"Of course not,--if you forbid it. But when Farnsworth asks me, what am I to say?"
"Who the Bixbys are. And other awkward questions. You see, I know old Bixby,--and I knew as soon as I saw him here that day that he had drawn you into his snares."
"Don't put it that way--I wasn't exactly drawn in."
"Well, you're in, all right. Why, Azalea, I saw you in a picture in New York, night before last."
"Yes; in 'Star of the West.' Don't try to fib out of it--"
"Now you needn't get mad! I know you're not entirely above a little fibbing, now and then!"
"I think I'll go in the house,--I don't like you."
"Oh, Zaly, behave yourself. Be a sensible girl, and face the music! Why don't you own it all up, and tell Farnsworth the whole story? It isn't a criminal thing to act in the 'movies.'"
"They think it is,--Bill and Patty. They'd never forgive me!"
"Oh, pshaw, they would, too! Anyway, I want you to do it,--tell 'em, I mean. Won't you, Zaly,--won't you,--for my sake?"
Gale was sincere and earnest, and Azalea thrilled to the strong tenderness in his voice as he urged her.
"I can't, Ray," she said, at last. "Truly, I can't. They'd--they'd turn me off--"
"Oh, Azalea, what nonsense! They'd do no such thing!"
"Yes, they would. You don't know Bill. He's good and generous and kind,--but he hates anything like deceit,--and almost worse, he hates the whole moving-picture racket. I don't mean the pictures themselves, exactly,--but the idea of anybody of his being in them. And, oh, Ray,--it isn't only myself,--but I took--I took--"
"Yes, I did. It didn't seem any harm, at first, and then, one day when I brought her home,--she was sleepy,--unusually so, I mean, and Nurse said she had been given soothing sirup,--and--I found out afterward she had! Mrs. Bixby had given her some, to keep her quiet in the picture, you know. Of course, I never dreamed of such a thing,--why, Ray, that little girl is as dear to me,--almost,--as she is to Patty! I wouldn't harm a hair of her blessed little curly head! And I'd never have allowed a drop of that sirup, if I'd known it! But I just gave her to Mrs. Bixby to hold, while I changed my costume,--Mrs. Bixby seems a good woman--"
"Oh, come now, I don't believe it hurt the child."