"Yes?" said Carl patiently. "What is it, Aunt Agatha?"

"Dick Sherrill phoned," said his aunt plaintively. "I thought you'd
gone. He wanted you to come up and play bridge. Oh, Carl, I--I do
wish you wouldn't motor about in a thunder shower. I once knew a
man--such a nice, quiet fellow too--and very domestic in his
habits--but he would ramble about and the lightning tore his collar off
and printed a picture of a tree on his spine. Think of that!"

Carl laughed. He was raincoated and hatless.

"An arboreal spine!" said he, rolling on. "Lord, Aunt Agatha, that was
tough! Moral--don't be domestic!"

"Carl!" quavered his aunt tearfully.

Again, throbbing like a giant heart in the darkness, the car halted.
Carl tossed his hair back from his forehead with a smothered groan, but
said nothing. He was always kinder and less impatient to Aunt Agatha
in a careless way than Diane.

"Will you take Diane an extra raincoat and rubbers?" appealed Aunt
Agatha pathetically. "Like as not the pockets of the other are full of
bugs and things."

"Aunt Agatha," grumbled Carl kindly, "why fuss so? Diane's equipped
with nerve and grit and independence enough to look out for herself."

Aunt Agatha sniffed and closed the window.