“No, there isn’t,” and Patty’s honest eyes showed that she spoke the truth.  “But I’ll tell you what, Ken, you try to like somebody else.  Marie Homer is perfectly lovely! or,—­there is Elise——­”

“Hush, Patty, you don’t know what you’re talking about.  I’m in love with you,—­and you needn’t suggest other girls to me.”

“They’re a great deal nicer than I am,” said Patty, thoughtfully.

“Rubbish!  You’re the only girl in the world for me, and I want you.  Are you sure there’s nobody you like better than me, Patty?”

Patty rested her dimpled chin on the backs of her clasped hands and seemed to ponder this question.  At last she said:  “There’s nobody I like better than you, Ken; but I’ve counted up nine, that I like just exactly as well.  Now, what would you do in a case like that?”

[Illustration:  “Now, what would you do in a case like that?”]

“Patty, you’re a torment!  But if I have an even chance with the others, I shall get ahead, somehow.  Are you sure you don’t like that Cameron chap any better than me?”

“Not a bit better.  He’s good fun, but I can’t imagine anybody falling in love with him.”

“And—­Van Reypen?”

The pink in Patty’s cheeks deepened, and the lids fell over her blue eyes at this question.  Af-ter an instant’s pause, she said:  “I don’t think it’s fair, Ken, for you to quiz me like that.  And, anyway, I can’t tell.  In some ways, I like you a heap better than Phil Van Reypen,—­and then in other ways——­”

“You like him a heap better than me!” Kenneth’s tone was accusing, and Patty resented it.

“Yes, I do!” she said, honestly.  “He’s always ready for a good time and willing to give up things for other people.  Why, Ken, when you’ve an important case on, you won’t go skating or anything!  I have to coax you to come to my parties.  Now, Phil is always ready to go anywhere or do anything.”

“But he’s a millionaire, Patty.  He doesn’t have to grub for a living, as I do.”

“It isn’t that, Ken.”  Patty’s quick perceptions had caught the flaw in Kenneth’s argument.  “It isn’t that.  It’s because you’re so absorbed in your work that you’d rather dig and delve in it, than to go to parties.  That’s all right, of course, and much to your credit.  But you can’t blame me for liking a man who is willing to throw over his business engagements for me.”

“That’s just like you, Patty, to see through me so quickly.  You’re right.  I don’t care an awful lot for society doings.  I only go to parties and things to see you.  And it’s mighty little satisfaction, for you’re always so surrounded by rattle-pated men, that there’s no getting near you.”

“Wait a minute, Ken; is it fair to call them rattle-pated, when you only mean that they enjoy the kind of gay chatter that you look down upon?”

“Oh, Patty, I do love you so!  And when you say things like that, that proves what a big, clear mind you have underneath your frivolity, I love you more than ever.  Of course, as you saw at once, I call them rattle-pates out of sheer envy and jealousy, because they possess that quality we’re speaking of, and I don’t.  Teach it to me, Patty; teach me to be a gay society man, dancing attendance on gay society girls——­”