"I could n't think of troubling you," she protested, starting at once for the door. "I 'm in the machine, so I 'm quite safe. Good night." With a nod and smile to both men she went out. Donaldson himself prepared to go at once. "Well, old man," he apologized nervously to the chemist, "pardon me for boring you so long. It is bad taste I know for a man to air such views as mine, but it has done me good." "Take my advice and forget them yourself. Go into the country. Loaf a little in the sunshine. Stay a week. I 'm going off for a while myself." "You leave--" "Within a few days, possibly. I can't tell." "Well, s' long and a pleasant trip to you." Donaldson gripped the older man's hand. The latter gazed at him affectionately, apprehensively. "See here, Peter," he broke out earnestly. "There is one thing even better for you than the country, a thing that includes the sunshine and everything else worth while in life. I have hesitated about mentioning it, but this girl who was here made me think of it again. You know I 'm not a sentimental man, Peter?" "Unless you have changed. But your panacea?" "Love." "That's a generic term." "Just plain human love, love for a woman like this one who was here. I wish you knew her. She 'd be good for you; she 'd give your present self-centred life a broader meaning." Donaldson turned away. "Barstow," he replied uneasily, "you 're good,--good clear through, but we move in different worlds. It is n't in me to love as you mean. I 'm too critical, which is to say too selfish." "I think you are selfish, Peter," Barstow agreed frankly, "but I don't think it's your nature. You 've got into the Slough of Despond, and the only thing that will drag you out of that is love, love of something outside yourself. Try it." Donaldson shook his head. "You 're as good as gold," he declared, "but the things which content you and me are not the same. Good night." "Good night. Be sure to drop in again when I get back." Donaldson went out the door. He groped his way down the stairs into the street. Once he swung abruptly on his heel and stared at the pavement behind him. He thought he heard at his heels the scratching padded tread of the pup. CHAPTER II _King of To-day_