laughed at her cousin’s impetuous ways, and picked up the scattered garments, as fast as Helen flung them down.
“Don’t you have a maid, Patty? I supposed of course you did.”
“Oh, we have Jane. She maids Nan and me both, when we want her. But she does a lot of other things, too. We don’t have as many servants as we used to. Patriotism has struck this house, you know, and we’ve cut out more or less of the luxuries.”
“Good for you! I’m patriotic, too. Do you knit?”
“Of course; who doesn’t? Now, Bumble, – oh, yes, I’m going to call you by the old name if I want to, – do try to make yourself look tidy! Take down your hair and do it over. Your hair is lovely, – if you’d take a little more pains with it.”
“To be sure! Anything to please!” and Helen shook down her short curly mop. “Let me see his picture,” she demanded as she brushed vigorously away. “Quick! quick! I can’t wait a minute!”
Patty ran out of the room, laughing, and returned with a photograph of Farnsworth.
“Stunning!” cried Helen, “he’s simply great! Wherever did you catch him? Are there any more at home like him? ’Deed I will steal him away from you, if I possibly can. Oh, Patty, do you remember Chester Wilde? Well, he wants me to marry him, but I can’t see it! That’s one reason I ran away from home, to escape his persistence.”
“I do believe you’re a belle, Bumble! You’re fascinating, I see. Mercy goodness, you’ll cut poor little me out with everybody!”
“As if you cared! Now that you’re wooed and won!”
“Of course I don’t care. You can have all the others, – and there are plenty, – only, so many of them are going or gone to war.”
“I know, all my best ones have, too. But you couldn’t like a man who doesn’t want to fight!”
“I should say nixy!”
“What’s your Bill do? Is he in camp?”
“Oh, no. You know, he’s an expert mining engineer, and he’s used, – I mean, his services are used by the government. I can’t tell you all about it, because I don’t know all myself; and what I do know, I’m not allowed to tell, in detail. So don’t ask, Helen; just know my little Billee is doing his full duty, – and then some!”
“Little! Is he little? He doesn’t look so, from this picture.”
The photograph showed only the head and shoulders of Farnsworth, but it hinted a large man. However, Patty said, just for fun:
“You can’t tell from that. But I don’t mind how little he is, – he’s all the world to me!”
She looked a trifle embarrassed, so, thinking Farnsworth must be decidedly undersized, Helen dropped the subject.
Her trunk had arrived, and Jane appeared, to assist in unpacking.
“Get out a pretty frock,” Patty directed her guest, “and I’ll help you get into it, and then we’ll go down and see Nan, she’ll soon be home.”
“Where is she?”
“Chasing some committee, as usual. We’ve both lost our individuality now, and we’re merged in committees. I’m a member of quite a number, but Nan belongs to more than I do. Here, Helen, put on this bluet, Georgette, satinet thing.”
“Rather dressy?”
“Not too much so. It’s nearly tea time, and people often drop in and I want you to make a good impression. And for gracious’ sake, do your hair more carefully than that! Here, let me do it, – or Jane.”
“All right,” and Helen dropped into a chair before the toilette table, while the deft and willing Jane quickly twisted up the brown locks.
“Now you’ll do,” said Patty, after a final critical examination. “Oh, wait, this sash end is loose.”
“I know, the snapper’s off. Never mind.”
“But I do mind! Helen Barlow, you’re as bumbly as ever! We used to call you that because you were as heedless and careless as a bumblebee – ”
“There was another reason,” Helen laughed.
“Yes, because you were so fat! You’ve pretty nearly gotten over that.”
“Thank you, lady, for dem kind woids! A little guarded, aren’t you? Know then, that my sole end, aim and ambition is to get thin, really thin, – slim, slender, willowy, – merely a slip of a girl – ”
“You haven’t quite achieved all that!” and Patty laughed. “But if you’re trying to, I’ll help you. No sweets, you know.”
“Gracious, Patty, I haven’t tasted candy for two years! And as a sugar conserver, I’m right there! Not a lump of it comes my way!”
“Good for you! Then, with exercise, and not too much sleep, we’ll soon get you into condition!”
The girls went down stairs, and found Nan already there.
“My dear old Bumble!” she cried; “no, no Helen for me! I knew you too long by the old name to change.”
“But, Nan, I don’t like it! Please don’t. Such a horrid name!”
“All right, then. I’ll try to say Helen, but if the other slips out sometimes, you must forgive me. Now, how’s everybody? Bob all right?”
“Fine! In camp, of course, but he gets home occasionally, or we go to see him. Dad and Mother sent all sorts of messages and greetings, – and hoped I won’t make you too much trouble – as if I could!”
“Indeed you can’t!” cried Nan, warmly. “We’re just awfully glad to see you, and you must stay just as long as you possibly can. Has Patty been telling you of her latest escapade?”
“She wrote me of it, – that’s mostly why I came. I thought the sight of the flirtatious, coquettish, altogether frivolous and fickle Patty Fairfield tied down to one man, would be worth seeing!”
“Huh!” remarked Patty, “when you see the man, you’ll not wonder! Anybody would be glad to be tied to him.”
“I’m going to cut Patty out, you know, Nan,” Helen declared, “but it’s more likely she’ll throw him over and fly to some newer flame, – ”
“Oh, very likely,” Patty mocked, her eyes dancing, “oh, ve-ry like-ly! When I throw him over, Bumble, you have my full permission to pick him up. But until then, – hands off my property!”
The tea things appeared then, and Patty did the honours, remarking, “Yes, we do have tea, ’most every day, and we have sugar in it, – but we skimp it some and we don’t have really rich cakes.”
“I’m glad to get it,” and Helen accepted her cup. “I forgot to get any luncheon, and I’ll just make up for it now.”
Whereupon she proceeded to devour cakes and biscuits, until Patty
