"You _do_ consent?" he urged, "you must say yes, before you tell us any more!" "May I, Patty?" and a shy, sweet face looked questioningly at the one she was glad to consider her mentor. "I think so," Patty smiled back, for she knew how matters stood with Phil, and she had faith in the true heart of the girl beside her. "Yes, then," she said, softly, looking at Philip,--and that was their troth-plight. "Go on, dear," he said, briefly, and with a glad smile in his eyes. "There's little more to tell; I am Alice Adams, and my father was born in Boston--" "Good gracious, Phil!" Patty cried. "Why, this child is a real Adams!" "Of course she is," said Farnsworth, "I knew the Adamses that lived in Horner's Corners. You see, I was there some years myself. Why, your mother was a sweet little woman, with a face like Dresden china." "Yes; I've a miniature of her. She was beautiful. I'm like my father--" "And _you're_ beautiful!" cried Patty, kissing her. "Oh, Zaly,--I can't call you anything else! what a story you _have_ told us!" "And now, let's proceed to forget it," said Farnsworth, in his big, genial way. "You and I'll talk it over a little when we're alone,--but just now, I adopt you as my cousin,--I'm proud to have an Adams in my family, even if only by adoption! Your escapade was a wild one,--er--Alice,--but it was an _escapade_,--not a crime. And for my part, you are fully and freely forgiven, and--here's where Patty takes up the theme." "I do," said Patty; "and I add my full and free forgiveness to Little Billee's and I invite you to come right back to Wistaria Porch and make us a long visit,--as Alice Adams." "And we thank _you_, Miss Grayson," Farnsworth said, "for restoring our lost cousin, and at the same time giving us a new one!" Miss Grayson laughed. "It's been a perfect show for me," she said; "I think it's all more dramatic than any play I ever acted in." "Come, Alice, dear," Van Reypen said, with an air of proprietorship, "where's your coat?" Shyly, Alice looked up at him. "Are you sure you want me?" she said. "Sure I want an Adams? Well, rather! I never aspired to such a renowned name for my _fiancée_! My own family pride is humbled to the dust." "Nonsense!" laughed Patty, "the Van Reypen stock can hold its own!" And then they quickly got ready and started for home. Farnsworth took the wheel, and invited Patty to sit beside him. This left Van Reypen and Alice together in the tonneau, and neither objected to the arrangement. They conversed softly as the car sped swiftly along, and Phil realised how beautiful was the dear face beside him, now that worry and care had been replaced by happiness and love. "But I don't see how you _can_ forgive me," Alice said, "I did such a _dreadful_ thing." "I forgive you for two reasons," Van Reypen returned, "first, because you didn't appreciate the real _wrong_ you were doing, and second, because I _love_ you. Love you enough to forgive far more than that!"