"Thank you," she heard Ease say. "I will not trouble you."
"Your aunt charged me to see you safe home," he answered. "I shouldn't want to disobey her."
And as usual Ease yielded.
[CHAPTER XX.]
AN OUTBURST.
"Hazard," Patty asked, as they went splashing through the puddles, "is Frank in earnest with Ease? Does he really care for her?"
"I do not know," he answered slowly. "He never makes a confidant of me."
"He persecutes her," Patty continued. "I wish he'd let her alone. She's too meek to stand out against him. I ought not to say this to you, but it makes me angry. Why are you so sober lately? You are as solemn as Bathalina."