I answered Patty's letter as if I were really Azalea Thorpe,--you see, I had known her all my life, until she moved away, and then I packed up my things and came East, resolved to pretend I _was_ Azalea and see what happened.

It didn't seem so dreadful--I thought at first, it was just a big lark,--but now,--oh, _now_ I know how right and honourable people look on a thing like that!" She cast a hopeless glance at Van Reypen, and though he smiled at her and started toward her she shook her head and waved him back.
"On the trip East, I met the Bixbys, and as we at once arranged for my entrance into their studios, I was more than ever eager to put the matter through.
"So I came.

Oh, I hate to think how I imposed on the Farnsworths! They were _so_ kind to me, right from the start.

Then they asked me questions about my father, and I didn't know what to do or say.

I tried to fool you, Bill, with a made-up letter but I didn't succeed.