"Well, you see, I am not Rupert," said Captain Jack, grinning at her.

"Now you are horrible. Why don't you do as you used to do? You know you
could if you wanted to."

"Yes, I suppose, if I wanted to," said Captain Jack, suddenly grave.

"You don't want to," said the girl, quick to catch his mood.

"Well, you know, Patsy dear, things are different, and I suppose I am
too. I don't care much for a lot of things."

"You just look as if you didn't care for anything or anybody sometimes,
Captain Jack," said Patricia quietly. Then after a few moments she burst
forth: "Oh, don't you remember your hockey team? Oh! oh! oh! I used to
sit and just hold my heart from jumping. It nearly used to choke me when
you would tear down the ice with the puck."

"That was long ago, Pat dear. I guess I was--ah--very young then, eh?"

"Yes, I know," nodded the girl. "I feel the same way--I was just a kid
then."

"Ah, yes," said Captain Jack, with never a smile. "You were just--let's
see--twelve, was it?"

"Yes, twelve. And I felt just a kid."

"And now?" Captain Jack's voice was quite grave.