and apparently waiting there at his own pleasure.
All this amused Patty very much, and she began, as Elise said, to learn the rules of automobile etiquette. It was not difficult with the Farringtons, for they all had a good sense of humour, and were always more inclined to laugh than cry over spilled milk.
When Roger made this announcement, Elise jumped up, and crying, “Come on, Patty,” ran back to the car and jumped in, purposely waking her mother as she did so.
Mrs. Farrington placidly took in the situation, and remarked that she was in no hurry, but if they cared to go on she was quite ready.
And so with laughter and gay chatter they started on again, and the car ran as smoothly as it had before the halt.
But it was nearly sundown, and there were many miles yet to travel before they reached the hotel where they had expected to dine and stay over night.
“Shall we go on, Mother?” said Mr. Farrington. “Can you wait until nine o’clock or thereabouts for your dinner? Or shall we stop at some farmhouse, and so keep ourselves from starvation?”
“I would rather go on,” said Mrs. Farrington, “if the girls don’t mind.”
The girls didn’t mind, and so they plunged ahead while the sun set and the darkness fell. There was no moon, and a slight cloudiness hid the stars. Roger lighted the lamps, but they cast such weird shadows that they seemed to make the darkness blacker than ever.
Patty was not exactly afraid, but the experience was so new to her that she felt she would be glad when they reached the hotel. Perhaps Mr. Farrington discerned this, for he took especial pains to entertain his young guest, and divert her mind from thoughts of possible danger. So he beguiled the way with jokes and funny stories, until Patty forgot her anxiety, and the first thing she knew they were rolling up the driveway to the hotel.
Floods of light streamed from the windows and the great doors, and strains of music could be heard from within.
“Thank goodness we’re here!” said Mrs. Farrington. “Jump out, girlies, and let us seek shelter at once.”
Roger remained in the car to take it away to the garage, and Mr. Farrington accompanied the ladies into the hotel.
Much as she had enjoyed the ride, Patty felt glad to get into the warm, lighted house, and very soon the party were shown to their rooms.
Patty and Elise shared a large room whose twin beds were covered with spreads of gaily-flowered chintz. Curtains of the same material hung at the windows, and draped the dressing-table.
“What a pleasant, homelike room,” said Patty, as she looked about.
“Yes,” said Elise, “this is a nice old country hotel. We’ve been here before. Hurry, Patty, let’s dress for dinner quickly.”
But Patty was surveying herself in the long pierglass that hung between two windows.
Nan had selected her motoring outfit, and she had donned it that morning so hastily that she hadn’t really had an opportunity to observe herself. But now, as she looked at the rather shapeless figure in the long pongee coat, and the queer shirred hood of the same material, and as she noted the voluminous chiffon veil with its funny little front window of mica, she concluded that she looked more like a goblin in a fairy play than a human being.
“Do stop admiring your new clothes, Patty, and get dressed,” said Elise, who was on her knees before an open suitcase, shaking out Patty’s skirt and bodice. “Get off those togs, and get ready to put these on. This is a sweet little Dresden silk; I didn’t know you had it. Is it new?”
“Yes,” said Patty, “Nan bought it for me. She said it wouldn’t take much room in the suitcase, and would be useful for a dinner dress.”
“It’s lovely,” said Elise. “Now get into it, and I’ll hook you up.”
So Patty got out of what she called her goblin clothes, but was still giggling at them as she hung them away in the wardrobe.
Less than half an hour later the two girls, spick and span in their dainty dresses, and with fresh white bows on their hair, went together down the staircase. They found Mr. and Mrs. Farrington awaiting them, and soon Roger appeared, and they went to the dining-room for a late dinner.
Then Patty discovered what automobile hunger was.
“I’m simply ravenous,” she declared, “but I didn’t know it until this minute.”
“That’s part of the experience,” said Mrs. Farrington, “the appetite caused by motoring is the largest known variety, and that’s why I wanted to push on here, where we could get a good dinner, instead of taking our chances at some farmhouse.”
They were the only guests in the dining-room at that late hour, and so they made a merry meal of it, and after dinner went back to the large parlours, to sit for a while listening to the music. But they did not tarry long, for as Patty discovered, another consequence of a motor ride was a strong inclination to go to bed early.
Chapter XI.
Dick Phelps
The travellers did not rise early the next morning, and ten o’clock found them still seated at the breakfast table.
“I do hate to hurry,” said Mrs. Farrington, comfortably sipping her coffee. “So many people think that an automobile tour means getting up early, and hustling off at daybreak.”
“I’m glad those are your sentiments,” said Patty, “for I quite agree with you. I’ve done enough hustling the last month or two, and I’m delighted to take things more slowly for a change.”
“I think,” said Mr. Farrington, “that as it is such a pleasant day, it would be a good plan to take some luncheon with us and picnic by the roadside. We could then get to the Warners’in time for dinner, though perhaps a little late.”
“Lovely!” cried Elise, “I’m perfectly crazy to use that new luncheon-kit. It’s great, Patty! It has the cunningest alcohol stove, and every little contraption you could possibly think of.”
“I know it,” said Patty. “I peeped inside yesterday, and the array of forks and spoons and plates and bottles was perfectly fascinating.”
“Very well,” said Mrs. Farrington to her husband, “ask them to fill the kit properly, and I think myself we will enjoy a little picnic.”
So Mr. Farrington went to see about the provisions, and Roger to get the car ready, while the ladies sauntered about the piazza.
The route of their journey lay along the shore of Long Island Sound, and the hotel where they had stayed over night was not far from New Haven, and quite near the water’s edge.
Patty was very fond of the water, and gazed with delight at the sparkling Sound, dotted with white steamers and various sorts of fishing-craft. For her part she would have been glad to stay longer at this hotel, but the Warners, whom they were going to visit, were expecting them to dinner that evening. These people, Patty knew, lived in a beautiful country place called “Pine Branches,” which was near Springfield in Massachusetts. Patty did not know the Warners, but Elise had assured her that they were delightful people and were prepared to give her a warm welcome.
When the car came to the door the ladies were all ready to continue the journey. They had again donned their queer-looking motor-clothes, and though Patty was beginning to get used to their appearance, they still seemed to her like a trio of brownies or other queer beings as they took their seats in the car.
Roger climbed to his place, touched a lever by his side, and swung the car down the drive with an air of what seemed to Patty justifiable pride. The freshly cleaned car was so daintily spick and span,