"I s'pose so! Well, having found out how 'different' she is now, why don't you send her home?"
"Oh, I can't. And, to tell you the truth, Elise, I want to help the girl. She's ignorant and inexperienced, but she has a sort of native quickness and wit, and I feel sure if I could teach her for a while, she could learn to be one of us,—and in time become a fine woman."
"Oh, you philanthropist! And meantime she has run off with your baby!"
"The baby carriage is gone, Mrs. Farnsworth," said Winnie, appearing suddenly. "So I expect Miss Thorpe took baby in that."
"Yes, probably," said Patty, despairingly. "Oh, Elise, this suspense is driving me crazy! If I knew that Zaly had her,—and if I knew nothing had happened, I'd feel so relieved. But suppose she did break Fleurette's little arm or leg—"
"Or back!" put in Elise; "you must not let her pitch the baby around!
It's criminal!"
"But you don't know how deft she is. Why, she's almost a contortionist herself. She can turn handsprings and—"
"I don't care if she's the greatest acrobat the world ever saw! There's always chance of an accident! And with a baby, you never know. Suppose Fleurette squirmed out of her grasp, just as she—"
"Oh, hush! Elise, you drive me distracted! It can't be anything like that!"
"Yes, it can! I hope it isn't, but do let this be a lesson to you, Patty! Don't ever allow that girl to see the baby again,—much less touch her! I think you and Bill must have taken leave of your senses to give her such freedom! Why, you don't deserve to have that heavenly baby!"