She was a little annoyed at first, preferring that one of the Camp Fire girls should have been selected as her companion rather than Marguerite Arnot. She could only suppose that Bettina and David Hale would wish to talk to each other the greater part of the time during their second visit to Queen Marie Antoinette’s secret garden. But apparently one could not be sure, as they had chosen to invite Marguerite.
She did not dislike the young French girl, she thought her both talented and pretty, but not especially interesting, so that with several hours of each other’s society they might become bored.
Moreover, Mrs. Burton had selfishly wished to rest and dream in the old garden, since gardens are intended for rest and dreams. And one could manage to chaperon two such well behaved persons as Bettina and David and at the same time enjoy one’s own thoughts.
But with Marguerite Arnot as her constant companion, Mrs. Burton beheld her dreams dissolving into futile conversation.
The following day when David Hale arrived, seeing Marguerite standing with Mrs. Burton and Bettina and evidently dressed to accompany them, naturally he expressed no surprise. He may even have been secretly pleased by the addition of Marguerite’s society.
Never was there a lovelier spring afternoon! And in no place in the world can the spring be more enchanting than in Paris and the country surrounding Paris.
Instead of a motor car, David Hale had secured the services of an old fashioned Paris cab for their expedition. He wished to make the drive to the Queen’s garden a slow one, as it was not of great length.
First they drove through the town of Versailles. Then they entered the park near an avenue which led past the Little Trianon. They passed The Temple of Love, a charming little building formed of columns with a white cupola and a statue of the Cupid inside. Next they drove slowly about the hamlet, a cluster of little rustic houses near the Little Trianon, where Queen Marie Antoinette and her maids, dressed in linen costumes and straw hats, used to play at making butter and cheese.
Not far from the hamlet, David ordered the cab to halt, then he and Bettina led the way to search for the secret garden.
It was not so easy to find as they had both supposed. But it was Bettina, who again first discovered the stone wall and the little secret door inside it. This afternoon the walls of the garden were covered with trailing rose vines. Before the little secret door stood the old French gardener who had formerly eyed Bettina with such disfavor.