"We're two minds with but a single thought, these days," Stellor told Patricia. "Every time I find myself thinking of something, I discover that he has been considering the same thing, too." "You'd better split your personality--and/or your body," suggested Lane. "Or become twins. I can foresee difficulties with the theological and civil authorities if this goes on." Patricia smiled. "I can't possibly marry you both. Not at the same time, anyway." "Toss coin?" offered Lane. "We'll take turns--" "You will not!" stated Patricia. "I'm old-fashioned enough to go into it wanting permanency. I don't really expect it, but I can and will hope. I will not enter marriage with any split in mind. That's ... that's--" "Sorry," said Cliff. "I was joking." "Love may be somewhat amusing," she said seriously. "But marriage is no joke. So let's forget it. Oh--look! Here comes Billy!" Lane and Downing looked, and then whistled. Patricia squinted at the pair of them, and then took another look at Thompson. "Did you two swap minds--or was he in on it?" she asked with a laugh. "He wasn't--but why?" asked Lane. "Billy is pulling your favorite trick," she told Lane. "He's got a glamor-puss on each elbow." "And he can pick 'em, too!" said Downing approvingly. Patricia looked at him in puzzlement. Lane caught the look. "That's my line," he told Stellor. "So it is. 'And your line shall be my line, and your ideas shall be mine. For whitherso thou goest, there--' and so on, Cliff." "This is getting bad," smiled Patricia to Billy. "I've often thought that it would be perfect if I could take these two and boil 'em down into one man. Instead, I've got the boiling process done but the outcome is two men both with all of the things I've liked about each--or am I getting involved in my own words?" "I knew they'd not think of furnishing enough femininity to make a full party," he laughed. "Patricia, smile and be nice to all of us. Kids, Patricia Kennebec. Virginia Thompson, my sister, and Tania Lake, her erstwhile college chum. Gals, the redheaded wildman is Stellor Downing and the dark, sunkissed Adonis is Clifford Lane. Take it from there." Lane blinked at Virginia. "You're _his_ sister? By adoption, no doubt. No blood relation of Billy could be--" Lane stopped at precisely the right point, and looked just the right amount of confusion. His act went over, and Virginia smiled back. "He talks, too," he said seriously. Patricia Kennebec looked at Billy. "This has the earmarks of conspiracy," she told him. "What gives?" "Nothing in particular," he said with a slight smile. "Ginger and Tanny were sitting around the house as usual when I got home this evening, and both of them looked hungry. Seems to me they're always that way--at least as far back as I can remember." "You mean you've been concealing assets like these?" demanded Downing.