Smiling and happy-looking, she met the guests and greeted them with a graceful cordiality.

“Where have you been?” cried Elise, but Azalea ignored the question and quickly spoke to some one else.

Mona and Roger Farrington were there, and Philip Van Reypen and Chick Channing.  This quartette had motored up from New York to dine, and Patty had already persuaded them to say they would stay over night.

“I’m crazy for a house party,” she said, “haven’t had one for ’most a week!  Oh, yes.  I’ve a couple of house guests, but I mean a real party.  Let’s make it a week-end, and have lots of fun!”

The visitors were entirely willing, and after telephoning home for additional apparel, they settled down to enjoy themselves.

As they hadn’t much more than accomplished this settling when Azalea arrived, there was no comment made on her absence all day.

In fact, Patty rather forgot about it, in the multitude of her conferences with the housekeeper and the maids.

Farnsworth said nothing in the presence of the guests, and Elise, after her first exclamation, subsided.

In fact, Elise was more interested in the society of Channing and Van Reypen than in the mystery of Azalea’s disappearances.

Betty and Ray Gale had been telephoned for, and they came gladly, so that at dinner there was quite a big party.

“You certainly are a great little old hostess, Patty!” exclaimed Roger Farrington, as they seated themselves at table.  “I liked you heaps as a girl, but as mistress of a fine house you are even more charming.”

“Thank you, Sir Hubert Stanley!” smiled Patty; “and I’m glad to admit that I learned a lot about managing a house from your gifted wife.  Do you remember, Mona, how we kept house down at ’Red Chimneys’?”

“Indeed I do!” Mona answered, “what fun we had that summer!”

“I’ll subscribe to that!” declared Farnsworth, “for it was then and there that I met the lady who is now my wife!  And,—­I kissed her the moment I saw her!”

“Oh, Cousin William!” cried Azalea, “did you really?  What did she say?”

“Flew at me like a small cyclone of wrath!  But as I had mistaken her for my cousin Mona, she couldn’t hold me very guilty.”

“Yes!  A lot Patty looks like me!” said Mona, who was a dark-haired beauty.

“But I didn’t see her face,” pleaded Bill; “I just saw a girl on the verandah of your house, Mona, and I took it for granted it was you!”

“It’s all ancient history,” said Patty, laughing.  “And, to tell the truth, I’m glad it happened,—­for otherwise, I mightn’t have become interested in—­Mona’s cousin.”

“Then I bless my mistake!” said Farnsworth, so fervently that Patty shook her head at him.

“Mustn’t talk so before folks,” she said, reprovingly.  “Now, people all, what shall we do with this lovely evening?  It’s moonlight, so any who are romantically inclined can ramble about the place, and flirt in the arbours,—­while those who prefer can play bridge or—­the piano.  Or just sit and chat.”