Patty was surprised and shocked at the behaviour of these strange girls, and very decidedly expressed her opinion in her face.  Without glancing at the young men, she turned on the Van Ness sisters a look of extreme disapproval, while Elise looked frightened at the whole proceeding.

The two horrified countenances were too much for the Van Ness girls, and they burst into peals of laughter.

“Oh, my children,” cried, Alicia, “did you really think us so unconventional, even if we are from Chicago?  These two boys are our cousins, Bob and Guy Van Ness, and they are travelling with us in charge of our parents.  Stand up straight, infants, and be introduced.  Miss Farrington and Miss Fairfield, may I present Mr. Robert Van Ness and Mr. Guy Porter Van Ness?”

The young men made most deferential bows, and, greatly appreciating the joke, Patty invited them to join their party, and offered them some of her confectionery.

“But it’s a shame to sit here,” observed Guy, “when there’s lots of fun going on up on the forward deck.  Don’t you girls want to go up there and play shuffleboard?”

“I do,” said Patty readily; “I’ve always wanted to play shuffleboard, though I’ve no idea whether it’s played with a pack of cards or a tea set.”

Guy laughed at this and promised to teach her the game at once.

So they all went up to the upper deck, which was uncovered, and where, in the sunlight, groups of young people were playing different games.

Both Patty and Elise delighted in outdoor sports, and the Van Ness girls were fond of anything athletic.  During the games they all made the acquaintance of Florrie Nash, who, though of an extreme English type, proved less difficult to make friends with than they had feared.

They also met several young men, among whom Patty liked best a young Englishman of big-boyish, good-natured type, named Bert Chester, and a young Frenchman of musical tastes.  The latter was a violinist, by the name of Pierre Pauvret.  He seemed a trifle melancholy, Patty thought, but exceedingly refined and well-bred.  He stood by her side as she leaned against the rail, looking at the water, and though evidently desirous to be entertaining, he seemed to be at a loss for something to say.

Patty felt sorry for the youth and tried various subjects without success in interesting him, until at last she chanced to refer to music.  At this Mr. Pauvret’s face lighted up and he became enthusiastic at once.

“Ah, the music!” he exclaimed; “it is my life, it is my soul!  And you—­ do you yourself sing?  Ah, I think yes.”

“I sing a little,” said Patty, smiling kindly at him, “but I have not had much training, and my voice is small.”

“Ah,” said the Frenchman, “I have a certainty that you sing like an angel.  But we shall see—­we shall see.  There will be a concert on board and you will sing.  Is it not so?”

“I don’t know,” said Patty, smiling; “I will sing with pleasure if I am asked, but it may not give my audience pleasure.”