Ruth bit off a thread thoughtfully.
"Cecile was telling us about 'Neighbor' last evening," she said.
Luke flushed quickly and he looked away from the girl for a moment.
"Oh!" he said. "The poor old gentleman is a character."
"But a very good friend of yours?"
"I am not so sure about that," and Luke tried to laugh naturally. "To tell the truth I'm afraid he's a bit cracked, don't you know."
"Oh, you do not mean that he is really—er—crazy!"
"No. Though they say—somebody has—that we are most of us a little crazy. Neighbor Northrup is more than a little peculiar. Cecile told you he is a woman-hater?"
"Yes. And that he carries his hatred to extremes."
"I should say he does!" exclaimed Luke with vast disgust. "He wants me to promise never to marry."