oose?"

"Yes. Blossom goose,--Blossom girl,--Oh, Patty Blossom, how _can_ I
make you have a glimmer of a gleam of an idea how I love you!"

"Little Billee! if you give me all your kisses now, what shall we do
all the rest of our lives?"

"Poor little Apple Blossom! Am I a big bear? Well, sit beside me here
on this cosy sofa place, and I'll tell you what we'll do all the rest
of our lives."

And so enchanted was Patty with the plans unfolded for her, that it was
more than an hour later that she remembered to ask, "Why did you give
Daisy the books you bought for me?"

"Shall I tell you, dear? I told you at the time I had a reason.
Because, just then, something in your eyes gave me hope, gave me a tiny
hint of hope that you would take _my_ set of Riley books and me along
with it!"

"Oh, Little Billee! Did I really throw myself at your head?"

"No, Patty; no, my child, never think for a minute you did that! But
you gave me a look that made me feel emboldened to throw myself at your
feet. Then you ran away before I could do so."

"Yes, I was afraid you would. How did you know I was here?"

"Didn't know it; but I thought it the most likely place. How the
Kenerleys fooled me! I owe Jim one for that!"

"No, you don't! They only did what I made them do. I vowed I wouldn't
see you, and they must not let you know I was here."

"Did you think you could elude me long, Sweetheart?"

"I don't know what I thought----"

"You were afraid to look in your own heart, weren't you?"

"Yes, I was. But I'm not now."

"No, you don't seem to be! For a newly engaged young person you take
to it like a duck to water."

"Only because it's _you_. I wouldn't with anybody else."

"I should hope not! And you're not afraid of me any more?"

"'Perfect love casteth out fear.'"

"Oh, Blossom, you do say the sweetest things! And do you forgive me my
horrid ostentation?"

"You must forgive _me_ for that, Little Billee. I had no business to
act so."

"You were all right, dear. I'm not to the money born, you know. And
when I was successful, financially, I had _no_ thought but of pleasure
it might give you. But I expressed myself unfortunately. I'm not a
'society man,' Patty."

"You're the dearest man in all the world. My big, beautiful Sir
Galahad. My own Little Billee."

"Haven't you two got engaged yet?" called Adele, plaintively, through
the keyhole. "You've been two hours at it! Come on out, and let us