“It’s a custom that suits me well enough—­at least, what there is of it.  I’m free to confess that this rather smallish cup of chocolate and two not very large rolls and a tiny bit of butter do not seem to me all that a healthy appetite can desire.”

“I’m afraid you’re an incorrigible American,” said Elise, laughing.  “Now, this little spread is ample for me, but I dare say you can have more if you want it.”

“No indeed,” said Patty; “when I’m in Paris, I’ll do as the Romans do, even if I starve.”

But Patty didn’t starve, for it was not long before Mr. Farrington sent word that the girls were to come downstairs as soon as possible, equipped for a drive.

But before the drive he insisted that they should eat a good and substantial breakfast, as he wanted them to put in a long morning sightseeing.

Mrs. Farrington had concluded not to go with them, as she was resting after her journey, and, moreover, the sights were not such a novelty to her as they would be to the young people.

So when they were all ready to start they found an automobile at the door, waiting for them.

“This is the most comfortable way to see Paris,” said Mr. Farrington as they got in.  “I have taken this car for a week on trial, and if it proves satisfactory we can keep it all winter.”

A chauffeur drove the car, and Mr. Farrington sat in the tonneau between the two girls, that he might point out to them the places of interest.

If Patty had thought Paris beautiful by night she thought it even more so in the clear, bright sunshine.  There is no sunshine in the world quite so clearly bright as that of Paris, or at least it seems so.

“I want you to get the principal locations fixed in your minds,” said Mr. Farrington, “so now, as you see, we are starting from the Place Vendome, going straight down the short Rue Castiglione to the Rue de Rivoli.  Now, we have reached the corner, and we turn into the Rue de Rivoli.  This is a beautiful street, crowded with shops on one side, and on the other side at this point you see the garden of the Tuileries.  We turn to the right and go directly to the Place de la Concorde.  As we reach it you may see to the right, up through the Rue Royale, the Church of the Madeleine.  That is one of the most beautiful of the Paris churches, and you shall visit it, of course, but not now.  To-day I want you to get merely a birdseye view, a sort of general idea of locations.  But here we are in the Place de la Concorde.  The Obelisk, which you see in the centre, was brought from Egypt many years ago.  It is very like our own Obelisk in Central Park, and also Cleopatra’s needle in London.  From here we turn into one of the most beautiful avenues in the world, the Champs Elysees.  This avenue extends from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.  Viewing it as we do now, rolling along this perfect road in a motor car—­or automobile, as we must learn to call it while in France—­you are taking, no doubt, one of the most perfect rides in the world.  The full name of the arch is Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile.  This means a star, and it is called thus because it is a centre from which radiate no less than a dozen beautiful avenues.  We will drive slowly round the arch, that you may see its general beauty, but we will not now stop to examine it closely.”