As the Van Ness party were only to remain in Paris a week, it was necessary that the affair should be arranged speedily and the plan quickly carried out.
Mrs. Van Ness, Mrs. Farrington, and Mrs. Barstow were to be patronesses, but the girls, the two Van Ness boys, and Martin Barstow were to do the actual work and make all arrangements.
It was a somewhat original scheme of entertainment, and as Alicia described it the rest all agreed that it would be great fun.
It was to last only one afternoon, from three to six, and it was called the "Bazaar of Arts and Manufactures."
The girls called upon many members of the American colony and asked them to donate material of any kind, such as silks, satins, ribbons, fancy paper, materials or fabrics of any sort.
They responded generously, and also gave many articles to be sold at the bazaar, and promised to send contributions for the refreshment room.
The boys declared that their part was the decoration of the ballroom, and they not only ornamented the room, but built various little booths and arranged such counters and tables as were needed.
When the day of the bazaar came n.o.body knew quite what the entertainment was to be, but were prepared for an original amus.e.m.e.nt of some kind.
After a large crowd of people had a.s.sembled Guy Van Ness mounted a platform and announced that there would now be held a contest of arts and manufactures. Everybody present, on the payment of a certain sum, would be allowed to compete, and prizes were offered to the successful compet.i.tors in each department.
Then, greatly to the amus.e.m.e.nt of the audience, he announced that the various achievements arranged for were such easily accomplished feats as the tr.i.m.m.i.n.g of hats, the painting of pictures, modelling in clay, making paper flowers, and various other arts and handicrafts, among which each might select a preference.
After every compet.i.tor had qualified, and was fully prepared to begin, a gong would be sounded. Exactly at the end of a half hour another gong would sound, when every one must cease at once, whether the work was finished or not.
As soon as the guests thoroughly understood what they were to do great interest was displayed and compet.i.tors were rapidly entered for the different contests.
Those who were artists took their places at a table provided with water colors, oil paints, pastels, and drawing materials. The clay modellers were at another table, with ample provision for their art.
Many ladies who declared they had no talents prepared to trim hats. All sorts of material, such as velvet, lace, flowers, feathers, and ribbons were provided, as well as the untrimmed shapes.
In another booth ladies prepared to make j.a.panese kimonos or dressing-jackets, and in another booth were materials for paper flowers.
There was a burnt-wood outfit and sets of woodcarvers" tools, and Robert Van Ness declared that he knew he could take the prize for whittling.
Another booth held crepe paper for lampshades or other fancy work, and it was not long before every one had selected an occupation and was prepared to begin work.
Elise, of course, was going to draw a picture, and Patty concluded she would trim a hat.
As it neared the time, Patty threaded her needle and put on her thimble, but was not allowed to touch her material until the signal was given.
Henri Labesse was at the bazaar, and though his arm was still a little stiff, he entered the compet.i.tion and was to model a figure of clay.
The gong struck, and everybody flew madly at their work, anxious to complete it within the half hour.
Elise, who was methodical, began her drawing as slowly and carefully as if she had the whole day for it, reasoning to herself that she would rather hurry the finishing than the beginning.
Patty, on the other hand, dashed impatiently at her hat-tr.i.m.m.i.n.g, pinning things on here and there, thinking she would sew them if she had time, and if not they could stay pinned.
Both the Van Ness girls were making paper lamp-shades, and Rosamond was already well along on a picturesque j.a.panese kimono. She sewed up the breadths like a wind-mill, and whipped on the bordering rapidly, but with strong, firm st.i.tches.
She would easily have taken the prize in her department, but the girls had agreed among themselves that they would accept no prizes, even if they won them.
When the gong struck at the close of the half hour some of the work was still unfinished, but most of the articles were completed. And it was indeed marvellous to see what could be done by people working at their utmost speed.
Elise"s picture was charming, and Patty"s hat was among the prettiest.
Competent judges awarded the prizes, and then the articles, whether finished or unfinished, were sold at auction. And they brought large prices, for many of them were well worth having; and, too, the buyers were quite ready to give liberally in aid of the worthy charity.
Henri Labesse had made a clay model of an American girl, which was a gem in its characteristic effect and its skilful workmanship. It was not quite finished, but of course was offered at auction along with the other things.
There was lively bidding for the little figure, as everybody seemed to recognise its artistic value. But, after being bidden up to a high price, it was finally sold to a young man who, it turned out, was merely acting as an agent for Henri Labesse himself. He had instructed this young man to buy the figure in at any price, with a result that a goodly sum went into the charitable treasury.
After receiving his own work back again Mr. Labesse took it across to where Patty sat, and begged her acceptance of it, adding that he would take it home and complete it before sending it to her.
Patty was delighted to have the little statuette as a souvenir of the occasion, and also as a memento of Mr. Labesse, whom she thoroughly liked.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in serving ices and cakes and fruit to the patrons of the bazaar, and after it was all over the girls were delighted to find that they had realised about twice as much money as they had hoped for.
Alicia Van Ness was ecstatic, and declared it would make Miss Hunt independent, and free of all financial worry during the rest of her term in the art school. And as it was to be sent to her without a hint as to its source, she could not refuse to accept it.
"I do think it was lovely of those Van Ness girls," said Patty, as they discussed the bazaar at dinner-time, "to do all that for a perfect stranger."
"I do, too," said Elise; "they"re awfully good-hearted girls. When I first met them I didn"t like them much; they were so unconventional in their manners. But travelling about has improved them, and they certainly are generous and kind-hearted."
"Yes, they are," said Patty; "and I like them, anyway. I"m sorry they are going away from Paris so soon."
"Well, I"m glad we"re not going away," said Elise; "at any rate, not just yet. How much longer do you suppose we shall stay here, mother?"
"I don"t know, my child; but I"m getting about ready to go home. What do you think, Patty?"
"Since you ask me, I must confess I should like to stay a while longer.
But if you"re going home, Mrs. Farrington, I feel pretty sure we shall all travel on the same boat."
CHAPTER XXI
A SURPRISE
But nothing more was said about going home, and the weeks slipped by until it was March.
Everything seemed to be winding itself up. Patty"s music term was finished; Elise"s drawing lessons were nearing their close for the season, and Mrs. Farrington, though she said nothing about going home, somehow seemed to be quietly getting ready.
Patty didn"t exactly understand the att.i.tude of her hostess. If she were going home soon, Patty wanted to know it; and one day she laughingly said so.
"I suppose," said Mrs. Farrington, looking at her quizzically, "it"s not unnatural that you should want to know when you"re going to see your native land again; but truly, Patty, I cannot tell you. I"ll promise you this, though: to-morrow you"ll know more about it than you do to-day."
Patty was mystified at this, for Mrs. Farrington"s tone was even more enigmatical than her words.
"And wait a minute, girls," said Mrs. Farrington, as they were about to go to their rooms to dress for dinner; "put on your pretty new dresses to-night, will you?"