“Mrs. Hogg, please excuse yourself and come down here.” Mrs. Hogg carefully descended the steps and proceeded toward the gate. There she found the experienced dean of girls standing with her arm around Jean. “What do you think?” “I can’t imagine.” “Do you recall a certain auburn-haired youth who made me scream?” “I do.” “He’s proposed to this child.” Susan Endicott Hogg was glad that her face could not be seen in the darkness. This was the best news she had heard in many a day. “I’m very glad for you, Jean.” “But I haven’t accepted him, and I never will.” “Of course you will! And when you’re married. I’ll give you your trousseau. Meantime, just to show how grateful I am for coming to see me, I want you to take this thing.” She pressed into the hands of the surprised girl the certificate of stock, which was not too old to crackle in the dark. “What is it?” “Just some worthless stock, but it will not always be worthless. I’ll transfer it for you. Perhaps when there is another Jean, it will buy her trousseau.” Chapter 64. Gadolinium When the Riches were nearing home on the afternoon mail tug, they found the river covered with dense smoke. There was evidently a forest fire not far away in the west, but as their own peninsula had not been touched by fire in seventy years, they gave it little thought. Having brought an overjoyed Agricola from the post-office, they crept down the river in the dory. Not a steamer was moving. At their pier lay a launch containing an open satchel and some articles of dress, as if some man had hurriedly changed his clothes. Surprised at this, they hastened to the house to see who had come, but found everything locked and shipshape. Agricola was off, and presently they heard his familiar bark, followed by a moo. “He is chasing Mr. Gillies’ cow home,” said Jean, and went on opening windows. But the barking and mooing continued, and they walked up to the barn. There stood Agricola in the open door informing a cow that she was a beauty. Something brought tears to Jean’s eyes as she read aloud the card attached to the cow’s horn: “My name is Sempronia the Second, and if you want to know who bought me, look on the wall.” Turning, Jean perceived a sheet of foolscap tacked to the logs. On it were the names of thirty persons. Then the smoke seemed to affect the doctor’s eyes, too, and he stood in silence, holding Jean by one hand and petting Sempronia with the other. But while they stood there Agricola deserted them and was exploring his old domain. As father and daughter were walking back to the house they heard him again, this time with a different cadence, and they mounted the hill.