"
"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.
"No," she exclaimed, positively, "I can't do it! I really can't! I'm
sorry it didn't go right, but I _can't_ do it again! It's impossible!"
A pause, and then, again, "No, I simply can't! Don't ask me--yes, of
course,--I know,--but, you see, they said,--oh, I can't tell you
now,--I'll write,--well, yes, I'll do _that_!--Oh, of course, _I'll_ be
there--but the--the other one--no, no, no!"
These remarks were at long intervals and disconnected, but they were
clearly heard by the three in the next room, and though no one mentioned
it, each thought it a strange conversation for Azalea to take part in.
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