She would be safe with Philip always, but safety had
no special charm for one of her age, who had never been in peril.
Mark's superior knowledge of the world, moreover, his careless,
buoyant manner of carrying himself, his gay, boyish audacity, all
had a very distinct charm for her;--and yet--
But there would be no "and yet" a little later. Patty's heart
would blaze quickly enough when sufficient heat was applied to
it, and Mark was falling more and more deeply in love every day.
As Patty vacillated, his purpose strengthened; the more she
weighed, the more he ceased to weigh, the difficulties of the
situation; the more she unfolded herself to him, the more he
loved and the more he respected her. She began by delighting his
senses; she ended by winning all that there was in him, and
creating continually the qualities he lacked, after the manner of
true women even when they are very young and foolish.
XVIII
A STATE O' MAINE PROPHET
SUMMER was dying hard, for although it had passed, by the
calendar, Mother Nature was still keeping up her customary
attitude.
There had been a soft rain in the night and every spear of grass
was brilliantly green and tipped with crystal. The smoke bushes
in the garden plot, and the asparagus bed beyond them, looked
misty as the sun rose higher, drying the soaked earth and
dripping branches.
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