to
Van Reypen. Tell me,--tell them all,--that you consent."

A beautiful expression came over the girl's face.

She turned to Philip, her soft, dark eyes shining with utter joy and a
tender smile of glad surprise curving her quivering lips.

"Oh," she breathed, "oh, _Phil_!"

"You _do_ consent?" he urged, "you must say yes, before you tell us any
more!"

"May I, Patty?" and a shy, sweet face looked questioningly at the one
she was glad to consider her mentor.

"I think so," Patty smiled back, for she knew how matters stood with
Phil, and she had faith in the true heart of the girl beside her.

"Yes, then," she said, softly, looking at Philip,--and that was their
troth-plight.

"Go on, dear," he said, briefly, and with a glad smile in his eyes.

"There's little more to tell; I am Alice Adams, and my father was born
in Boston--"

"Good gracious, Phil!" Patty cried. "Why, this child is a real Adams!"

"Of course she is," said Farnsworth, "I knew the Adamses that lived in
Horner's Corners. You see, I was there some years myself. Why, your
mother was a sweet little woman, with a face like Dresden china."

"Yes; I've a miniature of her. She was beautiful. I'm like my father--"

"And _you're_ beautiful!" cried Patty, kissing her. "Oh, Zaly,--I can't
call you anything else! what a story you _have_ told us!"

"And now, let's proceed to forget it," said Farnsworth, in his big,
genial way. "You and I'll talk it over a little when we're alone,--but
just now, I adopt you as my cousin,--I'm proud to have an Adams in my
family, even if only by adoption! Your escapade was a wild
one,--er--Alice,--but it was an _escapade_,--not a crime. And for my
part, you are fully and freely forgiven, and--here's where Patty takes
up the theme."

"I do," said Patty; "and I add my full and free forgiveness to Little
Billee's and I invite you to come right back to Wistaria Porch and make
us a long visit,--as Alice Adams."

"And we thank _you_, Miss Grayson," Farnsworth said, "for restoring our
lost cousin, and at the same time giving us a new one!"

Miss Grayson laughed. "It's been a perfect show for me," she said; "I
think it's all more dramatic than any play I ever acted in."

"Come, Alice, dear," Van Reypen said, with an air of proprietorship,
"where's your coat?"

Shyly, Alice looked up at him.

"Are you sure you want me?" she said.

"Sure I want an Adams? Well, rather! I never aspired to such a renowned
name for my _fian