"I'd love to go," murmured Isabel.
"She'll ask you when you come out to return her call," Romeo continued.
"I've been meaning to come, but I've been waiting for good roads."
"When you come," he answered, "don't say anything about my having been here. It might make her feel bad to think I went out calling and left her asleep."
"All right--I won't."
As soon as it was possible, without obvious effort, Romeo made his escape, after shaking hands with everyone and promising to come again very soon. "I'll bring Jule next time. Good-night!"
Once outside, he ran toward home like a hunted wild animal, hoping with all his heart that Juliet was still asleep. It was probable, for more than once she had slept on the sofa all night.
But the kindly fate that had hitherto guided him suddenly failed him now. When he reached home, panting and breathless, having discovered that it was almost midnight, a drooping little figure in a torn kimona opened the door and fell, weeping into his arms.
"Oh, Romie! Romie!" cried Juliet, hysterically. "Where have you been?"
"There," he said, patting her shoulder awkwardly. "Don't take on so, Jule. You were asleep, so I went out for a walk. I met Colonel Kent and Allison and I've been with them all the evening. I'm sorry I stayed so long."
"I haven't lied," he continued, to himself, exultantly. "Every word is the literal truth."
"Oh, Romie," sobbed Juliet, with a fresh burst of tears, "I don't care where you've been as long as I've got you back! We're twins and we've got to stand by each other!"
Romeo gently extricated himself from her clinging arms, then stooped to kiss her wet cheek. "You bet!" he whispered.