to be hanged, were given their choice
of a tree. 'The oak for me,' says the Englishman. 'The Scotch elm for
mine,' says the Scotsman. 'Faith,' says the Irishman, 'I'll be afther
takin' a gooseberry bush.' 'That's too small,' says the hangman. 'I'll
wait for it to grow,' says the Irishman contentedly."

Whereat he disappeared. When Dahlia and the Philosopher returned he had
not come back. I was amazed at him, but my amazement did not produce
him, and the Philosopher accompanied Dahlia home. When they were well
away the Skeptic swung himself up over the side of the porch, from among
some bushes.

"'All's fair in love and war,'" he grinned. "Besides, the campaign's
over. Philo's gained experience. He's a veteran now. He'll never be such
easy game again. Haven't we behaved well, on the whole?" he asked the
Gay Lady, dropping upon a cushion at her feet.

"I don't think you have," said the Gay Lady gently.

"We haven't! Why not?"

She shook her head. "I refuse to discuss it," she said, as gently as
before, but quite firmly.

The Skeptic sighed. "I'm sorry," he declared. "You really don't
know----"

"I don't want to know," said the Gay Lady. "Isn't it a lovely, lovely
evening?"

"Yes, it's a lovely evening," said the Skeptic, looking up at her. "It
would be delightful on the river."

She shook her head again.

"Not nicer than here," she answered.

The Philosopher came back. When he was half-way across the lawn the
Skeptic jumped up and rushed forward and offered his shoulder for the
Philosopher to lean upon.

"Clear out," said the Philosopher shortly.

"I'm glad to hear it," rejoined the Skeptic. "I feared you might be
clear in."

"It's not your fault that I'm not," grunted the Philosopher.

He dropped down upon the porch step in an exhausted way.

The Gay Lady rose.

"The air is making me sleepy," said she in her musically sweet voice.
"Good-night."

The Skeptic and the Philosopher looked after her retreating figure even
after it ceased to be visible, drifting down the wide, central hall.

"The worst of it is," grumbled the Skeptic, "that an exhibition of that
sort of thing always makes the other kind draw off, for fear we may
possibly think they're in the same class."

I, too, now said good-night, and went away to let them have it out
between them.

IV

RHODORA

Youth on the prow, and Pleasure at the helm.
--_Gray._

This morning we had a surprise. Grandmother and Rhodora d