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 236

FLAMING

YOUTH

pick on me? I did it all for you anyway, and I think it’s pretty rotten, if you ask me, to——”
 * You didn’t laugh at Bobs for me.”

“T didn’t laugh at him at all. I was too paralysed.” “Tf you had I hope he’d have killed you. I would.” A monstrous conjecture rose in Pat’s excited brain. “He isn’t the man,is he? It isn’t Bobs that you’re crazy about, and the other man just a bluff? It couldn’t be.” “Why couldn’t it?” “Dee! It isn’t.” “No; it isn’t. But there’s no reason why it couldn’t be with any woman who had heart and sense enough to know him for what he is. He’s the best and finest person I’ve ever known. And when he does the biggest and noblest thing a man could do and offers his name and honour to shield a little heartless fool, he gets laughed at.” “But it wasn’t any of it true,” cried Pat feebly. “Don’t you see what a difference that makes?” “No. He thought it was true.” “Oh, very well! I guess I’m pretty rotten. But I’m just as fond of Bobs as you are, Dee Fentriss. Only, the idea of marrying him—well, it’s a scream,

That’s all; a

simple scream.”

“Oh, do get out of here,” said Dee wearily. She slumped down into her bed and drew the covers up. “Good-night,” said Pat, and made her exit. Before the hall mirror she paused to contemplate herself, ‘There you are, Pattie-pat,” she remarked, with the little triple jerk of the head that set her shaggy locks rippling over her ears and neck. “You still look pretty good tome. But if this family was running a popularity contest with peanuts for ballots, you wouldn’t get one shuck. Lord-ee! I wish Cary Scott was here for just one minute! I need moral support.”