Alma eagerly took her place, and said with a laugh: "If this is the pursuit of pure science, it is very amusing. I'd like to study science--in this way." "Yes, it is rather interesting----" "Oh, Elmer, it's pitch dark." "Never mind. Stand perfectly still and watch the wall. There--there's the spot of light. Now I'll run in the positive." A round spot of white light fell on the unpapered wall, and then two dusky shadows slid over it, vague, obscure, and gigantic. "There are your people. Now I'll adjust the focus. There--look." A heavy sob startled him. "Oh! It's that hateful Alice Green!" Elmer opened the door of the lantern, and the light streamed full upon Alma. She was bathed in tears, and her shoulders, visible through her light summer dress, shook with sobs. "What's the matter?" "Nothing! Oh, it's--nothing--let me--go----" With an impatient gesture she tried to brush the tears from her eyes, and then, without a word, she hastily ran out of the room. The student of pure science was surprised beyond measure. What had happened? What new blunder had he committed? With all his deep study of things material he was ignorant of things emotional and sentimental. This exhibition of anger and grief in his pretty cousin utterly disconcerted him. He did not know what to do, nor what to think, and he stood in the glare of his lantern for a moment or two in deep thought. Then he closed the lantern and turning round, examined the shadowy picture thrown upon the wall. It represented a young man and a young woman seated upon the wooden rail of the bridge in the open air, and in most loving embrace. His arm was about her waist, and he was looking in her face. His straw hat hid his features, but the face of the young woman was turned toward the camera that had so perfectly mirrored them both. She seemed to be a young and pretty girl in the more lowly walks of life, and her lover seemed to be a gentleman. What a pity he hadn't looked up! Who could he be? And she? Alma's remark plainly showed that she at least knew the girl, and for some reason was hotly indignant with her. Thinking he had made trouble enough already, Elmer took one more good look at the picture, and then prepared to destroy it. Something about the young man's hat struck him as familiar. It was a panama hat, and had two ribbons wound round it in a fanciful manner that was not exactly conventional.