“It is not!” exclaimed Patty. “If it hadn’t been for you, I couldn’t have sent the list at all! I mean, not a complete list.”
“Van Reypen helped you far more than I did,” said Mr. Hepworth, a little bitterly.
Patty noticed his tone, and, with her ready tact, she ignored it.
“Mr. Van Reypen did help me,” she said; “but, with all his help, the list would not have been perfect but for you. I thank you, very much.”
Patty held out her hand, and Hepworth took it slowly, almost reverently.
“Patty,” he said, “I wonder if you know how much I would do for you?”
“How much?” said Patty, not really thinking of what she was saying, for her mind was still on her puzzles.
“Shall I tell you?” and the intense note in his voice brought her back to a realising sense of the situation.
“Not now,” she cried, gaily; “you promised to get those answers to the post-office in double-quick time. That would be the nicest thing you could do for me.”
“Then I’ll do it, you little witch;” and, with a quick bow, Hepworth turned and strode down the street.