Max turned sidewise in his seat, rested his elbow on the back, propped his head upon his hand, closed his eyes, and appeared to slumber.  Jarvis drove on silently, noting with pleasure the subdued murmur of talk going on behind him, where Sally, after a long and lonely day, was enjoying the chance to visit with her friend.  The girl lay back against the luxurious padding of the Burnside carriage, resting and drinking in the refreshing sense of coolness caused more by the motion than by a greatly lowered temperature, for the evening was very warm.  Presently, however, as they left the city and turned out upon a country road, the lessening heat and freer stirring of the air became distinctly perceptible.

A passing stream of automobiles, setting out for some scene of festivity at a popular resort several miles away, roused Max from his lethargy with their tooting horns and brilliant lights.  “Lucky ducks!” he muttered, in surly tones.  “They can always stir up a breeze.”

“They’re not the only ones who can stir up breezes,” rejoined Jarvis.  “I’m about to stir up one myself.”

“I should think you’d own a runabout,” remarked Max.

“Perhaps I will some day—­when you people get to living out here.”

Max looked about him.  “Headed for the farm, are we?  You seem to have a fancy for this road.”

“It’s the prettiest outside the city.  Look here, Max”—­he lowered his voice, that Sally might not catch a word of the coming talk—­“I want to own up to something.  I’ve been taking liberties with your place out here.”

Jarvis pulled off his goggles and turned his eyes upon his companion.  Max yawned once more—­it was the last time he yawned that evening.  From that moment he became thoroughly awake.

“Well, what is it?” he asked.  “Had the house painted and moved in?”

“Not quite so bad as that.  I’ve put up a tent in your grove and moved out.”

Max stared. “What?”

“Let’s keep our voices low for a bit,” urged Jarvis.  “I want to surprise Sally.  I knew if I asked your permission to camp in your grove you’d give it to me without a minute’s hesitation, so, banking on your generosity, I took possession.  I wanted to surprise you all.  It struck me that every last one of you needed an outing, and I thought if you found a tent all in order out here, perhaps you’d like to try camping through this hot spell.”

Max was still staring.  Jarvis faced him silently, straining his eyes in the darkness to see what manner of expression might be discovered upon the face beside him, showing so whitely through the obscurity.  Max did not reply for the space of a full minute.  When he did it was not necessary for Jarvis to strain his eyes to make out the expression.  He could tell what it was quite without seeing it.

“It may be the proper thing to bank on a person’s generosity,” said Max, in a tone of deep displeasure, “but as a rule I think it pays to consult a man before you take possession of his property.”