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For the all-important baby was now two months old, and entitled to consideration as a real member of the family. Fleurette was her name, only selected after long thought and much discussion. Bill had stood out for Patricia Fairfield Farnsworth, but Patty declared no child of hers should be saddled with such a burden for life!
He held out his arms to Fleurette, who, always ready to make friends with strangers, smiled and leaned toward him. Azalea had wild thoughts of running away, anywhere, but she knew the futility of such a plan. Merritt was a big and strong man, and though Azalea was a swift runner, she could not get a start without his intervening. She tried pleading.
Farnsworth, but all the same, look at those eyes, now." Patty looked, but it seemed to her that the blue eyes drooped from natural weariness, and assuring herself that no bones were broken or out of place, she drew a long sigh of relief and told Winnie to put Fleurette to bed as usual. The nurse shook her head sagely, but said no more of her fears.
Doctor Marsh was not in, but his office boy said he had not had any call from Azalea by telephone or in person. Patty was quite calm now. Her efficient self had risen to the emergency and she was quickly considering what was best to do. "I'm going to telephone Bill," she said, as if thinking aloud, "but first, I'm going to call up the Gales, and see if Zaly could have taken Fleurette over there.
"Very well, say no more about it now, only remember I want to see the next one." Azalea flounced out of the room, very angry, and muttering beneath her breath. "What in the world, Little Billee, are you getting at?" asked Patty, as she cuddled Fleurette into her shoulder. "There's something queer, Patty, something very queer about that girl!"
"That's so," and Azalea's manner suddenly changed. "Patty is a dear, and I love her. And that baby! Oh!" "How crazy you are over that child," Elise exclaimed. "She is a dear baby, but I don't see why you idolise her so." "Oh, I love babies, and Fleurette is so sweet and soft and cuddly! I love to have her all to myself, but Patty won't let me." "I don't wonder!
Azalea gasped. So her premonition had been a true one after all! Had she not returned, Merritt would have easily overcome Janet and taken the baby off with him. She knew they would not harm Fleurette, indeed, would be most careful of her. Unless, perhaps, they should give her soothing-sirup again.
She behaved much better at table and in the presence of guests. Patty rejoiced at the improvement and, as she took strict care that Azalea should have no opportunity to see Fleurette alone, she feared no repetition of those anxious hours when the baby was missing. Elise rather liked the Western girl. They became good friends and went for long strolls together.
Mona gave him a full account of the moving-picture play that she and Patty had visited, and told him, too, of Patty's distress over the pictures of Fleurette. Farnsworth was greatly amazed, but, like Mona, he knew Patty could not be mistaken as to the identity of Fleurette.
Then they wanted a little baby in the picture and as I was so fond of Fleurette and loved her too much to let any harm come to her, I thought it all right to take her over there once or twice to get the pictures of her. But one of the films went wrong, somehow, and Mr. Merritt was determined to take it over again.
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