They all thought and pondered. Nan came in, and, as Patty read it slowly over again, even she tried to guess it. But they could not.
At last Philip Van Reypen gave a whoop of triumph, and exclaimed:
“I have it! Miss Fairfield, I’ve guessed it! Will you give it to me, if I tell you what it is?”
“Your speech sounds like an enigma, too,” said Patty, a little bewildered.
“But I’ve guessed it, I tell you. And, if you’ll promise to give it to me, I’ll tell you the answer.”
“No, I won’t promise,” said Patty. “It might be the motor car itself!”
“But it isn’t! It’s far more valuable than that! It’s a kiss!”
“Oh!” said Patty, “so it is! How did you guess it? It’s fearfully hard!”
Mr. Hepworth looked distinctly chagrined. Why, he thought, couldn’t he have guessed the foolish thing! It was easy enough,—after one knew it!
“Ken, come in here!” cried Patty; “we have guessed another! That is, Mr. Van Reypen did. Now, there are only three left.”