Now after he had first advanced toward Patty, this was a strange question, but she bravely took up the burden of conversation.
“Well, yes,” she said, smiling at him prettily; “I want to ask you how you are enjoying the Garden Party.”
“I never enjoy anything,” he returned, but his face was sad now, rather than angry.
“Oh, what a pity!” said Patty, involuntarily, “and you have such powers of enjoyment, too.”
“How do you know that, Miss Yankee Doodle?”
Patty didn’t altogether like the name, or rather the tone in which it was said, but she was determined not to get piqued. So she said:
“Oh, because you’re such a big, healthy, hearty-looking man; you ought to laugh most of the time.”
“Ought I, indeed? But you see I never have anything to laugh at.”
At this Patty laughed outright.
“Why, the world is full of things to laugh at,—and you’re not blind.”