“Fine! Mother would never dream of looking in your room!”
“I should hope not! And now may I, without undue haste, bid you a very good morning?”
“S’pose I’ve _got_ to go, if you put it like that. I did want to tell you more about Gracie; and there’s something I want to ask you.”
“Not now, not now, my child. I am busy—see? B-U-S-Y! My Flag comes before my friends! Thus, you see my friends follow the Flag!”
“You are so witty! And so kind. Thank you lots, Captain, and when you’re not so busy, may I talk to you again?”
“If that time ever comes! But it never will unless you clear out! Scoot now!” Farnsworth held the door persuadingly open, and Lena didn’t scoot, but she went slowly and reluctantly out.
“The pretty little nuisance!” muttered the Captain, as he closed and locked his door.
Without further interruption, Bill put in the morning on his war work, and at last was free to consider the case against Patty Fairfield.
“She’s true blue,” he thought, “far too true to do anything she deemed wrong or even indiscreet. But I suppose she didn’t realise how definite,—how imperative my instructions were,—maybe I didn’t tell her distinctly enough,—maybe she forgot,—or was really overcome with a desire to know what was in that sealed note. Oh, well, I must warn her further. I hate to hurt her,—I can’t let her think I distrust her,—and Lord knows I _don’t_! How I wish I had more time! But I’ve that appointment at two—and—whew! I’ll have to scribble to Patty pretty fast, whatever I say!”
The result, after one or two torn-up attempts, was this:
“My Own Patty Blossom,—my Posy Face,—my Best Beloved: I’ve only a minute to write this time, and so I must come to the point at once. Dear Heart,—_did_ you open the sealed note before I told you to? Oh, well,—I know you did so never mind about that,—but, my precious little girl, don’t, _please_ don’t ever do it again. You see, I send you notes thus, so that you can open them in haste when I wire you that you may. Now, if you open them sooner, I never know where we stand. In this matter, darling, please consider my wishes—and, especially because I meant to send a really valuable paper to you, in order that you might hand it to me when I do come to New York, and I won’t have to carry it with me or trust it to the general mail. I can’t explain all these matters, as you know, dear, but I do want to feel that in the government work that is entrusted to _me_, I can as implicitly trust _you_ to be my aid and helper. Can’t I, Sweetheart? Of course, I know I can, and I know your eager haste to learn my plans led you to open that letter before time. So, don’t do it again, and all will be well. Now, I’ve not another minute, but I _must_ take time to say once again that I love you, and you’re all the world to me, my dear, _dear_ little Posy Patty. “And I’m your faithful and devoted “Little Billee.”
