"Do you mean real gold?" asked Zephania, awedly. "Yes, real gold, virgin gold, just as it comes out of the ground, you know." "Wouldn't it be worth a good deal, though?" asked Zephania, doubtfully. "Oh, a few dollars; ten or fifteen. Why?" "I'd almost be afraid of losing it, Mr. Herrick. Would you please see that it wasn't a very big nug--nug--" "Nugget'? All right," he laughed. "I'll see that it's only about as big as your thumbnail." "Thank you, sir; I'd think a great deal of it. Will you have some more tea?" "No, no more tea, Zephania. No more anything. You may take the things out." Later in the evening came Doctor Crimmins, very regretful and full of arguments in favor of postponing action. When twilight passed they went out onto the porch with their pipes and glasses. They talked as friends talk on the eve of parting, often of trivial things, with long pauses between. The moon came up over the tree tops, round and full, and flooded the garden with silver. "'The moon, serene in glory, mounts the sky,'" murmured the Doctor. "'The wandering moon'--how does it go? I'm thinking of some lines of Milton's. Let me see; ah!" "'The wandering moon, Riding near her highest noon, Like one that has been led astray Through the heaven's wide pathless way.'" Later, when the lights of the village had disappeared one by one under the tranquil elms, the Doctor returned to the attack. "Take another week to think it over, Herrick," he urged. "Who knows what may happen in a week, eh? Women's minds have been known to change before this, my friend." "Hers won't," answered Wade, convincedly. "Her note left little doubt as to that." "But don't you think you ought to see her again?" "Yes, I shall call in the morning to say good-by." "H'm, yes," muttered the other, doubtfully. "I know what such a call is like. You go into the parlor and Miss Eve and Miss Mullett come in together, and you all talk a lot of pasty foolishness for five minutes and then you shake hands and leave. That doesn't help any. See her alone if only for a minute, Herrick; give yourselves a chance; bless my soul, lad, don't you realize that you can't risk spoiling two lives for the want of a moment's determination? If it's pride, put it in your pocket!" "I'd do anything," replied Wade, with a little laugh, "if I thought it could do any good. The fact is, Doctor, I'm pretty certain that the other fellow is too strong for me." "The other fellow! I don't believe there is or has been another fellow! I'd bet my bottom dollar that you two young folks care for each other. You've gone and made a mess of things between you, and damned if I don't think it's my duty to meddle!" "Please don't," said Wade. "It's good of you to want to help, but--what's the use of talking about it? Miss Walton knows her own mind--"