“Azalea!” she said, again.

“Yes,—­and I want you to help me.  When I spoke to her, this afternoon, she—­she acted—­well, strange—­”

“Oh, Phil, it was only because she was so surprised,—­as I am,—­as everybody will be!  Imagine Elise!”

Patty’s face of horror, that changed to a mischievous smile, annoyed Van Reypen.

“I don’t see, Patty, why you take it like that.  Bill did, too.  Now, it seems to me, if I see noble traits and qualities in Azalea, you and Bill ought to have perception enough to see them too.”

“It isn’t that,—­she has noble traits,—­some,—­but—­oh, Phil,—­you and Azalea!  King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid!”

“Patty, stop!  I won’t let you talk like that!  I admit I’m blind to her faults,—­if she has any,—­for I’m desperately in love,—­but I do look to you and Bill for sympathy and approval.  And I don’t want any of that King Cophetua talk, either!  Just because I happen to be born under a family tree, and happen to have as much money as I want,—­that’s no reason for implying that those are my chief attractions.  I can give Azalea more worth-while things than that!  I can give her the love and adoration that is every woman’s desire and right,—­I can give her loving care and help,—­I can—­”

“Oh, Phil, how splendid you are!  You make me ’most wish—­” But Patty’s honest blue eyes wouldn’t let her say the words.  “No, I don’t wish anything of the sort!  You are a splendid man, and I do appreciate you, but I have my Bill, and he’s all the world to me.  Now, I’m more than glad you’ve found a your fate at last,—­but—­Azalea!”

“Stop it, Patty!  I find I’ve got to forbid these repeated expressions of amazement.  You must get used to the idea, and you may as well begin at once!”

“You’re right, and I will!  First of all, honest and hearty congratulations and may you both be very, very happy,—­as happy as we are,—­I can’t ask more!”

“Thank you, Patty, and will you say a good word for me to Azalea?”

“Why! haven’t you asked her yet?”

“Only partly,—­that is, she has only partly answered me.”

“What did she say?”

“I don’t quite know.  She was,—­well, Patty, she ran away from me.”

“Oh, that’s all right, then, that’s a time-honoured device to postpone the psychological moment!  Well, may I make the announcement at dinner?”

“No; I think not.  For, though I couldn’t help hoping, from the look in her eyes, that she cares for me,—­yet she said—­”

“What did she say?”

“Nothing coherent or understandable,—­but—­well, she didn’t—­she didn’t say ’yes’.”

“Oh, that’s nothing,—­she will.  But I won’t make the announcement till she tells me to.  There’s the dinner gong,—­come on.”

It wasn’t until the others were seated at the table that Azalea come into the dining-room.  She looked quite unlike her usual self, and was very quiet.  Her face showed a pathetic, wistful expression, but her eyes were cast down, and now and then the corners of her scarlet mouth trembled.