Part 21 (2/2)

Bruce sat down in her vacant chair next to Patricia. ”And now your mind is at rest about your friend's future,” he said with his nicest smile, ”let's talk about your own.”

Patricia laid an eager hand on his arm. ”Oh, Bruce dear, we won't have time,” she bubbled. ”It's going to be so long till I have a future. I have to study for ages and ages, and, you know, something might, _might_ happen to me. Don't let's plan too far ahead. I'm just looking forward to finis.h.i.+ng up the spring here at Artemis Lodge, studying with Tancredi, and then I'll be ready to go out to dear old Greycroft with the rest of you to see the summer through. What's behind that I'd rather not think about just now. I'm so glad, glad, _glad_ to come back to the dear hopes, after I thought I'd lost them!”

Bruce smiled again at her flushed face. ”You've come back with something in your hands, Miss Pat,” he said with kindly gravity. ”I think I see unselfishness and courage in them now.”

And as Patricia's eyes filled with grateful tears, he rose, holding out a hand to her.

”Come and see Constance's aunt,” he invited. ”We've no right to be gossipping here all night.”

Patricia sprang up with her eyes alight. ”It's all come out right after all,” she whispered to herself. ”Oh, how happy I am, and how hard I'll try to study. I won't mind waiting a long, long time for the future. I am so glad, glad, _glad_ that it's there!”

As she followed Bruce across the room her face was glowing with rosy hope. She whispered to herself, ”Some day I shall sing in the light, too. And tomorrow I shall sing the little song Milano sang, and Judy shall tell me that the ring has come back to it.”

THE ”MISS PAT” SERIES

Nine Volumes

Miss Pat and Her Sisters

Miss Pat at School

Miss Pat in the Old World

Miss Pat and Company, Limited

Miss Pat's Holidays at Greycroft

Miss Pat at Artemis Lodge

Miss Pat's Problem

Miss Pat in Buenos Ayres

Miss Pat's Career

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