A quick glance of apprehension passed between Converse and Celeste. Had he heard? "I just inquired for you, Jud," said Converse, pulling himself together as quickly as possible. "Celeste says you're terribly busy. Don't overwork yourself, old man. I dropped in to say you are to go to a little dinner with me to-night. Some of the boys want to eat something for old times' sake." The shadow that passed over Jud's face was disconcerting. "There is nothing else in the way, Jud, dear," Celeste hastened to say. "It would be awfully jolly, I should think." "Vogelsang says you haven't been in his place for months," added Converse, reproachfully. "You shouldn't go back on a crowd like this, old man. They'll think you're stuck up because you've made a hit." Sherrod smiled wearily, then pulled his nerves together and made a brave show of being pleased and interested. "I don't believe they'll accuse me of that, Doug," he said. "They know I'm frightfully busy. Who is to be there?" Converse, with all his good intentions, had not been foresighted enough to see that he might be asked this natural question. It was impossible to count on any one in particular, and it would be far from politic to mention names and then be obliged to give flimsy excuses if their owners failed to appear. "Oh, just some of the old crowd," he replied, evasively, even guiltily. Jud's gaze was on the fire in the grate and Converse was thankful for the respite. "They'll be mighty glad to see you again. It doesn't seem right to take you away from Celeste, but we're talking of doing something like this at least once a week." "Can't you have ladies' night occasionally, as they say at the clubs?" asked Celeste, merrily entering into the spirit of the conspiracy. "I suppose we could," said Converse, with well assumed reluctance. "Count me out to-night, Douglass," said Jud, at this juncture. "I'll come down for the next one, but just now I'm----" "That won't do!" exclaimed Converse, peremptorily. "Work is no excuse. There was a time when you worked a blamed sight harder than you do now, and yet you found time to eat, drink and be merry--I should say, eat and be merry. You go with us to-night. That's all there is about it. I'm not going down and tell the fellows you couldn't come because you had to stay at home and put on a few dabs of paint that don't have to be on before to-morrow. I'll stop for you on my way down at 7:30, and I'll get him home safe and sound and sober, Celeste. Don't worry if he's out after nine o'clock." "I shan't sleep a wink," smiled Celeste, putting her arm through Jud's and laying her cheek against his shoulder. Sherrod sighed and smiled and said he would be ready when his friend called. Celeste went to the door with her confederate. She pressed his hand warmly and her eyes seemed to exact a promise that could not be broken. "Do everything in your power, Douglass," she said, softly.