Patty sighed unconsciously, for she began to realise there was a great deal to know, of which she was entirely ignorant.
“Don’t take it too seriously, child,” said Mr. Leland, reading her thought. “Remember I’ve spent twenty years learning these things, and you’ve not even begun yet. I’m sure your natural instincts are fairly true; all you need is instruction and experience. Have you seen St. Peter’s?”
“Yes,” said Patty, “but I’ve only bowed to it. I haven’t shaken hands with it yet. But I know one thing about it. Somebody told me. It’s baroque.”
Mr. Leland smiled, and said, not at all unkindly:
“Whoever told you that was utterly ignorant of the real meaning of baroque. In no sense does it apply to St. Peter’s. That church, my dear child, if anybody asks you, is flubdubby.”
“Is what?” exclaimed Patty.
“Flubdubby in the extreme. I may say it’s pure flubdub. If you want to impress any one with your knowledge of architecture, say that, and you’ll hit the nail on the head.”
Patty was almost afraid her host was making fun of her, but his earnest manner proved he was not.
“We won’t go into details, now,” he said, “but some day I’ll take you there, and show you what I mean.”