"But you will try?"
Through the night air pierced the crescendo wail of a horn, startling the insect choirs into silence and waking a sleepy bird in the wistaria vines. Both men rose.
"If I must," John yielded. "Yet I have an idea it will not matter who speaks first, and perhaps you are not quite up to the task to-night. Yes, I will try."
"And try fairly. I," as the white lights of the car swung into the avenue, "I am going in."
Their hands met in passing, Robert turning to the house door and John descending the wide steps to greet the arrival.
"The most delicious time," pealed the sweet, high voice of a girl above the noise of the halted automobile. "Good night, Mrs. Preston. Until to-morrow, Sue and Billy. Oh, John, you!"
"Come over to-morrow, Allard," rang the merry chorus.
"Don't forget the hunt."
"Bring Robert, old man."
"Adiós, Theo."