"
Patty gave the order to Janet, who had appeared to look after the
visitor, and turned back at the sound of Azalea's loud, strident
laughter.
"Kimono! At six P.M. That's good. Why, Cousin, I use my kim for a
dressing gown, I ain't going to bed,--am I?"
"No, dear. But we'll have a more cosy time, I think, if you get off your
travel things and have a refreshing bath."
"Oh, well, I'll take off this rig,--I want to be choice of it, anyway.
You have dinner at night?"
"Yes, we always do."
"Well, don't make any change for me, as I said. I ain't accustomed to it,
but I can stand it, I guess. Nothing fazes _me_!"
Azalea took off her dress and looked at the skirt with concern.
"Some dusty," she remarked, "but it'll brush off."
"Oh, yes; lay it on that chair. Janet will look after it."
"Brush it, you mean?"
"Yes; clean it and press it properly."
"My land! does your servant do that?"
"Certainly. And leave your street shoes out for her to attend to."
"Oh,--I see! She's a regular outfit! Well, I never had a maid,--but I
guess I can stand one."
Janet re-entered the room at this moment, and with an attempted air of
grandeur, Azalea flung herself into a low chair, and stuck out her foot
to have her shoe removed.
Patty gasped. The girl changed so quickly from independence to apparent
helplessness, and yet her manner was so crude and overbearing, that it
was doubtful how the maid would take it.
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