pieces all at once, I suppose we could walk the rest of the way.”
“The rest of the way to where?” asked his sister.
“Why, to wherever we’re going. Where are we going, anyway?”
“We’re going to St. Peter’s,” said Patty, firmly. “I’m president, and that’s my decree.”