It was a merry dinner, indeed. Snippy and the elder Fairfields were so glad to have the girls safely with them again that they were fairly beaming with joy.
And as for the five young people, they were just bubbling over with the merriment of youth and happiness.
“Have you had a good time all through Italy?” asked Peter Homer, of Patty.
“Oh, yes, indeed it has been the pleasurablest pleasure trip I could imagine. Everything has gone right,—except,” she paused suddenly, as she remembered the episode of the night before. But she resolved not to bring up the subject then, so she went on, saying, “except that of course we were lonely in Florence without you three, and the other Wonderers. But we can wonder through Venice together, and oh, won’t it be lovely! I haven’t seen Venice at all yet, except just the row up from the station.”
“Venice is Heaven and water,” said Peter Homer, and Austin droned out:
“Having made a pretty good epigram, he waited for the applause due him.”
“He’ll get it, too,” said Patty, softly clapping her hands. “Venice is Heaven and water. I’ve already noticed it, and should have said it myself, if I’d thought of it.”
“Never mind,” said Floyd, consolingly; “you can say it to the next bunch of people you meet, and then you’ll get some nice applause.”
As soon as dinner was over, Mr. Fairfield invited the whole party to go for a moonlight row. He had engaged a barca, which is larger than a gondola, and it held them all comfortably.
As they glided out into the Grand Canal, Patty fairly held her breath at the marvel of the scene. The moon, not far from full, sent silver-crested ripples along the surface of the water. The strange and wonderful buildings loomed weirdly against the sky. On the bridges and quays were sparkling lights and merry people; while ever and again other silent, dark gondolas glided swiftly past their own craft.