"Patricia Whipple—and did that boy see it, too?"
"No, he was too far behind me. But I did. I saw it. I was looking right at you, and that funny man—all at once he grabbed you round your waist and he—"
"Patricia, dear, listen! We must promise never to say anything about it—never to anybody in the world—won't we, dear?"
"Oh, I won't tell if you don't want me to, but what——"
"You promise me—never to tell a soul!"
"Of course! I promise—cross my heart and hope to die—but what did he do it for?"
Juliana tried humorous evasion.
"Men, my dear, are often tempted by women to such lengths—tempted beyond their strength. Your question isn't worded with all the tact in the world. Is it so strange that a man should want to kiss me?"
"Well, I don't know"—Patricia became judicial, scanning the now flushed countenance of Juliana—"I don't see why not. But what did he do it for?"
"My dear, you'll be honest with me, and never tell; so I'll be honest with you. I don't know—I really don't know. But I have an awful suspicion that the creature meant to be kind to me."