ound herself provided with a
welcome cup of her favourite beverage.

It was Farnsworth who brought it to her, and he deliberately took a
seat at her side, a seat that Van Reypen had just vacated.

"You can't sit there," said Patty, quickly; "Phil will be back in a
minute."

"Will he?" said Big Bill, as he settled himself comfortably in the
chair. "Do you think he can put me out?"

"Not unless you want him to," and Patty smiled at the big man, who
looked so strong and powerful.

"Somehow, I don't. I like it here."

"Why?"

"Because I like to look at you. You're looking uncommonly well today.
If I were to guess, I should say you have been having a rumpus with
somebody."

"What is a rumpus?" inquired Patty, looking innocent.

"A rumpus, my child, is a tiff, a squabble, a set-to, a racket, a
general scrimmage."

"I haven't exactly had those things, but, well, I may say I have been
drawn into a somewhat spirited discussion."

"Ah, I thought so."

"How did you know? I mean, why did you think so?"

"By your heightened colour and your generally wrought-up condition.
Why, your heart isn't beating normally yet."

Patty looked up at him, indignantly, but his blue eyes were very kind
and his smile gentle and even concerned.

"What was it about, Patty? Who has been tormenting you?"

"Nobody tormented me, exactly, but they criticise me and they say mean
things about my friends----"

"Never let them do that! Your friends must be sacred to you,--I mean
from adverse criticism of others."

"That's what I think, Little Billee. What shall I do, when everybody
ridicules them and calls them names?"

"Just what I am sure you did do. Flare up like a wrathy kitten and
helplessly paw the air."

"Of course that's what I did," and Patty laughed at the graphic
description, "but it didn't seem to do much good."

"Of course it didn't. Standing up for one's friends rarely does much
good, except to satisfy one's own sense of loyalty."

"Why, what do you mean? Why doesn't it do any good to defend our
friends?"

"Because if they need our defence, they're probably at fault."

"But they weren't in this case. It was the Blaneys,--do you know them?"

"Those mercerised personages I met at Mona's wedding? I haven't the
pleasure of their intimate acquaintance, and something tells me I never
shall have."

"You mean you don't want it!"

"Mind reader! Patty, you're positively clairvoyant!"

"Now, Little Billee, d