"Oh, Patty, DO you? Do you MEAN it?"
Kenneth took her hands in his and his big grey eyes expressed so much love and hope, that Patty was frightened.
"No, I DON'T mean it! I don't mean anything! Oh, Ken, please DON'T!"
"Don't say that, Patty, because I MUST. Listen, dear; I went to see your father to-day. And I asked him if I might tell you all this."
Patty looked at him, not quite comprehending.
"You went to see daddy?" she said, wonderingly; "he never told me."
"Why should he? Don't you understand, dear? I went to him to ask his permission to tell you that I love you, and I want you for my wife. And your father said that I might tell you. And now,—darling——"
"And now it's up to me?" Patty tried to speak lightly.
"Exactly that, Patty," and Kenneth's face was grave and tender. "It's up to you, dear. The happiness of my whole life is up to you,—here and now. What's the answer?"
Patty sat still a moment, and fairly blinked her eyes in her endeavour to realise the situation.