to town," she said with a
glance at her own fluffy net dress, "but we'll be glad, too, to get back
to the folks again. Town's plenty of fun, but it takes one's ambition.
Hiram's simply lost without the woods and hills and I'm going to be
pretty well satisfied with Rockham, once I get back."

Margaret Howes took a great fancy to both of them, and she plied Hiram
with many questions as to his geological pursuits, bringing out all the
best in him, while Marian, pleased with the respect this pretty,
intelligent girl showed to her husband, glowed and beamed on her,
growing entirely at ease and even loquacious under the stimulating
warmth of Margaret's interest. By the time that dinner was served they
were all in the most friendly humor possible and ready to enjoy the
least excuse for laughter.

Another pleasant surprise came as they were settling themselves at the
table. The elevator clanged its downward flight and a moment after the
door flung open to admit Patricia's twin Ted, with his chum Tom Hughes,
both very much delighted to find such a merry company and fully equipped
with appetites to do justice to the feast.

Bruce received them with something like contrition in his cheerful face.
"Great Scott, I forgot you two!" he gasped, wringing their hands with
great cordiality. "Hope you haven't been wandering about in this frosty
burg too long?"

Tom shook himself out of his overcoat with a silent grin, but Ted was
not so considerate.

"See here, Elinor," he complained, turning to his sister at the head of
the table. "That husband of yours needs a lecture. He made a date with
us fellows over a week ago and we've been tracking him in vain for
nearly an hour. He never peeped a note about having the dinner here. I
thought it was to be at the Ritz and we've been hanging about there for
a dog's age. What do you think of it?"

Patricia broke in before Bruce or Elinor could reply. "Don't waste time
mourning over the dark past, Ted Kendall," she said severely. "Come sit
down here between Margaret Howes and me, and let Margaret see how nicely
you can behave since you've grown up enough to have evening clothes. She
hasn't seen you since you were a little boy at Elinor's wedding, you
know."

There was a laugh at this, as the ceremony mentioned had taken place in
a June not so very long ago, and while Bruce tried hard to trump up
excuses for having forgotten to telephone to his young brother-in-law,
the two boys settled themsel