“And I haven’t used slang for, oh, I don’t know how long,” cried Evelyn. “And I wasn’t rude even to that old man who stepped on my foot and then looked cross—”
Lucile laughed infectiously. “Goodness, we’re in a fair way to become three little angels,” she laughed.
“Aren’t you girls coming in to breakfast?” said Phil, appearing for a minute at the door as they passed. “If you are, follow me”—and they needed no second invitation.
In response to Mrs. Applegate’s very cordial invitation, Mrs. Payton and the girls had made their visit the day before. It was then that they had learned, to their surprise, that the former owned a beautiful motor boat, anchored farther up the Thames. What was their great delight when Mrs. Applegate voiced her hope that they had made no special plans for the morrow, as she had arranged a little party and was counting on them to make it complete. Of course, they had assured her that no plans could be so important as to stand in the way of so tempting an invitation; so it had been settled to the satisfaction of every one. 128
It was just nine o’clock when they climbed into the automobile and Mr. Payton started to give the chauffeur his directions. He was to drive through Hyde Park, entering it through the beautiful gate at Hyde Park Corner and ending with the magnificent Marble Arch. From there they would drive straight to Henley, where they were to meet the Applegates.
“It’s good we started early; now we can see lots before we meet the other people,” said Jessie, contentedly.
“Can’t we get out, Dad,” begged Lucile, “and get a little closer look at Kensington Gardens—I love to say it; it sounds so very English, don’t you know—just for a little while? Can’t we, Mother? It looks so pretty!”
“No; we’ll have just time to ride through the park,” Mrs. Payton answered, and Lucile must needs be satisfied.
“I read somewhere that they took several hundred acres from the park to enlarge the gardens,” Phil volunteered. “Is that so, Dad?”
“Yes; three hundred, I think it was,” his father answered. “And now here we are, before the famous Hyde Park itself!”