"It did! Why, Patty, Jim told me you never got that." "Jim is mistaken; I did get it." "And did you like it?" "Where did you get it, Bill?" "Did you like it?" "Yes, I liked it lots. Who wrote it?" "I did." "Did you, really? You clever man! I thought possibly you might have done it, but it sounded so,--so finished." "Oh, no, it didn't, Patty. It was crude and amateurish; but it was written to you and about you, so I did the best I could. Patty, are you in love with Van Reypen?" "What!" and Patty stood still and looked at Farnsworth, indignantly. "You have no right to ask such a question!" "I know I haven't, Patty, and I apologise. I can't seem to get over my Western bluntness. And, Little Girl, I don't blame you a bit if you do care for him. He's a good-looking chap, and an all-round good man." "You seem to have sized him up pretty quickly. Why, you've only just met him." "Yes, but you know I was at the Kenerleys' last week, and Jim told me all about him." "Why did you want to know all about him?" "Shall I tell you why?" And Farnsworth's blue eyes looked straight into Patty's own. "I inquired about him, because Daisy said you were just the same as engaged to him." "Daisy said that, did she?" Patty rarely lost her temper, but this unwarranted speech of Daisy Dow's made her exceedingly angry. But what hurt her even more, was that Bill should believe Daisy's assertion, and should take it so calmly. His attitude piqued Patty; and she said, coldly: "Well, if Daisy says so, it must be so." "I know it, Little Girl," and Farnsworth's voice was very tender. "He can give you everything that you ought to have,--wealth, social position, and a life of luxury and pleasure. Moreover, he is a thorough gentleman and a true man. I hope you will be very happy with him, Patty." For some reason this speech exasperated Patty beyond all measure. It seemed as if her friends were settling her affairs for her, without giving her any voice in the decision. "You are a little premature, Bill," she said, without a smile. "I'm not engaged to Mr. Van Reypen, and I do not know that I shall be." "Oh, yes, you will, Patty; but don't be hasty, dear child. Think it over before you decide, for you know there are other things in the world beside wealth and social position." "What, for instance?" said Patty, in a flippant tone. "Love," said Farnsworth, very seriously. And then Patty was moved by a spirit of perversity. She thought that if Farnsworth really cared for her, he was handing her over to Philip very easily, and she resented this attitude. "Are you implying that Mr. Van Reypen is not capable of giving me love, as well as the other advantages you enumerate?"