“Well, there’s no moonlight here now.  So when I tell you how much I love you, it’s all true.  You believe that, don’t you, Little Girl?”

“Yes, I believe it.  But, Philip, I wish you wouldn’t talk about it to-day.  I’m tired of—­”

“Of having men tell you how much they love you?  Poor little Patty!  I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with that all your life.”

“Oh, horrible!” and Patty made a wry face.  “I suppose some girls like it, but I don’t.”

“I’ll tell you a way to avoid it, Patty.  Be engaged to me, now,—­ even if you won’t marry me right away, and then, you see, other men can’t propose to you.”

“Do you mean be engaged to you, Phil, without intending ever to marry you!”

“Well, don’t consider the second question at present.  Just be engaged to me, and then we’ll see about it.”

“No, I don’t think that would be fair.  You make it seem as if being engaged to a man doesn’t mean anything.”

“Patty! dearest!  Don’t talk like that!  It would mean all the world to me.  And I’m sure I could make you love me enough to want to marry me, after awhile.  If you knew how much I loved you, I’m sure you’d agree that you couldn’t resist that love for long.”

Van Reypen looked very handsome and very earnest as he gazed into Patty’s eyes.  And Patty looked very sweet and dear as she gazed back at him with a troubled expression on her lovely face.

Then with a sudden, impulsive gesture she put out both her hands and Philip took them in his own.

“Don’t make me decide now, Phil,” she said, and she looked at him with a pathetic smile.  “I don’t know what I want.  I know I don’t want to marry you,—­or anybody else,—­for a long time.  And I don’t think I want to be engaged to anybody just yet, either.”

“Of course you don’t, you dear little girl,” and Van Reypen’s tone was hearty and genuinely helpful.  “You’ve only just begun to have your little fling, and enjoy yourself in your own sweet, butterfly way.  And I’m not going to tease you or cause you one moment’s worry.  But, oh, Patty, darling, if ever you have a moment when you want to think about these things, think about me, won’t you, dear? and remember that my whole heart is yours and my whole life is devoted to you.  You don’t understand now, what the whole love of a man means, but some day you will, and then, if your heart can turn to me, let it do so, won’t you,—­little sweetheart?”

Patty was thrilled, not only by Philip’s words, but by the deep and sincere love shining in his eyes, and which she could not mistake.

“You are very dear to me, Philip,” she said, with absolute sincerity; “and I do want you to know how much I appreciate what you have said,—­and how grateful I am—­”

“Hush, Patty,” and Philip smiled gently at her; “I don’t want that.  I don’t want your appreciation nor your gratitude for what I feel for you.  When you are ready to give me your love, in return for the love I offer you, I want it more than I can tell you.  But until then, I want your friendship, the same good comradeship we have always had, but not any gratitude, or foolishness of that sort.  Do you understand?”