But Thad apparently had not inherited the peaceful ways of his ancestors, for he had been in more than a few battles with some of his more pugnacious school companions, nor did he always come out from these encounters first best.
All the same, Thad was a pretty clever chap, and Hugh had always been very fond of his chum.

They got on wonderfully well together, and seldom had the least "tiff." It was Thad who had secured his father's old car for the special occasion.

He turned up at Hugh's house about half-past seven that evening.

It was a calm night, and the moon was just rising in the east, being a little past her full period.
"Say, this couldn't be improved on any, according to my notion, Thad," Hugh remarked, as, attracted by the call of the klaxon outside, he hurried forth, wearing his overcoat, for the night air was quite chilly, it being still only April.
"A bang-up night for a dance," echoed the enthusiastic Thad; "just cool enough to keep us from getting overheated.

The farmer's wife will make the coffee, and spread a table for us in her big kitchen, she promised; and the girls are to provide lots of good things.