"Oh, yes, stand up for her,—every one has gone mad over our 'heroine'! I call it disgraceful to be mixed up with that movie concern, and let me tell you, Azalea Thorpe, if you think Mr. Van Reypen is going to overlook or forget that, you're greatly mistaken! You know, Patty,—our Western friend here, is already aspiring toward Philip—"
"Hush, Elise," Patty returned, "better stop before you make a goose of yourself! Phil is aspiring to Azalea's favour, is the truer way to put it!"
"Oh, no, I can't believe that," laughed Elise, "Phil has too much self-respect!"
CHAPTER XVIII
PHILIP'S BROWNIE
At breakfast next morning Azalea's place was vacant.
"I didn't disturb her," said Patty, "for I want her to sleep late, if she can. She is such an active young person, she gets tired,—though she rarely admits it."
And then Janet came in. "Mrs. Farnsworth," she said, "Miss Thorpe is not in her room. Perhaps she has gone for one of her early morning walks. But on her dressing-table I found these two notes."
The maid handed Patty one of the letters and gave the other to Van Reypen. Both were addressed in Azalea's handwriting and the two who took them felt a sudden foreboding as to the contents.
Nor were their fears ill-founded. With an exclamation of dismay, Patty handed hers over to Farnsworth, who read it quickly, and looked at his wife with a serious face.