“There’s one thing sure,” said Patty; “as soon as I get home, I’m going to take up a course of Roman history. It never seemed interesting to me before, but now I know I shall like it.”
“I’m with you,” said Nan. “We’ll be a class all by ourselves, and read every morning, after we’re back in New York.”
“And then, you see, Father,” went on Patty, “I can remember all these things I’m seeing now, and, before you know it, I’ll be a great scholar.”
“I’m not alarmed at the idea of your becoming a blue-stocking. Indeed, I doubt if your interest remains after you’ve left these actual scenes.”
“Oh, yes, it will! I want to study up all about the early Christian martyrs and the cruel emperors. I’m sure it will be most interesting. You see, Flo knows it all. She has all history at her tongue’s end. And she knows all about the great works of art and everything.”
“Can she recite the names of the twelve ‘world-pictures’?” asked Nan, smiling.
“Oh, she doesn’t know it that way! No ‘Half Hours with the Best Artists,’ for hers! She really knows, and she’s so unostentatious about it.”
“Then she’ll be a good chum for you. Are they coming here? And when?”
“Yes, Father. They’ve engaged rooms here, on the same floor as ours, and they’ll arrive next week. Oh, I’m so glad. I can go around a lot with them, and that will leave you and Nan to flock by yourselves. Won’t you be lonesome?”