fore we
go in the house?"

"Sure! I'll spill myself right into this double-decker!"

She threw herself into a long wicker lounging-seat, of the steamer-chair
type, and stretched out her feet in evident enjoyment of the relaxation.

"Well, this is comfort, after travelling cross country for days and days!
I say, Cousin, it was awful good of you to ask me."

"Think so?" and Patty tried to smile pleasantly. She avoided catching
Bill's eye, for the poor man was overcome with shame and consternation
that his relative should be so impossible.

"Yep,--I do. My! this place of yours is swell. I never saw such a grand
house--close to. You're rich, ain't you, Cousin William?"

"So, so," Farnsworth replied, gazing at the girl in a sort of horrified
fascination. "You've changed since last we met," he went on, in an
endeavour to make casual conversation.

"Well, yes, I s'pose so. They tell me I was a squalling young one when
you were at the Corners. Was I a terror?"

"Not then!" Bill wanted to answer, but of course he didn't.

"Not at all," he said, pleasantly. "You were a pretty baby--"

"But greatly changed,--hey?"

The girl gave him a quick glance. She was not ill-looking, as to features
and colouring, but her whole effect was unattractive,--even repelling.

She had flashing black eyes, which darted from one object to another in a
jerky, inquisitive way. Her scarlet lips parted over white, even teeth,
but her lower lip hung, and her half-open mouth gave her an air of
ignorance, often accompanied by rude staring.

Her black hair was concealed by a coarse straw hat, untrimmed save for
some gaudy flowers embroidered on the straw with crude coloured wools.

"How do you like my hat?" Azalea asked suddenly. "Just the shape of a
horse's hat, isn't it? But it's all the go. This dress is, too,--hope you
like it,--I do."

The dress in question was a "sport suit" of a large-sized green and black
check. It was cheap material, and badly cut, and its ill-fitting coat
hung on Azalea's slim shoulders in baggy wrinkles. Her blouse was bright
pink Georgette, beaded with scarlet beads, and altogether, perhaps her
costume could not have been worse chosen or made up,--at least, from
Patty's point of view.

She ignored the question about the hat, and asked the girl as to her
journey.

"O.K.," Azalea returned. "Had a bang-up time. Made friends all along the
line. Some of 'em coming to see me. Hope you'll like 'em."

She stretched o