"Mrs. Bryce, did you send a maid to look after Isabelle?"
"Oh, no, I forgot it"--in an annoyed tone.
"Can't find her? Oh, she must be somewhere,"--absently.
"But I have looked everywhere. No one saw her go out. I have been gone over two hours, you know."
Something of Ann's excitement affected Mrs. Bryce.
"Oh, she couldn't get away far. Kate," she called to a maid in the dressing room, "did you see Isabelle?"
"I saw her just after Miss Barnes left," said the girl. "She had on her best hat and coat, and I sez to her: 'Where ye goin?' an' she sez to me: 'I'm goin' to look for some reg'lar parunts' an' she went out the side door. I thought somebody was lookin' after her."
"Oh, Mrs. Bryce, she's run away!" cried Ann.
"Wouldn't you know she'd do it on a day when I was having a special tea!" she blazed.
"Oh!" said Ann, looking the other woman straight in the eyes, and Mrs. Bryce knew that this girl despised her. Not that it mattered, but it was annoying at the moment.
"Don't stand there talking. Get the chauffeur and tell him to go look for her," she ordered, turning to receive the lace gown that the maid held over her head.
Ann ran out of the room, and down the stairs. She started for the beach where they went swimming. Henry the chauffeur passed her, calling out that he was going to the neighbours to inquire. Ann turned back to go to the gardener's lodge and find out the whereabouts of Patsy. As she ran she sobbed to herself, at the thought of the forlorn little figure in its best hat and coat, setting out on a crusade to find "regular parents!"
Mrs. Bryce wore the white lace gown, and had her tea. Wally commandeered all the servants except the cook and the butler to help in the search for Isabelle. He and the chauffeur and Ann conducted scouting parties in all directions.
"Where's Wally, Max?" inquired Mrs. Page.
"He's dashing around somewhere looking for Isabelle. She's lost."
"Lost? But where is the jewel who looks after her? Wally told me yards about her."
"I sent her on an errand, and Isabelle got away. She can't have gone far."
"Do you share Wally's enthusiasm over the new governess?"
"I do not," replied Mrs. Bryce, adding, "Wally has become a passionate parent."
"_I_ did, worse luck! You know how all the useless men in the world dote on telling a woman about her duties? Now Wally's only job is to invest money in the wrong things, but he is full of ideas about being a mother."