"I made it myself,--but that doesn't make it any easier to bear."
"Indeed it doesn't," Patty agreed. "But, never mind, Zaly, if you heaped up a mound of trouble, let me help you to pull it down again."
"No; you can't," and Azalea looked at her dully.
"Oh, come now, let me try. Is it about your father?"
Azalea fairly jumped. "What do you mean?"
"Just what I said," returned Patty, calmly. "You know, dear, you've made us think there's something queer about your father. Is he--has he done anything wrong?"
"No, Patty, goodness, gracious no! Mr. Thorpe is a most honoured and honourable man!"
"Now why does she call him Mr. Thorpe?" Patty wondered, but she only said;
"Oh, all right, forgive my suggestion. Why doesn't he write to you?"
"He--he?--oh, Patty, that's the trouble."
"Good! Now we're getting at it. How is that the trouble?"
"Shall I tell you everything?" and poor Azalea looked doubtful as to what to do.
"Yes, dear," Patty said, gently, fearing even yet that an ill-advised word would interrupt or prevent this long-deferred explanation.
"Well, you see,--oh, Patty,--I'm a wicked, deceitful girl--"
"Out with it," urged Patty, not greatly scared by this tragic beginning,--for Azalea was prone to exaggerate.
"I was home, you know, at Horner's Corners--"
A knock on the door was a most unwelcome interruption.
"Don't answer," Patty whispered, "it's Elise,--I heard her step."
But Elise was not so easily rebuffed. "Let me in," she called, "I know you're in there, Azalea,--you and Patty."
Patty went to the door, and opened it slightly. "Go away now, Elise, please," she said, "Azalea and I are having a little confidential chat."
"Not so confidential that I can't be in it too, is it?" and speaking lightly, Elise brushed past Patty and into the room.
"Why, Azalea," she exclaimed, "what _is_ the matter? You look like a tragedy queen!"
For Azalea, annoyed at the intrusion, stood, hands clenched, and eyes scowling, and she said angrily, "I don't think people ought to come into other people's rooms, uninvited! I don't call _that_ good manners!"
"You're not supposed to know what good manners are," said Elise, giving her a condescending look. "And even if you think you do,--don't try to teach _me_!"
"Oh, Elise," said Patty, reproachfully, "_don't_ talk like that! It reflects on you even more than on Zaly."