'Oh, the surprise!' Mrs. Copley laughed. 'I entirely forgot it. I was afraid they might think it strange that I hadn't answered the note--though I really didn't get it in time--so I asked your uncle to stop at their hotel and invite them all to come out to the villa for the night. I thought that since we were planning to drive to the festa at Genazzano to-morrow, it would be nice to have them with us. I am sure they would be interested in seeing the festa.'
Marcia dropped limply into a chair and looked at her aunt. 'Is Mr. Dessart coming too?'
'I invited him, certainly. What's the matter? Aren't you pleased? I thought you liked him.'
'Oh, yes, I do; only--I wish I'd got up earlier!' And then she laughed. The situation was rather funny, after all. She might as well make the best of it. 'Suppose we send over to Palestrina and invite M. Benoit for dinner,' she suggested presently. 'I think he is stopping there this week, and it would be nice to have him. I suspect,' she added, 'that he is a tiny bit interested in Eleanor.'
A note was sent by a groom, who returned with the information that he had found the gentleman sitting on a rock in a field, painting a portrait of a sheep; that he had delivered the note, and got this in return.
'This' was a rapid sketch on bristol-board, representing the young Frenchman in evening clothes making a bow, with his hand on his heart, to the two ladies, who received him on the steps of the loggia, while a clock in the corner pointed to eight.
Marcia looked at the sketch and laughed. 'Here's an original acceptance, Aunt Katherine.'
Mrs. Copley smiled appreciatively. 'He seems to be a very original young man,' she conceded.
'_Naturellement._ He's _a prix de Rome_.'
'When Frenchmen _are_ nice they are very nice,' said Mrs. Copley; 'but when they are not----' Words failed her, and she picked up her embroidery again.
At the mid-day breakfast Marcia announced rather hopefully that she did not think the Roystons would come.
'They've lost their maid, and there won't be anybody to help them pack. If they come out to the villa to-night they won't be ready to start for Perugia on Wednesday. Besides, Mrs. Royston never likes to do anything on the spur of the moment. She likes to plan her programme a week ahead and stick to it. Oh, I know they won't come,' she added with a laugh. 'M. Benoit will be the only guest, after all.'