Then she turned swiftly to the civil engineer again and whispered:
"What is it about? Hopewell?"
"Yes," he returned in the same low tone.
"What is the matter with him?" demanded the girl greatly worried.
"He's down at the Inn——"
"I know. He went there to play at a dance tonight. That's why I am here—to keep his wife company," explained Janice.
"Well," said Bowman. "I went down to get some of my books I'd left there. They're having a high old time in that big back room, downstairs. You know?"
"Where they are going to have the Assembly Ball?"
"Yes," he agreed.
"But it's nothing more than a dance, is it?" whispered Janice.
"Hopewell was hired to play——"
"I know. But such playing you never heard in all your life," said Bowman, with disgust. "And the racket! I wonder somebody doesn't complain to Judge Little or to the Town Council."