_Dr. Herd._ (_with uncontrollable emotion_). HILDA, there is not a corner of me safe from you! Yes, I see now that _must_ have been the way of it. Then I _was_ a troll in that, too! But isn't it terrible the price I have had to pay for it? To have a wife who----. No, I shall never roll a pill again--never, never! _Hilda_ (_lays her head on the stove, and answers as if half asleep_). No more pills? Poor Doctor HERDAL! _Dr. Herd._ (_bitterly_). No--nothing but cosy commonplace grey powders for a whole troop of children. _Hilda_ (_lively again_). Not _grey_ powders! (_Quite seriously._) I will tell you what you shall make next. Beautiful rainbow-coloured powders that will give one a real grip on the world. Powders to make everyone free and buoyant, and ready to grasp at one's own happiness, to _dare_ what one _would_. I will have you make them. I will--I _will!_ _Dr. Herd._ H'm! I am not quite sure that I clearly understand. And then the ingredients--? _Hilda._ What stupid people all of you pill-doctors are, to be sure! Why, they will be _poisons_, of course! _Dr. Herd._ Poisons? Why in the world should they be _that_? _Hilda_ (_without answering him_). All the thrillingest, deadliest poisons--it is only such things that are wholesome, nowadays. _Dr. Herd._ (_as if caught by her enthusiasm_). And I could colour them, too, by exposing them to rays cast through a prism. Oh, HILDA, how I have needed you all these years! For, you see, with _her_ it was impossible to discuss such things. [_Embraces her._ _Mrs. Herd._ (_enters noiselessly through hall-door_). I suppose, HAUSTUS, you are persuading Miss WANGEL to start by the afternoon steamer? I have bought her a pair of curling-tongs, and a packet of hair-pins. The larger parcels are coming on presently. _Dr. Herd._ (_uneasily_). H'm! HILDA--Miss WANGEL I _should_ say--is kindly going to stay on a little longer, to assist me in some scientific experiments. You wouldn't understand them if I told you. _Mrs. Herd._ Shouldn't I, HAUSTUS? I daresay not. [_The_ New Book-keeper _looks through the glass-door of Dispensary._ _Hilda_ (_starts violently and points--then in a whisper_). Who is _that_? _Dr. Herd._ Only the New Book-keeper and Assistant--a very intelligent person. _Hilda_ (_looks straight in front of her with a far-away expression, and whispers to herself_). I thought at first it was.... But no--_that_ would be _too_ frightfully thrilling! _Dr. Herd._ (_to himself_). I'm turning into a regular old troll now--but I can't help myself. After all, I am only an elderly Norwegian. We are _made_ like that.... Rainbow powders--_real_ rainbow powders! With HILDA.... Oh, to have the joy of life once more! [_Takes his temperature again as Curtain falls._ * * * * * PROFESSOR WHITEWASH'S GUIDE TO HISTORY.