“You two are talking about me, I can sense it!” cried Patty herself, coming up to them.
“We are,” said Bill, “and I’m going to talk to you, instead. Helen, I see your next partner coming hot haste to claim you, so I’m going to take Pattibelle aside and treat her to a small lecture.”
Willingly Patty went with him, and he led her to the little room which was her father’s den.
There chanced to be no one there, so Farnsworth closed the door after them, and then gently took her in his arms.
“Dearest,” he said, “you must be careful of my own little Patty girl while I am away.”
“But I don’t want you to go,” she whispered, her lip trembling.
“I know it, dear, and I don’t want to leave you. But we’re always going to obey the call of duty, aren’t we, Patty mine?”
“Y-yes,——”
“Then listen, sweetheart. You mustn’t exaggerate our parting. I’m only going to Washington——”
“I know—but—you may be sent to France——”