"Now, what could she have meant by that?" said the boy, laughing. "But you're very imprudent. How do you know that lady isn't my—my sister, or cousin, or something?"
"Well, even if she is," said Patty, "I haven't said anything unkind, have I?"
"No more you haven't; but as I don't see anyone just now at leisure to introduce us, suppose we introduce ourselves? They say the roof is an introduction, but I notice it never pronounces names very distinctly. Mine is Kenneth Harper."
"And mine is Patricia Fairfield, but I'm usually called Patty."
"I should think you would be, it suits you to a dot. Of course the boys call me Ken. I'm a Columbia student."
"Oh, are you?" said Patty. "I've never known a college boy, and I've always wanted to meet one."
"Well, you see in me a noble specimen of my kind," said young Harper, straightening up his broad shoulders and looking distinctly athletic.
"You must be," said Patty; "you look just like all the pictures of college boys I've ever seen."
"And I flattered myself that my beauty was something especial and individual."
"You ought to be thankful that you're beautiful," said Patty, "and not be so particular about what kind of beauty it is."