CHAPTER XII
PATTY AND PETER
IT was the day before the Fairfields were to leave Rome.
Patty and Peter Homer sat on one of the upper flights of the Spanish Steps, waiting for Flo and Snippy, who were in a neighbouring shop.
The beginning of the sunset hour cast a warm, happy light, and Patty, who was very sensitive to the peculiar charms of this most delightful part of Rome, was gazing at the beautiful staircase that seemed to ripple down from the Church of Trinita dei Monti to the fountain below.
Peter had called her attention before to the construction of these steps, and she had learned to love the wonderful effect as they separated and joined again, like a cascading river.
“Why is it that steps are so beautiful?” she said to Peter, who was also enjoying the view.
“Not exactly because they are steps,” he replied. “A flight of stairs is not necessarily beautiful. But when designed by a master mind, with knowledge of architectural effect and symmetry, they can be made to express a great deal. But don’t try too hard to understand, just look at it all, and wonder.”
“I do. And I shall always remember this, my last afternoon in Rome, sitting here in the sunset——”
“With me,” interrupted Peter.
“Yes, with you. I have to thank you for much of my pleasure in Rome. Without what you have told me and taught me, I should not have known anything about the real Rominess of Rome.”