At the foot of the tree stood Miss Wilder red and tired, speaking sternly to some one overhead. Mr. and Mrs. Bryce rushed to join her, brushing children aside. "What is the matter, Miss Wilder?" demanded Mrs. Bryce. "Oh, Mrs. Bryce, she's--she's----" "Isabelle Bryce, come down here this moment," commanded her mother, loudly. There was a whispered colloquy overhead, among the branches. "That wretched Patsy is with her," wailed Miss Wilder. "They ran away, and hid for hours, and then we found them up here." "Isabelle!" shouted her father. "All right. We're going to drop," said a voice from above. Suddenly two white and shining little bodies hung side by side from a limb, then two naked youngsters dropped into the midst of the astounded party. "Isabelle Bryce!" gasped her mother. "We're playing barbarian," said Isabelle, coolly; "Miss Wilder told me about them." "Miss Wilder!" protested Wally. "But I didn't--I mean--I----" "You said they lived in trees and never wore clothes." The children began to titter. "This is your affair, I believe, Wally," remarked Mrs. Bryce, and she walked in a leisurely way into the house. "Oh, I say," he called after her; then: "Get her indoors, will you? Who's the boy?" "The gardener's child, Patsy." "Where are your clothes?" he demanded. "Up in the tree, sorr," said the boy. "Get them, and cut home," said Wally, severely. Patsy obeyed, but Isabelle resisted force. "I won't hurry and I won't be carried, I'll walk," said she, and--properly clad in her "birthday clothes"--Isabelle Bryce disposed of her first party! CHAPTER TWO Following upon the exit of his daughter came the realization to Wally that something must be done about the "party." He turned to the group of children, huddled together in horror, like butterflies in a rain storm. Serious and large-eyed, they focussed their attention upon him, in the apparent belief that, being a parent, he would be able to handle this unprecedented situation. They ranged in age from three to six; they were the children of his neighbours and life-long associates; and yet Wally had the feeling that he was hemmed in by a pack of alert, curious little animals. "Well, children," he managed to say, "I'm sorry that Isabelle was such a naughty girl at her own party, but she is only four years old, we must remember, and I suppose she did not know any better." "I'm free an' a half, an' I don't take off my cloves at a party," bragged one of the female infants. "No, I'm sure you don't. It isn't done," said Wally, helplessly. "She always spoils parties. I wanted not to have her at mine, but mother made me," remarked Tommy Page. "Hard luck, old man," said Wally. "She always wants to boss everything," Margie Hunter complained. "Are you going to whip her?" demanded another child. "She will be punished, believe me," replied Wally, firmly. "But I think we'd better call the party over."