“Manners?” she suggested; “one doesn’t rush ahead of one’s hostess, I _think_; or does one, Stephanie?”
Honor did wish they would not quarrel so. Of course Patricia was right, but--she slid her hand into Stephanie’s, and they dropped back behind the others.
“No, you don’t,” said Honor stoutly. “You dislike her, and that is a pity, because she is splendid, and if you didn’t dislike her, you would like her so tremendously; but you don’t hate her.”
“No!” Honor’s cheek flushed and her eyes flashed. “To dislike, that comes to every one; to hate, that is wicked, and the good God is vexed.”
“My children,” called Soeur Séraphine. “Behold us arrived! forward then! Our Gretli has a surprise for us, of which I learn but on the instant. Follow me!”
The _Châlet des Rochers_ (I hope it is still standing!) wore an air of high festivity. Garlands wreathed the open door and swung in festoons from the low thatched roof. Around the door stood a group of young men and maidens, all in the old-time Swiss costume, one of the prettiest in the world; the girls with dark bodices laced over the full white blouse, short full skirts of bright green, blue or red, snowy stockings and well-blacked shoes; the youths in knee-breeches, white shirts, short jackets and pointed hats.
“Are we at the _Opéra Comique_?” whispered Patricia. “They will begin to yodel in a moment!”
And they did! As the School advanced, the whole group broke out in--song, shall I say? Certainly into a sound as musical as it was strange. “A-i! o-oh! u-u-u--” No! it may not be described. It must be heard, and heard in the mountains.
“It is the _Ranz des Vaches_!” cried Soeur Séraphine. “I heard it--how many years ago? When I was a little young girl! What pleasure! what delight! What means this, my Gretli?”
Gretli’s face was aglow; she clapped her hands and laughed, joyously.
“It is the Spring Festival, my Sister!” she cried. “The festival of the Outgoing, when the animals go to the mountain pastures. Hearing that the gracious Ladies would be with us to-day, we held back the outgoing that they might see. These are our neighbors, come to help us and join our simple feast. Marie, Madelon, Jeanne, here are the gracious Ladies of whom you have heard so much. Ah! _à la bonne heure!_ And here is our Zitli himself to welcome you.”