"Of course. It was nothing. Any one can play variations on an old
song."

"Variations nothing!" remarked Patty. "It was a work,--a chef
d'oeuvre,--an opus!"

"Yes; Opus One of my new cycle." "What are you two talking about?"
said Marie, returning. "Have you found your girl, Kit? What do you
think, Patty?--Kit's crazy over a black-eyed girl whom he doesn't
know!"

"Is he?" said Patty, dropping her eyes demurely.

"I found My Girl, Marie," Cameron announced, calmly; "I find I made
a trifling mistake about her colouring, but that's a mere detail. As
it turns out, the lady of my quest is Miss Fairfield."

"Good gracious, are you, Patty?" said Marie, impetuously; "are you
Kit's girl?"

"Yes; I am," and Patty folded her hands with a ridiculous air of
complacency.

"Patty!" growled Van Reypen, who was sitting behind her.

"Yes, Philip," said Patty, sweetly, turning partly round.

"Behave yourself!"

"I am behaving, Philip," and Patty looked very meek.