"No, thank you. Any old thing, so long as it's good. As if you ever had anything that wasn't salt of the earth!" "Oh, Patty! You don't eat salt of the earth! Unless you're a cannibal!" "I'd like to know what kind of salt you do eat, then! Run along, Adele, and order a dressy luncheon. I am pretty hungry." Mrs. Kenerley went off, and Patty stood for a moment, looking out of the window. "I did just the right thing," she said to herself. "Up here, where it's so quiet and peaceful, I can think things out, and know just where I stand. Down home, I shouldn't have had a minute to myself. It is beautiful here. So peaceful and calm." Patty turned, as some one entered her room, and saw a maid, ready to unpack for her. "I've only a suitcase, Tessie," she smiled. "I'm here but for two or three days." "Yes, Miss Fairfield. It's good to see you again. What will you put on?" "The little rose Georgette, please. Why, here are two of my frocks in this wardrobe!" "Yes, you left them last summer, and Mrs. Kenerley said to leave them there against your next visit." "Good work! Here's a white crepe de chine. Just the thing for tomorrow. No guests, are there, Tessie?" "None, Miss Fairfield. Some ladies left this morning." "Now, tell me all about it," said Adele, coming back. "You may go, Tessie. I'll look after Miss Fairfield." Tessie went away, and the two friends sat down for a chat. "First of all, Adele," Patty said, "I don't want any one to know where I am. I want a few days of absolute freedom from interruption,--I've some things to think out." "H'm," said Adele. "Who is he?" Patty turned pink. "Nobody," she returned; "or, if it's anybody, it's Phil Van Reypen; he wants me to marry him, and I don't know whether to or not." Adele looked at Patty's transparent face, and knew she was not telling the whole truth. "You won't," she said, astutely. "But never mind why you came, dear; tell me as much or as little as you wish. And nobody shall know of your whereabouts, I promise you that. We'll have a lovely, comfy time, just by ourselves." "And I'll tell you this much, Adele; if Bill Farnsworth telephones, on no account tell him I'm here. Please tell him I'm _not_!" "Oh, fie, fie, Patty; tell a naughty story?" "Sometimes a naughty story is justifiable; or, well, if you can't conscientiously do it, let me know if he threatens to come up here and I'll scoot off somewhere else." "I think I see you! I'll leave it to Jim. He'll manage it diplomatically. And perhaps Bill won't telephone." "No, most likely not. But he may. He doesn't know I'm here,--nobody does,--but I suppose this will be the first place anybody would suspect me of being." "I think very likely. Come on, now, I'll help you dress for lunch. What a beautiful kimono! Where did you get that?"