“I’m glad you do, Zaly,—­and, listen, dear, you’re my relative, you know, and I’m going to ask you to try to use your knowledge,—­for Patty is too polite to mention such subjects!”

“Oh, I don’t mind!  Pick on me all you like,—­either of you.  I suppose there are some frills I’m not onto,—­but I’m quick at catchin’ on,—­and I’ll get there, Eli!”

Norah returned then, and the subject was not continued.  Coffee was served in the library and the small cups excited Azalea’s scorn.

“Skimpy, I call it!” she cried.  “And where’s the milk?”

“You may have cream if you wish it, Azalea,” said Patty, a little tired of smiling.  “Norah will bring some.”

“Oh, let me get it,” and Azalea jumped up.  “I remember, Patty, you told me not to trouble the servants too much.”

“Sit down!” Farnsworth said, in a tone that made Azalea jump.  “Wait for Norah to bring it.”

“Oho! you believe in making the lazy things work, don’t you!  What’s the use of hiring a dog, and doing your own barking?  That’s right!”

Patty struggled with her annoyance, overcame it, and making a gesture to Bill to keep quiet, she warded off his angry explanations, and took the situation in her own hands.

“Here’s cream, Azalea,” she said, as the maid reappeared, “many people like it in after dinner coffee, and you’re very welcome to it.”

“Licking good!” was the verdict, as Azalea stirred her coffee, and drank the tiny cupful at one draught.  “The sample’s fine!  I’ll take a regular sized cup, please.”

“For breakfast,” smiled Patty.  “That’s all we serve at night.  Are you fond of music, Azalea?”

“You bet!  Why, we’ve got some records that are just bang-up!”

“I remember Uncle Thorpe was quite a singer,” said Bill; “do you sing, too?”

“Not so’s you’d notice it!  My voice is like—­”

But the description of Azalea’s singing voice was interrupted by the entrance of two young people.  Betty Gale and her brother Raymond stepped in at the open French window, and laughingly announced themselves as daring intruders.

“Very welcome ones,” declared Patty, jumping up to greet them, and then Farnsworth introduced Azalea.

“You’re the real purpose of our visit,” said Betty, her charming little face alight with gay welcome.  “We adore our neighbours, and they simply worship us,—­so we’re quite prepared to take any friends or relatives of either of them into our hearts and homes.”

“My!” said Azalea, unable to think of any more fitting response, and taking Betty’s outstretched hand, with her own little finger carefully extended.

Betty Gale’s eyes opened wide for a fraction of a second, then she as quickly accepted the situation, and said, cordially, “I’m sure we shall be friends.  And you must like my scapegrace brother, too, if only for my sake.”

“At first,” supplemented Raymond, as he stepped toward Azalea, “but as soon as you know me better, you’ll love me for myself alone,—­I feel sure of that!”