."

"Oh, nonsense, you don't want it."

"Indeed I do. I must have it."

"Will you promise not to show it to anybody?"

"'Course not! I'll show it to everybody!"

"Then you can't have it. I'm sensitive, I admit, but I can't bear to
have the children of my brain bruited to the world----"

"I haven't a notion what bruited means, but I promise you I won't do
that. I'll keep it sacredly guarded from human eyes, and read it to
myself when I'm all alone. Why, Mr. Blaney, it's a wonderful poem.
I've simply got to have it, and that's all there is about that!"

"I give it to you, then, but don't,--please don't show it to the
hilarious populace. It is for you only."

"All right. I'll keep it for me only. But I haven't half thanked you
for it. I do appreciate it, I assure you, and I feel guilty because I
underrated your talent. But perhaps it is because I saw you do it,
that I care so very much for it. Anyway, I thank you."

Patty held out her hand in genuine gratitude, and, taking it gently,
Blaney held it a moment as he said, "I claim my reward. May I come to
see you in New York?"

"Yes, indeed, I'll be awfully glad to have you. And Alla must come,
too. I'll make a party for you as soon as the wedding is over. Will
you be at that?"

"At the reception, yes. And I shall see you there?"

"Of course. I say, Mr. Blaney, why don't you write a wedding poem for
Miss Galbraith? She'd love it! She wants everything for her wedding
that can possibly be procured."

"No. A poem of mine cannot be ordered, as from a caterer!"

"Oh, forgive me! I didn't mean that. But, I thought you might write
one, because I asked you."

"No, Miss Fairfield. Anything you want for yourself, but not for
others. A thousand times no! You understand?"

"Yes, of course. I oughtn't to have asked you. But I'm so delighted
with this poem of mine, that I spoke unthinkingly. Now, I must run
away; Elise is beckoning frantically, and I daresay the guests are
taking leave of me, and I'm not there! Good-bye, Mr. Blaney, until we
meet in New York. And thank you more than I can say for your gift,
your ever-to-be treasured gift."

"It is my privilege to have offered it and for me to thank you for the
opportunity."

CHAPTER IX

A SHOWER

"If you ask me," Patty said to Nan, "I think these 'shower' affairs are
ridiculous. All the girls who are coming today will give Mona a
wedding present, so why add a shower gift?"