of something-or-other, frowning on her
innocent amusements!"

"Oh, Patty, what an arraignment! But never mind that. May I take you
to the supper room?"

"Oh, here you are, Light of my eyes!" and Van Reypen came up and
offered his arm.

With a smile of farewell to Farnsworth, Patty accepted Philip's escort
and walked off.

"What's this report Cameron and Daisy Dow are spreading?" asked Van
Reypen, looking at her, quizzically, but with a glance full of meaning.
"They say you and I are to announce our engagement tonight. I'm so
delighted to hear it, I can't see straight; but I want your
corroboration of the rumour. Oh, Patty, darling girl, you _do_ mean
it, don't you?"

Philip had drawn her to one side, away from the crowd, and in a
palm-screened alcove, he stood beside her, his handsome face glowing
with eagerness, as he anticipated yet feared her reply.

"Nonsense, Phil. It happened that I told Bill Farnsworth I was engaged
to you for supper, and Daisy overheard, and she and Kit tried to tease
me, that's all."

"But since it happened that way,--since the report is current,--don't
you think,--doesn't it seem as if this would be an awfully good chance
to make it a true report?"

"No, sir! A girl can't get engaged all in a minute, and _en route_ to
a supper room, at that! Besides, I'm hungry."

"You can't put me off that way! You may think to be hungry interferes
with romance. Not a bit of it! You say you'll marry me, and I'll get
you all the supper you want, and, incidentally, eat a good square meal
myself. There!"

Van Reypen had great charm. His great dark eyes were fixed on Patty,
and in their depths she could read his big, true love, unembarrassed by
the place or the occasion. He knew only that he was pleading with the
girl he loved, suing for his life's happiness, a happiness that lay in
the little rosy palm of Patty Fairfield's hand.

"Darling," he whispered, taking the little hand in both his own,
"Patty, darling, do say yes, at last. Don't keep me in suspense.
Don't bother about learning to love me, and all that. Just come to
me,--tell me you will,--and I know you'll love me. You can't help it,
dear, when I love you so. Why, Patty, I've got to have you! You don't
know how I want you. You've so twined yourself into my heart that you
seem part of me already. Dear, _dear_ little girl, my love, my
sweetheart----"

Philip's arm went round Patty's shoulder, and he drew her to him.