CHAPTER XIX
PATTY RUNAWAY
The next day was Saturday, and Patty woke to a somewhat dismantled anddisordered room. Her bed had been restored to its place, after theguests had departed the night before, but other appointments were a bitlacking. Nan had forbidden her to rise until noon, for the Bazaar hadmeant a large expenditure of strength and nerve force, and Patty wasnot robust.
Before she rang for her morning chocolate, she thought over the eventsof the previous evening. She was furiously angry at Farnsworth. Somuch so, that she could think of little else.
"How dared he?" she exclaimed to herself. "The idea of his thinking Iam the sort of girl he can pick up and kiss like that!"
And then her face grew pink with blushes and she buried it in a pillowbecause she realised she was not nearly so indignant as she ought to be!
"Good heavens!" she thought, frantically. "Am I in love with LittleBillee? With a Westerner? A self-made man? Why, he can't hold acandle to Phil for birth and name! And yet--oh, no, I'm not in lovewith him! He's too--too--he takes too much for granted. It's got tostop! Think how he carried me out of the Studio party! And lastnight! No wonder he walked off home without seeing me again! I wonderwhat he will offer by way of apology or explanation. I believe I'llask him!"
Patty reached out her hand for the telephone, and suddenly stopped.
"I can't!" she whispered to herself, shame-facedly, "I--I don't wantany apology from him. I--I--oh, fiddlesticks! I don't know _what_ todo! Guess I'll have a talk with Nan--no, I won't. It was all verywell to talk to her about Phil,--because I didn't care about him. ButI do care about Billee. Oh! do I 'care for' him? I don't know--butI'm not going to think about it. It gets me all mixed up. I wonder--Iwish I could go away. I will! I guess I can do as I've a mind to!"
After a little further thought, and a determined wag of the head, Pattyrang her bell, and when the maid came she said, "Bring my chocolate,please, and then get out a suitcase, and pack it for me."
"Yes, Miss Patty," replied Jane, and until her breakfast came, Patty'smind worked rapidly.
"Jane, I'm going to elope," she announced, as the maid reappeared witha tray.
"Yes, Miss Patty," and though Jane's eyes flew wide open, she made noverbal comment.
"Don't look as if you had been shot!" said Patty, laughing; "I'm goingalone, but you are to help me get off. Pack the things I tell you andthen order the little car for me. I'm not going to tell you where I'mgoing, for I don't want any one to know. But after I'm gone, you maygive Mrs. Fairfield a note I will leave with you. Understand?"
"Yes, Miss Patty," and Jane began at once to lay out the desiredclothing.
"And," Patty went on, "if any one calls or telephones or asks for me inany way, just say that I've gone away for a few days to recuperateafter the exertions of the House Sale."
She carried out her plan with no trouble at all. Jane took down thesuitcase, Patty went down, too, by the back stairs, and got into thecar unseen, and was driven to the Grand Central Station.
Admonishing the chauffeur to tell no one where he took her, Pattybought a ticket for Fern Falls, and in a few hours amazed AdeleKenerley by walking in at her front door.
"Patty Fairfield! You angel child! Where _did_ you drop from? Theblue skies?"
"Not quite. I flew up from New York to beg the hospitality of yourroof for a few days."
"For as long as we can keep you. You dear old thing! How well youlook!"
"Don't say that! I'm here to recuperate after a strenuous gay seasonand a particularly tiring Bazaar thing last night."
"Oh, yes, Bazaars are the most tiresome things in the world! You oughtnever to go to them."
"This one came to me. It was at our house. I'll tell you all about itlater. But, honestly, Adele, I was just ready to perfectly fly thismorning! My nerves gave out, my muscles are all lame and tired, andthen, my brain gave way. So, sez I, why not flee away to that haven ofrest what I wot of,--and here I am flewn!"
"Well, I'm jolly glad to see you. Jim will be overjoyed, too. Comeright up to your own room, and take off your things, while I go andspeak to Cook. Anything particular you want for lunch?"
"No, thank you. Any old thing, so long as it's good. As if you everhad anything that wasn't salt of the earth!"
"Oh, Patty! You don't eat salt of the earth! Unless you're acannibal!"
"I'd like to know what kind of salt you do eat, then! Run along,Adele, and order a dressy luncheon. I am pretty hungry."
Mrs. Kenerley went off, and Patty stood for a moment, looking out ofthe window. "I did just the right thing," she said to herself. "Uphere, where it's so quiet and peaceful, I can think things out, andknow just where I stand. Down home, I shouldn't have had a minute tomyself. It is beautiful here. So peaceful and calm."
Patty turned, as some one entered her room, and saw a maid, ready tounpack for her.
"I've only a suitcase, Tessie," she smiled. "I'm here but for two orthree days."
"Yes, Miss Fairfield. It's good to see you again. What will you puton?"
"The little rose Georgette, please. Why, here are two of my frocks inthis wardrobe!"
"Yes, you left them last summer, and Mrs. Kenerley said to leave themthere against your next visit."
"Good work! Here's a white crepe de chine. Just the thing fortomorrow. No guests, are there, Tessie?"
"None, Miss Fairfield. Some ladies left this morning."
"Now, tell me all about it," said Adele, coming back. "You may go,Tessie. I'll look after Miss Fairfield."
Tessie went away, and the two friends sat down for a chat.
"First of all, Adele," Patty said, "I don't want any one to know whereI am. I want a few days of absolute freedom from interruption,--I'vesome things to think out."
"H'm," said Adele. "Who is he?"
Patty turned pink. "Nobody," she returned; "or, if it's anybody, it'sPhil Van Reypen; he wants me to marry him, and I don't know whether toor not."
Adele looked at Patty's transparent face, and knew she was not tellingthe whole truth. "You won't," she said, astutely. "But never mind whyyou came, dear; tell me as much or as little as you wish. And nobodyshall know of your whereabouts, I promise you that. We'll have alovely, comfy time, just by ourselves."
"And I'll tell you this much, Adele; if Bill Farnsworth telephones, onno account tell him I'm here. Please tell him I'm _not_!"
"Oh, fie, fie, Patty; tell a naughty story?"
"Sometimes a naughty story is justifiable; or, well, if you can'tconscientiously do it, let me know if he threatens to come up here andI'll scoot off somewhere else."
"I think I see you! I'll leave it to Jim. He'll manage itdiplomatically. And perhaps Bill won't telephone."
"No, most likely not. But he may. He doesn't know I'm here,--nobodydoes,--but I suppose this will be the first place anybody would suspectme of being."
"I think very likely. Come on, now, I'll help you dress for lunch.What a beautiful kimono! Where did you get that?"
"At the Sale last night. Oh, we had wonderful things. Everybodydonated, you know, and then came and bought the things. Philip gave ussome of Aunty Van Reypen's bronzes and ivory carvings. I think we'llmake a lot of money."
"And you ran away the morning after! Didn't you want to know how thefunds summed up?"
"Oh, yes; but the house was in such a fearful state! Furniture allmoved and things every which way. I was glad to disappear until itgets into shape again."
"And doesn't Mrs. Fairfield or your father know where you are?"
"Well, I left a note for Nan, and I didn't tell her just where I wasgoing, so she could tell people that I hadn't; but I gave hersufficient hints, so she can form a fairly correct notion of mydestination."
"All right, Pattykins, I'll look after you, and no one shall learn fromme where you are,--least of all, that terrible ogre, Bill Farnsworth!"
Patty smiled, and the two friends went
downstairs. Jim Kenerley wasbeaming with welcomes, and declared that he, too, would keep the secretof Patty's presence under his roof, even at the point of the bayonet.
But, alas, for good intentions!
That afternoon, Kenerley sought his wife, consternation in every lineof his good-looking countenance.
"Where's Patty?" he asked, abruptly.
"I sent her off for a nap. She's all tired out. Why?"
"Well, Farnsworth is on his way up here."
"What? Why did you let him come?"
"Couldn't help it. You see it was this way. The clerk, or somebody athis hotel telephoned, and said that Mr. Farnsworth had suddenly decidedto run up here, and that he hadn't time to telephone and then get histrain. So he instructed the clerk to get me and tell me Bill was onthe way. He'll be here a little after seven. What shall we do?"
"Mercy! I don't know. Let me think. Patty is awfully angry with himabout something, and I've promised her not to let him know where sheis."
"Lovers' quarrel?"
"I don't know. I haven't had a real talk with Patty yet, she's sofagged out. I want her to rest up. But she says she's bothered aboutPhilip Van Reypen."
"Then depend upon it, it's somebody else! Farnsworth, probably."
"She could do a lot worse than to marry Bill."
"Indeed she could! But, all the same, if Patty doesn't want him here,he mustn't come."
"That's all very well, but how will you prevent it?"
"I don't know. Meet him with a shotgun?"
"Now, be serious, Jim. We must protect Patty at any cost. Can't wetelegraph him on the train?"
"Not a chance. Do you think he knows she's here?"
"He can't know it. He may suspect it. Well, he'll have to come, andhe'll have to stay over night; we can't send him packing, with nodecent excuse."
"Tell him Cook has the smallpox."
"Don't be silly! I can manage it, I think. Yes, with your help, itcan be done."
"My dear Adele, I offer my help in its entirety, and then some."
"I'll need all that--maybe more. It's no easy job, but I'll try it,rather than have Patty disturbed."
"Might a mere man ask the nature of your plans?"
Adele Kenerley looked affectionately at her husband. "Yes, but youmustn't hoot at them. Yours not to question why, yours not to makeobjection."
"Mine only to do or die, like those other heroes, I suppose."
"Yes, but you're to do, not die. The die is cast! I've cast it. Now,stop fooling, Jim, and listen to me. Those two people shall be in thishouse at the same time, and neither will suspect that the other ishere."
"Impossible!"
"There was a gentleman once, named Napoleon. He remarked, 'If it ispossible, it must be done. If it is impossible, it _shall_ be done!'That's my motto."
"Good for you, General! Go ahead. Command me, Madame!"
"Well, and now listen, Jim, and be serious. We'll have two dinnerstonight----"
"Whew! I can't stand everything!"
"Silence, sir! We'll have dinner at six; and then I'll tuck Patty inbed early, to get her rest. Then, Bill will get here about seven, andwe'll have another dinner for him. I can look after tomorrowmorning,---- Patty will breakfast in her room. Then, about eleveno'clock or noon, you must take Bill for a long motor ride, lunchsomewhere on the road. I'll have Patty lunch here with me. Then, I'llput her away for an afternoon nap, and we must then have dinner forBill and,--make him go home. I couldn't keep it up any longer thanthat."
"I should say not! Regular Box and Cox game. But it may be we can putit over. I'll do all I can. But s'pose he won't go home tomorrowafternoon?"
"Make him. Even if you have to telephone to his hotel to send a hurrywire for him."
"Capital! I'll do that, if I have to. All right, little woman, youact as Patty's jailer, and I'll look after Farnsworth."
And so, at five o'clock, Adele went to Patty's room. She found thatyoung woman, robed in her apple blossom gown, asleep, with her head ona much crumpled pillow. There were traces of tears on the pink cheeks,but the blue eyes were tightly closed.
"Wake up, Pattibelle," said Adele, gently patting her shoulder. "We'reto have an early dinner, 'cause Jim has to go off to some meeting orother, and I thought you wouldn't mind."
"Mind? Of course not," and Patty sprang up, very wide-awake. "I won'tdress much, Adele."
"No; wear the same frock you had on for lunch. Twist up that yellowmop of yours, and come along down, now. I want you to take a strollaround the domain while there's a scrap of daylight left."
The hour before dinner soon passed, and then, laughing with merriment,the hosts and guest went in to dinner.
The Kenerleys were in specially gay spirits, it seemed to Patty, andshe held her own in fun and repartee.
"You must stay a long time, Patty," Jim declared. "You're more funthan a barrel of monkeys! I'm awfully glad you came."
"So'm I," assented Patty; "I wanted to get away from the giddy whirl,and lead the simple life for a few days."
"Sometimes the simple life is very complicated," observed Kenerley, andhe glanced at the clock.
Adele took the hint. "You want to get away, don't you, dear?" shesaid. "And we've been dawdling over dessert! Patty, I shan't give youany coffee tonight. I'm afraid it will keep you awake, and you needsleep. My, but you're hollow-eyed! I suppose you've kept late hoursall winter."
"Pretty much. But I sleep a good deal, too. And I feel all right,now. I'm not going to bed before you come back, Jim."
"Indeed you are!" cried Adele. "Now, not a word from you, Miss! I'myour nurse at present, and you will obey my orders!"
Kenerley started off to drive to the station for Farnsworth. He feltsure his wife would have Patty out of the way when they returned, buthe didn't know just how she'd manage it.
Nor was it easy. But Adele wandered about the house with her guest,and finally declared the moonlight view was prettier from Patty'swindows than anywhere else. She lured the girl upstairs, and thencleverly persuaded her to don a dressing-gown and lie down, while she,Adele, looked after some household matters, and she would then returnfor a confab.
CHAPTER XX
BLOSSOM GIRL
Such a clever and resourceful housekeeper as Adele Kenerley found notrouble in arranging a second dinner for half-past seven, although onehad been served at six. Patty safely out of the way, Adele presided atthe board with a light-hearted gaiety that surprised even her husband.
Farnsworth, too, was in good spirits, though both the Kenerleysdetected a roving eye and an alert ear that made them think hesuspected, or at least hoped, that Patty was there. But he saidnothing that indicated his thoughts except to ask on arrival if therewere other guests.
"As you see," said Adele. "But I'm flattering myself that you camethis time just to visit the Kenerleys."
"What more could one desire?" returned Farnsworth. And theconversation continued in a light and impersonal tone. Patty's namewas mentioned, and innocently enough. Adele asked how she was.
"Well, I trust," said Farnsworth. "I was at her house at a Saleaffair, last night, and she was all right then. Very much all right.But today, I called up the house, and they said she had gone away. Idon't know where."
"And you thought she was up here! Oh, Big Bill, and I thought you cameto see us!" Adele looked deeply chagrined.
"I'm jolly glad to see you, Adele, but to be honest, that little Pattyperson has turned my head."
"Truly, Bill?"
"Very truly, Adele. It's one thing or the other with me now. I mustfind her and if she says me nay, I go back to Arizona for good and all.No more East for me."
Jim Kenerley, catching the earnest note in Farnsworth's voice, had allhe could do to keep from telling him then and there of Patty's presenceunder that same roof, but a decided head-shake from Adele restrainedhim.
For Adele felt in honour bound to keep Patty's secret, unless the gi
rlherself released her from her promise.
As soon as she could, Adele excused herself and left the two men tosmoke and chat together. She went to Patty's room, determined to findout the true state of affairs. But Patty was asleep, and so profoundlydid she slumber that it seemed a shame to waken her.
So the game went on. Adele went back downstairs, and the three friendsspent a pleasant evening together. At bedtime Farnsworth declared hisintention of leaving in the morning, and sure that he would do so,Adele hospitably urged him to remain till after dinner. To hersurprise, he acquiesced, and said he would go down to New York on alate afternoon train.
"Now, you have done it!" said Kenerley to his wife, after their guesthad gone to his room.
"I know it, Jim. It was all my fault! But I never dreamed he'd stayover so easily! Oh, if I'd only let him go on the morning train!"
"We'll have to keep up the hide and seek."
"Yes, and we can do it. Only it would have been so much easier theother way."
"Perhaps Patty will relent."
"Not she! If you had seen her eyes flash, when she spoke of him.She's desperately angry with him, for some reason. But tomorrowmorning will be all right. And I'll plan the day. There'll be notrouble."
Adele's clever managing made her words good. Patty had breakfast inher room, of course, and at nine o'clock, Farnsworth and the Kenerleyshad their own morning meal. A pleasant affair it was in the sunnydining-room, and, without seeming to do so, Adele tactfully gave herguest an opportunity to depart, by saying that Jim had to go for a longtrip in the motor.
But Farnsworth said, "Good! I'll go along. Unless I'm in the way, oldchap?"
"Not at all," returned Kenerley, cordially, and that matter was settled.
The two men left about eleven, and Adele went to Patty's room.
"I'm all over my tired-outness," declared a very fresh-looking, rosyyoung person. "I've had my tub, and now I'm going to dress up andbehave like a good citizen. You're a duck, Adele, to put up with aworn-out wreck, as I was yesterday, but now I'm myself again. I wantto go for a motor ride, and for a walk, and eat a big luncheon, andcome back to life, generally."
"Good for you! And have you settled all the troublesome affairs thatwere bothering you?"
"How did you know I had any?"
"Now, don't confide in me unless you want to." Wily Adele knew thetouch of perversity in Patty's make-up.
"Oh, there's nothing much to confide. I got fearfully mad at BillFarnsworth, and I ran up here to get away from him. That's the storyof my life."
"What was the bone of contention?"
"Well, I suppose I was. Also, he was very rude and unmannerly.Also,--and this is why I hate him so,--he's suddenly grown rich, Adele,and he's terribly ostentatious about it----"
"Bill Farnsworth ostentatious! I don't believe it!"
"Yes, he is. He showed off big rolls of money at the Sale----"
"But, Patty, he was buying things, wasn't he?"
"I don't care if he was. And, besides, Adele, he--well, he implied, ifhe didn't say it straight out, that now he was rich, maybe I'd marryhim! As if I was a fortune-hunter!"
"Oh, Patty, you little goose! Bill has always been poor, or at least,he had only a moderate income. I can see how he would be glad if hehad good fortune, to offer it to you. Poor Bill! You mistook hismeaning, I'm sure."
"No, I didn't, and I hate him, and I never want to hear his namementioned again!"
"Nor see him?"
"Mercy, no! And now, drop the subject. I tell you I came up here toget away from him! He's in love with Daisy Dow, anyway."
"What makes you think so?"
"Oh, he's always with her. And he gave her some lovely books that hehad bought on purpose for me! And, Daisy says things all the time thatprove it. I don't want anything to do with another girl's rusticswain. That I don't!"
"Just a minute, Patty. Do you really consider Bill arustic,--uncultured, and all that, I mean?"
Patty looked serious. "No, Adele, I don't. He hasn't a certainpolish, that some men have, but he is a thorough gentleman and asplendid man. I must say that, in all honesty. But he is adomineering, head-strong nature, and he couldn't make any girl happy!"
"Oh, couldn't he!" said Adele, but she said it to herself, not aloud.
The subject was really dropped then, and Patty began to dress forluncheon.
"I'm going to put on this white crepe de chine," she said. "I found ithanging in the wardrobe, left from last summer. I'd almost forgotten Ihad it. It's a pretty frock, isn't it?"
"Yes. But, I grieve to state, Pattibelle, we'll be alone at lunch, youand I. Jim has gone miles off in the country, and won't be back beforesix or so."
"Whatever for?"
"Oh,--on some business."
"Business! On Sunday?"
"He's looking at a car he's thinking of buying. The man could only seehim today."
"Oh, well, all right. But I'll dress up anyway, for my ownself-respect. I like myself better in a pretty gown, and I'm not goingto take naps all day today, I can tell you."
Patty flew around, making her toilette, and humming little snatches ofsong. Adele thought she had never seen her look so pretty. The whitefrock was soft and filmy; the round neck a trifle low, the frilledsleeves showing her dimpled arms, and a soft sash made of a breadth ofpalest pink silk, round the waist.
"You're a dream!" declared Adele. "It's a shame to waste such a visionof beauty on me. I believe I'll telephone for Bob Peyton to come overto lunch."
"No, don't. I'd rather not have him. I like to be alone with you muchbetter. Ask him over for dinner, if you like."
So the two lunched alone, and then came the difficult crisis.
Patty flatly rebelled against Adele's suggestion that she take anafternoon nap to be fresh for the evening.
"What's the matter with you, Adele?" she laughed. "Do you think I'm adormouse? Or a bear who wants to hibernate? I'm as wide-awake as youare!"
"It isn't that, Patty," and poor Adele was at her wits' end, "butyou're really run down--er--nerve exhaustion, you know----"
"Well, _your_ nerve isn't exhausted! To make me go to bed by day,--allthe whole time!"
"Now, Patsy, don't be stubborn. Give me my way, this once. If you'llgo to your room, and stay there and rest quietly till five o'clock, Iwon't say another word about your resting, while you're here. Butyou're--really,--you're so improved since you came, that I want tocomplete the cure. Scoot off, now, and then at five o'clock Jim willbe back, and we'll have lots of fun."
"It's nearly half-past two, now. Well, I don't see much else to do, soI'll go. But remember, it's the last of this foolishness."
"I'll remember. Run along now, and don't show your face below stairstill five. Cross your heart?"
"Yep. Cross my heart and hope to never! By-by."
Patty ran upstairs and closed her room door behind her. Never reallyat a loss to entertain herself, she read some magazines, wrote two orthree letters that had been long owing, and then mooned around lookingout of her windows at the distant hills, bright with winter sunshine.She opened the long French window to the balcony and stepped out. Itwas snappily cold, so she went back long enough to catch up a wrap.The apple blossom kimono was the first thing she saw, so she slippedinto it, and went out on the balcony. The bracing air was delightful,and she walked up and down, drawing long deep breaths of ozone. Therewas a low railing round the little balcony and Patty sat down on it.The ground was only about eight feet below her, for the house was builton a side hill, and the slope was abrupt.
"I could almost lean down and pick violets," she mused, "if there wereany to pick. But it's nowhere near spring, yet."
She drew her wrap more closely about her and rose to go in the houseagain.
"Well!" came in an explosive voice, just below her. Patty looked downand saw Farnsworth standing there, his face radiant with glad surprise.
"Little Billee!" she exclai
med, impulsively leaning over the rail."What are you here for?"
"_You_! And I can't wait another minute! _Jump_!"
Not pausing to think, impelled by his quick command, Patty stepped overthe rail and jumped.
Farnsworth caught her deftly in his arms just as her feet touched theground, and held her there.
"Look at me," he said, and his always musical voice had a ring in itPatty had never heard before.
The golden head, bowed against his broad chest, lifted a little, andPatty's blue eyes shone into his own. Steadily he looked for a moment,and then said, quietly, but exultantly, "You love me! Oh, my PattyBlossom!"
Patty stood very still. It seemed to her that the end of the world hadcome--or the beginning,--she wasn't sure which.
"Come," said Farnsworth, still with that glad, exultant note of triumphin his voice. He led her to the house, walking quickly and withspringing step.
Adele was in the hall as they entered.
"Good heavens!" she said, helplessly, as she stared at them.
"Adele," Farnsworth's words fairly rang out, "don't stop us. We'rejust getting engaged, and we want a few minutes alone."
"I should say so!" and half dazed at the suddenness of the news, Adeleopened the door of a little reception room, and let them in. Then sheclosed it, and ran hot haste to find Jim.
A wood fire was blazing and Patty threw off the silk wrap.
"Apple Blossom," said Farnsworth, as he took it from her, and tossed itover a sofa, "my Blossom girl!"
He took the soft, trembling little figure in his arms, the pretty whitefrock sadly crushed in his strong embrace.
"My Love, my Patty Blossom!" he murmured, and then, with his first kisson her quivering, scarlet lips, Patty knew that she "cared for" thisbig, tender giant, with her whole heart, and she began to realise howhe loved her.
"Patty! darling! I have loved you so long, but I had no idea what itwould mean to know you love me!"
"What does it mean?" she said, softly.
"It means heaven! Great, blue, sunshiny, cloudless heaven! Oh, mylittle girl, I can't tell you all it means, there aren't any words bigenough. You do love me, don't you? How do you know you do?"
"Because I jumped," and the blue eyes smiled at him. "I jumped becauseI couldn't help it."
"You jumped because you loved me! I oughtn't to have let you do it;good gracious, Patty, you might have broken yourself to bits! I spokefrom impulse."
"And I jumped from impulse. And,--I'm glad I did!"
"You little Love! Are you? Patty, how can you love a great, uncouthman like me?"
"You're not uncouth, Little Billee, and you only said that to becontradicted! But I do contradict it. You're not big and uncouth atall. Well, I s'pose you _are_ big,--but it's a nice, cunning littlebigness----"
"There, there, that'll be about all of that! Now, tell me why you ranaway from me."
"I didn't know at the time. But I know now."
"You do? Why, then?
"Because I was in love with you, and I was afraid you'd find it out."
"But you didn't know it yourself?"
"N--no; that is, I wouldn't own up to it to myself, and I was awfullyafraid myself would find it out."
"You little goose----"
"Blossom goose?"
"Yes. Blossom goose,--Blossom girl,--Oh, Patty Blossom, how _can_ Imake you have a glimmer of a gleam of an idea how I love you!"
"Little Billee! if you give me all your kisses now, what shall we doall the rest of our lives?"
"Poor little Apple Blossom! Am I a big bear? Well, sit beside me hereon this cosy sofa place, and I'll tell you what we'll do all the restof our lives."
And so enchanted was Patty with the plans unfolded for her, that it wasmore than an hour later that she remembered to ask, "Why did you giveDaisy the books you bought for me?"
"Shall I tell you, dear? I told you at the time I had a reason.Because, just then, something in your eyes gave me hope, gave me a tinyhint of hope that you would take _my_ set of Riley books and me alongwith it!"
"Oh, Little Billee! Did I really throw myself at your head?"
"No, Patty; no, my child, never think for a minute you did that! Butyou gave me a look that made me feel emboldened to throw myself at yourfeet. Then you ran away before I could do so."
"Yes, I was afraid you would. How did you know I was here?"
"Didn't know it; but I thought it the most likely place. How theKenerleys fooled me! I owe Jim one for that!"
"No, you don't! They only did what I made them do. I vowed I wouldn'tsee you, and they must not let you know I was here."
"Did you think you could elude me long, Sweetheart?"
"I don't know what I thought----"
"You were afraid to look in your own heart, weren't you?"
"Yes, I was. But I'm not now."
"No, you don't seem to be! For a newly engaged young person you taketo it like a duck to water."
"Only because it's _you_. I wouldn't with anybody else."
"I should hope not! And you're not afraid of me any more?"
"'Perfect love casteth out fear.'"
"Oh, Blossom, you do say the sweetest things! And do you forgive me myhorrid ostentation?"
"You must forgive _me_ for that, Little Billee. I had no business toact so."
"You were all right, dear. I'm not to the money born, you know. Andwhen I was successful, financially, I had _no_ thought but of pleasureit might give you. But I expressed myself unfortunately. I'm not a'society man,' Patty."
"You're the dearest man in all the world. My big, beautiful SirGalahad. My own Little Billee."
"Haven't you two got engaged yet?" called Adele, plaintively, throughthe keyhole. "You've been two hours at it! Come on out, and let ushelp."
"Run away and play," called back Farnsworth, but Patty released herselffrom his clasping arms, and said, "It hasn't been two hours, any suchthing, Adele; but we will come out now. We've been engaged a longtime."
Big Bill rose, towering above his little fiancee.
"You little scrap of loveliness!" he exclaimed, "what have you done tome, to bewitch me so? You were always beautiful, but nowyou're--you're----"
"Well, what?" and Patty's radiant face looked up lovingly into his own.
"There are no words dear enough," and Farnsworth's voice thrilled withlove and reverence, "no terms sweet enough, but just,--my PattyBlossom."
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