"Well, I just guess! You can't lose _me_! I shall be back and forth, of course, but I'll do my share of the work, and exact my share of the fun." "Fine!" said Betty, a bit absently, as she was deeply absorbed in her list of names. "Of course," Patty went on, partly to the others and partly as if merely thinking aloud for her own benefit, "there will be all the regulation things,--lemonade well, fortune-telling, society circus and everything, but the idea is to have every one of them just a little bit different from what it has always been before, and have it in harmony with the idea of Vanity Fair." "The book?" asked Elise. "No, not Thackeray. I mean, just the idea of the gay atmosphere,--the light, giddy side of life. For instance, let's have a Vanity booth and sell all sorts of aids to beauty--" "Powder and paint!" exclaimed Azalea, in surprise. "Well, I meant more like lacy caps and stunning négligées. And yes, of course, vanity cases and powder-puff bags and mirrors and perfumes,--oh, all sorts of foolishnesses that are pretty." "I know," said Elise, nodding her head. "And we'll have an artificial flower booth,--that's right in line. And people love to buy 'em,--I do." "And laces," said Patty; "and embroidered boudoir pillows, and oh,--and baby things! Why Fleurette's nursery wardrobe looks like a Vanity Fair itself!" "Hold on," cried Betty, laughing, "don't go too far. Not everybody is interested in baby togs!" "I s'pose not," said Patty, smiling. "All right, cut out the Baby booth." "No," spoke up Azalea, "let's have it. Everybody knows a baby to give presents to. And the little caps and things are so pretty." "Good for you, Zaly," cried Patty; "we'll have it, and you and I will run it, and Fleurette shall be the presiding genius, and sit enthroned among the fairy wares! Oh, it will be lovely!" "Yes, do have it," agreed Betty. "It will be a screaming success with Fleurette in it!" "And if you want such things," Azalea went on, losing her diffidence, "I can get a lot of Indian things from home,--baskets,--you know,--and leather, and beaded things." "Fine, Zaly!" and Elise smiled at her. "We do want those,--real ones,--they always sell." They went on planning, all working in harmony, and each full of suggestions, which the others approved or criticised, in frank, friendly fashion. Then Janet appeared to call Azalea to the telephone, and the girl looked up, surprised. She blushed scarlet, and hurried from the room. "Who could have called her?" said Elise; "she doesn't know any one you don't know,--does she, Patty?" "No; but she knows lots of our friends. Somebody is probably asking her to go somewhere." None of them tried to listen, but the telephone was in the next room and Azalea's voice had a peculiar carrying quality that made it difficult not to overhear snatches of her conversation.