"Miss Carrol!" mocked Mara, with dancing eyes. "Why not Patricia?"
"Oh!" the shy sailor blushed. "I shouldn't care to call her that."
His cousin took him by the coat-lapels and shook him with frail strength.
"Silly creature! If you have not the courage to take what you can get, Patricia will have nothing to do with you. Women like a bold lover."
"I don't believe she will ever return my love," sighed Basil dolefully.
"Oh, as to that, she returns it already."
"Mara!" he flushed again, this time with sheer delight, "do you think----"
"I don't think. I know, and I'm very glad, for Patricia is a darling. I hope that father, who is as fond of her as I am, will give her Beckleigh on condition that she marries you, who can't say 'Bo' to a goose."
Basil looked serious and sighed again. "I'm sorry to upset Uncle George's plans, for he has always been kind to me. But not even for the estate could I give up Miss--that is, Patricia."
"No one wants you to give up either," said Mara impatiently. "Father will no doubt give you Beckleigh."