orous publication,
and one Elise had expressed a desire to read. She took it, saying, "All
right, Zaly, go ahead, but don't be too long."

Azalea left her, and Elise soon became absorbed in the book.

It was a full half hour before Azalea returned.

"Where _have_ you been?" asked Elise, looking up, and then glancing at
her watch. "It's half-past four!"

"I know it. That's not late. Come on, let's go home."

Azalea was smiling and in an excited mood, but she looked
tired,--almost exhausted, as well. She was flushed, and her hair was
rumpled, and her breath came quickly, as if she had been through some
violent exercise.

"What _have_ you been up to, Zaly?" Elise asked, curiously. "You look
all done up!"

"I went for a walk by myself. Sometimes I have moods--"

"Fiddlesticks! Don't try to make me think you had a longing for
self-communion or any foolishness of that sort! I know you, Azalea
Thorpe! You went off to meet somebody--"

"I did not! How you talk, Elise Farrington!"

"Yes, you did! Somebody that you don't want Patty and Bill to know
about. Oh, you don't fool me! I'm not a blind bat!"

"Well, you're way off! How could I possibly know anybody they don't
know?"

"You do, though. You had some people come to see you, and the
Farnsworths didn't meet them at all."

"How do you know?"

"Patty told me."

"Tattle-tale! It's none of her business if I did!"

"Now, look here! I won't stand for such talk about Patty! You stop it!
She's not only your hostess but she's the best friend you ever had or
ever will have! She's making you over,--and goodness knows you needed
it!"

"And that's none of _your_ business! I'm as good as you are,--this
minute!"

"I didn't say you weren't! It isn't a question of goodness. You may
be a saint on earth compared to me, but you don't know how to behave
in decent society,--or didn't, till Patty took you in hand."

"She invited me to visit her! I didn't ask her to have me!"

"Yes, because she wanted to be kind to her husband's people, and you
seemed to be the only one available."

"Well, I was. And as I'm Cousin William's only relative, I have a right
to visit him as long as I please."

"I don't deny that, Azalea," and Elise couldn't help laughing at the
defiant air of the speaker. "I'm not disputing your right to be here.
But I do deny your right to say anything whatever against Patty, who is
trying her best to do all she can for your pleasure and for your good."

"T