Carolyn Wells

“ Just because I happen to be born under a family tree, and happen to have as much money as I want,—that's no reason for implying that those are my chief attractions. I can give Azalea more worth-while things than that! I can give her the love and adoration that is every woman's desire and right,—I can give her loving care and help,—I can—"
"Oh, Phil, how splendid you are! You make me 'most wish—" But Patty's honest blue eyes wouldn't let her say the words. "No, I don't wish anything of the sort! You are a splendid man, and I do appreciate you, but I have my Bill, and he's all the world to me. ”

“ At last she returned to the group, and Patty said, pleasantly, "Who's your friend, Zaly?"
"Nobody in particular," and Azalea looked as if that were a question she had been dreading.
"You mean not a particular friend; but who was it?" Patty was persistent, even at risk of rousing Azalea's wrath, for she felt she must know.
"I won't tell you!" Azalea cried, stormily. "It's nobody's business if I answer a telephone call. I don't ask you who it is, every time you telephone!" ”

“ Patty, dainty, graceful and sweet, was the very antithesis of tall, gawky Azalea, with her countrified dress and badly made black shoes. Her careless air, too, was unattractive,—for it was not the nonchalance of experience, but the unselfconsciousness of sheer ignorance of urban ways and manners.
"My land! what a room," the country girl ejaculated, as they entered Patty's boudoir. "How ever can you live in this fancy place! It's like a picture!" ”

“ If she cares for me, Bill, I'll take all that load off her poor little shoulders. I'll get her to tell me the truth, and then we'll see what can be done. But, in any case, or whatever her father may be, it won't affect my love for the girl herself. My idea of birth and breeding is that it gives one an opportunity to be tolerant and generous toward others of fewer advantages. To me, Azalea stands alone,—her family connections, whatever they may be, I accept gladly, for her dear sake. ”

“ Patty had sent Winnie off, feeling that she must hold Fleurette in her arms for some time, in order to realise that she was safe from the whirling winds of that awful cyclone!
When Bill appeared, Patty began at once, and launched forth a full description of the picture play, and of Azalea's and Fleurette's parts in it.
Farnsworth sat looking at her, his blue eyes full of a contented admiration. To this simple-minded, big-hearted man, his wife and child represented the whole world. All he had, all he owned, he valued only for the pleasure it might mean to them. ”

“ Patty. Can't we play all by ourselves for a little while?"
"Certainly," said Patty, as she rose from the table. "Mona and I are going to sit on the wistaria porch and gossip for half an hour. After that, we're all going to dance,—and maybe sing."
"Good enough programme," agreed Van Reypen. "For one half-hour, then, each may do as he or she wishes!"
"Yes, if you all promise to be back here in half an hour."
"Make it an hour, Patty," laughed Elise, who had her own plans.
"All right," said Patty, carelessly, who cared only that her guests should enjoy themselves. ”

“ 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. You know Azalea is utterly lawless,—it's impossible to imagine what she will do. Oh, Elise, you've no idea what we go through with that girl! She is a terror! And yet,—well, there is something about her I can't help liking. For one thing, she's so fond of Fleurette. ”

“ Patty led them to the nursery, and from the lacy draperies of the bassinette a smiling baby face looked up at them.
"What a heavenly kiddy!" Elise exclaimed, "Oh, Patty, what a daffodil head! Just a blur of yellow fuzz! And such blue eyes! She looks exactly like you! And exactly like Bill, too. Oh, I never saw such a darling baby. Let me take her,—mayn't I?"
"Yes, indeed. She's no glass-case baby." ”

“ Other shelves held lace pieces, luncheon sets, boudoir pillow-cases, table scarfs, and all the exquisite embroidered bits that are the delight of the home lover.
"Perfectly wonderful!" Elise declared; "looks just like a shop in Venice or Nice. How do you keep them so tidy? and where did you ever get so many?"
"Oh, I've done quite some shopping to get our Lares and Penates together, and Bill let me get whatever I wanted in the house furnishing line. Yes, this linen room is my joy and my pride. See, this cupboard is all curtains. I do love to have fresh curtains as often as I want them." ”

“ Don't allow it, Patty."
"I do forbid it, but she comes in here when I don't know it,—or she picks baby out of her carriage, Winnie says, and tosses her clear up and catches her again."
"I'll speak to her about it; why, she'll drop the child some day! She must not do it!"
"I wish you would speak to her," Patty sighed. "Azalea is really a trial. I don't know what to do with her. Sometimes she is so sweet and docile that I think I'm teaching her to be a civilised person, and then she flies off at a tangent and she's as unruly and intractable as she was at first." ”

“ Miss Grayson is so kind and dear I don't mind her knowing, and the rest of you must know. I must tell you,—I can't live if I don't."
"All right, Zaly, dear, tell us," and Patty sat beside her, and put a caressing hand on her arm.
"I am Alice Adams," Azalea said, "and I am not Azalea Thorpe at all,—and I never was."
"Oh!" said Farnsworth, beginning to see light.
"I am a wicked girl," the pathetic little voice went on. "I lived in Homer's Corners,—and I lived with the woman who keeps the post-office there. ”

“ But no accident happened and the two had their usual afternoon romp.
Little Fleurette knew her father and adored the big, comfortable man who held her so firmly and tossed her up so delightfully.
"Now, it's my turn,—give her to me," said Patty, at last. Then Bill deposited the child in her mother's arms, and the little one nestled there contentedly. She was a good baby, and rarely cried or fretted. Healthy and strong, she bade fair to become a fine big woman some day, and Patty's leaping mind had already planned out her whole lifetime! ”

“ Patty beamed. "You dear!" she cried; "do you really want to see my daughter?"
"My daughter," Farnsworth added; "but I didn't know you chaps would be interested in our infant prodigy. I never cared about seeing other people's babies."
"I do," stoutly insisted Channing. "I'm a connoisseur on kiddies. Let me see him."
"He isn't him," laughed Patty, "he's a she."
"So much the better," Chick avowed. "I love girl babies. Where is she?"
"You can't see her now, she's probably asleep. To-morrow she'll be on exhibition. I hear a car! It must be Mona!" ”

“ He'll know just what it's worth."
"Oh, Elise," Azalea looked troubled, "don't take it so seriously. It's just an old thing. You've others here that are far handsomer."
"As I told you, Zaly, it's the age that counts,—not the beauty. Run along to your own booth. I'll lay this aside until I can find out about it. But if it's as valuable as I think it is, you mustn't give it to Vanity Fair,—or to anybody. 1636! My!"
Azalea looked a little crestfallen. Instead of being glad at the unexpected value ascribed to her gift, she seemed decidedly put out about it. She strolled round by Patty's booth. ”

“ She never would have run away! Not Azalea! She's no coward,—whatever other unpleasant traits she may possess."
"That's so," agreed Patty; "and she truly loves the baby. No, Elise, nothing like that happened,—I'm sure. I see it as Bill does, now. It is a heavenly day,—and Zaly felt pretty sure I wouldn't let her take Baby out by herself, without the nurse,—and she does love to do that,—and so she sneaked off, and made up that yarn about the food in order to get Fleurette's hat and coat on! Oh, she's a manoeuvrer!" ”

“ Mona went on, "that I'd tell you before Patty did,—for,—oh, well, this is my real reason,—Patty is so wrought up and so wild over the Fleurette matter that she can't judge Azalea fairly,—and I don't want to have injustice done to her at this stage of the game. For, Bill, Azalea has real talent,—real dramatic genius, I think, and if there's no reason against it,—except conventional ones,—I think she ought to be allowed to become a motion-picture actress. She's bound to make good,—she has the right sort of a face for the screen,—beautiful, mobile, expressive, and really, a speaking countenance. ”

“ She answered in monosyllables when spoken to, and paid no attention to the conversation of the others.
"I expect my friend Elise Farrington to-morrow," said Patty; "I'm sure you'll like her, Azalea."
"Will she like me?" said the girl, indifferently.
"If she doesn't, it will be your own fault," and Patty took advantage of the opportunity for a word of warning. "Elise is a person of strong likes and dislikes. If you try to be real nice and courteous she will certainly like you, and if you're rude and blunt, I don't believe she will. Do you care, Azalea, whether she does or not?" ”

“ Patty had arranged that she should sit next Van Reypen, and as Azalea took the place, she found Ray Gale on her other hand.
"'Smatter, Zaly?" he said, merrily, not thinking anything was really troubling her.
"Shell shock," said Van Reypen, to save Azalea the necessity of replying. "She's had a hard day of it, and now she's not to be bothered to talk, if she doesn't want to."
Azalea gave him a grateful look, and under the influence of his gentle kindliness, and mild raillery, she partly recovered her poise, and became almost like her own gay self again. ”

“ Coffee was served in the library and the small cups excited Azalea's scorn.
"Skimpy, I call it!" she cried. "And where's the milk?"
"You may have cream if you wish it, Azalea," said Patty, a little tired of smiling. "Norah will bring some."
"Oh, let me get it," and Azalea jumped up. "I remember, Patty, you told me not to trouble the servants too much."
"Sit down!" Farnsworth said, in a tone that made Azalea jump. "Wait for
Norah to bring it."
"Oho! you believe in making the lazy things work, don't you! What's the use of hiring a dog, and doing your own barking? That's right!" ”

“ Farnsworth said nothing in the presence of the guests, and Elise, after her first exclamation, subsided.
In fact, Elise was more interested in the society of Channing and Van
Reypen than in the mystery of Azalea's disappearances.
Betty and Ray Gale had been telephoned for, and they came gladly, so that at dinner there was quite a big party.
"You certainly are a great little old hostess, Patty!" exclaimed Roger Farrington, as they seated themselves at table. "I liked you heaps as a girl, but as mistress of a fine house you are even more charming." ”

“ Patty cried out. "Come away, Azalea!" for she really didn't know what the strange girl would do next.
"Pshaw! I didn't hurt her. If she's such a touch-me-not, she's no fun at all! But every-body's like that with their first baby! Silly! Fussy! Just ridiculous!"
"I daresay," laughed Patty, determined not to show her annoyance. "But it's time to dress for dinner,—or nearly. Come back to your room,—and—wouldn't you like to take a fifteen minute nap? It might refresh you." ”

“ I'm—I'm not worthy!"
"Hush!" and Van Reypen closed her lips with a tender kiss. "Hush, Azalea, never use the words worthy or unworthy between us. Our love makes us worthy of each other, whatever we may be otherwise."
"Stop,—please stop! Every word you say makes it harder! I can't stand it! It's too dreadful. Let me go,—oh, please, let me go!"
Shuddering as with some great fear, Azalea slipped from his arms and ran away. He heard her steps as she went upstairs, and heard a door close,—evidently she had flown to her own room.
Greatly perplexed, Phil went in search of Patty. ”

“ No house guests, I mean, but just Zaly and me."
"I'm glad, too," said Patty. "You see, I expected Father and Nan, but they've changed their plans and will remain in California another month."
"They're having a gorgeous trip, aren't they?"
"Yes, indeed, but I wish they'd ever get home! Just think, Father has never seen Fleurette!"
"She'll be a big girl when they do see her. She's growing like a little weed."
"Like a little flower, you mean! Don't you just love her name, Elise?"
"Fleurette? Little Flower? Of course I do. The sweetest ever. Does Bill still call you Patty Blossom?" ”