Thorne looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Oh," he said, "if any of my friends make too persistent attempts to reform me it's quite possible I shall go off on the trail again."
"I don't think you need anticipate any further trouble of that kind," Alison assured him.
Thorne turned to Mrs. Farquhar.
"May I drive over to supper to-morrow evening? I'd like a talk with Harry—among other things."
"Of course," responded Mrs. Farquhar. "As a matter of fact, though I don't suppose it would have much result, I should like a talk with you. In the meanwhile we'll get on. It wouldn't be considerate to keep you back when you're seized by a fit of sensible activity."
She drove away with the clang of the mower following her and a few minutes later she smiled at Alison.
"He's very far from perfect, and that's probably why he has so many friends," she observed. "I should very much like to hear an unvarnished account of all his doings since he went away."
Alison, though she would not confess it, was sensible of a similar curiosity.