“It is so different,” exclaimed Patty, “to see these things in reality, or to study about them in history.  I’ve seen pictures of this arch lots of times, but it never seemed before as if it were a real thing.  Isn’t it beautiful!  I think I could spend a whole day looking at it.”

Patty’s love of the beautiful was intuitive and all embracing.  She knew little of architecture or sculpture technically, but the sublime majesty and imposing grandeur of the noble arch impressed her, as it does all true beauty lovers.

“The continuation of the Champs Elysees beyond the arch,” went on Mr. Farrington, “changes its name and becomes the Avenue de la Grand Armee.  But we will not continue along that way at present, but take the next avenue to the left, which is the Avenue du Bois de Boulogne.”

“Why, I thought that was a forest,” said Patty; “is it a street?”

“It’s an avenue,” replied Mr. Farrington, “and it leads to the forest, or rather park, which is called the Bois de Boulogne.  We can take only a short drive into the park, but you may see a few of the beautiful chateaus, which are the homes of the wealthy or aristocratic French people.  You will not meet many equipages at this hour in the morning, but late in the afternoon there is a continuous stream of fine turnouts of all sorts.  There are many, many places of interest in the Bois, but as we have all winter in which to visit them, we will content ourselves to-day with a brief visit.”

“It begins to look,” said Patty, “as if even a whole winter would be all too short to see the beauties and glories of this wonderful Paris.”

“Indeed, it would be too short to see everything of interest, but I can assure you, my child, that with an automobile and some idea of systematic sightseeing we can do a great deal even in one winter.”

Mr. Farrington pointed out various prominent buildings as they passed them, and then, turning round, went back to the city.  A swift ride about Paris showed to the girls such interesting places as the Louvre, and the Hotel de Ville, the Place de la Bastile, the Hotel des Invalides, the Pantheon, and the Church of Notre-Dame.

At the last named Mr. Farrington proposed that they get out and make a short visit to the cathedral.

They did so, and both Patty and Elise were much impressed by the noble beauty of the interior.

As they passed around the church Patty noticed a little Frenchwoman, who seemed to be selling candles.  The candles were of an unusual type-long, slender and very tapering.  It occurred to Patty that she would like to take some home to Nan, as they would be most effective in an odd brass candlestick which was one of Nan’s chief treasures.  The candlestick had seven branches, and as her French seemed to desert her at the critical moment, Patty indicated her wants by holding up seven fingers, pointing to the candles and then taking out her purse.