these hours, he made over to the two a small disused
gardener's cottage at the end of his grounds, some bedding, their meals,
and a shilling the day. It was wonderful how solicitous the Major was as
to Frank's not traveling again until it was certain he was capable of
it; but Frank had acquired a somewhat short and decisive way with his
friend, and announced that Monday night must see them all cleared out.

The leave-taking--so far as I have been able to gather--was rather
surprisingly emotional. The doctor took Frank apart into the study where
he had first seen him, and had a short conversation, during which one
sovereign finally passed from the doctor to the patient.

I have often tried to represent to myself exactly what elements there
were in Frank that had such an effect upon this wise and positive old
man. He had been a very upsetting visitor in many ways. He had
distracted his benefactor from a very important mouse that had died of
leprosy; he had interfered sadly with working hours; he had turned the
house, comparatively speaking, upside down. Worse than all, he had--I
will not say modified the doctor's theories--that would be far too
strong a phrase; but he had, quite unconsciously, run full tilt against
them; and finally, worst of all, he had done this right in the middle of
the doctor's own private preserve. There was absolutely every element
necessary to explain Frank's remarks during his delirium; he was a
religiously-minded boy, poisoned by a toxin and treated by the
anti-toxin. What in the world could be expected but that he should rave
in the most fantastic way, and utter every mad conception and idea that
his subjective self contained. As for that absurd fancy of the doctor
himself, as well as of his servant that there was "something queer" in
the room--the more he thought of it, the less he valued it. Obviously it
was the result of a peculiar combination of psychological conditions,
just as psychological conditions were themselves the result of an
obscure combination of toxin--or anti-toxin--forces.

Yet for all that, argue as one may, the fact remained that this dry and
rather misanthropic scientist was affected in an astonishing manner by
Frank's personality. (It will appear later on in Frank's history that
the effect was more or less permanent.)

Still more remarkable to my mind was the very strong affection that
Frank conceived for the doctor. (There is no mystery coming: the doctor
will not ult