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On the vine-shaded porch they sat, and as Van Reypen stayed chatting with some of the Gale family, Azalea and the baby were each other's sole companions. Their conversation was a little one-sided, but Azalea's remarks were mostly eulogies and compliments and Fleurette's engaging smiles seemed to betoken appreciation if not acknowledgment. A footstep approaching made Azalea look up.
"I'll go, Phil," she said, "and I'll bring that young woman to reason! It isn't only coyness, that isn't Azalea's way, but she is honestly troubled about something." But though Patty knocked on Azalea's locked door several times, she heard no response. "Please let me in, Zaly," she begged, "I just want to talk to you a little."
In fact, Patty rather forgot about it, in the multitude of her conferences with the housekeeper and the maids. Farnsworth said nothing in the presence of the guests, and Elise, after her first exclamation, subsided. In fact, Elise was more interested in the society of Channing and Van Reypen than in the mystery of Azalea's disappearances.
"Not so's you'd notice it! My voice is like " But the description of Azalea's singing voice was interrupted by the entrance of two young people. Betty Gale and her brother Raymond stepped in at the open French window, and laughingly announced themselves as daring intruders. "Very welcome ones," declared Patty, jumping up to greet them, and then Farnsworth introduced Azalea.
For he was a conservative, fastidious aristocrat, and though Azalea's rough edges had been rubbed down a bit by Patty's training, she was still of a very different type from the Van Reypen stock. But they both loved the open, and they strode along, chatting or silent as fitted their mood. "What's in your mind just now, Brownie?" he asked, as Azalea looked thoughtful.
It was almost impossible not to correct some of Azalea's ignorant mistakes, but still more difficult to ignore her over readiness to adapt herself to what she thought was the proper behaviour toward servants. On the latter point Patty permitted herself a word when they were alone. "Be a little careful with Janet," she said, pleasantly. "She's a bit peculiar as to disposition.
Azalea's beauty was of the sort that needs excitement or physical exertion to bring out its best effects and as she stood beside the quivering, spent horse, her own heart beating quickly, her own breath coming hard, she was a picture of vivid beauty.
"You've simply made that girl over," Elise said to Patty, as the two spoke of Azalea's growing popularity. Patty sighed. "I don't know," she said, thoughtfully. "There's something queer about Azalea. Little Billee has said so from the first, and now I begin to see it, too." "She is queer," assented Elise, "but she's so much nicer than she was at first. Ray Gale is very devoted to her."
"That's nothing to do with it," Azalea said, trying to speak calmly and not show how frightened she was. But Merritt discerned it. "All right," he said, "sorry you won't listen to reason, but since you won't, guess I'll have to use force." He took hold of Fleurette's little arm, to lift her from Azalea's lap, and the touch roused the girl's wrath to boiling point.
Azalea's would-be haughty face and her reference to ill-breeding struck Farnsworth so funny he laughed in spite of himself. Azalea was quick to take advantage of this. "Oh, Cousin William," she said, smilingly, "don't be hard on me. I'm only a wild Western girl, I know, but I'm I'm your cousin and I claim your your "
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