“Patty, don’t!” cried Hal, his honest, boyish face turning crimson.
“Oh, then you didn’t mean it!” and Patty was the picture of disappointment.
“I did! Of course I did! But girls don’t run and tell everything everybody says to them!”
“Don’t they? Well, then, I won’t. You see, I haven’t had as much experience in these matters as you have! Mustn’t I ever tell anything nice that anybody says to me?”
“Not what I say to you, anyhow! You see, they’re confidences.”
“Well, I don’t want any more of them just now. I came out here for coasting, not for confidences.”
“I fear, my dear little girl, you’re destined all through life to get confidences, whatever you may go for.”
“Oh, what a horrible outlook! Well, then, let me gather my coasting while I may! Come on, Chubsy, let’s go up the hill.” And putting her hand in Hal’s, Patty started the upward journey.
At the top she declared she was going for one more ride downhill, and this time with Jim. “For,” she said to herself, “I would like one ride without ‘confidences.’”
“Off we go!” said Jim, as he arranged her snugly on the toboggan sled, and took his place in front of her. They had a fine ride down, and Jim insisted on pulling Patty up again. She rode part way, and then decided it was too hard work for him, and jumped off.