“And I just thought,” 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.  Why, she’d make fame and fortune, I’m positive.”

“Oh, Mona! what utter rubbish!  One of our people in the ‘movies’!  Impossible!”

“I knew you’d say that!  And I know Patty will say—­oh, good Heavens, I don’t know what Patty will say!  But I do know this; she would have been sensible and would have felt just as I do about it, if it hadn’t been for the Fleurette part of it.  Before the baby appeared on the screen Patty was really delighted with Azalea.  She was enthusiastic about her talent and her beauty,—­really, Bill, she looked very beautiful in the pictures.”

“Oh, Zaly is good-looking enough.  But her taking our baby is—­why, there’s no term suitable!  Where is Azalea!”

“I hope nowhere near, while you look like that!” and Mona laughed.  “Your expression is positively murderous!”

“I feel almost that way!  Just think, Mona, Azalea is my relative!  I inflicted her on Patty, poor little Patty—­”

“Oh, come now, Bill, don’t overdo it!  Azalea was most daring and even foolish, but not criminal.  You know how she loves that child, and you know she wouldn’t let harm come near her.”

“But accidents might happen, for all Azalea’s care and watchfulness—­”

“I know that, but an accident might happen to Winnie when she takes Baby out in her coach!”

“Are you standing up for Azalea?”

“That’s just what I’m doing!  I’m glad you’ve got it through your head at last.  And I ask this of you, old friend.  Whatever you do or say to Azalea, think it well over beforehand.  If you talk to Patty, as she is feeling now you’ll both be ready to tar and feather poor Zaly; and, truly, she doesn’t deserve it!  Please, Bill, go slow,—­and be just.  Be generous if you can,—­but at any rate, be just.  That’s all I ask.  And you can’t be just if you act on impulse,—­so, go slow.  Will you?”

“Yes, Mona,—­there’s my hand on it We’re not often over-impulsive,—­Patty and I,—­but in this case we may be,—­might have been,—­if you hadn’t warned me.  You’re a good girl, Mona, and I thank you for your foresight and real kindness,”

And so Farnsworth went in search of Patty with a resolve to try to reason out the matter with a fair consideration of all sides of it.

He found his wife and daughter in the nursery.