"Sorry I can't make it," returned Kenneth. "I am moving into my house to-day and that's going to keep me pretty busy." "Well, how would you like to go out with us a little later on for ducks?" "I'd like to, very much. That is, after I've got thoroughly settled in my new office, shingles painted, and so forth. Mighty good of you to ask me." Barry was regarding him somewhat narrowly. "So you are moving up to your house to-day, are you? That will be news to Viola. She's got the whim that you don't intend to live there." "I was rather undecided about it myself,--at least for the present. I am quite comfortable here at Mr. Johnson's." "It isn't bad here,--and he certainly sets a good table. Say, I guess I owe you a sort of apology, Kenny. I hope you will overlook the way I spoke last night when you said you couldn't go to Jack Trentman's. I guess I was a--well, a little sarcastic, wasn't I?" There was nothing apologetic in his voice or bearing. On the contrary, he spoke in a lofty, casual manner, quite as if this perfunctory concession to the civilities were a matter of form, and was to be so regarded by Gwynne. "I make it a rule to overlook, if possible, anything a man may say when he is drinking," said Kenneth, smiling. Barry's pallid cheeks took on a faint red tinge; his hard eyes seemed suddenly to become even harder than before. "Meaning, I suppose, that you considered me a trifle tipsy, eh?" he said, the corner of his mouth going up in mirthless simulation of a grin. "Well, you had taken something aboard, hadn't you?" "A drink or two, that was all," said the other, shrugging his shoulders. "Anyhow, I have apologized for jeering at you, Gwynne, so I've done all that a sober man should be expected to do," he went on carelessly. "You missed it by not going down there with me last night. I cleaned 'em out." "You did, eh?" "A cool two thousand," said the other, with a satisfaction that bordered on exultation. "By the way, changing the subject, I'd like to ask you a question. Has a mother the legal right to disinherit a son in case said son marries contrary to her wishes?" Kenneth looked at him sharply. Could it be possible that Lapelle's mother objected to his marriage with Viola, and was prepared to take drastic action in case he did so? "Different states have different laws," he answered. "I should have to look it up in the statutes, Barry." "Well, what is your own opinion?" insisted the other, impatiently. "You fellows always have to look things up in a book before you can say one thing or another."