Mona rang for Mary, and then the two girls went down to the
pleasant and cool veranda.

"It's lucky you have such shoals of servants," said Patty. "At our
house, we couldn't give a guest a choice of nationalities."

"Oh, Patty, isn't she a terror?"

"Who, Mary?"

"No! Aunt Adelaide! It gives me the creeps to look at her. She's
so slight and fragile, I expect to see her go to pieces like a
soap bubble."

"She IS like a soap bubble, isn't she! But, Mona, you mustn't talk
about her like that. I feel sorry for her, she looks so ill and
weak. I think we ought to do all we can to cheer her up, and to
restore her health and strength. I'm sure she's refined and dainty
in her way."

"Yes, she's all of that. But I don't see how she can do the
chaperon act."

"Oh, well, there isn't much to do. It's only the idea of having a
matronly lady here to observe the proprieties."

"But I don't believe she can do that. I think she'll take to her
bed soon. She ought to go to a good sanitarium."

"Nonsense, Mona, she isn't as ill as all that! Can't you see