One day they had gone a long distance from home, when suddenly Azalea said, "I wish you'd stay here a few minutes, Elise, and wait for me."
"Why, where are you going?" asked the other, in astonishment.
"Never mind, it's a little secret,—for the present. You just sit here on the grass and wait,—there's a duck. Here's a book you can read."
Azalea offered Elise a small volume—it was a new humorous 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!"