"Last night's dissipation proved too much for me," Darrell said, playfully, in reply to some protest of Mrs. Dean's regarding his light appetite.
"You don't look fit to go down town!" she exclaimed; "you had better stay at home and help Kath
erine entertain her guests. I noticed you seemed to be very popular with them last night."
"I'm afraid I would prove a sorry entertainer," Darrell answered, lightly, as he rose from the table, "so you will kindly excuse me to Miss Underwood and her friends."
"Aren't you going to wait and ride down?" Mr. Underwood inquired.
"Not this morning," Darrell replied; "a brisk walk will do me good." And a moment later they heard his firm step on the gravelled driveway.
Mr. Underwood having finished his reading of the morning paper passed it to his sister.
"Pretty good write-up of last night's affair," he commented, as he replaced his spectacles in their case.
"Is there? I'll look it up after breakfast; I haven't my glasses now," Mrs. Dean replied. "I thought myself that everything passed off pretty well. What did you think of Katherine last night, David?"
The lines about his mouth deepened as he answered, quietly,—