le.

But, to her pleased surprise, when she entered the gate she heard gay
voices on the verandah, and knew that guests were there,--and several of
them.

Unwilling to meet them in her street clothes, she slipped around to the
back entrance and went in at the servants' door.

"I don't want to appear until I can dress," she explained to the cook,
and went upstairs by a back way.

Half an hour later, a very different looking Azalea went down the front
staircase and out onto the porch.

She wore a becoming dress of flowered organdie, with knots of bright
velvet, and her pretty hair was carefully arranged.

Smiling and happy-looking, she met the guests and greeted them with a
graceful cordiality.

"Where have you been?" cried Elise, but Azalea ignored the question and
quickly spoke to some one else.

Mona and Roger Farrington were there, and Philip Van Reypen and Chick
Channing. This quartette had motored up from New York to dine, and Patty
had already persuaded them to say they would stay over night.

"I'm crazy for a house party," she said, "haven't had one for 'most a
week! Oh, yes. I've a couple of house guests, but I mean a real party.
Let's make it a week-end, and have lots of fun!"

The visitors were entirely willing, and after telephoning home for
additional apparel, they settled down to enjoy themselves.

As they hadn't much more than accomplished this settling when Azalea
arrived, there was no comment made on her absence all day.

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.

Betty and Ray Gale had been telephoned for, and they came gladly, so
that at dinner there was quite a big party.

"You certainly are a great little old hostess, Patty!" exclaimed Roger
Farrington, as they seated themselves at table. "I liked you heaps as a
girl, but as mistress of a fine house you are even more charming."

"Thank you, Sir Hubert Stanley!" smiled Patty; "and I'm glad to admit
that I learned a lot about managing a house from your gifted wife. Do
you remember, Mona, how we kept house down at 'Red Chimneys'?"

"Indeed I do!" Mona answered, "what fun we had that summer!"

"I'll subscribe to that!" declared Farnswort