"And Mrs. Redding may feel that she would like to be one of the invited," continued the elder Overton. "So, my dear, you see that you will become of social consequence. Others than Mrs. Redding, who have never even bowed to you before, will now be calling on you."
"I don't want new friends of that sort," remarked Hal's mother quietly.
"My dear, you'll have to be very agile if you expect to dodge all such new friends," laughed Hal's father.
Since Hal had given the order the orchestra had played several numbers. All of the little dining party were now becoming rather impatient for dinner.
"I guess our waiter doesn't like us very well," half-grumbled Lieutenant Hal.
"Very likely," nodded his father. "Of course you recognized the waiter."
"I can't say, sir, that I did."
"The waiter is Bunny Hepburn, more than three years older than when you last saw him," replied Mr. Overton.
"Bunny Hepburn? The son of that anarchist who spouts about man's rights in beer-gardens?" questioned Hal. "Hepburn the man who is always trying to start strikes and labor riots?"
"That's the man, and Bunny is a half-worthy son of the sire, I hear," replied Mr. Overton.