CHAPTER XV
GOOD-BY TO FLORENCE
MR. Fairfield was not at all displeased to learn that the two girls had gone to the Royal Palace with the Italian men, for he trusted to Carlo’s notions of propriety, and was quite willing to abide by his decisions. But Snippy was less agreeable about it, and declared that hereafter she should go with Miss Flo wherever she went, headache or no headache.
“Now don’t be stuffy, Snip,” said Flo, in reply. “In the first place I don’t care tuppence for those two native gallants, for I can’t talk to them, and when I do, they misunderstand me.”
But the two young Italians seemed much attracted by the whole Fairfield party, and nearly every day after that they dropped in to tea, or invited them to go on little excursions, or brought small gifts to Nan and the girls.
By degrees, too, Patty and Flo picked up a few Italian phrases, and after a time were able to make some slight attempts at conversation, which greatly delighted the two men.
So really they added not a little to the pleasures of the Fairfields’ stay in Florence, and when the time came for them to leave the Italian gentlemen were quite inconsolable.
As a parting favour they begged that the whole Fairfield party would lunch with them on their last day in Florence. This invitation was accepted, and a delightful excursion was arranged to the Cascine. Mr. Fairfield stipulated for an early luncheon, as their train left for Venice at four, and he did not wish to be hurried at the last moment.
“I hate to take an afternoon train, anyway,” he said to Nan. “I like to start in the morning, and reach our destination in the afternoon. But leaving Florence at four, we won’t reach Venice until ten or after.”
“Well, it doesn’t really matter,” said Nan, “and the girls are so anxious to go to this fête of Signor Grimaldi’s.”