“Nonsense!” but Patty’s blush belied her words.

“I hope it is nonsense, Patty, dear.  You’re too young to have a serious affair yet awhile.  Take an old friend’s advice and say no this time.”

“Of course I shall.  Don’t worry about me, Jim.”

“No, indeed.  You’ve good common sense in that curly golden pate of yours.  I’ll get out here, and you go along, Patty, and have a nice little maiden meditation all to yourself, and come back fancy free, but don’t stay out too late.”

Kenerley got out of the car and went back to the house, and Patty drove on alone.

It was just what she wanted, an opportunity to think over what Philip had said.  And she was fond of motoring alone, and an experienced driver.  She went slowly at first, enjoying the beautiful country with its serene air of Sunday afternoon calm.

The trend of her thoughts was not a question of whether or not she should accept Van Reypen; but more a dreamy recollection and living over the scene at the Falls.

She pictured in her mind how really noble and handsome he looked, and she almost wondered at herself why she had only a friendly feeling toward him.

“But I like him better than Kenneth,” she assured herself; “that is, I like him more than I do Kenneth.  Ken is an old dear, but he is slow; and Philip has all the nice ways and mannerisms that I do like in a man.  He’s always equal to any occasion, without any effort.  He’s just born so.  He’s an aristocrat like his aunt, but he hasn’t a bit of her,—­well,—­it is really a kind of snobbishness.  She’s intolerant of people not in her own set.  But Phil is kind and courteous to everybody.  And he has a sense of humour.  I suppose that’s what’s the matter with Ken.  The poor boy hasn’t a spark of fun in him except what I’ve banged into his blessed old head.  There’s Kit Cameron now, he has too much fun in him.  He’d make anybody’s life a practical joke.  I don’t believe he half meant what he said to me in the swing last night.  I think he would have said the same to any girl, sitting there in the moonlight.  Well, I do seem to be growing up.  I wish I had Nan here.  She’s so nice to talk things over with.  Not that I want to talk anything over.  I believe it isn’t considered correct to tell about the proposals you have, but I guess a mother wouldn’t count,—­even if she is a stepmother.  And Nan is such a duck of a stepmother!  I’ll certainly tell her about these proposals I’ve had.  I don’t believe I’ll ever have any more.  But all the same, I’m not going to get engaged yet!  I’d rather be an old maid than to take the first man who asks me.  But there’s one thing certain, I do like Philip the best of the bunch!”

Patty went on along the highway, stopping now and then to gather a particularly beautiful branch of wild rose, or a few spring beauties.

She had on a simple little frock of pink linen, with a sailor collar of fine white embroidery, and a big black velvet bow at her throat.  She wore no hat but her golden hair was partly confined by a band of black velvet.  She had a light dust coat of pongee silk, though Jim had told her there was a warmer coat in the car if she should want it.