Fixing his eyes on the gold he presently saw a slender form emerge from the cedars. He did not need to be told who it was—that slow step, that silvery halo beneath the old straw hat. The dog silently sprang forward, and Marvin gave chase. The hill was steep, and the chemist arrived with just enough breath for four words: “Good morning. Dr. Rich.” “Good morning, sir. Sit down and rest. Your heart is not so strong as it ought to be at your age.” Marvin threw himself down, and the old man set down his basket of vegetables, beside which Agricola at once went on guard. “You look as if the enemy had made you a gift.” “Only this,” panted Marvin, showing his gloved hand. “But gift,” smiled Dr. Rich, “has a special sense in German. It means love-gift, hence love-potion, hence poison. Were you not gassed?” “No, this is only the poison of influenza, and I’m grateful for it. It brings me here.” The doctor sat down and plucked a buttercup. “I think I can understand your feeling. You have escaped from the poisoned air of cities into purer air. There is not a poisonous miasma in all this region, and there are few poisonous flowers. These stamens are male, but they suggest only the beauty of Persian gold, not the blunder by which the Creeks called a certain substance arsenic, the male element. From this hillside you may have the illusion of elysium, where the mind moves freely and finds all things harmless. When you get your breath, I should be glad to hear if you have hopes of elysium issuing from war.” “I have hopes of chemistry, sir.” “You are a chemist, captain?” “Yes, but please drop the title. Please call me Marvin.” “Well, Marvin, you shall dream of a chemical heaven as much as you please while you sojourn here. And you shall rob my garden without asking permission. Agricola, give your new friend some strawberries.” Agricola moved the basket over and politely wheedled. “Not for me, governor. Strawberries picked by the editor of Tacitus are too expensive for a Mahan.” The old New Englander looked pleased, but he was dry about it. “The name Mahan is Irish. I’ve no doubt your forefathers blarneyed Agricola in the same fashion. But at least take some lettuce. You shall not be like the poor fellow in Aristophanes, and take your sorrowful leave without a lettuce.” “But I’ve been invited to dinner.” “Good enough! Is the heart all right now?” Marvin arose, and the two men proceeded down the path. “Where are you camping?” “I’d like to camp on the Duckling.” “So do. You are as welcome as sunlight.” “Dr. Rich, the sign is not quite so hospitable as you are.” “A sign? Has my daughter actually forbidden trespass?” “Oh, not so bad as that, but it’s nailed to a pine. Dr. Rich, pines are salable.” “To you?” “Yes, sir, and so is the island. And were these the days of marriage by barter, I’d offer you all my worldly goods for your daughter.” “Go slow, young man. In the first place, it’s her island, not mine.” “Hers?”