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Annie sang at the dedication of the Eiffel Tower on a Sunday afternoon, on the thirty-first of March in 1889. Its designer, Eiffel, hoisted the tricolored flag of France while Annie led the crowd in La Marseillaise .
Again, on the sixth of May, she sang when President Carnot officially opened the International Exhibition to begin the French Revolution's Centennial celebration.
Then, on the eighth of May, she joined Beth and Romelle for a return to the United States.
Beth's parents had never seen their granddaughter. Her mother had fallen ill shortly before Romelle's birth and had subsequently been unable to make the trip. Her stepfather would not leave his wife. Now Beth's mother had taken a turn for the worse. She had not much longer to live.
Philo and Bart found it impossible to leave after the exhibition began.
Beth and Annie decided to bypass Boston en route. Beth was anxious to get to her mother's bedside. They planned a stay in Boston with Ardie and Irene before their return to France.
Annie was anxious to see Ardie and little Brad again. Also, Bridget and Michael had become parents of a baby girl, Kathleen, around the same time that Beth gave birth to Romelle. All were living in the house on Louisburg Square. Ardie wrote that he was so happy to have a companion for Brad.
There was only one problem. Romelle refused to go without Pepper.
A headstrong little girl at the age of two years and nine months, she would not eat, she would not sleep. After several hours of Beth's cajoling her to relent, it was Beth who finally gave in.
"I never spoiled my boys like this," Annie carped. "When I said no, that's what I meant!"
"But she's a little girl," Beth said in defense of her decision, "and, besides, Pepper's getting old. Who knows what might happen while we're away."
Annie harrumphed. "Well, if it's going to happen, it should happen at home. I'm not getting any younger, either....."
"Aha!" Beth interjected. "You just proved my case! You're going, aren't you?"
Annie gave her a withering look. "You surely are a lawyer's stepdaughter!"
At the sound of the magic words, "Pepper is going with us," Romelle stopped sucking her thumb, asked for a glass of milk, ate one of Adrienne's freshly baked brioche, and fell asleep in her mother's arms.
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