"Oh, ho!" Allen shook his finger reproachfully. "Was that a nice thing to do?"
"It was my duty," the child responded, impressively. "I always do that, and I heard what she said; but I will make it up to you."
"That's awfully good of you, Lady Pat."
"You may kiss me." She held her face forward, with her hands still behind her.
Allen drew her into his lap. "There's one for the lips, and one for each eye, and one for each cheek," suiting the action to the word. Patricia worked herself free.
"Now we're engaged," she announced. "You may marry me as soon as you like."
Allen concealed his amusement. "I can't marry you because I've made a vow to marry Alice, and it would never do to break a vow, would it?"
"But if the lady won't marry you, then you are released from your vow," Patricia explained, showing perfect familiarity with the laws of chivalry.
"Not until she marries some one else," he corrected.
"That's all right," the child assented, cheerfully; "until then you can be my Knight." Then she majestically untied the ribbon in her hair and held it out to him.