take the imp with you."

"Isabelle is asleep just now."

"Go before she wakes up, then."

"Could one of the maids look after her, if she wakes?"

"Yes, of course. I shall be so obliged."

So Ann set forth in the motor, glad of a free hour or two in the open.
She enjoyed it to the full, and although it took longer than she had
anticipated, she carried the gown to Mrs. Bryce's door at five.

"So much obliged," said that lady, sweetly.

The nursery was empty, so were the bedrooms. Ann asked the maids where
Isabelle was. No one had seen her. She went out into the grounds and to
all her favourite haunts, but no Isabelle. Then, thoroughly alarmed, she
went to Mrs. Bryce's door again.

"Mrs. Bryce, did you send a maid to look after Isabelle?"

"Oh, no, I forgot it"--in an annoyed tone.

"I can't find her."

"Can't find her? Oh, she must be somewhere,"--absently.

"But I have looked everywhere. No one saw her go out. I have been gone
over two hours, you know."

Something of Ann's excitement affected Mrs. Bryce.

"Oh, she couldn't get away far. Kate," she called to a maid in the
dressing room, "did you see Isabelle?"

"I saw her just after Miss Barnes left," said the girl. "She had on her
best hat and coat, and I sez to her: 'Where ye goin?' an' she sez to me:
'I'm goin' to look for some reg'lar parunts' an' she went out the side
door. I thought somebody was lookin' after her."

"Oh, Mrs. Bryce, she's run away!" cried Ann.

"Wouldn't you know she'd do it on a day when I was having a special
tea!" she blazed.

"Oh!" said Ann, looking the other woman straight in the eyes, and Mrs.
Bryce knew that this girl despised her. Not that it mattered, but it was
annoying at the moment.

"Don't stand there talking. Get the chauffeur and tell him to go look
for her," she ordered, turning to receive the lace gown that the maid
held over her head.

Ann ran out of the room, and down the stairs. She started for the beach
where they went swimming. Henry the chauffeur passed her, calling out
that he was going to the neighbours to inquire. Ann turned back to go to
the gardener's lodge and find out the whereabouts of Patsy. As she ran
she sobbed to herself, at the thought of the forlorn little figure in
its best hat and coat, setting out on a crusade to find "regular
parents!"

CHAPTER FIVE

Mrs. Bryce wore the white lace gown, and had her tea. Wally commandeered
all the servants exce