"Gathered them, of course," replied Richard promptly, although the question had not been addressed to him.
"Richard gathered them for us," added Ellen. "He is a brother worth having."
"Marion and I didn't see any like them," said Katie.
It was the evening of Constitution Day, the Italian Fourth of July.
Aunt Caroline and Irma, seated in the doorway of the hotel, watched the passing crowd. On the Arno in front of the house, not far from the Ponte Vecchio, were several boats decorated with flags and paper lanterns. There was also a large float, and the voluble porter explained that a chorus was to be stationed there during the evening to sing.
"He has walked to the Cascine with Katie and Richard and Ellen. I wished to stay with Aunt Caroline," replied Irma.
"I am afraid Katie has cut you out with Marion," exclaimed Uncle Jim.
"How foolish!" protested Aunt Caroline. "Irma has no such ideas. Marion has never exerted himself for Irma, and she has always been too busy to think of him."
"When it's quite dark," continued Uncle Jim, "we must walk over to the Piazza in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. They say the illumination of the tower is the thing best worth seeing, better even than the fireworks these crowds are waiting for."
A little later the three stood in front of the tall gray tower of the old palace, whose outlines were wonderfully beautiful, set in a frame of fire made up of countless tiny lamps.
"Hello," cried a voice, "we didn't expect to see you here." Richard was the speaker, and with him were Marion and Ellen.
"Oh, she and Marion have had some kind of a spat, and she insisted on our leaving her at the hotel."
"Well, a quarrel by any other name will do just as well. I'm glad she can stay with mother. One of us ought to be with her."
Marion made no reply to Richard. But he walked beside Ellen on their way back to the hotel, while Richard helped Irma find a way through the throng.
"What a quiet, orderly crowd!" cried Aunt Caroline, "and to-day their Fourth of July!"
"It's only after they have crossed the Atlantic that foreigners grow uproarious. There seems to be more law and order over here."
The Lungarno was packed with people when they reached the hotel, so all went upstairs to Aunt Caroline's room, that overlooked the river and the boat from which the fireworks were sent off. There were one or two set pieces, the chorus on the large float sang several part songs, and at intervals showers of stars of all colors fell from the Roman candles and rockets sent up from the boats.