"Yes, Miss Patty."
The maid led Patty into the library, where Mrs. Franklyn-Haldene was busily engaged in making up an invitation list.
"Why, Patty, I am glad to see you," she cried, dropping her pen and rising. But her curiosity rose at the same time. Patty here?
"You left your shopping-bag when you called yesterday," said Patty, ominously calm. "I have brought it to you."
"It was very careless of me to forget it."
"Yes, it was," Patty assented, her heart beginning to throb violently.
"Thank you. And I have been looking for it high and low."
Patty passed the bag to her enemy. How to begin, how to begin!
"Mrs. Haldene!" Patty's voice was high-pitched and quavering.
"Why, Patty!"