Patty was walking up and down the library, waiting for Little Billee. He had written and he had telegraphed and he had telephoned, and every message changed or contradicted the previous one, and Patty was nervous.
She flew from one chair to another, she flung herself on the davenport, and back to the window-seat; she pulled aside the curtains and stared down the street, in fact, she flew around, Bumble declared, like a hen with her head off.
“Fly, if you like, Patty,” Nan said, kindly; “it may help some.”
It was three o’clock, and she had expected Bill momentarily since one. And at last she saw him! The big man came swinging round a corner and looking up, saw Patty’s face at the window.
He paused at the sight, and the two stood, beaming at each other.
“Oh, there he is!” Nan cried. “Come, Bumble, let’s leave them to themselves for a few minutes.”
“A few hours!” Patty called out, as the two slipped from the room, and then Farnsworth came in.
He found a Patty smiling with joy, not nervous now, but a lovely shining-eyed girl, with welcoming arms outstretched and a soft flush tinting her cheeks.
“Blossom Girl!” he cried, and then he clasped her in a big whole-souled embrace, that nearly swept her off her feet.
Close he held her, in a happy silence, then he gently lifted the flower-face and kissed the quivering lips.
“Oh, my dearest, my Best Beloved, I thought I’d never get here! The trains crawled, the waits were interminable! But I’m here, and I have you in my arms and nothing else matters!”
“You dear thing!” Patty said, timidly reaching up to caress his strong, firm chin with her little fingers, “I’d forgotten you’re so—so enormous!”
“There _is_ a lot of me, isn’t there? But I’m all yours, so you must get used to seeing me round. Would you rather I were less enormous, Patty?”
“No, indeed! I wouldn’t have you changed in any respect! You’re just right! But you make me feel small!”
“And you are. My little Patty _Petite_. I’m glad, too, ’cause I like you much better this way. You see, I can pick you up and put you wherever I please.”
Farnsworth picked Patty up like a child, and placed her on the big davenport, then sat down beside her.
“Now, I’m happy! Can we sit here forever,—or do we have to be ordinary citizens and chum with the family?”