"That's just it," agreed Mona, "and that's just what I can't do! Why, my servants rode over me so, and were so impudent and lazy, I just gave up housekeeping and went to a hotel to live. We had to,—there was no other way out."
"And how Roger hates it!" said Elise, who, as Roger's sister, thought herself privileged to comment.
A cloud passed over Mona's face. "He does," she admitted, "but what can I do? He hated worse the scenes we had when we were housekeeping."
"Perhaps conditions will get better now," said Patty, hopefully, "and you can try again, Mona, with better results."
"Maybe; and perhaps you can teach me. You used to teach me lots of things, Patty."
"All right,—I'll willingly do anything I can. Now, who wants to see my angel child? Or would you rather go to your rooms first?"
"No, indeed," cried Elise, "let me see her right now. If she's as pretty as the wistaria vine—oh, Patty, why don't you name her Wistaria?"
"Gracious, what a name! No, she's Fleurette,—or so Little Billee says.
Anyway, here she is."
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?"