第49章

Deargirls，InmylastItoldyouaboutourLondonvisit，howkindtheVaughnswere，andwhatpleasantpartiestheymadeforus。IenjoyedthetripstoHamptonCourtandtheKensingtonMuseummorethananythingelse，foratHamptonIsawRaphael’scartoons，andattheMuseum，roomsfullofpicturesbyTurner，Lawrence，Reynolds，Hogarth，andtheothergreatcreatures。ThedayinRichmondParkwascharming，forwehadaregularEnglishpicnic，andIhadmoresplendidoaksandgroupsofdeerthanIcouldcopy，alsoheardanightingale，andsawlarksgoup。We`did’Londontoourheart’scontent，thankstoFredandFrank，andweresorrytogoaway，forthoughEnglishpeopleareslowtotakeyouin，whentheyoncemakeuptheirmindstodoittheycannotbeoutdoneinhospitality，Ithink。TheVaughnshopetomeetusinRomenextwinter，andIshallbedreadfullydisappointediftheydon’t，forGraceandIaregreatfriends，andtheboysverynicefellows，especiallyFred。

Well，wewerehardlysettledhere，whenheturnedupagain，sayinghehadcomeforaholiday，andwasgoingtoSwitzerland。

Auntlookedsoberatfirst，buthewassocoolaboutitshecouldn’tsayaword。Andnowwegetonnicely，andareverygladhecame，forhespeaksFrenchlikeanative，andIdon’tknowwhatweshoulddowithouthim。Uncledoesn’tknowtenwords，andinsistsontalkingEnglishveryloud，asifitwouldmakepeopleunderstandhim。Aunt’spronunciationisold-fashioned，andFloandI，thoughweflatteredourselvesthatweknewagooddeal，findwedon’t，andareverygratefultohaveFreddothe`parleyvooing’，asUnclecallsit。

Suchdelightfultimesaswearehaving!Sight-seeingfrommorningtillnight，stoppingfornicelunchesinthegaycafes，andmeetingwithallsortsofdrolladventures。RainydaysI

spendintheLouvre，revellinginpictures。Jowouldturnuphernaughtynoseatsomeofthefinest，becauseshehasnosoulforart，butIhave，andI’mcultivationeyeandtasteasfastasIcan。Shewouldliketherelicsofgreatpeoplebetter，forI’veseenherNapoleon’scockedhatandgraycoat，hisbaby’scradleandhisoldtoothbrush，alsoMarieAntoinette’slittleshoe，theringofSaintDenis，Charlemagne’ssword，andmanyotherinterestingthings。I’lltalkforhoursaboutthemwhenIcome，buthaven’ttimetowrite。

ThePalaisRoyaleisaheavenlyplace，sofullofbijouterieandlovelythingsthatI’mnearlydistractedbecauseIcan’tbuythem。Fredwantedtogetmesome，butofcourseIdidn’tallowit。ThentheBoisandChampsElyseesaretresmagnifique。

I’veseentheimperialfamilyseveraltimes，theemperoranugly，hard-lookingman，theempresspaleandpretty，butdressedinbadtaste，Ithought——purpledress，greenhat，andyellowgloves。

LittleNapisahandsomeboy，whositschattingtohistutor，andkissedhishandtothepeopleashepassesinhisfour-horsebarouche，withpostilionsinredsatinjacketsandamountedguardbeforeandbehind。

WeoftenwalkintheTuileriesGardens，fortheyarelovely，thoughtheantiqueLuxembourgGardenssuitmebetter。

PerelaChaiseisverycurious，formanyofthetombsarelikesmallrooms，andlookingin，oneseesatable，withimagesorpicturesofthedead，andchairsforthemournerstositinwhentheycometolament。ThatissoFrenchy。

OurroomsareontheRuedeRivoli，andsittingonthebalcony，welookupanddownthelong，brilliantstreet。Itissopleasantthatwespendoureveningstalkingtherewhentootiredwithourday’sworktogoout。Fredisveryentertaining，andisaltogetherthemostagreeableyoungmanIeverknew——

exceptLaurie，whosemannersaremorecharming。IwishFredwasdark，forIdon’tfancylightmen，however，theVaughnsareveryrichandcomeofanexcellentfamily，soIwon’tfindfaultwiththeiryellowhair，asmyownisyellower。

NextweekweareofftoGermanyandSwitzerland