“You needn’t sleep, dear, if you don’t want to, but you’ll rest better that way.”
Flo gave her a grateful smile and closed her eyes in order to rest them.
She was tired with the exertions of the day, and the long railway journey, and Patty was not surprised when, after a very few moments, she saw that Flo was, without doubt, fast asleep.
As for Patty Fairfield, she had no intention of going to sleep, and couldn’t have done so, anyway. She felt the responsibility of the situation, for Snippy had left Flo in Mr. Fairfield’s charge, and in his absence loyal Patty felt herself his representative. She sat upright, staring out of the window into the darkness or watching the doorway, where she expected every moment to see her father enter.
Bereft of even Flo’s chatter, she grew more and more lonely, and only as the hands of her watch neared ten o’clock did she begin to brighten up, on the knowledge that they must now soon reach Venice.
“But these trains are always late,” she thought, “so I shan’t hope to get there before half-past ten.”
And then the time dragged along slowly. Half-past ten came, and no sign of her father.
She had drawn the window curtain, but she pushed it aside, hoping to see the lights of Venice. Only a rushing darkness greeted her eyes. She looked at Flo. It seemed a pity to wake her, and yet Patty felt she couldn’t endure this loneliness and suspense much longer. She knew the train should get in at ten, and surely a half hour was enough to allow for the usual tardiness.
But on went the hands of her little watch, and as it neared eleven Patty couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Flo,” she said, gently touching the sleeping girl, “Flo, dear.” Flo moved uneasily, opened her eyes, closed them again, and was as sound asleep as ever.