The proprietor of the hotel also reassured Mr. Fairfield.
“You are going to the Royal Danieli Hotel, in Venice,” he said, “and have your rooms engaged. Well, they will meet you on your arrival, not only with gondolas, but with motorboats and steam launches, and I assure you, you will have not the least care or responsibility. Also, the whole place will be as bright as day.”
So it was arranged, and the day before the party Flo and Patty packed their trunks and had everything in readiness. Also, on the day before the party, Nan received a telegram from a friend of hers, who was passing through Venice, and who urged her to come on that day, in order that they might meet.
Nan was greatly disappointed not to see her friend, but she positively refused to let them all leave a day earlier, and thus deprive Flo and Patty of their anticipated pleasure.
Patty insisted that they should do this, but Nan wouldn’t agree, and at last Patty said:
“Well, I’ve an idea. You and father go on to Venice to-day, by the noon train. Then we’ll stay here for the party to-morrow, and Snippy can take us to Venice quite well afterward.”
This sounded plausible, but Mr. Fairfield said: “Here’s a better plan still. Let Snippy and Nan go to Venice to-day, thus travelling by daylight, and I’ll stay here with you two girls, and take you to Venice after your luncheon party to-morrow. If any of us are to travel after dark in an unknown country, I prefer to look after the trip.”
This was more sensible, as Snippy and Nan could easily catch the noon train that day, and so give Nan an opportunity to see her friend.
Hotel arrangements were made by telegraph, and Mr. Fairfield put the two ladies on the train, knowing his wife had a safe and pleasant escort in the grim but capable Englishwoman.
“We ought to do something extra gay to-night, Daddy,” said Patty, “to console you for Nan’s absence. It was awfully good of her to arrange it all this way, rather than disappoint Flo and me.”