"Good work! Here's a white crêpe de chine. Just the thing for tomorrow. No guests, are there, Tessie?"
"None, Miss Fairfield. Some ladies left this morning."
"Now, tell me all about it," said Adele, coming back. "You may go,
Tessie. I'll look after Miss Fairfield."
Tessie went away, and the two friends sat down for a chat.
"First of all, Adele," Patty said, "I don't want any one to know where I am. I want a few days of absolute freedom from interruption,—I've some things to think out."
"H'm," said Adele. "Who is he?"
Patty turned pink. "Nobody," she returned; "or, if it's anybody, it's Phil Van Reypen; he wants me to marry him, and I don't know whether to or not."
Adele looked at Patty's transparent face, and knew she was not telling the whole truth. "You won't," she said, astutely. "But never mind why you came, dear; tell me as much or as little as you wish. And nobody shall know of your whereabouts, I promise you that. We'll have a lovely, comfy time, just by ourselves."
"And I'll tell you this much, Adele; if Bill Farnsworth telephones, on no account tell him I'm here. Please tell him I'm not!"
"Oh, fie, fie, Patty; tell a naughty story?"