dy anywhere.

"I'll look in the kitchen," said Patty; "surely old Hopalong, the cook,
will be there. They can't all be away, and the house all open like this."

But the kitchen too, was deserted, and Nan said, "Well, let us sit on the
front verandah a while; it must be that somebody will come home soon, and
anyway I'm too warm and tired to walk right back in the broiling sun."

So they sat on the verandah for half an hour, and then Patty said, "Let's
give one more look inside the house, and if we can't find anybody let's
go home."

"All right," said Nan, and in they went, through the vacant rooms, and
again to the kitchen.

"Why, there's Hopalong," said Patty, as she saw the old coloured woman
busy about her work, though indeed Hopalong's slow movements could not be
accurately described by the word busy.

"Hello, Hopalong," said Patty, "where are all the people?"

"Bless yo' heart Miss Patty, chile, how yo'done skeered me! And howdy,
Miss Nan,--'scuse me, I should say Missus Fairfield. De ladies is at
home, and I 'spects dey'll be mighty glad to see you folks."

"Where are they, then?" said Nan, looking puzzled, "we can't find them."

"Well yo' see it's a mighty hot day, and dem Barlows is mighty fond of
bein' as comf'able as possible. I'm makin' dis yere lemonade for 'em,
kase dey likes a coolin' drink. I'll jest squeeze in another lemon or
two, and there'll be plenty for you, too."

"But where are they, Hopalong?" asked Patty, "are they outdoors, down by
the brook?"

"Laws no, Miss Patty, I done forgot to tell yo' whar dey am, but dey's
down in de cellah."

"In the cellar!" said Patty, "what for?"

"So's dey kin be cool, chile. Jes' you trot along down, and see for
yourselfs."

Hopalong threw open the door that led from the kitchen to the cellar
stairs, and holding up their dainty white skirts, Patty and Nan started
down the rather dark staircase.

"Look at those white shoes coming downstairs," they heard Bumble's voice
cry; "I do believe it's Nan and Patty!"

"It certainly is," said Patty, and as she reached the last step, she
looked around in astonishment, and then burst into laughter.

"Well, you do beat all!" she said, "We've been sitting on the front
verandah half an hour, wondering where you could be."

"Isn't it nice?" said Mrs. Barlow, after she had greeted her guests.

"It is indeed," said Patty, "it's the greatest scheme I ever heard of."

The cellar, which had been recently white-was