Kitty found it very hard to reply.  She did not wish to be disloyal to Patches and her many Williamson Valley friends; nor did she like to explain how Patches had played a part for the professor’s benefit, for she felt that by not exposing the deception she had, in a way, been a party to it.  So she said nothing, but seemed to be silently weighing the value of her learned companion’s observations.  At least, it so appeared to the professor, and in her ready acceptance of his implied criticism of her conduct he found the encouragement he needed for that which followed.

“You must understand, Miss Reid, that I have become exceedingly zealous for your welfare.  In these months that we have been so much together your companionship—­your spiritual and intellectual companionship, I should say—­has come to be very dear to me.  As our souls have communed, I have felt myself uplifted and inspired.  I have been strengthened and encouraged, as never before, to climb on toward the mountain peaks of pure intellectuality.  If I am not mistaken, you, too, have felt a degree of uplift as a result of our fellowship, have you not?”

“Yes, indeed, Professor Parkhill,” Kitty answered sincerely.  “Our talks together have meant much more to me than I can tell.  I shall never forget this summer.  Your friendship has been a wonderful influence in my life.”

The little man moved uneasily and glanced timidly around.  “I am truly glad to know that our companionship has not been altogether distasteful to you; I felt sure that it was not, but I—­ahem!—­I am glad to hear your confirmation of my opinion.  It—­ah—­it enables me to say that which for several weeks past has been weighing heavily on my mind.”

Kitty looked at him with the manner of a trusting disciple waiting for the gems of truth that were about to fall from the lips of a venerable teacher.

“Miss Reid—­ah—­why need our beautiful and mutually profitable companionship cease?”

“I fear that I do not understand, Professor Parkhill,” she answered, puzzled by his question.

He looked at her with just a shade of mild—­very mild—­rebuke, as he returned, “Why, I think that I have stated my thought clearly.  I mean that I am very desirous that our relation—­the relation which we both have found so helpful—­should continue.  I am sure that we have, in these months which we have spent together, sufficient evidence that our souls vibrate in perfect harmony.  I need you, dear friend; your understanding of my soul’s desires is so sympathetic; I feel that you so complement and fill out, as it were, my spiritual self.  I need you to encourage, to inspire, to assist me in the noble work to which I am devoting all my strength.”

She looked at him, now, with an expression of amazement.  “Do you mean—­” she faltered in confusion while the red blood colored her cheeks.