tions
in the science. For this night, however, he thought he was safe. Master
Cheese's ideas of a wedding festival consisted of unlimited feasting.
_He_ could not have left such a board, if bidden to one, until morning
light, and he judged others by himself.

Jan's bedroom was strewed with vessels of various sorts and sizes from
one end of it to the other. In the old days, Dr. West had been a
considerable dabbler in experimental chemistry himself. Jan also
understood something of it. Master Cheese did not see why he should not.
A roaring fire burned in Jan's grate, and the young gentleman stood
before it for a few minutes, previous to resuming his researches, giving
his back a roast, and indulging bitter reminiscences touching his
deficient supper.

"She's getting downright mean, is that old Deb!" grumbled he;
"especially if Jan happens to be out. Wasn't it different in West's
time! He knew what was good, he did. Catch her daring to put bread and
cheese on the table for supper then. I shall be quite exhausted before
the night's over. Bob!"

Bob, his head still on the counter, partially woke up at the
call--sufficiently so to return a half sound by way of response.

"Bob!" roared Master Cheese again. "Can't you hear?"

Bob, his eyes blinking and winking, came in, in answer: that is, as far
as he could get in, for the litter lying about.

"Bring in the jar of tamarinds."

"The jar of tamarinds!" repeated Bob. "In here?"

"Yes, in here," said Master Cheese. "Now, you needn't stare. All you
have got to do is to obey orders."

Bob disappeared, and presently returned, lugging in a big porcelain jar.
He was ordered to "take out the bung, and leave it open." He did so,
setting it in a convenient place on the floor, near Master Cheese, and
giving his opinion gratuitously of the condition of the room. "Won't
there be a row when Mr. Jan comes in and finds it like this!"

[Illustration: "Won't there be a row!"]

"The things will be put away long before he comes," responded Master
Cheese. "Mind your own business. And, look here! if anybody comes
bothering, Mr. Jan's out, and Mr. Cheese is out, and they can't be seen
till the morning--unless it's some desperate case," added Master Cheese,
somewhat qualifying the instructions--"a fellow dying, or anything of
that."

Bob withdrew, to fall asleep in the surgery as before, his head and arms
on the counter; and Master Cheese recommenced his studies. Solacing
himself first