His better sense kept telling him to go back to Slow Down Ranch.
But there she was inside Nolan Doyle's house, and he had come deliberately to see her.
He stood outside in the garden near the great spreading elm-tree, torn by a sense of duty and a sense of desire; but the desire was to let her see by his presence that he would be a tower of strength to her, no matter what happened.

It was not the desire which had possessed him whom Patsy Kernaghan had called the keeper of the "zoolyogical" garden.
He had just made up his mind that courage was the right thing: that he must see her in the presence of others for one minute, whatever the issue, when she came out with Patsy Kernaghan, the Young Doctor, and Norah and Nolan Doyle.

None saw him, and, as they seated themselves, he stepped noiselessly under the spreading branches of the elm-tree.
He would not speak to them yet; he would wait.

In the shade made by the drooping branches he could not be seen, yet he could hear and see all.
There was silence for a moment, and then Patsy began the tale of St.
Droid--"whoever he was," as Patsy said to himself; for he was going to make up out of his head this story of St.Droid and St.Droid's Day, and Queen Moira, Filion and Fiona.

It was a bold idea, but it gave Patsy the opportunity of his life.
His description of Black Brian, the rich, ruthless King, to whom Queen Moira gave her daughter Fiona, despite the girl's bitter sorrow, was a masterpiece.