“Come on, Patty,” said Kenneth, “we’re going to see where your deck chairs are, so we can have a mental picture of just how you’re going to look for the next week or so.”

About a dozen merry young people trooped up the next deck and found the chairs that had been reserved for the Farrington party.  But when Patty saw them she burst out laughing.  The two that were intended for herself and Elise had been decorated in an absurd fashion.  They were tied with ribbon bows and bunches and garlands of flowers.  They were filled with fancy pillows, and tied on in several places were letters and small packages done up in paper.

“They look like ridiculous Christmas trees,” cried Patty.  “I’m crazy to open those bundles, for I know they’re full of foolishness that you girls have rigged up for us.”

“Don’t open them now,” said Hilda, “for we have to leave you and go ashore in a few moments.  Now, Patty, you will write to us, won’t you?”

“I rather think I will,” cried Patty; “you’ve all been so good to me I never could thank you enough if I wrote every day and all day.”

“Come with me, Patty,” said Kenneth; “I want to show you something up at this end of the ship.”

So Patty went off with Kenneth, and when they were well away from the laughing crowd he drew a small box from his pocket and gave it to her, saying:  “Patty, you mustn’t think I’m a sentimental fool, for I’m not; but I wish you’d wear that while you’re away, and sometimes think of me.”

Patty flashed a comical glance at him.

“Good gracious, Ken,” she exclaimed, “it’s an awful funny thing, this going away; it makes all your friends so serious and so afraid you’ll forget them.  Of course I shall think of you while I’m away.”

“Who else has been asking you to think of him?” growled Kenneth; “that ridiculous Hepworth, I suppose!  Well, now look here, miss, you’re to think of me twice to his once.  Do you understand that?”

“Yes, I understand,” said Patty demurely; “and now may I look in the box before I promise to wear your gift?  It might be a live beetle.  I saw a lady once who wore a live beetle attached to a tiny gold chain.  Oh, it was awful!”

“It isn’t a live beetle,” said Kenneth, smiling, “but it is attached to a tiny gold chain.  Yes, of course you may look at it, and if you don’t like it you needn’t wear it.”

So Patty opened the box and discovered a little gold locket, set with tiny pearls and hanging from a slender gold chain.  It was very graceful and dainty, and Patty’s first impulse was one of delight.  But as she looked up and met Kenneth’s serious gaze she suddenly wondered if she were promising too much to say she would wear it.

“What’s inside of it?” she inquired, as if to gain time.

“Look and see.”

Patty opened the locket and found it contained a most attractive picture of Kenneth’s handsome, boyish face.