“’Course we couldn’t,” said Flo.
CHAPTER XVI
AN EXCITING ADVENTURE
ANOTHER half hour went by, and Patty, looking at her watch, said, “Why, it’s after nine o’clock! We will now eat our grapes. I meant to offer some to that dear old lady, but she preferred violets, so I had no chance.”
The girls ate the grapes, and though they didn’t refer to it, each secretly wished Mr. Fairfield would come back.
“It does seem queer,” said Patty at last, “for father to stay so long away. But of course, he thinks the Orsinis are still with us, and if they were, I wouldn’t give a thought to father’s long absence.”
“He’s probably fallen asleep,” said Flo.
“Of course he has! That’s just it! His dinner and his smoke made him sleepy, and he dropped off before he knew it. Well, if he doesn’t wake up before, he’ll have to come and get us when we get to Venice.”
“Maybe he’ll sleep right through.”